London: J. & H.L. Hunt, 1825. First Edition / First Impression. Hardback. Very good condition. An uncommon book, one copy located in commerce (2022). A political satire in the form of a fantastic tale, wherein our protagonist finds a magical recipe allowing him to give animals the power of speech, which ends badly - it turns out that the animals were planning to rebel with the eponymous ass leading the charge and ultimately installing himself as the supreme monarch. They formulate their own laws and principles, including the Rights of Brutes. Critically, the animals end up corrupt, factionalised and immoral, just like the humans. The book presages and is remarkably akin to Orwell's Animal Farm, but there's nothing to link Orwell with Hunt, at least as far as this book's concerned, and given its scarcity and the fact it wasn't reprinted in his lifetime any connection is speculative at best. Still, it's an important satire, and equally important to the speculative canon, using animals to abstract humanity in a Swiftian manner. 

Bound in half calf over marbled boards. Some rubbing to the boards and leather, an area of loss to the leather at the lowers spine with some splitting. Leaves a little toned but largely in excellent shape. Very Good. Item #13618