Califronia, Rosa, pseud. (fl. circa 1794)
Breve Difesa dei Diritti delle Donne Scritta da Rosa California Contessa Romana.

Assisi: [Si vende nella Stamperia Taglioretti al Cordusio in Milano], 1794.

First edition, octavo, A-G8, bound in contemporary decorated limp paper wrappers, 6 1/8 x 4 1/8 in.

This proto-feminist work represents a milestone in the Early Modern Italian conversation on gender. Califronia refutes the scornful polemic treatises on "female nature" written in her day. She argues that human rights should apply to women as well, since they possess mental capacities equal to men. She also maintains that education should be provided equally to both women and men, since women in their intellectual abilities are as reasonable and capable as men.

This work reflects a certain conservative spirit but reiterates the refusal to reduce the characteristics of women to their physical and biological conformation (a tendency shared by some French Ideologists), and the injustice of morally judging women based on their condition.

Rare.