LA FONTAINE, Jean de. - Lot 1123

Lot n° 1123
Go to lot
Estimation :
2000 - 4000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 9 099EUR
LA FONTAINE, Jean de. - Lot 1123
LA FONTAINE, Jean de. Selected fables, set in verse. New edition engraved in intaglio. The figures by Sr. Fessard, the text by Sr. Montulay. Paris, at the home of the author ordinary engraver of the king's cabinet, 1765-1775. 6 volumes in-8 (198 x 124 mm) entirely engraved with 2 ff.n.ch. (title and frontispiece), LXXI, 100 pp., 44 engraved plates (2 for the introduction, and one for each of the first 42 fables) for volume I; VI, 102 pp., 40 engraved plates (illustrating fables 43 to 82) for volume II; IV, 95 pp., 43 engraved plates (illustrating fables 83 to 124, and the epilogue) for volume III; 3 ff.n.ch., 134 pp.., 45 engraved plates (illustrating fables 125-169) for volume IV; 2 ff.n.ch., 103 pp., 35 engraved plates (illustrating fables 170 to 204) for volume V; 2 ff.n.ch., 115 pp.., 35 engraved plates (illustrating fables 205 to 238, and the epilogue); red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing, smooth spine decorated with a bird's-eye iron, roulette on the cups, inside roulette, gilt edges (contemporary binding). The prestigious edition engraved by Fessard is the most beautiful illustrated edition of La Fontaine's Fables printed in the 18th century, along with the one illustrated by Oudry which appeared 10 years ago in folio format. The illustration includes 6 titles, a frontispiece, 240 plates (one for each of the 238 fables, and one respectively for each of the two epilogues), 3 out-of-text engravings (end of the 2nd, 8th, and 9th books) and 243 vignettes and 226 culs-de-lampe signed by Bardin, Bidault, Caresme, Desrais, Houêl, Kobell, etc.., all engraved by Fessard. "Sumptuous edition entirely engraved with large figures, headings and culs-de-lampe for each fable after the drawings of Caresme, Desrais, le Clerc, Le Prince, Monnet, etc.". "(Rahir). Nice copy, ex-libris on the back cover (volumes 2-6) with name scratched off (E. von Vincent?). Cohen, 551; Rochambeau, 37-40; Ray French, 61; En français dans le texte, 105; Rahir, La B
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue