Les Fables de la Fontaine illustrated with 723 engravings in the first printing.
The copy mn maorocco red with the arms of the Duchess of Grramont.
La Fontaine. Selected Fables, put into verse by La Fontaine. New éedition engraved in intaglio, lhe Figures by M Sr. Fessard, le Text by M r. Montulay. Dedicateds to the children of France.
Paris, at the author’s, 1765-1775.
6 octavo volumes. Collation matches Cohen. Red morocco, triple gold fillet framing on the boards, coat of arms in the center, smooth spine adorned with small tools, gilt fillet on the edges, inner roll, gilt edges. Binding of the period.
197 x 121 mm.
First printing of one of dthe most beautiful old editions of La Fontaine’s Fables.
Cohen, Guide for the amateur of engraved books of the 18the century, col. 551 and 552.
It is adorned with 243 engravings, 243 vignettes, 226 tailpieces, 6 engraved titles, and 1 frontispiece by Bardin, Bidault, Caresme, Dessais, Houë, Kobell, Leclère, Leprince, Loutherbourg, Meyer et Monnet.
The text is entirely engraved by Montulay and Drouët.
“Sir Fessard engraveur ordinary of the King’s Cabinet has undertaken to engrave the ‘Fables of La Fontaine’ with engravings in 6 octavo volumes. He has given 5 volumes to the public, the sixth is about to appear. It is customary to present a copy of each volume to the princes and princesses of the Royal family, he was consequently paid an indemnity of six hundred livres from the royal treasury at the distribution of each of the first 5 volumes. He begs His Majesty to grant the same sum of six hundred livres for the sixth and last volume he is going to present.
And Louis XVI kindly granted the request and put the word “approved” in his own hand.”
Baron Roger Portalis, The Engravers of the 18the century.
Precious copy from Béatrix de Choiseul-Stainville, Duchess of Gramont, “thehaughty and imperious” sister of the Duke of Choiseul, minister to Louis XV.She died by guillotine on April 17, 1794.
Outside of eminent qualities that belong to History, her taste for the arts and the enlightened care she devoted to composing her beautiful library still draw the attention of the curious and the literate.
“The books of the Duchess of Gramont are simply bound, but with a certain elegance. They are recommended above all for the exceptional quality of the morocco whose color has resisted the incisive action of time. The care with which the body of work was executed justifies the eagerness with which they are sought after by bibliophiles
”.
E. Quentin Bauchart, Women Bibliophiles of France.
One of the great classic illustrated books of the 18th century, very rare in morocco with arms of the time.
