Paris, chez l’auteur, 1765-1775.
6 8vo volumes [197 x 121 mm]. Collation in accordance with Cohen. Red morocco, triple gilt fillets on the covers, arms in the center, flat spine decorated with small tols, inner border, gilt edges. Contemporary binding.
First issue of one of the most beautiful antique edition of the Fable by La Fontaine.
Cohen, Guide de l’amateur de livres à gravures du XVIIIe siècle, col. 551 and 552.
It is illustrated with 243 etchings, 243 vignettes, 226 tail-pieces, 6 engraved titles and 1 frontispiece by Bardin, Bidault, Caresme, Dessais, Houë, Kobell, Leclère, Leprince, Loutherbourg, Meyer and Monnet.
The text is entirely engraved by Montulay and Drouët.
“Sr Fessard ordinary engraver of the Cabinet du Roy undertook the engraving of the ‘Fables de La Fontaine’ with the etchings in 6 8vo volumes. He gave 5 of them to the public, the sixth is about to be published. It is usual to present a copy of each volume to the princes and princesses of the Royal family, he as paid as an allowance a sum of six hundred pounds on the ‘trésor royal’ during the distribution of each of the first 5 volumes. He begs His Majesty to grant him the same sum of six hundred pounds for the sixth and last volume that he is going to present.”
Baron Roger Portalis, Les graveurs du XVIIIe siècle.
The precious copy of Béatrix de Choiseul-Stainville, duchesse de Gramont, “the haughty and imperious” sister of the duc de Choiseul, minister of Louis XV.
She died beheaded on April 17th 1794.
“Apart from great qualities that belong to History, her taste for the matter of the art and the enlighten care she brought to the composition of her fine book collection, designate her again to the curious and the educated people’s attention.
The duchesse de Gramont’s books are simply bound, but with a certain elegance. They are especially recommended for the exceptional quality of the morocco which colour resisted to the aggressive action of time. The care brought to the body of the work justifies the bibliophiles’ enthusiasm.”
- Quentin Bauchart, Les Femmes Bibliophiles de France.
One of the greatest classic illustrated book of the 18th century, very rare in contemporary armorial binding.
