Ambroise FIRMIN-DIDOT

Rare uniform set of Didot stereotype editions. The title page of each volume is preceded by an advertising and presentation leaf of the edition composed as follows: This stereotype in-18 edition is sold in Paris, by P. Didot l'Aîné and by Firmin Didot. Price in sheets: Ordinary paper, fine paper, laid paper, deluxe laid paper. All the present editions are printed on laid paper or deluxe laid paper. Let us recall that it was François Ambroise Didot who perfected the manufacture of laid paper in France in 1780, which was particularly well suited to printing Didot typefaces.
Contemporary full red Russia leather binding. Smooth spine decorated with 5 fleurons and multiple roulettes. Decorative frames on the boards. Roulette on the leading edges and interior. Gilt edges. Some rubbing.
Superb set, very rare in this condition.
Details of the editions:
Fables de La Fontaine suivies d'Adonis, poeme. An VII. (cxij, 136pp. et (4) 256pp.) Trace of dampstaining in lower margin from leaf xlix to cx. 2 volumes. Handsome set with fresh paper.
Poésies de Malherbe. An VIII. (xxiv, 202pp.). Trace of pale dampstaining in upper margin throughout the volume, fading, reappearing... 1 volume. Handsome copy.
Oeuvres de Regnard. 5 volumes. 1801. xxiij, 275pp. (1) et 268pp. (1) et 266pp. (1) et 265pp. et (2) 252pp. 2 borders rubbed over several cm. Handsome copy with fresh paper.
Oraisons funèbres de Fléchier. 2 volumes. (4) 253pp. (4) et 256pp. Trace of dampstaining in upper margin of the first 30 leaves of volume 1, and the first 4 leaves of volume 2, otherwise fresh paper. Handsome copy.
Oeuvres de Racine. 5 volumes. 1803. 267pp. et 288pp. et 290pp. (1) et 264pp. (1) et 317pp. (3). Catalogue at end of stereotype editions. Handsome copy, very fresh.
Lettres persanes par Montesquieu. 1803. 2 volumes. 234pp. et 226pp. 2p. catalogue of stereotype editions. Handsome copy, fresh.
Considérations sur les causes de la grandeur des Romains, par Montesquieu. (4) 262pp. 2p. catalogue. Trace of rubbing at head. Handsome copy, fresh.
Commentaires sur Corneille, par Voltaire. 1806. 4 volumes (4p. catalogue at beginning of volume 1). (2) 299pp. et 332pp. et 336pp. et 224pp. Scattered foxing.
In 1795, Firmin Didot perfected a stereotypy system, usable on an industrial scale. Each page was composed with hollowed matrices into which the alloy was poured directly, avoiding letter-by-letter composition. It was only after 1798 that Didot took up the classics. Let us recall that the famous Didot typeface dominated the entire 19th century, and that the stereotype edition forms a major milestone in the history of printing, as the Elsevier editions were in their time.

First edition.
Spine faded and clumsily restored with tape, handsome interior condition despite some minor foxing mainly at the end of the volume.