Jean-Pierre Claris de FLORIAN

First edition of this celebrated illustrated publication, issued in Paris by H.-L. Delloye in 84 parts between February 1842 and October 1843 and subsequently gathered into three volumes. Carteret described it as an “admirable publication printed on stout wove paper [...] one of the finest of the 19th century”, comparing the quality of its production to that of the great illustrated books of the 18th century. Carteret III, 143-153; Vicaire II, 234-248.

 

The first volume comprises 5 unnumbered leaves - half-title...

Two parts in one volume, printed on hōsho paper and folded in the Japanese style

Two colour-illustrated covers, and 28 superb Japanese colour prints by Kano Motonobu, Kadjita Hanko. All text pages are illustrated with drawings in black.

A very fine artistic publication printed on pure Japanese rag paper with special Japanese folding. The Tokyo publisher is Kané-Mitsou Masao, the printer Shueisha, under the direction of Yamamoto Yeijiro.

Original publisher's binding in half black embossed leather with japanese motifs, illustrated boards depicting figures and animals in colours, long-grain red morocco lettering-piece on the upper board...

First collected edition of this collection whose volumes appeared separately, only the half-titles indicating the title Oeuvres, or oeuvres posthumes; it is difficult to assemble.
This edition contains Les fables in first edition, but also the Don Quichotte whose version by Florian appears for the first time, and Gonzalve de Cordoue of which this is the first edition. Volume 12 contains the life of Florian and several unpublished pieces including Guillaume Tell.
Illustration: apart from the 24 figures by Barbier and Lefèvre present in the Don Quichotte, this copy is complete with the 84 figures rarely found assembled with these editions, in frames by Monsiau, Queverdo, on heavy...

First edition of Numa (1786) and of Estelle (1784), published at the same time as the 12mo edition. Statement of third edition for Galatée, and first 8vo edition. Estelle bears the imprint: De l'imprimerie de Monsieur. 1788. One frontispiece by Queverdo for Numa Pompilius. The illustrations by Moreau le Jeune announced on the verso of the title page never appeared, but Queverdo's illustrations would be found in the second edition. Printed on Vellum.
Contemporary full glazed blonde calf bindings signed Bozerian at foot of the Numa volume. Smooth spine decorated with the cipher repeated 4 times of Prince Gabriel Petrovitch Gagarine, fillets and rolls. 2...

With a charming illustration by Monsiau, engraved by Colibert and Cazenave, four figures printed in colors. A large paper copy with figures in proof.
Blue paper covers, Bradel binding. Title-piece to spine.
Tiny transparent spots, a small repaired tear to one plate not touching image.
Stamp of Letolle, a Parisian bronze foundry, to title.

New edition.
Half black morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, marbled paper boards, marbled endpavers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt.
Work illustrated with 80 hors-texte plates after Grandville (including 1 frontispiece) as well as in-text vignettes.