Alain-René LESAGE

New edition, illustrated with a frontispiece by Desenne, a title vignette with portrait and 5 hors-texte figures by Desenne.
Full glazed cherry red calf binding, near-contemporary. Smooth spine decorated with long rocaille tools with a butterfly, gilt title. Large blind-stamped Restoration ornamental plaque on boards with central roundel and gilt fillet frame. Inner decorative border. All edges gilt. Spine uniformly darkened. Small erratic dark stains. Light traces of rubbing. Scattered foxing.
A very handsome copy in full Romantic binding.

New edition of the translation by Alain-René Le Sage, revised by Pons-Auguste Alletz, some forty years after its initial publication. Two frontispieces decorate each volume. As we learn from the Avertissement, this classic, which flowed from the pen of the author nicknamed the "Divine Spaniard" by his compatriots, was then, in the 1770s, unknown to a large part of the French youth.

Contemporary binding in full brown tree calf, smooth gilt spine with four compartments separated by traditional and dotted...

Edition illustrated with original vignettes by Jean Gigoux.
Half-red shagreen binding, smooth spine decorated with fleurons and quadruple gilt fillets, gilt frieze at foot, gilt fillet on red paper boards, endpapers lightly shaded and spotted, speckled edges.
Work illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author on China paper as well as 600 vignettes here in first printing by Jean Gigoux.
Copy almost entirely free from foxing.

Definitive, important edition, revised by the author, and on which all future editions will be based. It should not be confused with the counterfeit (which can be distinguished by some differences) published on the same date and which is only a reprint of the first editions published in 1715 (first 2 volumes), 1724 (third volume) and 1735 (fourth volume) where the figures are reversed and of rather mediocre printing (thus the canon in the first figure appears on the right whereas he should be on the left).
This edition is rare and sought after. "This edition, which has become uncommon, presents numerous corrections and considerable additions by the author, which amount to no less than a...

Fourth edition statement for volumes 1 to 3 and first edition of the fourth volume which appeared for the first time in 1735 (published by Pierre-Jacques Ribou). The first 2 volumes were initially published in 1715. Editions of Gil Blas are rare before 1750. The edition is illustrated with a frontispiece portrait and 26 unsigned figures (8 in volume 1, 10 in volume 2 and 8 in volume 3), there are none in volume 4 in its first edition.
Contemporary full glazed and speckled brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands richly decorated. Red morocco title labels, brown morocco volume labels. Headcaps of volumes II and III worn revealing the headbands. pp. 163 to 168 in volume IV, 3 brown...

Illustrated edition with first printing of a title vignette, 140 half-page vignettes, all by Tony Johannot, engraved by Brevière. Moorish-style bandeaux and drop capitals. Text framed with a double black fillet.
The original frontispiece has been replaced by an original signed watercolor by Adolphe Lalauze (1838-1906) for an illustration of Le Diable boiteux, and an original ink drawing by the painter and illustrator Henri Pille (1844-1897), dedicated to his friend Dr. Laffont and dated May 3, 1896. Furthermore, the copy has been enhanced with 9 etchings engraved by Louis Monziès after drawings by Henri Pille for the Lemerre edition of 1879, in two states, on vellum before...

New edition, extracted from the complete works of Lesage and which forms the first volume of the collection. It is illustrated with a portrait frontispiece by Guétard, and 4 fine figures by Marillier.
Copy with the arms of the Marquis de Villeneuve-Trans (1837-1893), Gules, fretty of six lances or, accompanied by small escutcheons of the same, scattered in the interstices; with the escutcheon azure, charged with a fleur-de-lis or, overall, with the motto: A tout premier marquis de France.
Contemporary full red morocco binding. Smooth spine decorated with 4 small fleurons and roulettes. 2 brown morocco title labels. Gilt edges. Roulette on the leading edges and interior. Arms...

Illustrated edition with first printing by Harrewyn of 3 frontispieces and 16 etched figures. Second edition of Lesage's translation, the first having appeared in Paris in 1732 with a frontispiece and 16 figures by Scottin. For this edition, Cohen (Guide de l'amateur du livre à gravures du XVIIIe) lists only one frontispiece and 12 figures.
Binding ca 1860 in full green morocco. Spine with raised bands decorated. Gilt titles, volume number and dates. Boards decorated in the du Seuil style with central rectangle and fleurons in the corners, and triple gilt fillet border. Rich interior gilt border. Top edges gilt. Spine uniformly faded. Paper of superb freshness, uncut, with full margins...

New edition, illustrated with 12 unsigned figures by Dubercelle. The frontispiece reproduces that of the 1707 edition, it has been re-engraved.
Contemporary full marbled and glazed calf bindings. Smooth spines decorated. Red morocco title and volume labels. Head of spine of volume II worn, joint of upper board cracked at head without gravity and tear at tail with lack. One corner bumped. Small lack to title label of volumes I and II. Rubbing. Good copy.
Bookplate of Paul de Thomas.
It is this work that made Lesage a distinguished and immediately famous writer. The author had borrowed the plot from Guevarra, the devil carrying a mortal on the rooftops and observing scenes in...

New edition illustrated with a frontispiece and 16 engravings drawn by Clément-Pierre Marillier and engraved by Villerey.
Half red Russia leather bindings, smooth spines decorated with gilt tools, fillets, roulettes and dentelles, red paper boards imitating Russia leather.
Headcaps and leading edges rubbed, corners slightly bumped, some scratches to boards, occasional foxing.

New edition annotated by Count François de Neufchâteau of the Académie française and illustrated with 30 hors-texte engravings, including 2 in two states, by various artists including Desenne, Smirke and Fourke.
Half red Russia leather bindings with corners, spines with five raised bands decorated with gilt fillets and roulettes, blind and gilt tools, gilt dentelle at head and tail, red paper boards, retaining deckled edges. Contemporary binding signed R.P Ginain.
Corners slightly bumped, scuffs and soiling to boards, some foxing.

New édition after the first complete edition in 2 volumes of 1726, illustrated with a frontispiece and 12 charming and picturesque unsigned figures by Dubercelle. Title pages in red and black. Good impression. The frontispiece reproduces that of the first edition of 1707, it has been re-engraved. 

Contemporary full glazed brown calf binding. Ornate spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label. Lower joint split at foot for 2 cm, otherwise handsome copy, very fresh.

It was this work that made Lesage a distinguished and immediately celebrated writer. The author had borrowed the framework from Guevarra, the devil carrying a mortal over the rooftops and observing...

New edition, the original having appeared in 1736 then in 1738 for its sequel. Six figures, including a frontispiece, all unsigned. Title pages in red and black.
Contemporary full glazed brown calf binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label. Worn binding. Split headcaps. Lacks to joints at head and foot. Corners cut and rubbed bare.
Le bachelier de Salamanque is Lesage's last novel, and said to be his favorite, the fruit of his old age. Although still in the picaresque tradition, this last work no longer relies on multiple episodes like Gil Blas; if it shows less invention a priori, it is above all of a markedly darker and more melancholic tone...

Illustrated with original vignettes by Jean Gigoux.
Half dark green morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons, gilt date at foot, top edge gilt retaining deckled edges. Binding signed Champs.
Work illustrated, as frontispiece, with a portrait of the author on China paper as well as 600 vignettes here in first printing by Jean Gigoux.
Some rubbing to joints, otherwise a handsome copy.

New illustrated edition with a portrait of the author as frontispiece.
Contemporary full camel calf bindings, spines richly decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, compartments decorated with two frames of triple gilt fillets, black morocco title and volume labels, quadruple gilt fillets and cold-tooled dentelle framing the boards, gilt fillets on the edges and headcaps, triple gilt fillets and gilt pointillé corner ornaments framing the pastedowns, all edges gilt.
Very handsome copy in a contemporary full calf binding.

First edition. Translation by Lesage.
Contemporary binding in full blonde sheep. Spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons. Gilt roulette on the edges and headcaps. Head restored, otherwise good copy.
This volume is the first that Lesage provides of Spanish plays from the Golden Age. We know that other French authors of the 17th century provided adaptations of Spanish theater, but the translations were nearly contemporary and one may question Lesage's project of adapting plays that might seem outdated in the eyes of the public. Lesage explains himself in the preface which is a sort of demonstration of his aesthetic project: to renovate the scene of...

Edition illustrated with a portrait of the author on China paper as well as several wood-engraved vignettes by Jean Gigoux.
Half red shagreen binding, smooth spine decorated with quadruple gilt and blind cartouches enhanced with gilt romantic arabesques, framed with a gilt cartouche on red paper boards enriched in corners with gilt typographical motifs, endpapers and pastedowns of turquoise watered silk, contemporary binding.
A handsome copy almost entirely free of foxing.

Edition illustrated with original vignettes by Jean Gigoux.
Half cherry red Russian morocco binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt romantic arabesques as well as black and gilt fillets, gilt friezes at head and foot, gilt dentelle border on marbled paper boards, two corners slightly bumped, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, some damage to the edges and cuts, yellow edges, contemporary romantic binding.
Work illustrated, as frontispiece, with a portrait of the author on China paper as well as 600 vignettes here in first printing by Jean Gigoux.
Some light foxing of no consequence.

First printing of the 600 wood-engraved illustrations after Jean Gigoux by the best young artists of the time such as Lavoignat, Porret, Thompson.
Half aubergine calf binding, smooth spine decorated with two cartouches embellished with gilt romantic decorative motifs, rubbing to joints and headcaps, gilt fillet frame on marbled paper boards, some tears and rubbing to edges, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary romantic binding signed by Lefebvre.
Illustrated work with, as frontispiece, a portrait of the author on China paper as well as 600 vignettes here in first printing by Jean Gigoux. Printed stamp at head of an endpaper as bookplate.
Handsome copy with some...

Illustrated edition with original vignettes by Jean Gigoux.
Full glazed hazelnut calf binding, smooth spine very lightly faded but without gravity, richly decorated with gilt romantic arabesques, gilt roulettes on the headcaps, one joint lightly cracked at foot, small traces of rubbing on the joints, frame of gilt arabesques on the boards, a small tear at the foot of the first board, fine gilt dentelle on the pastedowns, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, one lower corner very lightly bumped, gilt edges on the leading edges, all edges gilt, elegant contemporary romantic binding.
Work illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author on China paper as well as 600 vignettes here...

Edition printed on laid paper and illustrated with 5 drawings by Valton engraved by Gaujean.
Bradel binding in half olive cloth, smooth spine decorated with a gilt floral motif, publisher's name gilt at foot, chocolate shagreen title-label with minor scratches, marbled paper boards, a small marginal lack of paper on the front board, covers and spine preserved, corners slightly bumped, contemporary binding.
Accompanying press cuttings have left a shadow on the half-title page.

New edition from La collection des classiques français, illustrated with a portrait and a folding map of Spain. Fine edition with classical typography and wide margins.

Full glazed wine-red calf bindings, sky blue title and volume labels, smooth spines richly decorated with cathedral tools and rolls, boards stamped in blind with a large central monastic medallion, a blind border frieze and a second in gilt, boards with slight worm damage, marbled edges.

Magnificent romantic binding by a great binder of the period.

It should be noted that the preface by the Comte de Neufchâteau, academician, is actually by Victor Hugo (then aged 16); the...

New edition.
Contemporary full tawny calf bindings, smooth spines richly decorated with gilt fillets and tools as well as black morocco title and library labels, boards framed with a cold fillet and gilt corner dots and stamped in their centers with the arms of the Duchess of Berry, pebbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, pastedowns surrounded by gilt dentelle, all edges marbled. Some minor rubbing without consequence, otherwise a handsome copy.
Handsome armorial copy that belonged to the library of the Château de Rosny where the duchess assembled no fewer than 8,000 titles.

First printing of the 600 compositions by Jean Gigoux.
Full caramel gauffered calf binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt compartments embellished with gilt arabesques, navy calf title label, some light rubbing to spine without consequence, double gilt and blind fillet frame on the gauffered boards, coat of arms of the Order of the Garter stamped in gilt on the front board, gilt fillets on the leading edges, corners very slightly bumped, a central tear on the back board, marbled edges, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary English binding.
As frontispiece, a portrait of Gil Blas on China paper. Notice by Charles Nodier.
One dampstain affecting the...

Edition illustrated with 76 black (68) and colored (8) illustrations by Henry Morin.
Publisher's full cream cardboard binding, smooth spine, illustrated front cover.
Introduction by Louis Tarsot.
Handsome copy.