Jean-François de SAINT-LAMBERT

New edition revised by the author, illustrated with 4 copper-engraved plates by Morel after drawings by Chaudet (Cohen, col. 927). A sumptuous publication from the press of Pierre Didot l'aîné, the foremost printer of his day. This edition is distinguished from all previous ones by its entirely renewed illustration in a neoclassical spirit, in keeping with the aesthetic of the Directoire period. It is the first to have been revised by the author himself.
Contemporary binding in full red morocco, spine with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt dentelles, fillets and fleurons, boards framed with a double gilt dentelle, gilt roll on the turn-ins and headbands, pastedowns and doublures —...

Seventh edition, first to illustrate Zimeo, adorned with 7 plates by Moreau le Jeune: a frontispiece and 4 plates for Les Saisons, engraved by Delaunay, Duclos, Prévost and Simonet, and 2 plates for the Contes, Poésies fugitives and Fables orientales, together with 4 headpiece vignettes by Choffard. Our copy is further enriched with separate pulls of the title-page ornament and Choffard's vignettes.
Nineteenth-century binding in full midnight-blue morocco. Five-raised-band spine decorated with pastoral flowers (vine, wheat and billhook, game and hunting horn...) and gilt compartments. Triple gilt fillet and geometric gilt lace border to boards. Wide gilt lace border to doublures of marbled...

Seventh edition, first issue of Moreau le Jeune's illustrations, adorned with 7 plates: a frontispiece and 4 plates for Les Saisons, engraved by Delaunay, Duclos, Lebas and Prévost, and 2 plates for the Contes, Poésies fugitives and Fables orientales, together with headpiece vignettes by Choffard, reprinted from the first edition of 1769.
Contemporary full calf binding. Richly decorated smooth spine. Red morocco lettering-piece. Boards in mottled calf (with Greek-key border) added at a later date during restoration. Worn corners. A split to the upper joint extending 5 cm. A very good copy overall.