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9 000 €

Réf : 53342

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Jean de LA FONTAINE

Contes et nouvelles en vers

S.n., à Amsterdam [Paris] 1762, in-8 (12x18,5cm)., xiv (2) 268pp. et (2) viij (2) 306pp.(4), 2 volumes reliés.

LA FONTAINE Jean de
Contes et nouvelles en vers
N. n., Amsterdam [Paris] 1762, in-8 (12 x 18,5 cm)., xiv (2) 268 pp et (2) viij (2) 306 pp.(4), 2 volumes, contemporary morocco
The so-called Fermiers Généraux edition, using the editions of 1685 and 1696 for the text and adding tales by d'Autreau and de Vergier, present in the 1718 edition.
This edition was of 2,000 copies on vergé de Hollande paper, the present copy one of the rare copies in contemporary morocco. This copy is probably of the first issue, bearing in mind the quality of the engravings and a fleuron error on p. 240 of vol. 1, later corrected.
The work has 80 proof illustrations by Eisen, engraved by the foremost engravers of the time (Aliamet, Baquoy, Choffard, Delafosse, Flipart, Le Mire, Leveau, de Longueuil and Ouvrier), two frontispiece portraits (one of La Fontaine by Hyacinthe Rigaud and another of Eisen by Vispré, engraved by Ficquet), as well as six vignettes by Coffard, of which two to title, two hors-texte at the head of each volume and two at the head of the first tale in each volume; and 53 tailpieces.
This edition was printed at the expense of the Fermiers Généraux and is therefore known as the “Fermiers Généraux edition.” It stands out thanks to the high quality of its printing and the remarkable illustrations by Eisen (1720-1778), who made this work not only his own masterpiece, but unquestionably one of the masterpieces of 18th century illustrated book production.
Contemporary red morocco, the spines with gilt fillets and fleurons (stars), the covers with a triple frame of gilt fillets, gilt tooling to edge of covers, narrow interior gilt dentelle framing the marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. A few insignificant spots to the plates in the second volume.
This copy has a few inversions in the order of the plates in volume one, due to binder error: 257-258, index leaf, 261-262, 259-260, 265-266, 263-264, blank, 267-268.
The engravings Cas of Conscience and the Devil of Papefiguière are in the uncovered state, as are those of the Lunettes and Rossignol. The engraving of Féronde is in its pre-hat state, the plate of the Other Imitation of Anacréon in its pre-arrow state, while that of the Ailing Alix has no ornaments on the curtains, like the plate of the Remedy.
Brunet notes that the plates contained nude elements, which were then hidden by alterations to the two plates.
A very attractive copy in a rare contemporary red morocco binding.   

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