Lefèvre, Jean-Jacques (1779-1858 ; libraire)

Two editions bound together, belonging to the complete works of La Fontaine published by Lefèvre in 1822 by Wallckenaer: 'Fables, oeuvres diverses et théâtre' with an edition of his tales published in 1790. The volumes in the Lefèvre edition were sold separately, as evidenced by the lack of 'oeuvres complètes' half title in the fables, which is in turn found in the 'oeuvres diverses' and in the 'Théâtre'. Lefèvre's edition would be complete if it included the tales, but the collector of this copy preferred another, more famous and better illustrated edition to replace it: a pirate edition of the 'Fermiers Généraux' edition illustrated by Eisen. The illustration in this pirate edition are very pretty and finely engraved.
The Fables are illustrated by Moreau Le Jeune with 12 plates newly engraved by Schneider; this edition had originally been published in 1814, and reprinted for the complete works.
'Les Contes et Nouvelles' is a pirate edition of the famous Fermiers généraux edition, illustrated with a portrait of the author engraved by Mossa after Hyacinthe Rigaud and 80 unsigned full-page plates, copied from the 1777 edition. The text has the same composition as this one, according to Rochambeau, while the head and tail pieces have not been reproduced. In comparison, Lefèvre's edition of 'Les Contes' contained only 9 illustrations by Moreau Le Jeune.
Full contemporary brown calf binding, spine elaborately decorated with motifs in blind, and ornately ruled in gilt. Boards elaborately decorated with a central blind-stamped motif, rosettes to corners, framed in gilt and black, inner dentelle, all edges gilt. 'Les Contes' volumes are in smaller 8vo format (12.3x20.2cm). The three volumes comprising the miscellaneous works and theater are in slightly lighter calf. Handsomely bound, with rare pale scattered foxing, notably in the area of the tissue guards. Small traces of damp stains on the upper cover of volume 2 of the 'Contes'.
Sumptuous, unsigned Restoration binding in excellent condition, probably by a great workshop, Thouvenin or Simier.
A good critical edition of the works, the most complete to date, with notes and commentary, printed in well-spaced type.

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 illustrated edition with 25 plates on strong paper, comprising a frontispiece portrait by Girodet and engraved by Hopwood, 5 steel engravings by Johannot in volume 1, 5 in volume 2, 9 in volume 3 and a folding map, 3 in volume 4, 2 steel portraits in volume 6. Johannot for the illustrations, others for the animated views and portraits.
Contemporary wine-colored half-shagreen binding with corners, signed at foot of volume 1 Delaunay. Spine with false flat raised bands decorated with blind and gilt compartments. Gilt titles and volume labels. Thick separating fillets on the boards. Marbled edges. Spines uniformly faded to blonde. Traces of rubbing. Scattered and very unevenly distributed foxing. Faint dampstain traces on the first 5 leaves of volume 2 with browning, and on the first 30 pages of volume 6, gradually fading. P. 123 of volume 2 with a tear without loss.
Elegant set.
Volume 1: Génie du christianisme. Volume 2: Les martyrs, Atala, René, Les aventures du dernier Abencerage, Moïse. Volume 3: Itinéraire de Paris à Jérusalem, Voyage en Italie, à Clermont, au Mont Blanc. Volume 4: Voyage en Amérique suivi des Natchez. Volume 5: Etudes historiques. Volume 6: Mélanges historiques et politiques. All volumes with various prefaces, notes and supporting documents.

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 edition expanded with a commentary by Jean-Augustin Amar du Rivier, and illustrated with a portrait of the author as frontispiece engraved by Ligon after Rigaud and 6 figures hors-texte engraved by Pierre Adam, Chollet, Burdet, Larcher and Lorichon after Desenne.
Half green Russia leather bindings with corners, spines with five raised bands decorated with fleurons and roulettes stamped in blind, with gilt compartments and roulettes, headcap of the second volume slightly cracked, joints lightly rubbed, marbled paper boards, second board of the third and fourth volumes very lightly rubbed, some corners slightly bumped, endpapers and pastedowns of red speckled marbled paper, armorial bookplate of the Martineau des Chesnez family pasted on the front pastedown of the first volume. Contemporary binding signed Simier.
Handsome copy in a half Russia leather binding signed Simier.

Illustrated edition with a triple-state portrait of the author as frontispiece, as well as numerous portraits outside the text.
Half dark green morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands decorated with fillets and double gilt compartments, top edge gilt retaining its deckled edges. Binding signed Niedrée.
Scattered worming, otherwise a handsome copy.

Illustrated edition with an engraved portrait of Bossuet as frontispiece.
Full glazed aubergine calf binding, spine slightly lightened with four raised bands set with double gilt fillets decorated with double gilt compartments enhanced with gilt typographical motifs, gilt roulettes on the headcaps, boards framed with a wide blind-tooled dentelle and two gilt fillets, gilt initials struck at the centers of the boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, fine gilt dentelle frame on the pastedowns, gilt fillets on the leading edges, one lower corner slightly bumped, marbled edges, superb contemporary binding.
Pen gift inscription at the head of an endpaper as a present, some foxing.
A perfectly and very elegantly produced copy.

Edition expanded with notes from all commentators and printed by L. Parrelle.
Half morocco bindings with Russian red leather and corners, spine with four raised bands set with broad gilt fillets decorated with gilt compartments enhanced at their centers with gilt typographical motifs, gilt friezes at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary bindings signed by Simier, binder to the King.
Frontispiece to the first volume with an engraved portrait of Malherbe.
Joints lightly rubbed, some minor foxing.
Handsome copy in a binding executed by one of the most prestigious binders of the nineteenth century.

New edition.
Full red shagreen bindings, spines slightly faded with four fine raised bands set with garlands in blind decorated with triple gilt compartments ornamented with gilt fleurons at corners, octuple gilt and blind fillets framing the boards, white watered silk endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle framing the pastedowns, garlands stamped in blind on the leading edges, all edges gilt, elegant unsigned bindings.
A small tear with loss of skin on the first board of the fifth volume, some minor foxing.
Handsome set in elegant uniform binding.

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 count found it so remarkably written that he published it as is. Furthermore, all the footnotes are also by Victor Hugo.

Fine copy in a magnificent contemporary romantic binding signed by Vogel.

Published by L. Aimé-Martin.
Superb red Russia, spine in six compartments with gilt fillets and double gilt compartments with gilt fleurons to centre, dates to foot of spine, gilt roulettes to head- and tail-pieces, tiny insignificant scratches to a few spines, triple gilt fillet frame to covers, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle frame to pastedowns, gilt fillets to edges of covers, all edges gilt.
With a portrait of Molière engraved by Taurel as frontispiece of first volume, as well as 18 illustrations by Desenne engraved by various artists.
A fine set in a superb uniform morocco binding.

New edition.
Full marbled sheep bindings, smooth spines decorated with gilt friezes and compartments richly ornamented, red morocco title-labels, black sheep volume labels, small holes and worming at foot of some spines, gilt rolls on headcaps, occasional light rubbing to some covers, marbled paper endpapers and pastedowns, gilt pointillé on leading edges, marbled edges, contemporary bindings.
Handsome set almost free from foxing.