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

Seven octavo volumes bringing together, in uniform contemporary bindings, the greater part of La Fontaine’s Works in the critical edition prepared by Charles-Athanase Walckenaer and published in Paris by Lefèvre in the early 1820s, with one important distinction: in place of the volume of Contes et nouvelles en vers originally intended for the set, an independent edition, abundantly illustrated after Eisen and published in Paris by the Libraires associés in 1791-1796, has been substituted.

First edition (see Brunet V, 1041. Quérard X, 472. Gay 299. Hoefer, XLVI, 498, who specifies that the last four volumes were written by Eyries).

Contemporary half red Russia morocco bindings with corners, spines with five raised bands, covers framed with blind fillets; marbled paper sides, endpapers and pastedowns; a few light scuffs to some covers; gilt top edges, others untrimmed; bindings of the period.

Some spines slightly faded; occasional foxing.

This work, originally intended to comprise 60 volumes, was never completed; only the section devoted to Africa was published.

It is illustrated with three folding maps at the end of volumes XVI, XVII and XVIII...

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...

Illustrated edition with 12 steel-engraved plates (including a frontispiece) by Proudhon, the others by Grodet, Desenne, and Moitte, all executed in the Neo-classical style. This edition was prepared by Aimé-Martin and includes Louis Racine’s memoir on the life of Jean Racine, as well as numerous footnotes by Aimé-Martin. The sixth volume contains various writings by Racine together with extracts from his correspondence, notably with Boileau.

Contemporary green half morocco-grained and glazed sheepskin binding, signed at the foot of the spine by Gartault. Spine with four false raised bands, decorated with a central blind-stamped rosette, two elaborate tools, tools on the bands, and...

First edition of the translation by F. de Bretonne, assistant curator at the Sainte-Geneviève Library, based on a comparison of all earlier versions. The work is enriched with a suite of 10 vignettes by Charlet, retaining its original pink paper wrapper with vignette dated 1831; the volume also includes a portrait of Cervantes.

Half long-grain claret morocco binding with corners, signed at the head of the front endpaper S. David, late 19th century. Spine with four raised bands, decorated with complex and stippled tools within compartments. Gilt fillets on the bands. Double gilt ruling along boards and corners. Minor rubbing to some bands, joints, and corners. One corner slightly...