Oeuvres complètes

New illustrated edition with 232 figures, principally by Borel. Volume XIV contains an additional suite by Moreau, a suite by Marillier and another anonymous suite. Copy on vellum paper, the figures on heavy vellum. At the end of the publisher's notice, a leaf with the price of works: the 20 volumes in-18, fine paper, in wrappers with 18 engravings...30Fr. The same with 212 engravings, in wrappers...60Fr. The same, 17 volumes, deluxe vellum paper, figures from first proofs...120Fr. The volumes may be purchased separately by works. While at Princeton University and the Royal Library of Denmark one finds only the edition in 20 volumes with 18 engravings, this copy proves more desirable in 17 volumes on vellum. According to the British Library copy, the edition which announced 212 engravings offered only 205, so the others were added.
Contemporary half Russia leather binding. Smooth spine decorated with 4 small concentric fleurons and roulettes. Red paper on boards imitating long-grained morocco. Some rubbing, notably to corners. Scattered foxing. Lacking the table for volume X. Some leaves protruding. Uncut copy.
Details of the collection: Vol. I-VII, L'ami des enfans et de l'adolescence. Vol. VIII, Le livre de famille, ou Entretiens familiers sur les connaissances les plus nécessaires à la jeunesse; Vol. IX-X, Bibliothèque des villages. Vol. XI, Introduction a la connoissance de la nature, imitée de l'anglois; Vol. XII-XIII, Choix de lectures pour les enfans, ou Recueil de contes, d'anecdotes et de traits de vertu, choisis des meilleurs auteurs. Vol. XIV, Idylles, romances, et autres poésies de Berquin; Vol. XV-XVI, Sandford et Merton, imité de l'anglois. Vol. XVII, Le petit Grandisson, imité du hollandois.
The author Berquin (1747-1791) specialized very early in children's literature, being indeed the first to have done so. His children's books enjoyed great popularity and were very frequently reprinted throughout the nineteenth century. English and German children of the late eighteenth century knew Berquin's work very well. The greater part of l'ami des enfants consists of short theatrical pieces (historical, moral, childish...), but one also finds numerous short tales and romances, letters, as well as a shipwreck narrative. Thus one counts in the general table of contents 106 entries. L'ami de l'adolescence also contains moral theatrical pieces, and other pieces more narrative or more clearly pedagogical; one should note La relation d'un naufrage sur l'île Royale, and le Système du monde mis à la portée de cet âge. Certain works are entirely devoted to instruction and pedagogy, such as L'introduction à la connaissance de la nature (notably through animal figures), or the Entretiens sur les connaissances... Moreover, it is not that Berquin was the first to extend this literature that is important, it is rather that one can situate at this period the introduction of childhood into our cultures, and Berquin is precisely an eloquent testimony to this. Furthermore, it was undoubtedly among the first times that one found so many children represented in illustration.