Contes en prose et en vers, suivis de pièces fugitives, du poème d'Erminie, et de métastase à Naples

Second edition, expanded with some tales. The first edition appeared in 3 volumes in 18mo. Illustrated with three figures engraved by Tardieu.
Contemporary full tree calf binding. Smooth spine decorated with tools and roulettes. Red morocco title label, and black morocco volume label. Rubbing. A small lack to the tail headcap of volume 1. One corner opened.
The first volume gathers the tales in prose and the second the tales in verse as well as a theatrical piece.
A collection of light and gallant tales by François de Lantier. Verses he composed for Madame du Barry earned him a pension from Choiseul and a position in Dresden. He is the author of the voyages of Antenor. Of his tales, he himself wrote on this subject in his preface: "il vaut mieux faire des contes à dormir debout que des rêves politiques et avoir un petit commerce clandestin avec les Muses, que la charge des affaires publiques sur le dos." ["it is better to tell tall tales than to have political dreams and to have a small clandestine commerce with the Muses than to bear the burden of public affairs on one's back."]