Tarsis et Zélie

New illustrated edition in first printing. The illustrations comprise three frontispieces by Cochin, Moreau and Eisen, engraved by Gaucher, Ponce and Née; and 20 head-pieces by Eisen, engraved by Helman, De Longueil, Masquelier and Massard. Elegant illustrated work with careful layout.
Half olive green morocco binding with corners, late 19th century unsigned in a master binding. Spine with raised bands, decorated. Gilt title and date at tail. Gilt fillets on boards. Top edge gilt. Very pale dampstain on the first 4 leaves of volume II, at mid-page. Very handsome copy, perfectly established and of great freshness.
Novel originally published in 1665, which received its first illustration in 1720, this disguised biographical episode worked into a Greek pastoral tells of the misfortunes and adventures that prevented and delayed Le Vayer's marriage to Mlle Servin. The varied narrative draws its inspiration from Greek and Latin novels (Heliodorus's Aethiopica) or Cervantes's Persiles and Sigismunda. This novel, quite appreciated in its time, was adapted for opera in an eponymous work by Francoeur and Rebel.