Tarsis et Zélie

New illustrated edition in first printing. The illustration comprises 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 page layout, printed on deluxe Holland paper, which explains why the work takes up considerably more space than the ordinary printing on laid paper, here 6 volumes against the usual 3.
Full speckled brown sheep binding ca 1800. Smooth spine decorated with 2 grotesque compartments, a fleuron and roulettes at tail. Orange morocco title and volume labels. Foliage frieze framing the boards. Rubbing. 3 corners slightly bumped. One nibbled area on the upper board of volume 2, a second on volume 2 (second part); another on the lower board of volume 3 (first part). 4 wormholes along the joints. 0.5cm trace of dampstain along the first frontispiece, in outer margin. Fairly loose stitching between leaves. Very handsome copy, perfectly established and of great freshness (despite rare scattered foxing).
Novel originally published in 1665, which received its first illustration in 1720, this biographical episode disguised and transformed into a Greek pastoral tells the misfortunes and adventures that prevented and delayed the marriage of Le Vayer with Mlle Servin. The varied narration draws its inspiration from Greek and Latin novels (Aethiopica by Heliodorus) or Persiles and Sigismunda by Cervantes. This novel, quite appreciated in its time, was adapted for opera in an eponymous title by Francoeur and Rebel.