Oeuvres Choisies Du Comte De Tressan, avec figures

First collected edition, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait (engraved by de Launay after Bérel) and 20 figures by Marillier engraved by Delvaux, de Ghendt, Croutelle, Patas, Langlois jeune, de Monchy, de Launay. Volumes 11 and 12 comprise the author's posthumous works and bear volume numbers 1 and 2 on the title page. A third volume of these posthumous works would appear in 1800.
Contemporary full speckled calf. Smooth spine decorated with urn tools and stars; roulettes. Framing frieze on boards. Morocco title and volume labels in black. Headcaps of volumes 1, 4, 5, 8, 11 and 12 worn or partially worn. Foot caps of volumes 1, 2, 4, 6, likewise. Title and volume labels of volume 4 largely missing. Half of the title label of volume 7 is also absent. Headcap of volume 11 partially torn.
The Count of Tressan did much, through his adaptations, for the rehabilitation of the Middle Ages and Renaissance literature (that inherited from the 15th century). It is clear that at the end of the 18th century, these works would have been unreadable to the public. This interest in the Middle Ages would fully emerge with Romanticism, the Empire having brought antiquity back into fashion.
Here is the content of the first 10 volumes, the last two being composed of various works (letters, essays...): vols. 1-2. Free translation of Amadis of Gaul, vols. 1-2 -- vol. 3. Free translation of Amadis of Gaul, vol. 3. Extract from Orlando Innamorato by Matheo-Maria Boyardo, Count of Scandiano -- vols. 4-6. Orlando Furioso, heroic poem by Ariosto. vols. 7-10. Body of extracts from chivalric romances: 7. Preliminary discourse. Tristan of Léonois. Artus of Brittany. Flores and Blanche-Fleur. Cléomades and Claremonde. Romance of the Rose. Pierre of Provence and beautiful Maguelone. 8. The flower of battles. Huon of Bordeaux. Guérin of Montglave. 9. Dom Ursino the Navarin. Little Jehan of Saintré. Gerard of Nevers. 10. Research on the origin of novels invented before the Christian era. History of Rigda and Regner Lodbrog. Zélie, or The ingenue