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Fables Choisies, mises en vers par J. de la Fontaine
by Jean de La Fontaine
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Acton, Massachusetts, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
First edition, very rare first print of the first issue; 4 folio volumes, 412x262 mm, of this extraordinary work, considered to be one of the finest illustrated books ever produced in France. Coeval binding, red morocco plates framed by golden roulette, smooth caramel-coloured spine with gold friezes and two inserts with title and volume number in gold, gold edges, marbled paper endpapers, cases lined with marbled paper.
Vol. I: Frontispiece, Full-page portrait, pages XXX, XVIII, 124, 70 Plates;
Vol. II: pp. [4], II, 135, 1 blank, 68 Plates;
Vol. III: pp. [4], IV, 146, 68 Plates;
Vol. IV: pp. [4], II, 188, 69 Plates.
All volumes with half-title and title pages unnumbered. Vignette in the title, engraved headpieces and finials, 209 woodcuts in the text. Splendid allegorical frontispiece with the bust of La Fontaine of Oudry, finished by Dupuis and engraved by Cochin, a portrait of Oudry engraved by Tardieu based on a design by Largillière (rarely found only in some cases) and 275 plates engraved in copper, numbered. I-CCXLV. Sporadic light foxing, beautiful specimen with wide margins. Very rare first print run of the first edition, with plate 172 'Le Singe et le léopard' without the legend in the banner (first issue point). Each of the four volumes is housed in beautiful custom box. Extra postage is required because this is a heavy set.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Timeless Tales Rare Books
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- H-139
- Title
- Fables Choisies, mises en vers par J. de la Fontaine
- Author
- Jean de La Fontaine
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition, First printing
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Chez Desaint & Saillant [et] Durand, De l'Imprimerie de Charles-Antoine Jombert
- Place of Publication
- Paris
- Date Published
- 1755-59
- Size
- 412x262 mm
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Note
- May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.
Terms of Sale
Timeless Tales Rare Books
We send all books promptly upon order approval. Returns are accepted only in like and undamaged condition within 30 days. Orders are shipped usually within 2 business days. Currently shipping within USA only. Additional insurance is added upon request with extra charges to buyer.
About the Seller
Timeless Tales Rare Books
Biblio member since 2023
Acton, Massachusetts
About Timeless Tales Rare Books
Timeless Tales Rare Books is a veteran-owned, independent, private bookseller specializing in antiquarian and rare books. Categories include first editions, historical, religious, literature classics, travels, scientific and children's books.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
- Plate
- Full page illustration or photograph. Plates are printed separately from the text of the book, and bound in at production. I.e.,...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Vignette
- A decorative design or illustration placed at the beginning or end of a ...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Marbled Paper
- Decorative colored paper that imitates marble with a veined, mottled, or swirling pattern. Commonly used as the end papers or...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
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