Engraved throughout, 1765-75

Jean de La Fontaine:

Fables Choisies, mises en vers. […] Nouvelle edition gravée en taille-douce. Les figures par le Sr. Fessard. Le texte par le Sr. Montulay.
Paris 1765-75. 8vo. (20,5 x 13 cms.)

Engraved text, vignettes and plates: [2] + LXX + 100; + VI + 102; + IV + 96; + [6] + 134; + [4] + 103; + [4] + 116 pp. + 244 engraved plates (45 + 40 + 43 + 45 + 35 + 36).

Six volumes, contemporary mottled calf gilt. Worn, spines renewed and somewhat crudely attached, inner dentelles, gilt board edges, all edges gilt, later marbled and blank endleaves. Fine internally despite some occasional very slight finger-soiling and a few insignificant stains; blank endleaves browned.

First edition, first issue, without the name ”Des Lauriers” on title.

One of the most elaborate 18th century editions of the celebrated fables of Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695). The engraver and publisher Fessard (1714-1777), "graveur ordinaire du Cabinet du Roi", hoped to rival the edition of Oudry of the previous decade, and in fact surpassed it in the sheer number of engraved illustrations.

Cohen-de Ricci, 551. Ray, Art of the French Book, 61.

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