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Lot 148
LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621-1695). Fables choisies. Paris: Desaint & Saillant and Durand, 1755-1759.
Closed13 December 2017
Price Realised
GBP 8,750
More Information
LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621-1695). Fables choisies. Paris: Desaint & Saillant and Durand, 1755-1759.
A fine set of the first edition of the Oudry-illustrated Fables. The frontispiece contains a portrait of La Fontaine being celebrated by his creations, and the first plate of fable CLXXII lacks the words ‘Le Leopard’ on the banner, indicating the first state. Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) illustrated La Fontaine’s fables between 1729 and 1734 after which Cochin turned the drawings into prints, thus creating the spectacular illustrations seen in the volumes. Besides the magnificent engraved plates, Ray rightly draws attention to the significance of the wood engravings at the end of each fable. 'This is one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books' (Ray). Cohen de Ricci, 548-550; Ray French 5.
4 volumes, folio (417 x 277mm). Engraved frontispiece and 275 plates (occasional insignificant spotting and staining). Contemporary French mottled calf, covers with gilt roll-tooled borders, gilt spines with red and green morocco gilt labels, gilt turn-ins and edges (head of spines restored, extremities faintly rubbed). Provenance: Wladyslawa Siedleckiego (bookplates and discreet stamps).
A fine set of the first edition of the Oudry-illustrated Fables. The frontispiece contains a portrait of La Fontaine being celebrated by his creations, and the first plate of fable CLXXII lacks the words ‘Le Leopard’ on the banner, indicating the first state. Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) illustrated La Fontaine’s fables between 1729 and 1734 after which Cochin turned the drawings into prints, thus creating the spectacular illustrations seen in the volumes. Besides the magnificent engraved plates, Ray rightly draws attention to the significance of the wood engravings at the end of each fable. 'This is one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books' (Ray). Cohen de Ricci, 548-550; Ray French 5.
4 volumes, folio (417 x 277mm). Engraved frontispiece and 275 plates (occasional insignificant spotting and staining). Contemporary French mottled calf, covers with gilt roll-tooled borders, gilt spines with red and green morocco gilt labels, gilt turn-ins and edges (head of spines restored, extremities faintly rubbed). Provenance: Wladyslawa Siedleckiego (bookplates and discreet stamps).
LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621-1695). Fables choisies. Paris: Desaint & Saillant and Durand, 1755-1759.
A fine set of the first edition of the Oudry-illustrated Fables. The frontispiece contains a portrait of La Fontaine being celebrated by his creations, and the first plate of fable CLXXII lacks the words ‘Le Leopard’ on the banner, indicating the first state. Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) illustrated La Fontaine’s fables between 1729 and 1734 after which Cochin turned the drawings into prints, thus creating the spectacular illustrations seen in the volumes. Besides the magnificent engraved plates, Ray rightly draws attention to the significance of the wood engravings at the end of each fable. 'This is one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books' (Ray). Cohen de Ricci, 548-550; Ray French 5.
4 volumes, folio (417 x 277mm). Engraved frontispiece and 275 plates (occasional insignificant spotting and staining). Contemporary French mottled calf, covers with gilt roll-tooled borders, gilt spines with red and green morocco gilt labels, gilt turn-ins and edges (head of spines restored, extremities faintly rubbed). Provenance: Wladyslawa Siedleckiego (bookplates and discreet stamps).
A fine set of the first edition of the Oudry-illustrated Fables. The frontispiece contains a portrait of La Fontaine being celebrated by his creations, and the first plate of fable CLXXII lacks the words ‘Le Leopard’ on the banner, indicating the first state. Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) illustrated La Fontaine’s fables between 1729 and 1734 after which Cochin turned the drawings into prints, thus creating the spectacular illustrations seen in the volumes. Besides the magnificent engraved plates, Ray rightly draws attention to the significance of the wood engravings at the end of each fable. 'This is one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books' (Ray). Cohen de Ricci, 548-550; Ray French 5.
4 volumes, folio (417 x 277mm). Engraved frontispiece and 275 plates (occasional insignificant spotting and staining). Contemporary French mottled calf, covers with gilt roll-tooled borders, gilt spines with red and green morocco gilt labels, gilt turn-ins and edges (head of spines restored, extremities faintly rubbed). Provenance: Wladyslawa Siedleckiego (bookplates and discreet stamps).
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