fables de la fontaine, Antico o usato, Prima edizione (456 risultati)

First edition. A large paper copy with leaves measuring 465 x 330 mm (18 3/8 x 13 inches). Four volumes handsomely bound in contemporary French mottled calf. Red and green morocco spine labels with rich gilt detailing, marbled end-papers and all edges marbled. Discreet repairs to the spine ends without rebacking. Internal contents are generally in excellent condition although with the occasional spot of foxing and with a few worm pinholes running through the blank margins. Front inner hinge of Volume IV cracked but holding and slight age-toning to text leaves in that volume. Collating: [iv], xxx, xviii, 124; [iv], ii, 135, [1 blank]; [iv], iv, 146; [iv], ii, 188 [2 blanks]. Complete with the engraved frontis, the extra engraved portrait of Oudry (found only in some copies) and 275 other engraved plates after Jean-Baptiste Oudry by Cochin, Tardieu, Prevost, Chedel, Lempereur, and others, as well as numerous woodcut title vignettes, headpieces and tailpieces. The first plate for Fable CLXXII, "Le Singe et le Leopard" (facing p. 112 in Vol. III), is in the second state with the words "Le Leopard" on the banner. Bookplate of "John Drummond" in all four volumes and a second bookplate with the name illegible. After he became director of the Beauvais tapestry factory, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1685-1755) began to amuse himself sketching subjects from La Fontaine's Fables. He made a total of 276 sketches between 1729 and 1735. The story of how they became the illustrations of the Fables of 1755 - 1759 is told in the "Avertissement de l'editeur" in Volume I by the publisher Montenault, who had bought the sketches. Ourdry's subjects being landscapes and animals, which he had drawn freely for his own enjoyment, Cochin undertook the responsibility of turning these freehand drawings into finished prints. Although Oudry's skill at portraying animals and his interpretation of La Fontaine's humor can hardly be surpassed, Cochin's sure and experienced hand did much to improve the original designs, particularly the figures. He redrew them, correcting the figures and background and supplying precise lines for the engravers. La Fontaine's towering classic of French literature. "They are like a basket of strawberries. You begin by selecting the largest and best, but, little by little, you eat first one, then another, till at last the basket is empty," wrote the famed wit Madame de Sevigne. La Fontaine did not start writing full time until he was over thirty, but he would become one of the major figures in the French canon. His fables are his most well known and well regarded work -- he collected and adapted close to 240 of them. In early editions, La Fontaine drew chiefly from classical western sources, like Aesop and Phaedrus, but as the fables grew in popularity and he added more to them, he would draw from Eastern and Oriental stories as well as Continental ones. The Fables were first released on 1668, with the final 12th book published in 1694. "La Fontaine became the greatest lyric poet of his time" (New York Review of Books).

4 volumes. First edition, first issue of this extraordinary work, considered to be one of the finest illustrated books ever produced in France, and considered by Ray to be "one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books. The plate entitled "Le Singe et le Léopard" is first issue and is without lettering in the banner. Engraved frontispiece, and with the engraved portrait Oudry by Tardieu after de Largillière included in only some copies, and 275 engraved plates after Jean-Baptiste Oudry by Cochin, Tardieu, Prévost, Chedel Lempereur and others. As well, there are over 200 very finely engraved vignettes, head- and tail-pieces by Lesueur after Bachelier. Large folio, 15 3/4 x 11 inches, bound in very handsome contemporary full motteled calf, the boards framed with gilt double-ruled lines, the spine with wide bands creating gilt framed compartments, each double-gilt ruled and decorated in a floral motif including large central gilt flowers, two compartments with contrasting red and brown morocco labels gilt lettered, endpapers marbled and a.e.g. Vol. I: [4], xxx, xvii, 124pp. 70 plates, frontispiece engraving, portrait engraving of Oudry; Vol. II: [4], ii, 135pp. 68 plates; Vol. III: [4], 146 pp. 68 plates; Vol. IV: [4], ii, 188 pp. 69 plates A fine and handsome set, very well preserved with only light evidence of use or age, confined primarily to the extremities, the tips and hinges with some very sympathetic, expert and unobtrusive refurbishment. The plates and text-blocks generally very clean and fresh. Occasionally a bit of the toning typical to the work. RARE FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE OF WHAT IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST FRENCH BOOKS OF ALL TIME AND ONE OF THE FINEST ILLUSTRATED BOOKS EVER TO BE PRODUCED, ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS AND SUCCESSFUL EVER PRODUCED, AND THE ZENITH OF THE 18TH CENTURY DECORATED BOOK IN FRANCE. 'THE FABLES of La Fontaine are known universally and exhibit the versatility and fecundity of the author's talent more fully than any of his other work. For his edition of THE FABLES, La Fontaine, the great French poet took inspiration from Aesop, Horace, Boccaccio and Ariosto and Tasso, Machiavelli's comedies, and Eastern stories that in his epoch were transmitted through translations from the Persian. The boldness of the politics is as much to be considered as the ingenuity of the moralizing, as the intimate knowledge of human nature displayed in the substance of the narratives, or as the artistic mastery shown in their form. Perhaps the best criticism ever passed upon La Fontaine's FABLES is that of Silvestre de Sacy, to the effect that they supply delights to three different ages: the child rejoices in the freshness and vividness of the story, the eager student of literature in the consummate art with which it is told, the experienced man of the world in the subtle reflections on character and life which it conveys. Nor has any one, with the exception of a few paradoxers.denied that the moral tone of the whole is as fresh and healthy as its literary interest is vivid. The book has therefore naturally become a standard French reader both at home and abroad. It is no small testimony to its merit that not even this use (or misuse) has interfered with its popularity. Oudry, (1686 - 1755) was one of the most famous artists of France. His artwork, designed for La Fontaine's FABLES, the most famous production of the great French author is considered the most masterful interpretation of the most famous fabulist. He served both Louis XV and Louis Fagon (1680-1744), an Intendant des Finances and book collector. Oudry decorated his houses in Vanves and Fontenay-aux-Roses with arabesques, flowers and birds. Fagon was charged with reviving the fortunes of the tapestry manufactory of Beauvais, which had flourished under Colbert, and he gave the task to Oudry and his associate, Besnier, in 1734. Oudry succeeded in his tasks, becoming wealthy in the process. His success at Beauvais.

Hardcover. Condizione: Very Good. 1st Edition. 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 (found only in some examples) 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.

Hardcover. Condizione: Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, one of 20 deluxe copies sur japon. 4to. (33 x 26.5 cm), in red half morocco binding. 316 pp., with 310 illustrations, with 85 in colour by Benjamin Rabier.

FIRST EDITION THUS. 6 vols. 8vo (20 x 13 cm). Entirely engraved. Uniformly bound in polished French contemporary mottled calf, sides ruled with three gilt fillets, flat spines ruled in compartments enclosing gilt fleuron devices, red morocco labels, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In total 254 engraved plates comprising 7 engraved titles, engraved frontispiece, engraved dedication, and 245 engraved plates, plus 243 vignettes, and 226 culs-de-lampe by Bardin, Bidault, Caresme, Desrais, Houël, Kobell, Leclère, Leprince, Loutherbourg, Meyer and Monnet. The text engraved by Montulay and Drouët. Ex libris Michel Cail with their book plate to each volume. Some trivial shelfwear, contents clean, generally an excellent set. "This work was the creation of the engraver Fessard, who dedicated it to the Dauphin. He evidently hoped to rival the great edition illustrated by Oudry, and in this effort he didn't altogether fail. With regard to profusion of illustrations, indeed, he far surpassed the edition of 1755-1759. There are a plate and a headpiece for each of the 243 fables, and a tailpiece for all but seventeen. Moreover, since the text, like the designs, is engraved, the ensemble is as harmonious as it is elegant" (Ray). *Cohen-de Ricci calls for 243 plates; there seem to be varying plate counts from copy to copy but in any case this example is more than complete. (Cohen-De Ricci 551; Ray 61).

Anvers: Henry van Dunewalt, (parts 1, 2, and 4) and La Haye: Henry van Bulderen, (part 3), 1688. 4 vols. in one, thick 12mo, (18), 1-233 (5, table)pp. Engraved general title by Romeyn de Hooghe, separate letterpress titles to each volume, small engraved plate at the head of each fable all by Henrik Cause. Old speckled calf, gilt backstrip, gilt rubbed largely away but quite sound. In all an excellent copy of a very scarce and important book. § First printing thus, this copy inscribed at the front in an early hand "Au Comte Frobenius de Furstenberg" with the donor's initials inked out. As there were two Furstenberg families it is unclear exactly to whom this copy was donated. Landwehr (p. 314) notes: "The first illustrated edition of [La Fontaine's Fables] was published in March 1668. in Paris. It would take yet twelve years before the 124 fables were published in the Low Countries. in 1688. the first illustrated edition was published in Antwerpen by Henry van Dunewalt who commissioned Henrik Cause to make the illustrations. And so the first illustrated Fables Choisies saw the light outside of France. Simultaneously or a little later it was also published in The Hague by Henry van Bulderen." Landwehr F-119.

Rilegato. Condizione: quasi ottimo. Condizione sovraccoperta: buono. prima edizione. EDIZIONE COMPLETA DI 6 VOLUMI In 8° Legatura contemporanea in pieno vitello con triplice filetto in oro ai piatti, titolo in oro e fregi al dorso, tagli dorati (sciupata). Prima tiratura di questa bella edizione delle Favole di La Fontaine, e uno dei più importanti libri Illustrati del Settecento, nella quale persino il testo è interamente inciso su rame. L apparato illustrativo, copioso e in fresca impressione, comprende [1] antiporta, [6] frontespizi, [243] tavole, [243] testatine e [226] finalini, il tutto inciso in rame da Fessard da disegni di Bardin, Bidault, Caresme, Desrais, Houël, Kobell, Leclère, Leprince, Loutherbourg, Meyer et Monnet. Vol. 1: [2], LXXI, [1], 100 p., [45] c. di tav. calcogr. Vol. 2: VI, 102 p., [40] c. di tav. calcogr. Vol. 3: IV, 95, [1] p., [43] c. di tav. calcogr. Vol. 4: IV: [6], 134 p., [45] c. di tav. calcogr. Vol. 5: [4], 103 p., [35] c. di tav. calcogr. Vol. 6: [4], 115 p. e [36] tavole.

6 volumes octavo 7 1/2 x 5 inches handsomely leather bound in full period calf, twin leather lettering labels, fine marbled endpapers, gilt edges. First edition. Collates as per the bibliography Cohen, de Ricci 551. Volume one- 2 engraved titles, frontispiece lxxi, 100 pages and 44 plates, volume two- engraved title vi, 102 pages and 40 plates, volume three- engraved title iv, 95 pages and 43 plates, volume four- engraved title (vi), 134 pages and 45 plates, volume five- (iv), 103 pages and 35 plates, volume six- (iv), 115 pages and 36 plates. Complete. IN TOTAL - 6 engraved titles (actually 7 as there are 2 in volume one), a frontispiece, 243 plates, 226 culs-de-lamps and 243 vignettes - engraved by Etienne Fessard after Bardin, Bidault, Caresme, Desrais, Houel, Kobell, Meyer and Monnet. Issue points - volumes 1-3 printed Chez L'Auteur, volume 4 chez Durand, Deslauriers, volume 5 chez L,Auteur, volume 6 chez Des Lauriers. Minor repair to the bindings otherwise a near fine complete copy. THE FESSARD EDITION.

Leather Binding. Condizione: Very Good. Condizione sovraccoperta: No Dust Cover. First Edition. Two volumes, (The Fables of La Fontaine) moroccan leather with marbelled boards, TWO VOLUME SET 1814, text in French, illustrated with engravings"De Limprimerie de Crapelete" Nouvelle edition, some foxing to endpapers.

4 volumes, 8vo, pp. [4], 32,105, [3]; [4], 139, [1]; [4], 147, [1]; [4], 128; uncut and partially unopened; numerous decorative woodcut cul-de-lampe tailpieces throughout all four volumes (I: 41; II: 49; III: 58; IV: 46), many used more than once, and including tiny abstract designs, floral arrangements, and outdoor scenes; some gatherings printed on tinted paper; original blue paper-covered boards, brown paper shelfback, printed paper labels on spines; label on volume III largely perished; cracks and minor loss of paper at the joints and spines, moderate foxing; a good copy or better, and rare in boards. Preserved in a blue cloth dropback box. Another issue (edition?), decidedly later, contains a portrait and 15 plates by Perdoux and has a varying imprint. In that, the title is expanded to read: La Fontaine's fables. Now first translated from the French, with elegant engraved figures. First edition of this verse translation. Includes "A sketch of La Fontaine's Life and Character," La Fontaine's original preface here translated into English, and Thomson's translator's preface. In volume II is added "A sketch of Æsop's life from Croxall." "Although Jean de la Fontaine (1621-95) is the author of a rich and varied body of writing, he is known in English for one masterwork only. The Fables (1668-93), a subtle, varied, witty reworking of Aesop and other fabulists, seem quintessentially French, but in their freedom offer a wonderful opportunity to the poet-translator . Early renderings by John Dennis (in his Miscellanies of 1693) and particularly by the author of The Fable of the Bees, Bernard de Mandeville, recast a few fables in jolly octosyllables in the manner of Butler's Hudibras . [but] the first more or less complete translation was published over a century later by Robert Thomson (fl. 1790-1810). His verse lacks the terseness and subtly of the original, but gives a truer idea of it than the cavalier version of John Matthews [published in London in 1820]" (Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation). In his preface, Thomson admits the difficulty of translating the Fables ("I have heard it urged by gentlemen . that a La Fontaine only could translate La Fontaine.") but he wanted to free a text which has "remained locked up in its own language for near a century and a half, or known only in English by some wretched translations in prose . In all the performances I have seen, wearing the mask of his name, I see nothing but La Fontaine wholly misunderstood, mangled, or murdered" (Thomson's preface).

Couverture souple. Condizione: Bon état. 2 volumes in-8, broché à la chinoise yamato-toji, 54 - 54 pp., ff. imprimés au recto et repliés, cordons de soie deux en haut et deux en bas, à la fois croisés et liés à l'avant. 29 compositions en couleurs, dont une répétée en couverture et 28 à double page hors-texte, gravées sur bois et portant toutes le sceau de l'artiste, nombreuses vignettes in t. tirées en noir. Pages de titre en noir et bistre. Édition originale, second tirage non justifié, paru la même année que le tirage de luxe de ce célèbre ouvrage illustré de 28 estampes hors-texte en couleurs en double-page par Kajita Hanko, Kano Tomonobu, Okakura Shusui, Kawanabe Kyosui et Eda Mahiko, et de nombreuses vignettes en noir dans le texte. Curieuse édition des fables de La Fontaine appartenant au genre des livres sur papier crépon publiée à Tokyo entre 1885 et le début du XXe siècle à l'intention d'une clientèle occidentale surplace, mais aussi et surtout pour l'exportation. Bon exemplaire. in-12°.

Rilegato. Condizione: buone condizioni. Doré (illustratore). First Edition. In 4°; Legatura coeva mezza pelle con titolo e dorature, tutti i tagli hanno doratura a specchio; pagine (10)+LX+864+(4) + Ritratto La Fontaine al controfrontespizio + 84 Tavole dei Dorè a piena pagina complete delle relative veline. Testo in cornice a doppio filetto ricco di immagini, di testatine e cul de lamp. L'opera presenta interni eccellenti, assenti anche le normali fioriture, al secondo foglio bianco è presente una dedica in antica ed elegante grafia datata (1871) e firmata. Edizione rara.

Full-Leather. Condizione: Very Good. No Jacket. Gustave Dore (illustratore). 1st Edition. Aesop's fables as written by De La Fontaine. Translated into English verse by Walter Thornbury. Illustrated by the famous Gustave Dore. Contains an essay on the life and works of De La Fontaine, The life of Aesop the Phrygian, and a dedication to the Dauphin. The book is large slightly over quarto size. Beautifully bound in full leather with Dore's coat of arms on the front board in gilt. Ribbed spine. Published by Cassel etc. but no date listed. Some aging of the pages and the leather shows its age. A rare book. Pub. date guess is late 1800's.

First edition of Taine's doctoral thesis, both his first published and perhaps his scarcest work. Using La Fontaine as a starting point, Taine expounds his theory of aesthetics (largely borrowed from Hegel) and studies 17th-century French society and the court of Louis XIV. Octavo (217 x 132 mm). Recent black quarter morocco to style, spine lettered in gilt, marbled sides and endpapers; original printed wrappers bound in. Restoration to wrappers and corners of first two leaves, contents foxed; a good copy.

rigide. Condizione: Bon. 2 vol. petit in-8 reliure de l'époque pleine basane marbrée, dos lisse orné, Chez F. J. Desoer, Liège, s.d. [ circa 1750 ], 101 pp. et 1 f., 110 pp. ; 110 pp. ; 112 pp., 109 pp. et 1 f., 101 pp. et 1 f. Edition originale de ce rare ouvrage, proposant 300 fables mise en musique (avec la partition), "composés sur le ton des Lulli, des Lambert & des Rameau, qui ont vécu dans un siècle qui s'est distingué dans les ouvrages de goût & s'y est immortalisé". Eta très satisfaisant (coiffes arasées, reliure lég. frottées, étiquettes de cote en dos en tête et queue, bon état par ailleurs) Langue: Français.

Hardcover. Condizione: Very Good. 1st Edition. [Fontaine, Jean de la]. Fables de La Fontaine / illustrations de Felix Lorioux. Paris: Librairie Hachette, 1929. First edition, thus, signed by the illustrator in black ink below the image on the last page. Hardback, VG. Illustrated paper-covered boards, bumped to corners, tanned to edges, with a few blemishes and shallow scratches on the back. Green cloth spine, a little creased. Binding strong. Illustrated endpapers, a little tanned to edges. Full colour title page. 72pp. of colour illustrations. Contents clean and bright. Félix Lorioux (1872 1964) was a French illustrator. Born in Angers, he began to study art as an apprentice (with painters on glass), then in Angers and Paris Ecole des Beaux Arts. He was employed by Citroën (French car manufacturer) as a drafter for a few years, then as an illustrator for Hachette (Fables de La Fontaine, Contes de Perrault. A friend of Walt Disney, who admired his work, he was then hired to illustrate Mickey stories for the French market, as well as The Silly Symphony. But Lorioux' style, full of humour and fancy, widely inspired by Art nouveau and Japanese painting, was too far from Disney world, and the contract was broken in 1934. A quiet man, with no interest in self-promotion, Lorioux took on a career as a book illustrator, and became one of France s best loved artists. Among his main achievements, illustrations for Le Buffon des enfants, a best-seller book of natural history for children. RightWayUp Books aims to provide accurate and detailed descriptions. All images are of the actual book for sale - no stock images are ever used. Thank you for looking at this listing. Signed by Illustrator(s).

Full Morocco. Condizione: Very Good. First Edition Thus. First Grandville-illustrated edition in English. Extra-illustrated! 8vo. 240 by 14.5 cm. xlvii, [1], 244, [4], 339 pp. With 60 Grandville plates from the Fournier first edition of 1839, fifteen of which have been hand-colored especially for this copy, and with Grandville's head and tailpieces and numerous text vignettes. With the extra-illustration, there are an additional 36 hand-colored plates plus 17 B/W engravings by Massard, Collyer, Schroeder, etc. See Gordon Ray, Art of the French Illustrated Book, no. 191. Also Grand Carteret II, 357-358. Bound in full red crushed Levant morocco. Double gilt fillets. Five gilt ruled raised bands. Six double gilt bordered compartments. Gilt tooled edge corners. Scattered foxing -- most leaves unaffected, but occasionally somewhat heavy. Light wear to the binding. Still a highly attractive and unique copy.

Large octavo (10 1/2 x 7 inches; 266 x 178 mm.). Publisher's quarter green morocco over green pebbled cloth over boards. Covers ruled in blind, spine with four raised bands, decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, watered silk paper end-leaves, all edges gilt. Collating [4], xxiv, 598, [1, epitaph], [3, blank]. Inserted engraved frontispiece and 240 engraved illustrations of the fables as well as numerous engraved head and tail pieces. A Near Fine copy. "In these designs, the most popular he ever drew, Grandville presents La Fontaine's beasts acting like men and sometimes costumed like them. Since La Fontaine's poems are a veiled commentary on human behavior, this formula works to admiration. Even Oudry's drawings do not always match Grandville's in psychological penetration, however superior they may be in other respects. Grandville is effective as well with uncostumed animals, even if he sometimes took them from Buffon rather than from life, but less so with human subjects" (Ray). Early printing of this illustrated edition, first published in 1838-40.

Couverture rigide. Condizione: Assez bon. Edition originale. ab1796, LA FONTAINE (Jean de) ; RABIER (Benjamin) Fables de La Fontaine illustrées par Benjamin Rabier. Paris Jules Tallandier 1906 In-4 (32,5 x 26 cm.), 316 pp. reliure cartonnée, rouge,4è plat très défraichie coupes biseautées, plat estampé d'un décor noir, rouge et or, cente du plat polychrome, ( manque de papier au centre). Illustrations en monochromie (bistre, noir, bleu) ou en polychromie. Première édition dans son cartonnage. Décolorations au cartonnage 4è plat, rares rousseurs. Un des chefs d'oeuvres de Benjamin Rabier (1864-1939). Voir les photos.

Couverture souple. Condizione: Bon. Edition originale. 2 volumes grand in-8 cousus à la japonaise avec cordons de soie, couvertures illustrées en couleurs. Ouvrages relié avec un pliage spécial japonais en accordéon. Exemplaire non numéroté, Couverture légèrement salie. L'éditeur de Tokyo est Kané-Mitsou Masao et l'imprimeur Shueisha, sont ici sous la direction de P. Barboutau. Le texte très aéré est orné de bandeaux et culs de lampes en noir faisant office d'illustrations en résonnances avec chaque fable. Edition originale admirablement illustrée à pleines pages est composée de 2 couvertures illustrées et de 28 estampes japonaises originales en couleur par Hanko KAJITA ; Tomonobu KANO ; Shûsui OKAKURA ; Kyôsui KAWANABE ; Sadahiko EDA. La découverte de l'estampe japonaise créa une véritable demande en France à laquelle Hasegawa Tojiro et de Pierre Barbouteau, éditeur français installé au Japon tentèrent de répondre par l'ambitieux projet consistant à illustrer les Fables de la Fontaine par des artistes japonais. Le gout de la mise en scène animalière dans la culture traditionnelle japonaise a présidé à ce choix. Le résultat fut une merveilleuse surprise. Les illustrateurs interprétant pour la première fois les fables réussirent faire passer non seulement l'esprit du fabuliste mais aussi toute la délicatesse de l'esthétique japonaise. Hanko Kajita, Tomonobu Kano, Shûsui Okakura, Kyôsui Kawanabe et Sadahiko Eda renouvelant le marché de l'estampe alors tombé en désuétude au japon créèrent un véritable événement tant en occident qu'en extrême orient. La naissance du mouvement japoniste en France dut beaucoup à l'estampe japonaise, mais c'est la première fois que les artistes japonais imaginèrent une uvre de pure création en s'appuyant sur la littérature classique occidentale. Imprimé à Tokyo dans l'imprimerie de Tsoukidji selon les techniques traditionnelles, expédié et vendu en France chez Flammarion l'entreprise fut une réussite. L'imaginaire Shintô s'adaptait ainsi miraculeusement au génie de Jean de la Fontaine.

12mo, pp. xviii, [ii], 556; woodcut device on title; light spotting in places, but largely clean and fresh throughout; in nineteenth century half dark green morocco, marbled boards, spine gilt in compartments between raised bands, marbled edges; very slight rubbing to joints, but still a good copy.First edition, rare, of what has a claim to be the first comprehensive collection of French fables from the period after La Fontaine, assembled by the diplomat, lawyer, and historian Louis-Théodore Herissant (17431811). Collecting together fables from writers both famous (Voltaire, J.B. Rousseau, Boileau) and obscure, the work includes many hitherto unpublished fables, in many cases offered to Herissant by their authors for this anthology, as well as others that have appeared in publications such as the Mercure de France. In all, we find 323 fables, divided into sixteen sections, including a final section of 'Apologies Orientaux', kept separate as a comparatively recent genre (although there is little of the Orient about them). The volume concludes with brief biographical sketches of the (known) authors.Hérissant was the author of various works including a biography of Malebranche, an essay on taste, a comedy, and an historical survey of German literature; he studied German law and was appointed secretary of the legation to the Diet of Regensburg in 1772.Outside Continental Europe, OCLC records copies at Stanford, Duke, Brown, and the London Library.

Hardcover. Condizione: Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. First edition of La Fontaine's Fables, 1886 Art Edition, illustrated by Gustave Dore. This book is leather hardcover and in very good condition. The spine is slightly starting to separate from the book, and there's some signs of wear along the edges of the leather. Other than that, it's in great condition.

Hardcover. Condizione: Good. 1st Edition. The first published collection of La Fontaine in English translation. Leather-bound. Hardback. Octavo (20cm x 12.5cm x 2.5cm). Pp. [10], iii-xxvi, [6], 293 [i.e.295], [1]. [Pp. 175-176 are repeated in pagination]. Signatures: a-b⁸ c⁴ B-T⁸ U⁴ Parallel French and English texts. Handsomely bound in recent quarter leather, smooth spine with gilt lettering, marbled paper-covered boards. Title-page device, decorative initials, and ornamental head- and tail-pieces. Condition: GOOD. Collated complete. Binding tight and secure with the hinges intact. Slight rubbing to some extremities. Interior lightly toned in places, a little erosion to title-page, 18th century newspaper clipping tipped-in verso title-page, coupe of leaves with slight chipping to fore edge, else very good. Notes: A parallel text edition in English and French, and the first appearance in English of the collected fables. It was preceded in 1703 by Mandeville's delightful verse translation of just 29 of the fables. This edition presents 100 fables in English prose with the French verse on the facing page. The translation is accurate, and intended for use in schools, but inevitably loses much of the character present in the original verse. A possible candidate for translator of this might be Daniel Bellamy the Elder, who had brought out an edition of Gay's Fables the previous year, and Phaedrus' Fables in 1734 (also published by Bettesworth & Hitch and designed for schools). Whoever he was, the timing of his publication is no coincidence, with a burgeoning market for new school texts. The work is dedicated to Miss Eliza Harcourt, of Pendley, near Fring (i.e Tring) in Hertfordshire, from whose family the anonymous translator appears to have received a degree of patronage. He identifies himself as being from Plaistow in Essex, and addressing Miss Harcourt and her sisters he hopes that, 'one circumstance which I believe, will please you in the following sheets, is, the lovely prospect they exhibit of the rural retreat'. A view that would have been shared by Defoe who in his Tour (1724-1726) described the estate at Pendley as 'a delightful retirement to a man who wants to deceive life in an habitation which has all the charms nature can give, with a large common rounded by a wood behind it'. ESTC T154423.

Hardcover. Condizione: As New. Jean de Grandville (illustratore). 1st Edition. 8vo. 2 volumes. in full straight grain crimson gilt morocco extra period bindings very fine this is the 2nd issue of the 1st edition of the Grandville illustrated famed fables of Jean de la Fontaine a 17th century Fabulist. a superb set. with the steel engravings by the imaginative artist, Jean de Grandville.

Granville, J.J. First American edition of the Wright translation, and the first American edition with Grandville's illustrations. Illustrated by J.J. Granville. xlviii, 245; 339 pp. Stereotyped at the Boston Type and Stereotype Foundary. 2 vols. Royal 8vo. Original brown cloth with gilt stamped Urn on upper and lower covers. A Very fine copy with just a hint of foxing and rubbing Illustrated by J.J. Granville. xlviii, 245; 339 pp. Stereotyped at the Boston Type and Stereotype Foundary. 2 vols. Royal 8vo First American edition of the Wright translation, and the first American edition with Grandville's illustrations.

Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, London and New York, no date [1870]. Folio. Frontespiece portrait+839 pages. Illustration with 300 wood cuts. Bound in a red full calf binding with five raised bands and blindtooled ornaments to spine and boards. Three edges gilt. One large scratch across the upper board, as well as a few tiny white spots. Slight edgewear. Corners slightly bumped. Some foxing due to the paper quality. P. 23 with a tape restoration. Very good+ copy. * Early edition of this magnificent edition of these renowned fables with Dorés iconic woodcut illustrations from the French edition published in 1867. Several editions in English were published between 1867 and 1870, but as this not only states 'London', but also is a New York edition, it is probably from 1870. This seems to be the first American edition to feature Dorés illustrations.

The Folio Society. 2013. First edition thus. Limited to 1000 copies signed and numbered by Quentin Blake, this being number 782. Bound in full Indian goatskin, blocked in gilt with a design by Blake. Top edge gilt. Profusely illustrated. Fine in sl. rubbed and marked slipcase.

Cuir. Condizione: Bon. Auguste DELIERRE (illustratore). Ed. originale. Paris: A. Quantin, 1883. Edition originale collationnée complète. Deux volumes grand in-4°. xliii-310; ix-354pp. + 75 eaux-fortes hors texte sous serpentes. Reliure demi-cuir (dos à nerfs orné de dorures, quelques traces de frottement, tête dorée, couvertures d'origine conservées, quelques rousseurs éparses, eaux-fortes en parfait état). Bel exemplaire en bon état. Format 24,5 x 33 cm. Poids 7,4 kg. Livre ancien.

8vo., First Edition thus, with coloured frontispiece and numerous fine full-page illustrations in the text; green full crushed morocco, upper board and backstrip lettered in gilt, gilt top, green endpapers, a fine copy in publisher's board slip-case blocked in gilt. EDITION LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES NUMBERED AND SIGNED BY THE ILLUSTRATOR (THIS COPY NO. 80).

RIGIDA. Condizione: ottimo. Prima edizione. Fables de La Fontaine. Illustrées par Benjamin Rabier Tallandier 1906 Formato in 4, PRIMA STAMPA di 310 composizioni di cui 85 a colori di Benjamin RABIER. Buono stato di conservazione, legatura policroma rossa con alcuni difetti e scolorimenti d'uso sui piatti in particolare all'illustrazione di copertina piuttosto ingiallita. Volume oggetto di un intervento di rinforzo alla legatura e alle prime 4 pagine. Segni del tempo diffusi ai margini e angoli della copertina, pagine brunite ma in buono stato e senza fioriture. Non esitate a contattarci per altre foto o richieste. Saremo lieti di soddisfare ogni vostra esigenza. Libro.