Fables Choisies Mises en Vers by Jean De La Fontaine - 1792

Amsterdam: Chez Zacharie Chatelain, 1727-8. Leather. Good Only. 6" by 4". Francois Chauveau; Henrik Cause. A collection of Jean de la Fontaine's 'Fables', illustrated throughout, in the original French. Parts III, IV and V of Jean de La Fontaine's famous Fables. In the original French. Illustrated throughout, with over one hundred beautifully engraved vignettes as headers for each fable. Illustrations are engraved by the Antwerp engraver Henrik Cause and are modelled after drawings by Francois Chauveau. de La Fontaine's Fables are known universally as they showcase his versatility and fecundity as an author. His fables derived from those by Aesop and Horace, which he rendered into short and simple verses easily memorised by children. His fables earned royal patronage and display deep insights into human nature. Lacking parts I and II of this five part series. So three out of the five parts present. Jean de La Fontaine was the most famous French fabulist and one of the most widely… Read More

Paris: Compagnie des Libraires, 1709. Leather. Good. 6.5" by 3". Not Stated. Two volumes of Jean de la Fontaine's historic fables, here written in the original French, and adorned with head-pieces throughout. In two volumes, being Volumes I and II of a total of five volumes. Written in the original French. A collection of Fontaine's famous fables, which were collected from a wide variety of both Western and Eastern sources. Fontaine adapted the fables into French free verse. Some of the fables include 'The Acorn and the Pumpkin', 'The Tortoise and the Hare', and 'The Dog and the Wolf'. Illustrated throughout with headpieces to each fable. Jean de la Fontaine was best known for being a fabulist, and was one of the most popular and widely read French poets of his time, with his popularity still strong hundreds of years after his death. Prior owner's ink inscription to the front pastedowns, 'Margaret Emma Kenyon, Christmas Day, 1845'. Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto to… Read More

Paris: Desaint et Saillant, 1755. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. Oudry, Jean-Baptiste; 42 Engravers, Including Cochin, Tardieu, Prevost, Chedel, Lempereur, Etc.. Elephant Folio - over 15. 1755 - 1759. 4 volumes, 420 by 285 mm or 16.5 by 11 inches. With 276 (1 extra) illustrated plates designed by Oudry (1685 - 1755), as well as half-titles, engraved title pages, head and tailpieces. Extra plate is the second version of the plate found by page 112 of Vol 3, for the Fable CLXXII, "Le Singe et le Leopard".) Bound in is the first state of the plate, which did not have the word "Leopard" on the banner. Included, but not presently bound, is the second state, with "Leopard" on the banner. Contemporary calf rebacked preserving spines, covers panelled in gilt. Spines tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments containing urn motif, with red morocco lettering labels. Marbled endpapers. Some very intermittent spotting. Faint dampstain to front blanks of Vols 1 and 2. Hinges strengthened, rebacked. Some… Read More