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two red books sitting on top of each other on a tablea book open on a table with a picture on itan open book with a picture of a man on ita person holding a book open to show a picture of a man and a womansomeone is holding a book open to a page with writing on it
MILLON

117 - LA FONTAINE (Jean de). Tales and Short Stories in Verse. Par…
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Estimate €150 - €250
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Description
LA FONTAINE (Jean de). Tales and Short Stories in Verse. Paris, A. Barraud, 1874. 2 vols. in-8, red Jansenist morocco, five-ribbed spine, gilt title and volume number, gilt headband, interior lace. Print run of 1,004 copies; no. 54 on laid paper. “A fine reprint of the Fermiers Généraux edition, featuring a new print run of the copperplate engravings, which have been retouched and restored; three previously rejected plates and 17 new tailpieces and finials have been added, bringing the total to 2 portraits, 83 plates and 74 headpieces, finials or tailpieces. This edition, authorised by the Ministry of the Interior in 1874, was prosecuted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in 1875. The authorisation stipulated that the publisher was not to sell any plates separately; driven by belated scruples and citing the sale of a few separate collections, the Public Prosecutor’s Office refused to recognise the ministerial authorisation as valid for the work because Barrault ‘had added three engravings to the 1762 edition of *Les Fermiers généraux* and because, moreover, the engravings bearing numbers 3 and 14 in Volume I, and 8, 9, 16, 20, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32 and 44 in Volume II, had to be destroyed as being too licentious. Consequently, Barraud was fined 500 francs, Delâtre, the engraver, 100 francs, and the copper plates were destroyed.” Rochambeau, p. 550, no. 167. A few scattered small pinholes and foxing in places, otherwise a fine, complete copy.
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About the sale Bibliophilia (sale without a live event)
Auction location
Auction time 09/09/2026 at 1:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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