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1103 - LA FONTAINE (Jean de). Tales and Short Stories in Verse.
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Estimate €3,000 - €4,000
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Description
LA FONTAINE (Jean de). Tales and Short Stories in Verse. Amsterdam [Paris], n.p. [Barbou], 1762. 2 volumes, in-8 (180 x 115 mm), green morocco, embossed spine, title and volume number in gold, place and date at the foot, triple gold fillet framing the covers with gold fleurons in the spandrels, interior lace, edges gilt on marbled paper (Hardy), in a later slipcase. 2 vols. in-8 comprising XIV-(2)-268-16-[2] pp., 1 portrait and 39 illustrations; (2)-VIII-(2)-306-(4) pp., 1 portrait and 41 illustrations. The so-called ‘Fermiers-généraux’ edition, which concludes with five tales not by La Fontaine, namely: *La Couturière*, *Le Gascon* and *La Cruche* by Autereau; ‘To Promise Is One Thing, to Keep One’s Word Is Another’ by Vergier; and ‘The Nightingale’, attributed either to Lamblin or to Du Trousset de Valincourt. The illustrations consist of 2 portraits (La Fontaine after Rigaud, engraved by Ficquet, and Eisen after Vispré, engraved by Ficquet), 80 figures by EISEN, engraved by Aliamet, Baquoy, Choffard, Delafosse, Flipart, Lemire, Leveau, de Longueil and Ouvrier, as well as 4 vignettes and 53 end-piece illustrations by Choffard, the last of which features his portrait. “Among the illustrated books of the 18th century, this edition of La Fontaine’s fables—known as the ‘Fermiers généraux’ edition, because they bore the cost—is the one that is, on the whole, the most beautiful and the most delightful; it is, moreover, Eisen’s masterpiece”. (Cohen, 558; Tchemerzine, III, 863; Rothschild, 925.) A superb copy in a fine imitation binding signed by Hardy.
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About the sale MONTIGNAC – 31st BOOK SALE – Day 3 of 4 – Nos. 1085 to 1642
Auction location
Auction time 08/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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