LA FONTAINE (Jean de) - Lot 13

LA FONTAINE (Jean de) Contes et nouvelles en vers. Amsterdam [Paris], s.n. [Barbou], 1762. 2 volumes in-8, Fermiers généraux edition, containing an abridged Life of La Fontaine by Diderot and ending with five tales not by La Fontaine, namely La Couturière, Le Gascon and La Cruche by Autereau; Promettre est un et tenir est un autre by Vergier and Le Rossignol attributed to either Lamblin or Du Trousset de Valincourt. Illustrated with 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 and 4 vignettes and 53 culs-de-lampe by Choffard, the last of which contains his portrait. A very interesting copy comprising the figures of Papefiguière's Cas de conscience et du diable in double state, covered and uncovered, the figures of Le Cocu battu et content and Les Cordeliers de Catalogne in double state with the state regravé by Longueil, l'Autre imitation d'Anacréon in double state, before and after the arrow and Le remède in double state, with or without ornamentation on the curtain and floor. It is further enriched by 15 rejected plates out of the 20 mentioned by Cohen, namely La Servante justifiée, La Gageure des trois commères, Le Calendrier des vieillards, À femme avare galant escroc, On ne s'avise jamais de tout, La Coupe enchantée, Le Petit chien, La Clochette, Sœur Jeanne, Les Oies de Frère Philippe, L'Oraison de St Julien, Les Rémois, Comment l'esprit vient aux filles, Le Tableau and Le Rossignol. Notice to the binder bound at the end of each volume. Bound in full red morocco, boards decorated in the Du Seuil style, spine decorated with 5 nerves, fillet on the edges, all edges gilt, signed Hardy. "Among the illustrated books of the 18th century, this edition of La Fontaine's tales, known as the Fermiers généraux edition because they paid for it, is the most beautiful and pleasing overall; it is also Eisen's masterpiece. As a result, [...], it is highly sought-after and expensive, especially when the proofs are first-rate, and the binding is elegant and well-executed." (Cohen) (binding slightly rubbed, spine a little darkened, foxing on a few engravings in double condition)