LA FONTAINE Jean de Oeuvres.

Brunet, III, 748; Rochambeau, Fables, n° 178 (only vol. I of the Fables), Contes, n° 113 (part I of Contes only), Théâtre, n° 28; Oeuvres diverses, n° 61; Oeuvres complètes, n° 3 (citing only a 5 volume edition with a different collation).

Intriguing and rare edition, printed in a new technique, the so-called ‘stereotype’ process.

Rochambeau does not mention the complete series.

It contains : Fables (4 volumes); Contes (2 volumes); Psyché (1 volume); Oeuvres diverses (2 parts in one volume); Théâtre (1 volume); and an additional volume with the Oeuvres diverses in a near identical binding.

An exceptional, unique, copy illustrated with 646 hors texte engravings, including: – The suite of 274 figures, drawn by Vivier and engraved by Simon & Coiny for the 1787 edition of the Fables, in an issue before the numbers. – The suite of figures by Eisen and culs-de-lampe by Choffard in first issue, for the Fermiers généraux edition, to which are added 17 of the refused plates. – The suite including the portrait and 8 figures by Moreau le Jeune, in two states, (before the letter and coloured proofs) for the Amours de Psyché et Cupidon. – And numerous other additional plates (engravings after Marillier, portraits of La Fontaine, Louis XIV, Turenne, Mme de Sévigné, Racine, etc.). Engraved vignettes have been pasted at the time on each of the title pages, covering the original fleuron.

A superb copy in a delightful and highly decorative binding by Bozérian.

Some foxing, the coloured proofs in volume VII are slightly oxidised. The binding of volume X is not signed, but differs from that of the other volumes only in the frame on which ivy leaves replace the vine leaves.