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LA FONTAINE, J[ean] de.

Fables choisies, mises en vers,

edited by C. P. de Monthenault d'Egly.

Large-Paper Issue of one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books, the zenith of the 18th-century decorated book in France. In his Avertissement de l'éditeur Monthenault draws attention to the skill with which Cochin adapted Oudry's loose drawings into a state ready for the engraver: "Il ne falloit pas moins que son secours pour donner à celles-ci le degré de perfection qu'elles ont atteint non seulement par la maniere dont les originaux sont rendus, mais encore par la correction ajoutée aux figures qu'ils contiennent. Cette partie étoit négligée, & M. Oudry reconnoît lui-même le nouveau mérite qu'elle a acquis en passant par les habiles mains de son illustre Confrere." He also relates how Oudry came to execute the drawings and gives a brief history of the publication of the book. As in only a minority of large-paper copies, this copy has “Le singe et le léopard” plate in the second state with writing on the banner.

4 volumes, large folio (485 × 325 mm). Contemporary French red morocco, spine compartments with morocco labels and large gilt urn device surrounded by small tools, triple gilt fillet round sides, floral urn at inner corners, gilt turn-ins, blue endpapers, gilt edges. Engraved portrait of Oudry by Tardieu after Largillière, portrait of La Fontaine by Cochin fils after Oudry and 275 plates by Cochin, Tardieu, Prévost, Chedel, Lempereur and others after Jean-Baptiste Oudry, 209 woodcut title-vignettes, en-têtes and culs-de-lampe by Bachellier, half-titles. A very little skilful restoration to extremities, the occasional insignificant mark internally, but an excellent and very large copy in a fine contemporary binding.