The Works of Francis Rabelais, M. D. Now carefully revised, and compared throughout with the late new Edition of M. Le du Chat. 5-vol. set (Complete) [WITH 15 COPPER PLATES]

12mo (6 1/2 x 4"). Volume I: [i]-xxii + iii-viii + [i]-cxxxiv-[135]-384pp. The second pagination (iii-viii) is the table of contents of Volume II. Copper engraved frontispiece portrait of Rabelais and two fold-out copper engravings (between pp. xvi-xvii, and pp. 252-253); Volume II: [2], v-x + [11]-251pp. Fold-out copper engraved frontispiece, full page engraving (facing page 188), fold-out plate at page 217; Volume III: [i-iv] + v-xx + [21]-22 + 3-367 + [5]pp (Index). Fold-out copper engravings facing pages 108, 191 & 229 (last plate missing its folded part); Volume IV: [i-v] + vi-xc + [1]-281 + [1] (blank) + [8] (Contents) + [4]pp (Adverts). Fold-out engraved frontispiece, fold-out plate facing page xxix, and full copper plate facing page 49; Volume V: [i]-lxiv + [1]-267 + [5]pp (Contents). Fold-out plates facing pages 41 and154, and full-page plate facing page 149. On page 189 features the text of a poem titled "Bottle!" within the illustration of a bottle. Contemporary full spotted calf, with gold lettering and ruling to spines. Title pages in red and black lettering. Decorative head-, tailpieces and initials. Books housed in a later cloth covered slipcase. First English translation of Francis Rabelais' first critical edition by Jacob Le Duchat* (1711) containing the followings works: - Volume 1: The First Book of Rabelais, Treating of the Inestimable Life of the Great Gargantua - Volume 2: The Second Book of Rabelais, Treating of the Heroic Deeds and Sayings Of the Good Pantagruel - Volume 3: The Third Book of Rabelais's Works - Volume 4: The Fourth Book of Pantagruel - Volume 5: The Fifth Book of Rabelais, Treating of the Heroic Deeds and Sayings Of the Good Pantagruel This work is complete with its 15 copper plates (including 11 fold-out), with only one missing its folded part (Vol. 3, page 229). A few plates are unsigned, and the remaining bear the signatures of engravers Henry Roberts and Nathaniel Parr. Slipcase rubbed. Each spine partly reinforced by binder's tape (not affecting gilt lettering). Armorial bookplate of contemporary previous owner on inside of each front cover (George Manners), with the armorial motto "Pour y Parvenir" (So as to accomplish). Ex-Libris of last previous owner on inside of each back cover (G. Eisenberg). Front hinge of first volume repaired. Sporadic age-toning and minor foxing throughout. Slipcase in overall good- to good, bindings in good-, interior in good to very good condition. * Jacob Le Duchat (1658-1735) was a French literary scholar whose 1711 edition of the works of Rabelais was the first to include historical and critical commentary. "Le Duchat's is the first of the critical editions. It takes account of differences in the texts, and begins to point out the variations. His very numerous notes are remarkable, and are still worthy of most serious consideration. He was the first to offer useful elucidations, and these have been repeated after him, and with good reason will continue to be so. Le Duchat's commentary was translated into English by John Ozell for his 1737 edition of Gargantua and Pantagruel." (For more information, see: Rabelais, François (ca. 1483-1553), The Works of Francis Rabelais. Translated from the French by Sir Thomas Urquhart and Motteux; with explanatory notes, by Duchat, Ozell, and Others. Volume I [Books 1, 2, and 3 to Chapter 13]. Thomas Urquhart and Peter Motteux, translators. London: H. G. Bohn, 1851. Introduction).…