Contes et nouvelles en vers.

One of the main works of Rococo Book illustration - Fontaine, M. de la.

Published by Amsterdam,, 1764

About this Item

2 volumes. 22 : 14 cm. X, 214 pages, 1 leaf; VIII, 254 pages, 1 leaf, engraved Portrait of Fontaine, 2 engraved title-vignettes, 77 full-page engraved plates, 63 engraved text-vignettes. Red half-calf binding, spine richly gilt, with title in gold, top edge gilt (singed Blanchetiere-Bretault) This rare and very beautiful Amsterdam edition is printed two years after the monumental first edition from Paris, which was commissioned by Ferniers Géneraux, and which is very scarce and sought after. This is the most beautiful and well-executed of the re-impressions (Paris, 1762 (-without vignettes), Amsterdam, 1764 and London, 1764). -"Celle d'Amsterdam, 1764, 2 vol. in-8. fig. copiées sur celles de l'édition de 1762, est assez belle." (Brunet III:760). The illustrations of this edition are excellent and copied from the beautiful first edition" many of them are engraved and signed by C. Boily, and all are after Eisen. Most of the vignettes are after Choffard. The portrait of La Fontaine is engraved by Macret after Ficquet. "Cette imitation de l'édition des fermiers généraux est assez jolie. Le portrait de La Fontaine est tantôt gravé par Savaret, et tantôt par Macret, suivant les exemplaires." (Cohen, p. 310).The illustrations of this work are considered Eisen's main work, the book is considered one of the greatest works of rococo book-illustration, and it has greatly inspired later tradition in this field. - Occasionally some minor spotting, but allover clean, with wide margens, two edges uncut, beautifully bound by Blanchetiere-Bretault.

Seller Inventory # 20446AB

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Contes et nouvelles en vers.
• Publisher: Amsterdam,
• Publication Date: 1764
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Varia