LA FONTAINE, JEAN DE. Fables choises mises en vers. Paris: Jombert for Desaint et Saillant and Durant, 1755-59. Engraved frontispiece by N. Dupuis and C.N. Cochin, portait of Oudry by Tardieu after L'argilliere, wood-engraved title vignettes and tailpieces by Le Sueur after Bachellier, and 275 ENGRAVED PLATES AFTER JEAN-BAPTISTE OUDRY, engraved under the direction of Charles-Nicholas Cochin fils by Aubert, Baoquy, Cochin, Fessart, Lemire, Tardieu and others. 4 volumes, folio, 416 x 282 mm. (16 7/16 x 11 1/16 in.), contemporary French mottled calf, spines gilt in five compartments, morocco lettering-pieces, g.e., joints cracked on vols. I and III, several other joints starting near ends (a few repaired), spine ends of vol. IV chipped; some minor even light browning to some text leaves, occasional marginal soiling or light foxmarks. FIRST STATE of the Le singe et le Léopard plate (vol. III), with the banner unlettered. This copy also contains the portrait of Oudray, found only in some copies. Cohen-de Ricci 548-550; Rochambeau 86; Ray French 5 ("one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books"). (4)