Details
LA FONTAINE, Jean de. Fables. Paris: Didot l'Aîné, 1787.
6 volumes. 8° (130 x 76mm). Engraved frontispiece and 274 plates after Vivier, engraved by Simon and Coiny, all before numbers. (Very occasional light foxing.) Contemporary blue morocco gilt, red morocco spine labels, g.e.
First edition of the Fables with Vivier's illustrations, which Ray characterised as "animated and harmonious" (Ray French, p.149). It had been intended to engrave the text as well, but that was soon abandoned and the text set in type. This successful edition set a precedent for the production of small-format books with miniature plates, which was necessitated at first by economic conditions due to the Revolution, but then became fashionable. The distribution of the plates differs from Cohen-de Ricci, as there are 51 and 41 plates in volumes 5 and 6 respectively. Cohen-de Ricci 553-54; Rochambeau 131 (calling for 276 plates); Sander 1071. (6)
6 volumes. 8° (130 x 76mm). Engraved frontispiece and 274 plates after Vivier, engraved by Simon and Coiny, all before numbers. (Very occasional light foxing.) Contemporary blue morocco gilt, red morocco spine labels, g.e.
First edition of the Fables with Vivier's illustrations, which Ray characterised as "animated and harmonious" (Ray French, p.149). It had been intended to engrave the text as well, but that was soon abandoned and the text set in type. This successful edition set a precedent for the production of small-format books with miniature plates, which was necessitated at first by economic conditions due to the Revolution, but then became fashionable. The distribution of the plates differs from Cohen-de Ricci, as there are 51 and 41 plates in volumes 5 and 6 respectively. Cohen-de Ricci 553-54; Rochambeau 131 (calling for 276 plates); Sander 1071. (6)