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LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621-1695). Fables choisies, mises en vers. Edited by C.P. de Monthenault d'Egly. Paris: Charles-Antoine Jombert, for Desaint & Saillant, and Durand, 1755-59.
4 volumes, large 2° (439 x 288mm). Engraved frontispiece after Jean-Baptiste Oudry, finished by Dupuis and engraved by Cochin, 273 (of 275) plates after Oudry, engraved by Cochin, Elisabeth Cousinet, Baquoy, Legrand, and others, plate to fables 219 printed on smaller paper, two duplicate plates to fables 197 and 223, wood-engraved vignette on each title, wood-engraved head- and tailpieces after Bachelier. The plate accompanying "Le Singe et le Léopard" (vol. III facing p.112) is in the first state without lettering on the banner. (Lacking 2 plates [vol. IV: fable 228:1 and 231], some spotting and light browning, tears in a few text leaves and plates repaired without loss, small marginal repairs.) Contemporary French gold-tooled red morocco, sides with elaborate dentelle incorporating the fox, wolf, crow, and stork tools relating to the Fables, spine gilt-stamped with the same tools, leather labels in second and third compartments, marbled endpapers, gilt edges (some minor darkening to sides, discreet repairs to corners and spine ends, very light scuffing at extremities). Provenance: Trolle-Bonde, (stamp on title-pages).
FINELY BOUND BY LOUIS DOUCEUR, WITH TOOLS CUT SPECIALLY FOR THIS EDITION. Douceur was royal binder to Louis XV and to the Marquise de Pompadour, having trained in Derome's shop. Cohen-de Ricci cites 2 other copies bound by Douceur with these special tools, one for the Marquis de Massiac, and another for the Duc de Hautefort, with Fables tools on spines only.
Cochin's important role in the production of this, one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books, is neatly summarised in the inscription under the frontispiece in vol. I: "Inventé par J. B. Oudry, terminé au burin par N. Dupuis, gravé à l'eau forte par C. N. Cochin le fils qui, d'après les originaux, à fait tous les traits, conduit et dirigé tout l'ouvrage." After he became director of the Beauvais tapestry factory, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1685-1755) began to amuse himself sketching subjects from La Fontaine's Fables. Between 1729 and 1735 he made a total of 276 sketches, and the story of how they became the illustrations of the Fables is recounted in the Avertissement de l'éditeur in vol. I by the publisher Montenault who had bought the sketches. Oudry's subjects being landscapes and animals, which he had drawn freely for his own enjoyment, Cochin was given the responsibility of turning these loose freehand drawings into finished prints. Although Oudry's skill at portraying animals and his interpretation of La Fontaine's humour can hardly be surpassed, Cochin's sure and experienced hand did much to improve the original designs, particularly the figures. He redrew them, correcting the figures and backgrounds and supplying precise lines for the engravers. Cohen-de Ricci 548-550; Ray French, 5; Rochambeau 86; Sander 1065. (4)
4 volumes, large 2° (439 x 288mm). Engraved frontispiece after Jean-Baptiste Oudry, finished by Dupuis and engraved by Cochin, 273 (of 275) plates after Oudry, engraved by Cochin, Elisabeth Cousinet, Baquoy, Legrand, and others, plate to fables 219 printed on smaller paper, two duplicate plates to fables 197 and 223, wood-engraved vignette on each title, wood-engraved head- and tailpieces after Bachelier. The plate accompanying "Le Singe et le Léopard" (vol. III facing p.112) is in the first state without lettering on the banner. (Lacking 2 plates [vol. IV: fable 228:1 and 231], some spotting and light browning, tears in a few text leaves and plates repaired without loss, small marginal repairs.) Contemporary French gold-tooled red morocco, sides with elaborate dentelle incorporating the fox, wolf, crow, and stork tools relating to the Fables, spine gilt-stamped with the same tools, leather labels in second and third compartments, marbled endpapers, gilt edges (some minor darkening to sides, discreet repairs to corners and spine ends, very light scuffing at extremities). Provenance: Trolle-Bonde, (stamp on title-pages).
FINELY BOUND BY LOUIS DOUCEUR, WITH TOOLS CUT SPECIALLY FOR THIS EDITION. Douceur was royal binder to Louis XV and to the Marquise de Pompadour, having trained in Derome's shop. Cohen-de Ricci cites 2 other copies bound by Douceur with these special tools, one for the Marquis de Massiac, and another for the Duc de Hautefort, with Fables tools on spines only.
Cochin's important role in the production of this, one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books, is neatly summarised in the inscription under the frontispiece in vol. I: "Inventé par J. B. Oudry, terminé au burin par N. Dupuis, gravé à l'eau forte par C. N. Cochin le fils qui, d'après les originaux, à fait tous les traits, conduit et dirigé tout l'ouvrage." After he became director of the Beauvais tapestry factory, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1685-1755) began to amuse himself sketching subjects from La Fontaine's Fables. Between 1729 and 1735 he made a total of 276 sketches, and the story of how they became the illustrations of the Fables is recounted in the Avertissement de l'éditeur in vol. I by the publisher Montenault who had bought the sketches. Oudry's subjects being landscapes and animals, which he had drawn freely for his own enjoyment, Cochin was given the responsibility of turning these loose freehand drawings into finished prints. Although Oudry's skill at portraying animals and his interpretation of La Fontaine's humour can hardly be surpassed, Cochin's sure and experienced hand did much to improve the original designs, particularly the figures. He redrew them, correcting the figures and backgrounds and supplying precise lines for the engravers. Cohen-de Ricci 548-550; Ray French, 5; Rochambeau 86; Sander 1065. (4)