Books

First edition thus with the magnificent plates after Oudray. Three volumes of four (lacking the first volume), published 1755-59. Large folio (48 x 34cm). Vol. II, pp. [4],ii,135. with 68 (ex 69) plates; Vol. III, pp. [4],iv,136 (lacking last 5ff. of text). with 60 (ex 68) plates. Vol. III, pp. [4],ii,188. with 68 (ex 69) plates. Hence a total of 196 full-page copper plates. Some occasional marginal damp-staining & worming, but the plates generally sound and clean. The contemporary binding very worn. [Rochambeau 86; Cohen-De Ricci 548].

Fables choisies, mises en vers is a celebrated collection of fables written by the French poet Jean de La Fontaine. First published in 1668, this classic work comprises a series of short tales, each with its own moral lesson, inspired by Aesop and other classical sources.