Fables de la Fontaine dédiées a la Jeunesse, Tome II

Abstract

Here is a second copy of a Tome II already in the collection dated 1803. It has one distinctive difference, but I keep it in the collection mostly because it is the partner of a new 1803 Tome I. We thus keep this set of Tome I and Tome II together. This copy at $15 cost even less than the other copy, which itself cost about $100 less than the copy printed two years earlier! It would belong in Bodemann #191 between the second and third entries. The third entry is a Le Prieur edition of 1807. Coste's commentary had been used in several editions prior to this one. See my entries for 1790 and 1793, for example. Bodemann places the first Coste edition in 1743. Like the earlier printing, this book is small to start with (4" x 6¾"), and so the illustrations, which come three to a page, are quite small. The entry notes the lack of background in the outdoor scenes. The illustrations are described as presenting "Darstellung durch feine, genaue Zeichnungen der Personen und Tiere mit überzeichneter Mimik und Gestik." Good examples in this second volume are "Le Lion, le Loup et le Renard" (49); "Le Rat et l'Elephant" (71); "Le Mari, la Femme et le Voleur" (130); "Le Loup et le Renard" (189); and "Le Renard, le Loup et le Cheval" (249). The book seems identical with the earlier printing through 348. This copy then omits the T of C found in the other copy. This copy is in fair to good condition.