Fables de La Fontaine, Tome Premier
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Authors
David, Jules
de La Fontaine, Jean
Walckenaer, C.A.
Issue Date
1838
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Type
Book, Whole
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Abstract
At first this seemed a second copy of a book I found twelve years ago at Minster Gate and have listed under 1839 (Bodemann #287.3). After closer inspection, I believe that this may be Bodemann #287.1, the first printing (1838-9). Apparently the first printing of the accompanying second volume was in 1839, since Bodemann gives two dates for this two-volume set. What this and its companion Volume II lack are the added features of that third printing, especially the elaborate title-pages for each of the twelve books of fables and the full-page inserted illustrations, one for each book of fables. This volume also lacks the stiff added title-page in full color that is found in all three other volumes under consideration, that is, Volume II of this set and both volumes of the more elaborate set from Minster Gate. There is considerable foxing, but I still love the David engravings. What this volume does have includes both the sensitive frontispiece of La Fontaine with poésie and morale at his sides and the wonderful David illustrations, including a head-piece (about 3 by 2) for each fable and a smaller tail-piece for many. There are also some printer's devices after fables that seem to have dropped in the later printing (e.g., 76). Among my favorite illustrations are: OF (61); CJ (99); the tail-piece to BF, showing an academic copying things out of many books (216); the grisly tail-piece to The Mother, the Child, and the Wolf (233); and The Eagle and the Owl (281). Part of the confirmation that this may be a first printing is that it was printed at Imprimerie d'Everat et Comp.
Description
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Publisher
Armand Aubrée, Éditeur
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Identifier
7031 (Access ID)