A Paris,: Chez Desaint & Saillant, rue Saint Jean de Beauvais. Durand, rue du Foin, en entrant par la rue S. Jacques., M.DCC.LV. (- M.DCC.LIX.), De l'Imprimerie de Charles-Antoine Jombert.
Physical Description
4 vols.; 421 mm. (Folio.)
General Note
Vol. I: [4], xxx, xviii, 124 p., frontis., [69] pl. One plate accompanies each of 60 fables, but there are two plates for fables 4, 12, 18, 55 and 60 and five for fable 43. Each plate carries the number of the fable which it illustrates, from I to LX, but the text groups them into three books containing 22, 20 and 18 fables respectively. - Vol. II: [4], ii, 135, [1] p., [67] pl. One plate accompanies each of 63 fables, but there are two plates for fables 61, 78 and 114. Each plate carries the number of the fable which it illustrates, from LXI to CXXIV, but the text groups them into three groups containing 22, 21 and 21 fables respectively. - Vol. III: [4], iv, 146 p., [67] pl. One pl. accompanies each of 64 fables but there are three pl. for fable 180 and two for fable 182. Each plate carries the number of the fable which it illustrates, from CXXV to CLXXXVIII, but the text groups them into three groups containing 18, 27 and 19 fables respectively. - Vol. IV: [4], ii, 188 p., [65] pl. One plate accompanies each of 57 fables but there are two plates for fables 222, 225 and 243, three for fable 228 and four for fable 244. Each plate carries the number of the fable which it illustrates, from CLXXXIX to CCXLV, but the text groups them into three groups containing 16, 9 and 32 fables respectively.
Contents
Vol. I: [Half-t., frontis., t.p., dedic.] - Avertissement De L'Editeur - Vie De La Fontaine - A Monseigneur Le Dauphin (by De La Fontaine) - Preface - La Vie D'Ésope Le Phrygien - Table Des Fables Contenues Dans Le Premier Volume - [Text, bks. 1-3 with pl.]. - Vol. II: [Half-t., t.p.] - Table Des Fables Contenues Dans Le Second Volume - [Text, bks. 4-6, with pl.]. - Vol. III: [Half-t., t.p.] - Avertissement Imprimé pour la premiere fois en 1678 - Table Des Fables Contenues Dans Le Troisieme Volume - A Madame De Montespan - [Text, bks. 7-9 with pl.]. - Vol. IV: [Half-t., t.p.] - Table Des Fables Contenues Dans Le Quatrieme Et Dernier Volume - [Text, bks. 10-12 with pl.] - Explication Du Frontispice, Et de quelques Vignettes & Culs-de-lampe contenus dans cet Ouvrage - Approbation (1759); Privilege Du Roi (1759).
Responsibility Note
The frontispiece and all plates are signed as drawn by J.B. Oudry, and engraved by D. Sornique, P.F. Tardieu, Ch. Baquoy, P.E. Moitte, St. Fessard, J. Ouvrier, C.O. Gallimart (or Gallimard), J.J. Flipart, Lud. le Grand, M. Aubert, Chenu, R. Gaillard, C.N. Cochin p., P.Q. Chedel, P. Aveline(s), J. Ph. LeBas, P.F. Martenasie, Laur. Cars, J. Pelletier, P. Surugue, J. Pasquier, A. Chevilet, J.H. Rode, M. Marvie, J. Beauvarlet, G. Riland, J. Riland, Aliamet, Noel Le Mire, L. L'Empereur, Pitre, J. Menil, A. Radigues, J.A. de Fehrt (or Ferth or Ferht), B.L. Prevost, J.C. Teucher, Elisabeth Cousinet, J. Duret, P.P. Choffard, Poletnich, P. Floding. Those which are both etched and engraved are signed by pairs N. Dupuis and C.N. Cochin fils, C. Cochin and R. Gaillart(/d), C. Cochin and P. Chenu, C. Cochin and Ml. Aubert, C.N. Cochin and N. Beauvais, C.N. Cochin p. and N. Dupuis, C.N. Cochin p. and J.B. Teucher, Pitre and Martenasi, Marvie and Beauvais, Marvie and M. Aubert, J.Ph. Le Bas and C. Baquoy, Ryland and Beauvais, Salvador and N. Dupuis.
The title-page vignette of all four volumes is signed as drawn by Bechellier and engraved by Le Sueur. Other decorations are unsigned, but the 'Explication Du Frontispice, Et de quelques Vignettes ...' in Volume IV states, 'Toutes les Estampes de cette édition ... sont imprimées sous les yeux de l'Editeur P. Thevenard ... & par J.B. Dutertre...'.
References
H. Cohen, Guide de l'amateur de livres à gravures du XVIIIe siècle (6th. ed., rev. S. de Ricci, 1912), col.548; G.N. Ray, The art of the French illustrated book 1780 to 1914 (1982; in paperback 1986), no.5.
H. Opperman, J.B. Oudry 1686-1755 [exhibition catalogue] (1983).
Summary Note
The publication-dates carried on the four title-pages are 1755, 1755, 1756 and 1759.
Oudry's drawings for this work were unfinished sketches; and on his death a committee was formed to decide how best to publish them. An amusing account of this committee has been left by Cochin the younger; who in the end was entrusted with bringing them to a more finished state, etching them and having them completed by the engravers.
Binding Note
18th-century marbled calf, upper and lower covers with gilt-stamped borders; gilt-decorated spines, red and brown morocco spine-labels lettered 'Fables De La Fontain' and 'Tom I (IV)'.