Description
First collective edition of the first two parts
of the Contes by La Fontaine.
This copy belonged to Léon Rattier and Destailleur.
La Fontaine, Jean de. Contes et nouvelles en vers.
Paris, Claude Barbin, 1667.
Deuxième partie des contes et nouvelles en vers.
Paris, Claude Barbin, 1667.
2 parts in 1 volume 12mo [149 x 80 mm] of 11pp., 92 pp., (1) l., (1) bl. l., 11 pp., 160pp., (2) ll.
Red morocco, double motif of triple straight and curved gilt fillets on the covers, large corner piece in gilt in center, ribbed spine with gilt fleurons, double gilt fillets on leading edges, blue morocco doublures, gilt over marbled edges. Binding by Thibaron-Joly.
First collective edition of the first two parts of the Contes by La Fontaine.
It contains 23 tales and 3 poems.
The first editions of these two parts were published in Paris in 1665 and 1666.
Rochambeau, n°8 et 9 ; Tchemerzine, III, 854 ; Brunet, III, 757 ; Le Petit, 224-227 ; Destailleur, n°1147 ; Bulletin Morgand et Fatout, n°7585.
The first part was first published in 1665 and included 12 new tales. The second part was first published in 1666 and included 13 new tales. According to Le Petit, this edition is nothing more than the 1665 edition with a relay title. The second part with a title dated from 1667 can also be found.
“In Paris in 1667, two new editions of the Contes et Nouvelles en vers were published. They were received with infinite applause.” (M. Marais, Histoire de la vie et des ouvrages de M. de La Fontaine)
By order of the king, the police banned the collection of tales. It should so follow that the story teller, La Fontaine, did not gain much success except in the libertine circles of his time. Today, the setting is different and the critics know only one thing : La Fontaine was the renovator of the French tale. It doesn’t make his career any less astounding.
Extremely rare.
“A very beautiful copy, with wide margins (height : 149 mm) in an exquisite binding.”
A precious copy with wide margins preserved in its morocco binding with doublures created by Thibaron-Joly.
Provenance : Léon Rattier and Destailleur.
