LA FONTAINE (Jean de). Contes et nouvelles en vers. A Amster - Lot 114

LA FONTAINE (Jean de). Contes et nouvelles en vers. A Amsterdam [Paris, Barbou],1762. 2 volumes in-8° (115 x 180 mm), red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, ornate smooth spine, gilt edges (period binding). FIRST PRINTING. Two portraits, one after RIGAUD, the other after VISPRÉ; 80 engraved figures by ALIAMET, BAQUOY, CHOFFARD, DELAFOSSE, FLIPART, LEMIRE, LEVEAU, LONGUEIL and OUVRIER after Charles EISEN; four vignettes and 53 culs-de-lampe by CHOFFARD. A first-edition copy, with the figures "Le Cocu battu et content" & "Les Cordeliers de Catalogne" engraved by Longueil (whereas they are generally found, less well engraved, by Leveau). The figure of the "Diable de Papefiguière" is discovered here (tome II, pp. 148/149). Jointly: FOUR additional plates, two of which were refused. RED MOROCCO COPY OF THE FAMOUS EDITION, KNOWN AS "DES FERMIERS GÉNÉRAUX", OF THIS WORK BY LA FONTAINE, ONE OF THE FINEST BOOKS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY AND EISEN'S MASTERPIECE.