LA FONTAINE - [FESSARD] - Lot 119

LA FONTAINE - [FESSARD] Fables choisies. Paris: Chez l'auteur (and Durand, Prault and Deslauriers for volume IV), 1765-1775. 2 vols. (of 6) in-8°, marbled fawn calf, gilt and ornate ribbed spine, gilt border, gilt edges, endpapers decorated with fine dominoté paper (period bindings, worn). 1st edition of this famous and beautiful work, with engraved illustrations by FESSARD after Bardin, Bidault, Caresme, Houêl, Leprince, Mounet, etc. The text by Montulay and Drouet (Cohen: 551). Here, vol. 1 and 5 (of 6), The interest of these two volumes lies in the plates, some of which have been watercolored, most probably at a later date. Unfortunately, the set is very incomplete. AP