Fables de La Fontaine

Abstract

My best Doré. A huge and heavy book. A wonderful showpiece for the eighty-four full-page wood engravings; the many head and tail pieces come out unusually distinctly here too. The spine has been nicely reconstructed. Doré is still not my favorite LaFontaine illustrator, but this is an example of great work! To help in understanding the place this edition may have in the early printings of the work, consult Justin Schiller's Realms of Childhood, 149. A first deluxe edition came out in 1867, 2 volumes, printed in red and black inks on high quality China paper, with red borders. The same work was also issued in 58 weekly fascicles on lower quality paper. I take it that this edition of mine thus stands third in line.