Fables de La Fontaine: Édition Illustrée

Abstract

This book represents a lovely find. I feared, as so often, that I was probably purchasing something that I already had. As so often, I was wrong on that. The book is in the tradition of my two volume set of La Fontaine from 1839 illustrated by J. David. It belongs in the family represented by #287 in Bodemann. It is closest in bibliographical terms to #287.4, but it lacks Walckenaer's historical notice. Bodemann dates that edition to about 1846. This edition of mine may thus be earlier than my guess of 1880. It has an inscription of 1905 by V(oltelin) Heath in Paris, and was sold by Feret & Fils in Bordeaux. This book has moved around! It has the smell of a book that has been with other old books for a while. It features a small (2 x 3) illustration at the beginning of each book, typically signed by J. David. It also has twelve full-page engravings inserted on heavier stock, typically etched by Thompson and signed by one of the five artists mentioned on the title-page: David, Johannot, Adam, Grenier, or Schaal. These are particularly well done here. At least three of these seem to be repeaters from the work in my 1839 edition: Wolf, Mother, and Child (120); Old Woman and Two Servants (137); and TH (163). The other full-page illustrations are GA (frontispiece); Thieves and Ass (38); FS (44); MSA (77); La Fille (187); Horoscope (236); Wolf and Hunter (255); Oyster and Litigants (274); and Crow, Gazelle, Turtle, and Rat (372).