Jean de LA FONTAINE. - Lot 91

Jean de LA FONTAINE. Jean de LA FONTAINE. Fables choisies mises en vers par M. de La Fontaine et par luy reveues, corrigées et augmentées. A Paris, chez Denys Thierry et Claude Barbin, 1678-1679 et 1694, 5 volumes in-12 bound in full red morocco, richly decorated ribbed spines, triple gilded fillet framing the boards, gilded edges, interior roulette, presented in a morocco-lined slipcase. Binding signed M. Godillot (circa 1938). A very fine copy. First complete illustrated edition of the fables, published during La Fontaine's lifetime, and the only one to have been printed and corrected under the author's direction. It features 233 copper-engraved figures printed half-page by F. Chauveau, signed or unsigned. Very skilful restorations, even invisible, on pages 7 to 12 of volume I, page 21 of volume IV and the title page of volume V. In 1678, Claude Barbin and Jean de La Fontaine decided to print a new edition of the Fables. The original copies were corrected by La Fontaine himself during the printing process. Volumes III, IV and V are first editions, the first two being the in-12 reprints of 1668. Volume V, published fifteen years later in 1694, a few months before the death of the ailing author, is complete. There are therefore no inserts. A very fine copy in excellent condition in an attractive binding with the volumes in first printing (Arms of the Dauphin on the title page of Tome I, no mention at the end of the table of Tome II, Barbin's cipher on the title of Tome V, etc....) Our copy is complete with the errata leaf for volumes I and II in volume I "This leaf is missing most of the time" mentions Rochebilière. Furthermore, it conforms to the collations of Després (Bibliographie des Fables illustrées, p.1-2) and Rochambeau (Bibliographie des Œuvres de La Fontaine, p. 8-10), with the particularity of presenting a few uncovered leaves (uncorrected errors).