La Fontaine, J. de, Fables choisis, mises en vers. 4 vols. With engr. frontispiece and 275 copper plates after J. B. Oudry, engr. by C. N. Cochin, Aubert, Aveline, Bacquoy, Beauvais et al. as well as 219 woodcut vignettes by Le Sueur and Papillon after Bachelier. Paris, Desaint, Saillant and Durand 1755-59. Mottled contemp. calf with two labels. Folio.

Cohen/Ricci cols. 548f. - Sander 1065. - Lewine p. 274. - Fürstenberg cat. 19. - Rochambeau 86. - Cat. Wolfenbüttel 51. - Bodemann 135,1. - Gaucheron, Die Oudry-Ausgabe der Fabeln des La Fontaine. Berlin 1929. - Bassy 24. - Fünf Jahrhunderte Buchillustration p. 134. - Splendid copy of the classic Oudry edition. - The copper plates are based on drawings the animal painter Oudry created between 1729-34. The valuable series was made separately by Oudry in 1752. - The edition comprised 948 copies in three different editions. Publishing the first three volumes caused enormous costs of more than 500.000 Francs, so that king Louis XV. was forced to support the project with his private means (cf. Gaucheron on printing history). - This one is one of the rare copies with the interim state of the coppers, "Les exemplaires les plus recherchés comme épreuves" (Cohen/R. cols. 549), as indicated by the plate for the fable Le signe et le Léopard in the third volume, where the letters "Le Léopard" lack in the galley proof. - Lacking, as usual, the additional portrait of Oudry. - Slightly foxed in places (mostly in white margin) and slightly browned, 1 plate with marginal tear and crease marks, few text ll. with slight squeeze marks. Binding slightly scraped (especially edges and spine), label somewhat cracked. - With engr. armorial bookplate.