Chedel, Pierre Quentin (French, 1705–1763) Fessard, Etienne (French, 1714–1777) Le Bas, Jacques-Philippe [Lebas] (French, 1707–1783) Ravenet, Simon François (French, 1706 – 1764)
Two volumes, 16.6 x 11.4 cm each, uniformly bound in sprinkled calf, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, with crimson and black gilt lettered labels. Ink inscription to title page of vol. 1: “Thomas Fry. St: John's, Oxford.”
Vol. 1: Collation: 4to; π2 ✶2 a4 b3 A-Z4 2A-2E4 2F1, (total 124 leaves), plus frontispiece, 29 in-text vignettes. Pagination: [2] – h.t., [2] – t.p., [4] – preface, [i] ii-xiv – Vie de La Fontaine, [1] 2-224, [2] – table, (total 248 pages), ils.
Vol. 2: Collation: 4to; π2 ✶3 A-Z4 2A-2K4 2L3, (total 140 leavs), 40 in-text vignettes. Pagination: [2] – h.t., [2] – t.p., [6] – preface, [1] 2-268, [2] – table, (total 280 pages), ils.
Illustrations: frontispiece by Lebas (signature erased), Vie de La Fontaine headpiece by Fessard after Cochin, 2 fleurons on two title pages, 69 vignettes by Chedel, Fessard, and Ravenet after Cochin (not signed).
Catalogue raisonné: Lewine: 278; Cohen-deRicci: 557-8.
Contributors:
Charles-Nicolas Cochin (French, 1715 – 1790) – artist.
Engravers:
Pierre Quentin Chedel (French, 1705 – 1763).
Étienne Fessard (French, 1714 – 1774).
Simon François Ravenet (French, 1706 – 1764).
Jacques-Philippe Le Bas [Lebas] (French, 1707 – 1783).
Provenance:
Thomas Fry (British, 1718 – 1772) – English priest and academic, president of St John's College, Oxford from 1757.
| Collection | Illustrated books , Library |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | Book |
| Period | 18 AD , Mid-18th century |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Subject | 17th century , French poetry , Humour , Moral , Poetry , Short stories |
| Media/Technique | Burin , Copperplate engraving , Engraving , Etching , Laid paper , Paper |
| Edition | 1st edition, thus |
| Binding | Calf , Full calf , Hardcover |
| Size | 4to |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1745 |
| Catalogue raisonne | Cohen, de Ricci (1912) , J. Lewine (1898) |
| Acquisition year | 2021 |
