Description: 3 volumes, 8vo, 20.4 x 13 cm, first issue, bound in the contemporary speckled calf, all edges gilt, spines gilt with double red/brown lettering labels (vol 1. labels missing); raised bands, gilt in compartments, double gilt-ruled borders; marbled endpapers. With the contemporary signature in each volume of Caroline Marlborough of Blenheim Palace, and bookplates of Lord F. A. Spencer. This is certainly Lady Caroline Russell, wife of George Spencer, Fourth Duke of Marlborough; she was daughter to the Duke of Bedford and was married in 1762. She died at Blenheim in 1811. The later bookplate in each volume pasted to the front pastedown of her son Francis Almeric Spencer (British, 1779-1845).

Pagination:

Vol. I: [two blank leaves] [half-title, verso blank] [recto blank, frontispiece on verso: portrait of Marmontel by St. Aubin after Cochin] [engraved t.p. by Duclos after Gravelot, verso blank], [i] ii-xvi, [table des contes with 5-line Errata (autograph Lordine Marlborough), verso blank], [1] 2–345 [346-50 blanks]; 9 plates after Gravelot by: Baquoy, de Longueil (2), Legrand, Leveau (2), Rousseau, Voyez, and unsigned (1).

Vol. 2: [two blank leaves] [half-title, verso blank] [engraved t.p. by Duclos after Gravelot, verso blank]  [table des contes with 10-line Errata (autograph Lordine Marlborough), verso blank], [1] 2–376 [377-50 blanks]; 9 plates after Gravelot by: de Longueil (5), Leveau (2), Pasquier and  Rousseau.

Vol. 3: [two blank leaves] [half-title, verso blank] [engraved t.p. by Duclos after Gravelot, verso blank]  [table des contes with 9-line Errata, verso blank] [two leaves: approbation and Privilege du Roi] [1] 2–312 [313-16 blanks]; 5 plates after Gravelot by: de Longueil (2), Le Mire (2), and Pasquier.

Catalogue raisonné: Cohen-De Ricci 686-7; Gordon N. Ray. The Art of the French Illustrated Book 1700 to 1914. — NY, London: The Pierpont Morgan Library; Cornell University Press, 1982, Vol. 1. pp. 44-5. [In their copy vol. 2 and 3 in a different order]; MFA ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1488a-c

Illustrated by: Hubert François Gravelot (French, 1699–1773)
Engraved by: Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721–1777)
Engraved by: Antoine Jean Duclos (French, 1742–1795)
Engraved by: Louis Legrand (French, 1723–1807)
Engraved by: Noël Le Mire (French, 1724–1801)
Engraved by: Jean Jacques André Le Veau (French, 1729–1785)
Engraved by: Joseph de Longueil (French, 1730–1792)
Engraved by: Jean Jacques Pasquier (French, died in 1785)
Engraved by: Jean François Rousseau (French, born in 1740)
Engraved by: Nicolas Joseph Voyez l’ainé (French, 1742–1806)
Portrait(s) designed by: Charles-Nicolas Cochin le fils (French, 1715–1790)
Engraved by: Augustin de Saint-Aubin (French, 1736–1807)
Author: Jean-François Marmontel (French, 1723–1799)
Publisher: Joseph Merlin (French, 1718–1783)
Printer: Pierre-Alexandre Le Prieur (French, born in 1722)