Four parts bound in two 18mo volumes (1-2 & 3-4), half polished brown calf, dot-ruled, flat spine with gilt bands and lettering, marbled boards, some plates with guard sheets, margins sparkled red.

Title-page: LES LIAISONS | DANGEREUSES, | Ou Lettres recueillies dans une | société, et publiées pour l’ins- | truction de quelques autres. | par  C….. de L… | — | J’ai vu les mœurs de mon temps, et j’ai publié | ces Lettres. | J. J. Rous. Préf. De la nouv. Hél. | PREMIÈRE PARTIE. | — | A GENEVE. | 1792. ||

Vol. 1:

Pagination: ffep, blank, [2] – h.t., [i, ii] – t.p. part one, [iii] iv-xxij, [1] 2-245 [246] + 2 plates (p. 26 & p. 75); [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part two, [5] 6-233 [234], fep + 2 plates (p. 59 & p. 222).

Collation: part 1: a¹², A-M¹⁸ N⁵; part 2: A-M¹⁸ N⁹, plus four plates by various engravers after Le Barbier.

Vol. 2:

Pagination: ffep, blank, [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part three, [5] 6-225 [226] + 2 plates (p. 69 & p. 215); [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part four, [5] 6-250, fep + 2 plates (p. 25 & p. 201).

Collation: part 3: A-M¹⁸ N⁵; part 4: A-N¹⁸ O⁵, plus four plates by various engravers after Le Barbier.

Illustrations: After Le Barbier, engravers: Halbou (1), Simonet (1), N. Thomas (2), Dambrun (2), and Delignon (2). In the first illustration (vol. 1, part one, p. 26) Le Barbier signed “Le Barbier Jnv. 1794”, however, the edition was published (anonymously) in 1792. Cohen-De Ricci mentions an edition of 1794 (Paris: Maradan) and 1801 (Genéve) with the same plates. Lewine mentions a reprint of 1794 without naming the publisher.

Catalogue raisonné: Cohen-De Ricci: 234-5, Ray: p. 79; Lewine: 109-10.

Contributors:

Choderlos de Laclos, Pierre Ambroise François (French, 1741 – 1803) – author.

Le Barbier, Jean-Jacques-François (French, 1738 – 1826) – artist

Engravers:

Dambrun, Jean (French, 1741 – c. 1808)

Delignon, Jean Louis (French, 1755 – 1804)

Halbou, Louis Michel (1730 – 1809)

Thomas, N. (French, c. 1750 – 1812)

Simonet, Jean-Baptiste Blaise (French, 1742 – 1813)