LA FONTAINE, JEAN DE. 1621-1695.

Contes et nouvelles en vers. Paris: Pierre Didot l'Aîné', An III [1795].

Contes et nouvelles en vers. Paris: Pierre Didot l'Aîné', An III [1795].
2 volumes, large 4to (315 x 240 mm). Engraved vignette on title page of volume I, tipped-in portrait of Fragonard, with 64 plates after paintings by Fragonard and others, of which 3 are hand-colored. 19th century red morocco gilt by Chambolle-Duru, gilt-ruled covers, spines gilt with 5-raised bands, marbled endpapers, edges gilt, morocco Portuguese style boxes with hinged covers. Foxing, some marginal dampstaining.

FIRST EDITION, AN EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED COPY of this elaborate work, which was intended to contain 80 plates after designs by Fragonard. The publication was interrupted by "the Terror" of the French revolution, and subscribers disappeared before all the engravings were issued. As a result, there are no complete sets extant, and those that appear vary greatly in the number of proofs, eaux-fortes and completed engravings they contain. This example has been assembled with an extraordinary collection of plates, covering 34 subjects: 12 of them in one state, 21 of them in two states, 2 of them in three states, and 1 in four states (including two different images to illustrate "Le Baiser Rendu"). Some of the plates have been margined to fit so as to be bound in their appropriate place in volume I, while three consecutive plates (two of which are colored) are bound together near the front of volume II. Cohen-De Ricci 574; Ray French 77.