LA FONTAINE, FABLES CHOISIES, PARIS, 1755-1759, 4 VOLUMES IN RED MOROCCO

4 volumes, folio (501 x 330mm.), one of 100 copies on papier impérial d'Auvergne, half-titles, engraved frontispiece portrait of Oudry, additional engraved frontispiece portrait of Oudry by Tardieu after Largilliere bound after half-title, woodcut head- and tailpieces by Bachelier, 275 plates by Oudry engraved by Aubert, Aveline and others, plate for "Le singe et le léopard" in its first (unlettered) state, CONTEMPORARY RED MOROCCO GILT BY DEROME, WITH HIS TICKET, triple gilt fillet border, spines gilt in compartments, gilt edges, 2 buckram slipcases, some deckle edges, frontispiece slightly creased, occasional light foxing, corners and spines slightly rubbed, spines slightly faded, a few covers slightly spotted

Lord Carrington, armorial bookplate (presumably Robert John, second Baron Carrington, 1796-1868), and Wycombe Abbey, Library, armorial bookplate; Lucius Wilmerding, bookplate, sale, Parke-Bernet, 6 March 1951, lot 358; Saul Cohn, sale, Parke-Bernet, 26 April 1955, lot 503, extract from sale catalogue loosely inserted

Cohen-De Ricci 548; Rochambeau, Fables 86; Michel, Cochin 198; Ray 5

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A MAGNIFICENT LARGE PAPER COPY IN A SPLENDID DEROME BINDING. Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) prepared the artwork for this edition of La Fontaine between 1729 and 1734. He was renowned for his paintings of animals, many of which were based on the menagerie at Versailles. The illustrations were then revised by Cochin, who improved the artwork of the human characters at the expense of the animals.