Contes et nouvelles en vers

2 parts in one 12mo volume of 11pp., 92 pp., (1) leaf, (1) blank leaf, 11 pp., 160pp., (2) leaves. Red morocco, double decoration of triple gilt fillet, straight and curved on the covers, large central gilt spandrel, spine with raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons, double gilt fillet on the edges, blue morocco lining, all edges gilt on marbling. Binding signed Thibaron-Joly.

149 x 80 mm.

La Fontaine, Jean de. Tales and Novellas in Verse.Paris, Claude Barbin, 1667.

Second part of the tales and novellas in verse.Paris, Claude Barbin, 1667.

First collected edition of the first two parts of La Fontaine’s Contes.

It contains 23 tales and 3 miscellaneous poems. The first editions of these 2 parts had been published in Paris in 1665 and 1666. Rochambeau, no. 8 and 9; Tchemerzine, III, 854; Brunet, III, 757; Le Petit, 224-227; Destailleur, no. 1147; Bulletin Morgand et Fatout, no. 7585.

The first part appeared for the first time in 1665, containing 12 new tales; the second part first appeared in 1666 with 13 new tales. According to Le Petit, this edition is none other than the original from 1665 with a replacement title page. The second part can also be found with a new title dated 1667.

“Two editions of his Tales and Novellas in Verse appeared in Paris in 1667. The public received them with immense acclaim.” (M. Marais, History of the Life and Works of M. de La Fontaine).

By order of the king, the police had the collection of tales suppressed. Thus, as a storyteller, La Fontaine found success mainly within the libertine circles of his time. Today, with a different climate, critics focus on one thing: La Fontaine was the renovator of the French tale. The ease with which he excelled in this genre remains prodigious.

Of the greatest rarity.

“Very fine copy, very large margins (height 149 mm) in a very rich binding.”

Precious copy with beautiful margins preserved in its double-morocco binding made by Thibaron-Joly.

Provenance: Léon Rattier and Destailleur.