Fables nouvelles. 2 parts in 1 vol.

With frontispiece, 2 figured titles, 99 large vignettes, and 99 tailpieces, all engr. after Marillier by de Ghendt, Longueil, Née, Launoy, Baquoy, a.o. XXII pp., 1 leaf, 176 pp.; 1 leaf (bound after p. 184), pp. 177-309, (3) pp. 8vo. 20th-century brown morocco, spine in 6 compartments richly gilt, boards surrounded by triple gilt fillets, double gilt fillet on outer edges, wide gilt inner dentelles, edges gilt, marbled paste-downs and flyleaves (first inner hinge reinforced, minimal fading to spine and lower cover). The Hague and Paris, Delalain, 1773-(75). A luxurious edition of Dorat's "Fables", a copy on Dutch paper with ample margins. With the carton replacing pp. 161/62 and with all typographic characteristics to identify it as the definitive edition as opposed to the reimpression of the same year. "In delicacy of execution, as well as in the beauty of the embellishments, the book rivals 'Les Baisers', and must be regarded as Marillier's masterpiece" (Lewine). According to Fürstenberg, Marillier represents best of all the style of illustration of the period of Louis XVI. His vignettes and ornamental pieces are always fine and graceful without becoming too mannered. The illustrations accompanying Dorat's "Fables" are considered to be the artist's most beautiful work. The present definitive edition was preceded by a provisional edition which only included a few of Marillier's engravings in their first printing state. Though the publishing date of the book is 1773, the vignettes in part II are dated 1774 or 1775, so presumably this was completed in 1775 only. - The engr. figured title to part II is misbound, the preceding frontispiece is lacking. - Quérard, La France littéraire II, 577; Cioranescu 25113; Cohen/de Ricci 313-15 (cites the title differently); Lewine 150f.; Sander 508; Fürstenberg, Das französische Buch im 18. Jhdt. (1929), p. 104; cf. Fabula docet. Exhib. cat. Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel (1983), no. 102 (with illus.). LITERATURE: FRENCH ; ILLUSTRATED BOOKS (BEFORE 1900) ;