LES METAMORPHOSES D’OVIDE, En Latin et En François, de la Traduction de M. l’Abbé Banier, de l’Académie Royale des Inscriptions & Belles-Lettres; Avec des Explications Historiques.

4 volumes. First Edition of the most famous illustrated Ovid of the 18th century and one of the most beautiful French illustrated books of the period. With fine provenance, the Taisne de Raymonval family copy, their plate with coat of arms tipped in. Profusely decorated with very fine copperplates throughout, elaborately engraved head and tail-pieces throughout, engraved title-pages and preliminary leaves. A beautiful production. 139 Plates by Boucher, Eisen, Gravelot, Monnet, Moreau and others, engraved title, 3 pages of Dedication, 4 Fleurons on Titles, 30 vignettes and 1 very finely engraved full-page cul-de-lampe at the end of Vol. 4 by Choffad & Monnet 4to, very finely bound by the Belgian binder Isidore Smeers in antique crimson crushed morocco, the covers with triple gilt fillet rules at the outer borders surrounding an inner panel of triple gilt fillet rules and gilt corner tools, the spines elaborately gilt decorated with intricate panel tooling in compartments featuring gilt center and border tooling in an overall dense pattern, raised bands decorated in gilt, two compartments lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt rolled turnovers in multiple layers, gilt ruled edges, marbled end-leaves, all edges gilt. An especially handsome and appealing copy of this revered production. An exceptionally fine set with the bindings, text-blocks and plates in excellent condition. A beautiful survival of a great book with care having been shown in the preservation over the centuries.