The Supreme Anthology . . . among Illustrated Books of the 18th Century--a Large Copy in Lovely Period Bindings

LES MÉTAMORPHOSES, EN LATIN ET EN FRANÇOIS.

(FRENCH ILLUSTRATED BOOKS). OVID.

(Paris: Chez Le Clerc (vol. I-II), Chez Nyon aîné (vol. III-IV), 1767-70). 262 x 200 mm. (10 1/4 x 7 3/4'). Four Volumes. Translated by Abbé Antoine Banier. Second Printing (vol. IV dated 1770; p. 215 of vol. III erroneously numbered 209).

HANDSOME CONTEMPORARY OLIVE BROWN MOROCCO, gilt, covers framed by dogtooth and ribbon rolls, raised bands, spine compartments with central ornament (fleuron, wheat sheaf, urn, compass) radiating four wavy dotted lines dividing the space into quarters, each containing small tools, two red morocco labels, pink paste-paper endpapers, all edges gilt. Each volume's title page with engraved vignette, first volume with extra engraved title page featuring a bust of Ovid, two engraved dedication pages to the Duke of Chartres, the first with the royal arms, 34 headpiece vignettes, and a decorative "Fin" plate at the end of vol. IV, all by Choffard, and 140 VERY FINE ENGRAVED PLATES after Boucher, Eisen, Gravelot, Monnet, Moreau, and others, engraved under the supervision of Le Mire (plates 95 and 96 mis-bound between plates 99 and 100; plates 135 and 138 numbered 134* and 137*). All but three plates with original tissue guards. Title pages printed in red and black. A Large Paper Copy. Ray 62; Cohen-de Ricci 769-72 ("superbe ouvrage"); Brunet IV, 286. Many tissue guards noticeably foxed (and more than a few torn), a few leaves and plates with overall toning or browning, but still a most agreeable set--the lovely bindings with next to no wear, the margins vast, and the impressions of the engravings quite rich.

This is a Large Paper Copy in extremely attractive contemporary bindings of what (the normally reserved) Ray says "is the supreme anthology of French Rococo book illustrations." The plates were first intended for printing as a separate suite designed by "the best French painters" and engraved by the best engravers, but before they could be published separately, they were incorporated in this edition of Ovid. The result, says Ray, "is a high point among illustrated books of the 18th century." It is difficult to exaggerate the pleasure the illustrations give. They are executed with great delicacy; the effects of light and shadow are especially impressive; and the sharpness and detail of even background figures are unusually fine. The preliminary pictures were done by a number of different artists. "The veteran Boucher appears beside the young Moreau, with Eisen, Choffard, Monnet, and Gravelot also playing substantial roles," says Ray. He singles out for special praise the illustrations of Eisen and finds his four depictions of the seasons supreme, from Spring, a graceful maiden fingering flower garlands flown in by putti, to old man Winter hovering over a fire at which the fat putti also warm themselves. Ray also is enthusiastic about the headpieces of Choffard, calling them "images which baffle the mind while they set it dreaming." With such a number of plates, one could expect to find an occasional engraving that is noticeably inferior, but in this work, the illustrations maintain a remarkably consistent high level of excellence. The present copy is a particularly pleasing one, with excellent impressions of these illustrations set within vast margins. And while our edition is not especially rare, it is seldom to be found in such appealing unrestored period bindings as seen here. (ST20795)

Price: $7,500.00