Bibliographie des Livres de Fables de La Fontaine Illustrées

Abstract

Here is a reprint of a precis of a scholarly work since overtaken by at least two works I am aware of: Les Fables de La Fontaine: Quatre Siècles d'illustration by Alain-Marie Bassy in 1986 and Das Illustrierte Fabelbuch by Wolfgang Metzner, Paul Raabe, and Ulrike Bodemann in 1998. Despres' work seems to have concluded in 1888; the original from which this reproduction is made was published in 1892. What one finds here is more difficult for contemporary researchers to work with, I believe. The author works in categories that include fables alone, complete works, diverse editions, suites of illustrations, and cheap editions. Two supplements make for accuracy but harder searching. I find, in the original group from 1888, the following totals: 138 fables alone editions, 18 complete works, 6 diverse editions, 9 suites of illustrations, and 24 cheap editions. The first supplement adds some 37 publications and the second supplement about 10 more. This may be a helpful secondary source in tracking down less known editions of La Fontaine.