Fables de la Fontaine dédiées a la Jeunesse, Tome I

Abstract

Bodemann#191.1. Coste's commentary had been used in several editions prior to this one. See my entries for 1790 and 1793, for example. Bodemann places the first Coste edition in 1743. The entry for this edition correctly notes the misnumeration of the last few pages as 200-6 rather than 300-6. Yes, the frontispiece is after Oudry, but the Aesop figure is more misshapen, and the lion has a more human face. The book is small to start with (4 x 6¾), and so the illustrations, which come three to a page, are quite small. The entry notes the lack of background in the outdoor scenes. The illustrations are described as presenting Darstellung durch feine, genaue Zeichnungen der Personen und Tiere mit überzeichneter Mimik und Gestik. Good examples are BC (139); Le Lion et le Moucheron and SS (148); Le Singe et le Dauphin (213); FWT (237); GGE (258); and DS (286). This copy is in excellent condition.