Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

Florian, Jean-Pierre-Claris de. Grandville. Fables illustrées par J.-J. Grandville suivies de Tobie et de Ruth poëmes tirés de l’Ecriture Sainte et précédées d’une notice sur la vie et les ouvrages de Florian par P.-J. Stahl .

With frontispiece, 79 plates, and numerous vignettes in wood-engraving by J. J. Grandville. XX, 292 pp. Large 8vo. 19th-century half calf over five raised bands. Spine gilt with label. Marbled end-papers (front board somewhat loose). – Paris, (Lacrampe for) J.-J. Dubochet, 1843.

First edition, second impression (though still showing the last line of page 207 identical to the first impression, which, according to Brivois, should be different). 1842, four years after his “La Fontaine”, Grandville published his ironic illustrations to the fables of Claris de Florian (1755–1794). The edition is introduced by P. J. Stahl (i.e. Pierre Jules Hetzel), who had published Grandville’s masterpiece “Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux” in the same year. – Bodemann 301.2; Fabula docet 141; Vicaire III, 746; Brivois 151f.; Sander 268. – Contemp. bookplate “John Rayner” on first paste-down. Pencil notes on p. 99 and on last flyleaf. Plate in front of fable XIII of book V marginally soiled and with restored tear. Spine defective – Best.-Nr. 5451