When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
JEAN DE LA FONTAINE — CONTES DE LA FONTAINE
Paris: Damase Jouaust, Librairie des Bibliophiles, 1885
TOME PREMIER ONLY
ONE OF ONLY 20 COPIES ON PAPIER DE CHINE
ETCHINGS IN TWO STATES
SIGNED FULL MOROCCO BINDING BY RAMAGE OF LONDON
A particularly luxurious example of Damase Jouaust’s celebrated late-Victorian “livre de bibliophile”: the first volume of La Fontaine’s Contes, printed on papier de Chine as part of the publisher’s highly restricted grand-paper issue and preserved in an elaborate signed binding by Ramage of London.
IMPORTANT: This is Tome Premier only. The second volume is not present.
THE DELUXE CHINE ISSUE
The numbered grand-paper edition was limited to 220 copies. This copy belongs to the exceptionally restricted group of only twenty printed on papier de Chine.
The Chine-paper copies were supplied with the illustrations in two states. This volume contains five subjects after Édouard de Beaumont, etched by Émile Boilvin, each represented in two states—ten plate impressions in all.
The combination of Chine paper and duplicate states places this copy well above the ordinary issue and the more numerous Holland-paper issue.
THE SIGNED RAMAGE BINDING
Finely bound in full crimson crushed morocco by Ramage of London, with the binder’s signature on the turn-in.
John Ramage was one of the distinguished British bookbinders of the late nineteenth century. After training in Paris under the celebrated French binder Lortic, he established his own business in Britain and became particularly admired for richly gilt bindings inspired by earlier French and English styles.
Binding details include:
• Full crimson crushed morocco leather
• Signed “Bound by Ramage”
• Elaborate gilt floral and pointillé borders on both covers
• Multiple gilt fillets
• Five raised spine bands
• Richly gilt spine compartments
• Gilt-lettered spine
• Broad gilt-decorated inner dentelles
• Marbled endpapers
• Top edge gilt; remaining edges apparently untrimmed
• Tome number “I” gilt on the spine
The fine English binding is especially appropriate for Jouaust’s French bibliophile edition, combining the work of a major London binder with one of the characteristic luxury productions of the Librairie des Bibliophiles.
THE BOOK
Jean de La Fontaine
Contes de La Fontaine
Published by Damase Jouaust
Preface by Paul Lacroix, “Bibliophile Jacob”
Paris: Librairie des Bibliophiles, 1885
Tome Premier
204 pages
Text in French
La Fontaine’s witty, frequently risqué Contes et nouvelles en vers occupy an important place in seventeenth-century French literature. This nineteenth-century bibliophile edition was prepared with a substantial preface by Paul Lacroix and illustrations designed by the French artist Édouard de Beaumont and etched by Émile Boilvin.
Beaumont’s elegant historical and genre style is particularly well suited to the theatrical, romantic and sometimes libertine character of La Fontaine’s stories.
CONDITION
Very Good overall.
The binding remains firm, bright and highly attractive. The crimson morocco retains strong color, and the intricate gilt decoration remains sharp and brilliant.
Age-appropriate external wear includes:
• Rubbing at the spine ends
• Rubbing along portions of the joints
• Light wear over the raised bands
• Rubbing and small abrasions at the corners and board edges
• A few minor surface marks to the leather
• Slight wear to the gilt lettering and decoration in places
The joints and hinges remain sound. The gilt tooling is exceptionally attractive and gives the volume considerable display presence.
Internally, the book is generally clean and well preserved, with occasional light foxing, toning and minor age-related marks. The Chine paper and etchings remain attractive.
Please study all photographs carefully. The photographs form an important part of the condition description.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS
Author: Jean de La Fontaine
Title: Contes de La Fontaine
Publisher: Damase Jouaust, Librairie des Bibliophiles
Place: Paris
Date: 1885
Volume: Tome Premier only
Pagination: 204 pages
Language: French
Preface: Paul Lacroix, “Bibliophile Jacob”
Illustrator: Édouard de Beaumont
Etcher: Émile Boilvin
Paper: Papier de Chine
Limitation: One of twenty copies on Chine
Illustrations: Five subjects in two states; ten impressions
Binder: Ramage of London, signed
Binding: Full crimson crushed morocco
Edge treatment: Top edge gilt; other edges apparently untrimmed
Condition: Very Good
COLLECTING INTEREST
• Jean de La Fontaine
• French illustrated books
• Livres de bibliophile
• Damase Jouaust and the Librairie des Bibliophiles
• Papier de Chine and limited grand-paper editions
• Etchings in multiple states
• Édouard de Beaumont
• Émile Boilvin
• Signed Ramage bindings
• Victorian and Edwardian fine bookbinding
• Full morocco leather bindings
• French literature and curiosa
A rare conjunction of French bibliophile printing, Chine paper, duplicate-state etchings and a richly gilt signed Ramage binding.
TOME PREMIER ONLY; VOLUME II IS NOT PRESENT.
