Charles Perrault [12 gravures supplémentaires de A

A very handsome copy of this classic of children's literature and French storytelling, Charles Perrault's Les Contes des fées, in an elegant half brown morocco binding, enriched with Lalauze engravings tipped in at the head of each tale and an additional portrait. A highly desirable issue, with great bibliophilic charm. PERRAULT (Charles) Les Contes des fées in prose and verse. Second edition revised and corrected from the originals and preceded by a critical letter by Ch. Giraud of the Institute. Lyon, Louis Perrin printing, 1865 (MDCCCLXV). Preceded by a critical letter from Charles Giraud, of the Institute, addressed to Princess Charlotte Bonaparte, Comtesse Primoli. This important preface by Giraud is a detailed study on the origin and meaning of fairy tales. Edition printed in Elzevir-type type and in old spelling ("il étoit une fois"), with red and black title and crown device. It contains the prose tales (The Fairies, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots, Riquet with the Funny Neck, Hop-o’-My-Thumb, Little Red Riding Hood, The Clever Princess) and the verse tales (Griselidis, Donkeyskin, The Ridiculous Wishes). It is adorned with a frontispiece (portrait of Perrault in an ornamental frame, imprinted by P. Dien), a vignette after Eisen engraved by Rebel, a plate by J. Rebel before the "Contes en prose", two out-titles (Little Thumb, Donkeyskin) with twelve vignettes engraved at the head of each tale, with bas de lampe and ornate initials. Lyon, Louis Perrin, 1865 - 300 pages. Format in-8 [15 cm x 22.5 cm]. Covers printed on parchment-like paper preserved. Printing on laid paper in small numbers (no limitation statement). Binding signed (blue stamp on paste-down, “Thierry, succ. de Petit-Simier”, in half black morocco with corners, marbled paper covers. Spine with five raised bands richly decorated with gold toolings framed by borders, with a central floral device and a scatter of dots and stars. Double gold fillets on leather turn-ins. Title and author in gold letters, year at the tail of the spine also in gold. Marbled paper endpapers with comb pattern. Silk bookmark. Upper edge gilded. Copy with large margins, untrimmed gutter (witness). Red-engraved ex-libris “Libros amo”, with a monogram within a laurel crown and a shield with a cross. Louis Perrin (1799-1865) was one of the great Lyon printers of the 19th century, famed for his carefully designed typographic editions in an Elzevirian style. This Perrault is among his bibliophile productions. Charles Perrault (1628-1703) had published his Histoires ou contes du temps passé in 1697. The texts here are revised by Charles Giraud from the original editions. This fine copy is enriched with a suite of etchings by Adolphe Lalauze, tipped in at the head of each tale, as well as an additional portrait of Perrault. These engravings, drawn from the reference edition of Charles Perrault’s Contes, illustrated by Adolphe Lalauze and published in 1876 by Librairie des bibliophiles (Jouaust), have been mounted with care to the page so as to blend seamlessly with the volume. They are signed “Ad. Lalauze del. & sc. – Jouaust Ed. – Imp. A. Salmon” and prove of great delicacy (dark interiors, finely hatchered forests, expressive figures). Adolphe Lalauze (1838-1906) is one of the great etchers of the illustrated book in the late 19th century. Included are: - 11 etchings by Lalauze, one at the head of each tale: The Fairies (the girl giving water to the old woman), Cinderella (the ball), Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard, Little Red Riding Hood, Riquet with the Humble Neck, Hop-o’-My-Thumb (the miller and his wife by the fire), Griselidis, Donkeyskin, The Ridiculous Wishes, The Clever Princess - an etched portrait of Perrault by Lalauze, Condition Fresh paper, some foxing. Irregular lower margins, with small tears (stubs). The etchings are very clear and well contrasted. Binding in good condition: spine intact, gilding well preserved, some wear to the headcaps, joints and corners, small losses to the marbled paper. The Contes de Perrault remain one of the pillars of French-language literature: in a few pages, he fixed Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and Puss in Boots for ever. Many readers first encountered them in grand in-8s with engravings like this, whose illustrations long accompanied the readings of several generations. A COPY OF GREAT BIBLIOPHILIC QUALITY, WITHOUT RESERVE PRICE !!

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