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1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen
1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen

1884 Rare De La Fontaine Tales bound by W.G. Foyle and illustrated by Eisen

$500 USD - $500 USD
$500 USD
$500 USD - $500 USD
$500 USD

Author: Jean de La Fontaine. Illustrated by Charles Eisen.
Title: Tales and Novels in Verse of J. de La Fontaine.
Publisher: Paris, J. Lemonnyer, 1884. Complete set of 2 volumes.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9 x 6 inches.
Pages: Vol. I: xiii, 252 pages. Vol. II: x, 334 pages. 
Binding: Very good binding, finely bound by W. G. Foyle (London) in elegant red half leather over cloth boards, smooth spines with gilt titles (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Upper edges gilt; a refined and harmonious binding.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, light toning, one page with a marginal tear neatly repaired by a previous owner - as shown). 
Illustrations: Complete with 85 full-page engraved illustrations by Charles Eisen, printed from the original plates; richly expressive and finely detailed throughout.

Estimate: (USD 700–1,000).

The books: A beautifully produced 19th-century edition of La Fontaine’s celebrated Contes et Nouvelles, illustrated with the famed designs of Charles Eisen, originally created in the 18th century and widely regarded as the artist’s most spirited and accomplished work; first issued in 1762, Eisen’s illustrations perfectly capture the wit, sensuality, and playful irreverence of La Fontaine’s tales, selecting moments of intrigue, humor, and seduction with remarkable narrative intelligence; this 1884 Paris edition, printed from the original plates, preserves that artistic vitality while presenting the text in an elegant later format; further enhanced by a refined English binding by W. G. Foyle, the set combines French literary heritage with English craftsmanship, making it both a desirable reading copy and a decorative collector’s piece.

The author: Jean de La Fontaine (1621–1695) is one of France’s greatest literary figures, best known for his fables but equally admired for his Contes et Nouvelles, which draw inspiration from Boccaccio and other earlier traditions; his tales are celebrated for their wit, elegance, and subtle moral commentary, often blending humor with a sharp observation of human nature.

The illustrator: Charles Eisen (1720–1778) was a leading French Rococo illustrator whose work is closely associated with the elegance and sensuality of 18th-century French book art; his illustrations for La Fontaine’s tales are widely considered his masterpiece, distinguished by their fluid composition, theatrical storytelling, and ability to capture both charm and mischief with exceptional finesse.