Information
Paris, Chez Basan and Le Mire, 1767-1771. In 4th, 253 x 162 mm. Engraved title page, dedication engraved on two sheets, "Explication des planches" 20 pp. at the end of the volume, 140 beautiful plates by Eisen, Boucher, Gravelot, Moreau, Leprince, Monnet, Parizeau et Saint-Gois, engraved by Baquoy, Basan, Binet, Duclos, de Ghendt, Helman, de Launay , Legrand, Lemire, Leroy, Leveau, de Longueil, Masquelier, Massard, Miger, Nee, Ponce, Rousseau et Saint-Aubin, a final table with the "Fin des Estampes" and the date 1771. Splendid contemporary binding in full marbled leather, triple golden fillet frame on the plates, five raised spine with gold decorated compartments and title on red leather insert "Estampes des Metamorph.", slight abrasions and restorations on the spine. Ownership signature on the first flyleaf. § Les Metamorphoses d'Ovide. Paris, Prault, 1767-1771. In 4th, 248 x 185 mm. 4 vols. Vignettes on the title pages, end caps, illustrations at the opening of the various books, slight reddening, beautiful contemporary binding in marbled leather with 5-ring spine dividing compartments decorated in gold and titles on red leather inserts, red cuts. Ex libris "Count Cesare S. Martino della Motta" on the backplates. The edition was created without illustrations, the previously described volume is precisely the one that would have illustrated the present work.
Specialist Notes
Cohen, 769-773 " Superbe ouvrage...C'est un des plus galamment illustres de tout le siecle"; Portalis, p. 40; Rahir, 1924, p. 568 ; Brunet IV, 285-286 ; Ray, 62 ; J.-D. Mellot, rubrique "L'eau-forte, art des Lumieres" in P. Fouche (dir.), Dictionnaire encyclopedique du livre, Paris, 2005, t. II, p. 6; Flety, 89.