[ed. Jouaust Morocco Bindings Signed Ribbon] Fables Of La Fontaine. 1/160, Ill. Millet...

La FONTAINE (Jean de). Fables of La Fontaine. Paris, Jouaust / Librairie des Bibliophiles, 1873.--------------------------------------------2 large volumes in large octavo format (261 x 177 mm) of 2 bl. ff., 1 folio, 1 engraved frontispiece folio, lvi - 265 pp. and 1 folio; 2 folio ff., 333 pp. and 1 fnfol.Contemporary uniform bindings of glazed half-morocco with corners, double gilt fillets on the covers, ribbed spines decorated with a ''grotesque'' decoration comprising gilt bold fillets, gilt dotted fillet on the ribs, double gilt framing boxes, important interlacing of gilt fillets, large gilt fleurons, gilt dotted lines, gilt title, gilt volume number, gilt palette at the head and tail, gilt date at the foot, covers preserved. (Petrus Ruban).Complete set of the two volumes constituting it; here deliciously bound by Petrus Ruban.Edition known as ''des douze peintres''.One of the 160 copies of the large paper edition. This one is among the 100 of the Holland paper edition; the only ones, with 10 Whatman, to contain a double series of engravings. The colophon indicates that these ''engravings in double proof [are offered] before and with the letter''; each of those appearing in the present copy are with the letter. Rochambeau mentions that, although larger in number, these copies on laid paper were sold at publication for 250 francs; compared to 200 for the 10 on Whatman. The delicate compositions adorning the work are the work of Bodmer, Brown, Daubigny, Detaille, Gérome, Leloir, Emile Lévy, Henri Lévy, Jean-François Millet, Rousseau, Stevens and Worms. ''A hard worker, with an often overflowing fertility of imagination, a bookbinder and gilder with impeccable technique, unhesitatingly multiplying his irons to achieve the desired perfection, Ruban played with all the processes, violently exploiting the material to get the maximum effect from it.'' (in Crauzat). ''Ribbon's impeccable technique is not one of his least merits.'' (in Duncan).''Ruban worked for most of the collectors of his time.'' (in Fléty).Crauzat I, French Bookbinding from 1900 to 1925, pp. 63 and following - Duncan, Art Nouveau / Art Deco Bookbinding in France, p. 159 - Fléty, Dictionary of French Bookbinders, p. 156 - Rochambeau, Bibliography of the Works of La Fontaine, 992 - Vicaire IV, Handbook for the 19th Century Book Lover, 907. Slightly oxidized paper which may also have some foxing. Nevertheless, very good condition.