[FARCES]. Collection of rare and facetious ancient and modern pieces in verse and prose brought to light for the esbattement of Pantagruelists with the help of a bibliophile. Paris : A. Barraud, 1872-1873. - 4 volumes in-8, 217 x 136 : (2 ff.), xj, X pp., (1 f.), 144, 24, 27 pp., (1 f.), 11, 38, 4 pp, (2 ff.), 25, 22 pp, 9 plates, printed cover; (2 ff.), 17, 23, 7, 8, 15, 8, 7, 13, 9, 14, 9, 10, 12, 14, 24, 14, 6, 7, 6 pp. miscellaneous 9, 10, 12, 11, 6, 6, 5, 13, 9, 7, 22, 2, 13, 14 pp 4 plates, printed cover; (2 ff.), xvj, 183, 25, 22, 33, 11, 8, 14, 11 pp. printed cover; (2 ff.), 302 pp, (1 blank), printed cover. Red morocco, cold fillet on the edge of the boards, spine ribbed, gilt lace inside, gilt head, cover preserved (period binding). First edition of this collection established on the model of the one known as "Collection Caron" which had been printed 70 years earlier in only 76 copies. It contains more than 60 pieces, mostly from the 16th and 17th centuries, mainly farces, songs and other "folastries". The edition is illustrated with numerous woodcut vignettes, 7 of which are full-page, and 13 copper-engraved figures outside the text. The edition was limited to 502 numbered copies; this one is ONE OF 20 ON WHATMAN PAPER (n° 7), including the out-of-text figures printed on chine before the letter. A very fine copy in full contemporary morocco, with 5 free engravings. The notice at the head of the first volume, appears twice but in different impressions. White marks on the bindings. Some foxing on the endpapers.