Boucher, François

MOLIÈRE Oeuvres. New edition. Paris (de l'imprimerie de P. Prault) 1734 6 vols. in-4° : portrait-[6]-i/xv-[3]-xvii/lxx-330, [6]-446, [6]-442, [6]-420, [6]-618, [6]-554 pp.; 33 pl. (scattered spotting and russetting, qqs. pp. and pl. lég. teintées, claire mouill. marg. au début du vol. VI). Red morocco signed Belz-Niédrée, boards framed in gilt with a double frame of three fillets and a roulette with fleurons at the corners, gilt ribbed spines, double gilt fillet on the edges, gilt ribbed fillings, gilt edges (spines very slightly faded, large white shadow on the boards of vol. V, some light wear and spotting). "Boucher's masterpiece of illustration; one of the most beautiful books of the first part of the 18th century" (Cohen). Ex. of first printing on laid paper, with the lxx pp. in the lim. ff, the error "comteese" on p. 360 of vol. VI, but with the name "Zaide" instead of "Chimène" in the list of actors in the "Sicilien" in vol. IV. First printing of the illustrations: fine portrait of Molière gr. by Lépicié after Coypel, 33 figures by Laurent Cars after Boucher and more than 190 bandeaux and culs-de-lampe, many repeated by Joullain and Cars after Boucher, Blondel and Oppenord; engraved vignette repeated on the titles. Vol. I contains an "Avertissement" by Fr.-A. Jolly, editor of the text, and a "Mémoire sur la vie et les ouvrages de Molière" by J.-L.-I. de La Serre. Ref. Cohen 712 sq. - Tchemerzine-Scheler IV:827. - Brunet III:1798.