LA FONTAINE (Jean de). The Eunuch. Comédie. Paris : Augustin Courbé, 1654. - In-4, 215 x 165 : (4 ff.), 149 pp., (1 f.). White half parchment, smooth spine (19th century binding). Riffaud, p. 243. - Rochambeau, p. 573. - Tchémerzine, III, p. 848. Very rare first edition of this 5-act comedy by Jean de La Fontaine. This is an early work and the first printed book by the celebrated fabulist, who drew inspiration for his composition from Terence. It appears never to have been performed. The edition includes Augustin Courbé's copper-engraved mark on the title and handsome woodcut headbands for each act. A copy with fine margins. Copies are often trimmed short and the last E of Eunuch is cut on the title, which is not the case here. Very fine copies are extremely difficult to find. This one is in a modest 19th-century half-binding. The first white endpaper is missing. Small tears on the bottom of the first 5 leaves and those of quires 0 to Q. Holes and wormholes in the lower margins of the leaves, with rare damage to the text.