55 - [BEAUCHAMPS, Pierre François Godart de and LEVESQUE, Louise]. The Love Story of Ismène and Isménias. Followed by: The Prince of the Sea and the Invisible Prince.

[BEAUCHAMPS, Pierre François Godart de and LEVESQUE, Louise]. The Love Story of Ismène and Isménias. Followed by: The Prince of the Sea and the Invisible Prince. First French edition, illustrated with 5 engravings based on Cochin, followed by a collection of tales by Louise Levesque, in a lovely full calfskin binding of the period. The Hague, publisher unknown, 1743. In-12, brown marbled full calf, ribbed spine decorated with gilt metal tools, title label in burgundy morocco, red edges (contemporary binding). viii and 96 pp., 1 title vignette and 3 separate engravings in red chalk, 1 red-chalk headband, and a few black initials. Binding slightly rubbed, gilding somewhat faded, rare and minimal foxing. First edition of the French translation and first illustrated edition featuring five plates based on Cochin’s work. This is a free translation and adaptation by Pierre-François Godard de Beauchamps (1689–1761) of a 12th-century Byzantine romance, originally written in Greek by Eustathius Macrembolites (attributed to Eumathe by Barbier and Quérard). This collection of fantastical tales embraces the contemporary fashion for utopias (the shining island, the island of savages, the island of fortune, the island of white magic) and Oriental tales of the time. Handwritten bookplate on the title page. Bound together with: [LEVESQUE. Louise Cavelier, lady]. The Prince of the Azure Waters and the Invisible Prince. Tales. Paris, Coustelier, 1744. 1 unnumbered folio, 190 pp., 1 title vignette, 2 running heads, and 5 black-engraved plates. A collection of fairy tales featuring the Prince of the Blue Waters, the victim of a curse that causes the death of anyone who looks at him. [Cohen, 123; Jones, 42] A very fine copy, perfectly executed at the time.