LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621-1695) - Fables Choisies. Paris: Claude Barbin, 1668.   First edition in contemporary mottled calf of La Fontaine's "Fables", with corrections on the verso of oij of La Vie d'Ésope (lines 5-6 and 18, where "afin de leur donner lustre" and "emplete" appear instead of "afin de leur donner le lustre" and "amplete").   Our copy also includes three manuscript corrections in brown ink: on the 7th line of page 9 ("le mulet se defendant" was completed with "le mulet en se defendant"), on the 1st line of page 57 (the word "pas" was replaced with "plus"), and on the 14th line of page 176 (the word "bien" was crossed out). This first edition features an "Épître dédicatoire", a "Préface", "La Vie d'Ésope le Phrygien", 124 fables, an Epilogue, and the mention of the privilege shared with Denis Thierry (Tchemerzine, III, pp. 865-866).   The first collection of Fables received a triumphant public reception and, thanks to numerous reprints (the first in 12mo, published the same year) and translations into several European languages, became one of the greatest publishing successes of the 17th century and beyond, with uninterrupted popularity. La Fontaine dedicated the work to the eldest son of Louis XIV, then six years old, and this masterpiece places him on par with the greatest representatives of French classicism.   The delightful vignettes were created by François Chauveau (1613-1676), engraver to the king and counselor of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Chauveau primarily illustrated books, both religious and secular, contributing to the works of many contemporaries such as Boileau, Corneille, Molière, Racine, and Scarron. He is also credited with the famous Carte du Tendre, which illustrated the 1660 original edition of Madeleine de Scudéry's precious novel, Clélie.   4to (245 x 182mm). Engraved coat of arms of the dedicatee on title, 118 engraved vignettes at the beginning of the fables signed F.C. (François Chauveau), woodcut headpieces, initials, and tailpieces (traces of offsetting on title, occasional soiling, some light staining and foxing, slightly browned). Contemporary mottled calf, gilt titles and decorations on spine, speckled edges (some scuffing, slight losses at extremities, minor wear especially on joints, small restoration on rear cover).

Estimate € 7,000 - 10,000