METAMORPHOSES D'OVIDE en Rondeaux Imprimez et Enrichis de Figures par Ordre de sa Majeste, Dediez a Monseigneur le Dauphin
Paris: Imprimerie Royale, 1697. Early Edition. Hardcover. Two small quarto (6-1/4" x 8-1/4") volumes bound in full mottled calf leather with marbled endpapers and gilt-lettered contrasting morocco spine labels: [x], 243, [1]; 220, [4] pages. Text in French translation by Issac de Benserade who was commissioned by Louis XIV to make this translation for the education of his son, Louis -- Le Grand Dauphin of France. Illustrated with title vignettes and 226 half-page engravings by Francois Chauveau and Sebastien Le Clerc; lacking the frontispiece. The plates are copies (mostly reversed and unsigned) of the original etchings by Chauveau and Leclerc; they were first published in 1679 (Amsterdam: Abraham Wolfgang). Philip Hofer in BAROQUE BOOK ILLUSTRATION refers to the illustrations as prefigurements of the "grace and elegance of the best French rococo" (page 14). Bookplate of Mr. Edward F. Starbuck on the front pastedown of each volume with ink presentation on the bookplates. Lacking the frontispiece; owner names on front blanks; title page to first volume with short stitched repair of a tear; contents clean with dark impressions of the plates. Bindings solid with light wear and short splits along the joints with covers firm. Near Fine. Item #020472
Price: $1,500.00