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Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695)
Illustrated by: Romeyn de Hooghe (Dutch, 1645–1708)
Publisher: Henry Desbordes (Dutch (?), 17th century)
1685
Place of Publication: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Medium/Technique Illustrated book with etched frontispiece and 58 etchings
Dimensions Overall: 16.2 x 10.7 x 2.7 cm (6 3/8 x 4 3/16 x 1 1/16 in.)
Credit Line Bequest of Mrs. Horatio Greenough Curtis in memory of her husband Horatio Greenough Curtis
Accession Number40.590
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Amsterdam: Henry Desbordes, 1685

Catalogue Raisonné Brunet III, 758-59; Hollstein, Dutch and Flemish, IX, nos. 591-648; Landwehr, de Hooghe Book Illustrator, 62 (second issue)
Description(Amsterdam: Henry Desbordes, 1685) Octavo; (two vols. bound together) 239 leaves; modern gilt-stamped light brown calf.

Etched frontispiece and illustrations of La Fontaine's fables.

First illustrated edition, second issue (per Landwehr), of these influential fables, reprinted often and illustrated by many subsequent artists. MFA owns a copy in Sargent Collection of first issue (37.1623) and another copy of the second (37.1762).
ProvenanceMrs. Horatio G. Curtis, by whom bequeathed to MFA, October 10, 1940.