[DORÉ]. LA FONTAINE. Fables de La Fontaine, avec les dessins - Lot 509

[DORÉ]. LA FONTAINE. Fables de La Fontaine, avec les dessins de Gustave Doré Paris, Hachette, 1868, in-folio, [4]-LX-864 pages, large vignette at the head of each fable, culs-de-lampe, 84 large full-page woodcut illustrations and 1 portrait of La Fontaine, 58 loose-leaf issues in dust jackets. Modern red half-maroquin box, spine decorated in the Romantic style. (Some loss and gaps to first covers of issues. Scattered foxing and marginal tears). First edition. A rare copy in sheets, as issued in 58 issues, in printed yellow sleeves. Issues 7 and 8; 12, 13 and 14; 15, 16 and 17; 34 and 35 are in the same folder. The last issues (55 to 58) contain the introductory pages of the work, the table, the frontispiece portrait and the general blue illustrated cover. These last issues are complete with the 8 re-engraved plates which the publisher had refused and which are not found in the copies in the publisher's cardboard. (Leblanc 205-207. Vicaire 4, 904. Carteret III, 361).