LA BORDE, Jean Benjamin de (1734-1790) Choix de chansons mises en musique. Dédièes à Madame la Dauphine. - Paris, Lormel, 1773
4 vols. Large 8vo. Early 19th century polished calf, spines in 6 compartments with gilt floral ornaments and black and red morocco labels, French fillets on covers, elaborate inner gilt border, all edges gilt. 4 frontispieces, one with the portrait "à la lyre" of La Borde by Masquelier after Denon, engr. title by Moreau, dedication with coat of arms of Marie Antoinette, and 100 plates, all finely engraved; also the text and musical scores are engraved: 154, (4) pp.; 153 pp.; 150, (4) pp.; 150, (4) pp. A superb crisp copy, with neat impressions of the illustrations, in perfectly preserved and attractive bindings.
First edition of one of the major achievements of French 18th century book illustration. It is the main work by De La Borde, musician and composer, who put to music a choice selection of French poetry. The 25 illustrations of the first volume were designed and also engraved by Moreau le Jeune and may be considered his masterwork; the other three volumes were illustrated by Le Barbier, Le Bouteux and Saint Quentin. Katalog Fürstenberg 69; Eitner VI, 5. Cohen de Ricci 534 : «Ce livre, un des plus beaux du XVIII siècle, en est peut-être, avec les Contes de la Fontaine, le plus agréable par la grace des sujets et la variété des costumes...»
Euro14500
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