Splendid large paper copy in red morocco of the "chef-d'oeuvre" of the French artist Clément Pierre Marillier (1740-1808), the outstanding French artist, who invented the illustration by vignettes at the head and at the end of short pieces of text in the style of Louis XVI. Marillier's illustrations to Dorat's Fables together with those he did for Dorat's Baisers are generally considered to be the two masterpieces of 18th-century miniature book-illustration. His intricate designs were executed by about 25 of the best engravers of the time. The 1773 edition of Dorat's Fables is the first edition to include Marillier's illustrations, and according to the author in his foreword it was enlarged with 24 new fables. It must originally have been published in parts, and obviously not finished before 1775, as several of Marillier's illustrations in the second part are dated 1774 and 1775. The second volume is here in first edition, but the first volume was meanwhile once republished, with the same date 1773. The work contains 4 series of 24 fables, with at the end of the first three series an extra "Conte" added.
Claude Joseph Dorat (1734-1780), a very prolific but not very successful author of gallant poetry, was always much interested in the rich production and fine illustration of his works. For this, he defends himself in an interesting preface, in which he further discusses previous authors of fable books, from Aesop to La Motte-Houdart.
With the printed bookplates of Albert Wander (dated 1932) and Georg Wander on the front pastedown, a printed armorial bookplate of the "bibliothèque de Mr. G. Chartener" on the verso of the first flyleaf, and a crossed-out manuscript owner's inscription on the first title page. Otherwise in very good condition. Cohen-De Ricci p. 313; Cioranescu 25113; Fabula Docet 102; Fürstenberg 104; Landwehr, Emblem & Fable Books, F079; Lewine pp. 150-1; Ray, The Art of French ill. books, pp. 81-83; STCN 23631095X (6 copies, incl. 1 incomplete); Stevenson Hobbs, Fables, p. 74.