Romans et Contes by Voltaire - 1778

Boullon: De La Societe Typographique, 1778. First edition. Leather. Very Good Indeed. 8" by5". Various. A finely bound, scarce, first illustrated edition of Voltaire's novels and tales. The first edition thus, being the first edition with these engravings. 57 plates of which six are provided in a professional facsimileWith a frontispiece and fifteen plates to volume I, frontispiece and nineteen plates to volume II, and a frontispiece and twenty plates to volume III. Fifty-seven plates are present to this set. Some of the plates are a professionally produced facsimile which have been bound into the work. One plate to volume I is facsimile, two plates to volume II are facsimile and three plates to volume III are facsimile. Collated, the final four leaves of volume III are provided in facsimile. The illustrations to this work are by the likes of Marillier, Martini, Monnet and Moreau. In the original French. A very scarce collection of Voltaire's novels and tales. Voltaire was a noted French enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher. He was noted for his wit and for writing in almost every literary form. He published poems, plays, novels, histories, scientific expositions, novels and pamphlets. He gained commercial success internationally. These volumes contain many of Voltaire's prose writings such as the satirical novellas 'Lingenu'and 'Candide', the historical/religious novella 'Jennni, Ou Le Sage et L'Athee' and his poetry such as 'L'Education D'Un Prince'. In a beautiful full contemporary calf binding. Rebacked, with the original boards preserved. Externally, very smart with just some minor shelfwear to the boards. Contemporary inscriptions to the title pages, J H Howell. Bookplate to the front pastedown, Melon, et Compagnie Libraires. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright with just the occasional light spots. Final four leaves of volume III are provided in facsimile. Very Good Indeed