Le Sage - Œuvres choisies - 1783
Starting bid
€ 1
Add to your favourites to get an alert when the auction starts.
Expert
Selected by Ilaria Colombo
Specialist in old books, specialising in theological disputes since 1999.
Estimate € 800 - € 1,500
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 134994 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
THE LAME DEVIL, GIL BLAS AND THE THEATRE OF THE WORLD: THE GREAT ILLUSTRATED COLLECTED WORKS OF LESAGE
A refined and complete eighteenth-century collection of the principal works by Alain-René Lesage, the author who transformed French novel into an ironic machine capable of exposing society, its vices and its illusions. This elegant 15-volume series brings together the writer from Brittany’s narrative and theatrical works most celebrated, including Le Diable boiteux, Gil Blas de Santillane, Guzman d’Alfarache and the Théâtre de la Foire, in an illustrated typographic format of great charm. The rich iconographic apparatus, with about 30 off-text copper-engraved plates, amplifies the dramatic, satirical and libertine dimension of the work, turning the collection into one of the most interesting examples of late eighteenth-century French narrative publishing.
MARKET VALUE
Complete illustrated collections of Lesage’s works from the eighteenth century are increasingly difficult to find complete and coherent. The 15-volume sets with uniform binding and preserved engraving apparatus generally fetch values between 1,500 and 3,500 euros, with higher quotations for particularly fresh copies, complete with plates and with contemporaneous bindings.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
15 volumes. Full leather bindings and marbled paper, smooth spines decorated in gold with title labels and numbering impressed in gold. Typographic frontispieces, numerous off-text copper engravings, portraits and theatrical plates. Illustrative apparatus composed of about 30 plates engraved on copper. Papers with natural browning and foxing, signs of wear. In old books, with a multi-century history, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description.
FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Œuvres choisies de Le Sage, avec figures.
Amsterdam, et se trouve à Paris, Rue et Hôtel Serpente, 1783.
Alain-René Lesage.
CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
With Lesage, the French novel definitively enters modernity. Le Diable boiteux introduces a satirical gaze capable of “lifting the lids of houses” and reveals the truth hidden behind the façade of urban society: greed, adultery, ambition, vanity and deceit become narrative material. Gil Blas, on the other hand, constitutes one of the great models of the European picaresque novel, anticipating the psychological realism of the nineteenth century. This collection testifies to the literary and theatrical taste of pre-revolutionary France: the engravings emphasize the scenic character of the works and restore the ambiguous and brilliant world of the ancien régime, suspended between comedy, moral satire and cultivated libertinism.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Alain-René Lesage was born in Sarzeau, Brittany, in 1668 and died in Boulogne in 1747. Novelist, playwright and translator, he was one of the major French authors of the eighteenth century. Influenced by Spanish picaresque fiction, he managed to transform it into a modern form of social critique and psychological observation. His works deeply influenced European fiction, from Fielding to Smollett to Diderot.
PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Lesage’s works were reprinted countless times between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, often in elegant illustrated editions intended for European aristocratic and bourgeois audiences. The typographic indications “Amsterdam” were frequently used by French publishers of the period, for commercial reasons as well as to evade censorship restrictions. The Hôtel Serpente editions are today particularly sought after for their typographic and iconographic quality.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Quérard, La France littéraire, V, pp. 189-205.
Barbier, Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes, II.
Cioranescu, Bibliographie de la littérature française du XVIIIe siècle, nn. relatifs a Lesage.
Catalogue général BnF, notices relative alle Œuvres choisies de Le Sage, édition de 1783.
WorldCat, censimenti internazionali delle edizioni Amsterdam / Hôtel Serpente.
Cohen-de Ricci, Guide de l’amateur de livres à gravures du XVIIIe siècle.
Hoefer, Nouvelle biographie générale, voce “Lesage”.
DBF – Dictionnaire de Biographie Française, voce “Le Sage, Alain-René”.
Seller's Story
Luxury Books: Your Go-To Guide for Nabbing Literary Treasures!
Embarking on the thrilling journey of collecting rare and timeless printed works? Here's your snappy rundown, "The Collector's Cheat Sheet," to ensure you're not just flipping pages but stacking up the value:
1. Edition and Rarity: Rarity is the name of the game. First editions, limited printings, and books flaunting unique features like eye-catching illustrations or mind-blowing bindings? Consider them the VIPs of the collector's world.
2. Condition & Dimension: Picture this – a book in mint condition, untouched by the woes of wear and tear. Now, flip the script: wear, foxing, discoloration – they're the villains here. And don't forget to size up the dimensions, because a book's size matters in the collector's universe.
3. Authenticity: In a world of replicas and forgeries, verifying a book's authenticity is your superhero move. Expert examination and authentication – your trusty sidekicks in this quest.
4. Provenance: Who owned it before you? If the book has hobnobbed with famous figures or danced through historical events, its value skyrockets. Every book has a story, but some have blockbuster tales.
5. Demand and Market Trends: Think of book values as the stock market of the literary world. Stay savvy on collector trends and market shifts to ride the waves of value.
6. Subject Matter: Some topics are like fine wine – they get better with time. Dive into subjects with a timeless appeal or ride the wave of emerging cultural and historical relevance.
7. Binding and Design: Beauty is more than skin deep. Intricate bindings, stunning covers, and illustrations – these are the accessories that make a book runway-ready in the collector's eyes.
8. Association Copies: Books with a personal touch – whether it's a connection to the author or a famous personality – elevate the historical vibes. A book with a backstory? Count us in.
9. Investment Potential: Passion is the engine, but some collectors eye future returns. Keep in mind, though, that the book market can be as unpredictable as a plot twist.
10. Expert Advice: New to the game? Don't play solo. Seek wisdom from the book gurus, hit up book fairs, and join collector communities. We at Luxury Books are the Yodas of the rare book galaxy, helping you build collections that scream sophistication and cultural clout.
Because collecting rare books isn't just about dollar signs – it's a journey of preserving heritage and embracing literary treasures. Happy collecting!
Translated by Google TranslateTHE LAME DEVIL, GIL BLAS AND THE THEATRE OF THE WORLD: THE GREAT ILLUSTRATED COLLECTED WORKS OF LESAGE
A refined and complete eighteenth-century collection of the principal works by Alain-René Lesage, the author who transformed French novel into an ironic machine capable of exposing society, its vices and its illusions. This elegant 15-volume series brings together the writer from Brittany’s narrative and theatrical works most celebrated, including Le Diable boiteux, Gil Blas de Santillane, Guzman d’Alfarache and the Théâtre de la Foire, in an illustrated typographic format of great charm. The rich iconographic apparatus, with about 30 off-text copper-engraved plates, amplifies the dramatic, satirical and libertine dimension of the work, turning the collection into one of the most interesting examples of late eighteenth-century French narrative publishing.
MARKET VALUE
Complete illustrated collections of Lesage’s works from the eighteenth century are increasingly difficult to find complete and coherent. The 15-volume sets with uniform binding and preserved engraving apparatus generally fetch values between 1,500 and 3,500 euros, with higher quotations for particularly fresh copies, complete with plates and with contemporaneous bindings.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
15 volumes. Full leather bindings and marbled paper, smooth spines decorated in gold with title labels and numbering impressed in gold. Typographic frontispieces, numerous off-text copper engravings, portraits and theatrical plates. Illustrative apparatus composed of about 30 plates engraved on copper. Papers with natural browning and foxing, signs of wear. In old books, with a multi-century history, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description.
FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Œuvres choisies de Le Sage, avec figures.
Amsterdam, et se trouve à Paris, Rue et Hôtel Serpente, 1783.
Alain-René Lesage.
CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
With Lesage, the French novel definitively enters modernity. Le Diable boiteux introduces a satirical gaze capable of “lifting the lids of houses” and reveals the truth hidden behind the façade of urban society: greed, adultery, ambition, vanity and deceit become narrative material. Gil Blas, on the other hand, constitutes one of the great models of the European picaresque novel, anticipating the psychological realism of the nineteenth century. This collection testifies to the literary and theatrical taste of pre-revolutionary France: the engravings emphasize the scenic character of the works and restore the ambiguous and brilliant world of the ancien régime, suspended between comedy, moral satire and cultivated libertinism.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Alain-René Lesage was born in Sarzeau, Brittany, in 1668 and died in Boulogne in 1747. Novelist, playwright and translator, he was one of the major French authors of the eighteenth century. Influenced by Spanish picaresque fiction, he managed to transform it into a modern form of social critique and psychological observation. His works deeply influenced European fiction, from Fielding to Smollett to Diderot.
PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Lesage’s works were reprinted countless times between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, often in elegant illustrated editions intended for European aristocratic and bourgeois audiences. The typographic indications “Amsterdam” were frequently used by French publishers of the period, for commercial reasons as well as to evade censorship restrictions. The Hôtel Serpente editions are today particularly sought after for their typographic and iconographic quality.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Quérard, La France littéraire, V, pp. 189-205.
Barbier, Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes, II.
Cioranescu, Bibliographie de la littérature française du XVIIIe siècle, nn. relatifs a Lesage.
Catalogue général BnF, notices relative alle Œuvres choisies de Le Sage, édition de 1783.
WorldCat, censimenti internazionali delle edizioni Amsterdam / Hôtel Serpente.
Cohen-de Ricci, Guide de l’amateur de livres à gravures du XVIIIe siècle.
Hoefer, Nouvelle biographie générale, voce “Lesage”.
DBF – Dictionnaire de Biographie Française, voce “Le Sage, Alain-René”.
Seller's Story
Luxury Books: Your Go-To Guide for Nabbing Literary Treasures!
Embarking on the thrilling journey of collecting rare and timeless printed works? Here's your snappy rundown, "The Collector's Cheat Sheet," to ensure you're not just flipping pages but stacking up the value:
1. Edition and Rarity: Rarity is the name of the game. First editions, limited printings, and books flaunting unique features like eye-catching illustrations or mind-blowing bindings? Consider them the VIPs of the collector's world.
2. Condition & Dimension: Picture this – a book in mint condition, untouched by the woes of wear and tear. Now, flip the script: wear, foxing, discoloration – they're the villains here. And don't forget to size up the dimensions, because a book's size matters in the collector's universe.
3. Authenticity: In a world of replicas and forgeries, verifying a book's authenticity is your superhero move. Expert examination and authentication – your trusty sidekicks in this quest.
4. Provenance: Who owned it before you? If the book has hobnobbed with famous figures or danced through historical events, its value skyrockets. Every book has a story, but some have blockbuster tales.
5. Demand and Market Trends: Think of book values as the stock market of the literary world. Stay savvy on collector trends and market shifts to ride the waves of value.
6. Subject Matter: Some topics are like fine wine – they get better with time. Dive into subjects with a timeless appeal or ride the wave of emerging cultural and historical relevance.
7. Binding and Design: Beauty is more than skin deep. Intricate bindings, stunning covers, and illustrations – these are the accessories that make a book runway-ready in the collector's eyes.
8. Association Copies: Books with a personal touch – whether it's a connection to the author or a famous personality – elevate the historical vibes. A book with a backstory? Count us in.
9. Investment Potential: Passion is the engine, but some collectors eye future returns. Keep in mind, though, that the book market can be as unpredictable as a plot twist.
10. Expert Advice: New to the game? Don't play solo. Seek wisdom from the book gurus, hit up book fairs, and join collector communities. We at Luxury Books are the Yodas of the rare book galaxy, helping you build collections that scream sophistication and cultural clout.
Because collecting rare books isn't just about dollar signs – it's a journey of preserving heritage and embracing literary treasures. Happy collecting!
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Number of books
15
Subject
Theatre
Book title
Œuvres choisies
Author/ Illustrator
Le Sage
Condition
Good
Publication year oldest item
1783
Height
202 mm
Edition
1st Edition Thus, Illustrated Edition
Width
129 mm
Language
French
Original language
Yes
Publisher
Amsterdam, et se trouve à Paris, Rue et Hôtel Serpente, 1783
Binding/ Material
Leather
Extras
Tipped in plates
Number of pages
7000
Sold by
