Louis Moland; Gustave Doré - Oeuvres de Rabelais - 1873





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Description from the seller
Monumental two-volume first edition (Édition originale) of the collected works "Œuvres de Rabelais", published in Paris in 1873 by the famous publisher Garnier Frères. This exceptionally comprehensive and highly valued set features texts collated according to the original editions, supplemented by a biography of the author, extensive notes, and a glossary compiled by Louis Moland. The bibliographical authenticity of this first edition is securely confirmed both by the original publisher's address on the title pages (6, Rue des Saints-Pères) and the precise page count, with the first volume containing the complete introductory material and 584 pages of main text, while the second volume completes the masterwork with an additional 630 pages.
The crowning glory of both large-format volumes is the complete, masterful artistic accompaniment by the genius French illustrator Gustave Doré. The edition includes a total of 60 full-page wood engravings (xylographies), including the frontispiece portrait, printed as separate plates on thick paper, along with 626 detailed black-and-white illustrations, grotesque vignettes, and decorative initials within the text. The set is housed in elegant contemporary brown half-leather bindings with corners, combined with marbled boards and richly gilt-decorated spines with raised bands.
Condition: The spines of the bindings are scuffed (see photos), and there is some minor light soiling in places; otherwise, the set is in a very nice, clean, and well-preserved condition. Overall, these are two very beautiful and impressive volumes!
The books will be very carefully packaged and shipped promptly via a reliable international courier.
Seller's Story
Monumental two-volume first edition (Édition originale) of the collected works "Œuvres de Rabelais", published in Paris in 1873 by the famous publisher Garnier Frères. This exceptionally comprehensive and highly valued set features texts collated according to the original editions, supplemented by a biography of the author, extensive notes, and a glossary compiled by Louis Moland. The bibliographical authenticity of this first edition is securely confirmed both by the original publisher's address on the title pages (6, Rue des Saints-Pères) and the precise page count, with the first volume containing the complete introductory material and 584 pages of main text, while the second volume completes the masterwork with an additional 630 pages.
The crowning glory of both large-format volumes is the complete, masterful artistic accompaniment by the genius French illustrator Gustave Doré. The edition includes a total of 60 full-page wood engravings (xylographies), including the frontispiece portrait, printed as separate plates on thick paper, along with 626 detailed black-and-white illustrations, grotesque vignettes, and decorative initials within the text. The set is housed in elegant contemporary brown half-leather bindings with corners, combined with marbled boards and richly gilt-decorated spines with raised bands.
Condition: The spines of the bindings are scuffed (see photos), and there is some minor light soiling in places; otherwise, the set is in a very nice, clean, and well-preserved condition. Overall, these are two very beautiful and impressive volumes!
The books will be very carefully packaged and shipped promptly via a reliable international courier.

