[Rabelais] ; Abel Lefranc e.a. - Œuvres de François Rabelais (.) Gargantua [édition critique] - 1912

Important critical edition of the works of Rabelais given by Abel Lefranc and other "Rabelais scholars" (including Jacques Boulanger, Henri Clouzot, Paul Dorveaux, Jean Plattard and Lazare Sainéan).

"When, about ten years ago, the Society for Rabelaisian Studies was founded, one of its aims was to prepare an edition of Rabelais's works that would meet the demands of modern criticism. Thanks to the work of the Rabelais scholars who prepared the materials, and especially thanks to the munificence of the Marquise Arconati-Visconti, who generously covered the costs in memory of her father, Alphonse Peyrat, this edition has now been published..." (Revue d’Histoire Moderne & Contemporaine, 1912, 17-5, pp. 419-421)

Published in five volumes, this is the first two complete in themselves for Gargantua. One of 1100 copies on laid paper, numbered from 84 to 1183, this one is number 885.

"The first volume (...) contains the Prologue and the first 22 chapters of Gargantua. Mr. Boulenger reproduces the text of the edition published in Lyon in 1542 by François Juste, a text 'which was certainly revised and corrected by Rabelais,' and mentions in notes the variants found in the edition prior to 1535, the edition by François Juste, Lyon 1535, and the 1537 edition. The reasons that guided Mr. Boulenger in his choices are explained at length, with supporting evidence, in the Introduction (pp. cvii-cxxiii). The Introduction also contains a study on 'Gargantua' by Mr. Lefranc and two notes by Mr. Plattard on the Education of Gargantua and Thélème." (Revue d’Histoire Moderne & Contemporaine, 1912, 17-5, pp. 419-421)

A pleasing copy bound in half morocco, spine with raised bands and gilt decoration, title and author in gilt lettering. Original covers and spine preserved.

Copy in perfect, pristine condition. Like new.

Portrait of Rabelais as frontispiece of volume 1 reproduced in heliotype.

[Rabelais]; Abel Lefranc and others
Works of François Rabelais (.) Gargantua [critical edition]
Paris, Honoré and Edouard Champion, 1912
2 vol. in-8 (26 x 20.5 cm); clvi-214pp. + p. 215 to 458