Ovide / Ange-François Fariau de Saint-Ange / Moreau & Eisen - Les Métamorphoses d'Ovide - 1808

Copy on laid paper with good lovely margins of Ovid's Metamorphoses in the translation by Ange-François Fariau de Saint-Ange (1747-1810), with the original Latin opposite, in four volumes lavishly illustrated with copper-engraved plates, some of them of an erotic nature. A masterpiece of the art of engraving at the turn of the 18th century, illustrating the supernatural and fantastic stories by Ovid.

The engravings are signed by Charles Eisen (1720-1778), François Boucher (1703-1770), Hubert François Gravelot (1699-1773), Jean Baptiste Le Prince ( 1734-1781), Charles Monnet (1732-after 1808) and Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune (1741-1814).

Period black half calfskin bindings with smooth spines adorned with gilded romantic motifs, ”Gravelle” struck in small gilded letters on the tail of the spine, possibly Pierre-Philippe Gravelle (1755-18..?).

Each volume bears the engraved armorial bookplate of Camille Marcel Martignon (1885-19..?) on the inside front cover.

Pagination: lxvi, [1] f., 323 pp., 43 plates (of 45); [2] ff., 400 pp., 27 plates (of 29); [2] ff., 424 pp., 33 plates (of 35); [2] ff., 428 pp., 19 plates (of 20).

In fair overall condition. 122 of the 129 announced plates are present, bindings lightly rubbed, lack of leather on the head of the spine of Volume 3, one joint of Volume 3 is superficially cracked, clear marginal water stain in Volume 2, some foxing (not heavy but consistent), a small tear without loss on two pages and other minor imperfections.

(Vicaire, VI, 296).