[BARETCHE or DARETCHE] - Lot 236

[BARETCHE or DARETCHE] Fables Causides de la Fontaine en Bers Gascouns. Bayonne, Duhart Fauvet, 1776. In-8: engraved title, 284pp, III to X (table) (f. I-II not extant), allegorical frontispiece with medallion portrait by MOREAU engraved by Le MIRE. Printed bookplate of Charles Cousin (motto "c'est ma toquade", and epitaph by La Fontaine: "Jean s'en alla comme il était venu"). Nineteenth-century red morocco, ornate ribbed spine, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, filleted edges, interior lace, gilt edges. This translation is attributed to Baretche (or rather Daretche) in a notice published in the Journal des Landes on 21 pluviôse an XII. Read Barbe's interesting notice on this work, in which he notes: "This book is rightly considered the masterpiece of the Bayonne presses" (Barbe57a)(Vinson Fables de la Fontaine 1881)(Cohen 554-555) Provenances: 3 printed bookplates: 1/ JTF numeral with the motto "c'est ma toquade" with La Fontaine's epitaph: "Jean s'en allanta comme il était venu" - 2/ Baron Double's bookplate with the motto "Ex museo L Double" - 3/ Dominique Goytino's bookplate.