[LA FONTAINE (Jean de) - BARETCHE or DARETCHE] - Lot 399

[LA FONTAINE (Jean de) - BARETCHE or DARETCHE] Fables Causides de La Fontaine en Bers Gascouns. Bayonne, Paul Fauvet-Duhard, 1776. In-8: frontispiece and title engraved by Le MIRE after MOREAU, X of table (leaf I-II does not exist), 284pp. printed on fine laid paper, small repair in margin of table leaf. ½ period marbled fawn basane, ornate smooth spine, green title-piece, gilt pallets, cold irons, yellow edges. A good copy. A notice published in the "Journal des Landes" of 21 pluviôse An XII attributes this translation to BARETCHE (or rather Daretche). Read Barbe's interesting notice on this work, in which he notes: "This book is rightly considered the masterpiece of the Bayonne presses" (Vinson Fables de la Fontaine 1881).