LA FONTAINE (Jean de). Fables choisies. Paris, Desaint & Saillant, Durand, 1755-1759. 4 volumes in-folio, marbled calf, triple gilt fillet, spine decorated, gilt edges (Period binding). A magnificent and very famous illustration by the animal painter Jean-Baptiste Oudry. It consists of a frontispiece and 275 out-of-text figures drawn by him, retouched for the engraving by Cochin and copper-engraved by the best artists of the time. The text is embellished with floral or allegorical vignettes and culs-de-lampe woodcuts by Le Sueur and Papillon based on compositions by the flower painter Jean-Jacques Bachelier. The typography was entrusted to Charles-Antoine Jombert. "One of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books" (Ray). Discrete restorations to the bindings, which show minor differences; the first two volumes are slightly larger. Some foxing and slightly browned leaves. Cohen, 548 - Ray, n°5 - Rochambeau, Fables, n°86 - Des livres rares (BnF), n°207.