First edition, from the library of Russian poet and novelist Aleksei Konstantinovich Tolstoy (1817-75), and one of a few copies printed on vellum.
A copy at the Wormsley Library is in an identical signed binding by Nicolas-Denis Derome, called “le jeune” (1730-1788).
The author and bookseller Pierre Didot’s book consists of thirty-four new fables dedicated to Louis XVI followed by a selection of poems, including a 12-page poem on the progress of printing, first published in 1784, and accompanied by 38 pages of historical notes including an account of his father’s (François Ambroise Didot, the printer of this volume) invention of papier vélin, a super-fine wove paper.
Derome’s ticket is Ract-Madoux, “Étiquettes de Derome le Jeune”, type K1.
Provenance: 1. 19th. century inscription to foot of free endpaper, ‘from the library of Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, September 1859’. Aleksey Konstantinovich, second cousin of Leo Tolstoy, was a renowned novelist, playwright and satirist of the late Romantic period of Russian literature. 2. Further C19th Russian inscription in purple ink to front free endpaper, ‘To His Excellency Ivan Apollonovich Tabakov, As a momento and a token of my sincere respect, I pass [this volume] from my library into your good hands, to whom it fully belongs as an expert and book lover. Vladimir Bobrovsky’. 3. Ownership inscription of A. Ustanov on the title and last leaf of text. 4. Eduardo J. Bullrich, with mid-20th. century leather label. This volume, lot no.132 in the sale of Bullrich’s library at Sotheby’s, Day 1, 17 March 1952, sold to Maggs for £26.
The half-title and final leaf are browned, otherwise a fine copy.
Cioranescu 24951. Brunet II, 701.
