Oeuvres de Gresset

Réf. 36296

Vendu

GRESSET (Jean-Baptiste) illustrated by Moreau Le Jeune

Bookbinder : DAVID
Format : In-8
Number of volumes : 2 tomes.
Binding : Related.
Collation : Tome 1: LXXIJ + 383 pp. Tome 2: 120 pp.
Language : Français

Period full red morocco binding adorned with a rich gilded decoration in framing on each plate, small green parrot in the center of each plate surrounded by a large gilded rock diamond. Richly decorated spine with nerves and date in tail. Gold plated threaded cuts and caps. Top edge gilts. Large inner golden lace. Binding signed DAVID. Small and tiny frictions on the jaws. Perfect interior with a portrait of the author on the frontispiece of volume 1 and 8 out of text plates; the whole in 2 states, one of which "before the letter" by Moreau Le Jeune.

Jean-Baptiste GRESSET (1709-1777) is a French poet and playwright. DAVID's binding with the green parrot on the plates refers to Gresset's best-known poem, Vert-Vert, which tells the story of a parrot collected at the Nevers convent where the Visitandine sisters taught him the Christian language. Claimed by nuns from Nantes, it is entrusted to a boatman from the Loire. Naturally, he learned on the boat the vocabulary of sailors and light women. When he arrives at his destination, the parrot swears like a sailor. The nuns of Nantes, frightened, sent him spine to Nevers where it was very difficult to get him to learn Latin again.

Beautiful set.