Vie Privée et Publique Des Animaux / The Private and Public Life of the Animals, Illustrated By J.J. Grandville; Paris, 1867

SOLD

Origin: French
Period: Mid 19th Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1867
Height: 11 inches
Width: 7 inches
636 pages


The rare edition of this major work, profusely illustrated by Grandville is a superb collection of short stories written by popular French writers of the time. The stories have animals as their main characters and are mostly satirical.

Condition is very good with a very good leather binding, hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed, very good content, bright, tight and clean, some rare foxing.

J.J. Grandville is the pseudonym of French caricaturist Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard (1803-1847). He met success in his time with drawings depicting human figures with animal faces. Well known are his illustrations for the fables of La Fontaine, Don Quixote, Gulliver's Travels, or Robinson Crusoe. His work is considered to have influenced other illustrators like Tenniel (Alice in Wonderland) and the surrealists. The other writers that contributed were H. de Balzac, Louis Baude, Émile de la Bédollière, P. Bernard, Gustave Droz, Benjamin Franklin, Jules Janin, Édouard Lemoine, Alfred de Musset, Paul de Musset, Mme Ménessier-Nodier, Charles Nodier, George Sand, P. J. Stahl, Louis Viardot.

This weird and wonderful collaborative work is a fantastical display of French wit, humour and art.

image/svg+xml