Fables de La Fontaine Illustrated by J.J. Grandville (1859 Edition)
Estimated value
$120 - $250Rarity
Average(4/10)Category
BooksBrand
Garnier FrèresEra
1859Origin
FranceArtist / Creator
J.J. GrandvilleAuthenticity
FABLES DE LA FONTAINE ILLUSTRATED BY J.J. GRANDVILLE (1859 EDITION): IDENTIFICATION
An 1859 French edition of Jean de La Fontaine's fables, published in Paris by Garnier Frères and featuring wood-engraved illustrations by J.J. Grandville. The volume features a custom leather binding, likely half or quarter bound, exhibiting five raised bands on the spine. The spine compartments are heavily decorated with intricate gilt vinery tooling. The title page explicitly carries the Roman numeral date M DCCC LIX (1859). The initials 'J.F.' are stamped at the tail of the spine, indicating a bespoke binding commissioned by a private owner.
EDITION & PUBLISHING HISTORY
COLLECTOR NOTES
The specific anthropomorphic techniques Grandville employed in these 1830s-1850s fables served as a documented visual reference for John Tenniel's 1865 illustrations in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
SCARCITY
Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.
Typical Characteristics
- Standard antique shop items
- Regularly available
- Moderate collector interest
Confidence Factors
- Title page typography and publisher imprint match known 1859 Garnier Frères bibliographies
BIBLIOPHILE'S ASSESSMENT
Rare Book Dealer & Bibliographer
The title page provides explicit date (1859), publisher (Garnier Frères), and illustrator (Grandville) information that matches established bibliographic records for this edition.
KEY EVIDENCE
- 1Title page date: 'M DCCC LIX' (1859)
WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY
- →Collate the volume page-by-page against a standard 1859 Garnier Frères bibliography to ensure no illustrations have been excised.
CONDITION & GRADE
Grading breakdown
Grade driven by the structural integrity of the tight binding and bright gilt, offset slightly by edge rubbing and internal foxing typical of the era.
Condition
The spine exhibits minor rubbing at the extremities and along the raised bands, consistent with shelf wear. The gilt stamping remains bright and well-defined. Internally, the text block displays light, scattered foxing, a standard chemical degradation expected in mid-19th-century French wove paper.
BOOK MARKET VALUATION
Updated: Oct 16, 2026
- Market comparables from auctions & retail
- Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
- Current collector demand & trends
- Low = quick sale, high = patient seller
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN
How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.
What Aligned
- User accurately identified the text as La Fontaine's fables with Grandville illustrations.
- User correctly identified the country of origin and language as French.
- User noted 'minor wear', which aligns with the observed rubbing on the spine extremities.
What Conflicted
- User dated the book to 1869, but the title page explicitly displays the Roman numerals 'M DCCC LIX', which translates to 1859.
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