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Alain-René LESAGE

Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane

Par les libraires associés, à Paris 1747, in-12 (10x17cm), (8) 402pp. (6) et (4) 342pp. (3) et (8) 360pp. et (8) 369pp. (10), 4 volumes reliés.

Final edition, important, revised by the author, and on which all future editions will be made. It should not be confused with counterfeiting (which is distinguished by some differences) published on the same date and which is only a reprint of the first editions published in 1715 (first 2 volumes), 1724 (third volume) and 1735 (fourth volumes). This edition is rare and sought after. "This edition, which has become uncommon, presents numerous corrections and considerable increases by the author, which make up no less than a hundred pages, and must therefore be regarded as the first good edition of the masterpiece of The wise man." Brunet, III, 1006. Title pages in red and black.
The illustration includes 32 figures regraved from the originals published in the 3 first editions.
Binding full marbled and frozen calf. Smooth back decorated. title label in red morocco, piece of tomaison in morocco tobacco. A lack at the head of Volume I and Volume IV. Friction, 2 blunt corners. Good copy. Nice series.
Our copy seems to us to include a notable peculiarity; indeed the third volume does not seem perfectly similar to the others; the bands of titles are different and the figures are not on the pages designated by the Petit, precisely because in our opinion, the third volume is part of the counterfeit of 1747; besides, it has two less figures than the good edition of 1747 should have; we can not guess by what mystery he is isolated in this series. However, the title page is absolutely consistent with other volumes.
It is now perfectly established that the immortal masterpiece of Lesage, the last baroque fire of the picaresque novel, can not be accused of plagiarism; if Lesage has drawn his material elsewhere, it remains nonetheless that Gil Blas is an original and personal work. We find the misadventures of a picaro, as frippon as possible, who through his multiple meetings draws a satirical portrait of contemporary society.

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