OVIDE. THE METAMORPHOSES. Paris, Delalain, 1767-1770. 4 volumes in-4°, speckled basane, plates decorated with a lace and gilt frieze frame, smooth spine decorated, gilt edges (spine binding). One of the most elegantly illustrated books of the century. "This superb work is due to the care of the publisher Basan and the engraver Le Mire" (Cohen, p. 434/35). This edition translated by Abbé Banier is richly illustrated with a frontispiece, 140 figures out of text, 30 vignettes in the text, fleurons for the titles and a beautiful cul-de-lampe, all after Boucher, Eisen, Gravelot, Leprince, Monnet, Moreau, Parizeau and Saint-Gois. EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE which offers the particularity of having been bound WITH ALL ILLUSTRATIONS IN 2 STATES and although the 4th volume is dated 1770, the proofs are excellent. Very good copy.