Œuvres Complètes de Florian – 12-Volume 1816 Paris Edition
Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian | Published by Briand, Libraire, Rue de Crébillon No. 3, Paris | 1816
This remarkable twelve-volume set of the Œuvres Complètes of Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755–1794) offers an elegant and comprehensive glimpse into the literary world of late 18th- and early 19th-century France. Lavishly bound in full tree calf with red and black Morocco labels and intricate gilt tooling, each volume bears a unique engraved frontispiece and title vignette, evoking the refined craftsmanship of early 19th-century Parisian bookmaking.
Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian—nobleman, poet, playwright, and fabulist—was one of France’s most beloved literary voices before the Revolution. A protégé of Voltaire and darling of Versailles, Florian was admired for his charming fables, delicate romances, and Enlightenment-infused prose. His career, however, was tragically cut short during the Reign of Terror, when he died shortly after his release from prison at just 39 years old.
This set encompasses the full breadth of Florian’s works:
- Pastoral romances such as Estelle and Galatée, inspired in part by Cervantes
- His celebrated fables, considered the finest after La Fontaine, known for their wit and moral clarity
- Dramatic works, blending sentiment, comedy, and classical influence
- Nouvelles and contes philosophiques, reflecting Enlightenment ideals
- A rare 18th-century French translation of Don Quixote (volumes 10–12), praised for its accessible prose and cultural resonance
Published during the Bourbon Restoration, this 1816 edition reflects a period of retrospective literary celebration following the upheavals of the Revolution and Napoleonic wars. Earlier volumes had appeared under the revolutionary calendar (notably Year IX, or 1800–1801), making this set a rare posthumous consolidation of Florian’s corpus.
Binding & Details:
• Complete in 12 volumes
• Full period tree calf bindings with gilt decoration, red & black title bands
• Engraved frontispieces in each volume
• Printed on laid paper, strong impressions
• Each spine labeled “FLORIAN” with individual volume and content designation
• Contents include poetry, fables, theatre, prose fiction, and philosophical texts
Condition: Very good antique condition. Some light rubbing to corners and spine tips, minor foxing to pages. Gilt remains vibrant, bindings tight and handsome.
This set is ideal for collectors of French literature, Enlightenment thought, or decorative antique libraries. Let me know if you’d like an Instagram caption or story version highlighting its literary or visual charm.
Œuvres Complètes de Florian – 12-Volume 1816 Paris Edition
Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian | Published by Briand, Libraire, Rue de Crébillon No. 3, Paris | 1816
This remarkable twelve-volume set of the Œuvres Complètes of Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755–1794) offers an elegant and comprehensive glimpse into the literary world of late 18th- and early 19th-century France. Lavishly bound in full tree calf with red and black Morocco labels and intricate gilt tooling, each volume bears a unique engraved frontispiece and title vignette, evoking the refined craftsmanship of early 19th-century Parisian bookmaking.
Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian—nobleman, poet, playwright, and fabulist—was one of France’s most beloved literary voices before the Revolution. A protégé of Voltaire and darling of Versailles, Florian was admired for his charming fables, delicate romances, and Enlightenment-infused prose. His career, however, was tragically cut short during the Reign of Terror, when he died shortly after his release from prison at just 39 years old.
This set encompasses the full breadth of Florian’s works:
- Pastoral romances such as Estelle and Galatée, inspired in part by Cervantes
- His celebrated fables, considered the finest after La Fontaine, known for their wit and moral clarity
- Dramatic works, blending sentiment, comedy, and classical influence
- Nouvelles and contes philosophiques, reflecting Enlightenment ideals
- A rare 18th-century French translation of Don Quixote (volumes 10–12), praised for its accessible prose and cultural resonance
Published during the Bourbon Restoration, this 1816 edition reflects a period of retrospective literary celebration following the upheavals of the Revolution and Napoleonic wars. Earlier volumes had appeared under the revolutionary calendar (notably Year IX, or 1800–1801), making this set a rare posthumous consolidation of Florian’s corpus.
Binding & Details:
• Complete in 12 volumes
• Full period tree calf bindings with gilt decoration, red & black title bands
• Engraved frontispieces in each volume
• Printed on laid paper, strong impressions
• Each spine labeled “FLORIAN” with individual volume and content designation
• Contents include poetry, fables, theatre, prose fiction, and philosophical texts
Condition: Very good antique condition. Some light rubbing to corners and spine tips, minor foxing to pages. Gilt remains vibrant, bindings tight and handsome.
This set is ideal for collectors of French literature, Enlightenment thought, or decorative antique libraries. Let me know if you’d like an Instagram caption or story version highlighting its literary or visual charm.