TASSO Torquato La Gerusalemme liberata.

Cohen-de Ricci, 974; Ray, 22.

First issue of the fine engravings after Gravelot. Rare copy of the large paper issue, printed in quarto format on Holland paper.

This edition is illustrated with 2 portrait frontispieces showing portraits of Tasso and Gravelot, 2 engraved titles by Drouët, an engraved dedication leaf by Le Roy, 20 head- and 13 tail-pieces by Le Roy, 9 full page vignettes by Le Roy, and 20 plates, all engraved after Gravelot by Baquoy, Duclos, Henriquez, Leveau, Lingee, Le Roy, Masard, Mesnil, Patas, Ponce, Rousseau and Simonet. For this luxurious large paper issue Cohen notes: "Très belle édition publiée par G. Conti, avec des illustrations superbes. On en connaît des exemplaires tirés in-4".

In this copy the names of the authors are printed in Italian, preferable to the version with names in French. "This is a handsome and delightful book, particularly in the rare quarto edition where the illustrations are properly set off by ample margins… The headpieces are portraits of the principal figures in the poem with elaborate allegorical frames. The plates tell the story of Tasso's Christian heroes with fidelity and discrimination, even occasionally catching something of the poem's ambiance of mystery and romance. But it is in the tailpieces that Gravelot triumphs. There are twenty-three of them, since nine ar full-page fleurons which in three instances immediately follow smaller tailpieces" (Ray).

Fine copy (plate  illustrating chant 10 printed with light smudging in the white margins) well preserved in its fine contemporary English green morocco binding.