ERNI Hans, “LA FONTAINE FABLES / Trente-cinq lithographies originales de Hans Erni”, André Gonin, Lausanne, 1955. Royal 4to, loose 2-sheets (35 x 26cm), p. 53+[7]. One of 25 off-trade copies (No XIX/XXV), on Rives paper, named and signed by the editor and the artist with a complete drawing of the artist proofs, printed for the artist, the publisher and their collaborators. This copy is for Monsieur Auguste Griess, one of the text contributors (along with André Kundig). With lithographed frontispiece portrait and 34 original lithographs (some full-page); lithographed wrappers and half ivory vellum chemise with illustrated boards in a similar illustrated slipcase. Untrimmed sheets. 21 fables are presented. The frontispiece is a striking portrait of La Fontaine. The ohter 34 illustrations are before, after, around, or within the text. Many of them represent individual characters and not fable scenes. In fact, these are scenes that suggest the fable rather than just the characters in the fable. Μany of them are studies which Erni apparently did in preparation and show Ernis penchant for presenting animals in human terms. Clean copy, slight cover wear, fresh interior. Good copy. Catalogue Gonin 74, Cramer 17, Monod II, 6727.