LA FONTAINE (Jean de). A selection of La Fontaine's fables illustrated by a group of Tokio's finest artists. Under the direction of P. Barboutau. Tokyo: Tsoukidji-Tokio printing house, 1894. - 2 volumes in-8, 267x198: (40 ff.), illustrated cover; (40 ff.), illustrated cover. Japanese paperback, slipcase. Rochambeau, 1319. Famous edition printed in Tokyo for Flammarion and published by Pierre Barboutau (1862-1916), featuring a selection of 28 fables by La Fontaine. In addition to the covers, it is illustrated with black vignettes and 28 superb double-page color engravings. These compositions are the work of five Japanese painters: Kyōsui Kawanabe (1868-1935) daughter of the famous painter Kyosai Kawanabe, Tomonobu Kanō (1843-1912) last great master of the Kanō family, Shûsui Okakura (1867-1950), Sadahiko Eda and Hanko Kajita (1870-1917). One of 350 deluxe copies, this being one of the first 150 with the color illustrations printed on Tori-no-ko (superior quality) and the text on Hô-sho. As the publisher states in the justification: "The text of these three hundred and fifty copies had to be printed on Hô-cho paper, the Tori-no-ko being too thick to be folded." A well-preserved copy, except that part of the string holding the leaves of the first volume has broken. Traces of rubbing and soiling on the second cover of the same volume. Top edge of slipcase missing.