LAFONTAINE, August [Heinrich Julius]. ~ Tableaux de famille, ou Journal de Charles Engelman, traduit de l’allemand d’Auguste Lafontaine; par l’auteur de Caroline de Lichtfield [Isabelle de Montolieu]. Paris: Debray, 1801.
2 vols, 12mo (162 × 95 mm), pp. [4], xv, [1], 279, [1]; [4], 239, [1], the leaves of sig. 6 in vol. 2 bound out of order, but complete with half-titles and two engraved frontispieces. An old stain slightly affecting upper forecorners towards the end of vol. 2, but generally clean and fresh. Contemporary sprinkled half calf, spines gilt with red morocco labels. Sides slightly rubbed. A pretty copy.
First edition in French of Carl Engelmanns Tagebuch (1800) from Lafontaines’ Familiengeschichten series (1797-1804), translated by novelist Isabelle de Montolieu. Lafontaine’s didactic tales of domestic life, though now little remembered, were among the most-read German novels of the day. OCLC: Bibliothèque Sainte-Genviève, Indiana and Penn State only.