Fine Press editions of Francois Rabelais' works?

Aside from the LEC five-volume "Gargantua and Pantagruel", are there fine press treatments of the bawdy monk's work?

>1 Sport1963:

There's a beautiful 3 volume edition of Rabelais' Complete Works illustrated by Alexander King. Great paper, large folio paper size. An overwhelming number of footnotes if you're into that kind of thing. 200 copies.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/28680068_rabelais-francois-putnam-samuel-tr...

>1 Sport1963: Not strictly fine press, but FS has an LE of G&P.

Some interesting 19th and early 20th century editions are out there. A few noted below:

Peter Harrington in London has the following:
"RABELAIS, François. Five Books of the Lives, Heroic Deeds and Sayings of Gargantua and his son Pantagruel. Translated into English by Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty and Peter Antony Motteux. With an Introduction by Anatole de Montaiglon. London: Lawrence and Bullen, 1892. Limited edition of 1,000 numbered copies. A handsomely bound set of this attractive edition of Rabelais's great work, with excellent presswork by the Chiswick Press, and extra-illustrated with many colour plates after Jules Garnier. 2 volumes, quarto (278 x 182 mm). Mid- 20th century red half morocco by Bayntun, gilt panelled spines, red cloth sides, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Portrait frontispiece of Rabelais, 14 monochrome plates after Louis Chalon; titles printed in red and black, numerous decorative head- and tailpieces. An excellent set."

There is also a two volume set Privately Printed for Members of the Aldus Society, London: 1903. Title page, engraved frontis and full page plates printed on Japanese vellum. All edges gold. Limited to 1250 copies

Rabelais, Francois; Translated By Sir Thomas Urquhart and Peter Antony Motteux, Five Books of the Lives, Heroic Deeds and Sayings of GARGANTUA and His Son PANTAGRUEL, The Fraser Press, London, 1970. Natural linen with spine label printed in black and gilt, large 8vo., 741, (1) pages. One of 1,560 numbered copies printed by W. & J. Mackay on Fabriano Cartiere Miliani rag paper.

The FS LE would be the one for me, given the modern translation. Does anyone have this and if so what are your thoughts?

>5 punkzip: love it, highly recommended.

The high point for me is the profusion of Doré illustrations, but the translation is nice too.

It is very large though, which I don't mind but may be a consideration for some.

>5 punkzip:
It’s a fabulous edition, the only one ever published in English with all of Dore’s 700+ illustrations, and incorporating my favorite translation by M. A. screech. It is a large-format 2-volume edition.

>6 abysswalker: "It is very large though"

Which seems rather apt given the subject matter.

I have three editions: an 1849 set with the archaic Urquhart and Mottteux translation, the LEC, and the FS LE. The FS LE has the best translation (Screech) by far plus the wonderful Dore etchings. However, these two volumes are large and very heavy. If I had to live with only one copy I’d pick the FS LE.

The best bang for the buck was the LEC ($60) which includes the monthly letter and a typed and signed letter from Bill Thursday (aka Dwiggins) to Macy discussing the design of the set.

>6 abysswalker:

The big advantage of the Alexander King 3 Volume "Works" is that they are large but light, without sacrificing paper quality. The plain bindings, typical of the era in which it was printed, might not appeal to everyone.

>9 kdweber:

I got the above (Alexander King) for less than $60, although the price has since gone up.

As a side note, it looks like Ardis has a somewhat reasonably priced copy of the Folio LE at the moment.

Again not strictly fine press, but limited to 4300 numbered sets - I'm sure there have been larger limitations, but none springs to mind - there's the two volume John Lane / Boni and Liveright edition of 1927: Urquhart and Motteux translation, the only one I'm likely to wish for, and generously and fantastically illustrated by Frank C. Papé.

>11 abysswalker: Huh! Didn't know about this bookseller. Ardis is my grandmother's name, and I've literally never seen it elsewhere until now! Very exciting.

>11 abysswalker: Amazingly good price for Ardis.
>13 grifgon: Ardis is probably the largest seller of used books from the Folio Society.

I highly recommend the FS LE. I am a huge fan of Dore. Beautiful volumes.

There is also a 2-volume edition privately printed for the Navarre Society. No evident date or limitation. It is printed letterpress on "laid paper of fine quality specially made for the Navarre Society and is strictly limited." It is heavily illustrated by W. Heath Robinson.

>12 terebinth:

Papé's illustrations are excellent!

>16 Crypto-Willobie:

Couldn't agree more, full of energy and wit. I sought out the Rabelais after meeting his other work from the '20s, several volumes each of James Branch Cabell and Anatole France.