BITAUBÉ (Paul-Jérémie). Joseph. Fourth edition. Paris : printing house of Didot l'aîné, 1786. - In-8, long-grained red morocco, gilt roulette on the boards, smooth spine decorated, gilt greek inside, gilt edges (Courteval). New edition, dedicated to the dauphin, of the most famous work of the poet and Hellenist Paul-Jérémie Bitaubé, a kind of long prose poem in nine books, inspired by Gesner's "Mort d'Abel". The illustration, in first edition, includes a portrait of the author engraved by Augustin de Saint-Aubin after Cochin fils, as well as nine figures out of text engraved by Née after Clément-Pierre Marillier. ONE OF THE RARE COPIES ON WOVE PAPER, IN-8 FORMAT. Superb binding signed by Courteval, one of the great bookbinders of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A few rare foxing and slightly browned leaves, not serious. Light staining at the bottom inside corner of the last plate.