Most biographers are so self-confident that they believe the subject of their book will prove interesting to others; the present writer is no exception to the rule and trusts that the following pages may help, in a small degree, to attract the reader’s attention to the work of Pierre-Philippe Choffard.

The 1762 edition of La Fontaine’s “Contes et nouvelles en vers,” which is illustrated by Eisen’s masterpieces and by some of Choffard’s exquisite etchings, is the work of that period best known to British book-lovers; possibly in a measure due to the free character of the stories, yet probably owing to these beautiful plates by Choffard and Eisen. It seems, therefore, fair to assume that art lovers of to-day, who interest themselves in French illustrated books of the eighteenth century, may care to know something more about the artist whose lovely work is a source of so much pleasure and admiration to them.

The achievements of Choffard do not occupy the high place they deserve in this country; as a whole, they are too little known to do so, and collectors find such difficulty in obtaining impressions of his etchings in a fine state, that this draughtsman’s great gifts are frequently misjudged in consequence.

One of the best proofs, although commonplace evidence, of the enduring charm which French eighteenth-century design possesses, is that the most admired present day catalogues and business cards are those with reproductions of designs by artists of that period, Choffard’s work being constantly found amongst them.

The author wishes gratefully to acknowledge the kind advice her father has given her on a few difficult points and the valuable assistance he afforded her, by generously allowing the writer to verify the greater part of the volumes mentioned in this booklet, by means of his library. For the description of those works that the author has been unable to see in the above-mentioned collection or in museums she has referred to “Les Graveurs du dix-huitième siècle” by MM. Portalis and Béraldi, and the other equally excellent reference book “Guide de l’Amateur de livres à gravures du XVIIIe. siècle” by Henry Cohen.