The Fables of Aesop, and Others: for the Improvement of Youth, with Instructive Applications. 2 Volumes
London: J. McGowan and Son, not dated; circa 1830. Hardcover. An uncommon later printing of this classic with only a handful of copies in institutional collections. Illustrated with 93 aquatints, including fold-out frontispiece. Bound in three quarter dark brown leather over marbled paper covered boards with black and gilt title labels to spines along with gilt rules and floral decorations. Rubbing to boards of both volumes, bumping to corners, wear to edges of boards and joints. Small losses to leather along rear joints of both volumes and foot of spine of first volume. Lacks preliminary pages from second volume including title page and part of contents list. The rear free endpaper is a also missing a large piece and the remnants as well as the facing pastedown are soiled. Penned signatures from previous owners dated 1830, 1850, and 1864 on front endpapers of both volumes and on title page. Illustrated with charming aquatints including a fold out to the first volume, illustrated half-title page, and 51 full page pages. The second volume has 41 full page plates and appears to be missing 5 to 8 plates (when compared with other listings, which all have variable plate counts). The fold-out frontispiece has been reinforced along the edge and there is a two inch long closed tear along one fold. Pencil marks to the versos of many plates, closed tears to the edges of some pages including plates, light dampstaining to margins of a few pages, and smudge marks to margins. Clearly this was a well-loved set. Volume I has 263 pages; Volume II has 311 pages. CHILD/012323. Very Good. More