ESOPELivre Rare Book
AesopBiblio.com
The Fables of Aesop and Others Translated into Human Nature
1857962F16London: W. Kent & Co 1857 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 11" by 9". Charles H. Bennett. The very scarce first edition of Charles H. Bennett's distinctive Victorian-era interpretation of Aesop"s classic fables illustrated throughout with hand-coloured plates by Bennett himself. A very scarce first edition.In this edition Bennett reimagines the traditional animal characters of Aesop's work with human traits and behaviours offering a satirical lens on Victorian society. He includes characters such as 'the callous footman the idle officer the exposed swindler the ignorant patron of the arts and the foolish social climber' Ray The Illustrator and the Book in England from 1790-1914.Illustrated with twenty-four hand coloured plates by Bennett. Collated complete.Bennett was a prolific Victorian illustrator who had a short career which ended when he died of consumption.Rebacked in calf in the publisher's original cloth covered boards retaining the original endpapers. Housed in a clamshell case with the bookplate of Eric Sweet to the front pastedown of the clamshell.With the contemporary inscription of Helen Bessie Steel to a front blank and the inscription of Claud G. Steel to recto of frontispiece.Quayle in 'Early Children's Books' says this is one of Bennett's finest and most vigorous works and one of the most notable editions of Aesop's Fables. Rebacked in calf retaining the publisher's original cloth covered boards. In a cloth covered slip case in fine condition. Externally excellent with a touch of fading to board perimeters. Front hinge lightly strained with board firmly held. Inscription to front blank. Internally firmly bound. Pages bright with spotting throughout and with tide mark to head of introduction text leaf. Inscription to recto of frontispiece. Very Good W. Kent & Co hardcover
Rooke Books · Royaume-Uni385,00 £GB≈ 439,59 €
