Renard

1684 · WRCLIT66732 — London: Printed by T.J. for Edward Brewster . and Thomas Passenger . 1684. Three parts bound in one volume. 80 leaves A-U4; 56 leaves A-O4; and 8160pp. Quarto. Modern blind paneled calf raised bands gilt label. First two parts illustrated with spirited woodcuts. Occasional foxing and mild spotting marginal smudges to first title usual tanning lower forecorners of E2-3 in first part torn away and replaced with a few letters and a few words in the sidenote in ms a few upper margins dust-soiled last three gatherings in third part supplied from another copy and trimmed slightly shorter at lower margin; a good sound copy neatly bound. First edition of the third part. An omnibus gathering of these three separately printed editions each with independent register and with the title of the first part taking into account the presence of the latter two. The terminal advert leaf to the first part is present. Wing attributes the text of the first part to John Shirley and that for the third is occasionally attributed to the publisher Edward Brewster. The first part is illustrated with 62 woodcut illustrations signed 'E.B.' of which 23 are repeats; the second part includes 15 woodcuts all of which appear as well in the first part. The first part was first printed in this form in 1667 and the second in 1672; the first part was reprinted again in 1701. Among the most widely adapted of the beast fables the tales of Reynard the Fox originated in the 12th and 13th centuries with early versions in French Dutch Latin and German being notable. Caxton printed a translation based on a Flemish text in 1481. The character of Reynard an anthropomorphic fox and trickster has since become almost an archetype in the literatures of several languages. ESTC R24532 & R218371 & R40614. WING S3513 & M2912 & S3436. BRUNET IV:1228. LOWNDES VII:2076. Printed by T.J. for Edward Brewster ... and Thomas Passenger ... hardcover books