AESOP’S FABLES: A NEW
VERSION, CHIEFLY FROM ORIGINAL SOURCES, BY THE REV. THOMAS JAMES, M.A.
[TENNIEL, JOHN, ILLUS] (London: John Murray, 1848 FIRST ED.).
AN EXCELLENT RENDITION OF AESOP'S FABLES
EXTENSIVELY DECORATED THROUGHOUT BY JOHN TENNIEL, ILLUSTRATOR FOR PUNCH,
CHARLES DICKENS AND, MOST FAMOUSLY, 'ALICE'S
ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND'.
John Tenniel is quite
possibly the most famous book illustrator of all time. His classic
illustrations are instantly recognized throughout the world and have provided
us with some of the most unique and charming characters to ever grace the
printed page.
THIS EDITION OF AESOP IS ONE OF
TENNIEL'S EARLIEST WORKS, published nearly two decades before the first 'Alice'. Tenniel's drawings
for the book were made into woodcuts by Leopold Martin, they grace nearly every
page spread and appear as large text frames, headpieces, and within the text.
These early drawings, done in the Nazarene style, display the eye for detail
that would be a trademark of the artist still common in his work nearly 50
years later when he was honored as "a living national treasure" and
was knighted in 1893 by Queen Victoria. This was
the first time such an honor was bequeathed on an illustrator or cartoonist.
First Edition
illustrated by John Tenniel, and one of Tenniel's earliest books, also the
first edition of James' translation. With over
100 illustrations designed by John Tenniel, the famous illustrator of Lewis Carroll's "Alice" books. 8vo, in a very fine and
handsome contemporary binding of full brown morroco, additional blind ruling at
edges, the spine gilt tooled title and date and with raised bands, gilt board
edges, gilt floral turn-ins and gilt page edges finish this wonderful binding.
xxv, 232 pp. A beautiful copy, the text
being near to pristine and the binding with a little rubbing and some
separation on back board, otherwise exceptionally well preserved.
$500 #10633
