Fables Choisies Mises en Vers, Tome Seconde

Abstract

This volume seems to be identical with the volume published in "An 5e" that added "1797." This one is unequivocably "An neuvième" and only that. The major difference I find is that the same illustrations are placed by the binder at different places. Thus the two phases "The Crow, Turtle, Rat, and Gazelle" that were facing 129 in that volume face 169 in this. I notice in fact that Bodemann #195 is dated 1801, the year of this edition's publishing. Blanchard signs each of the plates. There are nine pages of illustrations, two to a page. They can be found facing 3, 83, 141, 143, 159, 169, 176, 189, and 203. I thus seem to find, in this volume as in the earlier one, two more pages of illustrations than Metzner did. The page facing the beginning of fables continues to balance its two illustrations nicely (3). Among the best illustrations are "The Cat and Two Birds" (141), and "Two Goats" (143). Best of all may be "The Horse and the Wolf" (176). Metzner rightly characterizes the illustrations as following Chauveau and Oudry. Small work and frequently nice. 3½" x 5¼".