Fables for the Little Ones

Abstract

This lovely little booklet is connected with two curious events that happen in collections. First, it is the second copy I have found of this book. Eight years ago I found a copy in poor condition for $24. Its spine had deteriorated, a portion of its cover was faded by the sun, and its chromolithographs were poorly executed. Now for $2 I have found this copy which is in good condition. Its lithographs are still not fine but they are better executed. That earlier copy is now an extra. The second curiosity is that this book is closely related to a volume published by The Hayes Lithographing Company, which I have listed under 1910? That book is portrait formatted, while this has an unusual layout to its landscape pages. The longer title in that book fits the contents of this book as well: Fables for the Little Ones, Illustrated with Six Colored Pictures and Black and White Illustrations. The books include, in the same order, the same six chromolithographed pictures: The Fox and the Hunters, The Two Fellows and the Bear, WL, FC, LS, and WC. The other stories (with the same names here as there) and their illustrations are here as well, including a new favorite of mine: The Fox As a Hermit. When the wood-folk treat him as a saint, he preaches Mundus vult decipi, and the people proclaim 'Tis Latin, we are blest.