Fables de La Fontaine

Abstract

This book seems to be a hybrid of two items I have listed under 1910? and 1910?/1929? It has all the features of the latter but adds a colored front cover illustration of various animals arranged around a bust of La Fontaine. I will repeat comments from both of those editions. Bodemann lists the 1910 edition as #376.1. As in the latter edition, on the pre-title-page, one reads not Série 11 but Série 11a--though below both is No 1115. The bottom of 399 in the earlier edition had 40245. -- Tours, impr. Mame. Here as in the other edition of 1929? one reads rather 42232. -- 1929. -- Tours, impr. Mame. As Bodemann points out, there are 54 half-page illustrations, which I believe are photoengravings. Among the best of these are The Rat and the Oyster (241), The Bear and the Gardener (242), and The Fox and the Turkeys (387). In addition, there are 94 line drawings in various formats. I prefer these to the photoengravings. Among the best are these: Death and the Woodman (42), The Lion and the Gnat (62), WC (95), The Wolf and the Hunter (271), The Mice and the Screech Owl (351), and The Cat and the Two Sparrows (359). Vimar's foxes, wolves, and monkeys either laughing or in pain are particularly strong and engaging. Many of his endpieces are good fun. Thus a beetle wields a sledge-hammer against the eagle's eggs on 60. One can contrast the two methods dealing with one fable on 150-51. This copy has gilt page-edges on three sides.