Aesop's Fables: Samuel Croxall's Tran

Abstract

I went after a second copy of this book because it was being offered so economically on eBay. I think it eluded the notice of other serious seekers. This copy includes from August, 1933, The Monthly Letter of the Limited Editions Club with a lead article on B R's Aesop. Like the first copy I found, this is boxed, numbered, and signed by Bruce Rogers. As I mentioned when I first found that other book nineteen years ago, this is one of the nicest books I have. A triumph of the bookmaking art. The 46 facsimiles are beautifully reproduced. Very close to del Tuppo (eg #37 and #192), they often show two or three phases in one scene. #83, #162, #168, and #197 are well told and funny. In #173, the bat leaves both sides on his own initiative. How were the facsimiles printed? This and several similar cases have convinced me now to keep all the copies of valuable books like this -- especially those that have any difference like different numbering -- in the collection as separate listings.