Search Results: fables from John Price Antiquarian Books

In Venetia Appresso li Guerigli, 1646. 12mo, 103 x 53, pp. [6] 7 - 264; [2] 3 - 95 [96 "Registro"], including engraved and printed title-page and separate title-page following page 264 for "Rime di Missier Giacomo Sannazaro Nuouamente ristampatem & ripurgate di molti errori: E aggiuntoni di vuouo in questa vitima Impressione, la Terza Parte," with the same imprint and date and continuous collalation (the first leaf is signed [M]), but new pagaination, nicely bound in contemporary vellum; covers a bit soiled but a very good copy. The Arcadia was one of the most popular books that Jacopo Sannazaro (1457 - 1530) published in 1504. Usually called a prosometer, a mixture of prose and poetry, with the author appearing as the shepherd Sincero. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this edition is the publisher's rather lavish dedication to the famous opera singer Anna Renzi (c. 1620 - c. 1665), probably opera's first diva. Uncommon. OCLC locates copies in Southern… Read More

London: Printed and Sold by J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, 1714. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, 187 x 113 mms.,pp. [ii], vi [vii - viii Contents], 310, page 178 correctly numbered, recent modern half calf, marbled boards, title in gilt on spine; some light browning and waterstaining to margins, but a good copy.

Te Amsterdam, nij deErven P. Meijer, en G. Warnars, 1784. 3 volumes. 12mo, 132 x 74 mms., pp. [iv], 124; [vi], 132; [ii], 110 [111 - 112 index], engraved vignette of Gellert on each title-page, engraved frontispiece in volume 1, 149 engraved plates, by N. van der Meer after J. Buys, contemporary continental half calf, speckled boards, spines ornately gilt in compartments, olive morocco labels. A very good to fine set, with the bookplate of Walther Konigsbeerger in each volume. Gellert (1715 - 1769) studied theology at Leipzig University but eventually became a tutor in philosophy, where his lectures were widely appreciated by both students and colleagues. Fabeln und Erzählungen was published in 1746-1748 and translated into other European languages. Gellert modelled his fables on those of Fontaine, and several were set to music, most notably by Beethoven.

London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson and J. Watts. 1753. 2 volumes. 8vo, 200 x 117 mms., pp. [xiv], 194; [iv], 155 [156 blank], volume 2 a fifth edition, with the binder having bound leaves signed (a) - [(a2)], between the last two leaves (M1.2, pp. 154 - 155), engraved vignette on title-page of and engraved head-pieces for each of the fifty fables in volume 1 (mostly by Van Der Gucht after Kent), engraved frontispiece and 16 full-page engraved plates, one for each fable in volume 2, mostly by G. Scotin after H. Gravelot and many plates with a date of 1738, contemporary calf, gilt spines, red leathr labels; bindings a bit scratched, front hinge volume 1 cracked and cover holding on for dear life, but a good set with four bookplates: Earl of Munster, The Honourable G. FitzClarence (1841), Lt. Col. Fitz Clarence, and, and A M Broadley (1902). George Augustus Frederick FitzCalrence, First earl of Munster (1794–1842) was the eldest son of the actress Dorothy Jordan (1761 - 1816) and the Duke of… Read More

Edinburgh: Printed by George Ramsey and Company, for Archibald Constable..., 1809. 2 volumes in 1. 8vo, 184 x 112 mms., pp. [lxiii - lxiii [lxiv blank], 192; x, 241 [241 blank], bound in contemporary half plum calf, gilt spine; binding a little worn, but a good copy. The Quarterly Review noticed the work in 1810, beginning with this amusing observation: "Although the well-known division of authors into writers for fame - writers for bread - and writers for both is tolerably comprehensive on the whole; yet the classification, we conceive, may be conveniently extended, by adding to it the farther division, of writers from ennui.... The pupil of the School of Ennui is usually guiltless, in his outset, of any designs upon the attention of the public; but his little performances accumulate by degrees...; he induces a good-natured friend with a recital...and his good-natured friend can scarcely refuse to praise [the work]: thus encouraged, by a person of the most unequivocal and sincerity, the… Read More

Glasgow, Printed for Alexander M'Kenzie [no date], [?1755]. 2 volumes in 1. 12mo, 160 x 92 mms., pp. viii, [9] - 192, with X2 paginated 164 on recto and 163 on verso, registration continuous throughout, volume 2 with half-title only, 19th century half calf, gilt spine, marbled boards. A very good copy. The printer, Andrew and Robert Foulis, is identified by the typeface. In this issue, page 35 is not signed E2, but in other respects it conforms to ESTC T13842 (BL and NLS), without the printing features identified in ESTC T18340. The Foulis brothers printed Gay's Fables under their own imprint in 1761, as well as Poems on Several Occasions in 1751. Not in Gaskell.

London: Printed for R. Francklin..., 1755. 8vo, pp. [vi], 173 [174 blank, 175 - 176 adverts], title-page in red and black, engraved frontispiece, 16 other full-page engraved plates, contemporary calf, spine gilt in compartments; spine slightly split, top and base of spine chipped, joints cracked, corners worn.

London: Printed for T. Bekcet..., 1773. 4to, 207 x 153 mms., pp. [9], 10 - 65 [66 blank, 67 - 68 adverts, including half-title, engraved vignette on title-page, original boards, spine of marbled paper (slightly defective with pieces missing) The first edition was published in 1771 and received somewhat sniffily by The Monthly Review, which concluded its assessment, "On the whole, we may pronounce, of these Fables, that, with all their poetical merit, they contain more ornament than substance, more description than design, more fancy than moral." It fared little better in The Critical Review: "Dr. Langhorne certainly over rates the merits of his Fables.... The plan of these Fables is trifling; and it is ill conducted.... If smooth and lulling versification can atone for the want of manly sense, these Fables will bring their author a temporary reputation."

London: Printed by W. Bulmer...Sold by R. Faulder..., 1796. Large 8vo, 230 x 162 mms., pp. [iv], xxxv [xxxvi blank] [3] 4 - 280, engraved wooduct on title-page, 24 head and tale woodcuts, finely bound, by C. Hering with his pink ticket on the upper margin of the verso of the front free end-paper, in contemporary straight grain red morocco, double gilt borders on covers, with gilt fleurons at each corner, gilt spine, all edges gilt; front joint very slightly rubbed, but a very good and attractive copy with the autograph "J. [or S] Hafford" on the top margin of the title-page, armorial bookplate of Viscount Granville, probably Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville (1773 - 1846). The dedicatory verses by the translator are signed: G. L. W. [i.e. Gregory Lewis Way]; the preface and notes are by G. Ellis. One of the owners has added text to the initials in order to complete the surnames in this copy. The woodcuts are by John and Thomas Bewick. The work was originally issued in two… Read More

Berlin [no publisher] 1753. Small 8vo, 145 x 78 mms., pp. vi, [7] - 69 [70 blanks], engraved title-page with vignette of flowers in a basket, with 8 blank leaves before title-page and 9 blank leaves after last leaf of text, contemporary lightly mottled calf, gilt border on covers, gilt spine, red morocco label, marbled end-papers, with large contemporary engraved ex-libris (Claud Joyant) to verso of free endpaper, showing a rural scene with lake, flowers, etc.; and a smaller engraving of Pigmalion et Galathee pasted to facing recto; title-page and following leaf browned The French philosopher André-François Boureau-Deslandes (1689–1757) was one of the precursors of the group whose efforts resulted in the Encyclopedie. The work was first published in 1742 and in the same year was condemned to be burnt by the Parlement de Dijon (some sources give 1741 for the first edition). The work tells the now familiar story of a statue which, when kissed, comes to life, acquires feelings… Read More

Paris Librairie des Bibliophiles Rue Saint-Honore, 338. 1873. FIRST EDITION of this translation. Small 8vo (in 4s), 106 x 62 mms., pp. 133 [134 printer's notice, 135 - 136 adverts], including half-title, title-page in red and black, handsomely bound in full contemporary red morocco, gilt borders on covers, floral ornaments in each corner of border, spine gilt in compartments, all edges gilt, with the initials "P. W." in gilt on front cover. A fine and attractive copy. Victor Develay (1828 - ?) translated a number of works from Latin into French, but it is not clear if he ever translated Asinus Aureus in its entirety. Limitation notice on verso of half-title: "10 exemplaires sor papier de Chine/ 500 - sur papier vergé"; this is one of the latter (laid paper).

London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley..., 1761. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, pp. [ii], iv, lxiii [lxxiv blank], 130, [3], 133 - 175, 177 - 204, [28] pp. index, engraved frontispiece, 15 full-page engraved plates usually with 12 small engravings on each leaf, but with two leaves having fewer, 3 engraved vignettes, 3 engraved tail-pieces, 19th century marbled boards, leather label; upper corner of fore-margin of frontispiece (very slightly browned) repaired, P5 creased with fore-margin very slightly frayed. A modest copy. This edition of Aesop was edited and partially written by Robert Dodsley; published on 23 February 1761, it was an instant success. James E. Tierney, in his edition of Dodsley's correspondences notes that the Monthly Review called it "ingenious...elegant...and very useful...a classical performance." The Critical Review praised Dodsley as the "best prose-writer of apologues of this or any country." There are fables by Aesop, as well as more recent writers, not to… Read More

London, Printed for the Author; and sold by G. Robins..., 1772. 8vo, 200 x 130 mms., pp. xii, 312, woodcut headpiece vignettes for each of the 48 fables, title-page printed in red and black, contemporary (?original) blue boards; no end-papers, boards a bit rubbed and joints slightly tender. Thomas Marryat (1730 - 1792) became a physician in his late twenties, having also been ordained a minister at Southwold in Suffolk, and having exhibited skills and abilities in a number of areas. He spent some time in America and returned in 1766. He maintained himself by quack medicine and writing, but this volume seems to have little that is "sentimental" in it. The work was first published in Belfast, and a third edition, with a dedication to Hannah More, appeared in 1791.

London: Printed for R. Baldwin..., 1757. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 12mo, 145 x 80 mms., pp. [iv], 208, contemporary sheepskin, skilfully rebacked with old spine laid down. A good copy, with the bookplate, engraved by Evans, of Robert Cunliffe on the front paste-down end-paper. THe Monthly Review commented, "We bestow alms upon cripples, to relieve their bodily wants; nor is it less kind to contribute some amusement to those who labour under a poverty of mind, or a debility of understanding: that both, being burdens to themselves as well as society, may be enabled to pass that time as easily as possible, which both may be desirous to kill. For this end these poetical tales are calculated, and are a collection purloined from many Authors, as Prior, Swift, Gay, Allan Ramsay, and others, as well as from collections with the same nature as itself." ESTC T73665 locates copies in BL; Cornell, Huntington, an++d Indiana. Library Hub adds Leicester, Manchester, and NLS.