You are bidding on a rare antique hardcover book titled One Hundred Fables - Original And Selected (First Series). By James Northcote, R.A. Embellished with Two Hundred and Eighty Engravings on Wood. This is just the Second Edition. Published in London by Geo. Lawford, Saville Passage, 1829.

Imagine, this magnificent book is almost 200 years old!

James Northcote (1746-1831) was a prolific English painter and draftsman whose career was much advanced through his apprenticeship with Joshua Reynolds, for whom he worked for about 5 years, beginning in 1771. In his foreword to the first volume of Fables, Northcote states: "Although the original invention and designs for the prints at the head of each Fable are my own, yet they have been most excellently drawn on wood, and prepared for the Engravers, by Mr. William Harvey, one of the most distinguished artists in his profession . . ." William Harvey (1796-1866) was apprenticed at an early age to Thomas Bewick and helped him with the woodcuts for Bewick's "Aesop's Fables" (published in 1818). Reportedly, Northcote's technique for creating the vignettes involved clipping "figures of animals out of all kinds of books, papers, &c., and selecting such as fitted the fable to be embellished, pasted them down to paper in the required places, filling in backgrounds with his pencil. The designs thus made were freely interpreted by the engraver." (Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers." Harvey himself designed the initial letters and tailpieces. The index to illustrations at rear of each volume names the engravers who actually carved the blocks.

The book has been splendidly bound. Book is quarter-bound in red leather with leather tips. The spine is beautiful with five raised bands. The titling is in gold and there is attractive gold designs in each compartment. Covers firmly attached with no cracking or splitting of hinges. Pages are very clean and tightly bound. The top edge of pages has very gilt edge. No writing in book and no previous owner names or bookplates. There are also decorative endpages. Book shows some gentle wear and remains in very good condition.

A great, rare book in wonderful condition! 

Great gift idea!

(Inventory: Box 28A)