THE FABLES OF JEAN DE LA FONTAINE (LEAF BOOK). BREWER, FRANCIS J. Book Arts and Fine Printing (1945-present),Illustrated Books - Engravings,Leaf Books

420 x 290 mm. (16 3/4 x 11 1/2"). [iv], 7, [1] pp., [1] leaf. Gray paper wrappers, spine with paper label, in (worn but still solid) marbled paper slipcase. WITH A PLATE FROM the 1755-59 memorial edition of "Fables Choisies" illustrating Fable CXCI, "La Tortue et les Deux Canards." Early (original?) tissue guard. Front pastedown with E. H. H. book label of E. Harold Hugo. De Hamel & Silver, "Disbound and Dispersed," 130. Ray, pp. 16-20 (plate). Wrappers, text, and engraving in fine condition, with the plate very richly impressed. This attractive and generously proportioned fine press production includes an original plate from the sumptuously illustrated memorial edition of La Fontaine's "Fables." Ray cites that work as one of the three most beautiful illustrated French books between 1700-1914 and "one of the most ambitious and successful of all illustrated books." Its 276 plates were finely engraved with a surprising degree of consistency (especially given the large number of burins at work); they are always detailed and delicate, and they are frequently alive with light. In Ray's words, the illustrations, which feature a comprehensive view of the French countryside of the 1730s, offer a fertile world "to which the reader may return again and again for delight and instruction." The compositions are the work of Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755), the greatest animal painter of his age, who was ideally suited to illustrate La Fontaine; as Ray says, his "rendition of animals is hardly to be surpassed." The very dramatic plate included here, which accompanied the fable "La Tortue et les Deux Canards" ("The Turtle and the Two Ducks"), depicts the turtle clinging to a stick borne between the two flying ducks, but about to fall, Icarus-like, to its death. Oudry's skill with animals is evident here, in the muscles of the ducks straining as they fly with their burden and the careful detail of the wriggling reptilian legs of the tortoise. This leaf book was produced by Dawson's Book Shop, Los Angeles booksellers who began publishing in 1949. Printed at Saul and Lillian Marks' Plantin Press, the production demonstrates the quality of printing for which they were well known. Our copy is from the library of scholar-printer E. Harold Hugo (1910-85), who ran the Meriden Gravure Company from 1962-75 and sat on the board of the Stinehour Press from the time of its founding. He was known throughout his career as an advocate for fine printing, leading to numerous awards for himself and his company.