The Fables of Aesop. Aesop (Aesopus Veronensis)

DESCRIPTION: The Fables of Aesop. Printed from the Veronese Edition of MCCCLXXIX in Latin Verses and the Italian Version by Accio Zucco, with the Woodcuts Newly Engraved and Coloured after a Copy in the British Museum [together with] The First Three Books of Caxton's Aesop. Containing the Fables Illustrated in the Verona Aesopus of MCCCCLXXIX. Officina Bodoni, 1973. Limited edition, No. 157 of 160 copies. 255 x 182 mm (10 x 6 3/8"). Two volumes. Vol. 1: Latin text with Italian translation and 68 hand-coloured woodcuts with an epilogue by Giovanni Mardersteig in English. Vol. 2: The 1482 English translation of William Caxton. Bindings of olive green morocco spines with vellum over stiff boards, decorative geometric border and titling in gilt, top edge gilt. Printed on Magnani mould-made paper with goose watermark. List of woodcuts and prospectus included. Books are protected with archival clear Grafix Dura-Lar dust wrappers. Slipcase covered with brown paper with printed paper label on front with curvilinear leather-lined top and bottom edges at slipcase opening. _____CONDITION: Both volumes in fine condition, with a few light bookseller notations in pencil. No ink or ex-libris. Slipcase in strong near-fine condition with very light rubbing at a few corners and a bit of wear to the leather top and bottom edges of the slipcase opening. All slipcase corners remain sharp and slipcase edges are entirely intact. ____ DISCUSSION: This edition was planned as part of the celebration of the fiftieth year anniversary of the founding of the Officina Bodoni in 1922. The vellum has a 'honeyed' appearance with variation in colour and grain which is normal in this edition. The woodcuts were freshly carved by Anna Bramanti using the original woodcuts by Liberale da Verona from a 1479 edition in the British Museum, then hand coloured with pochoir technique by Atelier Jacoumet of Paris. This is thought by many to be the high point of the Officina Bodoni bibliography and it is certainly one of the finest illustrated private press books of the twentieth century. NOTE: International shipping to most locations in the United Kingdom and Europe is $50 U.S. dollars.