Fables Choisies de la Fontaine et Florian (Cover: Fables de la Fontaine)

Abstract

This large-format, canvas-bound book starts out being identical with another with the same titles on front cover and title-page and from the same publisher and the same year, bought at Henry Veyrier in December of 2004; that book has a dancing milkmaid on its cover. This book then departs from that. Instead of a booklet of eight pages, then one of thirty-two, and then another of eight, this has two booklets each of sixteen pages, and a final booklet of ten pages titled Le Coffre Volant. This book has a circular medallion on its cover featuring WC. It has in common with the other publication that each book within the volume has a stamp on its last page giving the publisher and a date of 1937. It does, by contrast with that other publication, mix in some Florian fables with those of La Fontaine. The identical monochrome pages here are often done in a different ink color. OF on 21 is one of the best illustrations and is in better condition here. Again, the courtly little mosquito seems to be thrusting a sword into the lion's nose on 9. Does it make sense that the woman transformed from a cat attacks mice with a broom (second page 7)? Does she not want to eat them rather than to kill them? The fox in the colored FG (third page 5) is noble in dress and stance; this may be the best illustration of the whole book. As in the other volume, there are various artistic styles at work here. This is a well preserved book.