One Hundred Fables Original and Selected

London: Geo Lawford, 1828. First edition. Leather. Very Good. 7.5" by 4.5". William Harvey et al. A very bright copy of this beautifully illustrated collection of fables. The first edition. Embellished with two-hundred and eighty engravings on wood. William Harvey designed the ornamental letters and tail-pieces, but northcode designed the main engravings. Northcote worked as an assistant in Joshua Reynolds' studio and to the preface he states 'a chief inducement in making this collection, was the amusement and employment it afforded me in the way of my profession as a painter, in sketching designs for each fable'. Prior owner's inscription tipped in to recto of front endpaper 'Frances Buchanan Wollaston with his Aunt Kath H Wollaston's Love Oct 1828'. The same inscription to the front pastedown in pencil. This collection of fables has some original and others selected from other authors. A very smart collection. In a half calf binding with paper covered boards. Externally, very smart with patches of light rubbing to the joints and extremities. Prior owner's notations to the front pastedown and tipped in to the recto of front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright with scattered spots to the first and last few pages, otherwise just the odd spot. Very Good