Aesop; J. B. Rundell — Aesop&Apos;S Fables

London, Cassell, Petter and Galpin, 1869 . First edition. Leather. The very scarce first edition of J. B. Rundell's 'revised and re-written' edition of the fables of Aesop, featuring the striking illustrations of painter and illustrator Ernest Griset. The very scarce first Rundell edition, in a signed Riviere full calf binding.Illustrated with ninety-three full page and vignette illustrations from Griset, the vast majority of which have been neatly hand coloured by a prior owner. Collated, complete.Aesop's Fables are a collection of brief moral tales attributed to a storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece around the 6th century BCE. These tales typically feature animals as characters who embody human traits and behaviours, teaching practical life lessons through their interactions. Classic fables like "The Tortoise and the Hare," "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," and "The Ant and the Grasshopper" use simple narratives to convey enduring wisdom about virtues such as perseverance, honesty, and hard work.With eight pages of advertisements to the rear.With the publisher's cloth laid down to the blanks at the rear. With a custom chemise and clamshell box.With the bookplates of Edward Dean Richmond and the Brother Julian Collection to the front pastedown.Griset specialized in animal illustrations, making him a fitting choice to illustrate Aesop's works. In a full calf Riviere signed binding, with gilt detailing to back strip, and gilt dentelles. Front board detached but present. Rear joint starting to head, but firmly held. Bookplates to front pastedown. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and slipcase. Internally, firmly bound. Pages a touch age toned, with instances of light spotting throughout. Majority of illustrations neatly hand coloured by a prior owner. With the publisher's cloth laid down to the blanks at the rear. Good Only . Ill.: Ernest Griset. Good Only .