John Gay — Fables

London, C. Hitch and L. Hawes; J. and R. Tonson; et al, 1757. Leather. A smart edition of the fables of John Gay, an illustrated collection of sixty-six fables. Two volumes in one.The collected fables of John Gay, with a total of sixty-six fables. Illustrated with a frontispiece, and an engraved head-piece to each fable and to the introduction, with a total of sixty-seven engravings.Fables in this volume include 'The Spaniel and the Chameleon', 'The Mother, the Nurse, and the Fairy', 'The Wild Boar and the Ram', 'The Lady and the Wasp', and more.Gay originally wrote fables for Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland, in 1727, and despite writing them for a royal, he wrote about the vanities of court honours.Illustrated by Van der Gucht.Collated, all illustrations are present. Page 183/184 is torn and lacking half. In a full calf binding, rebacked. Externally, smart, with a little discolouration and marks to the boards, and very light rubbing. Neat repair to the front endpaper. Ink inscription to the recto of the front endpaper. A small amount of loss to the front paste down. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are a little age-toned and generally clean with scattered spots and handling marks. Prior owner's ink inscription to the title page. Very Good . Ill.: Van der Gucht. Very Good .