James Northcote — One Hundred Fables, Original and Selected

London, Geo: Lawford, 1828 . First edition. Cloth. The large paper first edition of this collection of fables gathered together by James Northcote, with vignette illustrations throughout. The large paper first edition of this work. The text on the title page and lack of further edition statements asserts that this is a first edition, as subsequent editions bear edition remarks. However a prior owner has neatly rubbed away the publication date from the title page tail.Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, and with wood-engraved vignettes and initials after Northcote and William Harvey throughout. With an advertisement leaf to the rear, and an inscription to the front pastedown.The fables in this collection are both originals penned by Northcote himself, and those collected from historical sources.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&apos. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with gilt detailing to back strip. Losses of cloth to back strip head and tail, with small area of paper residue to rear board. Joint heads starting, with boards slightly tender. Inscription to front pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright, with the odd spot. Good . Ill.: James Northcote. Good .