FABLIAUX OR TALES, ABRIDGED FROM FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS OF THE XIIth AND XIIIth CENTURIES... WITH A PREFACE, NOTES, AND APPENDIX by Le Grand d'Aussy, Pierre Jean Baptiste - 1815

Printed for J. Rodwell, 1815. New edn corrected. 3 vols. Bound in later half suede on marbled paper-laid boards with marbled endpapers (small tear at headcap of vol I - otherwise VG). Pp. xli + 223 [&] 272 [&] 304, illus with engraved titles and vignettes in text by John and Thomas Bewick (front inner hinges cracked with loosened prelms; previous owner's engraved armorial bookplate on front paste-downs).

London: J. Rodwell, 1815. 3rd . Hardcover. Very good/very good. Translated into English by G.L. Way with A Preface, Notes and Appendix by George Ellis. 3rd English edition. Octavo. 20 x 14 cm. Paper boards with leather spine labels lettered in gilt, uncut. xli, 223; [3], 272; [3], 304 pp., woodcut h eadpiece vignettes and tailpieces. Text in English. "The following Work is an attempt at a metrical translation of some Fabliaux, or French Tales, contained in the collection made by M. le Grand, and first published in 1779. The original compositions, of which this author has given us abridgments or extracts, being of the 12th and 13th centuries, are consequently anterior to our English historica l ballads and metrical romances, of which they are probably the originals; and, being written in a language which at that period was common to France and England, may be considered as equally connected with the literary history of both countries." (Preface). Finely detailed woodcut vignettes compliment the… Read More

, Volume I, [4], xxxvii, [3], 280 pages. Volume II, 340 pages, illustrated vignettes to title pages and head and tailpieces

London: W. Bulmer, 1796-1800. First edition.. Light edge wear to morocco; a very bright and clean copy in fine condition.. Pp. xxxvii, (4), B2, 4-280; (6), B2, 4-340; with 52 woodcut vignettes in the text by John and Thomas Bewick, Charlton Nesbit, and Luke Clennell. Publisher's original black morocco leather, spine with five raised bands, lettered in gilt in one compartment and with elaborate gilt floral decorations in the other compartments, front and rear covers with gilt border decorations, decorated board edges and gilt-turns, marbled endpapers, all page edges in gilt, lg 8vo (9 3/8 x 7 5/8 inches). This is the rare first edition in a fine binding. Armorial bookplate of John Croft Deverell on the pastedown.