The Fables of Aesop, printed from the Veronese edition of MCCCCLXXIX in Latin verses and the Italian version by Accio Zucco, with the woodcuts newly engraved and coloured after a copy in the British Museum [with] The First Three Books of Caxton’s Aesop, containing the fables illustrated in the Verona Aesopus of MCCCCLXXIX

Officina Bodoni.  Latin-Italian text was revised by Giovanni Battista Pighi, Caxton’s sixty fables (and six more missing from this selection), translated from the Latin by Betty Radice and revised by T. and H. Schmoller. Epilogue in the first book by Mardersteig and prefatory note in the second book by T. and H. Schmoller Sixty-eight woodcuts, many coloured by hand, attributed to Liberale da Verona, recut by Anna Bramanti, the fleurons first adopted in 1478 were engraved by Charles Malin, the colouring carried out by the Atelier Daniel Jacomet Verona,  1973 Special Edition One of 160 numbered copies, printed in Centaur roman and italic on specially watermarked Magnani mould-made Two volumes Large 8vo Quarter green morocco, vellum sides bearing a gilt geometric design, spine lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, others uncut Fine set in original acetate dust-wrappers and slipcase. With the prospectus and list of woodcuts loosely inserted  One of the very finest achievements of the Press. Mardersteig revived the watermark of the goose which was originally used for the first edition of the Aesop for this and some other books printed at the Officina Bodoni. 

Price: £3200