Fables by the Late Mr. Gay
London: Printed for William Lane, 1797. A New Edition. In One Volume Complete. 64mo, viii, 206 pages, bound in brown leather. irst published in 1727, Gay’s Fables became one of the most enduring English collections of verse fables of the eighteenth century, employing animals and allegorical figures to satirize human vanity, ambition, politics, manners, and social behavior. Gay, also remembered as the author of The Beggar’s Opera, wrote with a wit and moral sharpness that helped keep the Fables in print throughout the century.
This 1797 edition is particularly notable for its exceptionally small 64mo format, measuring just 3⅞ × 2⅝ inches and giving the work the character of a highly portable pocket edition. Published by William Lane, founder and proprietor of the Minerva Press, the volume represents the late-eighteenth-century market for compact editions of established literary works. Both hinges cracked, moderate rubbing and wear. A catchword appears at the foot of page 206, suggesting that additional text or one or more leaves may originally have followed. Some slight discoloration, else in good + condition. Item #621
Price: $200.00