A Fable of Bidpai

Abstract

From the Buch der Weisheit of 1483, printed in Ulm. Large octavo, handsewn into mustard-colored Strathmore Beau Brilliant cover over boards, with a small woodcut of a rooster by Helen Siegl on the front cover. Twenty pages, with text set in monotype Times New Roman, and printed letterpress in two colors on French-folded handmade Hosokawa paper. The wood engravings are printed in a total of five different colors in all. The first of the fables is new to me. A proud cock thinks he is a prophet for predicting that day will come. A flattering fox successfully lures him down so that he can tell his companions that he has kissed the head of a prophet. The fox instead bites off his head and eats him. From there we turn to the Friendship story of raven and mouse. We track them through travel and the inclusion of the turtle. The woodcut of raven grasping mouse by the tail and arriving across mountains at the turtle's pond is exquisite. It is at the center of this booklet. Soon the stag is included, and we read the story of the four outwitting the hunter. A great last illustration shows the hunter carrying home two bundles of wood instead of the stag and turtle. Each page is folded, so that it is printed on just one side. I have known Siegl's work in much simpler children's books. I enjoy this finer work from her!