Quelques Fables de Florian

Abstract

Thirty-five fables, each with one or two pleasant black-and-white illustrations, followed by an epilogue. (The two non-pictured fables are together on 55.) There are also five unnumbered colored pages inserted at the appropriate point for their fables. The black-and-white illustrations are playful. One prize among these goes to La Coquette et l'Abeille (16). Typically dramatic among the several-color pages is L'Inondation (37). This book includes a slip declaring that this copy is a gift of Bismuth Tulasne et l'Iodulane to the medical corps. Additional inserts include a full-page offering an illustration of Le Bismuth Tulasne et les Deux Cavaliers and various short advertisements for Bismuth and Iodulane, e.g. in the treatment of colitis. On the gift insert we find a statement that this is the fifth and final fascicule. I take the this in that statement to refer to a portion of the book we have here rather than to the whole book we have here. That is, I doubt that there are four other volumes like this. This volume consists in single-fold pairs of pages and a heavier cover-wrapper. It reminds me of a number of fine fable books of pre-World War II vintage that I found in Clignancourt's flea markets about four years ago. It shows the same enchantment with fable combined with taste and imagination.