Fables by the Late Mr Gay

Abstract

A beautiful little book. I am delighted at last to have a good edition of Gay's fables. T of C to both parts of fables is at the beginning of Volume II. The 66 excellent copper engravings come two-to-a-page facing the beginning of the first fable of the two. There is something tapestry-like about them. They are clearly in the tradition of Gravelot (and Kent and Wooton?) from 1727/38; see my 1967 William Andrews Clark reprint. But they do not include Blake's 12 engravings, which date from 1793. Compare the engravings here with the two in Hobbs' Fables (71, 81). Do not miss the dramatic mask frontispiece. I am fortunate to have found this book.