The Word-Picture Fable Book or Old Aesop in a New Dress. - 1874

London: T. Nelson and Sons, 1874. Original green cloth with chromolithograph plate (of fox looking enviously at the grapes) to the front board, gilt and black titles and decoration. The covers are in very good condition, with just a little bumping. A few small marks to the rear cover. Second edition of 1874 (First edition was 1872). Frontis engraving of mother presenting the book to her children. "A beautiful book in a beautiful dress, with pictures and words for you to guess." Title page with lovely engraved vignette of the hare and the tortoise. Preface by Uncle William. This includes the comment to the children "In order to puzzle you a little..... I have made the printer insert a little picture here and there instead of a work." Herein lies the charm of this edition. The "word" vignettes are charming engravings. Each page is surrounded by a frame with several morals for the children to absorb. Just in case they don't get the point, to the rear is the "key to the fables". 22 tales. 83 pages. My favourite moral is "And don't be all your days trotting on a Cabbage-Leaf". End[a[ers of a cheaper stock, and subsequently heavily foxed. The rest ofg the pages are very clean. 83 pages. 265 x 210 mm (10½ x 8¼ inches).