Select Fables; With Cuts, Designed And Engraved Buy Thomas And John Bewick, and Others, Previous To The Year 1784: Together With A Memoir; and a descriptive Catalogue Of The Works Of Messrs. Bewick

332 pages. 21.5 x 14 cm. Illustrated wood engraved frontispiece Thomas Bewick,336 wood engraved vignettes by the Bewicks. GORDON N. RAY 52: notes "Bewick deplored this well-produced volume, which to his mind could only serve `to feed the whimsies of bibliomanists,' but he tolerated its publication. Though some of the engravings hardly rise above chapbook level (a number of them are copies), the book is useful as a record of his work before he achieved his mature style." Basically clean throughout save for some toning to first few and last leaves. Raised bands, spines panels decorated in gilt floral motifs, gilt cover border panels. Armorial bookplate of Samuel Harford Samuels and modern one of William Tarum Fehsenfeld. Contemporary tree calf, red leather spine label lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers. All edges marbled. Fine.