The Subtyl Historyes and Fables of Esope. Translated out of the Frensshe in to Englysshe by William Caxton at Westmynstre in the Yere of Oure Lorde M.CCC.LXXXIII
San Francisco: Grabhorn Press, 1930. One of 175 regular copies. Twenty-five special copies privately printed for Herbert Rothschild were also produced. This particular copy shares some characteristics with the twenty-five special copies (which were produced before the regular copies). First, the date on the title page is given as 1383 (instead of 1483) in this copy, which is a printing error shared with the Rothschild copies only, as the error was corrected before the regular edition left the shop. In addition, both this copy and the Rothschild copies have three terminal blanks, as opposed to two in the regular copies. This copy was apparently given by Grabhorn to Leslie McMurtry on the same day as a copy of A Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode and His Meiny (Grabhorn Press, 1932), also unnumbered and with an inscription to McMurtry dated June 9, 1932. We could not locate any information on McMurtry. Illustrated title-page and six large headpieces designed and hand-colored by Valenti Angelo in teal, yellow, pink, and gold. Also with 117 distinct illustrative initials designed by Angelo and printed in red. Type is handset Koch Bibel Gotisch. Printed on unbleached Arnold paper. Some rubbing to extremities and upper joint. Toning to edges and some foxing to edges of endpapers. Patch of toning to title-page and facing blank from something previously laid in. Otherwise bright and attractive throughout. Unnumbered, inscribed on the colophon by Ed Grabhorn to Leslie McMurtry (dated June 9, 1932). A very good copy. Original reddish-brown leather with gilt title and five raised bands on spine. Octavo. [viii], 168 pp. Item #16975
Price: $950.00