A great rarity and considered one of the masterpieces of the Gregynog Press

Aesop & Parker, Agnes Miller (Illus.) ~ The Fables of Esope, Translated out of Frensshe into Englysshe by William Caxton. With Engravings on Wood by Agnes Miller Parker : With The Publisher’s Prospectus

Gregynog Press, Newtown : 1931

The sole UK printing published by the Gregynog Press, Newtown : 1931. Number '125' of only 250 copies issued. Illustrated with thirty-seven wood engravings by Agnes Miller Parker and wood-engraved initials by her husband William McCance (typographer and sculptor). This title was Parker's first collaboration with the Press. Bound in the publisher's original tanned sheepskin, with the title blocked in black foil on the spine. Printed in Bembo Type on Barcham Green hand-made paper. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition with minor rubbing to the spine and the extremities, else a fine copy with only a very occasional light spot in places. A book that is seldom encountered in such sharp condition. The book is protected in a removable Mylar archival cover. Together with Gertrude Hermes and Blair Hughes-Stanton, Parker helped to usher in a period of masterly illustrated editions at Gregynog, with the Esope title considered one of the masterpieces of the Press. The illustrations by Agnes Miller Parker are considered by Colin Franklin to rank this book as 'the most conspicuously decorative volume of that kind', the binding is smooth, appropriately naturalistic and exceptionally well preserved, and the type, hand-set by Richard Jones, is generous and exacting. Writing in his The Private Presses, Colin Franklin concluded that 'the entire work of Gregynog, printing and binding, produced a better thing that anyone else had attempted'. Jones (pp. 30-1). Housed in the original plain card slipcase which is a little age worn, rubbed and marked but tight and complete. With the publisher's prospectus loosely inserted. A great rarity. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++