GAY, John (1685--1732)
Fables, by John Gay, in two parts. Illustrated with notes. By William Coxe, ... Fourth edition.
London:, printed for Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe,, 1810.
[4], 247, [1] p., engr. frontis. : [67] wd.-engr. illus. ; 16.0 cm. (12º)

Gay first published his Fables in 1727; they were an immediate and lasting success, going through well over a hundred editions by the end of the century. Coxe's first edition appeared in 1796. The charming frontispiece engraving of Gay's monument incorporating Pope's conceit of '... Simplicity a child' is by Harding. Each fable is illustrated by a wood-engraving. 'W. Wilson printer' - title-page verso. The final page lists further books by the same author, i.e. Coxe.

Binding Later C19th maroon half goatskin, blind-tooled borders, marbled-paper boards, gilt double-ruled and lettered spine. Bound by George Richmond for 1s. 6d., 20 May 1853. (Curatorial Papers/Bailey/Parcel1).

Reference Number 1425

Additional Names Richmond, George, bookbinder; Coxe, William (1747--1828)