12mo. Contemp. calf, spine ribbed and richly gilt and blind-stamped, with richly gilt and blind-stamped borders and large blind-stamped central ornament on sides, richly gilt inner dentelles, gilt-edged. The engraved Gothic architectural title, richly and beautifully coloured by hand and heightened with gold, and six full-page engraved plates, all richly designed within the Gothic architectural setting by Rouarque. (12), 192 pp. Beautifully illustrated and finely produced choice selection of old fables from the Middle Ages and the East, edited by Charles Malo, a famous French literary author born in Paris in 1790. The beautiful plates are designed in a half medieval and half Eastern style and signed by Rouarque. Charles Malo published a large number of popular books. He founded "La France Littéraire," a periodical with selected pieces of French literature, as well as a circle of Clubs of Literature in Paris. Malo was also an agent of the "Société pour l'Instruction élémentaire," and a member of several learned societies. The preface states that several fables are here published in France for the first time, carefully edited after the originals. Apart from the fables, some poems by Ronsard, Baïf, etc., are also added, as well as epigrams by Clement Marot and an epitaph Binding sl. rubbed, hinges weak; some sl. marginal foxing Du Bellay. At the end, a glossary explains the more difficult words. All plates are untitled. Coloured plates in order: 1. Title page. 2. A Knight ( or King) receives a King from the East - who kneels before him. 3. Youth playing music before a King and Courtiers. 4. Lady (Marguerite?) being 'wooed' by a gallant gentleman while sitting under a tree. 5. A lady (Griselidis?) with her two young children, a gentleman, is seen a bended knee by her side. 6. Lady, seated in a chair, is seen playing sweet music to a gentleman standing by her chair. 7. A King surveys a happy couple (sweethearts) in his palace.