As part of the pantheon of foundational narratives to which we regularly turn for inspiration and guidance, fables and fairy tales often overlap with myths and legends. Indeed, they arise from the same wellspring of oral literature that dates back to antiquity. However, whereas myths and legends frequently convey cultural touchstones, such as origin stories, fables and fairy tales use timeless and imaginary worlds to demonstrate that our actions have consequences.
Considering the importance placed upon our interactions with the world and the notion of personal responsibility that should guide those interactions, we hope this selection proves timely. After all, the German fabulist Wilhelm Hey composed a series of these stories to occupy his children while they were quarantined with the measles.
![Item #27396 The History of Reynard the Fox [The Tormenting of Tibert]. Christopher Harrisson, trans](https://bromer.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/27396.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1488320860)
Zuilichem: Catharijne Press, 1991. 56pp. From an edition of 190 copies, this is one of fifteen deluxe copies with an extra wood engraving. Frontispiece engraving by Pam Rueter, signed and numbered by the artist. Extra engraving also signed and numbered, and held in a mat in a separate cloth bi-fold..... More
Mainz: Jos. Scholz, (c. 1890). Four stand-up scenes with forty-five die-cut paper figures, which can be used to stage the fairy tale of Snow White. The pieces include thirteen two-sided figures for our major players, including Snow White, the Seven Dwarves, Prince Charming, and the Evil Queen; six additional one-sided..... More
Leipzig: Pavla Riube, (c. 1880). Small quarto. 8pp., + six plates laid in throughout. The chromolithographed images illustrate the major events of the story commonly known to English-speaking audiences as "Sleeping Beauty," from the princess's birth, to the pricking of her finger on the spindle, and, finally, to her reawakening..... More
Print Club of Cleveland, 1950. Woodcut measuring 21 by 14 1/2 inches. One of 250 copies, signed and dated by Antonio Frasconi, an artist born in Uruguay and known for his distinctive woodcuts and numerous illustrated books for children. In this depiction of Aesop’s fable, a hungry, curvaceous crocodile tempts..... More
![Item #27525 Kak Rubanok Sdelal Rubanok : Skazka [How a Plane Made a Plane : A Fairy Tale]. Samuil...](https://bromer.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/27525.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1493395975)
Leningrad: Raduga, 1927. Small quarto. (12)pp. Bright color illustrations throughout. A rhyming Russian story for children, in which a worn-out old carpenter's plane makes a new plane, his "grandson," to carry on his work. The plane is aided in his work by fellow woodworking tools like the chisel, mallet, and..... More
![Item #25558 Car Nikita: Pohádka [Tsar Nikita: A Fairy Tale]. Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin](https://bromer.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/25558.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1431119494)
Prague: Kamilla Neumannová, 1928. Octavo. One of 100 hand-colored copies. Pushkin's bawdy and satirical fairy tale about Tsar Nikita and his forty daughters has been translated into Czech by Lala Gallová, and is illustrated throughout with bright hand-colored illustrations by R. Sirotský. The images are done in a bold folkloric..... More
London: Cyril Beaumont, 1918. Octavo. (iii), 16, (1+16)ff., frenchfold. From an edition of fifty copies, this is one of ten printed on chine and signed by the artist. This is the story of Little Red Riding Hood, with woodcut text and illustrations by Belgian artist Edgard Tijtgat. Sixteen illustrations, hors..... More
