Fables by the Late Mr. Gay

London: Tonson and Watts; Knapton and Cox, 1737-1751. Leather. Good. 8" by 5.5". Not Stated. Two beautifully illustrated volumes of the short moral fables of eighteenth century dramatist and poet John Gay, present here in their fourth and fifth editions. Two mid eighteenth century volumes of the fables of English poet and dramatist John Gay, best remembered for his works 'The Beggar's Opera', and 'The Wife of Bath'. With volume I being the fifth edition of 1737, and volume II in the fourth edition of 1751.Written in verse with rhyming couplets and purportedly drawing inspiration from classical works, these moralizing fables were originally composed to educate and amuse the six year old Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II.With a vignette title page engraving to each volume. With fifty fables to volume I, with a vignette engraving to the start of each fable. With sixteen fables to volume II, and sixteen engraved plates. Collated, complete.ESTC reference for volume I: T13822; volume II: N9615.With the armorial bookplate of J. Hornsby Wright to the front pastedown of each volume.These two delightfully illustrated volumes of short fables were immensely popular in their day, going through numerous editions in the eighteenth century. In full calf bindings. Minor losses to calf at back strip tail of each volume, and back strip head of volume I. Front joint of each volume starting, with front board of volume I a little tender, and volume II holding firm. Light rubbing to front board of volume II. Armorial bookplate to front pastedown of each volume. Internally, firmly bound. Offsetting to title page of volume I, with a touch of offsetting to volume II title page. Pages lightly age toned due to paper type, but generally clean, with only the odd spot or light handling mark, most frequently to volume I. Small hole to head of leaf B4, and small closed tear to leaf C7 of volume I. Good