TOWNSEND FYLER Rev. Geo., “ THE FABLES OF AESOP / Translated into English by Samuel Croxall D.D, with New Applications, Morals, etc. by the Rev. Geo. Fyler Townsend / Second edition, with 110 Original Illustrations”, London, Frederick Warne and Co., 1869. First published 1866. In 8vo, p. xxiv+264. This handsome Victorian edition of Aesops fables features 110 original illustrations (one for each fable), plus a beautiful gilt-decorated binding incorporating images of eagle (je parle), owl (je pense), snake and butterfly. Publishers purple textured cloth decorated in gilt and blind, top edges colored; good-quality paper throughout. Contents crisp, very clean overall. Foxing to first few pages, scattered foxing elsewhere (mostly light), a few small marks/stains, one nick, a little light creasing, one or two leaves with very slight edge wear, a few pairs of gatherings stretched. Endpapers with a little soiling, offsetting and foxing, partial splitting to hinges; front endpapers with previous owners name, rear endpapers with original binders label. Edges of page block with a little scratching. Binding a little loose, with lean. Boards and spine with discoloration, rubbing and marks as shown, bumping and wear to extremities; cloth worn through slightly to corners, and with tears to head and foot of spine (with glue repairs); upper board with a little bubbling to cloth, spine with dulling to gilt; lower joint with nick halfway up (glue repaired), plus 6-cm split to head (repaired to underside). Very scarce.