The earliest English version of the Fables of Bidpai, " The Morall Philosophie of Doni,"

by Sir Thomas North

edited by Joseph Jacobs 

London:  David Nutt, 1888 

Hardback is overall in VERY GOOD condition.

• Three-quarter leatherbound covers are mostly clean, with gilt bands edging olive leather and pale blue cloth. 
• Boards show some exposure, a few marks, edgewear.  Corners are scuffed.  See photos.  
• Spine has raised bands, gilt tooling and text and is darkened with firm ends.
• Binding is strong. 
• Marble end papers/ pastedowns show a little toning at edges.  "The Rose Bindery Boston" stamped inside front cover.  See photos.  
• Frontispiece is present.
• Illustrations are bright and clear.  
• Interior is tanned, exhibits marginal staining on final leaves, scattered marks, light edgewear.  
• Inside pages have scattered marginalia. 
• Text block edges have gilt along head, deckle fore and foot edges, a ding at head with damage to top edge pgs. 226-244.  See photos. 
• PS2025.0206

80 + 257 pages. 5 x 7.5 inches

A very good copy of this important work of cultural recovery and scholarship, housed in a significant fine leather binding.  The Fables of Bidpai, or Panchatantra, is an ancient collection of animal fables in Sanskrit that dates to about 300 CE.  Widely translated in the Middle East, it made its way to Europe and was translated in English by Thomas North and published as The Morall Philosophie of Doni in 1570.  By the late 19th century most exemplars of that edition had perished.  The volume here available is two works in one:  a reissue of North's work and an extensive scholarly consideration of the Bidpai tradition.  Joseph Jacobs, the editor, included some consideration of visual representation of the animal characters in Bidpai's fables.  A new frontispiece for the text was drawn by Edward Burne-Jones (opposite pg. 13).

It is possible, though not certain, that the David Nutt edition of 1888 was issued in wraps.  What is certain is that our copy has a beautiful three-quarter leather binding by The Rose Bindery, Boston.  Fern green leather (darkened with exposure) surrounds sky blue cloth, with the segments ruled in gilt.  The spine features six panels separated by raised bands, each panel with gilt tooling, and the title and date stamped in gilt as well.  End papers are marble paper in green and navy with gilt; the bindery name is stamp-signed in gilt on the front turn-in. 

The Rose Bindery in Boston was one of a number of hand binderies, formed as part of the American embrace of the Arts & Crafts Movement.  In 1925 the bindery published a small booklet outlining the services they offered for "the owners of libraries but more especially of rare volumes, first editions, unique books that require new bindings."  A century later, the work of the Rose Bindery continues to stand out.   

Printed at the Ballantyne Press.  Ballantyne, Hanson & Co., Edinburgh and London.  

Please see photos. More photos available upon request.

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