Perrault's Fairy Tales, With Delightful Pictorial Inlaid Binding by M. Ritter

Charles Perrault; Andrew Lang, ed. PERRAULT'S POPULAR TALES. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1888. Small 8vo; cxv, [1], 153, [1]pp. Gilt-tooled morocco decorated with inlaid corner flowers and central multi-color morocco inlay to upper board featuring the figure of Puss in Boots, spine with raised bands and gilt-tooled compartments with central floral inlays and gilt lettering, with top edge gilt, gilt turn-ins, green patterned endpapers, and marbled and fresh endpapers; stamped "M. RITTER REL" on front turn-in. With a lengthy introduction by Lang in English, followed by text in French including Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé and Contes en Vers; with portrait frontispiece and an additional portrait of Perrault, and numerous illustrations throughout.

7 x 5 in.

Charles Perrault (French, 1628-1703) wrote an early book of fairy tales subtitled The Tales of Mother Goose. First published in 1697, his work was incredibly influential for later storytellers. It included the following eight popular tales, in French: "Sleeping Beauty," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Blue Beard," "Puss in Boots," "The Fairies," "Cinderella," "Ricky of the Tuft," and "Little Thumb."

Sturdy boards with minor scuffing and staining, corners rubbed; spine repaired (seemingly rebacked with original spine laid down), rubbing to rear joint; old bookseller's catalogue entry pasted to front free fresh endpaper; interior with mild toning, rare spot of foxing, one area of mild gutter wear, and minor corner folds. A lovely and unique volume; very good.