Fables Dictionary Appraisal

Dictionnaire Abrégé de la Fable (Abridged Dictionary of Fables)

This item is an antique French volume, specifically a version of the 'Dictionnaire Abrégé de la Fable,' a classic reference work on mythology. The book is small in format, likely a duodecimo (12mo), typical for 18th or early 19th-century educational or reference texts. The visible pages feature traditional typesetting with decorative woodcut or copper-plate ornaments. On the left page, there is a prominent centerpiece engraving of a mythological sun-face or Medusa-style head framed by ornate filigree. The right page displays the title 'DICTIONNAIRE ABREGE DE LA FABLE' printed in bold, serif typography, beneath a rectangular border containing floral and foliate scrollwork. The text is printed on aged, laid paper, which shows characteristic yellowing and tonal variations consistent with its age. Condition-wise, the pages appear relatively clean with some minor spotting and edge wear. The binding is not fully visible but appears to have a brown leather or parchment spine. The typographical style and decorative motifs suggest a production date in the mid-to-late 1700s, an era when such abridged dictionaries were popular for students of the classics. The craftsmanship reflects the high standards of European letterpress printing from that period, including a clear hierarchy of text and high-contrast ink application.