Jean Baudoin, Les Fables d’Esope Phrygien. Traduction Nouvelle. Illustrée de Discours Moraux, Philosophiques et Politiques, par J. Baudoin. Avec les figures en taille douce (Roüen, Jean et David Berthelin, ruë aux Juifs, et dans la Court du Palais, M.DC.LX. (1660)).

In HTML. I have not been able to find the facs. PDF of this edition but have put online the 1665 edition. [See below]

Jean Baudoin, Les Fables d’Esope Phrygien. Traduction Nouvelle. Illustrée de Discours Moraux, Philosophiques et Politiques, par J. Baudoin. Avec les figures en taille douce (Roüen, Jean et David Berthelin, ruë aux Juifs, et dans la Court du Palais, M.DC.LX. (1665)).

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There are 118 illustrations which can be viewed here.

Roger L'Estrange, Fables of Æsop and other eminent Mythologists with Morals and Reflexions (London: Printed for R. Sare, T. Sawbridge, B. Took, M. Gillyflower, A. & J. Churchil, and J. Hindmarsh, 1692).

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Written by a defender of the monarchy with a frontispiece which emphasises Aesapos physical deformaties (linked supposedly to his "moral deformities" unless "corrected" by suitable "Moral" conclusions supplied by the editor/translator).

Æsop’s Fables in English and Latin, Interlineary, for the Benefit of those who not having a Master, would Learn either of these Tongues. With Sculptures. [Edited by John Locke.] (London: A. & J. Churchil, 1703).

Unfortunately, I do not have an HTML version but only a facs. PDF.

Locke missed an opportunity here with his commenatray not to have a more "libertarian" edition of Aesop. He had recommended Aesap's fables in his treatise Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693) as a way for children to learn both Latin and English composition. There was a collection of pictures of animals to help the early reader to spell

§ 156. When, by these gentle ways he begins to be able to read, some easy pleasant book, suited to his capacity, should be put into his hands, wherein the entertainment, that he finds, might draw him on, and reward his pains in reading; and yet not such as should fill his head with perfectly useless trumpery, or lay the principles of vice and folly. To this purpose I think Æsop’s fables the best, which being stories apt to delight and entertain a child, may yet afford useful reflections to a grown man; and if his memory retain them all his life after, he will not repent to find them there, amongst his manly thoughts, and serious business. If his Æsop has pictures in it, it will entertain him much the better, and encourage him to read, when it carries the increase of knowledge with it; for such visible objects children hear talked of in vain, and without any satisfaction, whilst they have no ideas of them: those ideas being not to be had from sounds, but from the things themselves, or their pictures. And therefore, I think, as soon as he begins to spell, as many pictures of animals should be got him as can be found, with the printed names to them, which at the same time will invite him to read, and afford him matter of inquiry and knowledge. Reynard the fox is another book, I think, may be made use of to the same purpose. And if those about him will talk to him often about the stories he has read, and hear him tell them, it will, besides other advantages, add encouragement and delight to his reading, when he finds there is some use and pleasure in it. These baits seem wholly neglected in the ordinary method; and it is usually long before learners find any use or pleasure in reading, which may tempt them to it, and so take books only for fashionable amusements, or impertinent troubles, good for nothing.

So from Locke, we learn that both "Lyon" and "Lamb" begin with the letter L, but not that lions prey and kill lambs and that therefore "lambs" need to be very careful of predators like "lions" whether in animal or human form.

Bernard Mandeville, Aesop Dress’d; Or, A Collection of Fables Writ in Familiar Verse (London, Sold at Lock’s-Head adjoyning to Ludgate. 1704).

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The English rationalist, Commonwealthman, and radical Whig John Toland published a translation of the Baudoin version in 1704:

The Fables of Aesop. With the Moral Reflections of Monsieur Baudoin. Translated from the French. To which is prefix’d by another Hand; The True Life of Aesop, by the most Learned and Noble Critick Monsieur de Meziriac, proving by unquestionable Authorities, that Aesop was an ingenious, eloquent and comely Person, a Courtier and Philosopher; contrary to the fabulous Relation of the Monk Plaundes, who makes him Stupid, Stammering, a Buffoon, and monstrously Deform’d. (London: Tho. Leigh and Dan. Midwinter, 1704).

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Aesop's Fables by J Kirk, St Paul's Churchyard, London 1756-65.

From: Worshipful Company of Playing Cards Collection Acquisition No. 221 - Playing Card Makers Collection.

HTML - with small and links to larger images.

Edward Baldwin [William Godwin], Fables Ancient and Modern. Adapted for the Use of Children from Three to Eight Years of Age. By Edward Baldwin, Esq. Published by Thos. Hodgkins. Hanway Street, Oct.r 6. th 1805. London: Printed for Thomas Hodgkins, At the JUVENILE LIBRARY, Hanway Street (Opposite Soho Square), Oxford Street; and to be had of all Booksellers. [Second Edition.] Vol. I. Adorned with Thirty-six Copper-Plates. Vol. II Adorned with Thirty-seven Copper-Plates. [by William Mulready]. Printed by B. McMillan, Bow Street, Covent Garden

Editor's Note: The HTML and images come from “Romantic Circles” at the University of Colorado, Boulder, eds. Paul Youngquist and Orrin N.C. Wang. I have not been able to find a facs. PDF version of this edition but I have checked it against the one volume 4th edition of 1808.

The radical individualist and anatrchist William Godwin also missed an opportunity (as Locke had done) to do a more "libertarian" edition of the Fables. Perhaps he didn't want to offend the customers of his ecducation publishing company "The Juvenile Library" of which the Fables was a part. Thus, there were too many "happy endings" instead of warnings to the weak and powerless to be careful of con-artists and predators who will steal from them or even kill them.

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