FINE BOOK # 4 Aesopus semper vivus - Peter Bichsel · Fine Books

A E S O P U S S E M P E R V I V U S
One of 1500 copies, signed by the artist. Annual gift for the members of the Maximilian-Gesellschaft.
Selection of 85 animal fables after the first edition of the Mader translation published
by Artemis-Verlag, Zurich, in 1951. – Bodemann 511.1; Fabula docet 153. – Fine copy.
104 REINER. – Beauclair, Gotthard de. Äsopische Fabeln. Älteren
Überlieferungen nacherzählt und herausgegeben von G. d. B. Printed in red and
black. With 8 orig. full-page lino-cuts and 10 ornamental vignettes in the text by Imre
Reiner. 12 unn. double leaves. Small 4to. Orig. blue boards with front label (handbound
by Thomas Hansen).
Frankfurt a. M., Trajanus-Presse, (1968). CHF 150.– (EUR 100.–)
First edition of Beauclair’s adaptation ofAesopian fables in a unique and limited edition on light
green Fabriano hand-made paper and signed by the artist. Hand-set in Sabon-Antiqua. Imre
Reiner (1900–1987) cut his present illustrations around 1922. They are printed here from the
original blocks and reissued together with the text by Gotthard de Beauclair (1907–1992), typographer,
book designer and lyric writer, who, at the same time, was the artistic director of the
present edition. – Bodemann 514.1; Fabula docet 158. – Fine copy.
105 HARNDT. – Lessing, G(otthold) E(phraim). Zwölf Fabeln.
Suite of 11 [sic!] orig. etchings with incorporated text in letterpress, each numbered
and signed by Thomas Harndt. Small 8vo. Loose leaves as issued in folding portfolio.
Berlin, Ladengalerie, 1969. CHF 480.– (EUR 320.–)
One of 70 numbered copies. Selection of 12 prose fables by G. E. Lessing in the original version
of 1759. Thomas Harndt’s (b. 1932) etchings present the animals in very vivid and naturalistic
actions. – Bodemann 515.1; Fabula docet 159. – Mint copy.
106 Honegger-Lavater, Warja. Die Fabel vom Zufall. Illustrated
throughout in lithography and signed on the stone by W. Honegger-Lavater. Small
8vo. Leporello between two illus. card boards. In illus. card slipcase.
Paris & Basel, Adrien Maeght & Basilius Presse, 1969. CHF 380.– (EUR 250.–)
Warja Lavater’s own fable, based on Charles Perrault’s «Die lächerlichen Wünsche» and «Der
Arme und der Reiche» by the brothers Grimm. One of the Swiss artist’s famous lithographed
«Imageries», i.e. folding books with both text and illustrations written and drawn on the stone.
Here, as in other works of this kind, Warja Lavater (1913 –2007) created her own system of symbols.
An index explaining the symbols helps the reader to follow the story. – Not in Bodemann
or Fabula docet. – Bookdealer’s label on verso of front board, ex-libris on verso of rear board.
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