232 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



heroes.* In 1820 Bewick also engraved a block, 4^ by 3 in., of the Setting 

 Sun public-house, used in a small tract entitled " The Genteel Sabbath 

 Breaker" — a scene more nearly allied to the art of Hogarth than any 

 of Bewick's contemporary work, as it represents 

 the effects of liquor in the most straightforward 

 way. 



On August 3rd, 1820, a selection of the early 

 works of the Bewicks was published, under the 

 principal title of "Select Fables," being a reprint 

 of the cuts in the 1784 Fables, but with different 

 letterpress and arrangement, and with a short 

 sketch of the lives of the engravers, and a brief catalogue of their works. 

 It contains about three hundred and forty prints, some being among Thomas 

 Bewick's earliest works, and others done just before publication. Some of 

 the tail-pieces are by Nicholson. It was printed in demy 8vo, 15s. ; with 



a few copies, royal 8vo, 21s.; im- 

 perial 8vo, 3 is. 6d. ; and twelve of 

 the largest size, with India-paper 

 proofs, 5s. The sizes being 



similar to the Birds and Quadrupeds, 

 it forms an excellent companion to 

 them, and the volume is altogether a 

 desirable one. The Fable blocks 

 were altered for this edition, and 

 many of the ornamental borders 

 taken away, thus somewhat spoiling 

 their effect. In Mr. Pearson's reprints, and in those printed in the early part 

 of this volume, these have, as far as possible, been restored. 



Horace Walpole's Book-plate. 



* 1820. Under this date there are in the British Museum a number of little pamphlets with engravings said to 

 be by Bewick. They are miserable productions, and certainly not his, though a few are copied from his designs. 



