The Fables of Aesop And Others Translated Into Human Nature, Designed And Drawn On The Wood By Charles H. Bennett, Engraved By Swain, London, W Kent & Co. circa 1857, bound in black cloth, with five raised bands with gilt on the bands, incised borders and the title in gilt on the front cover, blank endpapers, a colored frontis by Swain and Bennett, with an introduction by Bennett dated 1857, a list of the fables (the Contents), and 24 fabulous hand-colored wood-engraved plates, including the colored frontis and title page, to accompany the 22 fables.
Bennett ((1828 - 1867) was a prolific Victorian illustrator who had a short career which ended because of consumption, but his books were extremely popular. In 1855 he designed the masthead and front page cartoon for the first issue of the Comic Times.
In 1858 more than a dozen of his illustrated children's books were published. Among the best known and best loved books were his Shadows series - the collection of shadow pictures was reprinted several times in color without the accompanying text and turned into a best seller - and the most reprinted of Bennett's books has been this illustrated version of Aesop's fables, which was first published in 1857.
His drawings appeared in Punch from time to time; his regular contributions began
in February 1865, and over the next two years he contributed nearly 200 drawings, identified by his characteristic CHB monogram from March 1865 onwards.
His books have a strong family flavor, but with eight children and another on the way,
he died in 1867. With the help of Charles's friends at Punch, his wife’s debts were taken care of by two benefits arranged by Punch.
Quayle (in Early Children’s Books page 217) says this is one of Bennett’s finest and most vigorous works, and one of the most notable editions of Aesop’s Fables.
The book is 4 To. and 10 x 8 1/2 in. wide, with wear at the crown and heel of the spine and the tips, and light foxing here and there, but it is absolutely worth the read and the illustrations.