2017 Aesop's Fables with Colin Hay. Written by Tom Graves. E-book and spoken CD. Memphis, TN: Devault-Graves Agency. Gifts of Tom Graves, March, '17.
Tom and I had corresponded as he was on his way to creating this E-Book and spoken CD. He decided – wisely, I would say -- to use images from Milo Winter and Arthur Rackham. My sense is that Tom's versions enter into the stories' details with a loving eye, and that Colin Hay renders the stories with a loving ear and voice. Aesop keeps inspiring people to add their part! This very nice work is a labor of love!
1965 Aesop's Fables the Smothers Brothers Way. Words and Music by John McCarthy. Arranged and Produced by David Carroll. The Smothers Brothers. Mercury Records SR 60989. MG 20989. $12 at Yesterday's Memories Book & Record Store, Feb., 1987. Extra copy for $7.50 from Martin D. McKay, Cambridge, OH, through Ebay, Feb., '99.
Clever working of songs into a typical Smothers Brothers routine, with lots of nonsense included. The fables are respected by and large. Tommy howls and gets into it, and sometimes the moral comes through. See the same material on a compact disk.
1990 Aesop's Fables the Smothers Brothers Way. Words and Music by John McCarthy. Arranged and Produced by David Carroll. Smothers Brothers. Redway, CA: Music For Little People #2178. Reproduced from 1965 original.
The CD format makes these delightful renditions even more available for use in the classroom or lecture situation. Seven fables are surrounded by an overture and a reprise and are interspersed with five "I'd better stay me" interludes. To listen to these renditions, visit Internet Archive. See my comment on the original record.
Words and Music by John McCarthy. Arranged and Produced by David Carroll. Smothers Brothers. Redway, CA: Music For Little People #2178. (Reproduced from 1965 original.)
1990? Aesop's Fables Set #2: Pre-Cut Felt and Flannel Board Materials. Little Folk Visuals: Learning Wonders. Unknown source.
Apparently the eight 6" x 8" pieces allow a child to tell the story. BW gets two scenes. "Learning Wonders products require no batteries, only imagination!" Fables get around.
2003 Aesop's Fables. 48 piece jigsaw puzzle. John Steven Gurney. Finished Size 24" x 36". Manufactured by SunsOut, Inc. MPN# 81102. One extra copy. Boxes unopened. Unknown source.
The cover of this puzzle asks "Can you find all your favorite fables?" I can find twenty, cleverly worked into one picture. I am unsure of several of the images, particularly the farmer with a pitcher and the animal tumbling into the well. Cleverly done! I can remember being frustrated that I bought this same puzzle twice within a short time, but I cannot yet establish when and from whom.
1988 Four mounted plates by Olivia Lobos. LM and DS (15.5" x 11.5") plus two title-pages (8" x 11.5") in a portfolio 12" x 15.5". Completed by Olivia Lobos for the final assessment of Graphic Communications and Printing Technology. Plus three letters from Eric Sweet.
The text of the two fables is printed on transparent vinyl and overlaid onto the artist's illustrations. The mouse perches on the lion’s nose; the dog runs happily over an open field before his bad decision at the water. Loosely inserted in a stout portfolio are three letters from Eric Sweet detailing his wish to purchase the most successful set of illustrations to add to his collection, as well as the letter confirming this set's purchase. The lovely art work includes the surprising non-capital for “Lion” in the title. This item was part of a large purchase of the legacy of Eric Sweet by Rooke Books. Eric Sweet was a keen collector of private press and fables. He studied at the Brighton College of Art, before moving to London to work as a lettering artist and typographer for advertising agencies, later becoming the head of Birmingham School of Printing.
1974 Aesop's Fables Mardi Gras doubloon. Argus. Emperor Romulus. Jefferson Parish, LA. 1973. $3 from The Witch Lady, Metairie, LA, through Ebay, March, '99. Second copy for $2 from Jonathan Singer, Bronx, NY, through Ebay, Oct., '99.
What does one do with a coin that has different dates on its front and back? On the front, there are a stork with a tall vase, a grasshopper playing a violin, a Greek temple facade, a building column, and a written scroll. The back seems to feature Argus and the peacock.
1935? Aesop's Fables. Five blotters 7" x 3 5/8" combining a three-color scene, fable text, and insurance reflection. $15 from Steven Kawalec, Clifton, NJ, through Ebay, Feb., '02. Extra copy of "The Bald Huntsman" compliments of Bovard-Anderson Co., Real Estate, Insurance & Rentals, Beaver, PA, for $5 from T.A.I.L.S., Inc, Vincent OH, through Ebay, Feb., '00.
I had to buy thirteen blotters to get the Bovard-Anderson blotter, but it was worth it. Hat and hair both go flying. So almost does the huntsman, but he keeps smiling. The text is an adaptation of Croxall. The blotter adds this application: "Could YOU laugh if a severe windstorm or tornado seriously damaged your property? Windstorm and tornado insurance costs so very little--its protection is extremely important." Then two years later I found the whole set including this blotter on Ebay, though not from any particular insurance agent. Each blotter applies its fable to insurance, and I find the fables well selected for that purpose.
1987 Aesop's Fables in Song. Ralph Martell. Hollywood, CA: Ralmar Enterprises. May, '91.
Ten delightful songs to accompany the book of the same name. Martell's voice is not as good as his music and lyrics. Nice variety of contemporary rhythms. Some sing-along possibilities.
