C1. "The Tortoise and the Eagle." This parody of "The Eagle and the Turtle," is explained well by the card itself: "Bulgaria, having let herself be dragged into the war by Germany, will have to pay the penalty for her own rash ambition." Series title: "Aesop's Fables Up to Date." $11.17 as part of a complete set from Susan Brouwer, Hesperia, CA, through Ebay, July, '00. Extra exemplar for $11.25 from Carolyn Nimmer Dias through Ebay, March, '99. Extra for $10 from Barbumer6, Jenkintown, PA, through eBay, March, '04.
B1. "The Hen That Laid the Golden Eggs." A man smoking a pipe and dressed in a Kaiser helmet has killed a goose labeled "German Commerce." The goose's innards are graphically displayed. Nearby is a basket of golden eggs labeled "1912," "1913," and (cracked) "1914." A safe full of coins is open in the background. Series title: "Aesop's Fables Up to Date." $11.17 as part of a complete set from Susan Brouwer, Hesperia, CA, through Ebay, July, '00. Extra exemplar for $10.45 from Philip Weyland, Downey, CA, through Ebay, Oct., '01.
A1. "The Fox and the Grapes." This parody of FG is explained well by the card itself: "The Germans, after their armies had vainly attempted to reach Paris, Calais, Petrograd, and Verdun, tried to pretend that these were not their objects." Series title: "Aesop's Fables Up to Date." $11.17 as part of a complete set from Susan Brouwer, Hesperia, CA, through Ebay, July, '00. Extra exemplars for $11.25 from Carolyn Nimmer Dias through Ebay, March, '99, and for $4.95 from Philip Weyland, Downey, CA, through Ebay, Nov., '01. Extra for $10 from Barbumer6, Jenkintown, PA, through eBay, March, '04.
E1. "The Dog and the Shadow." A wooden dog in Kaiser helmet labeled "Made in Germany" drops a sausage labeled "Prosperity" into water, in which is reflected a sausage labeled "World Dominion." The card's own explanation: "Germany has lost the prosperity she had so laboriously acquired, in the vain endeavour to obtain the mastery of the world." Series title: "Aesop's Fables Up to Date." $11.17 as part of a complete set from Susan Brouwer, Hesperia, CA, through Ebay, July, '00. Extra exemplars for $25 from Dick Lightle, Shawnee, KS, Sept., '99, and, in slightly poorer condition at Sacramento Paper Fair, Dec., '96. Extra for $10 from Barbumer6, Jenkintown, PA, through eBay, March, '04.
2004 Print of FK. #11 of 40. Provo, UT: Tryst Press. Feb. 18, 2004. Nov., ’06 from Vamp & Tramp Booksellers, Birmingham, AL.
Is that a handpainted design at the bottom of this lovely page? In any case, it is a very limited production! 9.6” x 12.7”. Exquisite printing work!
1950? Tru-Vue Viewer with nine story cards. Beaverton, OR: Tru-Vue Company.
I had written 22 years ago that I would be amazed if I ever found a Tru-Vue viewer with which to view the fable card I had found. That comment came, I believe, before Ebay. This year I thought to take a look and immediately found a number of viewers, this one even including nine other samples.
1990? French aluminum trivet portraying FC. 8" in diameter.
Now, who would ever have thought that a fable would present the motif for a trivet?! I was surprised to see this "Dessous de plat alu" up for auction on Ebay, and very pleasantly surprised when I won it! There is even some nice detailing on the tree.
