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Russian Matchbox Set

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1992? Eighteen matchboxes, each giving the title and an illustration for a fable of Ivan Krylov. $25 from Samuel Princell, Lille, France, through eBay, Dec., '05.

Here are the same matchbox labels mentioned in the previous item, but now gathered as a set in a lovely presentation box. It turns out that there is one more member of the set that was not present in the individual pairs of illustrations: "The Fox and the Grapes." The designs are simple and appealing, always featuring a white label at the top. Fables included are:

  • The Broom
  • The Cat and the Cook
  • The Cock and the Pearl
  • The Cuckoo and the Cock
  • The Dragonfly and the Ant
  • The Eagle and the Mole
  • The Elephant and the Pug
  • The Fox and the Grapes
  • The Industrious Bear
  • The Lion and the Fox
  • The Mirror and the Monkey
  • The Monkey and the Spectacles
  • The Quartet
  • The Raven and the Fox
  • The Swan, the Pike and the Crayfish
  • The Swine Under the Oak
  • The Two Dogs
  • The Wolf and the Stork