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The Book of Knowledge 1941

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes I and II of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

I am delighted to have found a full set of this encyclopedia, from which I have earlier volumes dated 1911 and 1912. The encyclopedia has changed since then. The principal artist seems to be new, Dudley Heath. There is no longer any color in the illustrations, nor is there reference to the next set of fables. Note that each of the two independent volumes here contains its own T of C, for example here before 385. While individual fables are listed in the index at the end of the last volume, the T of C has only a general "Fables of Aesop" listing under the "Book of Stories." This volume has an introduction to fable and then six fables on 539-40: FK, TH, FC, "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," "The Fox and the Well" (differently told), and BC. Each fable receives one or two illustrations. There are many previous copyrights, starting in 1923, that lead up to the final 1941 copyrights.

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes III and IV of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

There are three segments of fables in these volumes, all without illustration and all told in traditional fashion. There are four fables on 1102 and 1186, respectively, and three on 1342.

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes V and VI of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

There is one set of six fables in these volumes, on 1969. They are without illustration. The fable about the ass who complains to Jupiter and is finally given to a tanner misses the funny point about the ass's being abused even after his death. "The Fox and the Lion," a story about losing fear of the unknown, is moralized with "Familiarity breeds contempt."

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes VII and VIII of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

There is a set of two fables on 2461, each with an illustration: GA and "Two Asses." This item seems to have missed this volume's T of C. There is also a set on 2965-6 of four stories of Reynard, each with a simple illustration. The artist for the latter seems to be named something close to "Maynard."

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes IX and X of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

There is one set of five fables from India on 3718, including a sanitized version of "The Ape and the Wedge." There are no illustrations.

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes XI and XII of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

The most curiously composed set of fables in the whole encyclopedia. "The Fowl and the Jewel" and FG are illustrated on 3986. 4144 offers three fables without illustration. LaFontaine's "The Castle-Builder" (MM) is on 4270, after Mary Howitt's "The Spider and the Fly," described as a "fable told in verse." After FWT on 4487, we find AL with the same illustration by Thomas Maybank that this book used in 1912.

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes XIII and XIV of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

This book has just one page (4752) of three fables, illustrated in green. The artist has a signature I recognize: "J" and "T" are juxtaposed to form an "M." The fables here are "The Cat and the Mice," TB, and "The Fir Tree and the Bramble."

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes XV and XVI of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

This book has a page (5538) of three illustrated fables: "The Lark and Her Young," "The Fox and the Wolf," and "The Donkey's Wish." "The Fox and the Wolf" is told differently; its illustration is done by Harry Neilson. On 5826, AD and DM are told without illustration.

1941 The Book of Knowledge: The Children's Encyclopedia. Volumes XVII and XVIII of a set of twenty. Editors-in-chief Holland Thompson and Arthur Mee. NY: The Grolier Society. $1.50 at Front Street Antiques, Poulsbo, WA, July, '93.

On 6561-2, "Renard" and Aesop are handled in "The Literature of France." On 6712-13, LaFontaine is discussed; his "Lion Going to War" is presented on 6712-13.

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