Duodecimo 172x104mm contemporary calf (binding worn, spine abraded/defective, held by cords) [8]+271pp. According to the Osborne Collection (p.233) these wood-engravings, "some of the most beautiful examples of the skill of John Bewick" (Hugo-66), were first used in the rare second edition of 1792; prior editions had been unillustrated. This copy has the copperplate frontispiece which was omitted from later editions. The first two headpieces have been neatly coloured by hand; all head & tailpieces are well printed in very good impressions; occasional very light foxing & off-setting to text-pages only, few edges dusty, but a clean tidy copy. *Early editions are scarce "the cuts are considerably altered in later editions" (Hugo-66). The well-known Newbery "self-advertisment" appears in the second story at page 13. Internally very clean & bright showing these cuts in an early state.