AESOP - THOM, Robert (trans.).

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Esop's Fables. First edition, association copy, inscribed by William Jardine, one of the three "generous patrons" named in the dedication, on the front wrapper, "R. Goff Esqr. 105 Piccadilly from the compiler with Mr. Jardine's compliments". Jardine (1784-1843) co-founded the successful trading firm Jardine, Matheson & Co. and held significant sway over the course of Anglo-Chinese relations either side of the First Opium War.This Chinese translation was intended as a primer to help the growing number of British students of Chinese working for Jardine, Matheson, the East India Company, and other concerns in Canton. Robert Thom (1807-46), who adopted the pen-name "Sloth", honed his language skills while working for Jardine's and acted as a translator for British forces during the First Opium War (1839-42) and at the 1843 Supplementary Treaty negotiations. He was later British consul at Ningbo.Each page offers three columns of English, Chinese characters, and romanized Chinese. For each fable, Thom dictated the Chinese to his teacher, who brushed them in a legible hand. According to the introduction, the volume was the first time Chinese wooden blocks and European metal type were used side-by-side during printing. Thom's translation was later reprinted in various modified editions by the Anglo-Chinese College, the Shanghai Free Hospital, and the Wenyutang (Chinese Printing and Publishing Company).This edition is well represented institutionally but is uncommon in commerce - we h

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