The Baby’s Own Aesop — Walter Crane, 1887

The Baby’s Own Aesop opens with an intricately designed cover by Walter Crane, combining classical imagery with the bold decorative character of late-19th-century illustration. Two elegant cranes flank a central architectural doorway, where a small child reaches upward, while patterned foliage, ornamental vessels and stylized plants fill the surrounding panels.

Published in 1887, the design uses brick red, green, cream, black and muted blue in a carefully balanced composition. Crane incorporates the title, his own name and the Routledge imprint into the architecture of the cover itself. Decorative borders and repeated natural forms give the image a strong graphic rhythm while retaining the intimate character of an illustrated children’s book.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Walter Crane
• Title: The Baby’s Own Aesop
• Original title: The baby's own Aesop : being the fables condensed in rhyme, with portable morals pictorially pointed
• Series: Not specified
• Date: 1887
• Period: Late 19th Century
• Place of Origin: London and New York
• Medium: Illustrated printed book; color illustrations

Framed Print Details

• Fine art printing: Professional 12-color fine art printing technology produces vivid, accurate colors with strong tonal depth and significantly greater nuance than standard 4-color inkjet printing.
• Paper: Smooth premium matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper weight: 200 gsm (80 lb).
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils).
• Frame material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame dimensions: Approximately 20 mm (0.79 in) deep and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the print while keeping the framed artwork lightweight.
• Ready to hang: A hanging kit is included, allowing the framed print to be mounted directly on the wall.
• Available sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different spaces.
• Materials: Printed using FSC-certified paper and wood where available.
• Production: Each framed print is produced to order through a trusted international network of professional print studios.
• Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
• Made to order: There is no minimum order quantity. Each piece is printed and assembled on demand, reducing unnecessary stock and waste.

Exact frame dimensions, component availability, and production specifications may vary slightly depending on the selected size and destination.