May 16, 1703

Charles Perrault (January 12, 1628 to May 16, 1703) wrote down old stories, and his contes de fee are still famous. The explanation of their original success is not often highlighted, and I can only speculate, but it may have been some cultural breeze which harkened to the loss of a historical past, and with medieval verities  neutered,  left a debris that we now call "fairy tales."

Here is the frontispiece which appeared in Perrault's original Histoires ou Contes du temps passé (1697).  The picture is dated to 1695 it appears.

Surely that is Perrault listening to the old stories, told by an old lady. And the cat above reminds us of a major story Perrault tells, which we know now as Puss 'n Boots.

Below is Perrault also, in a later edition.  And one of the small pictures is of Le Chat Botte.

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You can read the original Histoires ou Contes du temps passé  at the
Internet Archive.