
18TH-CENTURY BOOKS
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Private Worship: An Oratory in One's Home
Baquero, Francisco de Paula. Disertacion apologetica a favor del privilegio, que por costumbre introducida por la Bula de la santa cruzada goza la Nacion Española en el uso de los oratorios domesticos, leida, en la Real Academia de buenas letras de Sevilla en 25. de octubre de 1771. En Sevilla: Por D. Josef Padrino, [colophon, 1777]. Small 4to (18.5 cm; 7.25"). [1] f., 104 pp.
$750.00
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Our author was the “cura mas antiguo del Sagrario de [Sevilla], examinador Synodal de su arzobispado, comisario y revisor de libros del Santo Oficio, academico numerario,” and the “censor de dicha Real Academia.” His work was first read before the Real Academia on 25 October 1771 but because of delays in obtaining the necessary licenses to print it, publication was delayed until 1777.
In this work of canon law and Catholic Church customs and practices, Baquero studies the privilege that the Bull of the Holy Crusade granted the Spanish nation regarding oratories in private residences; it applied not only to Spain but to colonies as well.
The first of three, this edition was published by “un amigo del author.” The other editions appeared in 1781 AND 1861.
Only one U.S. library reports ownership of either the 1777 or 1781 edition. It should be noted that there is NO 1771 edition, despite Palau and online cataloguing; cataloguers have simply failed to look at the last page of the supposed 1771 edition to see that the colophon is dated 1777.
This offers one very pretty large initial and some modestly nice work with type ornaments.
Palau 23499 (giving wrong date of publication). Contemporary limp vellum, a bit missing from back cover; evidence of ties, and binding with light dust-soiling. Lacking rear free endpaper. A clean, nice copy. (29596)
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“Les connoissances qui multiplient nos desirs, multiplient nos besoins” —
Scarce French Philosophy
[Barbier, de Vitry-le-Français]. Pensées diverses, ou reflexions sur l'esprit et sur le coeur. Paris: Chez le Breton, 1748. 12mo (15.4 cm, 6.1"). xxxii, 148 pp.
$350.00
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Sole edition: 547 pithy, witty philosophical maxims on life, thought, emotion, society, and the nature of men and women, occasionally incorporating commentary on
contemporary French actresses and female authors. The author was apparently no relation of the bibliographer Antoine Alexander Barbier, but rather the father of the editor and bureaucrat Barbier-Neuville. While at least one reference suggests that his “Thoughts” were reissued in the following year under the title Réflexions diverses propres à former l'esprit et le coeur, that work is properly attributed to Simon Bignicourt, making this the first and only edition; it is nicely printed, with each section opening and closing with a head- and tailpiece. This work is now scarce, with a search of WorldCat locating
no U.S. institutions reporting holdings, and only four European listings.
Provenance: From the residue of the stock of the F. Thomas Heller bookselling firm (est. ca. 1928).
Barbier, Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes et pseudonymes, 13963; Licquet, Catalogue de la bibliothèque de la ville de Rouen, 2858. Contemporary mottled calf in an interesting striped pattern, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label, gilt-dotted raised bands, and gilt-stamped floral compartment decorations; edges and extremities rubbed, front joint cracked and open (sewing holding). All page edges stained red. Title-page with early inked annotation re: author. Pages gently age-toned and cockled. (39986)
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Defining
“Child”
for
Baptismal
Purposes — RARE
Barker, Thomas. The duty, circumstances, and benefits of baptism, determined by evidence ... with an appendix, shewing the meaning of several Greek words in the New Testament. London: B. White, 1771. 8vo (20.5 cm, 8"). x, 208, [6 (index & errata)] pp.
$650.00
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Sole edition of this examination of the writings of the Apostolic Fathers as pertaining to the great infant baptism controversy. Closing the work is a collection of New Testament usages of various Greek words for “child” or “children,” with analysis of their contexts and connotations.
The author was a dedicated observer of meteors and comets and published several well-received works on those subjects in addition to his religious and philosophical treatises.
Rare: OCLC and ESTC locate only one U.S. holding, since deaccessioned; there are only two holdings found in the U.K.
ESTC T68482. Recent marbled paper–covered boards, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label; yellow wrapper with early hand-inked title bound in. Title-page institutionally pressure-stamped and a five-digit number inked twice to the first page of the preface; no other markings. First and last few leaves with minor foxing; other scattered spots mostly confined to margins. Occasional pencillled annotations. (25768)
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A Marblehead Puritan Printed in London
for
Boston Distribution
Barnard, John. Sermons on several subjects; to wit, a confirmation of the truth of the Christian religion. One sermon. Compel them to come in. One sermon. The Christian hero, or the saints victory and rewards, in 6 sermons. London: Pr. for Samuel Gerrish, & Daniel Henchman, in Cornhill Boston, New-England, 1727. 8vo. 190 pp.
$750.00
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Barnard (1681–1770) was a Puritan pastor of a church in Marblehead, Mass., and famous for his passion and ability as a preacher. This work is uncommon in that it was printed in London for two Boston booksellers.
Sabin 3471; ESTC T65667; not in Alden & Landis. Contemporary sheep, modestly tooled in blind; leather dry and abraded. Ex-library with call number on spine, shelf marks in pencil, bookplate on front pastedown, and rubber-stamp on title-page. (20159)

A Cenotaph designed by a
FAMED “Pintor Americano”
A Great Engraved Plate
Becerra Moreno, Juan. Relacion del funeral entierro, y exequias de el Illmo. Sr. Dr. D. Manuel Rubio y Salinas, Arzobispo que fuè de esta Santa Iglesia Metropolitana de Mexico. Mexico: En la Imprenta del Real, y mas antiguo Colegio de S. Ildefonso, 1776. Small 4to (20.5 cm; 8"). [5] ff., 155, [1] pp., fold. plt.
$6875.00
Click the images for enlargements. From January 1748 until his death in early July 1765 Manuel Rubio y Salinas served as archbishop of Mexico City, a period that coincided nicely with the rebirth of the Mexican mining industry and the creation of great wealth, new secular and ecclesiastical establishments, and a building boom in the viceregal capital. Rubio and the Church benefitted from the new wealth in significant material ways, but social justice concerns and religious duties were always high on the bishop's list of things requiring his attention, as demonstrated for example in
his leadership in securing the 1754 papal declaration making Our Lady of Guadalupe the patron saint of New Spain.
When Rubio died, the entire viceregal capital turned its energy to commemorating him, much of which is summarized in this volume. It includes a Spanish-language account of the archbishop's last days, his death, and burial (pp. 1–87), followed by Pedro Jose Rodriquez de Arizpe's Latin-language funeral oration (“Maximum occidentis sidus. Ilmus, nempe d. doct. Emmanuel Josephus Rubio, et Salinas . . . In cujus solemni funere quinto idus octobris ann. MDCCLXV, declamabat p. doct. Petrus Josephus Rodriguez, et Arizpe,” pp. 87–112), and ending with Cayetano Antonio de Torres's Spanish-language funeral sermon (pp. 115–51).
The Spanish-language account of the burial includes
a detailed description of the funeral monument (i.e., cenotaph) that the city erected for the archbishop, including the inscriptions and epigrams that were by F.J. Alegre. Following the last page of the text, there is
a large folding engraved plate by Manuel Villavicencio after the design of the monument by Miguel Cabrera, “pintor americano.” The engraving is detailed, exquisite, and includes a measure of scale.
A good source for the study of Mexican colonial architecture, commemorative ceremonies, and treatment of and thinking about death.
Palau 6584; Medina, Mexico, 5067; DeBacker-Sommervogel, I, 153. Contemporary vellum with remnants of ties; spine damaged with loss to hungry rodents not affecting paper. One short tear in margin of folding plate, well away from image.
A very clean, very good copy. (36410)
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An AFRICAN Utopia, as
Described to the INQUISITION
[Berington, Simon]. The adventures of Signor Gaudencio di Lucca. Being the substance of his examination before the fathers of the Inquisition at Bologna, in Italy: Giving an account of an unknown country in the midst of the deserts of Africa, the origin and antiquity of the people, their religion, customs, and laws. Copied from the original manuscript in St. Mark’s Library, at Venice. With critical notes by the learned Signor Rhedi. To which is prefixed, a letter of the secretary of the Inquisition, shewing the reasons of Signor Gaudentio's being apprehended, and the manner of it. Translated from the Italian. Philadelphia: Re-printed by William Conover, 1799. 12mo (18 cm; 7.125"). 320 pp.
$400.00
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Originally published in 1737 under the title Memoirs of Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, this work was “[o]ften and erroneously ascribed to Bishop Berkeley” (Halkett & Laing, 2nd ed.); it is now generally attributed to Berington, a Catholic priest.
“Gaudentio,” under persecution by the Inquisition, reveals his fantastic voyages and travels through Egypt and an imaginary African land.
While constantly assuring the stern inquisitors of his staunch adherence to Catholicism, he gives elaborate, admiring descriptions of the government, religion, and customs of his African utopia, particularly its training and education of women.
Provenance: Pastedown with contemporary bookplate of James Butler.
Evans 35183; ESTC W10142. Not in Parsons; not in Finotti; not in Bowe, List of Additions and Corrections . . . to Parsons. Contemporary sheep, missing pieces of leather from front cover and top and bottom of spine; spine with nice old red leather gilt label and front cover reattached using Japanese long-fiber method. Silverfish or roach damages to front free endpaper, fly-leaf, and title-page (costing small, small portion of two letters); damage also to lower outer corners of early leaves and upper inner area of leaves to p. 10 of preface with none of this impairing the reader. Age-toned, some foxing, occasional brown spots; an “old book” of the classic sort. (37157)
PLEASE NOTE ALSO
THE NEXT ITEM:

The Inquisition An African Utopia Educating Women
[Berington, Simon]. The adventures of Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. Being the substance of his examination before the fathers of the Inquisition, at Bologna, in Italy. Giving an account of an unknown country in the midst of the desarts [sic] of Africa. Copied from the original manuscript in St. Mark’s Library, at Venice. With critical notes by the learned Signor Rhedi. Baltimore: Pr. by Bonsal & Niles, 1800. 16mo (17 cm; 6.5"). xxi, [2], 24–234 pp.
$350.00
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This is the last edition of the 18th century, Baltimore issue: Bonsal and Niles printed two issues, differing only in the name of the city of publication —Wilmington or Baltimore.
Evans 36946; ESTC W10143; Minick, Maryland, 560. Not in Parsons; not in Finotti; not in Bowe, List of Additions and Corrections . . . to Parsons. Publisher's sheep with modest gilt ruling on spine; spine label gone, front free endpaper loose. A few leaves starting to extrude; occasional spotting, but overall strong and good+ to very good. (37183)
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Religion Defended, In Long Cantos &
Very Small Letters
Bernis, François-Joachim de Pierre de. La religion vengée. Poëme en dix chants. Parme: dans Le Palais Royal, 1795. 8vo (16.8 cm, 6.6"). [28], 243, [1] pp.
$225.00
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First edition, octavo variant from the Bodoni press: a ten-canto
philosophical defense in French against idolatry, atheism, materialism, and other woes of the modern age, written by the Cardinal de Bernis. Bodoni printed several different versions of this piece (folio on both paper and vellum, quarto, and octavo) in the same year, following Bernis's death in 1794. The dedications to Pope Pius VI and Louis XV are set in graceful italic and the verses in
exquisitely minute roman type.
Brooks 606; De Lama, II, 108–09; Giani 74 (p. 55). Contemporary half calf with speckled paper–covered sides, rebacked preserving much of the original spine including gilt-stamped leather title and publisher labels; minor overall wear. Marbled endpapers in two different colorways: front endpapers in blues and pinks, back endpapers in orange, pink, and blue. Page edges untrimmed. A very few small spots of foxing, pages overall clean and crisp.
A nice solid copy of this delightful printing. (40171)
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Entirely
ENGRAVED 18th-Century LYRICAL DIALOGUE
Berquin, Arnaud. Idylle. [Paris]: no date [1775]. 4to
(26.9 cm, 10.6"). Part 2 only of 2. 8 pp.
$950.00
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The first edition of the
first work published by M. Arnaud Berquin (1747–91), this
entirely engraved dialogue between Lamon, Lysis, and “La femme” was issued together with the Pygmalion, scène lyrique, which Berquin translated into verse from the original by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. As in the instance of a copy at Texas A&M University, the Idylle in hand has been separately bound — in our copy's case finely bound, well highlighting the vignette and tailpiece engraved by Charles-Étienne Gaucher (1740–1804) after Clément Pierre Marillier (1740–1808), and the text engraved in an attractive italic “hand” by Droüet.
The two-part text was not reprinted until 1883, by J. Lemonnyer in an edition of 525 copies.
Binding: Fine olive brown morocco gilt, ca. 1910 and very much expressing that era's style. Each board double-ruled in gilt and finely framed with a canopy of elegant gilt garlands, title gilt at center of front cover. Spine gilt extra from top to bottom in a leafy vine pattern. Board edges single-ruled in gilt, turn-ins double-ruled in gilt with a rule of delicate gilt beads between, french combed marbled endpapers in an exceptionally pretty and precise pattern.
Cioranescu 11517. Bound as above, second part only of two; binding a little rubbed (only) at joints, edges, and one corner of front cover. Paper chosen for blank endpapers unevenly bleached, in production, to now-spotty but not unpleasant effect; text with a little age-toning at upper edges and some light dust-soiling at deckle edges. (32768)
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“Observationvm Ivris Romani”
Bijnkershoek, Cornelis van. Cornelii van Bynkershoek, icti et senatoris, Observationum iuris romani quatuor libri priores. In quibus plurima iuris civilis aliorumque auctorum loca explicantur et emendantur. Cum praefatione Io. Gottl. Heineccii. Francofurt. et Lipsiae: Ex Officina Krugiana, 1739. Small 4to. 2 vols. I: [20] ff., 298 pp., [13] ff. II: [20] ff., 373, [1] pp., [18] ff.
$875.00
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Later edition, first was 1710, of this treatise on Roman law by Bijnkershoek (1673–1743), a Dutch jurist who contributed greatly to the development of international law; the preface here is by Johann Gottlieb Heineccius (1681–1741). The title-page is printed in red and black and the Latin text is nicely dotted with woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials; there are small sections in Greek.
The title-page of vol. II reads: Cornelii van Bynkershoek, icti et senatoris, Observationum iuris romani quatuor, quatuor prioribus additi, nempre V. VI. VII. et VIII in quibus plurima iuris civilis aliorumque auctorum loca explicantur et emendantur.
McCrank 0390. Publisher's vellum over paste boards; one board broken across one corner under the vellum and held by it, another board with vellum of cover patched; cover attachments strengthened at top long ago by use of a strip of old vellum manuscript. Text browned, margins surrounding it not so much! (30876)
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Dibdin Approved — Here, a True Large-Paper Copy
Bion, of Phlossa near Smyrna; Moschus, of Syracuse; & Gilbert Wakefield, ed. [transliterated from Greek] Biōnos kai Moschou ta leipsana. [then in Latin] Illustrabat et emendabat Gilbertus Wakefield. Londini: typis T. Bensley, 1795. 8vo in 4s (24 cm, 9.9"). [8], 33, [83] pp.
$550.00
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Wakefield's sole edition of Bion and Moschus' Greek bucolic poetry, described by Dibdin as “a beautiful and correct edition . . . printed with great care and delicacy by Bensley,” present
here in the issue on large paper (the standard issue is only 17 cm tall). These newly corrected poems are
printed on wove paper (!!) marked “J. Whatman 1794,” in Greek without accents, while the prefatory material and notes are printed in Latin with the occasional Greek quotation, all within spacious margins. The text concludes with an advertisement leaf listing religious controversialist Wakefield's numerous other available works on political, classical, and religious topics along with which booksellers were offering them; Wakefield's political views and pamphlet commentary on the Pitt government eventually led to prison time, although this did not stop his prolific scholarly endeavors.
Provenance: The bookplate of J.R. Cuthbert, with a viper on a dotted background, appears on the front pastedown; most recently in the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
Brunet, I, 950; Dibdin, Greek and Latin Classics, I, p. 349; ESTC N32017; Graesse, I, 428; Schweiger, I, 72. Rebacked 19th-century polished calf, spine with gilt-lettered red leather labels and gilt-stamped compartments in period style; covers framed in gilt double fillets, board edges with gilt dotted roll, turn-ins with gilt floral roll, Stormont marbled endpapers, all edges speckled brown Covers rubbed and scratched with a few spots, binder's blanks moderately foxed with a few bibliographic notes in pencil and one small hole in a rear one. Light age-toning with the occasional speck; a few leaves with offsetting from a ribbon placeholder (still present). Bookplate and label as above; bookplate with some ink along edges, one marginal inked “2.” (39577)
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A FORGERY of a Renaissance Rarity
Boccaccio, Giovanni. Il Decamerone ... nvovamente corretto. et con diligentia stampato. [colophon: Firenze {i.e., Venice}: Li heredi di Philippo di Giunta {i.e,, Angiolo Pasinello for Stefano Orlandelli}, 1527 {i.e, 1729}]. 4to (24 cm, 9.5"). [16] pp, 284 ff.
[SOLD]
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In 1527 the heirs of Filippo di Giunta printed the definitive Renaissance edition of The Decameron; it immediately became the basis for all subsequent interpretations. By the 18th century the Giunta edition of 1527 had achieved the state of being a rarity to be sought after, and demand led to supply — of this forgery. It is well done and passes the “first blush” test, i.e., it does not immediately look wrong. Pasinello, who printed it for Stefano Orlandelli “at the request of the English consul [Joseph] Smith” (Petras), did a good job of matching types and even reproducing the printer's device, which appears on the title-page and on the verso of the last leaf. Closer examination, however, shows that the paper is wrong, the typesetting is different, and the measurements of the text block are incorrect.
Adams, in his catalogue of 16th-century books in the Cambridge University libraries, gives a handy litmus test for determining fakes of the Giunta 1527 edition: Folios 42, 102, and 108 are correctly numbered in the forgeries, but in the true 16th-century copies the numbers are 24, 101, and 168.
Brunet says the forgery consisted of 300 copies.
Provenance: Hevdholm Bibliothek stamp on title-page; acquired by PRB&M at an auction at Freeman's in Philadelphia in 1992; sold to a private collector the same year; reacquired by PRB&M at a Swann auction over 25 years later. (Jokes about “bad pennies returning” occur to one; but this is too nice a “counterfeit” to permit fair indulgence in them!)
Pettas, The Giunti of Florence (2013 ed.), 217; Adams B2147; Gamba 172; Zambrini, Bibliotheca Boccaccesca, p. 36; Edit16 CNCE 24078; I Giunti tipografi editori di Firenze, I, p. 133; Renouard, Annali delle editione aldine; pp. 1–11; Brunet, I, p. 999. 18th-century mottled calf with round spine, raised bands, and gilt spine extra, with later endpapers; all edges carmine. Front joint (outside) abraded and opening from top, rear one just starting at bottom; front cover with two wormholes and old worm action contributing to the startings. Text is unwormed, clean, and white save for a display of foxing on the title-page and occasionally a very limited spot of soil, staining, or foxing elsewhere.
Sound, handsome, and a most interesting production. (40738)
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Boerhaave, Herman. Aphorismi de cognoscendis et curandis morbis, in usum doctrinae domesticae digesti ... editio sexta. Edinburgi: R. Drummond & Soc. for G. Hamilton & J. Balfour, 1744. 12mo (15.5 cm, 6.1"). [8], 330, [24 (index)] pp.
$650.00
First Scottish printing of an important work by the celebrated Dutch physician and humanist whose teachings drew students from all over Europe to the University of Leiden. Originally printed in 1709, the volume was translated into English in 1715 as Aphorisms Concerning the Knowledge and Cure of Diseases; Garrison-Morton lauds the volume as “one of Boerhaave’s best works.”
ESTC N5425; Garrison-Morton 2199 (for first ed.). Contemporary speckled calf, spine with gilt-stamped title and compartment decorations; leather cracked and chipped on spine and joints, with minor rubbing to sides and edges. Front free endpaper with private collector’s rubber-stamp and inked name, front pastedown with small inked numeral. One front and one back fly-leaf excised. One leaf with short tear from outer margin just touching one letter; one leaf with paper flaw affecting a few letters without loss of legibility. Pages clean save for some age-toning and scattered iinstances of light staining to outer margins. (19245)

Bodoni's Boethius Consolations of Philosophy
Boethius. Anicii Manlii Torquati Severini Boethii De consolatione philosophiae libri quinque ad optimarum editionum fidem recensiti. Parmae: Ex Regio Typographeo, 1798. Large 4to (31 cm, 12.2"). cxvi, 271, [1] pp.
$1250.00
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Magnificently restrained, dignified Bodoni printing of a classic and widely influential 6th-century philosophical discourse, here in Theodor Poelmann's Latin edition (the press having also produced an Italian translation in the same year) with a preface by Pietro Berti and a life of the author by Giulio Marziano Rota. Brooks describes this first Bodoni edition as “molto ben stampato.”Binding: 19th-century half brown morocco and brown and tan marbled paper–covered sides, signed binding done by R. David (gilt-stamped on lower front turn-in). Top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed.
Provenance: Front pastedown with circular bookplate of Sir Edward Sullivan, with robin and coronet crest above an interlaced monogram (front fly-leaf with affixed early inked slip noting this copy as no. 874 in the Sullivan sale of 1890); and with armorial bookplate of Alfred Cock (done by Harry Soane). Front free endpaper with bookplates of Brian Douglas Stilwell and Robert Wayne Stilwell, and with Wilson Library plate noting gift of Vincent M. O'Connor.
Brooks 724; Brunet, I, 1037; Schweiger, II, 34. Binding as above; joints and extremities rubbed, spine and corners more so. Bookplates as above. Endpapers with pencilled reference annotations, front fly-leaf with affixed slip as above. Pages very clean and crisp.
A handsome copy with impressive provenance. (40181)
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Asceticism or Arousal?
Boileau, Jacques; François Granet, ed. & trans. Histoire des flagellans, ou l'on fait voir le bon & le mauvais usage des flagellations parmi les Chrétiens, par des preuves tirées de l'Ecriture Sainte, des peres de l'Eglise, des papes, des conciles, & des auteurs profanes. Amsterdam: Chez Henry du Sauzet, 1732. 12mo (17.5 cm, 6.89"). xxxii, 306, [10 (index)] pp.
$225.00
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This disapproving account of voluntary flagellation appears here in its revised and corrected second French edition, following the first of 1701 and the original Latin of 1700. Boileau was one of the earliest authors to connect the ancient religious practice directly to erotic motivations and concludes with a medical assessment of such deviancy including a final proverb: “Le foüet est pour le Cheval, le mords pour l'Asne, & la verge pour le dos de l'Insensé.”
Although some sources claim Boileau translated his own text into French, the BNF considers that a false attribution and credits Abbé François Granet with both editing and translating the text. This version, by Dutch printer du Sauzet, features a title-page printed in red and black and simple but elegant typesetting.
Binding: Contemporary calf, spine with gilt-stamped title and date, gilt-ruled raised bands, and gilt-stamped compartment decorations; covers framed in triple gilt fillets, turn-ins with a gilt roll. Handsome marbled endpapers and all edges gilt.
Signed binding, with front free endpaper stamped “Koehler.”
Provenance: Front free endpaper with garter-design ex-libris rubber-stamp of G. Manessier. Later in the residue of the stock of the F. Thomas Heller bookselling firm (est. ca. 1928).
Bound as above, leather scuffed and rubbed. Small area of worming to outer margins of some leaves, not touching text. Pages gently age-toned, otherwise clean.
A pleasing, elegant little volume. (40413)
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Allowing “Absurd Dogma” to
Die Out
of Its Own Accord
Boissy d'Anglas, François-Antoine, comte de. Rapport sur la liberté des cultes, fait au nom des comités de salut public, de sûreté générale et de législation, réunis. Paris: De l'Imprimerie Nationale, An III [1795]. 8vo (21.5 cm, 8.5"). 19, [1] pp.
$100.00
Click the image for an enlargement.
First edition, untrimmed copy: An enormously influential essay
arguing against the persecution of religion — but also against its practice. The text of the decree of 3 Ventose 1795 follows.
Martin & Walter 3914. Removed from a nonce volume, title-page with paper shelving label in lower inner corner, early inked date addition within title and annotation in upper portion, and pencilled monogram in upper outer corner. Light foxing and the occasional other spot. (30937)
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British Politics: Arguing over
“the Most Publick Facts,
& the Plainest Appearances”
Bolingbroke, Henry St. John, Viscount. The craftsman extraordinary; containing an answer to the Defence of the enquiry into the reasons of the conduct of Great-Britain. In a letter to the Craftsman. London: Richard Francklin, 1729. 8vo in 4s (20.3 cm, 8"). [4], 66, [2] pp.
$250.00
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First edition: Biting response to Benjamin Hoadly's Defence, published as a supplement to Lord Bolingbroke's Craftsman periodical, addressed to publisher Caleb D'Anvers, and signed as “John Trot, yeoman.” Among the subjects addressed are the 1725 Treaty of Vienna between Austria and Spain, Great Britain's diplomatic relations with France and Spain, and various military implications thereof.
The half-title and final errata and advertisement leaf are both present; the text is printed at a slight angle to the page throughout, most noticeably on the title-page.
ESTC T34359; Goldsmiths'-Kress 6729. Recent marbled paper–covered boards, front cover with printed paper label; label with light smudges. Half-title with publication date added in an early hand and with chip in lower margin repaired. Pages lightly age-toned. A nice copy of this entry in a series of
important Tory essays by Lord Bolingbroke. (34383)

A Lighthearted Reminder NOT to Believe
EVERYTHING You Read
Bordelon, Laurent. L'histoire des imaginations extravagantes de Monsieur Oufle, servant de preservatif contre la lecture des livres qui traitent de la magie, du grimoire, des démoniaques, sorciers, loups-garoux, incubes, succubes & du sabbat, des esprits-folets, génies, phantômes & autres revenans; des songes, de la pierre philosophale, de l'astrologie judiciaire, des horoscopes, talismans, jours heureux & malheureux, eclipses, comettes; & enfin de toutes les sortes d'apparitions, de divinations, de sortiléges, d'enchantement, & d'autres superstitieuses pratiques. Avec un tres-grand nombre de nottes curieuses, qui rapportent fidellement les endroits des livres qui ont causé ses imaginations, & qui les combattent. Paris: Chez Duchesne, 1754. 12mo (17.2 cm, 6.77"). [12], 149, [9], 144, [2], 164 pp. (3 pts. of 5); 6 plts. (of 10).
[SOLD]
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The foolish, superstitious Monsieur Oufle, having pored over far too many occult works, falls prey to a variety of delusions regarding his horoscope, dreams, interactions with spirits and devils, etc.
This satire incorporates a lengthy list of books on the supernatural — all genuine works — allegedly to be found in Oufle's library, and is illustrated with six engraved plates signed “Crespy.” First published in 1710, the work appears here in its most correct, enlarged edition: a handsome, crisp Parisian printing, in this example with the first three parts (only, out of five) bound together in a single volume — four and five having been sold separately at the time of publication.
Provenance: Frontispiece recto, title-page verso, several text pages, and half-titles of parts two and three each with rubber-stamp of the now-defunct Museum of French Art in New York. Later from the residue of the stock of the F. Thomas Heller bookselling firm (est. ca. 1928).
Barbier, Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes, II, 755; Coumont, Demonology and Witchcraft, H50.4. Period-style quarter calf and marbled paper–covered sides, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label, gilt-ruled and -dotted raised bands, and gilt-stamped compartment decorations; back pastedown with small binder's ticket of Starr Bookworks. Rubber-stamps as above; three parts only out of five as above, thus with six plates present out of ten; title-page verso with inked numeral. Pages and plates age-toned, otherwise clean.
Attractive and enjoyable. (40394)
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Bos, Lambert. Exercitationes philologicae, in quibus novi foederis loca nonnulla ex auctoribus graecis illustrantur & exponuntur ... editio secunda multis partibus aucta. Accedit dissertatio de etymologia graeca. Franequerae: Wibium Bleck, 1713. 8vo (19.9 cm, 7.8"). [12], 305, [11 (index)], [2], 46 pp.
$300.00
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Second edition: Greek etymology and New Testament commentary originally printed in 1700, written by a Dutch scholar and grammarian whose Ellipses Graecae (1702) was an important and oft-cited reference for Greek literary usage. The title-page of the first work here is printed in red and black; the “Dissertatio de etymologia Graeca” has a separate half-title and pagination.
Brunet, I, 1122. Contemporary vellum, spine with inked title; spine and edges mildly dust-soiled. All edges speckled red and blue. Front pastedown with institutional rubber-stamp; front pastedown torn and back pastedown lifted away from cover. Pages clean. (19660)
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Then an Unpopular Opinion Now a FACT
Bowyer, William. The origin of printing: in two essays: I. The substance of Dr. Middleton's Dissertation on the origin of printing in England. II. Mr. Meerman's account of the invention of the art. An appendix is annexed, 1. On the first-printed Greek books. 2. On the first-printed Hebrew books, with observations on some modern Editions; and a collation, from Walton's Polyglott, of a remarkable Passage, as printed in Kings and Chronicles. 3. On the early polyglotts. London: printed for W. Bowyer & J. Nichols, 1774. 8vo (21 cm; 8.25"). xvi, 144, [2] pp.
$1250.00
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First edition of Bowyer's rewriting of Middleton's Dissertation on the Origin of Printing in England and Meerman's Origines typographicae: Bowyer was assisted by Dr. Owen and Mr. Missy.
In his dissertation on the history of printing in England (first edition 1734–35), Dr. Middleton argued the then unpopular opinion that
William Caxton was the first to bring the printing press to England. That work is accompanied here by Gerard Meerman's essay on the appearance of printing in Harlem and Mentz, each with intelligent commentary by printers W. Bowyer and John Nichols. Also present are three short appendices on early Greek, Hebrew, and polyglot books.
An early user has added a note “By W. Bowyer” to the title-page; there is also evidence of a torn out leaf (M4), although pagination and content match catalogued and digitized copies.
Provenance: From the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
ESTC N10660; Bigmore & Wyman, Bibliography of Printing, p. 74. 19th-century half speckled calf and mottled paper, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, covers with gilt rolls along edges of calf; gently rubbed at corners and moderately along joints. Note and torn edge as above with three textual corrections in an earlier hand and one word in green ink, two very small marginal stains, light age-toning.
Bookish content in a neat copy. (37566)
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The
End Times &
the Coming
of the Antichrist
Braidwood,
William. Purity of Christian communion
recommended as an antidote against the perils of the latter days, in three discourses,
delivered to a church of Christ in Richmond Court, Edinburgh. Edinburgh: J.
Guthrie, J. Robertson, J. Ogle, et al., 1796. 8vo (20 cm, 7.9"). [2], 92 pp.
$125.00
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First edition: “To which is added an appendix, containing some thoughts on the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper, and on the nature and tendency of human standards of religion.”
ESTC T27073. Removed from a nonce volume. Half-title and last two leaves lightly soiled, half-title with small early inked numeral, pages otherwise clean. (27653)
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It Was
ALL the Court of St. James's Fault
Brissot de Warville, Jacques-Pierre, & Jean François Ducos. Exposé de la conduite de la nation française envers le peuple anglais, et des motifs qui ont amené la rupture entre la République française et le roi d'Angleterre, précédé du rapport prononcé par Brissot, au nom du comité diplomatique & du discours de Ducos; imprimé par ordre de la Convention nationale, envoyé aux départemens & aux armées. Paris: De l'Imprimerie Nationale, 1793. 8vo (19.7 cm, 7.75"). [2], 34, 10, 95, [1] pp.
$100.00
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First edition, in three parts: The “Discours prononcé par Ducos, député de la Gironde” and “Exposé historique” are paginated separately. The “Rapport sur les hostilités du roi d'Angleterre et du Stadhouder des Provinces-Unies” is incorporated herein. At head of title: Convention nationale.
Uncommon: WorldCat and NUC locate only nine U.S. institutional holdings.
Martin & Walter 5290. Removed from a nonce volume. Title-page slightly darkened, with paper shelving label in lower inner corner, pencilled initials in upper outer corner, and inked numeral above header; verso institutionally rubber-stamped (marked duplicate). One leaf with tear from upper margin extending into text, with old repair. Occasional light spotting, overall clean. (30959)
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Brook, Mary. Reasons for the necessity of silent waiting, in order to the solemn worship of God...third edition. London: Mary Hinde, 1775. 8vo (20 cm, 7.9"). [2], 31, [1 (blank)] pp.
$325.00
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Third edition of Brook’s explication of the principles underlying Quaker worship practices, issued by a woman printer — Mary Hinde, successful printer and publisher of numerous Quaker items.
ESTC T65811. Recent wrappers. Pages age-toned, with a few small spots. (9302)
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Political /Jurisprudential / Theatrical SATIRE
[Broome, Ralph]. Letters from Simpkin the second to his dear brother in Wales, containing an humble description of the trial of William Hastings, Esq. with Simon's answer. Dublin: P. Byrne & J. Moore, 1788. 8vo (18.5 cm, 7.25"). 46 pp. (lacking half-title).
$325.00
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First Irish printing, from the same year as the English first: Broome, adopting the persona of a Welsh country bumpkin, mocks Sheridan and other members of Parliament for their proceedings during the trial of William Hastings.
ESTC N2497. Recent marbled-paper wrappers, front wrapper with paper title label. Lacking half-title. Title-page with lower corner neatly off, otherwise in excellent, clean condition. (3247)
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Browne, Isaac Hawkins. Poems upon various subjects, Latin and English. London: J. Nourse, 1768. 8vo (24 cm, 9.4"). [10], 160 pp. (frontis. lacking).
$150.00
First edition of these poems, published posthumously by the author’s son; of two similar issues printed in the same year, this was the one meant for the general public, with the other intended for private circulation only. Browne was a notably witty and amiable conversationalist whose company (though not his public speechmaking) was prized by Dr. Johnson; he is best remembered today for his poems “A Pipe of Tobacco” (“Blest leaf! Whose aromatic gales dispense / To templars modesty, to parsons sense”) and “De Animi Immortalitate,” a meditation on the immortality of the soul — both of which are included here, the latter with Soame Jenyns’s English translation.
ESTC T116967. Recent marbled paper–covered boards, spine with printed paper label. Frontispiece lacking; title-page and a few others stamped by a now-defunct institution. Inner margins of the first two leaves and outer margin of the final leaf repaired. (10692)

NOT the Progress — The Pharisee & Publican & the Dying Sayings
Bunyan, John. A discourse upon the Pharisee and Publican. Wherein several weighty things are handled ... the twelfth edition, corrected. To which is added his last sermon; as also his dying sayins [sic]. London: John Marshall, 1725. 12mo (14.7 cm, 5.75"). 166 pp. (lacking final blank f.).
$900.00
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Uncommon early 18th-century edition of this important theological work, originally printed in 1685. All of Bunyan’s works, not just his Pilgrim’s Progress, were widely read and often reprinted in his day; this 1725 printing is described as the 12th edition, but ESTC locates only three editions (in 1704, 1705, and 1706) between the initial appearance and the present example. The 1704–25 editions are all scarce, surviving in only a few copies each.
John Marshall also issued this work in the same year as the present example with a slightly different title-page, reading “Wherein several great and weighty things . . . ,” this being a copy of the issue with a cancel title-page.
The text is illustrated with one woodcut scene. A few copies are described as having a frontispiece, which would not be integral to the collation; presumably it was added later and so not original.
Provenance: John Kinsman, jun., 1760; Edwin P. Farnham, 1903.
ESTC T58485. Recent speckled paper wrappers. Free endpapers and first and last leaves with worm damage to edges; final blank leaf lacking. Front free endpaper and dedication page with rubber-stamped numerals (no other markings). Lower outer corners waterstained in first portion of volume; some darker stains from laid-in plant matter, with several leaves having words obscured or lost due to botanical adhesions — in the worst case, one leaf with hole affecting about 30 words from having adhered to plant matter, subsequent leaf with about 15 words obscured. Some headers just shaved but no catchwords touched. Title-page verso and back free endpaper with inked ownership inscriptions as above. (20618)
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. . . but Bunyan Wrote MORE than Allegory!
Bunyan, John. The doctrine of the law & grace unfolded: or, a discourse touching the law and grace. The Nature of the one, and the Nature of the other: Shewing what they are, as they are the Two Covenants; and likewise who they be, and what their Conditions are, that be under either of these Two Covenants. Wherein, For the better Understanding of the Reader, there is several Questions answered touching the Law and Grace, very easie to be read, and as easie to be understood, by those that are the Sons of Wisdom, the Children of the Second Covenant. Also, Several Titles set over the several Truths contained in this Book, for thy sooner finding of them; which are those at the latter end. London: printed for Will. Marshall, at the Bible in Newgate-Street, 1701. 12mo (15.7 cm; 6.125"). [16], 8, 11–204, 203–70 pp. Lacks the portrait and pp. 9–10 of text.
$2750.00
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A religious essay from the author of Pilgrim's Progress, here in the “second edition, corrected and amended,” which is actually a newer version of the second edition printed in 1685. Bunyan gives lengthy discussion to the differences between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace, and as with all of the early editions of his works, this one is scarce.
Searches of NUC, WorldCat, and ESTC locate only three copies worldwide of the 1659 first edition, three copies in North America of the 1685 second, and three North American copies of this 1701 edition (this being one of the three). This work lacks the portrait and one leaf of text, a common occurrence as Bunyan's works were often read to death.
Provenance: Booklabel of Farrer in Reading on front pastedown. Later in the Howell Bible Collection, Pacific School of Religion (properly released); with presentation inscription of C. Bernard Cockett (1888–1965), president of both the Australian Council of Churches and the Congregational Union of Australia & New Zealand, to the Pacific School of Religion on 7 May 1943 in appreciation for receiving an honorary doctorate.
ESTC T58494. Brown buckram with gilt lettering and ruling on spine, all edges speckled brown; binding lightly rubbed, joints cracked and back cover loosely attached, corner torn from front free endpaper. Light age-toning with intermittent waterstaining, generally light but notable on final two gatherings; a few leaves lacking corners including title-page (with loss of last four letters of “Doctrine”); a few more leaves damaged with loss of text to up to 14 lines (usually fewer) on each of four pages; one leaf of text and the portrait leaf missing. Inscribed as above, with library marking to spine, several old rubber-stamps, date and edition underlined on title-page, circulation slip and card pocket at rear. Withal rather clean, still sound, and still
BUNYAN. (36216)
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War of Austrian Succession: The Best Latin History of the Italian Campaigns
Buonamici, [Giuseppe Maria] Castruccio. Castruccii Bonamici Commentariorum de Bello Italico. Lugduni Batavorum: No publisher/printer, 1750. 4to (20.3 cm, 7.9"). [2], [v]–xx, 128, xix, [1], 122, [4 (1 errata)] pp. (half-title lacking).
$475.00
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First edition: Classically inspired, authoritatively written account of the Italian campaigns of the War of Austrian Succession. The author (1710–61) had himself participated in the Battle of Velletri and published a memoir of that experience prior to this longer and more complete history. Contemporary critics praised the elegance of his writing, as well as the faithfulness and accuracy of the work — which is
still cited today as an important reference on the subject.
The two title-pages are printed in red and black; each book opens with a military-inspired decorative capital and a woodcut headpiece. A third book (in two parts), not present here, was published in the following year.
Provenance: From the residue of the stock of the F. Thomas Heller bookselling firm (est. ca. 1928).
Brunet, VI, 1423. Contemporary green morocco-grained paper–covered boards, covers framed in black-stamped roll with corner fleurons, spine with black-stamped title and compartment bands; edges and extremities worn and sunned, spine much sunned and chipped with portion of title lost, hinges (inside) very tender due to weight of boards with free endpapers and half-title lacking. Pastedowns with interesting, attractive white and green trefoils on paste paper–like red background. Wide-margined pages, remarkably crisp and clean. (40415)
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