A Powerhouse Trio on Celibacy & Virginity — From the Aldine Press at Rome
Ambrose, Saint; Saint Jerome; & Saint Augustine. De virginitate[,] opuscula sanctorum doctorum, Ambrosii, Hieronymi, et Augustini. Quae sint ex antiquis exemplaribus emendata, & quae varie legantur, in extremo libro ostendimus. Romae: Apud Paulum Manutium, Aldi F., 1562. 4to (21.8 cm, 8.5"). 109, [7] ff. $2250.00
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Brought together here are St. Ambrose's De virginitate, St. Jerome's Epistola ad Demetriadem de virginitate servandra, and St. Augustine's De sancta virginitate, three important works by three Church Fathers on celibacy and virginity, concerns of the early church that greatly affected the life of early clergy and nuns and had significant ramifications for laity as well. The Roman Aldine press essentially served as an extension of the papacy, which capitalized on its fame to disseminate — with great cachet — Vatican-approved texts in the publication war that was such an integral part of the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, this work being no exception.
This neatly printed text has single columns with unaccomplished guide letters and shouldernotes using roman font; the iconic Aldine device appears on the title-page and an errata list appears in double-column format at the end.
Provenance: The printer's mark of Jan Baptiste Verdussen II depicting a stork feeding a snake to another stork with the Latin motto “Virtus pietas homini tutissima,” which can be dated between 1659 and 1759, has been excised from another source and affixed to the front pastedown (possibly as a bookplate, as speculated by the Provenance Online Project); this title is later listed in the auction catalogue of Jean-Baptiste Verdussen III's book collection, suggesting this copy may have belonged to the Verdussen family. Two early inked signatures of G.J. Enoch and I.F. Vanderelie also appear on the front endpapers. Most recently in the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
Searches of WorldCat and NUC located only four U.S. libraries reporting ownership (CLU, LNT, MnCS, UPB).
Adams A950; EDIT16 CNCE 16242; Index Aurel. 104.682; Renouard, Alde, p. 186, no. 7; UCLA, Aldine Press: Catalogue of the Ahmanson-Murphy Collection (2001), 678. Not in Kallendorf & Wells, Aldine Press Books. On the Aldine press at Rome, see: Curt Buhler, “Manutius and His First Roman Printings,” Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America, 46, pp. 209–14. 19th-century polished calf, spine stamped in gilt with two gilt-stamped leather title-labels, covers framed with a dog-tooth roll, two gilt fillets, and small fleurons at corners; gilt floral rolls to board edges and turn-ins, all edges stained red, with marbled endpapers. Binding rubbed and refurbished, one leather spine label chipped and the other removed; spotting on endpapers, evidence of a removed bookplate at back. Mostly light offsetting of text throughout, intermittent mild to moderate unobtrusive waterstaining (including to title-page) and other spotting; title-page and eight more leaves of text with marginal repairs, one gutter showing narrow band of discoloration (possibly glue action). Provenance indicia as above, two pencilled endpaper notes. An important collection from an interesting era of the Aldine Press; and a strong, in fact quite handsome copy. (37366)
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Scurvy, Tuberculosis, Fever & Their Causes
— Well, Beddoes Got It ALL Wrong —
Beddoes, Thomas. Observations on the nature and cure of calculus, sea scurvy, consumption, catarrh, and fever: Together with conjectures upon several other subjects of physiology and pathology. Philadelphia: Printed by T. Dobson, 1797. 8vo (21.5 cm, 8.5"). xvi, 278, [2] pp. [SOLD]
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First American edition of this noteworthy work on medicine and chemistry, with added material on physiology. The first edition appeared in London in 1793.
Beddoes (1760–1808) had a “fervent belief that true medical science must have a chemical basis and with this in mind, he set up a Pneumatic Institute where diseases were treated with the administration of gases. He appointed Humphry Davy (1778–1829), then a lad of nineteen, as superintendent, and it was here that Davy, in the course of his experiments on the medical properties of gases, discovered the anesthetic effects of nitrous oxide” (Heirs of Hippocrates).
In this, hisfirst medical work, Beddoes fully recognized the importance of applying new developments in chemistry to medicine. The initial section on calculus described a new therapy for stones in which the recently discovered carbon dioxide plays a prominent role. Beddoes considered scurvy and obesity to be caused by a deficiency of oxygen, while consumption and catarrh were caused by excessive oxygen.
On pp. [171]–252 are “Two memoirs translated from the French of Dr. Girtanner.” Credit for the translation is given on p. 44 to “Mr. Woodhouse, of the Middle Temple.”
Provenance: 1816 ownership signature of James M. Taylor; most recently in the residue of the stock of the F. Thomas Heller bookselling firm (est. ca. 1928).
Evans 31782; Austin 169; ESTC W21341; Heirs of Hippocrates 717. Publisher's speckled sheep, round spine, gilt rules forming spine compartments, red leather spine label; some abrading of leather. Browning, and a brown stain in lower margin of many leaves; the usual foxing and age-toning. (39732)
Camões, Luís de. Poems, from the Portuguese of Luis de Camoens. London: J. Carpenter (pr. by C. Whittingham), 1805. 8vo. Frontis., [4], 160 pp. $250.00
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Sonnets and canzones by the legendary Portuguese poet and playwright, translated into English by Percy Clinton Sydney Smythe, Viscount Strangford, a notable Lusophile who served as a diplomat in Lisbon here in an attractive fourth edition.
Binding: Contemporary dark green straight-grain morocco, spine with gilt-stamped rules, rolls, and devices. Covers framed with a delicately curly gilt-rolled border; the center panels, within, accented by gilt-stamped corner fleurons. A bit of additional filigree in blind appears both within the rules of the gilt border and within the border on each center panel, to nice subtle effect. Gilt inner dentelles. All edges gilt.
NSTC C355. Binding as above, leather rubbed at edges and joints, spine a bit dimmed. Front pastedown with armorial bookplate of John Allan Powell; front fly-leaf with inked inscription dated 1922. A few spots of foxing, pages otherwise clean. A pretty and very English production for this Portuguese poet. A charming volume. (23077)
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Illustrated Life ofJoseph
Dolce, Lodovico. La vita di Giuseppe, discritta in ottava rima. In Vinegia: Appresso Gabriel Giolito de' Ferrari, 1561. 4to (19.4 cm, 7.625"). 43, [1] ff.; illus. [SOLD]
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Sole edition of Venetian polygraph and humanist Dolce's “Life of Joseph.” Gabriel Giolito, one of the most prolific Italian printers of the 16th century, exercised great influence on his contemporaries and successors in the form and decoration of books; this offering is luxuriously printed in single columns using a larger italic type, with only three stanzas of ottava rima per page, and has his sizable woodcut printer's device on the title-page as well as a different device on the final leaf. Each of the three books of the “Life” begins with a different half-page woodcut scene from the story, each with a three-element woodcut border. In each case the top element is the same, but the side elements differ. Additional woodcuts include four different historiated initials and head- and tailpieces.
The “Giuseppe” here is Old Testament–Joseph, not the father of Jesus; and the three touchstones of his life illustrated are his being sold from the well into slavery, his escape from Potiphar's wife (very vigorous), and his ultimate kneeling receipt of his father's blessing.
Provenance: From the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
Bongi, Annali di Gabriel Giolito de’ Ferrari, II, p. 130; Brunet, II, 791; EDIT16 CNCE 17375; Graesse, Trésor de Livres Rares, II, p. 418; Index Aurel. 154.658. Not in Adams. 19th-century paste paper–covered boards, spine with gilt-lettered blue paper label and blue stamp; rubbed with some loss of paper and some dust-soiling. Title-page woodcut shaved along lower edge. Light to moderate age-toning with a handful of spots, one gathering with marginal waterstaining; one short marginal and gutter tear, two interior tears with early repairs touching text but not affecting sense. Booklabel as above, a few small pencilled bibliographical notes on endpapers; occasional scattered ink spots and two pages with math or letters in an early hand. Gorgeously, thoughtfully illustrated work from an important press. (39014)
Duncan, Harry. Doors of perception: essays in book typography. Austin, TX: W. Thomas Taylor, 1983. 8vo (23.2 cm, 9.2"). [2], 99, [3] pp. $150.00
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First edition: Essays on book design and printing by a famed typographer, book designer, and hand-printer. This is one of 325 copies (300 for sale) printed; the edition was designed by Carol J. Blinn at Warwick Press, printed by Daniel Keleher at Wild Carrot Letterpress, bound by Sarah Creighton and C.J. Blinn in quarter olive Niger goatskin and paste paper–covered sides (paper made by Blinn), andsigned at the colophon by the author.
Binding as above, in original terra-cotta paper–covered slipcase; leather very gently sunned, leather very gently sunned, slipcase with lower edge rubbed and each side with a small unobtrusive spot/mark or two to paper, otherwise clean. Informative and attractive. (30560)
“To Toiling Millions, Whose Means are Small, Yet Whose Desires are Great to Possess a HOME . . . ”
Dwyer, Charles P. Economic cottage builder: or, Cottages for men of small means. Buffalo: Wanzer, McKim & Co., 1856. 8vo (23.3 cm, 9.125"). [2], 127, [1] pp.; 32 plts. [SOLD]
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For the handy 19th-century American in need of a home but without the means to consult a professional (“and yet whose tastes are as worthy of being gratified”), anarchitectural handbook for building one's own cottage on a humble budget. Charles P. Dwyer (ca. 1815 – ca. 1880), an architect and writer, emigrated to North America from Ireland and had moved to Buffalo, NY, by 1847. He subsequently began to publish architectural advice books for people with limited advantages among other works.
Log cabins, plank buildings, and double cottages are a few of the thoughtfully “economic” buildings Dwyer advises for “men of small means.” The materials he suggests are “adapted to every locality” and affordable for dwellers of each neighborhood. The manual is illustrated with32 black-and-white plates (including an added lithographed title-page), 23 of which represent Dwyer's cottages, the other eight being plans for their designs. The lithographs are by Compton, of Buffalo.
Binding: Publisher's brown cloth with gilt lettering and foliate decoration to spine; deep blind-stamped triple-ruled and foliate border on front board framing stylized gilt title and cottage centerpiece; rear board identical to front board but with centerpiece in blind. Saffron endpapers.
Provenance: On front free endpaper, 20th-century signature of “Wm. B. Goodwin, M.I.T.” A rubber-stamp from the Lowell Historical Society appears on the front pastedown and on the top and bottom edge.
Hitchcock, American architectural books . . . portfolios, and pamphlets . . . published in America before 1895, 389. Bound as above; rubbing to extremities, small tears at spine head, minor coppery discoloration to gilt on front board. Provenance stamp and signature as above; age-toned edges and minor to moderate foxing throughout interior. Sound and unassuming, much like its target audience. (38084)
Febres, Andrés. Arte de lengua general del reyno de Chile ... y ... un vocabulario hispano-chileno, y un calepino chileno-hispano mas copioso. Lima: en la calle de la Encarnaçion, 1765. Small 8vo (14 cm; 5.5"). [15] ff., 682 pp., [1] ff. $4500.00
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First edition of this important book for the study of the Araucanian language (i.e., Mapuche or Mapudungun) of Chile. The contents are a grammar, a dialogue in Araucanian, a short Spanish-to-Araucanian dictionary, the Araucanian alphabet and dipthongs, and Catholic prayers, doctrine, and a brief catechism in Araucanian, plus extended Spanish–Araucanian and Araucanian–Spanish dictionaries. Febres, a Jesuit, was a native of Cataluña who arrived in Chile at a young age. His work among the Araucanian Indians led to his acquiring a great command of their language, and this work still stands as a monument to his erudition. Medina's researches discovered that when the Spanish authorities made their inventory of the Jesuits' library in Chile in 1767, only 255 copies of this book were found, leading him to suppose that the total press run was only 500 copies.
The title-page and the rest of the initial half-signature of the copy in hand areprinted in red and black, but according to Harper (American Iberica, item 476A) some copies do exist printed in black and gold (!), while Medina (Bibliotheca hispano-chilena) says he has seen copies printed in black and green, or perhaps just green. The final leaf here displays a typographic sampling of the press's fonts. There are a few tailpieces — one unusual and a charmer.
Medina, Lima, 1228; Medina, BHC, 461; Viñaza 345; Palau 87065; Sabin 23968; Vargas Ugarte 1923; DeBacker-Sommervogel, III, 576. On Febres, see: Archivo biográfico de España, Portugal e Iberoamérica, fiche 309, frames 216–49. Contemporary stiff vellum, lacking ties; a bit warped. Title-page expertly restored along outer margin and several letters of the title now present in good facsimile, with the leaf backed. Front hinge (inside) starting but strong. Interior generally clean with the odd spot or old stain only. (37564)
Frewen, Moreton. Melton Mowbray and other memories. London: Herbert Jenkins Limited, 1924. 8vo (21.6 cm; 8.5"). viii, [4], 311 pp., [16] plts. $240.00
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A very opinionated autobiography recounting Frewen's numerous adventures throughout England, the United States, Egypt, the Balkans, and India, from his childhood as part of the English gentry to tales of bison used as snow plows in the Wyoming Territory. Howes notes ten chapters are dedicated to Frewen's “disastrous cattle enterprise on Powder river.”
While suffering from financial difficulties throughout his life, Frewen continually worked with influential people, many of whom are here discussed in detail, including his wife Clara Jerome, aunt of Winston Churchill. One way and another there is plenty of huntin', shootin', and fishin'; and there are plenty of politics.
Provenance: A tantalizing “Wealdside 1924” in ink on the front pastedown. The Weald is of course of huge extent, and there are therefore potentially a number of possible “Wealdsides”; but it is notable that the Frewen family dates back to Elizabethan times in East Sussex — and, perhaps, that Moreton Frewen died in 1924.
Howes F380; Graff 1442. Light green publisher's cloth, cover ruled and lettered in black, spine and back also stamped in black; gently rubbed and text slightly cocked, with a thumbnail-sized pink stain along the edge of the back cover and speckling the bottom edge. Light age-toning with offsetting to fly-leaves; inscription as noted. A good read in a good solid copy. (37037)
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On the Estiennes & Their Peers — Bound by Bernard Middleton
Greswell, William Parr. A view of the early Parisian GREEK PRESS; including the lives of the Stephani; notices of other contemporary Greek printers of Paris; and various particulars of the literary and ecclesiastical history of their times. Oxford: Pr. by S. Collingwood for D.A. Talboys, 1833. 8vo (23 cm, 9.1"). 2 vols. I: xix, [1], 412 pp. II: vii, [1], 413, [1] pp. $750.00
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First edition of this account of the Estiennes and other important printers of their milieu, including much information on, excerpts from, and commentary on classical literature (many quotations being supplied in English translation in addition to the original languages) as well as details of political, cultural, and religious history of the time. The preface is signed by the Rev. William Parr Greswell, known as a scholar of Parisian typography, and the title-page attributes the editing to his son Edward Greswell. While Brunet was not wholly convinced regarding the Greswells' exactitude, he nevertheless concluded that this work made for an interesting read.
Bindings: 20th-century speckled calf framed and panelled 17th century–style in double blind fillets with blind-tooled corner fleurons, middle panels in plain calf, innermost panels framed with blind roll; spines with gilt-stamped leather title-labels, raised bands, and blind-tooled composite motifs in compartmentsdone by a modern master. Back pastedown of vol. I with pencilled note reading “Bound by Bernard Middleton [/] Feb. '62.”
Provenance: From the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
Brunet, II, 1735; Lowndes, IV, 943; NSTC 2G21923. Bindings as above; joints and edges rubbed, spines evenly sunned, minor scuffing to sides. Front pastedown of vol. I with pencilled annotation of old purchase price. Page edges untrimmed; a few leaves in vol. II with very short tears from outer margins, not touching text; faint age-toning and intermittent instances of light spotting, mostly but not entirely in upper outer corners. Vol. I with one 20th-century pencilled marginal annotation, vol. II with one pencilled date correction. A good example of 19th-century scholarship on printing and literary history, here in a lovely demonstration of 20th-century binding technique. (37968)
Langham, William. The garden of health: containing the sundry rare and hidden vertues and properties of all kindes of simples and plants. Together with the manner how they are to bee used and applyed in medicine for the health of mans body, against divers diseases and infirmities most common amongst men. London: Printed by Thomas Harper, 1633. 4to in 8s (19 cm; 7.5"). [4] ff., 702 pp., [33] ff. $3400.00
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Preparing for a trip from England to Virginia or Massachusetts in the 1630s or 40s, one would have been well advised to make sure someone in the party was bringing a copy of Langham's work. Once in America, one would have made good use of the herbal remedies for some of the more common ailments the newly arrived would have suffered, and one would have had greater access to the “exotic” American sarsaparilla and guaiacum that Langham discusses.
This precursor to the “Physician's Desk Reference” is a practical compendium of medicinal and other plants arranged alphabetically from “acacia” to “wormwood” with a strong emphasis on plants that “can be gotten without any cost or labour, the most of them being such as grow in most places and are common among us” (folio [2]).
Langham's organization is this: “He devoted a chapter to each plant, describing its parts and their uses, the different processes such as distillation that could be applied to it, and how the resulting products could be used for particular diseases. To every item of information he added a number and at the end of the chapter there is an index or table of conditions with the numbers that were in the main text. The reader can thus see at a glance that one herb could be used in a wide variety of conditions, and whether a specific illness could be helped by a particular drug” (Wear, pp. 82–83).
This is the second edition, “corrected and amended,” the first having appeared in 1597. We are sure the reading public, which was sufficient to support a second edition, would have been helped rather more if the work had had illustrations, but that would have increased the cost of the work dramatically and awide audience was sought. The text is printed chiefly in gothic type while the end of chapter “indices” are in roman. This herbal was not printed during a period of good English typography, so the pages are dense with little white space or appreciation for making the text on the page easy on the eye rather than wearying.
ESTC S108241; STC (rev. ed.) 15196; Alden & Landis 633/67; Huth Library 817. On Langham, see Andrew Wear, Knowledge & Practice in English Medicine, 1550–1680. Contemporary English calf, boards modestly ruled in blind at edges; rebacked in high quality goat. Age-toning or old soiling, especially at the edges of margins and with offsetting from binding to title-page; some light marginal waterstaining especially at end in index; some short tears with last leaves' edges chopped and final two with edges strengthened.Overall, an unsophisticated copy that has been spared being washed, pressed, and gussied up. (34545)
Locke, John. Some familiar letters between Mr. Locke,
and several of his friends. London: A. & J. Churchill, 1708. 8vo (19 cm, 7.5"). [4], 540 pp. $1000.00
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First edition of the first official collection of Locke's letters: “Not only such civil
and polite conversation as friendship produces among men of parts, learning and candour; but
several matters relating to literature, and more particularly to Mr. Locke's notions, in his Essay
concerning Human Understanding, and in some of his other works,” p. iii. Both sides of the
exchanges are present, with correspondents including William Molyneux, Thomas Molyneux,
Richard Burridge, and Philipp van Limborch; a number of letters are in Latin, and a few in
French.
ESTC T117287; Pforzheimer 611. Period-style calf,
covers framed and panelled in gilt rolls with gilt-stamped corner fleurons and central decoration,
spine with with gilt-stamped leather title-label, gilt-ruled raised bands, and gilt-stamped
compartment decorations. Title-page with early inked ownership inscription (William R.
Williams) in upper outer corner; preface with early inked initials in upper corners, partially
effaced, resulting in small holes to upper outer corner (touching two letters of text without
obscuring sense). Occasional early inked corrections and annotations; partial topical index filling
final blank. One leaf with short tear from upper margin not extending into text, another with
portion of lower foremargin torn away just touching (but not really “affecting”) print; scattered
light smudges and a handful of pages with old marginal stains, ink-drop to fore-edge (closed) in
Latin section, otherwise clean. (30851)
American Ecclesiastical Polity — Boston, 1738 An Apology/ARGUMENT!for “Liberties”
Mather, Samuel. An apology for the liberties of the churches in New England: to which is prefix'd, a discourse concerning the Congregational churches. Boston: Printed by T. Fleet for Daniel Henchman, 1738. 8vo (20 cm; 8"). [4] ff., ix, [3], 116 [i.e., 216] pp. $900.00
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Sole edition of Mather's classic work of ecclesiastical polity. The peculiar practices (i.e., “liberties”) of the American Congregational churches that he discusses and defends include the right to ordain their ministers, the right of the congregation to select its ministers, the right to send Elders as emissaries and representatives, the right to remove Elders and pastors, the right to withhold communion from “disqualified” individuals, the right to deal with transgressors in private, the right of holding synods, and the right to increase the number of members and churches.
At the time of this publication, Mather (1706–85), the son of Cotton Mather, was pastor of Second Church in Boston. This is his second substantial publication, the first having been the biography of his father.
This was attractively printed with some care, incorporating some attractive head- and tailpieces.
Sabin 4679; Evans 4275.; Holmes, Minor Mathers; 60; Sabin 46791; ESTC W37808. Later 18th-century full calf with gilt double-rule border to each cover, same double rule above and below each spine band, and a neat gilt-tooled spine label; board edges blind-tooled with a roll. Binding solid but a bit scuffed; interior clean and tight. (34648)
“He's Just an Infernal Dude, Your Lordship, & I'll Throw Him in the River if He Says aWord Too Much”
McCutcheon, George Barr. Cowardice Court. New York: Dodd, Mead, & Co., 1906. 8vo (19.8 cm, 7.75"). [4], 140 pp.; 5 col. plts. [SOLD]
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First edition, illustrated withfive color-printed plates by Harrison Fisher and additionally decorated with motifs by Theodore B. Hapgood, each page of text being framed by a flower and heart trellis. Arrogant (though humbly American-born) Lady Bazelhurst and her “middle-aged, addle-pated ass” of a titled husband incite a ridiculous feud with the strapping young manufacturing heir whose land abuts their Adirondacks country home — a feud happily brought to a close when (SPOILER ALERT!) Lord Bazelhurst's pretty young sister Penelope falls in love with the intrepid hunter and fisher, although not before most of the characters have to endure a stormy night in a haunted house. The novel was made into a silent film in 1919.
Binding: Publisher's blue-gray cloth, front cover with gate design stamped in yellow surrounding apaper-onlay color-printed portrait of the heroine, spine with stamped title and flower motif.
Binding as above; extremities gently rubbed, spine with small spot of discoloration; hinges (inside) slightly tender and frontispiece starting to separate from foot. A pleasing copy of an appealing — and very decorative — novel. (35420)
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Departures Were atFour A.M.
Murphy Hermanos. Broadside. Begins, “Diligencia americana de Durango a Zacatecas.” Durango: Imp. del Gobierno, 1868. Folio (30.5 cm; 12"). [1] p. $450.00
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At the top of this advertising broadside isa wood engraving of four horses in gallop pulling a stage coach. Included is information about departures from both terminuses, stops along the way, the tariff, and cost of excess baggage.
Not located via NUC, WorldCat, COPAC, or the OPAC of the Mexican National Library. Durango imprints are rare.
Printed on rose-colored paper, faded and tattered at edges; small fold tears, dog-earing, and an old tape stain in one margin. Faults noted, stilldisplayable/frameable! (31472)
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ThePETITIONER “Respectfully Sheweth . . . ”
Patterson, Alexander. A petition...to the legislature of Pennsylvania, during the session of 18034, for compensation for the monies he expended and the services he rendered in defence of the Pennsylvania title, against the Connecticut claimants; in which is comprised, a faithful historical detail of important and interesting facts and events that took place at Wyoming, and in the county of Luzerne, &c. In consequence of the dispute which existed between the Pennsylvania land-holders, and the Connecticut intruders, commencing with the year, 1763. Lancaster: Robert Bailey, 1804. 8vo (23.9 cm, 9.4"). 34 pp. $375.00
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Capt. Patterson's complaint: He nearly lost an arm in combat and had his head split by an axe as well, was victimized by the marauding "Intruders" from Connecticut (who wound up permanently settling what is now the Wilkes-Barre region of Pennsylvania, under the Susquehanna Claim), paid for the expenses of numerous other petitioners, and then had the government decline to protect what he considered to be his rights. An absorbingand highly aggrievedchronology of the Yankee-Pennamite wars and their accompanying legal travails, from a personal angle.
Sabin 59130; Shaw & Shoemaker 6994. Recent simple paper-covered boards, spine with printed paper label. Slight cockling; minor foxing to first and last few leaves. Edges untrimmed. Two leaves with inner margin reinforced. A good copy. (3230)
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Erudite Edition Stealth Deluxe Binding
Petit de Julleville, Louis, trans. La chanson de Roland: Traduction nouvelle rhythmée et assonancée avec une introduction et des notes. Paris: Alphonse Lemerre (pr. by A. Quantin), 1878. 8vo (20.7 cm, 8.18"). [4], 460, [4] pp. $350.00
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First edition of this modern French verse rendition of the classic epic, done by medievalist Louis Petit de Julleville (1841–1900), known for his studies of the history of French language and literature. The text is printed on facing pages with the original Old French on the left and the translation on the right.
The forematter includes a history of the text, a bibliography, a study of medieval customs and the characteristics of the protagonists and antagonists, and an introduction to the versification.
Binding: Contemporary dark brown morocco, covers framed and panelled in gilt fillets with gilt-tooled corner fleurons, spine gilt-lettered and with gilt-beaded raised bands and compartments stamped similarly to covers using same tools; board edges with gilt fillet, free endpapers in maroon silk. Doublures of brown morocco matching covers and stamped more ornately, in foliate and floral designs. Top edges gilt, page edges otherwise untrimmed; silk place marker. Front pastedown (doublure) signed, gilt-stamped, “The Harcourt Bindery.”
Provenance: From the library of American collector Albert A. Howard (sans indicia).
Bound as above, spine gently and evenly sunned to olive and spine edge of front cover slightly so, extremities lightly rubbed. Some gatherings in introduction and in notes unopened. Minor foxing throughout, pages otherwise clean. A great example of the binders' style/philosophy rewarding those who care actually to open their subtly-finely bound volumes; “but look, here's more!” (37751)
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“Mini” Natural History Chapbook
Pretty rhymes about birds and animals for little boys and girls. New York: Kiggins & Kellogg, [ca. 1860]. Miniature (7.8 cm, 3"). 8 pp.; illus. [SOLD]
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Five charming wood engravings of an owl, pony, and other birds and animals mentioned in the text of these short rhymes illustrate this miniature chapbook. It is a later, very good edition from the years when this firm was at 123 & 125 William Street (i.e, 1858–1866).
Provenance: From the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, sans indicia.
Original green wrappers with bird illustration on front wrapper and advertisement on rear. Minor soiling to two pages and small crease in upper corner of rear wrapper, else fine. A very attractive little “toy.” (38780)
“Quiz”[pseud. of Edward Caswall], & Charles Dickens. Sketches of young ladies: In which these interesting members of the animal kingdom are classified according to their several instincts, habits, and general characteristics. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea, & Blanchard, 1838. 16mo (13.5 cm, 5.3"). 111, [1] pp. [with] Dickens, Charles. Sketches of young gentlemen. Dedicated to young ladies. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea, & Blanchard, 1838. 108, [2] pp. $800.00
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First American editions of these two works, together as issued, in the original publisher's cloth. Young ladies and young gentlemen are humorously categorized under their various types: including for the former Romantic, Evangelical, Literary, Manly, Hyperbolical, Abstemious, and others, and for the latter Bashful, Military, Political, Censorious, Funny, etc. While the first work was often attributed to Dickens when originally published anonymously in 1837, it was actually written by humorist Caswall in a voice very much like Dickens's; the second work, first printed in 1838, isgenuine Dickens.
American Imprints 49619. Publisher's violet cloth; front cover and spine faded to tan, the former with a printed paper label somewhat chipped, and front cover showing tiny spots of discoloration and pinholes in cloth. Pages age-toned with intermittent mild spotting; a few lower outer corners bumped and middle section with dent to upper outer margin. A copy much read; still both highly readable andhighly entertaining. (34870)
A Tiny Gem — Printed by the Plantin Press (L.A.) A Mary KuperWood Engraving
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Prayers written at Vailima. Los Angeles: Dawson's Book Shop, 1973. Miniature (6.2 cm, 2.4"). xxxviii, [2], 61, [1] pp. $125.00
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Miniature edition of the daily prayers Stevenson wrotefor the use of his family and their Samoan household members, with an introduction by Fanny Stevenson and a preliminary note by Ellen Shaffer (one-time head of the rare book department of the Free Library of Philadelphia and later the first curator of the Silverado Museum in St. Helena, CA).
This isone of 500 copies printed by Saul and Lillian Marks at the Plantin Press in Los Angeles; Mary Kuper did the wood engraving of a Samoan scene.
Provenance: Miniature bookplate of Raymond A. Smith to front pastedown.
Publisher's orange paper–covered boards with tan paper shelfback, front cover with red-stamped cruciform motif, spine with title in red. A clean and fresh copy. (35704)
First edition, illustrated with 16 hand-colored plates: Thackeray's second Christmas book, published under the pseudonym “Mr. M.A. Titmarsh,” is a collection of trenchant observations on the follies of his neighbors, upper crust and lower class alike. The illustrations were engraved by Henry Vizetelly after Thackeray's drawings.
Binding: Oxblood morocco with covers simply framed in gilt double fillets, spine with gilt-stamped title and gilt-ruled compartments; board edges with double-rule fillet. Wide turn-ins with gilt roll, double-fillets, and dentelle roll; silk pastedowns and free endpapers. All edges gilt. Original wrappers bound in; bindingsigned by Zaehnsdorf.
Provenance: From the library of American collector Albert A. Howard, small booklabel (“AHA”) at rear.
NSTC 2T6768. Binding as above, spine sunned to a rosy tan color, extremities lightly rubbed. Old cataloguing affixed to front free endpaper verso (i.e., to paper, not silk). Small line of staining to upper margins of most leaves, pages and plates otherwise clean save for three instances of offsetting from plates. A pretty little book; a nice thing in 1848 and a nice thing now. (38635)
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Signed, IllustratedUpdike Poem
Updike, John. In the cemetery high above Shillington. Concord, NH: William B. Ewert, 1995. 8vo (26.2 cm, 10.25"). [16] pp.; illus. $200.00
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First and only stand-alone printing, following an appearance in the Ontario Review, here illustrated with three relief engravings byBarry Moser. The edition was designed by John Kristensen and letterpress printed in Baskerville type at the Firefly Press, where it was also bound. 150 copies were printed altogether; the present example is one of 100 copies signed by the author and the artist, printed on Molino paper, and handsewn in wrappers.
Publisher's cream paper wrappers in folded heavy taupe paper wraps, front wrapper with gilt-stamped title. Front free endpaper with pencilled annotations. A clean, crisp copy. (32675)
Bulls Bow Down & Fiends Are Powerless
[IN ITALIAN]
Ximénez, Mateo. Compendio della vita del beato Sebastiano d'Apparizio, laico professo dell'ordine de' Minori Osservanti del Padre S. Francesco della provincia del Santo Evangelio nel Messico. Roma: Stamperia Salomoni, 1789. 4to (24.2 cm, 9.5"). xvi pp., port., 228 pp., [1] f. [with] Coleccion de estampas que representan los principales pasos, echos, y prodigios del Bto.. Frai Sebastian de Aparizio, relig[ios]o. franciscano de la provincia del S[an]to Evangelio de Mexico. Dispuesta por el R.P. Fr. Mateo Ximenez. Roma: por el incisor Pedro Bombelli, 1789. 4to (23.5 cm, 9.125"). Engr. title, [100] of [129] plts. $7500.00
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From humble carter to revered and beatified lay Franciscan is not an easy course to pursue in life, but Sebastián de Aparicio (1502-1600) accomplished it in Mexico. Although he was married multiple times, he is said to have remained chaste, deciding in 1574 to abandon his secular lifestyle for that of a lay Franciscan. He is said to have had great ability to manage and calm animals, including near-wild bulls. His life was filled with teaching, begging, and accomplishing near-impossible things. Offered here is the first edition of Ximénez's biography and the fine album of plates illustrating events in Aparicio's life (see our caption, above).
Finding the “life” and the volume of plates together is uncommon. Only by happenstance did the two volumes come to us within months of one another, from two different continents, allowing us to marry them for this offering. For example, in the U.S., only the Lilly and Bancroft Libraries report owning both works. There is some question as to the number of plates in a complete copy of the Colección: Some sources call for an engraved title-page and 128 plates, while others call for 129 plates. There seems not to have been an edition of the Vita in Spanish.
Vita: Palau 377047; Sabin 105727A. Colección: Palau 377048; Sabin 105728. Vita: Contemporary Italian binding of quarter leather with “wallpaper” covered boards; edges of boards seriously rubbed and exposing underlying paste boards. Internally very good. Colección: 20th-century Spanish quarter leather, with paper in imitation of treed calf on the covers. Private ownership stamps on title-page. Missing 29 plates; the other hundred in very good! condition. (2093)
The young child's A, B, C; or, first book. New York: Samuel Wood & Sons, No. 261, Pearl-Street; Samuel S. Wood & Co. No. 212, Market Street, Baltimore, [ca. 1820]. Square 8vo (10.5 cm, 4.13"). 16 pp. $300.00
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First published in 1806, this little abecedarium wasthe first children's book ever published by Samuel Wood, whose work included “many thousands of children's religious, instructive, and nursery books.” (Rosenbach) The alphabet in this later edition is illustrated with variations on the fine wood engravings of birds, animals, and objects included in the first, except for the portrait of Xerxes, which seems to have been a constant throughout the many editions. Alexander Anderson, America's preeminent wood engraver, is thought to have supplied the illustrations to the original edition.
The front wrapper wood-engraving on this copy shows three young boys playing with a spinning top, and the rear features a swarm of bees buzzing around a honey pot.
Provenance: From the children's book collection of Albert A. Howard, small booklabel ("AHA”) at rear.
Rosenbach, Children's, 596 ([c. 1820]); Shaw & Shoemaker 46904 ([1818?]). This ed. not in Welch. Publisher's printed paper wrappers with woodcuts, as above; wrappers foxed and leaves age-toned, not distressingly or weakening paper. Very little used, in good shape. (38483)