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Timestamp: 2019-04-22 09:20:33+00:00

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Souvenirs d’un Voyage dans la Tartarie, le Thibet, et la Chine.
Gourdon, J.; Foucade, Ch. Toulouse: L. Hebrail, Durand et Delpuech, 1875. Folio, 52 pp. and 17 plates, with 246 of 250 mounted botanical specimens. Publisher’s red pebbled cloth with blind-stamped borders and gilt titles. Cloth lightly soiled, hinges weak, endpapers toned, occasional foxing, a little inevitable wear to a few of the fragile specimens but most are in astonishingly good condition. Only edition. A remarkable introductory survey of the principal botanical structures, illustrated with carefully presented specimens of stems, leaves, roots, flower parts, and fruits. Intended for a general readership it is hard to believe that the edition could have been very large as the costs must have been enormous. 7 copies located in institutions, of which only 3 are in the US.
Wilde, Oscar. London: James R. Osgood McIlvaine & Co., 1891. Sm. 4to, (8), 159 pp., pictorial title-page, 4 plates, and numerous illustrations and decorations in text by Ricketts and Shannon. Original pictorial cloth gilt, covers a bit discoloured but nicely restored by Coriander Reisbord. First edition, 1000 copies printed. Although Wilde remained effusive about the decoration of his book (and defended it from public criticism), the printing of Shannon’s four plates had been difficult. As a result of some fault in the printing process, a dusty deposit appeared on each plate, which was only noticed after the book was bound. Unfortunately the solution – wiping each plate with a flannel – removed the surface of the print and left the images rather faint, and in some cases, almost invisible. Also the binding has proved over time to be very susceptible to soiling and spotting. This copy is about average or better than most copies. Turn of the Century, 6.
Diderot, Denis. Paris (1768) and the Supplementary Plates Volume (1777). Folio, 253 x 393mm. 42 pages of descriptive text & 35 loose plates with their accompanying 7 text sheets from the volume of plates. Slight browning to margins, a little spotting otherwise very good. The 29 plates and descriptive text for the entry of Histoire Naturelle, Regne Animal from volume VI of plates, with an additional 6 plates from the Supplementary Plates Volume. The twenty-nine plates from volume VI are numbered 1-29 with seven accompanying text sheets. This suite includes plates on land quadrupeds and sea mammals in particular.The six supplementary plates come in two sets. The first set contains four plates, numbered 1-4, and these cover frogs and zoophytes in particular. The second set contains 2 plates, numbered 2 & 3, and these cover hermaphrodites. Unfortunately the first plate is this set is missing.Also with the relevant entries listed under Animalité in the Table Analytique et Raisonnée du Dictionnaire des Sciences, Arts et Métiers. Vol I (1780)12 pages (88, 89, 98, 99, 122 & 468-476) from volume I of the Encyclopédie (1751) including Plus il approche de l’adolescence, plus il croît lentement, La durée de sa vie peut se mesurer par celle de tems de l’accroissement, Sels animaux, Sels qui se trouvent dans le corps de l’animal, Action animale and Animal, Histoire Naturelle.3 pages (214, 318 & 813) from volume II of the Encyclopédie (1751) including Animal, Bête, Brute, Bonté animale and Cendres animales4 pages (31-33 & 596) from volume III of the Encyclopédie (1753) including Chaleur de l’animal; principaux phénomenes qu’elle présente and La dilatation & la contraction des dimensions extérieures du corps sont essentielles à la vie de l’animal1 page (363) from volume VI of the Encyclopédie (1756) including Facultés animales4 pages (35, 36, 51 & 110) from volume VII of the Encyclopédie (1757) including Plus les autres visceres sont petits dans un animal, à proportion du sujet, plus le foie est grand, Fonctions animales and Accroissement & décroissement de la force de l’animal1 page (236) from volume VIII of the Encyclopédie (1765) including De l’animal selon la philosophie de Hobbes1 page (841) from volume X of the Encyclopédie (1765) including Mouvement animal7 pages (360-366) from volume XI of the Encyclopédie (1765) including Economie animale3 pages (39, 585 & 586) from volume XV of the Encyclopédie (1765) including La premiere notion dans l’animal, Substances animales and De l’acide animal 1 page (175) from volume XVI of the Encyclopédie (1765) including information on Les corps terreux naturels tirés de regne animal: leur usage en médecine2 pages (435 & 436) from volume I of the Supplément à l’Encyclopédie (1776) which includes information on Les animals en général 1 page (490) from volume II of the Supplément à l’Encyclopédie (1776) which includes information on Caractere distinctif de l’animalWith some browning to a few leaves.Contributed by François-Nicolas Martinet (1731-1800), famous for his ornithological engravings, these plates display many noted mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Martinet was well regarded because of his ability to depict the creatures realistically, and many of his subjects are now scarce or endangered. Perhaps his most famous illustrations were those for Mathurin Jacques Brisson’s Ornithologia, sive Synopsis Methodica (1760-63). These visually compelling plates show creatures of all sorts, from elephants to capybara, and apes, sloths, and monkeys to cabasssou armadillos, surinam toads and chameleons. Martinet’s illustrations are detailed and informative, although, in places, are charmingly naïve. Several relevant text entries follow, and these include Animal by Diderot and Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton, a French naturalist of note. Futher articles were contributed by Pierre Tarin, Paul Jacques Malouin and Baron de Haller.
Histoire Naturelle, Regne Minéral (Fossils and Minerals)Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers. Plates vol. 6.
Lyell, Charles. December 20, 1841. 4to, 1 pp., 10 lines in ink on lined paper. Old crease marks, very good and entirely legible. Custom quarter leather portfolio case with inset portrait. A letter from Lyell to the eminent American geologist William Barton Rogers, dating from Lyell’s first visit to North America in 1841. Lyell’s geological tour of the eastern seaboard was greatly facilitated by Rogers and his brother, the equally distinguished geologist Henry Darwin Rogers. The trip was not without controversy when Lyell was accused of intellectual piracy by a Boston newspaper whose anonymous informer claimed Lyell was appropriating the work of American geologists for his own advancement. In the hastily written letter, Lyell communicates travel plans to Rogers, a route taking in Petersburg, City Point, Williamsburg and Norfolk, Virginia, and Weldon, North Carolina. Most of the places are mentioned in Lyell’s memoir of his journey Travels in North America (1845). An unlikely survivor and a nice memento of the grand tour taken by the great geologist.
Tabuan Parakeet" from "Illustrations of the Family of Psitta, or Parrots".
Lear, Edward. London: Published for the Author, 1830-1832. Lithograph with original hand color, 360 x 530 mm, framed size 650 x 820 mm. A few trivial spots of foxing, a magnificent plate well-framed. Lear was renowned as one of Britain’s finest ornithological artists before his nonsense verse was ever known. The vividly-colored and quite gorgeous "Tabuan Parakeet" is from his groundbreaking work on parrots, begun when he was only 18: the first monograph on a single family of birds, the first imperial folio of lithographed birds completed in England, and the first painted largely from life. Lear studied his subjects at the London Zoo and at private menageries around Great Britain. The finished volume was privately issued in 12 parts and collected 42 paintings reproduced as hand-colored lithographic plates. Only 175 copies were ever completed and the stones were effaced almost immediately.
Zoological Illustrations]. No date [circa 1810-1825]. 7 original watercolors on individual sheets (c.180 x 220 mm), handwritten notes in ink on versos recording the name of the animal in English, French and Latin, and, in some cases, comments on its appearance and habits, matted alike. Marginal browning, seemingly caused by the mats, images lightly toned, very good. Apparently amateur copies of (or possibly original sketches for?) illustrations from natural history colorplate periodicals. Three of the paintings relate to identified engravings: (1) Striped-cheeked hummingbird, c.f. The naturalists’ miscellany. Vol.13 (facing G2), (2) Tamatia macrorhychos (Greater pied puff-bird), c.f. Swainson’s Zoological Illustrations. Vol II 1821-22, Plate 99. and (3) Fringilla oryzivora (Paddy bird, Rice bird, or Java Sparrow). c.f. Swainson’s Zoological Illustrations. Vol.III , 1822-3, Plate 156. No published images corresponding to the remaining four have yet been identified; unlike the three paintings above, each of these has an inked number above the image and more extensive handwritten notes on the verso: they are (with their numbering): [1.] Toco Toucan, [47.] Bradypus Sloth, [52.] Blue tailed crow, [58.] Nine banded armadillo. The sheet bearing the Toucan contains a fleur-de-lis watermark dated 1813. The quality of the seven images varies from somewhat crude to quite skilled. Intriguing.
The Koran. Commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, translated from the Original Arabic; with explanatory Notes, taken from the most approved Commentators. To which is prefixed, a preliminary Discourse. By George Sale, Gent. A New Edition.
Sale, George (translator). Bath:Printed by S. Hazard for J. Johnson [etc.], 1795. 2 vols. 8vo, xii, (2), 248 (Preliminary Discourse), 266; viii, 519, (12, index)pp. Engraved fold-out map of Arabia, three genealogical tables (two folding), and a plate illustrating "The Temple of Mecca." all from the 1735 first edition.Old calf rebacked, a good copy (tears in folding map repaired). Fourth edition (the first thus) of the first translation of the Koran into English. Peter Harrington notes: "George Sale (c.1696-1736), although a solicitor by profession, was also a leading orientalist, having acted as corrector to the SPCK’s Arabic translation of the New Testament (1727). His translation is prefixed by a long "preliminary discourse", a compendium of all that was known about the religion of Islam, itself separately translated into and published in several languages. In 1921 Edward Denison Ross claimed that Sale’s version had not yet been superseded, and more than fifty years later Sale’s objectivity still guarded him from criticism in Edward Said’s Orientalism (1978)."
Darwin, Charles. December 23, 1871. 8vo, 2 pp., 25 lines in ink written on rectos only; first sheet with printed letterhead "Down, Beckenham, Kent." With original stamped and postmarked envelope. Letter and envelope both in fine condition and fully legible. Custom quarter leather portfolio case with inset portrait. A short but characteristic letter to the naturalist Henry Lee confirming the identification of specimens of Lepas anatifera, the pelagic gooseneck barnacle. A nice glimpse of Darwin’s daily working correspondence and of his generosity in assisting in the enquiries of fellow naturalists, even as he was hard at work correcting proof-sheets for the 6th edition of the Origin of Species.".I have now looked at both lots of specimens, & I think both are the variable L. anatifera.? I have disarticulated the right-hand scutal valve in both & the umbonal teeth are plain in both. This with position of the carina suffices, though the latter ought to be disarticulated and cleaned. But I have hardly any doubt that both are L. anatifera."Henry Lee was the director at the Brighton aquarium. The year before this letter was written he was a founder of the Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club. Five letters from Darwin to Lee have so far been traced: Lee providing Darwin with his observations on the distribution of the sexes in trout populations and Darwin assisting Lee with the identification of barnacle specimens.University of Cambridge Darwin Correspondence Project, Letter No. 8118B.
Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the Years 1826 and 1836, Describing their Examination of the Southern Shores of the South America, and the Beagle’s Circumnavigation of the Globe.
Darwin, Charles. Fitzroy, Robert, and King, Philip Barker. London: Henry Colburn, 1839. 3 vols. in 4 (vol. 2 having a separate appendix), 8vo, xxviii, [iv], -559, 556-597 pp. with 17 engraved plates and 3 folding maps; xiv,  -694,  pp. with 25 engraved plates and 2 folding maps; viii, 352 pp. with 6 engraved plates and 2 folding maps; [iii]-xiv, 629, , -615 pp. with 2 folding maps. In total 9 folding maps (all now bound in) and 48 plates and charts. A very good copy with minimal wear and a few repaired tears to the folding maps, rebound sympathetically and well in half speckled calf and marbled boards, backstrips elaborately gilt with morocco labels and raised bands, in two slipcases. First edition, first issue of the account of the most famous voyage in the history biological science. Volume III is the first issue of Darwin’s Journal, his first published book, containing the observations and fieldwork that would form the basis for On the Origin of Species. "The five years of the voyage were the most important event in Darwin’s intellectual life and in the history of biological science. Darwin sailed with no formal scientific training. He returned a hard-headed man of science, knowing the importance of evidence, almost convinced that species had not always been as they were since the creation but had undergone change. (DSB III, 566). Darwin’s Journal, "is one of the most interesting records of natural history exploration ever written and is one of the most important, for it was on this voyage that Darwin prepared for his lifework, ultimately leading to The Origin of Species" (Hill 104-5). Vol.1 contains Captain King’s account of the first voyage, which surveyed the coasts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego; Vol 2., with the appendix, contains Captain Fitzroy’s account of the second voyage of the Beagle which visited Brazil, Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, Chile, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia among other islands and countries. A beautiful copy of these incomparably important books. Freeman 10. Hill 104-105. Norman 584.
Durant, C[harles]. New York: George P. Putnam, 1850. 4to, 43, 2 pp. and 40 leaves with 195 mounted specimens plus 11 duplicates laid in separately, plus 2 additional large specimens collected by Durant laid-in each inscribed by his daughter Emma Durant with a 2pp. ALs from her presenting "the last copy of the book I know of" to "an appreciative friend of the author". Publisher’s burgundy pebble-grain morocco, ornately gilt, backstrip and corners restored pre 1928 (mentioned in the A.L.s). Box. One of fifty copies printed of which only a few were finished with the mounted specimens. The first work on algology printed in America, this is the family copy with additional inserted specimens and a handwritten letter by the author’s daughter about the book. The author Charles Durant is better known as the the first successful American balloonist, ascending on September 9, 1830 from New York’s Castle Garden and scattering copies of poem he had written on the joys of flight from on high. After his marriage in 1837 he was convinced to give up the dangerous pursuit and instead won renown as the fabricator of the first American native silk, opened a lithography business, entered politics, and began collecting seaweed. The admiring press reported that "Mr Durant has waded at least a thousand miles in the waters of the New York Bay to procure these specimens, and has expended upwards of two thousand hours in their preparation". He was compared with Audubon. Published at $100 a copy, it is estimated that only around 15 copies were completed with the mounted specimens. 13 copies have been located in institutions; only two have appeared at auction in the past century.
Blake, William. London: Trianon Press for The William Blake Trust, 1954. 8vo, [vi] pp.letterpress, 31 color plates. Full orange morocco, slipcase, a fine copy. Copy no. 1062 of an edition limited to 1600 (those numbered 1-800 printed in England, while 801-1600 reserved for distribution in the United States) of which most were issued in a cheap quarter leather or an orange cloth binding. An early Trianon facsimile, reproducing Copy B. A foundation book for collecting children’s literature. Bentley, BB, 165. Grolier Children’s 100, #19.
Willard, Nancy. New York: HBJ, 1980. Thin 4to, 45pp. Illus. in color throughout. Original cloth, clipped dust-jacket, fine and protected in glassine. First edition, second printing ("BCDE" on copyright page, no Caldecott medal on jacket). Children’s book by a Blake aficionada – but of direct Blake interest for a good deal of accurate information on Blake. Caldecott Prize winner.
Grand Canyon of Arizona From Hermit Rim Road.
Moran, Thomas. New York: 1912. Elephant folio chromolithograph print, 34 1/4 x 25 inches, plus margins. In fine condition, beautifully archivally framed. According to Graham Arader, this magnificent print was published by the American Lithography Company of New York City in an edition of 2,500 copies. "At the time, Moran was the nation’s best known landscape painter, noted especially for his depictions of the Far West and its parks and monuments. The Santa Fe Railway was the first to lay a line to the Grand Canyon, in 1901. To promote tourism, Santa Fe officials later had copies of this lithograph framed and distributed to schools, libraries, civic organizations, and railroad customers throughout the country.To the great majority of Americans who did not have the resources or daring to travel to the West, Moran provided this image of the country’s infinite potential as symbolized by its dramatic, unique landscape. The artist showed American expansion as a fated conclusion, a glorious destiny indelibly written in the literal stone of the country’s landscape. . Yet for all of his nostalgia, Moran was a realist. He recognized that the beauty of the West needed no embellishment, and his portrayals and views of the West presented it as it was." The Reese Co. adds of their example: "This majestic print is the largest and most dramatic of Thomas Moran’s printed works. It was published by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1912, after the original oil commissioned for (and still owned by) the line. It shows a tremendous sweep of the scenery of the Grand Canyon from the Hermit Rim, with the bright colors of the Canyon shown dramatically against the turbulent sky. Thomas Moran, famous for his superb landscapes of the West, first painted the Grand Canyon in 1873 when he painted his "Chasm of the Colorado," which he sold to Congress the following year. In 1892 he visited the Canyon as a guest of the Santa Fe Railroad, whose line now brought tourists within easy reach, and painted a large canvas for the line in return for a free trip. The Santa Fe Railroad completed a spur line to the rim in 1901, and consistently sponsored "artist’s excursions" there from 1901 to 1912, as well as purchasing paintings to serve as a basis for promotional efforts. In 1912 the railroad capped twenty years of association with Moran by commissioning this picture and producing this large chromolithograph. Almost all copies of this Moran print were soon distributed by the Santa Fe Railroad as a promotional gift. Few of these have survived, generally being badly framed, usually without glass, and displayed in poor conditions."
Boswell, James. London: William Pickering, and Oxford: Talboys and Wheeler, 1826. 4 vols., 8vo, (xxi), 394; 416; 395; 428 pp. Original red buckram, black labels, engraved portrait of Boswell and Round Robin plate and a facsimile of Johnson’s handwriting; a very good copy of the large-paper edition in the original binding. Bookplate of H.L. Hobart. Pickering 8pp. ads at front of vol. 1. Limited to 50 copies on large paper, CBEL II, 1214; Keynes, p. 54; Pottle 90: "This edition in four volumes large octavo is the most beautiful that has yet appeared. The editor was Francis Pearson Walesby (1798-1858) Fellow of Lincoln College and afterwards (1829-34) Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford who in the previous year had edited the edition of Johnson’s works in the Oxford English Classics, with which this edition of the Life is uniform. This is the first edition of the Life to include a portrait of Boswell as a frontispiece."
A Child’s Christmas in Wales.
Thomas, Dylan Norfolk: New Directions, 1954. Small 8vo, 32pp, with decorative lettering printed in red. Original printed boards, dust-jacket, a very fine copy. First separate edition of Thomas’s last book, published posthumously. It has justly joined the ranks of the great Christmas tales for its poignant evocation of the author’s own childhood memories. Maud p.24 (dating it 1955).
Blake, William]. Aethelred Eldridge. Millfield OH: 1976. Slim 12mo, pp Illustrations signed: AEthelred. Self-wrappers as issued. "Printed by hand in Golgonooza–as a matter of fact, in Ohio, Millfield, R.R. 1, 45761–300 copies–where the Church of William Blake the stop-gap dislocates."
Minkoff, G.R. Great Neck NY: Minkoff, 1970. Slim 4to, 70pp. (12), 60pp. Portrait frontispiece of Harry and Carese Crosby. Original black cloth, as new. Edition limited to 1250 copies. A well produced and useful study of this iconic expatriate press which published so many famous authors — Joyce, Pound, Lawrence, Crane, Hemingway etc.
Nin, Anais. New York" Dutton, 1947. 8vo, 182pp. Original black cloth, dust-jacket chipped at head and overall a bit scruffy. First American edition, presentation copy inscribed: "For Jane Kastner In the world of the dreamer there is solitude. Anais Nin."
Nin, Anais. Yonkers: Alicat Bookshop, 1947. 8vo, 29pp. Original printed wrappers, browned (as usual?). First edition, 1000 copies set up and printed at the Gemor Press.
Nin, Anais. [San Francisco]: Gemor Press, . Slim sm. 8vo, 52 pp. Original orange cloth, upper cover decorated and printed in black. Initially self-published in Paris in 1936, this novella was also self-published a decade later when Nin as unable to find a U.S. publisher. This copy is inscribed: "For Jane Kastner with so many thanks for your delicate and sensitive work on my child’s drawings. Warmly, Anais."
Nin, Anais. New York: Dutton, 1948. 8vo, 182pp. Original black cloth, dust-jacket chipped at head and overall a bit scruffy. First American edition, presentation copy inscribed: "For Jane Kastner Nothing is lost but it changes. Anais Nin."
Flaubert, Gustave. New York and London: Printed for subscribers only by M. Walter Dunne, 1904. 10 vols., 8vo (9 x 6 in.; 228 x 153 ). Frontispieces and numerous plates by Clare Victor Dwiggins in 2 states with lettered tissue-guards. Original half red morocco, backstrips richly gilt, gilt tops, a very good set. The Académie française edition, limited to 50 sets, all on japon paper. Contents: [v.1] Madame Bovary. v. 1.–[v. 2] Madame Bovary. v. 2. Including a complete report of the Trial.–[v. 3] Salammbó. v. 1.–[v. 4] Salammbó. v. 2. Herodias. A simple soul.–[v. 5-6] Sentimental education, or The history of a young man. v.1-2.–[v. 7] The temptation of St. Antony. Over strand and field.–[v. 8] The candidate. Castle of hearts. The legend of St. Julien the Hospitaller.–[v. 9-10] Bouvard and Pécuchet. v.1-2.
Ondaatje, Michael. [London]: Bloomsbury, 1992. 8vo, (10), 307pp. Original blue cloth, backstrip gilt, dust-jacket, top edges lightly spotted otherwise as new. First edition of this landmark novel, which was the winner of the Golden Man Booker Prize at the closing event of the Man Booker 50th Anniversary Festival. The winner of this special one-off prize was chosen by the public. The film starred Ralph Fiennes, Juliet Binoche, Krisitin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe, and Colin Firth — it won 9 Oscars.
Nin, Anais. Yonkers: Alicat Bookshop,1946. 8vo, 21p., lacks the photographic wrappers First Edition. First issue, printed in purple, but lacking the wrappers and the 3/4 length photo of the author in men’s clothing. With a postcard from Anais Nin to Jane Kastner: "May the New Year fulfill all your wishes. Anais."
Wilde, Oscar. London and New York: A.R. Keller, 1907. 15 vols., 8vo, illustrations in every volume. Original de luxe binding of half dark green morocco, gilt tops, backstrips uniformly ages to brown, gilt decorations and lettering still bright. In all, a very good set Limited to 800 sets, usually found in cloth, within which this is the Florentine edition limited to 450 sets in a special binding. The contents are: [v.1] A house of pomegranates. The happy prince, and other tales.-[v.2] Lady Windermere’s fan. The importance of being earnest.-[v.3] Lord Arthur Savile’s crime. The portrait of Mr. W.H., and other stories.-[v.4] Poems, including Ravenna, The ballad of Reading Gaol, The sphinx, etc., with an introd. by Richard Le Gallienne.-[v.5] The picture of Dorian Gray.-[v.6] Intentions.-[v.7] A woman of no importance. An ideal husband.-[v.8] Essays, criticisms and reviews.-[v.9] What never dies; a romance by Barbey d’Aurevilly translated into English by Sebastian Melmoth (Oscar Wilde).-[v.10] Epigrams: phrases and philosophies for the use of the young.-[v.11] Salome. The Duchess of Padua. Vera.-[v. 12] Poems in prose.-[v.13] De profundis, from the original unexpurgated German edition, translated by Henry Zick.-[v.14] Essays and stories by Lady Wilde (Speranza).-[v.15] His life, with a critical estimate of his writings. The illus. to Salome in v.11 are by Aubrey Beardsley.
Grahame, Kenneth. London: Methuen & Co., 1908. 8vo, (6), 302 pp., frontispiece by Graham Robertson with tissue guard. Original blue green cloth with pictorial gilt designs on backstrip and upper cover, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Recased, backstrip relined, new endpapers, small stain in the top right margin up to p. 71. First edition of the timeless adventures of Ratty, Mole, and Mr Toad, which originated in letters Grahame wrote to his seven-year old son "Mouse". Methuen wasn’t sure what to make of the book, "no lighthearted story about a countryside community of animals but a long and ramifying fable", (Grolier 100) and released it on its adult rather than juvenile list, but children and their parents understood it from the start and a second edition was required with a month of publication. By the time of the E.H. Shepard illustrated edition in 1932 the book was recognised as a children’s classic. Grolier Children’s 100 #61. Cotsen I, 696.
Smith, Adam. Dublin: Printed for Messrs. Whitestone, Chamberlaine, Watson, et al., 1776. 3 vols., 8vo, [viii], -391; [viii-, -524, [3, ads]; [iv], -412 pp. Diced calf with gilt rules, recently rebacked. Lady Davy’s bookplate and inscription in each vol., purple ink signature of a later owner upon each bookplate, occasional marginal staining, closed tear to p.259 of vol. 3. Preserved in an archival clamshell box. The Adam Smith-John Playfair-Humphry Davy copy, an incomparable association. First Dublin edition, the only edition printed in the same year as the first (London) 1776. Lady Davy’s copy with her bookplate and ink inscription in each volume stating the books were given by Adam Smith to John Playfair. As a tangible record of the connections between these three influential Enlightenment figures this book is intriguing. Adam Smith (1723-1790), who established the foundations of modern economics with this book, and John Playfair (1748-1819), the mathematician and geologist, were friends in later life. They both belonged to the Oyster Club in Edinburgh and each owned copies of the other’s books. Smith’s library catalogue lists a presentation copy from Playfair and the sale catalogue (1820) of Playfair’s library includes books by Smith (but not this one). Jane Davy, formerly Apreece (1780-1855), was a well-known and widely-travelled literary hostess. As a young, wealthy widow she rejected a proposal of marriage from John Playfair in favour of Humphry Davy (1778-1829), whom she married in 1812 a few days after he had received his knighthood. The binding style with wove paper endpapers and diced calf boards postdates Smith’s death in 1790. The first volume has the binders ticket ‘Lycett Nelson Street (City Road)’ and records show that the firm was declared bankrupt in 1829 making it possible that Jane Davy received the book perhaps as a gift from Playfair during their courtship or on his death. Both Playfair and Davy visited London and could have commissioned the binding.This copy is the only evidence we have that Smith owned a copy of this Dublin edition, which appeared in the same year as the first and is the only other edition printed in that year but surely Lady Davy’s attestation suffices. The copy has a small ink correction to page 368 in vol. 3. This correction was not made to the printed text until the 4th edition. Smith was known to make authorial marginal notes in books; though the hand that made this correction cannot be known, it is unlikely that anyone else would have felt emboldened to emend the great man’s text. More about the relationships between Adam Smith and John Playfair, and John Playfair and Jane Davy remains to be discovered, stimulated by the discovery of this extraordinary association copy. A fascinating copy of a great Enlightenment text. PMM 221.
Nonesuch Press. Dreyfus, John. London: The Nonesuch Press, 1981. Sm. folio, xv, , 319,  pp. Illustrated throughout. Publisher’s full wine linen with gilt-stamped medallion and gilt lettered spine. Dust jacket. A very fine copy. Edition limited to 950 numbered copies, this being copy no. 867. A well printed and illustrated updated bibliography of the famous press run by Francis Meynell. Modestly, Meynell once stated that every book he designed and printed was flawed, but, as he noted, his effort was to make each book interesting and in this he certainly succeeded. This revised edition of the bibliography, first printed in 1936 with 100 tipped-in plates, is an excellent and necessary companion to, but not a replacement for, the original.
Joyce, James. London: Faber and Faber, 1939. 8vo, 628 pp. Original brick red cloth, backstrip titled in gilt, top edge stained yellow others untrimmed, original dust-jacket neatly repaired. Untrimmed edges aged toned, pencil name on front free endpaper. A near fine copy in a professionally restored dust-jacket that presents very well. First British edition, trade issue, one of a total first printing of 3400 copies, of which 950 copies in sheets were destroyed. It was published on the same day as the U.S. trade edition from Viking, and the limited edition bearing Faber and Viking’s joint imprint. One of the best known, least read books in English. Slocum and Cahoon A47.
The Helen Fragments from Books three & six of Homer’s Iliad. Translated by Richard Seibert. Drawings by Winifred McNeill.
Homer. Seibert, Richard (translator); McNeill, Winifred (illustrated). Berkeley: Koch Editions, 2003. 8vo, 11 x 5.5 inches, unpaginated. Stiff card wrappers oversewn, upper wrapper illustrated, in card portfolio and slipcase. As new. Number 24 of an edition of 150 copies signed by Seibert and McNeill. Bound by John DeMerritt in paper made at the Magnolia papermill. Peter Koch noted: "The Helen Fragments is a collaboration between two contemporary artists who have come together over an ancient text that has fascinated readers for millennia. The poet and printer, Richard Seibert, has selected portions from Homer’s Iliad that tell the tumultuous story of Helen of Troy and has translated them from the original Greek into contemporary lyric. Winifred McNeill, a New York based artist, working over a period of two years, completed over a hundred drawings for this project. Each of the fifty fragments is accompanied by a drawing that has been reconfigured digitally under the supervision of the artist and printed letterpress from polymer plate."
Brooke, Rupert. London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1915. 8vo, 63 pp. Original blue cloth, paper label on backstrip. With portrait frontispiece, slightly toned as usual due to a tissue guard. With the spare label pasted in at back endpaper. A very good copy indeed. First edition, one of 1000 copies. Brooke’s second book, published several months after his death at sea while serving with the British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Contains his famous sonnets "The Soldier" and "The Dead." With portrait frontispiece after photograph by Sherril Schell.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. a Definitive Text carefully selected from his Five differing Versions.
Fitzgerald, Edward. New York: Limited Editions Club, 1935. 12mo, 80 double-fold pages, designed, illustrated, and hand-illuminated by Valenti Angelo. Original yellow blind-stamped morocco, black slipcase. As issued. Number 701 of an edition limited to 1500 copies, signed by the illuminator, Valenti Angelo. A lovely little edition incorporating some of Valenti Angelo’s best work.
Paradise Regained. A Poem in IV Books. To which are added Samson Agonistes & Poems both English and Latin Compos’d on several Occasions.
Milton, John. Doves Press. Hammersmith: Doves Press, 1905. 4to, 386 pp., printed in red and black, with notes, running side-titles, and numerous initials printed in red. Original limp vellum lettered in gilt. First Doves Press edition, one of 300 unnumbered copies. Early examples of the Doves Press’ graceful design, decorative use of red initials etc. and its beautiful proprietary type. The initials were designed by Edward Johnston. Tidcombe, Doves Press 7.
Damon, S. Foster. Providence: Brown University Press, 1965. Royal 8vo, xii, 460 [461-463] pages; 12 plates (including 2 double-page maps), some with accompanying keys. Original cloth, a very good copy. Bookplate of George Goyder. First edition, presentation copy inscribed: "To George to be read at leisure with the affection of Foster". "This enormous work is particularly useful in identifying Blake’s illusions to people in the Bible and to places in Britain." Bentley, Blake Books, 1445 A.
Curwen Press. Simon, Oliver. London: Soncino Press, 1931. Sm. folio, x,136 pp. and inserted leaves. Original beige buckram a little soiled despite being in the original slipcase (worn), internally clean. Number 106 of 275 copies printed in red and black on mould-made paper (with inset leaves on blue paper) and decorated throughout with printers’ ornaments. Initials designed by J. Van Krimpen; decorations by Edward Bawden, Claudia Guercio and Celia Fiennes; headpiece engraving by Barnett Freedman; wood engravings by Eric Gill, John Nash, Rene Ben Sussan; color stencil illustrations by E. McKnight Kauffer, Edward Bawden and Barnett Freedman. The Miscellany was a supplement to the typographical material assembled in the ‘Specimen Book of Types’ (1928). It includes essays by Paul Nash (The Stencil), Harold Curwen (On Printing from the Wood) and Harry Carter (Sans Serif Types), illustrations of work printed by Curwen and a record of the Curwen Sans and other faces, vignettes and borders. "The high point for most people will always be the drawing (‘Homage to Dicky Doyle’) by Edward Bawden, specially done to show the use of colour applied by stencilling at the Curwen Press" (Collinge and Clark).
Haberly, Loyd. Newtown: The Gregynog Press, (1934). Sm. 4to, 75 pp., printed in red, green and black. Original full brown morocco, Boleyn’s falcon badge in gilt to upper cover, backstrip lettered in gilt, small ticket of the The Lakeside Press bindery, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Training Department, to front pastedown. A few light scuffs, near fine. Number 47 of 300 copies, handsomely bound. One of the lovely later Gregynogs produced for the Press while Loyd Haberly was running the press and very much in the style of his own printing of "The Crowning Year". Haberly designed, printed, illustrated and bound his private books, much in the tradition of Dard Hunter. For a time he was director of the Gregynog Press and was co-designer, with Graily Hewitt, of "Paradiso" type. Harrop 31.
Davis, William Heath. San Francisco: John Howell, 1929. Thick large 8vo, xxxii, 422pp., including the appendix, bibliography, and index. Illustrated with numerous plates of facsimile letters, reproductions of engravings, photographs, etc., folding facsimile of the California Star, March 15, 1848 (1st Local mention of gold discovery). Bespoke de luxe binding by Root and Son (signed) of crushed blue morocco extra, covers and backstrip richly gilt, gilt edges, slipcase, in perfect condition. Superb copy, suitable as a fine gift, of a classic work of local history first published in 1889 as "Sixty Years in California", which includes textual additions and numerous new illustrations and facsimiles. The original cloth binding is preserved at the back along with a contemporary review and other ephemera. Adams Herd 659. Cowan p.160. Graff 1010. Howes D136. Zamorano Eighty #27.
Andrews, Martin J. Bicester: Primrose Hill Press, 2003. Large 4to, xii, 426 pp., with 396 illustrations. Marbled boards, cloth backstrip, slipcase, as new. De luxe edition limited to 30 copies with a print (Shoveler Duck) from the original woodblock printed by Sebastian Carter at the Rampant Lions Press. Self-evidently rare.
The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, with Samuel Johnson, LL.D. By James Boswell, Esq. Containing Some Poetical Pieces by Dr. Johnson, Relative to the Tour, and Never before Published; A Series of His Conversation, Literary Anecdotes, and Opinions of Men and Books: With an Authentick Account of the Distresses and Escape of the Grandson of King James II. In the Year 1746.
Boswell, James. London: Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, 1785. Sm. 8vo, iii-vii (lacks half-title), , 524, pp. Modern full diaper calf panelled in gilt, backstrip stamped and lettered in gilt with 4 raised bands, a lovely retrospective binding by Dusel. First edition, mixed issue; E3, E4 and M4 are cancels, as usual; leaves I5, Q7 and U6 are in Pottle’s second state. We first sold this copy in 2005 after Dusel rebound it. It makes a very attractive "gift" copy. "Though the Life is a vaster and richer piece of work, no one will maintain that it displays Boswell’s unique gift for biography better than the Tour. Indeed, most lovers of Boswell will agree that the Tour as a whole, is more consistently good than the Life; that is, that nowhere in the Life could one find so many consecutive first-class pages as those that compose this book" (Pottle 57). Rothschild 456.
Bookman’s Holiday. Drawings by Richard Brzozowski.
Johnson, Ruth & Foster. [Meriden CT]: Bayberry Hill Press, 1971. Slim folio, (5), 22, (1, colophon)pp. Original quarter red cloth with red marbled boards, printed title label on the upper cover, board tips worn, large ding to the top edge of the lower board, internally fine. Number 42 of approximately 80 copies. Includes a presentation card from the publisher inscribed "For Mary and Harold", and also inscribed in the colophon "[from] Ruth and Fos with love". Another hand has noted the recipient as being Harold Hugo. An interesting memoir of a visit to England with much of interest about their visit to meet Mrs. St. John Hornby who was C.H. St. John Hornby’s inspiration for the press and later his wife. The description of viewing all the Ashendene Press books on vellum is mouth-watering. After visiting Mrs. Hornby they went on to visit her son Michael at his home Pusey House and saw the wonderful collections and gardens there, all well described in the text. A rare example of a private press book being biographical and giving context to a great private press.
Damon, S. Foster. London: Constable, 1924. Large 8vo, xv, 487 pp. With a frontispiece and one plate. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt. A very fine copy, with George Goyder’s bookplate and notes. First edition. Goyder, the Blake collector and scholar of renown, noted at the front: ".after long search". Bentley 1455: "the first thoroughly scholarly book about Blake? of great importance". The London edition is much less common than the Boston of the same year.
Pensrose, Boies (collection) London: Sotheby, 1971. Two vols., (2) 106 (4) pp.,  leaves of plates, text illustrations: 161 (3) pp. (some folding), folding color frontispiece,  leaves plates, text illustrations. Original green boards. The Stonehill copy with a few minor markings. Robin Halwas noted of his set: "Fine collection of pre-1641 travel and exploration, containing a manuscript of Sir John Mandevilles’ travels in English (extracted from the Clopton Manuscript, a devotional miscellany, c. 1403-1425; now Princeton University, R.H. Taylor Ms 10), a 1520 manuscript by Marco Polo, an early 15th-century manuscript of Chaucer’s Treatise on the astrolabe (ex-E.P. Goldschmidt; now Toshiyuki Takamiya Collection, Japan), the Basel Columbus Letter of 1494, and important maps and atlases. A magnificent English manuscript map of Guiana of c. 1596-1599 was bought by the Duke of Northumberland. Penrose commenced collecting in 1926 and had sold books previously at Sotheby’s in 1934 and at Parke-Bernet in 1945-1947. Percy Muir, "Private Libraries, VII: Boies Penrose" in The Times Literary Supplement, 17 September 1938, p.604; cf. Donald C. Dickinson, Dictionary of American Book Collectors (New York 1986), pp.256-257; William H. Helfand, in Grolier 2000: a further Grolier Club biographical retrospective (New York 2000), pp.284-286." Of interest is that the highest price at the sale was paid by Colin Franklin, closely followed by Ken Nebenzahl and Bernard Breslauer. Sadly auction houses no longer publish prices and buyers, just prices.
Rossetti, Christina. Gregynog Press. Newtown: The Gregnyog Press, 1930. Small 4to, xliii, 107, (1, colophon)pp. Wood engraved portrait of Christina Rossetti and shadow initials by R.A. Maynard. Half tan calf and marbled boards. Spine slightly scuffed and darkened, as often, otherwise a very good, unopened copy. Number 237 of 300 copies. A very good edition of Rossetti’s poems with a lengthy introduction by Walter de la Mare. Harrop 15 and p. 71: "impeccably printed." It was the first book to use cream Hermitage calf for the spine.
Kelmscott Chaucer Leaf Book]. Windle, John. San Francisco: John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller, 1994. Each leaf is contained in a cloth-backed boards portfolio with an inserted 4-page essay printed at the Arion Press. The leaf is loose so it can be removed for framing or display. Portfolio boards a little soiled, leaf fine will some minor soiling in the outer margins. A superb leaf with a woodcut by Burne-Jones, known as the "Astrolabe" leaf. The essay studies the value of the Kelmscott Chaucer from publication until today and compares prices over that century with the Nuremberg Chronicle, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Shakespeare’s first folio, and the King James Bible. Number 21 from a limited limited edition of 100 copies, published in 1994.
Geofroy Tory Painter and Engraver: First Royal Printer: Reformer of Orthography and Typography under François I.
Bernard, Auguste. Ives, George B. (translator). Cambridge, MA: Riverside Press, 1909. Large 8vo, (20), 332, (8, index) pp. Illustrated throughout. Original green paper over boards stamped in gilt on both covers, dust-jacket, slipcase, a fine copy with the Joseph Halle Schaffner bookplate. Number 302 of 370 copies on handmade paper printed in red and black in Riverside Caslon, designed by Bruce Rogers with all borders, decorations and initials redrawn by him. An essential reference work on the great French printer. In 1927 Ives and Rogers collaborated again on the Grolier Club publication "Champ Fleury".
Cobden-Sanderson, T. J. San Francisco: Roxburghe Club, 1930. 8vo, 14, pp. Original full vellum, title in gilt to front cover. Bookplate on front pastedown: "Ex Libris / Carl I. Wheat." Fine. This is number 6 of ten copies on vellum. Printed on the occasion of the visit of George W. Jones and William Edwin Rudge to the Roxburghe Club of San Francisco, October 29, 1930. George W. Jones (1860-1942) was one of the most respected and celebrated fine printers of his generation. In 1921 he was appointed printing adviser to the British arm of the Linotype organization and he became directly responsible for the creation of a number of distinguished typefaces for linecasting, including Granjon, Estienne, Baskerville and Georgian. William Edwin Rudge, printer and publisher of the early 20th century, is best known perhaps for his association with Bruce Rogers.
Stephenson, Jean. Currie, Kit. Grolier Club. New York: The Grolier Club, 2001. Roy. 8vo, (6), 121, (1)pp, illustrated throughout with b/w photos. Original qurter red cloth, marbled boards, as new. 350 unnumbered copies printed by Scott Vile at the Ascencius Press. The photos include several of prominent Grolier Club members, many of whom are still with us. "On Wednesday, October 14, 1998, over seventy members of the Grolier Club left New York to travel to Ravenna and Venice to discover Venice’s legacy of books and publishing. While on their trip, they visited celebrated libraries, the deserted island of Torcello, the great Palladian homes of the Veneto, and more. The adventure lasted until October 25, 1998. The Grolier Club Iter Veneticum provides an itinerary of the trip with detailed descriptions of their journey. Seventeen contributions by participants are included describing historical information on the collections and buildings visited on the tour, personal photographs, and artwork. Various drawings, references, and a list of travelers are also included. The Mosaics of Ravenna, Theodric’s Tomb, Palazzo, and Canova are a few of the locations visited." (Oak Knoll).
Leaf Book) Bliss, Carey. San Francisco: Book Club of California, 1977. Folio, 28 pp. Illustrated, original cloth, dust-jacket, very fine. Limited to 385 copies. As new with the prospectus. With an especially good leaf, in fine condition.

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