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Rackham (Arthur).- Poe (Edgar Allan) Poe's Tales of Mystery & Imagination, first edition, colour frontispiece and 11 colour plates, black and white plate and illustrations, tissue-guards, original pictorial cloth, dust-jacket, very slight creasing to spine extremities, 8vo, 1935.

Ravilious (Eric) Almanack 1929 with Twelve Designs..., title in red and black, wood-engraved illustrations by Ravilious, some spotting, original buckram-backed boards, a little spotting to upper cover at joint, Lanston Monotype Corporation, 1929 § Armstrong (Martin) 54 Conceits, first edition, signed by the author on half-title, wood-engraved illustrations by Ravilious, light spotting at beginning and end, original cloth-backed boards, slightly rubbed and faded at edges, 1933 § Coppard (A.E.) & others. Consequences: A Complete Story..., number 109 of 200 copies on hand-made paper and signed by the artist and all the writers, wood-engraved frontispiece by Ravilious, original morocco-backed patterned cloth, t.e.g., others uncut, spine rubbed and faded, Waltham St.Lawrence, Golden Cockerel Press, 1932, 8vo (3)

Ravilious (Eric).- Richards (J.M.) High Street, first edition, wood-engraved title vignette and 24 colour lithograph plates by Eric Ravilious, light spotting to endpapers, original pictorial boards, a little rubbed at edges, spine lightly browned and chipped at head and lower joint, corners a little worn, 8vo, Curwen Press for Country Life Ltd., 1938.⁂ One of the best examples of Ravilious's experimentations with colour lithography produced for the Curwen Press.

Angling.- S[mith] (J[ohn]) The True Art of Angling, second edition, woodcut frontispiece of angler, woodcut illustrations of fish, 3pp. advertisements at end, worming to upper margin of frontispiece, a little soiled, final leaf frayed at fore-edge affecting a couple of letters, contemporary sprinkled calf with double rule border in blind, rubbed, rebacked, corners and small hole to upper cover repaired, [Westwood & Satchell p.181; Wing S4108f], 24mo, for George Conyers...and John Sprint, 1697.⁂ First published in 1696 all editions of this little book are rare but, according to Westwood and Satchell, "this is even rarer than the first edition". Only a few copies have been sold at auction, most defective; ESTC records only 3 copies (BL, and 2 in America - New York Public Library and Yale).

Boxing.- Treatise (A) on the Art and Practice of Self-Defence; or, Instructions how to obtain a Scientific mode of Boxing..., first edition, folding hand-coloured woodcut frontispiece of 8 demonstrations of stances around a central scene of boxing match, title with ornamental border, illustrations, frontispiece torn at folds and laid down, also a few short tears at outer edge affecting border but not images, browning, cropped with slight loss to final line on verso of first leaf of text, modern morocco-backed cloth, 12mo, by B.Hodgson, [?1826].⁂ Very rare; only 2 copies listed in libraries (BL and Yale), both with the imprint "Printed for the Booksellers, 1826" which is not present in this copy. We have been able to trace only one copy at auction, at the Anderson Galleries, New York in 1910, also dated 1826.

Gill (Eric).- Gray (John) Poems (1931), first edition, one of 200 copies, wood-engraved illustration by Eric Gill on final leaf, Evan Gill's copy with his bookplate and annotation re size and font of book, loosely inserted letter from Rene Hague to Evan Gill, original wrappers, glacine dust-jacket torn, Published for the author by Sheed and Ward, 1931; Park. A fantastic story, first edition, one of 250 copies, engraved frontispiece by Denis Tegetmeier, wood-engraved illustration by Eric Gill at end, Evan Gill's copy with bookplate and annotation regarding newspaper cuttings tipped-in at end, loosely inserted 8pp. prospectus, original cloth-backed boards, faded dust-jacket, Published for the author by Sheed and Ward, 1932, 8vo (2)

Gray (John) Silverpoints, first edition, [out-of-series specially-bound copy on thick paper water-marked Spalding], from an edition limited to 325 (50 hors commerce), decorative initials by Charles Ricketts, original vellum decorated with gilt leaves and wavy lines, designed by Ricketts, uncut, a little soiled, tall narrow 8vo, Elkin Mathews and John Lane, 1893.⁂ The first book by the poet and translator John Gray (1866-1934), and one of the most significant literary works of the decadent 1890s and the Aesthetic Movement. Gray was a protegé of Oscar Wilde, who is believed to have paid the publishing costs of the book, and was rumoured to have been the model for Dorian Gray although in fact the two met a year after Wilde's work was published. However, Gray was henceforth associated with the role and signed himself "Dorian" in letters to Wilde but the friendship was short-lived as Wilde disliked Gray's lifelong partner Marc-André Raffalovich, the French writer on homosexuality. Gray later became a Catholic priest based in Edinburgh.Ricketts stated that the unusual and influential design of the book was in the style of an Aldine italic volume and a Persian saddle-book. 25 numbered copies of the deluxe edition were issued, plus a few copies without the limitation notice, as in this case.

Judaica.- Kabbalah.- Roxburghe copies.- Postel (Guillaume) Abrahami patriarchae liber Jezirah, sive formationis mundi . . . Vertebat ex hebræis et commentariis illustrabat, collation: A-G8 H4, italic and some Hebrew type, woodcut criblé initials, Paris, for the Author, 1552; Liber de Causis seu de Principiis & originibus Naturæ v-triusque..., collation: A-D8 E4, occasional underlining in ink, Paris, Sebastian Nivelle, 1552; Absconditorum a constitutione mundi clavis, qua mens humana tam in divinis quam in humanis per tinget ad interiora velaminis aeternae veritatis, collation: a-f8 g4, some ink underlining, Paris, no printer, [1555], together 3 vol., some spotting or staining, uniformly bound in 18th century red morocco, gilt, with crest of John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe to covers, some ink stains, 16mo (3)⁂ The first mentioned is the rare first printing in any language of the Sefer Yezirah or 'Book of Creation', which is one of the most important books of the Jewish Kabbalah. This edition appeared ten years before the first edition in Hebrew, which was published in Mantua in 1562. It 'had a greater influence on the development of the Jewish mind than almost any other book after the completion of the Talmud' (Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906). The third mentioned is the rare first edition of an important cabalistic text. Provenance: John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, with gilt crests to covers. Literature: I: Steinschneider 6779; Wellcome 5227; II: Adams P2011.

Burchiello (Giovanni di Domenico) Rime, with commentary by Anton Francesco Doni, collation: A-O8, italic type, woodcut printer's device to title and verso of otherwise blank f., 2 full-page woodcut portraits of the author, woodcut decorative initials, 18th century light red morocco, spine in compartments, richly gilt and with morocco label, covers with double filet and single scrolling foliage borers, small 4to, Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1553.⁂ Scarce first edition with commentary by Doni. Literature: Adams B3296; Gamba 1371; EDIT 16 CNCE 7957.

Emblemata.- Alchemy.- Maier (Michael) Atalanta fugiens, hoc est, emblemata nova de secretis naturae chymica, first edition, second issue (only the date altered from 1617), engraved historiated title and 50 emblems by Matthias Merian the elder, each emblem accompanied by a piece of music, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, with final blank, water-stained at upper inner gutter and margins, some staining and finger-marking, lightly browned, 19th century marbled boards, spine ends and corners worn, rubbed, [Duveen p.381; Ferguson II, p.62; Landwehr German 409; Wellcome I, 3980], small 4to, Oppenheim, Hieronymus Galler for Johann Theodor de Bry, 1618.⁂ One of the most important works in alchemical literature. 'The Atalanta Fugiens is generally regarded as Maier's rarest work and it is also the most sought after, for the splendid engravings which belong to the finest samples of Hermetical illustration' (Duveen). Maier was a celebrated alchemist and physician at the court of the Emperor Rudolf II in Prague.

Emblemata.- Sadeler (Raphael) [and Jeremias Drexel] Zodiacus Christianus seu signa 12. divinae praedestinationis una cum 12. symbolis quibus signa illa adumbrantur, first edition, engraved pictorial title, 14 large emblems and a printer's device at end, woodcut tail-pieces and decorative initials, title trimmed to just outside printed area and window mounted, emblem on p.12 woth small neat red ink numbers, occasional spotting, lightly browned, ornate wide gilt doublures, 19th century Jansenist style blue straight-grain morocco, gilt spine in compartments, [Landwehr, German, 229 (under Drexel); Praz p.319 (note)], 8vo, Munich, Anna Berg for Raphael Sadeler, 1618.⁂ The scarce first edition. Provenance: 'White Knights No. 3671' (pencil note to front free endpaper).

Emblemata.- Montenay (Georgette de) Stamm Buch, Darinnen Christlicher Tugenden Beyspiel, Einhundert auszerlesener Emblemata, text in French, Latin, Spanish, Italian, German, English and Dutch, engraved architectural title by Peter Rolos, portrait of the author, and 100 half-page emblems by Pierre Woeriot, A1&2 detached, some staining and foxing, 19th century blind-stamped panelled calf, covers detached, spine ends chipped, corners worn, rubbed, [Landwehr, German, 445; Praz p.431], 8vo, Frankfurt, Johann-Carl Unckels, 1619.⁂ The first polyglot edition of the emblems of Georgette de Montenay (1540-1571), poet and Protestant lady in waiting to Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre, to whom there is dedicatory verse at the end. 'The book was intended as [an] album amicorum, with a blank for entries at the end of each emblem' (Landwehr).

Aeschylus. Tragoediæ VII, edited by Willem Canter, collation: A-Z8, first Canter edition, title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, trimmed at head and foot, touching a few headlines or signatures, some staining, lightly browned, 19th century calf, gilt, corners little worn, little stained, rubbed, [Adams A270], Antwerp, Christopher Plantin, 1580 § Plinius Secundus (Gaius) Historiae naturalis libri XXXVII, 3 vol., first Elzevier edition, engraved pictorial title to vol.1, small circular woodcut portrait of author, spotted, occasional staining, contemporary red morocco, richly gilt, spines in compartments and with double morocco labels, vol.3 lacking 1 spine label, spines darkened, some fading, rubbed, [Willems 428], Leiden, House of Elzevier, 1635; and 3 others, Continental, 1 an odd vol., v.s. (7)

Agriculture.- Alamanni (Luigi) La coltivazione... e le Api del S. Giovanni Rucellai... , 3 parts in 1, collation *4, A-N8; O-T8, V4, title and recto of penultimate f. with woodcut printer's device, woodcut decorative initials, without final blank, full-page engraved armorial bookplate bound in at start, some spotting and staining, later armorial vellum, red morocco label to spine, upper cover hole to vellum, affecting small part of gilt arms, lightly soiled, 8vo (150 x 91mm.), Florence, Filippo Giunta, 1590.⁂ Third and last Giunta edition of this didactic poem on agriculture, and the first to include Rucellai's poem on bees, which is followed by notes by Roberto Titi. Literature: Adams A412; EDIT 16 CNCE 611.

Spinoza (Baruch) Réflexions curieuses d'un esprit des-interessé sur les matières les plus importantes au salut, tant public que particulier, [translated by Gabriel de Saint-Glen], etched portrait frontispiece of the author (not called for), woodcut ornament to title, errata f. and 30pp. of 'Remarques' at end, occasional light spotting, contemporary red morocco, covers with triple gilt filet borders, spine in compartments, all but one compartment with central rosette tool within double filet borders with foliage corner-pieces, upper part of lower cover faded, rubbed at extremities, g.e., [Van der Linde, 11; Wolf 371], 12mo (book block 140 x 72mm.; binding 147 x 89mm.), Cologne [but Amsterdam], Claude Emanuel , 1678.⁂ First French edition of Spinoza's great Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. With two other title-pages with fictitious imprints bound in at start: Traitté des cérémonies des juifs tant anciens que modernes, Amsterdam, Jacob Smith, 1678 and La Clef du santuaire, Leiden, Pierre Warnaer, 1678.

[Caylus (Anne Claude Philippe de Pestels de Levis de Tubieres-Grimoard, Comte de)] Contes orientaux, tirés des manuscrits de la Bibliothèque du Roy de France, 2 vol., first edition of this collection, titles with woodcut ornament, 8 engraved plates, occasional spotting, contemporary red morocco, gilt, covers with triple filet borders and rosette corner-pieces, flat spines in compartments, 2 with title and vol. number, the others with rosette tool,vol.1 spine uniformly slightly faded,g.e., [Cohen-de Ricci 209], 8vo (binding 163 x 99mm.), The Hague, no printer, 1743.⁂ Provenance: 'C. Charles d'Esclignac, 1803' (ink inscription to titles).

Ficino (Marsilio) Platonica theologia de immortalitate animorum, collation: [*]10 a10 b-z8 &8 aa-nn8 oo10, 318 ff., [*]9 blank, 33 lines, Roman type, initial spaces with guide-letters, first f. frayed and holed, some holes repaired, with loss of several letters, last couple of ff. little frayed, ff3 marginal tear at foot, occasional foxing (mostly light, but hevaier in a few instances)or spotting, 19th century vellum-backed marbled boards, folio (283 x 209mm.), Florence, Antonio di Bartolommeo Miscomini, 7 November, 1482..⁂ First edition of Marsilio's chief work, which aimed to prove the harmonious bond between Christian theology and Platonism. In it he argues for the immortality of the soul. A complete and handsome copy of this highly important book, very rare in such state.Literature: BMC VI 637; Bod-inc F-049; BSB-Ink F-121; Goff F157; HC 7075*; GW 9881.

Aristotle. [Opera omnia, graece], edited by Desiderius Erasmus and Simon Grynaeus, 2 vol. in 1, collation: α8 a-z aa-tt8; A-O8 P6 Q-Z AA-HH8 II6, text in Greek, woodcut printer's device to titles and verso of final f. in each vol., woodcut historiated initials, later ink marginalia, underlining in pencil at start, some marginal water-staining, spotting or light foxing, occasional staining, contemporary blind-stamped panelled pigskin over wooden boards, lacking clasps, corners worn, soiled and rubbed, folio (335 x 201mm.), Basel, Johann Bebel, 1531.⁂ Erasmus' monumental edition of Aristotle - the second edition in Greek, preceded only by the 5 volume Aldine edition, which was textually incomplete (lacking the Poetics and Rhetoric), the present is accordingly the first complete Opera in Greek. Edited in collaboration with Simon Grynaeus, it is dedicated by Erasmus to Thomas More's son John. A handsome and desirable copy bound in contemporary pigskin.Provenance: Sebastian Müller (title inscription dated Mansfeld, 1572, recording the gift to:) Gaspard Hesdelin; Albert Frick (small title inscription dated Jena, 1734); P. Passloch (signature dated 1935).Literature: Adams A1730.

False Rome imprint.- [Hutten (Ulrich von)] Duo volumina epistolarum obscurorum virorum, ad D. M. Ortui, 2 vol. in 1, collation: A-X12, first title within ornate woodcut foliage and floral border, woodcut decorative initials, some light foxing and staining, 19th century calf, gilt, rebacked in later morocco, covers crackled, rubbed, 12mo (121 x 69mm.), Rome [but Frankfurt], [David Zöpfel], 1570.⁂ A rare edition, with false Roman imprint, EDIT 16 records one copy and VD16 five copies. Provenance: 'T.C. Burkitt, Feb '84, ¶'. Literature: VD 16 E 1728; EDIT 16 CNCE 51184.

Magic & occult.- Ursinus (Johann Heinrich) De Zoroastre Bactriano, Hermete Trismegisto, Sanchoniathone Phoenicio, Eorumq(ue) scriptis, & aliis, contra Mosaicae Scripturae antiquitatem, first edition, browned, contemporary vellum, [Caillet 10946; Rosenthal 867; Jantz 2564], 8vo, Nuremberg, Michael Endter, 1661. ⁂ With much on magic and the occult.

Cross-dressing.- [Choisy (François-Timoléon, abbé de)] Histoire de Madame la Comtesse des Barres, a Madame la Marquise de Lambert, first edition, title in red and black, contemporary sheep, corners rubbed, 12mo, Antwerp, chez Van der Hey, 1735.⁂ Page 8 recounts how, on the advice of Madame de la Fayette, the young abbe continues, as was his wont from early childhood, to dress as a woman: "il arriva meme que Madame de la Fayette, que je voyois fort souvent, me voyant toujours fort ajuste avec des pendants d'oreilles & des mouches, me dit en bonne amie, que ce n'etoit point la mode pour les hommes, & que je serois bien mieux de m'habiller tout-a-fait en femme..."

[Croce (Giulio Cesare)] Bertoldo Bertoldino e Cacasenno in ottava rima. Con Argomenti, Allegorie, e Figure in Rame, commentary by Giovanni Andrea Barotti, engraved frontispiece depicting the author's family, fox printer's device to title, 20 plates, a folding table, portrait of the author, and vignettes by Lodovico Mattioli after J.M. Crespi, and others, some water-staining, lightly foxed, contemporary vellum, spine in compartments, corners worn, marked, [Gamba 2156], 4to, Bologna, Lelio dalla Volpe, 1736. ⁂ First edition in 'ottava rime' of this comic masterpiece with splendid illustrations.

Irish Binding.- Mullen (George, of Dublin, binder).- Weld (Isaac) Illustrations of the Scenery of Killarney and the Surrounding Country, first edition, engraved vignette title, 2 maps and 17 plates, one folding, tissue guards, contemporary ink inscription partly erased from head of title, some foxing, bound in handsome contemporary green straight-grain morocco, by George Mullen of Dublin with his ticket, elaborately tooled in gilt and blind, spine gilt in compartments with five raised bands, green silk endpapers with gilt-tooled borders and decorative tooled turn-ins, g.e., slightly rubbed at edges, spine a little browned, 4to, 1807.

Americas.- Central America.- Gage (Thomas) A New Survey of the West-India's..., second edition, 4 engraved maps, contemporary ink inscription dated 25 May 1655 to verso of map frontispiece at head, woodcut typographical ornaments and initials, lightly browned, wormhole to inner margin affecting maps but unobtrusive, hole to D6 with loss of a few letters, 2 tears to M6 slightly affecting text (repaired), modern calf ruled in blind, lightly marked, [Sabin 26299; Wing G113, cf. Hill 665, first edition of 1648], folio, by E.Cotes, and to be sold by John Sweeting, 1655.⁂ The second and best edition of the first non-Spanish description of the Spanish territories in the New World. Gage spent a dozen years in Central America, living for much of the time amongst the Indians. This edition contains 4 engraved maps not included in the first edition of 1648.

Plutarch. The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romaines, 2 parts in 1, translated by Sir Thomas North, titles with woodcut device, woodcut medallion portraits with varying ornamental borders, lacking initial blank, first title discreetly repaired at head (not affecting text), 2F1-2 with small holes and minor loss of text, 3K4 with small hole in text causing slight loss, 5A3 torn and a few other leaves with expertly repaired tears, a few marginal defects, slight marginal worming near beginning, contemporary calf, richly stamped in gilt to an overall pattern of stars with arabesque centre- and corner-pieces and initals "E" and "A" within small circles, rebacked preserving original gilt spine with raised bands, corners and edges repaired, new endpapers and cloth ties, [STC 20068], folio, by Richard Field for George Bishop, 1603.⁂ A handsome copy of the third edition of North's translation, which was first published in 1579. Provenance: "Ex libris Christophori Brayne" (ink inscriptions at beginning and end).

Women.- Marriage.- [Braithwait (Richard)] Ar't Asleepe Husband? A Boulster Lecture; Stored with all Variety of Witty Jeasts, Merry Tales, and Other Pleasant Passages; Extracted from the Choicest Flowers of Philosophy, Poesy, Antient and Moderne History, engraved additional pictorial title, printed title within woodcut typographical border, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, X8 blank, E7&8 a little shorter, ?from another copy, washed, 20th century red crushed morocco, gilt, little rubbed, g.e., [STC 3555; Pforzheimer 76; Grolier/Wither to Prior 86; Newberry/Courtesy Books 205], 8vo, Printed by R. Bishop, for R[ichard]. B[est]. or his assignes, 1640.⁂ First edition, first issue (ending with the errata on Y4v) of this satirical look at love and marriage.

Donne (John) LXXX sermons preached by that learned and reverend divine, engraved additional architectural title with an oval portrait of Donne at its centre (second state), woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, lacking initial and final blanks, Aa5 outer margin torn with loss of a few printed side-notes, some water-staining, last few index ff. stained, occasional spotting, lightly browned, contemporary calf, sympathetically rebacked, spine in compartments with red morocco label, [STC 7038; Grolier/Donne 62; Grolier/Wither to Prior 293; Keynes, Donne, 29], folio, printed [by Miles Flesher] for Richard Royston, in Ivie-lane, and Richard Marriot in S. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet, 1640. ⁂ First edition of the first folio collection of Donne's sermons. The prefatory essay is the first printing of Izaak Walton's classic Life of Donne.

Davenant (Sir William) Gondibert: an heroick poem, first edition, title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut decorative initials and tail-pieces, N4 and Qq4 present in both cancelled and uncancelled states, first and last ff. blank, occasional spotting, light browning to edges, modern green crushed morocco, richly gilt, by Tout, g.e., [Wing D324; Pforzheimer 252 (mentioning this copy in regard to cancels], small 4to, printed by Tho. Newcomb for John Holden, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Anchor in the Nevv-Exchange, 1651.⁂ With an 'Answer to the Preface by Thomas Hobbes'. According to lettering to the spine of the binding this purports to be Abraham Cowley's copy. Indeed there are the initials 'A.C.' to title, but this provenance remains inconclusive. Provenance: Jane Barkham; John Alured; William and Samuel Brandling (17th century ink inscriptions to recto of first blank); 'G. Thorn Drury, May 11, 1889'; H. Buxton Foreman; R.B. adam; Frank Brewer Bemis (bookplates).

Fulbecke (William) An Historicall Collection of the Continuall Factions, Tumults, and Massacres of the Romans and Italians...before the peaceable Empire of Augustus Caesar, first edition, with initial blank and blank A4 at end of preliminaries, title with woodcut device, woodcut head-pieces and initials, contemporary ink inscription to title erased, contemporary ink manuscript note to rear free endpaper, first few leaves lightly stained, contemporary limp vellum with ties (2 defective), yapp edges, a little rubbed and soiled, [STC 11412], small 4to, for William Ponsonby, 1601.

Ray (John) A Collection of English VVords Not Generally used...with Catalogues of English Birds and Fishes..., first edition, issue with no comma after "VVords" in title, comma after "Ray" and "Birds" & "Fishes" in black, with initial and final blanks, title in red & black, title with old signature in red crayon and lightly soiled and cropped at foot with some loss to imprint, some other leaves cropped with occasional loss of signature and affecting final line of errata at end, final signature trimmed a little shorter, small hole to B5 touching a couple of letters, larger hole to K1 with loss of letters to four lines, old ink inscription to front free endpaper, contemporary mottled sheep, rubbed and a little stained, slight worming to lower corner of upper cover, spine ends repaired, [Keynes 23; Wing R388], 12mo, by H.Bruges for Tho. Burrell, 1674.⁂ The first English dialect dictionary, the result of the author's travels around Britain with his friend Francis Willughby in search of botanical and ornithological specimens.

Feminism.- [Drake (Judith)] An Essay in Defence of the Female Sex. In which are inserted the Characters of a Pedant, a Squire, a Beau, a Vertuoso, a Poetaster, a City-Critick, &c...by a Lady, second edition, engraved frontispiece of 'The Compleat Beau' cropped at foot with loss of one line (as often) and repairs to short tear at inner edge extending into image & top outer corner, title torn at head and with old ink signature torn away with loss to border (repaired), slightly soiled, bookplate of Tipping family of Brasted Park, Kent, contemporary tree calf, rubbed, corners worn, rebacked, [Wing D2125B], for A.Roper and E.Wilkinson, 1696.⁂ The first English feminist tract, first published the same year; also attributed to Mary Astell but now generally accepted to be by Judith Drake whose husband wrote the commendatory verses at the beginning. The treatise is a defence against male accusations of ignorance, vanity, enviousness etc. of women and also addresses the faults of men, particularly satirizing some of her contemporaries.Feminism - See also lot 341

Shakespeare (William) A Collection of Poems, 2 vol. in 1, first collected edition, foxed and browned, contemporary sheep, corners repaired, rubbed, preserved in modern morocco-backed cloth drop-back box, 8vo, for Bernard Lintott, [1710-11].⁂ Effectively the earliest obtainable printing of Shakespeare's major poetry, combining the complete uncorrupted text of the 1609 Sonnets with Lucrece and Venus and Adonis. Benson's 1640 edition of Shakespeare's Poems lacked both Lucrece and Venus and Adonis and its text of the Sonnets was both incomplete and bowdlerised - combining poems, mixing masculine and feminine pronouns etc. - but Lintott referred back to the original 1609 edition of the Sonnets, correcting Benson's mistakes and including the two longer poems for the first time. Volume 1 was originally published separately with a title-page dated 1709; when Lintott completed the second volume a new general title was issued and the dating of the parts altered. Rare and important.

Longitude.- Act (An) for Providing a Publick Reward for such Person or Persons as shall Discover the Longitude at Sea, 6pp., woodcut arms to title, woodcut initial, sewn, folio, Printed by John Baskett...And by the Assigns of Thomas Newcomb, and Henry Hills, 1714.⁂ First edition of the act announcing the competition to establish longitude: 'nothing is so much wanted and desired at Sea, as the Discovery of the Longitude' (part of the opening sentence). A reward of up to £20,000 was offered to the person who found a solution to this pressing problem, which had great bearing on trade and the quest for Empire, the catalyst for which was Sir Cloudesley Shovell's disastrous shipwreck off the Scilly Isles on his return from the Siege of Toulon in 1707. It was John Harrison who finally met the criteria with his marine chronometer, although it was many years before he received his rightful reward, due to the prejudice of the Board of Longitude.

[Fowke (Martha)] The Epistles of Clio and Strephon, Being A Collection of Letters That passed between an English Lady, and an English Gentleman in France..., first edition, fine woodcut initials and head- and tail-pieces, a little faint soiling and browning, contemporary calf, board margins, spine compartments, and margins of pastedowns attractively ruled in gilt, spine compartments each stamped with gilt decorative device, worn along extremities and at spine ends, a few scuffs, spine a little faded, [Foxon, p.282], for J.Hooke and others, 8vo, 1720.⁂Martha Fowke (1689-1736) pioneering female poet, associate of Aaron Hill, one-time friend of Eliza Haywood. 'Strephon' was the poet and journalist William Bond.

Feminism.- [Astell (Mary)] Some Reflections upon Marriage, fourth edition, initial advertisement leaf, with 16pp. bookseller's catalogue at end (not 4pp. as called for by ESTC], woodcut ornaments, title with old inscription of "Soho Society" (partly erased) and author's name supplied in ink, a few ink annotations to text and pencil markings, browned, ink signature and note on the author to front free endpapers, modern calf-backed marbled boards with morocco label, 8vo, for William Parker, 1730.⁂ Mary Astell (1666-1731) is regarded as the first English feminist, advocating equal educational opportunities for women. In this work she argues that because a woman is bound to obedience by her husband, she must be especially mindful when choosing a husband, and if she must marry, marry a man who is worthy."If all Men are born Free, how is it that all Women are born Slaves?" Appendix p.50Feminism - See also lot 334

Law.- Polygamy, Adultery & Divorce.- Ochino (Bernardino) The cases of polygamy, concubinage, adultery, divorce, &c. seriously and learnedly discussed. Being a compleat collection of all the remarkable tryals and tracts which have been Written on those Important Subjects, 4 parts in 1, first edition of this collection, first title with woodcut ornament, woodcut tail-pieces, some light spotting and browning, bookplate of the LA Law Library, contemporary speckled calf, gilt, spine in compartments and with later red morocco label, chip to head of spine, large 12mo, printed for T. Payne, in Pater-Noster-Row; J. Chrichley, at Charing-Cross; and W. Shropshire, in New-Bond-Street, 1732.⁂ A scarce copy of the first edition of this collection, which includes the first English translation of Ochino's dialogue on divorce.

[Johnson (Samuel)] Marmor Norfolciense: or an essay on an ancient prophetical inscription, in monkish rhyme, lately discover'd near Lynn in Norfolk, first edition, half-title, lightly foxed, 20th century speckled calf, gilt, rebacked, preserving original backstrip in compartments, spine labels chipped, rubbed, [Courtney & Smith, p.9 'this pamphlet became exceedingly scarce'; Rothschild 1219], 8vo, printed for J. Brett, at the Golden Ball, opposite St. Clement's Church in the Strand, 1739.⁂ Rare first edition of Johnson's first political satire, which disparages Walpole's government. Provenance: Cardiff Castle (Armorial bookplate).

First printing of Rule Britannia.- Thomson (James) and David Mallet. Alfred: a masque. Represented before Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, at Cliffden, on the first of August, 1740, first edition, half-title, 'The Argument' f., woodcut head- and tail-pieces, marginal staining, some spotting, again mostly marginal, contemporary calf, rather worn, [Rothschild 1361], 8vo, Printed for A. Millar, over-against St. Clement's Church in the Strand, 1740. ⁂ Includes the first appearance of Rule Britannia in print. This first edition was taken in it's entirety and bound in as part of Millar's printing of the works of Mallet, 1743, which we offer here.

Tea.- Short (Thomas) Discourses on Tea, Sugar, Milk, Made-Wines, Spirits, Punch, Tobacco, &c., with plain and useful rules for Gouty People, first edition, initial and final advertisement f. (the latter misbound after title), occasional spotting, contemporary calf, spine in compartments and with red morocco label, spine with head chipped and central crease, rubbed and marked, [Gabler G36340; Maclean p.131; Simon BG 1382], 8vo, Printed for T. Longman, in Pater-Noster-Row; and A. Millar, in the Strand, 1750.⁂ 'This work holds its own place in the eighteenth-century literature of beverages' (Simon).

Priestley (Joseph) Miscellaneous Observations relating to Education, first edition, half-title with repaired tear, 4pp. publisher's catalogue at end, uncut in contemporary Dutch wrappers, slight wear to spine, 8vo, Bath, Printed by R. Cruttwell, 1778.⁂ A course of education developed by Priestley for students at dissenting academies who were intended for civil and commercial careers and not the learned professions.

Architecture.- Aldrich (Henry) Elementa architecturae civilis.. [The Elements of Civil Architecture], 2 parts in 1 [Latin and English], first edition in English, stipple-engraved portrait after Kneller, list of subscribers, 55 engraved plates at end, some foxing, occasional staining, contemporary red morocco, richly gilt, covers with inner wide borders made up of flowers in ornamental vases, within an outer border of intertwined ribbons between single filets, spine in 6 compartments, all but one with large medallion centre-piece and floral corner-pieces, the other with black morocco label, head of spine little worn, lower corners worn, rubbed and marked, g.e., [Harris 17], small 4to (binding 242x 158mm.), Oxford, D. Prince, J. Cooke [and others], 1789.

Morris (William) The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs, second edition, presentation copy signed by the author on half-title, 4pp. advertisements at end, half-title and verso of final advertisement leaf browned, original cloth, spine label browned,1877; The Odyssey of Homer, first one-volume edition, presentation copy inscribed by the author on half-title, Harry Buxton Forman's copy with his bookplate and long note about the recipient of the book, original cloth, spine label soiled, 1887, 8vo (2)⁂ The first is inscribed to George Washington Fournier Howell, a working class politician and agitator who was secretary of the parliamentary committee of the TUC; the second to John Barnes who, according to Buxton Forman's note, was "for many years a shopman at 29 New Bond Street; and when Morris's books were published there by Ellis, the poet used to present copies to Barnes & inscribe them..."

Shakespeare (William) The London Prodigal [&] The History of the Life and Death of Thomas Lord Cromwell [&] The History of Sir John Oldcastle, the good Lord Cobham, from the third folio, comprising pp.1-16, 17-32 and 33-54 (some pages misnumbered) respectively [i.e.pp.934-983], stained, frayed and soiled, some worming to inner margins, edges browned and brittle, all leaves loose, 1664; with a number of other leaves from the 3rd folio, including parts of All's Well that ends well (some leaves duplicated), The Winter's Tale and The Puritan Widow, mostly in similar condition, folio (51 leaves)⁂ The three complete plays were some of the seven which were included for the first time in this third folio edition, all but one of which (Pericles) were spurious. This copy of Sir John Oldcastle has the page number 36 omitted but completed in ink in a contemporary hand; the play's title is also written in ink in a contemporary hand in the upper margin of p.39.

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) Midland Conservative Club. Presidential Address Delivered by Winston Spencer Churchill, Esq., June 1st, 1899, first edition, 16pp., damp-staining to first and final ff., minor loss to a few corners, occasional underlinings in pencil, disbound, some splitting to head and foot of spine, with broken remains of original wrappers, [not in Woods], 8vo, [1899].⁂ An unrecorded piece of early Churchilliana. We can trace no other copies at auction and there are no copies listed on either COPAC or WorldCat. The speech gives an excellent insight into the young Churchill's early political thoughts. Churchill gave the speech on 1st June 1899 in the run up to his first foray into politics as an unsuccessful candidate in the Oldham by-election on 6th July of the same year. In the speech the young Churchill sets our his world views, adopting a surprisingly isolationist stance in light of his stance in his later years. The speech was clearly well received, at the end of the pamphlet it is noted "It was resolved amid cheers, that the President's speech should be printed in a pamphlet, and a copy presented to every member of the club." The speech was also reported in several papers including those in America and was printed in full in the The Morning Post. Reporting on the speech was generally very positive with The Morning Post giving a glowing and somewhat prescient write up: "The old politicians had better look to their laurels. Churchill's speech has a force of movement and humor that delighted his hearers and discloses a sense of form and consciousness that oratory is an art, which will leave the public to expect more In that respect than has hitherto been supplied."Other than this edition and its contemporary appearance in the The Morning Post, the only other publication of this speech in full that we can trace was in an appendix to Correspondence: Winston S. Churchill to Christine Lewis Conover 1899-1943, ed. Martin GIlbert, 1996, it does not appear in Winston Churchill: His Complete Speeches, 1897-1963, ed. Robert Rhodes James, 1974.

Economics.- Fisher (Irving) The Nature of Capital and Income, first edition , half-title, diagrams in text, original green cloth, spine gilt, spine darkened and repaired, gilt dulled, rubbed, housed in a 20th century cloth drop-back box, 8vo, New York, The Macmillan Company, 1906.⁂ "Much of standard neoclassical theory today is Fisherian in origin and substance. His theory of money and prices is the foundation of much of contemp. monetary economics... The greatest expert of all time on index numbers" (New Palgrave II, 369).

Utopian fiction.- [Holberg (Ludvig, Baron)] A Journey to the World Under-Ground. By Nicholas Klimius, first edition in English, woodcut device to title, woodcut initial, head- and tail-pieces, very occasional light damp-staining to foot of lower margin, very occasional light finger-soiling, front free endpaper with contemporary ink inscription and upper half torn away and restored, contemporary speckled calf, sympathetically rebacked, retaining original backstrip, corners repaired, light staining to upper cover, for T. Astley, at the Rose in St. Paul's Church-Yard; and B. Collins, Bookseller, in Salisbury, 1742; and and a copy of The Memoirs of Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, large 12mo (2)⁂ Aware that his satirical science fiction-fantasy novel would likely cause controversy in his native Norway, Holberg first published the work in Germany in Latin as Nicolai Klimii iter subterraneum novam telluris in 1741.

Prevost (Abbé) The Dean of Coleraine. A Moral History, Founded on the Memoirs of An Illustrious Family in Ireland, 3 vol., first Dublin edition, engraved frontispiece, pagination and collation occasionally erratic but as issued, light offsetting, ink name to titles, occasional light soiling, contemporary calf, Dublin, by S.Powell, for R.Gwynne, S.Hyde, G.Risk, [& c.], 1742 § Memoirs... on the Turks and the Tartars, 3 vol., first Dublin edition, vol.2 half titles only (likely as issued), ink name to titles, contemporary calf, spines gilt with red morocco labels, a little scuffed, Dublin, for L. White, J. Cash, and R. Marchbank, 1785 § Fauques (Marianne Agnes Pillement, Dame de) The Vizirs: or, the Enchanted Labyrinth. An Oriental Tale, 3 vol., first edition, half-titles, engraved title vignettes, occasional foxing, vol.3 G3 with small portion of loss with loss to a few letters of text, bookplates, contemporary speckled calf, spines gilt with red morocco labels, for G. Riley, Bookseller, at Sterne's-Head, Curzon-Street, May-Fair, 1774; and 8 others, works in French or French works in translation, large 12mo (17)⁂ A good group of works in translation demonstrating the cross-channel development of the novel, many scarce.

Lady's Drawing Room. Being a Faithful Picture of the Great World. In which the Various Humours of Both Sexes are Display'd. Drawn from the Life: And Interspers'd with Entertaining and Affecting Novels, first Dublin edition, occasional browning, the odd rust spot, occasionally obscuring a few letters of text, ink ownership inscription of Isabella Monck to title, contemporary calf, worm hole to spine, a little rubbed and scuffed, large 12mo, Dublin, for George and Alexander Ewing, at the Angel and Bible, in Dame-Street, Booksellers, 1746.⁂ Scarce, ESTC lists 4 copies only. First published in 1744, includes amorous novels, moral histories and imaginary voyages such as 'The History of Rodomond and the Beautiful Indian' and 'The True History of Henrietta de Bellgrave, A Woman born only for Calamaties'.

Unrecorded imprint.- Davys (Mrs. [Mary]) The Reform'd Coquet, or Memoirs of Amoranda, a Novel, woodcut head- and tail-pieces, A3 & 4 loose and reattached with old pin, occasional light foxing, ink name to pastedown, contemporary calf, surface wear, large 12mo, Dublin, by M.Rhames, for R.Gunne, Bookseller, in Capel-Street, 1749.⁂ An unrecorded imprint of an early novel. This seems to likely be the second Dublin edition, after the first of 1735.

[Kimber (Edward)] The Life and Adventures of Joe Thompson, 2 vol., first Dublin edition, engraved frontispiece, occasional light spotting or browning, small puncture mark to vol.2 outer margin, contemporary mottled calf, rubbed and scuffed, Dublin, by S. Powell, for Robert Main, Bookseller in Dame-Street, opposite to Fownes's-Street, 1750.⁂ A scarce 'ramble novel' (so-called due to the large cast of characters and their eccentric progression through the story). Joe Thompson was well-received at the time and sold well but has since disappeared into obscurity, copies of early editions are rare at auction.

[Scott (Sarah)] The History of Cornelia, first Dublin edition, woodcut device to title, advertisement f. at front, short marginal tear to final f., contemporary mottled calf, rubbed and scuffed, [cf. Summers p.356 (first edition)], large 12mo, Dublin, for John Smith on the Blind-Quay, 1750.⁂ Rare, only 2 copies listed on ESTC (BL and National Library of Ireland). "Mrs Scott was an industrious if dull writer. In her own day she was described as an 'excellent historian, of great acquirements, extraordinary memory and strong sense'" - DNB.

History of Charlotte Summers (The), The Fortunate Parish Girl, 2 vol., first Dublin edition, advertisement ff. to both vol., woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces, vol.1 F5 and G2 with tears running into text without loss, vol.1 P1 with burn hole to margin, very occasional patches of light foxing, contemporary calf, a little rubbed and scuffed, large 12mo, Dublin, by Augustus Long, under Welsh's Coffee-House in Essex-Street; and Henry Hawker, at Homer's-Head, in Dame-Street, booksellers, 1750.⁂ Rare, ESTC lists the BL and Smith College copies only. Occasionally attributed to Sarah Fielding, Charlotte Summers was one of the more successful imitations of the recently popular Tom Jones, running through numerous edition in both English and French.

[Lennox (Charlotte)] The Life of Harriot Stuart, Written by Herself, 2 vol. in 1, first Dublin edition, woodcut devices to titles, some pulling to a few gatherings, occasional light browning or soiling, early ink scribblings to second title, ink name to endpaper, contemporary calf, a few small abrasions, 12mo, Dublin, for J.Exshaw, at the Bible on Cork-hill, 1751.⁂ Lennox's rare first novel, one of the first English novels set in America, ESTC lists the Otago Central Library copy only.

[Lennox (Charlotte)] The Female Quixote; or, the Adventures of Arabella., 2 vol., first edition, woodcut devices to titles, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces, vol.2 lacking endpapers, several ff. in vol.2 chipped at head with occasional minor loss to text, ink names to pastedowns, contemporary calf, gilt, rubbed and scuffed, [Rothschild 1320], large 12mo, A.Millar, 1752.⁂ First edition of Lennox's important early novel, with contributions by Samuel Johnson and printed by Samuel Richardson.

Memoirs of the Life and Actions of Charles Osborn, Esq; Natural Son to the E-l of A-e, first Dublin edition, 3pp. advertisements, hole to A3 lower margin, not affecting text, puncture marks to inner margin, contemporary calf, some surface wear to upper cover, large 12mo, Dublin, by and for M. Williamson, 1752.⁂ Rare, ESTC lists the Trinity College copy of this edition only, and only the Harvard and Pennsylvania copies of the first edition, we can trace no copies of either edition in the UK. Contrary to the title, and as indicated by eventful and eccentric chapter headings such as "Resolves for the Highway. Robs a Coach. Escapes." and "Saves a Lady from a Fire. Proposes Marriage. Is Circumvented by Fausett. Kills him, and flies.", Charles Osborn is in fact a rare early ramble novel.

Unrecorded imprint.- [Scott (Sarah)] A Journey Through Every Stage of Life, Described in a Variety of Interesting Scenes, Drawn from Real Characters, 2 vol., first Dublin edition, 2pp. advertisements at end of vol.2, ink ownership inscription of Isabella Monck to titles, contemporary calf, vol.1 spine chipped at head, a little rubbed, large 12mo, Dublin, for Robert Main, Bookseller, at Homer's Head in Dame-Street, 1754.⁂ An unrecorded imprint of this early work by Scott, we can locate no copies on ESTC or COPAC.

Chit-Chat: or, Natural Characters; and Manners of Real Life, Represented in a Series of Interesting Adventures, 2 vol. in 1, first Dublin edition, woodcut device to titles, woodcut initials and head-pieces, 1p. advertisements, Isabella Monck ink name to title, contemporary calf, rubbed, large 12mo, Dublin, by Henry Saunders, at the corner of Christ-Church-Lane, 1755.⁂ Rare, not in the National Library of Ireland. ESTC lists 3 copies only (BL, Newberry Library and Yale)

[Johnstone (Charles)] Chrysal; or the Adventures of a Guinea: Wherein are Exhibited Views of Several Striking Scenes, with Curious and Interesting Anecdotes of the Most Noted Persons in Every Rank of Life, Whose Hands it Passed Through in America, England, Holland, Germany, and Portugal, 2 vol. in 1, first Dublin edition, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces, titles a little browned, otherwise a very good, clean copy, contemporary calf, lacking spine label, a little rubbed, Dublin, by Dillon Chamberlaine, in Smock-Alley, 1760; and an attractive 4 volume set of the 1794 edition, large 12mo (5)⁂ Johnstone's most significant novel, a succès de scandale that ran to numerous editions.

[Fielding (Sarah)] The History of Ophelia, 2 vol. in 1, first Dublin edition, woodcut head-pieces, very minor worming to foot of first 2 gatherings, ink name to title, contemporary calf, a little rubbed and scuffed, lacking spine label, Dublin, James Hoey, Jun., 1760; Familiar Letters between the Principal Characters in David Simple, And Some Others. To Which is Added, a Vision, 2 vol. in 1, first Dublin edition, advertisement f. to end of vol.1, ink name to endpaper, contemporary calf, a little rubbed and scuffed, Dublin, for E. and J. Exshaw, 1747, large 12mo (2)⁂ A good pair of scarce works by Fielding, the first especially rare with ESTC listing the Trinity College copy only. Cast in the shadow of her more famous brother for many years, Sarah Fielding has recently undergone a reassessment, in particular for works such as Ophelia which combines the comic narratives of mid-18th century works with gothic elements that foreshadow the novels that would dominate the coming decades.

Bills of Mortality.- London's Dreadful Visitation: Or, a Collection of all the Bills of Mortality for this Present Year: Beginning the 20th. Of December 1664. And ending the 19th of December following..., first edition, issue with "20th. December" rather than "27th December" in title, title with woodcut coats-of-arms & border with memento mori motifs and illegible contemporary ink signature, folding letterpress table at end, with an additional folding table of "...all the Christnings and...Burials from the 19 of December, 1665. To the 18 of December, 1666", heavily soiled and stained, title frayed at edges and laid down, signatures B-I with central stain sometimes causing tears and slight loss (some leaves reinforced with old paper strip but not obscuring text), final three leaves defective at lower outer corner (repaired with some loss of text), both tables mounted on linen, additional table defective with loss to heading and some figures in extreme right column, modern calf, a little scuffed, [Wellcome III 540; Wing G1598a], 4to, by E.Cotes, 1665.⁂ Scarce weekly list of the births and deaths (and their causes) in all the London parishes during 1665: 97,306 deaths were recorded in total, of which 68,596 were as a result of the plague. Other causes of death include "frighted 23", "headmouldshot & mouldfallen 4", "lethargy 14", "plannet 6", "rising of the lights 397" and "surfet 1251".One of two issues, one beginning 20th December, the other 27th December. This edition with the earlier date suggests it has precedence. ESTC lists only 2 copies of the additional folding table of christenings and burials in 1666 (Queen's College, Oxford and Wellcome Institute, none in America).