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Click here to subscribeWILLIAMS (Harold, ed.) The Poems of Jonathan Swift, 3 vol., d/w's, original cloth, Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1966 with MEREDITH (George) Lord Ormont and his Aminta, 3 vol., first edition, original green cloth, rubbed, Chapman & Hall, 1894 with FERGUSON (J. de Lancey) The Letters of Robert Burns, 2 vol., d/w's, original cloth, Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1931 plus a quantity if literary vol., 8vo. (c.75)
BRONTE SISTERS. Novels of the Sisters Bronte. Edited by Temple Scott. Thornton Edition, 12 vols. num. photo. plates, gilt cloth. Edinburgh, 1911. * incl. Mrs. Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte; sold with TROLLOPE (A.) Orley Farm. first edition, 2 vols., 39 plates (by J.E. Millais), half titles; contemp. calf and marbled boards (distressed). 1862. (14)
SHORTHOUSE (J.H.) John Inglesant: a Romance. First Edition. half title; red-lettered cream boards, gilt top, thick 8vo., in a custom-made vellum-backed cloth box. Birmingham: (printed for the author), Cornish Brothers, 1880. * only 100 copies printed, (a very successful trade edition, in 2 vols, published 1881); with a 4pp. relevant letter from the author (dated June 1882) loosely inserted, also a typed copy of extracts from another.
ORTON (Rev. Job) A Short and Plain Exposition of the Old Testament . . . for the use of families. Published from the author's manuscripts, by Robert Gentlemen. (mixed editions), 6 vols., subscribers' lists. various calf bindings. Charlestown ( & Shrewsbury (Salop), 1789 - 1805; together with Orton's Religious Exercises Recommended . . . first American edition. contemp calf. Bridgeport (Conn.), 1809. and also (same author) Discourses to the Aged . . . contemp. calf. Shrewsbury, 1771
EVELYN (J.) Sylva, or a Discourse of Forest-Trees, and the Propagation of Timber . . . by J.E. Esq; . . . to which is annexed Pomona or, an Appendix concerning Fruit Trees in relation to Cider . . . also Kalendarium Hortense; or Gard'ners Almanac . . . First Edition. title page armorial, 2 text engravings, 2 part titles, licence & errata leaves; rebound mottled calf with panelled spine, marbled e/ps. (by Roger de Coverley), 4to. 1664.
MARRYAT (Captain) The Settlers in Canada Written for Young People, 2 vol., First Editions, 2 frontis., foxed, contemporary half calf, rubbed, Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans, 1844; The Children of the New Forest, 2 vol., Second and Third Editions, 7 of 8 plates, only, re-cased in contemporary blind stamped cloth, ink marks to lower boards, H. Hurst, 1849; Poor Jack, First Edition, illustrations by Clarkson Stanfield, foxed, contemporary gilt decorated morocco, rubbed, 1840, plus 7 other vol by the author, vs (12)
The KENTISH TRAVELLER'S COMPANION . . . of the Towns, Villages, Remarkable Buildings, and Antiquities, situated in or near the Road from London to Margate, Dover and Canterbury . . . 2nd edition, considerably enlarged, the road map on 3 folded plates; rebound calf-backed marbled boards, 12mo. Canterbury & Rochester, 1779; together with another issue- the Rochester publisher being placed first in the imprint. * the detailed map (one inch to mile) shows individual houses, with some owners' named.
Ruskin (John) Modern Painters, 1888, George Allen, complete in 5 volumes (Parts I - IX) plus Index, second edition, 4to large paper copy in original green cloth, plates, block uncut, some pages unopened [with:] Churchill (Winston) The Second World War, 1948-54, Cassell & Co. first edition, 6 vols 8vo in black cloth with slightly frayed dust jackets (12, in two boxes)
Ellsworth (Robert Hatfield), Chinese Furniture, Hardwood Examples of the Ming and Early Ch'ing Dynasties, nd [c1970/1], Collins, first edition, 4to., original cloth, slipcase; Robins (George), A Catalogue of the Classic Contents of Strawberry Hill, collected by Horace Walpole, nd. [c1842], portrait frontis and decorative title, binding well worn, front cover detached, lacking rear cover; Pain (William), The Builder's Companion, and Workman's General Assistant, nd., 82 pages (lacking page/plate 62), title, preface, and several leaves laid down/cropped), worn binding, board detached etc
A limited edition Theo Fennell for Franck Muller Sky wristwatch The square shaped blue dial with Arabic hour markers and date aperture to 6 with Theo Fennell logo to 12, signed Franck Muller within the stainless steel case, to the original blue crocodile leather strap, case signed and numbered Franck Muller, no. 14/25, 6000 H SC DT, with box and papers dated 2007. CONDITION REPORT: Strap length 22.3cm, first hole 16.3cm, last hole 20.7cm Approx dimensions of 3.7x4.6cm.
Virgilius Maro (Publius) Opera cum decem commentis, 2 parts in 1, collation: a6 b-q8 r6 aa-ff8; A6 B-Z8 AA-OO8 PP6 †8, double column commentary surrounding text, first title in red and black and within ornate woodcut border, numerous fine woodcuts within text, woodcut decorative initials, without ff5-7, which were removed by the Inquisition, A6 repaired tear within text without loss, repair within text at head of ff8, several ink stains and smudges (the heaviest on C8 and Q6), some staining or spotting, contemporary blind-stamped calf over wooden boards, remains of clasps, rebacked, corners repaired, rubbed, folio (317 x 207mm.), [Lyon], [Jean Crespin], 1529.⁂ A handsomely printed edition, using the Strasbourg blocks from the 1517 Lyons edition of Jacques Sacon. Literature: Adams V474; Mortimer, French, 538 (this copy with 22 ff. removed by the Inquisition).
Bede, the Venerable. The History of the Church of Englande, translated by Thomas Stapleton, collation: *6, >4, A-CCC4, woodcut printer's device on title and royal arms within typographical border on verso, 3 woodcut illustrations (2 full-page or nearly so) and intitials, later engraved bookplate of Rt.Hon. Charles Viscount Bruce of Ampthill pasted over part of royal arms on verso of title and with old manuscript library de-accession note dated 1770 at head, worming to upper inner margin of title with loss of "T" to "The" of title and border on verso, cropped shaving a few side-lines, rather stained, old calf, worn, spine defective, upper cover detached (with title), lower becoming so, [Pforzheimer 55; STC 1778], small 4to (180 x 130mm.), Antwerp, by John Laet, 1565; sold not subject to return⁂ First edition in English of the primary source of British history from 597 to 731, translated by the recusant Thomas Stapleton and as a result banned in England as traitorous.
Synesius, of Cyrene. Opera quae extant omnia, edited by Denis Pétau, double column, text in Greek and Latin, title in red and black and with large woodcut printer's device, woodcut diagrams, head-pieces and decorative initials, N6 and áá4 blank, lacking final blank, A1 short tear to upper inner margin, occasional spotting, bookplate of St. Benedict's Abbey, Fort-Augustus, 17th century mottled calf, gilt spine in compartments and with red morocco label, upper joint starting, but holding firm, rubbed, folio, Paris, Claude Morel, 1612.⁂ The first complete edition of the writings of Synesius (c.270-c.414), neo-platonist and Bishop of Ptolemais, in ancient Libya.
Emblemata.- Hugo (Herman) Pia Desideria Emblematis illustrata, woodcut pictorial title, coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII, 46 full-page emblems by Christoffel van Sichem after Boetius à Bolswert, and tail-pieces, occasional staining, 20th century blue calf over older marbled boards, spine gilt and with red leather label, [Landwehr, Low Countries, 346; Praz p.376-377], Antwerp & Amsterdam, typis Henrici Aertssenii, 1628; and another edition of the same, 12mo & 8vo (2)⁂ The first edition with woodcuts. It is rarer than engraved editions.
Mazarin edition.- Bible, Greek.- [New Testament, Greek], 'Mazarin edition', half-title, fine engraved title by Claude Mellan depicting an angel writing on an obelisk and with title itself inscribed on a scroll carried by three cherubs, imprint in Greek at foot, large engraved cul-de-lampe on verso of final leaf with the arms of the King Louis XIII, some staining, a few small repairs, occasional spotting, 18th century mottled calf, gilt, sympathetically rebacked, corners repaired, covers crazed, folio (402 x 268mm.), [Paris], [l'Imprimerie Royale], [1642].⁂ A wide-margined copy of the magnificent edition "known as the 'Mazarin edition', since it appeared under the auspices of the great Cardinal" (D&M). It is the first edition of the Greek New Testament from the Imprimerie Royale, founded by Louis XIII in 1640. It is a substantial reprint, with a few alterations, of the New Testament printed by the Elzeviers in 1624, adding a 30-page appendix of Variae Lectiones. The text was set in Garamond's Greek types, used by the Estienne dynasty of printers, and which subsequently became part of the type holdings of the Imprimerie Royale.Literature: D&M 4687.
Corneille (Pierre, translator).- Kempis (Thomas à) L'Imitation de Iesus Christ, engraved pictorial title, printed title with woodcut Jesuit device, woodcut head-pieces and initials, privilege f. at end, preliminaries browned, occasional spotting or light staining, contemporary mottled calf, gilt, spine in compartments, ink stain to lower cover, spine ends and corners worn, rubbed, housed in a dark blue crushed morocco box by Rivière & Son, 12mo, Rouen, Laurens Maurry, 1651.⁂ The rare first edition of this translation of the first 20 chapters of The Imitation of Christ by the renowned 17th century French dramatist.
Voltaire (François Marie Arouet de) Dictionnaire philosophique portatif, title with woodcut ornament, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, lacking half-title, some water-staining and spotting / light foxing, contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt, upper cover detached, spine ends and corners worn, rubbed, 8vo, London [but Geneva], [Gabriel Grasset], 1764.⁂ The true first edition of Voltaire's explosive work, which criticised the dogmas and superstitions of the Catholic Church, Islam and Judaism, amongst other institutions. Provenance: 'Wm. Lee' (ink signature to title). Literature: Brown, Livre dangereux, Voltaire's Dictionnaire philosophique, a Bibliography, 1994, 1.
Erotica.- Batacchi (Domenico Luigi) Opere Complete. Volume Unico, 36 engraved plates by Dorvin, Dancourt, Curvin, Darcour, and others, some spotting or light foxing, upper hinge cracked, contemporary half vellum, stained and rubbed, large 8vo, Paris, 1830.⁂ The rare first illustrated edition of the works of this Italian poet, with the majority of the engravings of an erotic nature. The only other copy of this work we can trace at auction was in the Bibliothèque Érotique Gérard Nordmann, Christie's, Paris, 14th December, 2006, lot 58, which made 4,560 euros.
Chess.- Lopez de Sigura (Ruy) Libro de la invencion liberal y arte del juego del Axedrez, collation: *4 §4 A-S8 T6, first edition, woodcut decorative initials, marginal repairs, some soiling, 19th century half purple morocco, spine richly gilt, spine slightly faded, rubbed, [LN363], small 4to (192 x 138mm.), Alcala de Henares, Andres de Angula, 1561.⁂ First edition of this important work on the theory of chess, with a distinguished provenance. Provenance: Tassilo von Heydebrand und der Lasa, 1818-1899, chess master, historian and theoretician (engraved armorial bookplate, with ms. 'No. 1608 / (925)', his initials and dated 1884 and a tipped-in page of notes by him); Dr. Robert Blass (ink stamp; his sale Christie's, 8th May, 1992, lot 44).
Chess.- Lopez de Sigura (Ruy) Il giuoco de gli scacchi, translated from the Spanish by Giovanne Domenico Tarsia, collation: *4 A-Z4 Aa-Dd4, first edition in Italian, title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut illustrations of a board and pieces, woodcut historiated and decorative initials, light water-staining at foot, occasional spotting, lightly browned, contemporary limp vellum, lacking ties, soiled, [LN372; Adams L1475; EDIT 16 CNCE 29870], small 4to, Venice, Cornelio Arrivabene, 1584.⁂ The scarce first Italian edition of this classic of the chess canon, with a distinguished provenance. Lopez gave his name to the most popular of all chess openings. His book was the first chess book to follow Damiano's small treatise of 1512. The first part deals with the origin and utility of chess, the second part provides a miscellaneous collection of openings and the third and fourth parts are a severe critique of Damiano, with corrections of his moves, and new openings included.Provenance: Tassilo von Heydebrand und der Lasa, 1818-1899, chess master, historian and theoretician (armorial bookplate with initials and 'N:t 3006 / (344) and dated 1884and his ms. notes to inside front cover and p.133); Albrecht Buschke (acquired in Munich in 1935. It is identified on p.100 of his typescript 1938 catalogue); sold by Buschke to Karl A. Baer (an invoice dated 11/16/54 is loosely inserted in the volume).
Chess.- Salvio (Alessandro) Il Puttino, altramente detto il cavaliero errante ... sopra il gioco de' Scacchi, con la sua apologia contra il Carrera, first edition, repair to head of title, worm trace to head of a4 and A4, affecting a few letters on A4, [LN383], Naples, Gio. Domenico Montanaro, 1634 bound with Salvio (Alessandro) Trattato dell' Inventione et Arte Liberale del Gioco di Scacchi, libro quarto, second edition, A4 small part of lower corner torn away, just touching the odd letter, [LN384], Naples, Gio. Domenico Montanaro, 1634, together 2 works in 1 vol., woodcut arms to titles, occasional later ink marginalia and underlining, worm trace to head of a few ff., affecting a few letters, some spotting or staining, contemporary calf, gilt, rebacked in later contemporary red morocco, gilt, small 4to ⁂ Provenance: Sir Frederic Madden (signed ms. notes to front free endpaper comparing this edition to those of1604 and 1723); 'J.W. Rimington Wilson, Chess Library' (ink inscription to front free endpaper).
Chess.- Greco (Gioachino) The royall game of chesse-play· Sometimes the recreation of the late King, with many of the nobility. Illustrated vvith almost an hundred gambetts. Being the study of Biochimo the famous Italian, translated by Francis Beale, first edition in English, engraved portrait frontispiece of Charles I by P. Stent, title with woodcut typographic border, woodcut illustration of a chess board, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, errata to verso of final f., a1&2 bound after title, lacking initial blank, portrait frayed at foot affecting caption, trimmed to within border and laid down, trimmed at head affecting headlines, a1 short tear to inner gutter affecting 2 or 3 letters, some staining, 19th century green mottled calf, gilt, rubbed, [LN 395; Whyld & Ravilious 1656:2; Wing G1810], small 8vo, Printed for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Anchor, in the lower walk of the New Exchange, 1656.⁂ The first work on chess in English to note that the rook was sometimes depicted as a castle. This is a translation of Gioachino's Trattato del nobilissimo giuoco degli scacchi. Greco was a native of Calabria, the same province of Naples that had produced the chess masters Giovanni Leonard and Michele di Mauro. A5r has a poem by Richard Lovelace.Provenance: William Forbes Morgan (engraved bookplate).
Chess.- Tennis.- Billiards.- Divertissemens innocens, contenant les regies du jeu des echets, du billard, de la paume, du palle-mail, et du trictrac, first edition, engraved frontispiece by Adrian Schoonbeck, title in red and black and with woodcut printer's device, V6 small part of lower corner torn away, affecting part of catchword, lightly foxed, contemporary limp boards, rebacked, preserving original backstrip, [LN 3473], 12mo, The Hague, Adrian Moetjens, 1696.⁂ Pages 1-324 contain an early edition of Greco. Provenance: Francesco di Pietro (18th century ink signature to front pastedwon); Richard Ford, his sale, Phillips, 3rd October, 1985, lot 94.
Chess.- Philidor (François-André Danican) Chess analysed: or instructions by which a perfect knowledge of this noble game may in a short time be acquir'd, title with woodcut floral ornament, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, a little soling to lower corners at beginning and end, occasional spotting, 19th century half morocco, gilt, [LN 486; Whyld & Ravilious 1750:2], 8vo, printed for J. Nourse, and P. Vaillant, in the Strand, 1750.⁂ First edition in English. Provenance: 'J.W. Rimington Wilson, Chess Library' (ink inscription to front free endpaper); Brooklyn Public Library (ink stamps to lower edge and modern rear endpaper).
Chess.- Lambe (Robert) The history of chess, together with short and plain instructions by which any one may easily play at it without the help of a teacher, first edition, folding f. of diagrams, diagrams within text, some spotting, lightly browned, modern half morocco over old marbled boards, [LN176; Whyld & Ravilious 1764:3], 8vo, no printer, 1764.⁂ Provenance: 'J.W. Rimington Wilson, Chess Library' (ink inscription to front pastedown); possibly item 744 in Bernard Quaritch 1929 chess catalogue, and subsequently rebacked.
Chess.- [Twiss (Richard, editor)] Chess, 2 vol. in 1, engraved titles and 2 plates, errata f., offsetting, some light foxing, contemporary russia, gilt, rebacked, [LN 4543; Whyld & Ravilious 1787:7], 8vo, printed for G. G. J & J. Robinson, and T. & J. Egerton, 1787-1789.⁂ Includes 'The Morals of Chess' by Benjamin Franklin (pp.141-148 in vol.1), first published in The Columbian Magazine in December 1786. As one of the first Americans to play chess he advocates playing the game to develop skills, 'The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions...'.Provenance: Sir George Douglass (engraved armorial bookplate). Douglass was a subscriber to the 1790 edition of Philidor.
Chess.- Duchamp (Marcel) and Vitaly Halberstadt. L' Opposition et Les Cases Conjuguées sont Reconcilées, first edition, text in French, German and English, chess board diagrams in red and black, errata slip loosely inserted, original printed wrappers after a design by Duchamp, a near fine copy, 4to, Paris & Brussels, L' Échiquier, 1932.⁂ In 1932 Marcel Duchamp was appointed a French delegate to the International Chess Federation and played for France in the 1933 Chess Olympiad.
[Loiseau de Tourval (Jean)] The French Herald summoning all True Christian Princes to a generall Croisade, for a Holy Warr against the great Enemy of Christendome...upon the Occasion of the most execrable murther of Henry the great, first edition, woodcut ornament on title, woodcut head-pieces and initials, lacking final blank, light soiling to title, modern half red morocco, small [STC 11374], 4to, by E.Allde for Mathew Lownes, 1611.⁂ ESTC records 8 UK locations: BL, Cambridge (3 copies), Glasgow, Middle Temple Library, and Oxford (2 copies).
Sanderson (Robert) Logicae artis compendium, second edition, title with woodcut device, with penultimate errata leaf and final blank, signature of Robert Cranmer at head of title, inscribed by Dr J.Kidd to Rev.J.W.Burgon on front free endpaper and with accompanying A.L.s. & envelope tipped in, 19th century calf, gilt, by Bellamy of Oxford with his ticket, a little rubbed, joints cracked, Oxford, John Lichfield & James Short, 1618 § [Ward (Seth)] Vindiciae academiarum. Containing some briefe Animadversions upon Mr Websters Book, Stiled The Examination of Academies. Together with an Appendix concerning what M. Hobbs and M. Dell Have published on this Argument, first edition, title with single-rule border and woodcut device, a few small ink annotations and sheet of notes tipped in at beginning, title soiled and with ink stain to upper inner corner touching rule border, a little browned, a few stains, modern red calf, [Wing W832; Madan, III, 225], Oxford, Thomas Robinson, 1654, 8vo & 4to (2)⁂ Rev. J.W.Burgon (1813-88), clergyman, became Dean of Chichester Cathedral in 1876.
Lyell (Sir Charles, first baronet, geologist, 1797-1865) Autograph Letter signed to Robert Harkness, 2½pp., 8vo, 53 Harley Street, [London], 21st January 1865, "I have just returned from Berlin... before I left town I gave orders that a copy of the new edition of my 'Elements' [Elements of Geology, 1838] should be sent to you by post so that you should get it before it was in the hands of the public... You shall have one of the earliest copies which you have more than earned by the kind manner in which you verified my Arbroath section. I have cited you among other things for having confirmed Sir Roderick's [Roderick Impey Murchison] views of the Silurian age of certain metamorphic rocks in Scotland", tears along folds, browned, laid down on album leaf.⁂ Robert Harkness (1816-78), geologist.
Wallace (Alfred Russel, naturalist, evolutionary theorist, and social critic, 1823-1913) 12 Autograph or Letters signed, Autograph Postcards or Postcards signed & other signed items, comprising: (1). 3 Autograph Letters signed, 1 Autograph Postcards signed & Postcard signed to Rev. George Edwards Comerford Casey, (2) Autograph signed reference & Letter signed to Edward Comerford Casey, (3). Autograph Letter to Ernest Westlake (4). Autograph presentation inscription to Mrs Casey (5). Autograph botanical note signed (6). Autograph Letter signed & initialled note to Olive Casey, together 15pp. and 3 sides, Parkstone and Broadstone, Wimborne, Dorset, 1896-1913, on a variety of subjects, (1) to Rev George Edwards Comerford Casey, "I am very very busy, seeing my large 'Spruce' book [Richard Spruce's Notes of a botanist on the Amazon & Andes..., 1908] through the press arranging illustrations maps &c, getting materials for Biographical Introduction &c. ... . I began reading your 'Great & Good' book [Casey's ?The Broad Churchman, 1891] - the two first chapters were excellent - but afterwards it did not interest me so much, but I have read on, at intervals, till I got to the Chapters on 'Christians' and 'Quakers' - both of which are really admirable... . My publisher's have arranged for a new, cheap, & much reduced edition of 'My Life', - So Will is going to do the cutting out, under my general direction, less than halfis to remain..."; (2). "I have much pleasure in saying that I have known Mr. Edward C. Casey as well as his family, for eight or nine years... and that I consider him to be a young man of exceptionally high character and of a disposition well suited for the profession of an instructor of youth" (3). To Ernest Westlake, "Allow me to introduce to you my young friend Mr. Edward Casey who is much interested in flint implements..." (5). "My Holly-like shrub is Desfontainea spinosa (Gentianacea) native of Peru" (6). Letter & note to Olive Casey, one replying to a juvenile verse in Irish, "To complete your copy of Man's Place in the Universe AR.W"; and a small quantity of other Wallace and Casey family material including: "A verse from The Higher Catechism by Sam Walter Foss", written out and signed by Wallace, verse by Wallace in reply to a riddle by Casey (not Wallace's autograph), photographs of the Wallace and Casey families, ephemera, including tickets, 2 copies of a printed reference for Edward Casey, newspaper cuttings of Wallace's obituary, correspondence from Wallace's son William G. Wallace to Olive and Edward Casey, 2 photographs of Olive and Alvina Bertram "Bertie" as children etc., folds, v.s., v.d. (c. 23 pieces & a qty of photographs).⁂ Friends and neighbours of Alfred Russel Wallace. Rev. George Edwards Comerford Casey (1845-1912), came from an Anglo-Irish family that made their money in the soap industry in Liverpool. Casey served as a curate in Lincolnshire before becoming an Assistant Master at the High School in Nottingham. Casey was the author of several works, including, Riviera Nature Notes, published in 1898.
Stockwood (John) Disputatiuncularum grammaticalium libellus, fourth edition, woodcut head-pieces, initials and fine full-page illustration of picking apples on verso of colophon, with the two final blanks, contemporary ink inscriptions at end, a few ink squiggles to text, title a little soiled, slight worming to inner margin with occasional loss of letters, cropped shaving a few side-notes, contemporary calf, new morocco label, rubbed, small hole to spine, upper cover repaired at lower edge, [STC 23279], 8vo, [T.Dawson] for John Battersby, 1619.⁂ Rare Latin grammar first published in 1598. All editions are scarce with only 4 examples recorded as having appeared at auction, none of this date, most defective and the most recent in 1981. ESTC records 7 copies, all in the UK: BL, Cambridge (2 copies), Oxford (3 copies), Wells Cathedral.
Wilkins (John) An Essay Towards a Real Character, and a Philosophical Language, 2 parts in 1, first edition, imprimatur leaf, title with engraved armorial, two full-page engraved plates, engraved illustrations, two folding tables, slightly browned, occasional light spotting, armorial bookplate of Beilby Thompson of Escrick, contemporary calf, rebacked with the original spine laid down, corners bumped, [Wing W2196; Alston VII 290, noting that copies vary as to plates and tables], folio, John Martin Printer to the Royal Society, 1668.⁂ The first full exposition of universal language in English by the renowned mathematician and astronomer John Wilkins (1616-72), first Secretary of the Royal Society. This, his most important work, was prepared with the assistance of John Ray & Francis Willughby. It contains sections on the origin of languages and letters, the theory of grammar and phonetics and their relation to universal language, and the proposed alphabet for Wilkins's devised universal language."Beilby Thompson (1742-99), landowner and politician.
Milton (John) Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books, fourth edition, engraved portrait frontispiece by R.White after Faithorne (laid down), 12 engraved plates by M.Burghers and P.P.Bouche after Medina, 6pp. list of subscribers at end, a little soiled and browned, a few ink stains, first plate trimmed close at fore-edge, M3 with tear to lower margin, near contemporary speckled calf, very slightly rubbed, neatly rebacked preserving old red morocco label, new endpapers, a good copy, [Pforzheimer 720; Wing M2147], folio, for Miles Flesher, for Richard Bently...and Jacob Tonson, 1688.⁂ The first folio and the first illustrated edition of Milton's great work; one of three variants published in the same year.
Pantomime.- Dance.- Thurwood (John) Harlequin Doctor Faustus: with The masque of the deities. Compos'd by John Thurmond, dancing-master. With additions and alterations, first edition, half-title, title with woodcut ornament, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, modern dark brown half morocco, spine gilt, [Fletcher, Forty rare books relating to the Art of Dance, 25], 8vo, Printed for W. Chetwood, 1724.⁂ The rare detailed synopsis of the most famous of Thurwood's pantomime's for Drury Lane. It gives details of the stage effects ('Thunder and lightning....Mephostophilus flies down upon a Dragon vomiting fire') and the series of dances performed.
Fielding (Henry) The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling, 6 vol., first edition, first issue with the errata leaf (c8 recto) in vol.I and with the errata uncorrected, complete with the final blanks in vol.I (K12) and vol.III (R12), and with all of the cancels called for by Rothschild: B9 and B10 in vol.I; B4, B5, and N12 in vol.II; H8, H9, H10, M3, and Q11 in vol.III; and N8 in vol.V, decorative woodcut tail pieces, armorial bookplate of Ambrose Isted to to verso of titles, vol.1 front free endpaper detached, light foxing or browning, occasional minor soiling, contemporary calf, gilt, spines gilt in compartments with morocco labels, cracking to joints but holding firm, minor bumping to corners, preserved in custom chemise and morocco-backed slip-cases, [Rothschild 850-851], 12mo, for A.Millar, 1749.
Fielding (Henry) The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, 6 vol., first edition, first issue with errata in vol. I, vol. I B9-10, vol. II B4-5 and N12, vol. III H8-10, M3 and Q11, vol. V N8 cancels, vol. II title and some ff. a little creased, slightly browned, ink signatures of Richard Thompson on titles, bookplates of H Wood on front pastedowns, vol. VI lacks free endpapers, contemporary calf, gilt, rubbed, vol. II disbound, vol. III lacks lower cover, vol. I covers detached, other vol. covers detaching, gilt spines, rubbed and splitting, [Cross 2:120; Rothschild 850], A. Millar, 1749.
Johnson (Samuel) A Dictionary of the English Language, 2 vol., first edition, titles printed in red and black, text in double column, vol.2 lacking sig. 25M (i.e. 2 leaves), a couple of tears, some light foxing and browning, contemporary mottled calf, rebacked, folio, [PMM 201; Rothschild 1237], Printed by W. Strahan..., 1755.⁂ "The most amazing, enduring and endearing one-man feat in the field of lexicography." (PMM)
Erotica.- Joys of Hymen (The), or, the Conjugal Directory: A Poem, in Three Books, first edition, errata at end of Preface crossed through in ink & marked "corrigenda" in manuscript and with all listed corrected in text, small later ink signature "W.S.Ogden 1882" in ink to verso of title, a little spotting, stab-holes, small tear to inner margin of title, A2 partly detached, D1 & 2 torn and repaired affecting some text, modern half calf, spine and corners rubbed, 8vo, for D.Davis, 1768.⁂ Rare adaptation of the first three books of Quillet's Callipaedia, with only one UK printed copy (BL) listed by ESTC and 4 in America (Indiana University, McMaster University and University of Cincinnati). COPAC also lists printed copies held by Leicester University and the National Library of Scotland.
On thick paper.- Goldsmith (Oliver) The Deserted Village, a Poem, half-title, title with fine engraved vignette, offsetting on to verso of half-title, ruby crushed morocco by Zaehnsdorf, burgundy crushed morocco slip-case, [Rothschild 1032], a handsome copy, 4to, Printed for W. Griffin, at Garrick's Head, in Catharine-street. Strand, 1770.⁂ The H. Bradley Martin copy of the rare thick paper issue of the first edition of this poem.
Manners (Catherine Rebecca) Poems, second edition, manuscript corrections in the author's hand to 2 poems, with 5 line note to one, engraved portrait frontispiece, John Bell, 1793 bound with Review of Poetry, Ancient and Modern. A Poem, first edition, manuscript corrections in the author's hand to 4 pages, one with 4 line note, lacking half-title, J.Booth, 1799, together 2 works in 1 vol., autograph poem signed "Catherine Huntingtower, September 19, 1842" bound at rear, pencil inscription "Given to me by my highly esteemed & valued friend Lady Huntingtower formerly Lady Manners" to front free endpaper, 19th century morocco, gilt, neatly and sympathetically rebacked, g.e., 4to. ⁂ Catherine Manners, (1766-1852), married William Manners, later Lord Huntingtower in 1790. She published two works of poetry, the copies of which in this lot have manuscript corrections. For example in the poem "Lines addressed to a Mother in Ireland" she alters the word "tedious" to "lonely", explaining in the margin "I have, on reflection, altered tedious to lonely; or no hour, except in pain, or sickness or dull company, could ever have tedious to a mind so active & enlightened as that of my dear mother was". Bound in with this copy is a 2-verse manuscript poem "What to thee is golden hair?/What are features heavenly fair?/Teeth of pearl & breast of snow/Eyes that sparkle, cheeks that glow?" with the author's explanation of how she came to write it.
Coleridge (Samuel Taylor) Poems on various subjects, first edition, errata f., lacking half-title and advertisement f., occasional staining, contemporary calf, gilt, upper cover detached, head of spine and corners worn, rubbed and scuffed, 8vo, Printed for C.G. and J. Robinsons; and J.Cottle, bookseller, Bristol, 1796.
Shelley (Mary Wollstonecraft) Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, vol.2 and 3 only (of 3), first edition, lacking half-titles, 2ff. advertisements to end of vol.3, vol.3 lacking F1, F12 trimmed closely at margin, touching page number, a few f. with marginal tears, not affecting text, soiling throughout, heavy in places, vol.1 with minor worming to margin, remains of circulating library notices to pastedowns, ink sketches and notes to endpapers, including the comment "This is a parseal of lies and the truth is not in it I never as hard such stuff [sic]", contemporary calf-backed boards, rubbed and worn, 8vo, 1818. ⁂ A sadly incomplete copy of this landmark romantic novel, arguably the first science fiction work in the English language. First editions of Frankenstein are rare in any condition.
Austen (Jane) Novels, 6 vol. in 5, reprint of first collected edition, engraved frontispiece to each vol. but lacking half-titles and additional engraved vignette titles, vol.1 with presentation inscription from F.C. Knatchbull to her daughter Louisa dated 1856 (in Louisa's hand) and remaining vol. with ownership signature of Louisa to front free endpaper, contemporary half calf, spines gilt with double morocco labels (3 lacking, a few chipped), rubbed, 8vo, Richard Bentley, 1833 [but c.1854]⁂ A lovely association copy, once owned by Jane Austen's favourite niece. Fanny Catherine Knight was Jane Austen's niece, the oldest child of Jane's brother Edward Austen (later Knight). Jane adored her and considered her "almost another Sister". Edward's wife died when Fanny was only 15 so her aunts Jane and Cassandra Austen took on an intimate and motherly role in the lives of Edward's children. In a letter dated 1808 Jane wrote "I am greatly pleased with your account of Fanny; I found her in the summer just what you describe, almost another Sister, & could not have supposed that a niece would ever have been so much to me. She is quite after one's own heart...tell her that I always think of her with pleasure." Fanny was Sir Edward Knatchbull's second wife and their children took the additional Hugessen name. This set of books would appear to have been given by Fanny to her own daughter Louisa around her 21st birthday (she was born in 1834). There are three pencil annotations to the opening "Memoir" of Jane Austen in volume 1, probably in Louisa's hand but two of which are presumably quoting her mother's own thoughts: beneath the text "her carriage and deportment were quiet, but graceful" is written " 'the sort of thing they call graceful I call awkward' Mama"; and in the margin next to the text "If there be an opinion current in the world that a perfectly amiable temper is not reconcilable to a lively imagination, and a keen relish for wit, such an opinion will be rejected for ever by those who had the happiness of knowing the authoress of the following work." is written "'True' Mama". This set with titles dated 1833 but with imprints on final leaves suggesting a later edition, e.g. "A. and G.A. Spottiswoode" in Emma [see Gilson pp.227-229].
Dickens (Charles) [Christmas books], 5 vol., comprising A Christmas Carol, sixth edition, half-title printed in blue, title printed in red and blue, hand-coloured etched frontispiece and 3 plates by John Leech, light offsetting, 2pp. advertisements, contemporary ink gift inscription to pastedown, 1844; The Chimes, first edition, engraved frontispiece and additional pictorial title (first state, water-staining to foot), illustrations, 1845; The Cricket on the Hearth, first edition, engraved frontispiece and pictorial title, illustrations, 2pp. advertisements (first state), 1846; The Battle of Life, first edition, engraved frontispiece and pictorial title (fourth state), illustrations, 2pp. advertisements, A.L.s. tipped onto half-title, 1846; The Haunted Man, first edition, engraved frontispiece and pictorial title, illustrations, 1848, original cloth, gilt, light discolouration to spines, chipping and wear to joints, spine ends and corners, some repairs to spines and hinges, 8vo.
Rossetti Family.- Rossetti (Gabriele) Cracovia, first edition, presentation inscription by the author to his daughter Christina to front inside wrapper, later dedication inscription by William Rossetti to half-title, publishers' advertisements, scattered faint soiling and foxing, a little nicked and creased at fore corners, original wrappers, a little soiled and with a few creases and closed tears, upper wrapper detached, preserved in custom-made cloth chemise and slip-case, the former with ex libris of Donald Sigmund Stralem, Lausanne, 8vo, 1847.⁂Gabriele Rossetti (1783-1854), poet, critic, political exile, progenitor of Italian nationalism; his daughter Christina (1830-94), poet; his son William Michael (1829-1919), prime mover of The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.The inscriptions: "Christina G. Rossetti | from her Father | 1847": "Presented to | the Rev. R. Wilkins Rees | by W.M. Rossetti | March 1900".Donald Sigmund Stralem (1903-76) investment banker and collector. Provenance: sold as lot 1013 in Anderson Galleries' 1929 sale 'The Library of Jerome Kern'; sold again in Sotheby's 'Fine Books and Manuscripts Including Americana' sale in the section 'Property from the Collection of Donald and Jean Stralem': this in a lot with a proof copy of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Poems.
Clemens (Samuel Langhorne) "Mark Twain". Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first American edition, first state, illustrations by Edward W. Kemble, portrait frontispiece of the author's bust by sculptor Karl Gerhardt, small ink stain on fore-edge otherwise an excellent copy in original green pictorial cloth, gilt, small 4to, New York, Charles L. Webster and Company, 1885.⁂ A fine copy of the first American edition of this ground-breaking novel. Sold by subscription, Huckleberry Finn was finely bound and illustrated to appeal to buyers. As a result, the first edition is one of the most attractive and eye-catching of all American literary classics. Copies were issued in leather bindings (sheep or three-quarter morocco), in blue cloth for those who wanted it uniform with Tom Sawyer, and, as here, in green cloth. There is no priority between them: all were first available to the public on the same day in February 1885. A number of errors were discovered and then corrected during the printing of the first edition. Copies with the earliest, uncorrected states are always sought after by collectors. In this copy, the title-page is a cancel with the copyright notice dated 1884 (C, BAL second state, with the first state only noted in the publisher's prospectuses and advanced sheets), while the frontispiece is in the first state with the tablecloth visible and unsigned on the finished edge of the bust (A, BAL first state). Furthermore, the following issue points are respected: on p. 13, the illustration captioned "Him and another Man" is wrongly listed as being on p. 88 (A, BAL first state); p. 9 with the misprint "Decided" (A, BAL first state); p. 57, the eleventh line from the bottom reads "with the was" instead of "with the saw" (A, BAL first state); p. 143, missing 'l' in the illustration (A, BAL first state); p. 155, the final '5' in the pagination is missing (A, BAL first state), and on p. 161, the signature mark is absent (A, BAL first state). Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer "let fresh air into the minds of parents who had shut the door on their own childhood, and they will be classics the world over as long as there are boys" (Grolier 100 American Books).
Russell (Bertrand) The Principles of Mathematics, vol. I (all published), first edition, Augusta Klein's copy with her ink annotations, first f. small tear in margin, slightly browned, original cloth, corners bumped, gilt spine, dulled and slightly marked, 8vo, Cambridge University Press, 1903.⁂ Augusta Klein (1866-1943), author and philosopher; co-author with William Ralph Boyce Gibson of The Problem of Logic, 1908.
Lucian, of Samosata. Certaine Select Dialogues...together with his True Historie, translated by Francis Hickes, first edition in English, woodcut title-device, head-pieces and initials, water-stained, soiling and holes & tears to B1 & 2 with loss of a few letters, hole to upper margin of C2, old printed book-label of Edward Dalton Esqre. L.L.D., contemporary sprinkled sheep, rubbed and stained, corners and spine a little worn, [STC 16893], small 4to, Oxford, by William Turner, 1634.⁂ Lucian's 'True Historie' is regarded by some as the earliest known work of science fiction including a journey to the moon and encounters with strange peoples.
Fleming (Ian) Live and Let Die, first edition, third impression, occasional spotting, original boards, slight shelf-lean, covers a little mottled, dust-jacket, light discolouration to spine, spine and corners chipped at head, spotting to lower panel, still an excellent example overall, 1956; and an early re-issue of Moonraker, 8vo (2)⁂ With a print run of only 999, the third impression is far more scarce than the previous two.
Fleming (Ian) Dr. No, first edition, some scattered spotting to endpapers, original first state plain boards, dust-jacket, spine browned, very minor chipping and light rubbing to spine ends and corners, a few spots and light marking to lower panel, but a sharp and excellent example overall, 8vo, 1958.
Heller (Joseph) Catch-22, first English edition, signed by the author on half-title and dated "Sept 17, 1986 London", original boards, very light fading to spine, dust-jacket, very light surface soiling to lower panel, minor creasing to head and foot, but a near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1962.Saleroom notice: The dust-jacket is second state with 5 reviews to the rear panel.⁂ A superb example of Heller's landmark novel first novel.
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