There are 106046 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribeWood (Robert) The Ruins of Palmyra, otherwise Tedmor in the Desart, first edition, 59 engraved plates & plans, 3 full-page engraved illustrations of inscriptions, occasional faint marginal staining, modern half-calf, [Blackmer 1834 (French edition)], folio, 1753.⁂ Unusually in this copy, the 3 plates that make up the panorama were never stuck together. As such one part of the panorama is bound as plate 1, with the other 2 plates bound at the end.
Africa.- Burton (Sir Richard Francis) "The Memorial Edition" of The Works, 7 vol., half-titles to all but vol. 2, plates, most tinted or chromolithographs, 1 folding colour map, 5 plans of which 3 folding, occasional faint spotting, vol. 5 with bookplate, vol. 7 with previous owner's ink signature and ink-stamp to early leaves, cracked hinges, original pictorial cloth, a little rubbed, slight chipping to corners and spine extremities, [Penzer pp.54-55; 64-65; 73-74 and 82-83], 8vo, 1893-94.⁂ Vol. 1 of "First Footsteps in East Africa" (vol. 6) has an error in the list of illustrations. 'The Fal' is listed as an illustration, despite never having been added to either this or earlier editions of the same.
Canada.- Need (Thomas) Six Years in the Bush; or Extracts from the Journal of a Settler in Upper Canada 1832-1838, first edition, presentation copy inscribed to the author's daughter by the editor dated 1866, scattered spotting, previous owner's ink signature to front free endpaper, cutting on Thomas Need pasted to final endpapers, contemporary half-morocco, a little rubbed, 8vo, 1838.⁂ Scarce.
Europe.- Hobhouse (John Cam, 1st Baron Broughton) A Journey through Albania, and other Provinces of Turkey in Europe and Asia, to Constantinople, 2 vol., second edition, engraved frontispiece, 16 hand-coloured aquatints only (of 17), of which 6 double-page, 2 folding maps, 1 plan, 2 facsimiles, 2 plates of music, Z2 vol. 1 with tear into text, neat repair, vol. 1 with publisher's advertisement pasted at end, scattered spotting, ex-library with remnants of labels to endpapers and occasional ink-stamps throughout, later half-morocco, paper library labels to upper covers, a little rubbed, [Blackmer 821, first edition], 4to, 1813.⁂ Hobhouse's important account of his journey with his friend Lord Byron. "This work is of great interest not only for the light it sheds on that journey, but for the mass of information Hobhouse provides, in particular on the court and character of Ali Pasha." (Atabey)This copy lacking the folding plate of "Ruins of Hadrian's Temple."
Malta.- Acciard (Michele) Mustafà Bassà di Rodi schiavo in Malta, o sia la di lui congiura all'occupazione di Malta, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece after Richard Dalton, title with woodcut ornament, decorative woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials, engraved armorial bookplate, some light browning, scattered foxing, small damp-stain to fore-margin towards end, contemporary vellum, rubbed and lightly soiled, spine with a couple very small portions of loss, 4to, Naples, Appresso Benedetto ed Ignazio Gessari, 1751.⁂ A controversial account of the 1749 Muslim slave revolt in Malta, a failed conspiracy to assassinate Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca and take over the island. This work, also attributed to the historian and patriot Francesco Agius de Soldanis, attacked the order and argued for the rights of the Maltese, questioning the governing ability of the Grand Master. Following its publication copies were sought out and destroyed, with de Soldanis having to defend himself to Pope Benedict XIV. Scarce, we can trace only one copy at auction (Sotheby's, 1974).
Middle East.- Lawrence (T.E.) Secret Despatches From Arabia, one of 1,000 copies, portrait frontispiece, scattered spotting, foxing to endpapers, original morocco-backed cloth by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, some light soiling to covers, t.e.g., others uncut, [Pertelote 145], Golden Cockerel Press, 1939; Seven Pillars of Wisdom, first trade edition, maps, plates and illustrations, original buckram, shallow dent to lower cover and bump to head, dust-jacket, spine a little chipped, some chipping to corners, a few short nicks to head and foot with light creasing, small internal tear to lower panel, a very good example, 1935, 4to (2)
Sri Lanka.- Knox (Robert) An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon, in the East-Indies, first edition, title within double-rule border, engraved folding map and 15 plates, one with repaired tears, licence f. before title, without the portrait (as usual), advertisement f. at end, the odd spot or burn-hole, some marginal browning and staining, later calf, worn, upper cover and licence leaf detached, lower cover almost so, [Wing K742], folio,Printed by Richard Chiswell, Printer to the Royal Society, 1681.⁂ The first account of Sri Lanka in English, and one of the sources for Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. While sailing for Persia in 1658, Knox's ship lost its mast in a storm and was forced to put ashore on Ceylon. Knox, along with his father [not elder brother] and crew, was captured by King Rajasinha II of Kandy and refused permission to leave the kingdom. Knox and a companion eventually escaped after 19 years of captivity and fled to a Dutch fort in the north of the island.Provenance: Frederick Lock (bookplate and ink name on verso of licence leaf).
Turkey.- Roe (Sir Thomas) The Negotiations of Sir Thomas Roe in his Embassy to the Ottoman Porte, from the Year 1621 to 1628 Inclusive, first edition, engraved title vignette, lacking frontispiece, as often, occasional marginal dust-soiling, previous owner's manuscript note on author and publisher to front free endpaper, bookplate, contemporary calf, rubbed, bumping to corners and spine extremities, cracked joints but holding firm, small abrasion mark to spine foot where label removed, [Atabey 1050; Blackmer 1442], folio, 1740.⁂ The first and only volume of Roe's Negotiations to be published.
World.- Le Bruyn (Cornelius) Travels into Muscovy, Persia, and part of the East-Indies, 2 vol., first English edition, engraved portrait frontispiece and engraved frontispiece, 3 double-page maps, 114 plates, many double-page and/or folding, engraved illustrations, previous owner's ink signature to title, vol. 1 & 2 with occasional marginal worming, not affecting text or images, vol. 1 final ff. becoming loose, water-staining to front pastedowns, faint abrasions marks to front pastedowns where labels removed, contemporary calf, rubbed, bumping to corners and spine extremities, small loss to spine extremities, vol. 1 with cracked upper joint but holding firm, folio, for A. Bettesworth, 1737.
London.- Maitland (William) The History of London, first edition, double-page folding map frontispiece, slight fraying at edges just touching image, 24 engraved plates and plans (3 double-page), engraved illustrations, list of subscribers, slight frayed edges at beginning and end, only affecting margins, scattered faint spotting, bookplate to final pastedown, contemporary calf, rebacked rubbed and worn, bumping to corners, folio, 1739.
Harrowing of Hell.- Parkes (Richard) An apologie: of three testimonies of holy Scripture, concerning the article of our Creed, [he descended into hell.]...lately seconded by a printed pamphlet, masking vnder the name of Limbo-mastix, first edition, E8 blank, 3 later writing exercise ink words and 3 numbers to title, pagination of preliminaries provided in later neat ink, occasional later neat underlining in red ink, B1 small hole in text with loss of a few letters, 2B8 lower corner torn away, affecting part of printed side-note recto, L4 large horizontal tear within text, without loss, closely trimmed at head, occasionally just touching a headline, some spotting or staining, lightly browned throughout, modern calf-backed marbled boards, gilt spine in compartments and with burgundy leather label, [STC 19295], small 4to, George Eld [?& William Jaggard], 1607.⁂ Rare at auction. Part of a pamphlet war with the clergyman and controversialist Andrew Willet on the subject of the descent of Christ into hell (the period between the Crucifixion and resurrection), known in Old and Middle English as the 'Harrowing of Hell'. It is in part a reply to Willet's Loidoromastix, in which Parkes is roughly treated.
Borrichius (Olaus) De Ortu, et Progressu Chemiæ Dissertatio, first edition, woodcut printers device to title, scattered spotting, errata at end, modern panelled calf, 4to, Copenhagen, Matthias Godiche for Peder Haubold, 1668.⁂ Olaus Borrichius (also known as Ole Borsch) was a Danish scientist, physician and poet. By 1666 he was a Professor of Philology, Chemistry and Botany at the University of Copenhagen.
Darwin (Charles) On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, second edition, second issue with "fifth thousand on title", half-title, folding lithograph diagram, 32pp. publisher's catalogue dated January 1860 at end, a few pencil marks to margins, occasional light corner creasing, some cracking to gutter but holding firm, upper joint cracked but firm, original blind-stamped cloth, spine gilt, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, light rubbing to joints, some faint spotting, but still overall a sharp, near-fine copy, [Freeman 376], 8vo, 1860.⁂ This second edition was considered by Darwin as "little more than a reprint of the first edition". Rare in this condition.
Darwin (Charles) On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, third edition (seventh thousand), half-title, folding lithographed plate, advertisement f. at end, newspaper clippings tipped onto title verso and first contents page, pencil markings and marginal notes, 1 or 2 ff. with short closed tear running into text, some splitting to gutter but holding firm, upper hinge starting, original green cloth, spine ends and corners a little bumped and with minor fraying, slight darkening to spine, light rubbing to extremities, but a very good copy overall, [Freeman 381; PMM 344 (b), note], John Murray, 1861; and a first edition of his Insectivorous Plants, 1875 (not collated), 8vo (2)⁂ 'the most important biological book ever written' (Freeman). The third edition 'was extensively altered, and is of interest for the addition of a table of differences between it and the second edition, a table which occurs in each subsequent edition, and also for the addition of the historical sketch... which was written to satisfy complaints that Darwin had not sufficiently considered his predecessors in the general theory of evolution... there is also a postscript on page xii... concern[ing] a review of the earlier editions by Asa Gray' (Freeman p. 78). Provenance: 'Thomas J.T. Corfield, St. Dye, Sept. 19th, 1863' (ink inscription to head of title); João Maria de Montezuma Diniz de Carvalho (1923-2020, ink inscription to endpapers), researched for his doctorate at the John Innes Horticultural Institution, Bayfordbury (awarded 1963), and went on to become the director of the Botanical Institute and its gardens at the University of Coimbra, where he published extensively in the field of plant genetics (ink signature to front free endpaper, verso of advertisement f. and rear endpaper, the first London, 1958).
Curr (John) The Coal Viewer, and Engine Builder's Practical Companion, first edition, 5 folding engraved plates, tables, bookplate to pastedowns, lightly browned, some light soiling to title, scattered spotting to plates, front endpaper working loose, hinges cracked but holding firm, 19th century marbled boards, rebacked and recornered in later calf, old covers rubbed, spine lightly sunned, Sheffield, for the Author, by John Northall, [Kress B3373; Ottley 172], 4to, 1797.⁂ Possibly the first printed account of an iron railway. John Curr, a mining engineer, made great contributions to the development of underground haulage in South Yorkshire collieries during the Industrial Revolution, introducing the flanged wheel still used on modern railways. One copy with an imprint of 1796 is recorded at auction (Sotheby's, 1974), this unrecorded on ESTC and WorldCat. The title-page was seemingly reset in 1797 to include a list of booksellers in London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Shrewsbury and Manchester.
Coal mines.- Hair (T. H.) A Series of Views of the Collieries in the Counties of Northumberland and Durham, first edition, additional etched vignette title and 42 plates, all on india paper, foxing, margins of a few text leaves and plates repaired, hinges reinforced, original pictorial boards, soiled and edges worn, rebacked, head of spine torn, folio, 1844.
Hawking (Stephen) The Occurrence of Singularities in Cosmology, contained in 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' Series A Vol.294 No.1439, pp.511-521, first edition, original printed wrappers, spine very slightly rubbed and browned, large 8vo, 18th October 1966.⁂ One of two early papers by Hawking on the occurrence of singularities developed from his PhD thesis, submitted in October 1965 and approved in 1966, which resulted in a research fellowship at Gonville & Caius College Cambridge. Continuing work in this field in December 1966 he produced the essay Singularities and the Geometry of Space-Time which won the prestigious Adams Prize jointly with an essay by Roger Penrose.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. Pharmacopoea Collegii Regii Medicorum Edimburgensium, first edition, with the first f. blank apart from signature A, title with woodcut device, ink library reference to A1 and verso of following leaf, a couple instances of ink correction or marginalia, A8 trimmed at fore-edge with loss to a couple letters, B6 with tiny chip to fore-edge just touching text to verso, some toning, contemporary ?presentation binding of gilt-panelled black morocco, spine gilt in compartments, very lightly rubbed, g.e., 12mo, Edinburgh, Heirs of Andrew Anderson, 1699.⁂ Very scarce. Not traced in ESTC, with WorldCat listing only two copies (University of Oxford, Yale University Library), and LibraryHub one (Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh). Provenance: Patrick Hume Earl of Marchmont (cropped bookplate, dated 1702). "Presented from the College of Physicians to the Lord Chancellor by Dor. Matthew Sinclair their President in July 1699. Patrick Earl of Marchmont [the rest in illegible French]" (ink inscription to A3 verso).
Vergilius Maro (Publius) Opera, collation: *10, a-e8, f-g6, h-r8, s-t6, v4, x10, y-z8, &8, Ɔ8, aa-zz8, aaa-uuu8, xxx6, yyy-zzz8, A-D8, title within woodcut architectural border, a later ink ownership inscription and a few early notes, profuse woodcut illustrations throughout, some with early hand-colouring, early ink notes to margins in various hands, lacking final 5ff. (D4-5, last f.583), title and a few other ff. with edges either laid down to or with paper repairs, 2B5 with tear across text and small hole with loss of letters, peripheral ff. with some soiling or browning, a little minor damp-staining, elsewhere scattered, and a occasional spots, endpapers renewed, contemporary vellum, spine ends bumped with small tear to foot, lower covers corners a little worn, folio (307x211mm.), Venice, Lucantonio Giunta, 1544.⁂ The richly illustrated Giunta editions were Virgil's most popular Italian editions in the first half of the sixteenth century. The over 100 woodcuts were copied from the blocks produced for Johann Gruninger's Strasbourg edition of 1502. Literature: Not in Adams; EDIT 16 CNCE 54877.Provence: Olga Raggio (1926-2009), art historian and curator with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; gifted to the present owner.
Poetry.- Charles I, King of England.- [Cleveland (John)] Monumentum Regale or a tombe, erected for that incomparable and Glorious Monarch, Charles the First...In select Elegies, Epitaphs, and Poems, first edition, title and pp.2-3 printed in red and black, woodcut crown and skull to title, woodcut head-pieces, trimmed at head and foot, affecting final line of text on C6r, and some pagination, signatures and catch-words, [Wing C4681], no printer, Printed in the Yeare 1649 bound with [B[irkenhead] (Sir J[ohn])] Loyalties tears flowing after the bloud of the royall sufferer Charles I. &c. Englands glory and shame, initial f. blank, woodcut head-piece, lacking 4 advertisement ff. at end, pen trials to final verso, closely trimmed at outer margin, [Wing B2966], no printer, Anno Dom. 1649 [i.e. 1650], together 2 works in 1 vol., occasional spotting or light staining, lightly browned, contemporary calf, rebacked in modern calf in compartments, 1 lower corner little worn, rubbed at extremities, 8vo⁂ I: Rare at auction. Another issue (Wing C4681A) has 'Year' in imprint.
Qu'ran, English.- The Alcoran of Mahomet, first octavo edition of the first English language version, A2, A3, 2E5 & 2E6 strengthened at fore-edges, E4 with small hole and strengthened bottom edge, G3 with small hole affecting text, occasional tiny marginal worming, tender edges, trimmed, occasionally touching head-line, no signature O (as issued), light toning, later half-calf, rubbed, bumping to corners and extremities, cracked joints but holding firm, [Wing K747A], 8vo, 1649.
Sprat (Thomas) The History of the Royal-Society of London, first edition, first issue, imprimatur leaf A1 with Society's arms to verso, lacking frontispiece (as usual), 2 engraved plates, errata leaf at end, book-label of Gloddaeth Library and small contemporary ink ownership inscription to pastedown, contemporary speckled calf, light scuffing to extremities, spine with vertical crack but neatly repaired, joints repaired, preserved in custom drop-back box, [Wing S5032; Norman 1989; Keynes, Evelyn 178; Hooke 28], 4to, Printed by T. R. for J. Martyn...and J. Allestry, 1667.
Binding.- Blake (William, of Highgate) The Ladies Charity School-house Roll of Highgate: or A Subscription of many Noble, well-disposed Ladies for the easie carrying of it on, first edition, drop-head title, lacking the 4 engraved plates but with petition leaf at end and final blank, contemporary ink inscription of William Gandy to front free endpaper, some soiling and staining, later bookplate of R.H.Watt, attractive contemporary black morocco, covers elaborately tooled with an all-over pattern of drawer-handles, rosettes, dots and stylised flower tools in gilt, some in pointillé, ?by the Charity School Binder, spine gilt, g.e., old chipped paper label to spine, rubbed and dulled, lacking ties, short splits to joints, [Wing B3152], [c.1670]; with a copy of The Book Collector of Spring 1983 including a piece about the work and its binding by Mirjam M.Foot (see below), 8vo (2)⁂ The binding is in the style of the Queens' binders, though is probably by the Charity School Binder. There are however no tools in common with the example illustrated by Mirjam Foot in The Book Collector, Spring 1983, nor with the example in Maggs catalogue 1075 item 75. A copy of the same work in a similar style binding and using the same tools, but complete with the 4 plates, was sold in these rooms in 2021 for £2600.This copy is without the 4 plates entitled 'Father Time', 'Charity', 'Front elevation of the School' and 'Butterflies'. Copies frequently lack one or more plate as they were used as receipts and "hung up in the School-house". William Blake of Covent Garden, was a woollen draper, the son of Francis Blake of Highgate, and founder and house-keeper of the Ladies Charity School on Highgate Hill. ESTC suggests the date of the book may be 1680.
Entrelac binding.- Alamanni (Luigi) La Coltivatione, first edition, collation: a-t8 u2 x2 *2, faintly ruled in red, title with woodcut device slightly soiled and laid down, occasional foxing, small marginal burn-hole in c4, errata on u2v, dedication (gathering *) bound at end, contemporary French Morocco, gilt, covers with black-painted strapwork central oval cartouches ornamented with foliate tools within a black-painted strapwork frame, black-painted border within gilt rules, gilt cover-edges and turn-ins, spine gilt in compartments, the compartments decorated with diaper-patterned gilt rules, forming diamonds alternately painted black, gilt edges, extremities lightly rubbed, unobtrusive wormholes on spine, skilful repairs to spine ends, modern green cloth solander box, 8vo (210 x 130mm. page, 215 x 145mm. binding), Paris, Robert Estienne, 1546.⁂ A stunning copy of the first edition of this didactic poem written in imitation of Vergil's Georgics and dedicated to François I by one of the leading Italian poets of the time, in a handsome French painted Entrelac binding. This copy is from the library of Benedetto Varchi (1503-1565), the Florentine poet and humanist, and correspondent of Alamanni. Robert Estienne's edition of La coltivatione is notable as not only the only book printed by him in his larger italic typeface, but also as the only book that he printed in a modern European language other than French.Provenance: Bened[etto] Varchi (partially-erased inscription on title); -- other early, erased inscriptions on title; Francesco Mainardi of Ferrara (ownership inscription on front free endpaper dated 1792); Michel Wittock (bookplate).Literature: Adams A-409; Mortimer, French 10; Renouard, Estienne p. 68, no. 22 (noting that some copies are without the errata on u2v); Schreiber, Estiennes 88.
Owned by an opponent of Darwin.- [Hume (David)] Philosophical essays concerning human understanding. By the author of the Essays Moral and Political, first edition, title with woodcut floral ornament, 2ff. publisher's advertisements at end, brief contemporary ink annotation in English to foot of verso of contents f. [pi]2, some spotting or light foxing, occasional light staining, lightly browned, contemporary calf, gilt, neatly rebacked, preserving original backstrip in compartments with modern (but to style) burgundy morocco label, [Jessop p.19; Rothschild 1173], 12mo, Printed for A. Millar, opposite Katharine-Street, in the Strand, 1748.⁂ First edition of what would become better known as An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding when reprinted in 1758. Here found with an excellent provenance. Provenance: François Jules Pictet de la Rive (1809-1872), Swiss zoologist and palaeontologist. He wrote a lengthy review of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, of which Darwin commented 'Of all the opposed reviews I think this the only quite fair one, & I never expected to see one' (ink signature 'De la Rive' to front pastedown); René-Édouard Claparède (1832-1871) Swiss anatomist and former assistant to de la Rive (ink 'Edouard Claparede, Champel-Génève' to front free endpaper).
Hume (David) An Enquiry concerning the principles of morals, first edition, first issue (L3 with catchword 'than'), half-title, title with woodcut floral ornament, errata f., 3pp. advertisements at end, occasional spotting, a few small stains, lightly browned, lacking rear endpaper, contemporary speckled calf, gilt, spine in compartments and with ?new (but to style) leather label, joints starting, but holding firm, spine ends chipped, rubbed, [Jessop p.22; Rothschild 1174], 12mo, Printed for A. Millar, over-against Catherine-Street, in the Strand, 1751.⁂ A very good copy of what Hume described as 'incomparably the best' of his own writings (Autobiography, 1777, p.16). It is a reworking of part III of his 'Treatise of Human Nature'.Provenance: Jonathan Pytts, Esq. (large engraved armorial bookplate to front pastedown).
Hammond (Samuel) A Guide to the English Pronunciation and Orthography, first edition, lacking front free endpaper, ex-library with ink-stamp to title verso, contemporary calf, upper cover becoming detached, rubbed, bumping to corners and extremities, 8vo, printed for T. Field ... and sold by the Author at Nottingham, 1755.⁂ Rare. WorldCat lists only 2, at Nottinghamshire County Library and Yale University.
Trinity College prize bindings.- Shakespeare (William) The Plays...To which are added Notes by Sam. Johnson, 8 vol., first Johnson edition, first issue with Corbet listed as the second bookseller and Johnson's preface unpaginated, all but vol. 1 & 2 with half-titles, engraved portrait frontispiece, vol. 3 with worming to lower margin of first few sig., a few times just touching text, vol. 4 with worming up to O5, mostly to upper margin but the occasional worm hole/trace within text, 2P6 with small hole touching printed footnote, vol. 8 with small worm trace to inner gutter of first few ff., some light browning, occasional spotting or light staining, but generally clean copies, 18th century prize bookplate and contemporary calf with arms of Trinity College Dublin to upper and lower covers, spines with red and black morocco labels (little chipped), spines with contents listed in ink manuscript, one or two small worm holes, a few chips to ends and old glue repairs, vol. 4 & 6 covers worn with loss to arms, rubbed and scuffed, some joints split but holding, 8vo, for J. and R. Tonson, C. Corbet [&tc], 1765.⁂ A landmark in Shakespeare studies.
Burney (Frances) Camilla: Or a Picture of Youth, 5 vol., first edition, vol.1 with list of subscribers and advertisement leaf at end, vol. 2 B12 and vol. 3 K2 with marginal tears, vol. 4 D2 with loss to upper margin affecting page numbers, occasional very light browning, bookplate of R. H. Alexander Bennet to front pastedowns, contemporary speckled half calf, spines gilt with green morocco labels, slight chipping to spine ends, light rubbing to covers, corners a little bumped, but an attractive set overall, [Rothschild 550], 12mo, T.Payne...and T.Cadell Jun. and W.Davies, 1796.⁂ A very good copy of Burney's enormously popular novel. The list of subscribers includes a young and unknown Jane Austen (aged 20), as well as Sir Joseph Banks, Edmund Burke, Sir William Chambers, Maria Edgeworth, Warren Hastings (godfather to Austen's first cousin and sister-in-law Eliza de Feuillide), Rev. Thomas Leigh of Adlestrop (cousin of Austen's mother), Nevil Maskelyne, Hannah More, Mrs Piozzi, Mrs Radcliffe, Humphry Repton and Mrs Siddons.Austen was obviously familiar with Fanny Burney's works and, following the issue of Camilla in 1796, in October of that year she began writing a novel titled False Impressions which later became Pride and Prejudice, a title possibly taken from a quotation in Burney's Cecilia. She also refers to Camilla in Northanger Abbey: "'And what are you reading, Miss - ?' 'Oh! It is only a novel!' replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. "It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language."
[Lamb (Lady Caroline)] Ada Reis, a Tale, 3 vol., first edition, lacking half-titles, occasional foxing or browning, staining to vol.3 title, ink ownership name and bookplate of John Congreve, contemporary half calf, spines gilt in compartments, a little rubbed, [Garside, Raven and Schowerling 1823:52], each volume preserved in custom drop-back box, large 12mo, John Murray, 1823.⁂ The third and last novel by the Anglo-Irish Lamb, rare. Though famous during her lifetime and after for her affair with Lord Byron, Lamb's novels are notable for their imagination, scholarly approach and embodiment of the Romantic milieu it which they were written: Ada Reis was inspired by friends of Byron, dedicated to the literary hostess Lydia White and published by John Murray, Lamb's friend and Byron's former publisher.
Dickens (Charles) The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, first edition in original 19/20 parts, part 4 first issue with "visiter" on p.123 and part 5 first issue with "latter" on p.160, 40 etched plates by Hablot K. Browne (part 14 with 2 additional duplicate plates from part 15), parts 1 and 2 plates with publisher's imprint, part 8 plate no.16 third steel with "in" omitted, part 12 plate no.23 with "Mr" present, part 15 plate no.29 third impression, most front adverts present (part 11 without "New books for Children" yellow paper slip; part 18 lacking pp.7-10, 15-16 from "Nickleby Advertiser"), most back adverts present except part 16 (additionally part 1 with additional advert "Ripon & Burton's Furnishing Ironmongery"; part 7 lacking "immense Saving in the purchase of Tea"; part 8 lacking Mechi's catalogue; part 12 lacking "New and Popular Works by Tyas"; part 15 lacking "Mr Adolphus History of England"; Part 19/20 with 3 seal wafers present), plates occasionally browned or offset, part 15 front adverts loose, original pictorial wrappers, some repairs and restorations to spines and joints, some joints split or chipped, lightly soiled and chipped at edges, but very good generally, preserved in custom drop-back box (lightly faded), [Hatton & Cleaver, 131- 160], 8vo, Chapman & Hall, 1838-39.
Dickens (Charles) Dombey and Son, first edition in the original 19/20 monthly parts, early issue of part 11 ("Capatin" for "Captain" on p. 324, final line), both early and late issue points in part 14 ("431" present on p. 431 but "if" omitted on p. 426, line 9), part 19/20 with the 8-line errata, 40 plates by Hablot K Browne, most front adverts present (parts 3 & 4 with additional slips, part 8 lacking pp.7-8 of "Dombey & Son Advertiser"), most back adverts present (part 4 lacking "Lett's Diaries" advert & specimen leaves, part 6 lacking "Portrait of a Horse" and "Introduction to Zoology" adverts, part 8 with additional advert at rear for "Heath's Illustrated New Testament" and additional slip, part 9 lacking "Just Published..." adverts, part 15 with 10 of 18 Diary specimen ff.), all other slips and advertisements as called for, occasional light spotting, mainly to plates, original printed blue wrappers, some ink ownership names to wrappers and plates verso, some spines repaired (part 19/20 spine rebacked), some light soiling and nicks to extremities, a clean and excellent set overall, [Hatton & Cleaver pp.227-25], 8vo, Bradbury & Evans, 1846.
Dickens (Charles) Bleak House, first edition in the original 19/20 parts, 39 plates by H.K. Browne only (of 40, lacking "frontispiece" to part 19/20), with the explanation of the accident to plate 17 in part 9, front adverts all present of "The Bleak House Advertiser" (parts 3, 6, 7 and 14 lacking slips), most back adverts present (parts 2, 3, 16 and 18 lacking slips, and part 1 with Waterlow and Son's variant advert 'A', lacking "Mott" and "Camomile" advertisements, part 2 lacking "Waterlow", part 5 lacking "Edward Lloyd's", part 6 lacking pp.3-4 of "The Oak Life Insurance", part 7 lacking "London Weekly Paper", part 16 lacking pp.3-6 of "Clarke, Beeton and Co.'s"), all other slips and advertisements otherwise as called for, plates browned or offset, some occasional light soiling, original wrappers, soiling to part 1 wrapper, part 19/20 spine broken, some back wrappers detached, chipped and nicked to edges, spines worn with portions of loss, still overall a very good and unrestored copy, [Hatton & Cleaver pp.273-304], preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, 1852-53.
Dickens (Charles) The Mystery of Edwin Drood, first edition in original 6 monthly parts, 14 wood-engraved plates after Luke Fildes, earliest issue of part 6 with the "eighteenpence" slip over the one shilling price on the upper wrapper, most front adverts present (part 1 lacking 8pp. and part 3 lacking 4pp. of "Edwin Drood Advertiser"), most rear adverts present, including part 2 with the rare fragile "Cork Hat" slip and part 4 with 2pp. rear adverts in duplicate, (part 1 lacking "Henry Brett & Co.", part 3 lacking slip, part 5 lacking "Weekly Journal" and slip), occasional spotting, original wrappers, neat repairs and restoration to spines and edges, occasionally affecting text to inner or outer wrapper, part 1 rebacked and upper wrapper with repaired portion of loss to fore-edge, the odd light spot or mark to covers, preserved in custom half morocco drop-back box (spine sunned, a little rubbed), [Eckel pp.96-98; Hatton & Cleaver pp.373-384], 8vo, Chapman and Hall, 1870.
Dickens (Charles) The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, first edition in book form, half-title, additional etched title and 39 plates by "Phiz", plates with foxing and browning but text generally clean, original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt, one corner slightly damaged and small nick at head of lower joint, [Smith I, 7; Eckel p.71], 8vo, Chapman and Hall, 1844.⁂ Overall a very good copy with the etched title-page reading "100£" on the signpost.
Dickens (Charles) Great Expectations, "new edition in one volume", half-title, frontispiece, title with vignette illustration, bookplate of Frank O. Rowland to front pastedown, original cloth, spine gilt, spine faded, rubbed, some light bumping and slight fraying to spine tips and corners, but a very good copy generally, 8vo, Chapman and Hall, 1863.⁂ A rare edition that may constitute a second issue of the second edition, seemingly not recorded by Margaret Cardwell. The first one-volume edition was published in 1862, this edition appears largely similar to that except for the later date on the title and the lack of advertisements at the end.
Stevenson (Robert Louis) Treasure Island, first edition, colour frontispiece, occasional light finger-soiling, 8pp. publisher's advertisements at end, W.H. Smith embossed library stamp to endpapers, original rust cloth, recased with some repairs to spine ends, spine faded, preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, 1883.⁂ First issue with the following points: "Dead Man's Chest" not capitalized on pp.2 & 7; "rain" for "vain" on last line of p.40; "a" missing on p.63, line 6; missing 8 p.83. The "7" on p.127 is larger and bolder; period dropped from p.178, line 20 ; "worse" for "worst" on p.197, line 3.
Stevenson (Robert Louis) Kidnapped, first edition, first issue, half-title, folding colour map, 16pp. publisher's catalogue at end, slight spotting to title and elsewhere, original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt, slight rubbing to joints and some shelf-lean, 8vo, 1886.⁂ A very good copy with the following issue points: with "business" instead of "pleasure" on p. 40, line 11, "nine o'clock" instead of "twelve o'clock" on p. 64, line 1, and "Long Islands" instead of "Long Island" on p. 101, lines 9/10. Additionally the publisher's catalogue is dated "5G.4.86" and "5B.4.86".
Stevenson (Robert Louis) Kidnapped, first edition, first issue with "business" on p.40 and all other issue points, frontispiece, 16pp. publisher's advertisements at rear (some pages unopened), occasional light finger-soiling, original cloth, lightly rubbed and marked, [Prideaux p. pp.45-49], preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, 1886.
Flaubert (Gustave) Madame Bovary, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling, first English edition, frontispiece and 5 plates, 2pp. of advertisements at front (unopened at top edge), without 24pp. publisher's catalogue for 1886 at end as often, contemporary ink ownership inscription to title and p.1, original cloth, spine faded, ends a little creased and frayed, corners bumped, 8vo, 1886.⁂ First English edition of Flaubert's first novel with the translation by socialist activist and youngest daughter of Karl Marx, Eleanor Marx-Aveling.
Chess.- Damiano de Odemeira. [The Pleasaunt and wittie Playe of the Cheasts renewed], first edition in English, translated by James Rowbothum, printed in black letter, woodcut diagrams, lacking first and last gatherings (* and G, each 4ff.) and A1, title supplied in facsimile, some leaves in sig.B misbound, marginal damp-staining, inner margins repaired, modern calf, gilt spine with red morocco label, [STC 6214], 8vo, [Printed...by Roulande Hall, for James Rowbothum], 1562.⁂ The first work in English on the game of Chess. Extremely rare. ESTC locates 4 copies in British Isles and 6 in N. America. Rare Book Hub cites the last copy at auction in 1967 although there was also a complete copy in the Richard Ford sale at Phillips in 1985 (£2,500 hammer) but none other since that we know of.Included in this lot is a photocopy of an article in The Chess Collector, vol.IV no.2 on this work, its publishing history and rarity, by Michael Mark; and a EEBO editions softback facsimile of the work.Despite its faults, this is an important book and reflects the new promotion of the Queen to "the best piece on the chessboard... because that the game is seldome wonne, after that she is once lost." A7v
Adams (Richard) Watership Down, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "To Jessie and Derek Hinich with best wishes from Richard Adams January 1973" on front free endpaper, folding map at end, original cloth, dust-jacket, very light surface scuff to spine head, otherwise remarkably fine, 8vo, 1972.⁂ Inscribed to friends of the author, Adams knowing the recipient Derek through their positions in the Department of Environment in the Civil Service.
Buchan (John) The Thirty-Nine Steps, first edition, 2pp. publisher's advertisements at end, light ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper, very light foxing or toning to half-title and few other pages, original cloth, spine faded, corners lightly bumped, expertly recased with neat repairs to spine ends, preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, 1915.
Chandler (Raymond) Farewell, My Lovely, first edition, light spotting to endpapers and edges, 'A Note on the Type' f. adhesion tearing to foot from removal of label, original cloth, some light bumping and fraying to tips of spine and corners, dust-jacket, light fading to spine, spine ends and corners chipped affecting imprint at foot of spine, some adhesion tearing and marking to spine, light staining to lower panel, light rubbing to extremities, preserved in custom drop-back box, [Bruccoli A2], 8vo, New York, 1940.⁂ Chandler's second novel and the first to be adapted for film.
Donaldson (Julia) A Squash and a Squeeze, first edition, illustrations by Axel Scheffler, original pictorial boards, spine faded, otherwise fine, 4to, 1993.⁂ The author's first book, rare in commerce. Due to the infrequency of its appearance in commerce, is likely to have had a very limited print run. It also marks the first collaboration between the author and illustrator, whose partnership would later go on to create The Gruffalo, Stick Man, Zog and Room on the Broom amongst others.
Turrecremata (Johannes de) Quaestiones Evangeliorum de tempore et de sanctis, 2 parts in 2 vol., collation: I: [a10 b-z8] II: [A10 B-K8 L M10], 286 ff. of 288 (lacking fol. 187 and 288, both blank; with fol. 1 blank), 35 lines, Gothic type, initials in red (part. 1 some with marginal flourishes), paragraph-marks and initial-strokes in red, f.286 with faint ink library stamp to verso and small marginal paper repair, scattered ff. with light marginal damp-stains, some instances of minor soiling, later blind-stamped calf (not uniform), folio (278 x 193mm.), Nuremberg, Friedrich Creussner, 1478.⁂ Second or third edition of this interpretation of the gospels by the Spanish Dominican Juan de Torquemada. The first edition was published in Rome 1477 by Johannes Schurener de Bopardia, followed by two editions in 1478; ours and that by Petrus in Altis, de Olpe in Cologne. Torquemada was Cardinal of St. Sixtus from 1439, and was an important figure at the councils of Basel and Florence. He was the uncle of the Grand Inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada. Provenance: Franciscans of Ingolstadt (ink inscription at head of fol.2). Literature: BMC II, 450; Goff T-564; Hain 15711 & 15712; GW M48299; Bod-inc T-287; BSB-Ink T-565; ISTC it00546000.
Du Maurier (Daphne) Rebecca, first edition, cut signed presentation inscription from the author "With best wishes from Daphne du Maurier" laid down to pastedown, light toning, original cloth, spine lightly faded and ends lightly bumped, dust-jacket, lightly faded, tears repaired and expert paper restorations and retouching, heavier to spine and joints, still in effect an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1938.
Ekwensi (Cyprian) Beautiful Feathers, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author on title, small ink smudge to title (not to inscription), original boards, slight toning to upper edge, spine tips a little bumped, dust-jacket, very light toning to spine, short nick to head of lower panel, light rubbing and creasing to spine tips and corners, some light surface soiling to lower panel, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1963.⁂ A good association copy, inscribed to Adelaide McGuinn Cromwell Hill (1919-2019), an African-American pioneer who co-founded the African Studies Center at Boston University in 1959, was the first African-American instructor at Hunter College and at Smith College and was appointed as the first African-American Library Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1974.
Fleming (Ian) Casino Royale, first edition, first impression, light spotting to edges and endpapers, ink inscription to front fee endpaper, crease to pp.17-18, original black boards with heart motif in red to upper cover, spine lettered in red, slight shelf-lean, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, first issue dust-jacket without Sunday Times review, price-clipped, slight dulling to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped with chip to head of spine touching author's name, small portion of insect damage to upper fore-edge, lower panel with light spotting and browning, 1 or 2 very short nicks to head and foot of upper panel with some light creasing but a very good copy overall, 8vo, 1953.
Ford (Ford Madox) "Ford Madox Hueffer". The Good Soldier, first edition, first issue, with London publisher listed above that in New York and this work listed as "The Saddest Story" in the advertisements, light crease to half-title, pp.21-22 with subtle repair to head, occasional light spotting, the odd light stain, mostly marginal, endpapers a little browned, original cloth, lightly rubbed, covers a little bowed and darkened, some neat repairs to spine, [Connolly 27], 8vo, 1915.⁂ "This is the saddest story I have ever heard". One of the great novels of the 20th century, and a landmark in modernist writing.
Forester (C.S.) The African Queen, first American edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "G. Belcher from C. S. Forester" on front free endpaper, light scattered spotting, original cloth, recased with some repairs to spine ends, lightly rubbed, preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, Boston, 1935.
Pufendorf (Samuel) De Rebus a Carolo Gustavo Sveciæ rege gestis Commentariorum ..., first edition, additional engraved title, 12 engraved portrait plates, 113 only (of 115) engraved double-page plates, plans and maps, large panorama bound upside-down, engraved illustrations, engraved initials, head- and tail-pieces, I3 becoming loose, 3Y1 with tear into text and neat old repair, 2Z1 with small marginal hole, 4K1 with short marginal tear affecting odd letter, bookplates, contemporary calf, rubbed, bumping to corners and spine extremities, small tears to spine head, folio, Nuremberg, 1696.⁂ Including the large panorama of Stockholm, which depicts the funeral procession of Charles X Gustav. Provenance: Bookplate of Lord Walpole of Woolterton; and of Mannington Hall.
Greene (Graham) Loser Takes All, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "For Eddie - this complete abortion, but I'm so tired of Good + Evil. with love, Graham, Jan 30 1955" on front free endpaper, lightly spotted, manuscript correction in later hand to p.81, original cloth, spine and top edge lightly faded, dust-jacket, one short closed tear to upper panel tail repaired with tape verso, otherwise a very sharp and bright copy, [Wobbe A34], 8vo, 1955.⁂ An intriguing inscription to Edward Sackville-West, referencing Greene's first published departure from his usual moralist themes to an experiment with comedy. Though Greene and Sackville-West missed each other at Oxford, their literary careers overlapped from the mid-20s, and both converted to Catholicism. Sackville-West was one of very few whose literary opinion Greene respected. Loser Takes All is thus "an attempt to link comedy (especially satire, parody and burlesque) to the religious thriller" - Wobbe p.102.
Loading...
![Poetry.- Charles I, King of England.- [Cleveland (John)] Monumentum Regale or a tombe, erected for that incomparable and Glor](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/175e1d27-5155-4863-91f2-b02a010cc1cf/2c622da8-41c0-466a-9eea-b02a011893cd/468x382.jpg)
![[Monk (Mary)] Marinda. Poems and Translations upon several occasions, first edition, previous owner's ink inscription to fron](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/175e1d27-5155-4863-91f2-b02a010cc1cf/14b64cbf-1f76-4c5c-8bd5-b02a0117dc6a/468x382.jpg)
![Owned by an opponent of Darwin.- [Hume (David)] Philosophical essays concerning human understanding. By the author of the Ess](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/175e1d27-5155-4863-91f2-b02a010cc1cf/409cc74a-a0d0-4d61-b2bf-b02a01196aa1/468x382.jpg)
![[Lamb (Lady Caroline)] Ada Reis, a Tale, 3 vol., first edition, lacking half-titles, occasional foxing or browning, staining](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/175e1d27-5155-4863-91f2-b02a010cc1cf/7a2a9681-669a-4f2c-ade3-b02a011a4f8a/468x382.jpg)
![Chess.- Damiano de Odemeira. [The Pleasaunt and wittie Playe of the Cheasts renewed], first edition in English, translated by](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/175e1d27-5155-4863-91f2-b02a010cc1cf/deb63422-08e1-4bae-a52c-b02a01189d8b/468x382.jpg)
![Turrecremata (Johannes de) Quaestiones Evangeliorum de tempore et de sanctis, 2 parts in 2 vol., collation: I: [a10 b-z8] II:](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/175e1d27-5155-4863-91f2-b02a010cc1cf/79b125fb-f726-4ea0-aee9-b02a0118a1cb/468x382.jpg)
