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Astronomy.- Huygens (Christiaan) The Celestial Worlds Discover'd, second edition, 5 folding engraved plates, light damp-staining, contemporary calf, gilt, upper cover almost detached, 8vo, James Knapton, 1722*** Second English edition, of this work speculating on extra-terrestrial life, based on the Copernican theory of the universe, and observations of the dark and light patches on the moon, Mars and Jupiter as indicators of the presence of water. Originally, Huygens's 'Cosmotheros' appeared in Latin in The Hague in 1698, the first English edition following that year.

Astronomy.- Maupertuis (Pierre-Louis Moreau de) La Figure de la Terre..., first edition, 1 engraved map and 9 plates, all folding, printer's device to title, contemporary mottled calf, small tears to lower cover edge, and a little rubbed elsewhere, 8vo, Paris, l'Imprimerie Royale, 1738.*** First edition of this famous work on the applanation of the earth at the poles; Maupertius headed the scientific expedition to Lapland, with the objective to confirm Newton's theory of the flattening of the earth at the poles, with the results proving fatal to the Cassinian hypothesis. 

Astronomy.- Mercator (Nicolaus) Institutionum Astronomicarum libri duo, first edition, lacking T7 and T8, woodcut illustrations and diagrams, contemporary calf, rebacked, rubbed, [Wing M1729], William Godbid for Samuel Simpson, 1676; and 2 other 17th century astronomical works, 4to and 8vo (3)

Astronomy.- Monnier (Pierre Charles le) La Theorie des Cometes, first edition, half-title, 4 folding engraved plates, folding table, contemporary calf, gilt, 8vo, Paris, 1743.*** Scarce work based on, indeed much a direct translation of Halley's Cometographia of 1726. Page 65 includes the announcement of his prediction of the return of his eponymous comet "de sorte que je puis avec assez de certitude annoncer son retour pour l'an 1758."Provenance: The Earls of Macclesfield (South Library bookplate and small blind-stamps to first few leaves, as usual).

Hunting and falconry.- [Goury de Champgrand (Charles Jean)] Traite de Venerie, et de Chasses, 2 parts in 1 vol., first edition, half-titles, 39 engraved plates by Louis Halbou, plate 13 with portion of restoration to lower blank margin with loss to part of printed border, a very good, clean copy otherwise, bookplates of Comte de Beaufort and Carl Schwerdt to endpapers and pastedown, handsome later crushed brown morocco, gilt, arms of the Comte de Beautfort to covers, spine gilt in compartments, g.e., [Schwerdt I, pp.214-215 (this copy)], 4to, Paris, Claude-Jean-Baptiste Herissant, 1769. *** The Schwerdt copy of this important treatise, one of the only illustrated works on the subject published in France in the 18th century. 

Astronomy.- Pappiani (Alberto) Della Sfera Armillare e dell' Uso di essa nella Astronomia Nautica e Gnomonica, first edition, enrgaved frontispiece, title in red and black with engraved vignette, 9 folding engraved plates at rear, small ink ownership inscription front endpaper in ?contemporary hand, some worming to gutter at both hinges, with small trails continuing through to frontispiece, title, following few leaves (partial loss of letters), and to blank inner margin of final plates, Dutch floral pastedowns, contemporary mottled calf, covers and spine richly gilt, scattered minute worm holes and minute leather repair to upper joint head, [Houzeau & Lancaster 9677], 4to, Florence, Andrea Bonducci, 1745.

Astronomy.- Regiomontanus (Johannes Müller) Kalendarium, 25ff. (of 26, lacking final blank) plus 2ff. woodcut diagrams at end, printed in red and black including 30 diagrams of eclipses, woodcut initials, the 4 full-page woodcuts of astronomical instruments at end pasted together and mounted later to form 2 stiff cards, one with 2 ?later volvelles, woodcuts defective and missing portions supplied in facsimile, some lower corners of text leaves repaired, early ink annotations in red, some soiling and staining, modern buckram, 4to (199 x 138mm.), Augsburg, Erhard Ratdolt, 1499.*** The last incunable edition of Regiomontanus' Latin calendar, first published in 1474. Collates the same as the copy in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek but the middle woodcut initial on b7r is different and the upper volvelle has a different central decoration (the latter suggesting the volvelles might both be later additions to this copy).Provenance: Gilbert R. Redgrave (1844-1941, bibliographer and co-editor of STC, bookplate and his extensive notes on endpapers regarding this and other editions.Literature: Goff R100; Hain 13783*; BMC II 389; ISTC ir00100000.

Astronomy.- Scheiner (Christoph) Refractiones coelestes sive solis elliptici phaenomenon illustratum, first edition, woodcut vignette to title, woodcut illustrations and diagrams, typographic head-pieces, E4 & P4 with closed tears and silked repairs, affecting text but no loss, endpapers renewed, modern calf-backed boards, [Brunet VI 486], small 4to, Ingolstadt, Ederiana for Elisabeth Angerma, 1617.*** First edition of this work wherein Scheiner calls attention to the elliptical form of the sun near the horizon.

Astronomy.- Wilkins (John) A Discovery of a New World, fifth edition, 2 parts in 1, woodcut diagrams, some faint toning, contemporary speckled calf, rebacked with original back-strip laid down, [Wing 2186], 8vo, by J. Rawlins for John Gellibrand, 1684.*** The first work and first printed book in English to give serious consideration to space travel.  ESTC does not call for either a portrait frontispiece or additional engraved title, as in the fourth edition. 

Andreas Libavius' copy.- Plastic surgery.- Tagliacozzi (Gaspare) Cheirurgia nova...de narium, aurium, labiorumque defectu, first octavo edition, title printed in red and black and with woodcut printer's device, 22 full-page woodcuts of patients and surgical instruments, occasional early ink marginalia, foxing and staining, mostly lightly browned throughout, contemporary limp vellum, lacking ties, remains of labels to spine, upper cover with gilt library stamp at foot and upper corner chipped, soiled, [Durling 4312; G&M 5734 (1597 edition); Waller 9451; Wellcome I, 6211], 8vo, Frankfurt, Johannes Saur for Peter Kopf, 1598. *** Andreas Libavius' copy of the first octavo edition of the first modern work on plastic surgery. The German Libavius (c.1550-1616) was an alchemist, university professor, and physician. In 1597 he published Alchemia, a textbook that summarized all the discoveries alchemists had made to that point. With his ink ownership inscription to front pastedown.

Celestial atlas.- Gallucci (Giovanni Paolo) Theatrum mundi, et temporis, first edition, first issue, title with woodcut printer's device, 144 astronomical illustrations, of which 31 (of 51) with volvelles (some skilfully restored with facsimile elements; some possibly from other copies), additional f. after Mm4 showing the constellation Cepheus, folding letterpress table and errata f. at end, woodcut head and tail-pieces and decorative initials, occasional extensive 18th century Italian manuscript notes, including to verso of title, partially erased small ink stamp to title, sig. Ooo at end misbound, some foxing and staining, lightly browned, later endpapers, recased in contemporary limp vellum, splits to joints, but holding firm, a few small repairs, some staining, [Adams G168; Houzeau & Lancaster 2725; Mortimer Italian 206; Riccardi I, 568; Tomash & Williams G24; Warner 91; EDIT 16 CNCE 20287], 4to, Venice, Giovanni Battista Somasco, 1588. *** The first celestial atlas to use Copernican co-ordinates. 'There are 48 woodcut maps of the Ptolemaic constellations, each of which is preceded by a catalogue of the included stars identifying position within the constellation, latitude and longitude (in degrees and minutes), magnitude, and nature ... The longitudes on Gallucci's catalog and on his map are those published by Copernicus in De Revolutionibus (1543)' (Warner). Gallucci (1538- c.1621) was a private tutor to the Venetian nobility and founding member of the Second Venetian Academy. 

Mathematics.- Newton (Sir Isaac).- Stirling (James) Lineae tertii ordinis Neutonianae, first edition, 6pp. list of subscribers at end, occasional worming and some light browning, ink initials "G. M." title, bookplate of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell to front pastedown, 19th century morocco, gilt arms and motto of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell to covers, light rubbing to joints, g.e., 8vo, Oxford, at the Sheldonian Theatre, 1717.*** The Stirling family copy of this rare addition to Newtonian mathematics. Newton had identified 72 cubic curves to which Stirling here (in his first published work) adds 3.

Mathematics.- Stirling (James) The Differential Method: or, a Treatise Concerning Summation and Interpolation of Infinite Series. Translated into English, with the Author's Approbation, by Francis Holliday, first edition in English, with final advertisement f., light foxing, ink annotations to 2 pp. in an 18th century hand, bookplate of Sir William Stirling-Maxwell to front pastedown, 19th century morocco-backed cloth with arms and monogramme of Stirling-Maxwell to covers, rubbing to spine, 4to, E. Cave, 1749.*** The Stirling family copy of "Stirling's principal contribution to mathematics" - ODNB. The English edition is rare, we can only trace two other copies appearing at auction. 

Middle East.- Doughty (Charles M.) Travels in Arabia Deserta, 2 vol., first edition, [one of 500 copies], 8 plates, some folding, numerous illustrations, folding colour map in pocket at end of vol.1, 32pp. publisher's catalogue, lacking half-titles, 20th century half morocco, very light fading to spine, corners a little bumped, t.e.g., 8vo, Cambridge, 1888.*** Classic work on the exploration of Arabia which contains so much information on the topography of the area that it was used as a text-book by the British army during the Arab Revolt. There are also detailed descriptions of the Bedouin tribes and their customs.

Textiles.- Gli Universali di tutti e bei dissegni..., first edition, title and colophon in red and black, title within elaborate pictorial woodcut border depicting women at their needlework, 68 woodcut illustrations of textile design, most whole-page a few double-page, printers device to colophon, occasional spotting, later vellum, gilt, 4to (243x191mm.), [Venezia], Niccolò Zoppino, 1532.*** Rare: only 1 copy listed on USTC, and among the printer's more scarce works. The full title goes on to describe the designs contained therein as, both old and new which any thinking human and pilgrim whether man or woman with ?needle [l'aco] in hand could commendably create.  Literature: EDIT16 CNCE 72564

Thailand.- Bock (Carl) Temples and Elephants, first edition, portrait frontispiece, folding map, plates and illustrations, 2pp. advertisements, original pictorial cloth, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, light rubbing to extremities, an excellent copy, 8vo, Sampson Low, 1884. *** Rare in the original cloth. With the support of King Chulalongkorn, Bock undertook his exploration of the interior of Siam and Laos in 1881. 

Rackham (Arthur) .- Poe (Edgar Allan) Tales of Mystery & Imagination, first trade edition, 12 colour plates and numerous illustrations by Arthur Rackham, captioned tissue-guards, pictorial endpapers, spine ends and corners a little bumped, dust-jacket, price-clipped, spine ends and corners a little chipped, some creasing and fraying to extremities, a few neat tape repairs to verso, 1935 § Ibsen (Henrik) Peer Gynt, first trade edition, 12 colour plates by Arthur Rackham, illustrations, pictorial endpapers, dust-jacket, large portion of loss to head replaced with blank paper chip to foot, 1936; and 7 others, children's v.s. (9)

Breydenbach (Bernhard von) [Peregrinatio in terram sanctam], first edition of the first illustrated travel book, 133ff. only (of 148), and also lacking the 8 fold-out views, 44 lines (variable), gothic letter, unrubricated, with the full-page allegorical woodcut of Mainz with the arms of Breydenbach, Johannes von Solms, and Philip von Bicken, 7 woodcuts of scenes from the Near East (of 8, some with early hand-colouring), 6 cuts of alphabets of Near Eastern languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic), Reuwich device at end, 2 woodcut initials, ink annotations in various hands, some water-staining and soiling, good margins, later half calf, rubbed, binding detached, folio (285 x 202mm.), Mainz, Erhard Reuwich, 11 February, 1486.*** The sad remnants but greater part of a highly important and celebrated book, which produced 13 editions before 1522. Breydenbach was accompanied by the two pilgrims whose arms are depicted in the allegorical woodcut on a journey to Jerusalem and Mount Sinai between 1483 and 1484, taking in Venice, Modon, Candia, Rhodes, Parenzo, Corfu en route, these places all wonderfully depicted in the large and impressive woodcut views (here absent). Erhard Reuwich (fl. 1480) a Dutch artist, woodcut designer and printer from Utrecht, accompanied them.Literature: HC3956; GW 5075; BMC I-43; Fairfax Murray German 92; Goff B-1189

Perottus (Nicolaus) Cornucopiæ, sive linguæ latinæ commentarii, [edited by Aldus Manutius], first Aldine edition, collation: [aa-ee6] a-z A-H10 I12, 352 ff., the last blank, 59 lines, Roman letter and a little Greek, initial on a1 in red and blue, the others in red, some underlining in red or black, contemporary and later ink marginalia in several hands, occasionally in red, marginal repairs, mostly at beginning and end, H1 neat short split just within text at inner margin, without loss, f4 and k8 piece from lower blank corner, final blank repaired, mostly marginal water-staining, some spotting or staining, lightly browned, leaves from ?14th century hymnal used as pastedowns, fragments of 15th century rubricated manuscript used in binding, ornately blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, including various flowers and dragons in triangular borders and large and small rosettes in circular borders, spine in compartments, metal clasps, repaired with some loss to pigskin, mostly on lower cover, stained, rubbed, folio (318 x 214mm.; binding 334 x 230mm.), Venice, Aldus Manutius, July, 1499. *** A great Aldine rarity at auction. The first Aldine and best edition of this monumental work on the language and literature of classical Rome. It is written in the form of a commentary on the epigrams of Martial. The first edition was edited by the author's nephew Pyrrho Perotti and Lodovico Odaxio, from whom there are two letters at the beginning of our edition.  Provenance: Father Labe, S.J., 1698. Literature: Ahmanson-Murphy 32; BMC V, 561; Goff P-296; H 12706*; Bod-inc P-107; BSB-Ink P-221; GW M31090; Renouard 19:2; ISTC ip00296000.     

Ars memorandi.- Rosenheim (Petrus von) Hexastichon Sebastiani Brant in memorabiles evangelistarum figuras, first edition, 18ff. including final blank, 15 fine and extraordinary large woodcut illustrations, small hole in penultimate leaf but not affecting text, lower corner of c3 missing, modern olive green morocco by Cuzin, gilt arms of the Prince d'Essling to covers, g.e., inner gilt dentelles, 4to in 6's (201 x 140mm.), Pforzheim, Thomas Anshelm, 1502.*** A fine, complete copy of this curiosity of early printing - a menemonic with verses for remembering the key events of the life of Christ to accompany the unusual and highly symbolic woodcuts. For example, an eagle displays a pair of embracing lovers on its breast; an angel, a sack of grain perched on its head, carries a blazing sun in one hand and a figure of the Christ Child in the other. But the angel and eagle, as well as a lion and an ox in other images, are symbols of the four Evangelists, and the additional objects or figures refer to specific events in the Gospels.The cuts imitate those in a blockbook of c.1470, produced in south Germany, possibily in a Bavarian monastery, but here accompanied for the first time by text, edited by Georg Simler.Two editions were issued in 1502 by Thomas Anshelm, the first (as here) with the first line of leaf a1 ending 'memorabi-',whereas the second edition has the same line ending 'Sebastiani'.Provenance: Victor Massena, Duc de Rivoli, Prince d’Essling (1836-1910), sale Zurich 1939, lot 245; Maurice Burrus, with ex-libris, sale Christies Paris 2015.Literature: Brunet I: 499-500; Cf. Fairfax Murray German 43 (1503 edition); Ars Memorandi. A Facsimile of the Text and Woodcuts printed by Thomas Anshelm at Pforzheim in 1502. Houghton Library, Harvard University Department of Printing and Graphic Arts, Cambridge, Mass.1981

English provenance.- Annotated.- Trithemius (Johannes) Catalogus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum sive illustrium virorum, collation: A B4 a-z aa-zz4, woodcut historiated initials, occasional contemporary ink marginalia in an English hand in English or Latin (including rear endpaper), including motto 'Fare-fac' and reference to Erasmus to title, [Cologne], [Peter Quentel], 1531 bound with Basilius Magnus (Saint, Archbishop of Caesarea) Opus argutu(m) ac pium De spiritu sancto, ad Amphilochium, translated by Desiderius Erasmus, collation: A6 a-p4 q6, woodcut printer's device to title, woodcut historiated initials, final errata f., extensive contemporary neat Greek marginalia, Basel, [Hieronymus Froben & Nikolaus Episcopius], 1532, together 2 works in 1 vol., marginal water- or -damp-staining (the former heavier to last few ff. of second work), occasional spotting, lightly browned, contemporary English ornately blind-stamped panelled calf over wooden boards (Oldham, Blind-stamped Bindings, nos. 648 & 896, F.I. binder in London between 1538-1551), rebacked, preserving original backstrip in compartments with later red leather label, lacking 1 metal clasp, the other breaking off, lower cover with very small piece missing from leather at head and a few small nail holes, little staining, rubbed and marked, 4to (204 x 156mm.; binding 214 x 174mm.) *** I: Enlarged edition of this bio-bibliography of Christian writers, which first appeared in Basel in 1494.Trithemius (1462-1516) was a German Benedictine, abbot of Sponheim, lexicographer, chronicler and occultist. He had Cornelius Agrippa and Paracelsus were among his students. Our English annotator has concentrated on English authors, including Bede, William of Ockham and Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury. II: First Latin edition of this treatise on the Holy Spirit.  Literature: I: Adams T966; VD 16 T1999. II: Adams B356; VD 16 B723.   

Canon Law.- Bonifacius VIII (Pope) Sextus decretalium liber...in Lugdunensi coniclio editus [& others], 4 parts in 1, collation: a-k8, aa-dd8 ee4, A-E8 F4, AA BB8 CC4, double column, printed in red and black, first two parts title within identical woodcut historiated border, full-page woodcut table to final verso of first work, woodcut historiated and decorative initials, early ink underlining, 19th century blue ink seminary stamp to first title, k7 sliver torn from outer margin, some mostly marginal water-staining, occasional spotting or staining (including the odd instance of ink), lightly browned, lacking free endpapers, contemporary blind-ruled and gilt French calf, spine in compartments and with 19th century ink ms. title label, lacking ties, spine ends and corners worn, couple of losses to leather on upper cover, rubbed and scuffed, but solid, 8vo (154 x 102mm.), Paris, Jean Kerbriant & Jean Petit, 1531.  *** Rare edition of four important texts of canon law, including the Decretals of Boniface VIII; one of the greatest jurists of his age. Provenance: Capuchins of Valence (early ink inscription to head of title); 'In valesta vera virtus' and 'Joannes' (later ink motto to title and name to final f.).  Literature: Adams B2440.

Strada (Jacopo) Imperatorum Romanorum omnium Orientalium et Occidentalium Verissimae Imagines ex Antiquis Numismatis quam Fidelissime Delineatae, first edition, collation: α6 A-V6, lacking final blank, fine woodcut title, repeated woodcut border to 4 preliminary ff., α6 blank present, 118 superb woodcut medallion portraits by Rudolf Wyssenbach after Rudolf Manuel Deutsch within repeated decorative architectural border, caption beneath, each verso with text and arabesque design by Peter Flötner within same woodcut border as in preliminaries, F4 with clean tear, some slight worming to inner margin, light water-stain at foot to many ff., 19th century sprinkled sheep, a little rubbed, modern cloth slip-case, folio (473 x 359mm.), Zurich, Andreas Gessner, 1559.***A lovely copy with rich impressions of one of the great Renaissance illustrated books, describing the medals in the collection of Jacopo Strada, an antiquary from Mantua.  Strada (d.1588), a goldsmith who had studied antique coins and medals, had a successful career in the service of three Habsburg emperors whom he served as artist and advisor on the acquisition of antiquities. He was also supervisor of the imperial Schatzkammer.Provenance: Nordkirchen, Ferdinand von Plettenberg (his inscription on title); Nordkirchen, Esterházy de Galántha (bookplate, the family owned Nordkirchen Castle from 1833 to 1903); Schweinfurt, Otto Schäfer collection (OS 51), acquired in 1955 from W. Heimann through Adalbert Lauter, Munich.Literature: Adams S1919; Mortimer, French 502 (note); Goldschmidt, The Printed Book of the Renaissance, 1950, p. 76

Fine arts & architecture.- Lomazzo (Giovanni Paolo) Trattato dell'Arte della Pittura, Scoltura, et Architettura, first edition, second issue, title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut portrait of author on B1 (title to Book I), woodcut historiated initials, errata f. at end, occasional spotting or light staining, little water-staining to upper gutters at end, lightly browned, contemporary limp vellum, rebacked, preserving original chipped / split backstrip, creased and soiled, [Adams L1420; Cicognara 160; Fowler 186], 4to, Milan, Paolo Gottardo Pontio, 1585. *** One of the most important works on the theory of art in the 16th century. Includes discussion of proportion, motion, colour, light and perspective. Provenance: 'Biblio D.D. Corroli de Pradoe' (later ink inscription to title).  

Spirituality.- Desiderius [Spill de la Vida Religiosa] Emanuel Leabhar ina bhfuil modh Agus Fhagala Fhoirbhtheachda na Beathadh Riaghaltha, first edition in Irish, woodcut vignette on title, another on verso of following leaf, some soiling and water-staining, 18th century half calf, slight worming to spine, 8vo, Louvain, Press of the Irish Franciscans, 1616.*** First edition in Irish of this important work on Spirituality which went through numerous editions in other languages after the first edition appeared in Catalan (Barcelona, 1515).The translator of this edition, Conry (or Conroy) was an Irish Franciscan and Archbishop of Tuam (1560/1-1629), who was born in Galway and died in Madrid. An ardent Irish patriot, he was involved in Tyrone's rebellion and in other Irish movements, and founded the Irish Franciscan College at Louvain, largely with monies provided by Isabella, the daughter of Philip II of Spain.Provenance: The Earls of Macclesfield (South Library bookplate and small blind-stamp to first few leaves as usual).

Bible, Portuguese. Do Velho Testamento, vol.1 only (of 2), ie most of Old Testament, translated by Joao Ferreira d'Almeida, some lower margins trimmed close, occasionally slightly affecting signature or catchword, lacking initial and final blank, water-stain to upper corner, ink stamps to title and verso of final leaf, later burgundy morocco, gilt, g.e., 12mo, Batavia, por H. Mulder, 1748.*** The first edition of most of the Old Testament in Portuguese, the New Testament translated by Almeida having been printed in Amsterdam in 1681. Almeida's death in 1691 prevented him finishing his work on the OT, managing only as far as part of the Book of Ezekiel, but the work was to be completed by Jacobus op den Akker (end of Ezekiel, Daniel and Minor Prophets) and volume 2 was published in 1753, thus completing the 'Almeida Bible'Provenance: from the stock of the late Max Israël; Ets Haim library of Amsterdam (black ink stamp and purple withdrawn stamp).

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) The River War, 2 vol., first edition, second state with typographical correction to p.459 in vol.2, half-titles, photogravure frontispieces, 5 plates, 24 maps, of which 20 folding, illustrations, some light foxing, original pictorial cloth, gilt, inner hinge to vol.1 a little cracked, very slight shelf-lean, slightly rubbed, label removed from upper cover vol.2 leaving some marks and discolouring, 8vo, 1899.

Italy.- Sculpture.- Rossi (Domenico de) Raccolta di Statue Antiche e Moderne, first edition, plate vol. only (of 3), engraved letterpress title, engraved dedication leaf, 163 engraved plates by Dorigny, Francesco Aquila, Pailly and others, eighteenth century half sheep, spine gilt with black morocco label, corners a little worn,  [Brunet IV, 1406], folio, Roma, [Gaetano Zenobi], 1704*** First edition (plates only) of this magnificent collection of classical, Renaissance and Baroque sculpture; most of the statues depicted are ancient, but around 30 show 'modern' statues by famous sculptors such as Bernini, Giambologna, Michelangelo and others. Brunet notes, ‘le texte manque quelquefois’, while others suggest that the plates of Pope Paul IV (dated 1708) and Hercules and the Hydra are later additions. 

South Sea Bubble.- Het Groote Tafereel der Dwaasheid, Vertoonende de opkomst, voortgang en ondergang der Actie, Bubbel en Windnegotie ..., first edition, title in red and black, 71 engraved plates and maps (including map of Louisiana), of which 55 folding, 3 with tears and neat repairs verso, 5 with splits to foldlines, 5 with short tears, occasional marginal spotting, 2 ff. with tiny rust-holes affecting odd letter, pencil signature to early blank, bookplates, contemporary calf, gilt lozenge to centre of boards, gilt borders with crowns at inner corners, rubbed and mottled, neat old repairs to spine extremities, bumping to corners, [Goldsmith 5879; Kress 3217], folio, [Amsterdam], 1720 *** Bookplates of R. Kirk, Greenmont and Otto Orren Fisher. First edition of "The Great Mirror of Folly", made up of "various pieces in prose and verse which together with the prints, pertain to the speculative period in Holland coincident with the 'Mississippi bubble' in France." (Kress)

Venetian waterways.- Rompiasio (Giulio) Metodo in Pratica e Sommario o sia Compilazione delle Leggi..., second edition, half-title, title in red & black with engraved vignette, woodcut tail-pieces and initials, folding engraved map, light water-staining to upper edge of last few leaves and map at end, contemporary limp marbled boards, uncut and unopened, light damp-staining, lacking some of marbled paper covering from upper cover and title, 4to, Venice, Stamperia Ducale, 1771.*** Scarce work on the laws relating to Venetian watercourses, first published in 1733, concerning the administration, the preservation of the lagoon and the canals of Venice, the various gates, fishing rights, and regulations for building on the shores, before moving to inland rivers, describing the laws surrounding bridges and fords, and the tariffs imposed on river traffic.  

Law.- Bracton (Henry de) De Legibus & consuetudinibus Angliae Libri ..., first edition, title trimmed and reset at gutter, previous owner's ink and pencil notes to title, ink and pencil notes to front free endpaper verso and final ff., occasional faint marginal staining, small loss to edges of one or two ff. with neat restoration, bookplates, modern calf, [STC 3475], folio, Richard Tottell, 1569. *** Divided into five books, each subdivided into chapters with subheadings whose contents are listed in detail in the extensive index in order of appearance, Bracton's 'De Legibus', completed in the 1250s, occupies a unique position in the history of the common law. It is the first attempt to treat the whole extent of English law in a manner both systematic and practical, it constitutes the first modern English law book and it is the outstanding legal work of any English writer of the Middle Ages.Provenance: Bookplate of John Fisher. Bookplate and ink signature of O'Dunne. Bookplate of Ralph Barnes.

Darwin (Charles) On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, first edition, [one of 1,250 copies], half-title, folding plate with splitting to lower half of second fold, 25pp advertisements (Freeman's variant 3) only (of 32pp.), some light corner creasing, pencil note to half-title and facing page, W.H. Smith & Son blind-stamp to front free endpaper,  lacking rear endpaper, upper hinge cracked with the text block shifted down but holding, original blind-stamped cloth (Freeman's variant b) with Edmonds & Remnants binders label on the rear paste-down, spine decorated and lettered in gilt, slight shelf-lean, spine slightly darkened, spine end and corners a little bumped, small patch of soiling and very small portion of cockling to upper cover, [Freeman 373; GM 220; PMM 344b], 8vo, John Murray, 1859. *** A very good, unrestored copy in the original cloth of "The most important biological book ever written." - Freeman.Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection, first set out in detail in the present work, is virtually unmatched in its influence on 20th century thought. "A turning point, not only in the history of science, but in the history of ideas in general" - DSB.Provenance: the Stirlings of Keir.

Bible, Polyglot.- Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, 6 vol., first edition, edited by Brian Walton, vol.1 with engraved portrait frontispiece of Walton by P. Lombart, additional engraved title, double-page engraved map of the Holy Land ruled in red, double-page engraved plan of Jerusalem, 4 plates (3 double-page),printed cancel slip to omit "vel summorum Pontificum" mounted to p.48, lacking blank leaf at end of vol.1 and 6, some foxing and soiling, 18th century calf, worn, vol.1 rebacked, Thomas Roycroft, 1657; Castell (Edmund) Lexicon Heptaglotton, 2 vol., title in red and black, engraved portrait frontispiece by William Faithorne, some foxing and browning, a few repaired tears, vol.1 18th century calf, rebacked, vol.2 modern calf-backed cloth, Thomas Roycroft, 1669, together 8 vol., folio*** A complete set of this typographic tour de force. This was the fourth great large-scale Polyglot with Ethiopic, Persian, Arabic, Chaldaean, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Samaritan, and Syriac fonts.Provenance: Bequeathed to the Bishopric of Cornwall by the Rev. Franke Parker, Rector of Luffincott, Devon, 1888 (bookplate).Literature: Darlow and Moule 1446; Wing B2797.

Shakespeare (William) Measure for Measure, or Beauty the Best Advocate, [adapted by Charles Gildon], half-title with publisher's advertisements in double column verso, contemporary ink pen trials to half-title (some trimmed), lacking final f., title little chipped, closely trimmed at head, spotted and stained, lightly browned, 20th century burgundy ?textured buckram-backed brown marbled boards, spine gilt, covers with gilt Signet arms, rubbed, [Bartlett 182; Wing S2936], small 4to, Printed for D. Brown, at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar; and R. Parker, at the Unicorn Under the Royal-Exchange, 1700.  *** This first edition of Charles Gildon's adaptation is the first separate edition of the play in any form. It is rare at auction, with only two appearances since 1980. 'Davenant first combined portions of Measure for Measure and Much Ado and called the play Law against Lovers. This appeared in 1673. Gildon took from this the portions which had been taken from Measure for Measure, altered them somewhat, [and] added four musical entertainments' (Bartlett). Includes the epilogue ‘Shakespeares Ghost’.  

Slavery.- Quakers.- Bell (John) An epistle to Friends in Maryland, Virginia, Barbadoes, and the other colonies, and islands in the West-Indies, where any Friends are, first edition, bifolium, drop-head title, folds, neat tape repairs to splits at folds, some spotting or staining, lightly browned, folio (340 x 218mm.), [?London; it is signed in print 'Bromley near London'], no printer, ['3rd month, 1741']. *** Rare and important publication in the Quaker abolitionist movement. The last copy at auction we can trace was in 1948. The work was particularly well-received in New England, and recommended to all members there at their Yearly Meeting. 

Woman poet.- Betham (Matilda) Elegies, and Other Smaller Poems, first edition, the author's first book, errata f., lacking half-title, mostly lightly foxed throughout, some staining, contemporary half calf, spine richly gilt and with red leather label, little worming to foot of upper joint, corners worn, rubbed, 8vo, Ipswich, W. Burrell, [1797]. *** Rare first edition of the author's first book. Mary Matilda Betham (1776-1852) was an English poet, diarist, and portrait miniature painter. She studied with the poet William Wordsworth and the artist John Opie, and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1804 to 1816. Samuel Taylor Coleridge praised her present collection, and in 1802 wrote To Matilda from a stranger, in which he compares her to Sappho, and encourages her to continue writing poetry. She championed women's rights, calling for the greater participation of women in parliamentary affairs, and writing in defence of Queen Carolina during her acrimonious marriage to King George IV.  Provenance: 'W.H. to M.A. Smart' (contemporary ink inscription at foot of title). 

Slavery.- Cowper (William) The Origin and progress of Kings; a poem, 2 parts in 1, first edition, drop-head title, woodcut cherub tail-piece, disbound, occasional spotting, lightly browned, 8vo, Printed and sold by Daniel Isaac Eaton, No. 74, Newgate-Street, [?1798]. *** Rare first edition. Cowper (1731-1800), English poet, hymnwriter and abolitionist (he wrote The Negro's Complaint in 1788, which was often quoted by Martin Luther King). The first poem here includes references to slavery. The second part is 'The progress of a divine'. 

Julian Stanczak (1928-2017) Various gallery cards and catalogues many are signed. One signed copy of the 1990 book 'Decades of Light' (First Edition).We collected the Stanczak works from a private house and there is an interesting provenance attached to the collection. The owners mother, Irena, had the same journey out of Poland as Stanczak via the Middle East and Africa to England in the 1940s or 50s. They remained friends and in contact with each other their whole lives. All the books and exhibition catalogues etc are dedicated to Irena and signed by Julian (in Polish).Also the book 'From Snow to Sunshine' (also lot 504) is Irena's biography account of the journey to London and then settling in East Sussex, which is where we are located. We don't think the book mentions Julian. The son says that the family home in London was in Bayswater, "A big place with lots of bohemian people coming and going, artists and writers". The home was very close to the Drian art gallery in Porchester Place, opened in 1957 by Halima Nalecz (lot 505, another Polish artist who made the journey to London.Drian was a focal point for abstract art in the 50s and 60s. Lots 506 and 507 are probably from there. The family had connections to it for many years. Stanczak left England for America in 1950. Our 2 early paintings were sent back to the family after he left, although they have no record of when their mother had them.

ROWLING, J.K. - 'HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS' first edition, published by Bloomsbury, London, 2007, hardback with dust wrapperProvenance: The Stephen Gately Collection, consigned by Stephen's widower Andrew Cowles.

ROWLING, J.K. - 'HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS' first edition, published by Bloomsbury, London, 1998, paperback, together with an American edition of the same title, published by Scholastic, 2000, paperbackProvenance: The Stephen Gately Collection, consigned by Stephen's widower Andrew Cowles.

ERIC GILL (1882-1940) 'Flaming Tree and Dog' according to an inscription verso a proof of a design for the press mark of the Pigotts Press, 1931, and was used by Gill to illustrate the back of the dust jacket of the first edition of 'Typography', wood engraving, 10.5cm x 7.5cm, 29cm x 25cm overallProvenance: Reputedly the proof from Gill's own collection 

Peter Lik (born 1959) - "First Flight" - Limited edition (776/950) framed print of a photograph of a Douglas DC3. 280cm x 120cm.Please note this lot may be subject Artist resale Rights of 4% on the top of the hammer price

Elia by Charles Lamb 1823 first edition, essays which have appeared under that signature in the London magazine. 1823, first edition, second issue. Bound in full tan Morocco leather with edges gilt.

Beresford, Elisabeth "The Wombles" illustrated by Margaret Gordon, London Ernest Benn Limited 1968 first edition, with dust jacket.

ARNE JACOBSEN, a rare first edition Fritz Hansen hammer chair in bent ply with ribbed plastic coated steel legs, the underside stamped made by FH Denmark, height 78cm

Bruce Bairnsfather's "Bullets and Billets", a 1916 first edition, together with The Bystander's "Fragments from France". [ Old Bill ]

Rudyard Kipling, "Kim", first edition, London, Macmillan and Co Limited, 1901

Six vintage children’s books including two first editions: Alison Uttley, “Little Grey Rabbit Goes to The North Pole”, first edition, 1970 and “Grey Rabbit and The Wandering Hedgehog”, first edition, 1948

7 Harry Potter first Edition Hardback Books, 3 x Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, 2 x Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows & 2 x Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince Together With A Limited Edition Ceramic Mug

Ceramics and glassware: thirty-one reference works,including W D John, 'Nantgarw Porcelain', first edition, 1948, and B Klesse & H May, 'European Glass from 1500-1800' (31)

Pokemon: A collection of four Pokemon: The First Movie Mewtwo Strikes Back comics; the first issue signed by Veronica Taylor "Ash", Eric Stuart "Brock" and Rachael Lillis "Misty". Limited Edition 676/8000. Generally in good order. Please assess photographs. (4)

BORDALO II, FRAGILE 2023 fine art print on paper, signed and numbered, from an edition of 500. Boradlo spray painted the symbols on every print by hand, making each one unique.60cm x 60cmArtur Bordalo (Lisbon, 1987) uses the artist name Bordalo II, which he chose as a tribute to his grandfather, the painter Real Bordalo, in order to promote a continuity and reinvention of his artistic legacy. His youth took place between the hours spent in the studio of his grandfather Real Bordalo and the adventures around illegal graffiti in the underworld of the city of Lisbon. He attended the Painting course at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Lisbon for eight years, without ever having completed it, but says that these years allowed him to discover sculpture, ceramics, and to experiment with a variety of materials that have distanced him from painting, which had taken him there in the first place. The excessive production and consumption of stuff, which results in the continuous production of “garbage” and consequently in the destruction of the Planet, are the central themes of his production. This “garbage” assumes itself as the unusual and unique raw material that Bordalo uses in the construction of small and large scale pieces that he has spread around the world and that, above all, intend to be the vehicle of a universal manifesto. Instagram: b0rdalo_ii

White shirt and sweater; black cap.Sir Leonard Hutton played for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The ribbon bearing the number 364, which is intertwined around the handle of the jug, represents his famous record innings against Australia at the Oval cricket grounds in 1938, a record which still stands in England today. The just commissioned by Lawleys By Post and was issued in a limited edition of 9,500. The first jug was presented to Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Kent, who is patron of the Len Hutton 364 Appeal. Artist: Stanley J. TaylorIssued: 1993Dimensions: 4"HEdition Number: 1945 Edition Size: 9500Manufacturer: Royal DoultonCountry of Origin: EnglandCondition: Good.

Style Two. Green, cream and red coloration. As commander-in-chief of the American States, George Washington (1732 - 1799) led them to victory in the War of Independence. In 1789 he became the first President of the United States, governing for two terms until 1797. This jug was issued to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Washington's birth. Issued 1995 in limited edition of 2,500. Series: Presidents of the United States. Royal Doulton backstamp. Artist: Stanley J. TaylorIssued: 1995Dimensions: 7"HEdition Number: 399 Edition Size: 2500Manufacturer: Royal DoultonCountry of Origin: EnglandCondition: Age related wear.

Style One. Black, yellow and red coloration.This jug was issued in a limited edition of 2,500 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the English Civil War in 1642. It is unusual in the sense that it is the first three-handled character jug ever produced by Doulton. On Charles's left Oliver Cromwell forms the handle, on his right, Queen Henrietta. The third handle, at the King's back and not seen in the photograph, is a plume. Series: Royalty. Royal Doulton backstamp. Artist: William K. HarperIssued: 1992Dimensions: 7"HEdition Number: 1800 Edition Size: 2500Manufacturer: Royal DoultonCountry of Origin: EnglandCondition: Age related wear.

Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith (American, b. 1946). Autographed copy of "Just Kids," first published in 2010. Harper Collins Publishers. Deluxe edition specially bound by the publisher. Numbered 448/100 and signed in pen by Smith along the first page. Bound in blue silk cloth with a clamshell case, and including a two-color interior and a broadside featuring a never-before-published poem by Patti Smith titled "Reflecting Robert."(Including case) height: 10 1/4 in x width: 7 in x depth: 1 3/4 in.Condition:Signed in ink by the author and editioned in ink. There are no missing pages, creases, toning or signs of handling. The back cover interior has a tear from creasing along the inside edge. Accompanying brochure included in box. On the top corner of the back cover there is some soiling.

DEAN R KOONTZ: HIDEAWAY, New York, Putnam, 1992.Hand-signed hardbound first edition, limited number 135/800 copies in special binding - dark blue cloth with gilt tooled signature, pictorical gloss alternative-design dustwrapper with metallic wording and pictorial printed slipcase.

DR SEUSS: THE SEVEN LADY GODIVAS, Commemorative edition of the first printing of 1938, New York, Random House, 1987

W E JOHNS: BIGGLES GETS HIS MEN, London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1950, First edition with dustjacket

A collection of first edition [Book Club] James Bond: IAN FLEMING. - From Russia With Love: Jonathan Cape 1957. Original Dustwrapper - Dr No: Jonathan Cape 1958. Original Dustwrapper - Goldfinger: Jonathan Cape 1959. Lacking Dustwrapper - For Your Eyes Only: Jonathan Cape 1960. Original Dustwrapper - Thunderball: Jonathan Cape 1961. Original Dustwrappera/f, some wear and tear to all dust wrappers.