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Engraved Gems.- Raspe (Rudolph Erich) A Descriptive Catalogue of a General Collection of Ancient and Modern Engraved Gems, Cameos as well as Intaglios, 2 vol., first edition, text in English and French, titles in red and black (poorly printed), errata slip, list of subscribers, engraved frontispiece to vol.1, 58 engraved plates in vol.2 by James Tassie, a few torn along platemark, some pencil annotations, occasional foxing and marginal soiling, contemporary green half morocco, gilt, 4to, 1791.⁂ The subscribers include James Boswell and Josiah Wedgwood.

Engraved Gems.- Bartoli (Pietro Santi) Museum Odescalchum, sive Thesaurus Antiquarum Gemmarum, 2 vol., first edition, half-titles, titles in red and black with engraved vignette, engraved decorations, 104 plates, some browning and light foxing, vol.2 broken, contemporary mottled sheep, gilt, small gilt arms to covers, rubbed, slight worming to spines, vol.2 head and foot of spine worn and torn, folio, Rome, 1751-52.⁂ A handsome work on the gemstones collected by Queen Christina of Sweden.

NO RESERVE Poultry.- Réaumur (René Antoine Ferchault de) The Art of Hatching and Bringing Up Domestick Fowls, first edition in English, half-title, 15 engraved folding plates, final f. with note about translation / errata, occasional spotting or mostly light staining, contemporary calf, rebacked, corners worn, rubbed, Printed for C. Davis [and others], 1750 § Lawrence (Richard) An Inquiry into the Structure & Animal Oeconomy of the Horse, 18 engraved plates, some folding, occasional spotting, contemporary half calf, backstrip detaching, corners worn, rubbed and scuffed, 1801; and 3 others, Agriculture, v.s. (5)Saleroom notice: A leaf of the second mentioned (Lawrence) is torn with loss.

NO RESERVE Reports past the Committee at Goldsmiths-hall, first edition, first 3ff. crudely repaired with tape, additional leaves paginated 13-30 at end, not called for by ESTC, modern half calf, [Wing E2232A; ESTC R206360 locates 7 copies in UK and none in N. America], by Richard Cotes, 1649 § Alldridge (J.) The Goldsmith's Repository, half-title repaired at outer margin to verso, folding table, library calf-backed cloth, 1789 § His Majesties Gracious Patent to the Goldsmiths, For Payment and Satisfaction of their Debt, later half calf, joints cracked, rubbed, [Wing C3039], by John Bill, Christopher Barker, Thomas Newcomb and Henry Hills, 1677 § Ward (James) A History of Gold, frontispiece, folding hand-coloured geological map of Victoria and New South Wales slightly frayed at fore-edge, later half morocco, London & Dublin, n.d.; and 71 others on Gold and Silver testing, weights and measures, hall-marking etc., v.s. (75)

NO RESERVE Art and artists.- Reynolds (Sir Joshua) A Discourse delivered to the Students of the Royal Academy, first edition, half-title with ink presentation inscription from the author, repair to one margin, later half morocco, by Thomas Cadell, 1793 § Artist's Assistant (The), in the Study and Practice of Mechanical Sciences, engraved frontispiece, title and 10 engraved plates, most folding, contemporary calf, rebacked, London and Birmingham, for the Author, [?1785] § Arclaid de Montamy (Didier d') Traite des Couleurs pour la Peinture en Email et sur la Porcelaine, half-title, contemporary sheep, rebacked, corners worn, Paris, 1765 § Payne (John) The Art of Painting in Miniature, on Ivory, second edition, dabs of colour paint to margin of one leaf, original upper marbled wrapper with printed paper label mounted and bound in, library half morocco, 1798; and 26 others, art and artists, v.s. (30)

Rogers (Charles) A Collection of Prints in imitation of drawings, to which are annexed lives of their authors with explanatory and critical notes, 2 vol., engraved additional titles by Bartolozzi after G. B. Cipriani, engraved portrait frontispiece after Joshua Reynolds by Ryland, engraved dedication leaf by Ashby, and 112 artworks in 108 plates (2 folding) on 105 leaves, engravings, soft-ground etchings, mezzotints, stipple-engravings, printed in sepia, black and bistre, engraved and woodcut head-pieces and decorations, duplicate plate loosely inserted, first and last few ff. of each vol. mounted on stubs, occasional offsetting, loosely inserted note in a contemporary hand stating "Subscriber's copy, this one the 13th - proofs on india paper", 20th century half calf, surface soiling to covers, folio, Printed by J. Nichols and sold by John Boydell, Benjamin White, and Peter Molini, 1778.⁂ First edition of this fine, elaborate production with works after Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens, Van Dyck, Corregio and others. . Rogers commissioned the leading engravers of his day to reproduce drawings in his own collection, as well as that of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Earl Spencer, Robert Adam and John Barnard, among others.

NO RESERVE Silver.- Roth (H.Ling) Oriental Silverwork Malay and Chinese, first edition, plates, original pictorial cloth blocked in silver, spine ends very slightly frayed otherwise a stunning copy, 1910 § Bonnin (Alfred) Tutenag and Paktong, one of 400 copies, plates, with 5 A.Ls.s. from the author concerning Tutenag, Paktong and Matthew Boulton tipped in at end, original cloth, gilt, uncut, slightly rubbed, rebacked preserving original spine, Oxford, 1924 § John (W.D.) & Katherine Coombes. Paktong, one of 500 copies, original turquoise calf, gilt, t.e.g., spine a little rubbed and faded, Newport, Mon., 1970 § Wilkinson Wynyard R.T.) Indian Colonial Silver: European Silversmiths in India (1790-1860) and their Marks, limited edition, original cloth, dust-jacket, spine torn, 1973, 4to (4)

Cyphers.- Russell (John) A Complete and Useful Book of Cyphers..., second edition, engraved throughout with title and 24 plates, mostly monograms but including one of Charlemagne's crown, soiled, last few plates stained, modern library half morocco, Laurie & Whittle, 1794 § Rhodes (Benjamin) A New Book of Cyphers, engraved throughout with frontispiece, title and 64 plates, light spotting or soiling, Joseph Gwilt's copy with his bookplate, original boards, rubbed, rebacked in calf, T.Bickerton for Theo.Sanders, 1723 § New Book of Cyphers (A), engraved throughout with title and 58 plates light staining, later library half morocco, original wrappers bound in at end, rebacked, Carington Bowles & Robert Sayer, [c.1775]; and 2 others on cyphers, rubbed, oblong 4to & 8vo (5)⁂ Scarce group of works on cyphers or monograms, none of which is listed by ESTC in these editions. Library Hub records one UK copy of the first (V & A) while ESTC lists only the first edition of c.1775 (BL only, and another at Cambridge on Library Hub).Joseph Gwilt (1784-1863), architect.

NO RESERVE Diamond trade in Spain.- Sáenz Díez (Martin Diego) Manual de joyeros, con la teorica y practica, title with engraved vignette, engraved plate, contemporary mottled calf, gilt spine in compartments, rubbed, [Palau 284348], 8vo, Madrid, Antonio de Sancha, 1781.⁂ Rare first edition of the first treatise on the diamond trade in Spain.

Gold & silver.- Sage (Balthazar George) L'art d'essayer l'or et l'argent; Tableau comparé de la coupellation des substances métaliques par le moyen de plomb ou du Bismuth, first edition, half-title, 4 folding engraved plates, some light staining, 20th century half morocco, [Duveen p.523; Ferguson II, pp.312-313; Hoover 707], 8vo, Paris, Press of 'Monsieur', 1780.⁂ Rare. Sage was founder of the École des Mines in Paris.

Economics.- Scaruffi (Gasparo) L'alitinonfo... per fare ragione, et concordanza d'oro, e d'argento; che servirà in universale, collation: *6 A-B6 C2 D-L6, engraved pictorial title by Regius Lombardus, 2 double-page letterpress tables, further tables within text, all within woodcut typographic borders, 4 woodcuts of coins, woodcut historiated initials and head- and tail-pieces, *6 and L6 blank, title closely trimmed, occasional staining, mostly marginal, Reggio Emilia, Hercoliano Bartoli, 1582 bound with [Bisi (Propsero)] Breve instruttione sopra il discorso fatto dal Mag. M. Gasparo Scaruffi, collation: A6 B4, title with small woodcut portrait within typographic border, woodcut historiated initials, water-stained at head, Reggio Emilia, Hercoliano Bartoli, 1582, together 2 works in 1 vol., late 18th century vellum-backed patterned boards, head of spine repaired, rubbed, lightly soiled, folio (288 x 202mm.)⁂ First and only edition of this landmark treatise on money, coinage and currency exchange, with perhaps the earliest call for a single universal currency. Literature: I. Einaudi 5147; Goldsmiths' I, 222; Kress 151; Smith, Rara aritmetica, pp. 370-372; EDIT 16 CNCE 30803 II. EDIT 16 CNCE 6163,

Schimmelpenninck (Mary Anne) Theory on the Classification of Beauty and Deformity, and their correspondence with Physiognomic Expression..., first edition, half-title, 2 folding letterpress tables, 38 engraved plates, most hand-coloured (watercolour wash background), errata leaf at end, light spotting to text, half-title and title slightly frayed at edges (repaired), later library half blue morocco, spine gilt, uncut, a little rubbed, 4to, 1815.

Schlüter (Christoph Andreas) Gründlicher Unterricht von Hütte-Werken...nebst einem vollstäandigem Probier-Buch, first edition, Gothic letter, 58 engraved folding plates, woodcut initials, lacking frontispiece and a privilege f., some creasing to plates, occasional spotting, lightly browned, 19th century half calf, gilt spine in compartments, split to head of spine, corners worn, rubbed, [Duveen p 534; Hoover 725], folio, Braunschweig, Friedrich Wilheim Meyer, 1738.⁂ A wide-margined copy of the 'first edition of the most important mining book of the 18th century. Schluter was an official in British pay at Braunschweig and he dedicates his book to George II. He describes not only German mines, but also those of England, Scotland, Scandinavia and South-Eastern Europe'. (Duveen).

Mining.- Schlüter (Christoph Andreas) De la fonte des mines, des fonderies, &c., 2 vol., first edition in French, half-titles, engraved frontispiece, titles in red and black, 58 folding engraved plates, some spotting, lightly browned, contemporary tree calf, spines with double morocco labels, spines faded and rather worn, corners worn, rubbed and scuffed, [Hoover 724; Ward & Carozzi 1977], 4to, Paris, Widow Pissot [and others], 1750-1753.

Trades and crafts.- Schooper (Hartmann) Panoplia [graece] Omnium illiberalium mechanicarum aut sedentariarum artium genera continens, collation: A8 A-R8 S4, woodcut illustrations by Jost Amman, woodcut printer's device to final vero, some spotting, 20th century limp vellum, soiled, 8vo (148 x 88m.), Frankfurt, [Sigismund Feyerabend], 1568.⁂ First edition with Latin text of this charming collection of woodcuts depicting various trades and crafts, along with verses by Schopper. Includes engravers, papermakers, printers, bookbinders, globemakers, cooks, vintners, bakers, and shoemakers. Literature: Adams S702; VD16 S 3897; cf. Fairfax Murray, German, 31 (edition with German text).

Schreittmann (Cyriacus) Probierbüchlin. Frembde und subtile künst vormals im truck nie gesehen von woge und gewicht, auch von allerhandt proben auff ertz, golt, silber, und andere methall, collation: A-L8 M6, Gothic letter, title in red and black and with a woodcut of weighing scales, woodcuts in text, including furnaces, woodcut initials and head- and tail-pieces, marginal water-staining, lightly browned, occasional spotting, 20th century half calf, spine titled in gilt, 8vo (152 x 92mm.), Frankfurt, Heirs of Christian Egenolff, 1580.⁂ Scarce re-issue of the 1578 first edition of 'a work on the dry assay of gold and silver. The first half of the book is taken up with a description of the construction and use of the balance and weights which is very minute and careful, the second treats of furnaces, muffles and materials, and the last part contains the operations' (Fergusson). Literature: Ferguson II, p.341; Hoover 730.

Heraldry.- Segar (Sir William) Original Institutions of the Princely Orders of Collars, presentation copy from the publisher inscribed on verso of title, hand-coloured engraved vignette title and 7 fine plates, wrinkling of paper, original boards, worn and heavily stained, upper cover detached, Edinburgh, for W.H. Lizars and D. Lizars..., 1833 § Noble (Rev. Mark) A History of the College of Arms, first edition, half-title, 4 engraved portraits, list of subscribers, some foxing and browning, library half morocco, 1805 § Eve (G.W.) Decorative Heraldry, one of 130 copies on Japanese Vellum, plates and illustrations, contemporary half morocco, 1897 § [Catton (Charles)] The English Peerage, 3 vol., engraved frontispieces to vol.1 and 2, vol.3 with 125 engraved plates, occasional foxing, contemporary calf, joints split, spine ends worn, 1790; and 52 others, Heraldry, Seals etc., v.s. (58)

NO RESERVE Waterworks.- Fireworks.- Bate (John) The mysteries of nature and art. In foure severall parts. The first of water works. The second of fire works. The third of drawing, washing, limming, painting, and engraving. The fourth of sundry experiments, second edition, title in red and black and with engraved divisional pictorial border, 1 woodcut plate (?of 2), woodcut illustrations, some full-page, lacking engraved portrait, ?a plate, X2&3 and 2Q3&4, sigs. T and 2D misbound, title torn and laid down with loss to upper and lower corners, lower margin of A4 cut away, 2E2 repaired, affecting a few words, marginal repairs (affecting the odd letter in places), closely trimmed at head, affecting some headlines, some staining or spotting, 20th century half morocco, spine darkened, [STC 1578; Philip B.050.2; cf. Duveen p.51], small 4to, [Printed by [Thomas Harper] for Ralph Mabb], [1635]. sold not subject to return.

NO RESERVE Literature.- Shakespeare (William) Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, facsimile of the first folio edition of 1623, one of 1000 copies signed by Sidney Lee, who wrote the introduction and census of copies of the original edition, list of subscribers, original reversed calf, leather ties, two broken, spine label faded, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1902; and 9 others, English literature, including facsimiles of the 1532 Chaucer and Shakespeare's Poems & Pericles, v.s. (10)

NO RESERVE Mining.- Shiers (William) A Familiar Discourse or Dialogue concerning the Mine-Adventure, 2 parts in 1, first edition, 2 folding sheets (pp. numbered 1-4) of a reprint from the folio of 'An abstract of the present state of the mines of Bwlchyr-Eskir-Hyr' (Wing A139), lacking sig. a, title rather browned, some staining and spotting, 20th century half red morocco, spine gilt, rubbed, [Goldsmiths' 3641; Kress 2265], 8vo, no printer, 1700. sold not subject to return. ⁂ Rare at auction. The second part is 'The second abstract of the state of the mines of Bwlchyr-Eskir-Hyr'.

Sickingen (Carl Heinrich von) Versuche über die Platina, first edition, engraved vignette title, 2 folding engraved plates, folding letter press table, errata f., title working loose, some spotting or light foxing, contemporary marbled wrappers, spine worn, creased and rubbed, [Hoover 745], 8vo, Mannheim, Hofdruckerei, 1782.⁂ Rare first edition recording Sickingen's experiments with platinum. He was the first to recognize its weldability.

Engineering.- Smeaton (John) Experimental Enquiry concerning the Natural Powers of Wind and Water to turn Mills and other Machines depending on a Circular Motion, first edition in book form, 2 folding letterpress tables, 5 folding engraved plates, light offsetting, engraved bookplate of William Balston, contemporary sprinkled calf, spine gilt, rubbed, upper joint split, I. & J.Taylor, 1794; another edition, second edition, 2 folding tables, 5 folding engraved plates, 1796 bound with Venturi (J.B.) Experimental Enquiries concerning the Principle of the Lateral Communication of Motion in Fluids, first edition in English, 2 folding engraved plates, 1799, together 2 works in 1 vol., foxed, modern half pigskin, uncut § Smeaton (John) Reports..., 2 vol. in 1, engraved plates and plans, foxed, later calf-backed cloth preserving old sheep spine, 1837, 8vo & 4to (3)

Drawing.- Smith (Thomas) The Art of Drawing in its various branches..., second edition, half-title, 17 engraved plates, several aquatint, most hand-coloured or tinted, several pages with colour samples supplied by hand, illustrations and diagrams, 12pp. advertisements at end, some spotting and light offsetting, one wood-engraved plate foxed, later library half morocco, uncut, a little rubbed, covers warped, [Tooley 459, first edition of 1825; cf. Abbey Life 183], 8vo, 1827.

NO RESERVE Electrotyping.- Spencer (Thomas) Instructions for the Multiplication of Works of Art in Metal, By Voltaic Electricity, first edition, diagrams, light finger-soiling to title, 20th century morocco-backed cloth, spine faded, [Honeyman 2888], 8vo, 1840.⁂ Rare, the first work in English on the process of electrotyping which became the dominant process of producing plates for printing for the next 100 years.

Engraved Gems.- Spilsbury (John) A Collection of Fifty Prints from Antique Gems..., first edition, 50 engraved plates, some spotting and browning, inner margin strengthened at beginning and end, contemporary tree calf, gilt, rebacked, corners worn, John Boydell, 1785 § [Sale Catalogue] Catalogue of the Marlborough Gems, plates, ruled in red with prices and buyers' names in ink throughout, original wrappers bound in at end, contemporary half morocco, a little rubbed, Christie, Manson & Woods, 1899 § Tassie (J.) A Catalogue of Impressions in Sulphur of Antique and Modern Gems, from which Pastes are made and sold, half-title, engraved title with vignette, later boards with morocco spine label, rubbed, 1775; and 26 others, antique gems, v.s. (29)

NO RESERVE Mining.- City of London Corporations.- S[tringer] (M[oses]) Opera mineralia explicata: or, The mineral kingdom, within the dominions of Great Britain, display'd. Being a compleat history of the antient corporations of the city of London, of and for the mines and minerals and the battery works, first edition, woodcut arms of the Society of the Mineral and Battery Works, some spotting or foxing, lightly browned, 20th century red crushed morocco, gilt, [Hoover 768; Goldsmiths' 4990], 8vo, Printed for Jonas Brown at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar, [1713].

Chemistry.- Thibaut (Pierre) The Art of Chymistry, as it is now practised, second English edition, woodcut initials and head-pieces, imprimatur f. trimmed and laid down onto pastedown, title a little creased and soiled and with bookplate to verso, H4 with some chipping and loss to margin, affecting catchword, occasional scattered spotting or light soiling, later half roan, rebacked, [Wing T892; cf. Duveen p.576 (first edition)], 8vo, by John Starkey, at the Miter near Temple-Bar in Fleetstreet, 1675.⁂ Rare, we can only trace one other copy of this edition at auction and only a handful of copies of the first edition. Provenance: John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792, bookplate).

Economics.- Tooke (Thomas) Thoughts and Details of the High and Low Prices of the Thirty Years from 1793 to 1822, second edition, folding table, [Goldsmiths' 24119; Kress C1355], library half morocco, 1824 § Del Mar (Alexander) Money and Civilization, first edition, original cloth, 1886 § Watherston (J.H.) A Letter to...W.E.Gladstone...on the Trial of the Pix, in Her Majesty's Mint, half morocco, 1861 § Alison (Archibald) England in 1815 and 1845: or, A Sufficient and a Contracted Currency, first edition, original cloth, Edinburgh & London, 1845; and 15 others, economics, mostly 19th century, 4to and 8vo (19)

Numismatics.- Coins.- Vaughan (Rice) A discourse of coin and coinage: the first invention, use, matter, forms, proportions and differences, ancient & modern: with the advantages and disadvantages of the rise or fall thereof, in our own or neighbouring nations: and the reasons, first and only edition, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initial, preliminaries lightly browned, trimmed at head, affecting some headlines, occasional spotting, later speckled calf, rebacked, [Wing V131; Goldsmiths 2131; Kress 1394], 12mo, printed by Th. Dawks, for Th. Basset, at the George, near Cliffords-Inn, in Fleet-street, 1675.⁂ 'The first historical monograph in English on money' (Palgrave). The lawyer Rice Vaughan held various public offices in Wales before being imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1665 for two years. This work was published posthumously by Henry Vaughan ('the Silurist', 1621-1695), poet and writer of devotional prose.

Venner (Tobias) The Baths of Bathe, first edition, some soiling, ex-British Museum duplicate with stamps to title verso and ink inscription on title, [STC 24641], Printed by Felix Kyngston for Richard Moore, 1628; bound with [Plattes (Gabriel)] A Discovery of Subterraneall Treasure, viz. Of all manner of Mines and Mineralls, from the Gold to the Coale, first edition, lacking initial blank leaf, title holed with loss of text to recto and verso, corner of G3 defective just touching a few letters of text, last few leaves slightly wormed affecting text, soiling, [STC 20000; Sabin 63360], by J. Okes, for Jasper Empery, 1639, together 2 works in 1, later calf, worn, rebacked, 4to⁂ Two rare works. The first has not appeared at auction since 1955; the second is one of the earliest books in English on mining and metallurgy and "includes interesting notices of the gold and silver mines in Peru, New England, Virginia, the Bermudas, and other parts of America." (Sabin).

NO RESERVE Numismatics.- Vertue (George) Medals, Coins, Great-Seals, Impressions, from the Elaborate Works of Thomas Simon, chief Engraver of the Mint, to K. Charles the 1st, first edition, engraved title and 37 plates, engraved decorations, some light foxing, later aubergine morocco, gilt, by J. Clarke, spine faded, g.e., 4to, 1753.⁂ According to a pencil inscription, this is "The Duke of Hamilton's copy from the Beckford Library". Later bookplate of James Rouse.

Thomas Love Peacock's copy.- Vico (Enea) Le imagini delle donne auguste intagliate in istampa di rame... libro primo, first edition, Thomas Love Peacock's copy, second issue (with Roman numerals to illustrations), collation: a-c B-Z Aa-Dd4, fine engraved pictorial title and full-page illustrations, woodcut historiated initials, final f. with woodcut printer's device verso, otherwise blank, some spotting or staining, 17th century morocco, gilt, sympathetically rebacked, central arms partially erased, corners worn, rubbed, Venice, Enea Vico & Vincenzo Valgrisi, 1557; and another by the same, small 4to (mentioned 221 x 157mm.) (2)⁂ Provenance: 'This beautiful volume was purchased by me at the sale of the library of T. L. Peacock Esq., author of "Headlong Hall", in June 1866.' (ink inscription to front pastedown). Literature: Adams V633; Mortimer, Italian, 532; EDIT 16 CNCE 54071.

Medicine.- Beddoes (Thomas) & James Watt. Considerations on the Medicinal Use, and on the Production of Factitious Airs, Parts I-III only (of 5), together 2 works in 1 vol., second edition of Parts I-II, first edition of Part III, Parts I & II with 5 folding engraved plates, Part III with 3 engraved plates, one folding, and 4 folding letterpress tables, [Wellcome II p.129], Bristol, Bulgin & Rosser for J.Johnson, 1795 bound with Menzies (Robert) A Dissertation on Respiration...with notes by Charles Sugrue, first edition, initial blank, engraved plate, errata/advertisement leaf at end, Edinburgh, 1796 and Smyth (James Carmichael) An Account of the Experiment made at the desire of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, on board the Union Hospital ship, to determine the effect of the Nitrous Acid in destroying Contagion..., first edition, presentation copy from the author to Dr Gregory inscribed at head of title, folding engraved plan of ship, J.Johnson, 1796, together 4 works in 1 vol., the first bound after the second mentioned, occasional spotting or offsetting, contemporary tree calf, rebacked, rubbed, split to upper joint, 8vo⁂ Beddoes specialised in tuberculosis and experimented with patients inhaling gases or "factitious airs". Watt became interested due to his invalid son and developed a form of apparatus for enabling such treatment. The last item concerns a treatment for "jail fever" or typhoid.

NO RESERVE Antiquities.- Medals.- Vico (Enea) Discorsi... sopra le medaglie de gli antichi, collation: *4 A-P4, title with large woodcut printer's device, fine engraved portrait of Cosimo de Medici to verso of *2, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and historiated initials, final f. with woodcut printer's device verso otherwise blank, some spotting or light foxing, contemporary limp vellum, lacking ties, soiled, small 4to (198 x 154mm.), Venice, Gabriel Giolito de' Ferrari, 1558.⁂ Literature: Adams V636; EDIT 16 CNCE 26275; cf. Mortimer, Italian, 531 (first edition of 1555).

NO RESERVE Views of the Ruins of the Principal Houses destroyed during the Riots at Birmingham, first edition, 8 aquatint plates by William Ellis after P.H. Witton, accompanying text leaves printed in double column in English and French, light offsetting, contemporary sheep-backed marbled boards, rubbed, rebacked, [Abbey, Scenery 48], oblong 4to, J. Johnson, 1792.⁂ A visual record of the buildings, mostly country houses in the environs of Birmingham, which were attacked during the "Priestley Riots" which took place between 14th and 17th July, 1791. Most were burnt and many of the contents looted or destroyed - the targets being properties belonging to religious dissenters or those associated with them, such as members of the Lunar Society - Joseph Priestley himself, Baskerville House (the home of John Ryland), William Hutton and others.

Economics.- Violet (Thomas) A True Narrative of Som [sic] Remarkable Proceedings Concerning the Ships Samson, Salvadore and George, and severall other Prize-ships, depending in the Admiralty; humbly presented to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, and Councell of State, and the Councell of Officers of his Excellency the Lord Generall..., first edition, title with engraved armorial device, folding table, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces, title trimmed at head and foot affecting first two words of title and imprint, lacking d2 (blank) and final 2ff. (author's postscript), ink library stamps of the Patent Office Library, browning and occasional staining (heavier to title), 19th century half calf, Patent Office library blindstamp to upper cover, [Goldsmith 1308; Kress 899; Wing V593], William Du-Gard, 1653; An Appeal to Caesar: wherin Gold and Silver is Proved to be the Kings Majestie's Royal Commodity, first edition, woodcut initials, occasional light spotting, contemporary calf, rebacked, spine ends and corners chipped and bumped, rubbed, [Goldsmiths 1524; Kress 1043; Wing V580], 1660, small folio & 4to (2)⁂ Two works by Violet (1634-1662, goldsmith, alderman and sometime spy), both concerning his views on the gold and silver trades, especially the illegal exportation of the metals (Violet was found guilty of illegally exporting gold and silver in 1634, for which he obtained a pardon by assisting in the apprehension of like miscreants).

Economics.- Violet (Thomas) Proposals humbly presented to his Highness Oliver Lord Protector ... for the calling to a True and Just Accompt all Committee-men... Excise and Custom-commissioners ... and all Other Persons that have been entrusted with the Publick Revenue, first edition, engraved allegorical frontispiece, woodcut initials and head-pieces, occasional light marginal dampstaining, a few ff. frayed at margins, first H2 with small hole to text, affecting 1 letter, 18th century calf, rubbed and scuffed, spine chipped at head, [Goldsmiths' 1378; Kress 948; Wing V-585], small folio, 1656.

Economics.- Violet (Thomas) A True Narrative of the Proceedings in the Court of Admiraltie, against the Ships Sampson, Salvador, and George, their Silver and Lading, first edition, engraved frontispiece, title and frontispiece trimmed and laid down, woodcut initials and decorations, occasional browning, 18th century calf, rebacked, preserving original backstrip, [Goldsmiths 1456; Kress 1007; Wing V594], [no publisher], 1659; Mysteries and Secrets of Trade and Mint-Affairs: with several reasons against transporting treasure, and waies set down for preventing the same ..., and humbly presented to this present Parlament of the Commonwealth of England, in Aug. 1653, 2 parts in 1 vol., first edition, title with engraved armorial device, woodcut initials and head-pieces, lacking final 4 index ff., 20th century half calf, [Goldsmiths 1307; Kress 898; Wing V583], William Du-Gard, 1653, 4to & small folio (2)

Mining.- Wales.- Waller (William) An essay on the value of the mines, late of Sir Carbery Price, first edition, 2 folding metalcut plates, 1 plate with repaired tear, without loss, lightly browned and spotted throughout, contemporary black panelled morocco, rebacked, rubbed at extremities, [Hoover 855; Goldsmiths 3480; Kress 2102; Sabin 101116; Wing W552A], 8vo, no printer, 1698.⁂ On the rich lead and silver mines discovered on Price's estate in Cardiganshire. Waller, who was manager of the works, attempted to show the investment value of the mines, comparing them to the silver mines of Potosi in Peru (now part of Bolivia), and conjuring up the image of a 'Welsh Potozi' in Cardiganshire.

Wallis (Richard) London's Armory...all the Arms, Crests, Supporters, Mantles & Mottos of every distinct Company and Corporate Societie in the Honourable Citie of London, first edition, engraved frontispiece with central armorial completed in pen and ink and with manuscript inscription from the author to Sir Robert Viner, engraved title, engraved Royal arms, engraved arms of the City of London and 25 engraved plates each with 4 coats-of-arms of the Liveried Companies etc., engraved arms of the Artillery Company at end, 3ff. letterpress only (?of 4), some marginal soiling, later bookplate of Sir William Augustus Fraser of Ledeclune and Morar, contemporary calf, gilt, worn, [Wing W620], folio, Printed for the Author, 1677.⁂ Rare work with only 2 copies appearing at auction in the last 35 years. The engraved frontispiece incorporates the manuscript arms of and inscription to the recipient, Sir Robert Viner (1631-88). Viner was a goldsmith, sheriff of London at the time of the Great Fire in 1666 and later Lord Mayor. He enjoyed a close relationship with King Charles II and was appointed the King's goldsmith in 1661 and became his principal banker, arranging loans for enormous sums of money which, owing to the extravagance of the court and the Dutch war ultimately lead to his bankruptcy.

NO RESERVE Metallurgy.- Webster (John) Metallographia: or, An history of metals. Wherein is declared the signs of ores and minerals both before and after digging, the causes and manner of their generations, their kinds, sorts, and differences, first edition, lacking final advertisement f., some spotting or staining, lightly browned, contemporary calf, rebacked, upper cover detached, corners worn, rubbed, [Duveen p.611; Ferguson Ii, pp.531-532; Hoover 867; Cole 1353; Wing W1231A], small 4to, printed by Andrew Clark, for Walter Kettilby, at the Bishops Head in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1671.⁂ 'Webster's book is one of the earliest and most elaborate works on metallurgy and minerals written in English.' (Cole).

NO RESERVE Ceramics.- Wedgwood and Bentley. A Catalogue of Cameos, Intaglios, Medlas, Busts, Small Statues, and Bas-Reliefs..., fifth edition, modern half library morocco, Cadel...Robson...and Johnson, 1779 § Wedgwood's Catalogue of Cameos...reprinted from the edition of 1787, edited by Eliza Meteyard, one of 250 copies, wood-engraved illustrations, contemporary roan-backed cloth, 1873 § Meteyard (Eliza) Memorials of Wedgwood [&] Choice Examples of Wedgwood Art, together 2 vol., mounted photographic plates, the first with a few plates loose, original cloth, gilt, the first with mounted oval portrait to upper cover (rubbed), 1874-79 § Gatty (Charles T.) Liverpool Art Club. Catalogue of a Loan Exhibition of the Works of Josiah Wedgwood, illustrated and revised edition, photographic plates, contemporary half morocco, t.e.g., Liverpool, 1879, a little rubbed; and 2 others on Wedgwood, v.s. (7)

NO RESERVE Geology.- Whitehurst (John) An inquiry into the original state and formation of the earth; deduced from facts and the laws of nature. To which is added an appendix, containing some general observations on the strata in Derbyshire, first edition, list of subscribers, 6 engraved plates on 5 sheets (1 folding), lacking half-title, occasional staining or spotting, contemporary mottled calf, gilt, spine in compartments and with red morocco label, upper joint little worn, corners worn, rubbed, a good copy, 4to, printed for the author, and W. Bent, by J. Cooper in Drury-Lane, 1778.⁂ Whitehurst was a clockmaker and scientist who made significant early contributions to geology. He was a prominent member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham along with Joseph Priestley, Josiah Wedgwood, Erasmus Darwin and Matthew Boulton.

Béguin (Jean) Les Elemens de chymie, first edition in French, woodcut ornament to title, head-pieces and decorative initials, diagram to p.168, sigs. S&T hole to inner gutter, loss of few letters, occasional light staining, 17th century speckled calf, gilt spine in compartments, spine neatly repaired at end, [Wellcome I, 753; cf. Ferguson I, pp.93-94], 8vo, Paris, Mathieu le Maistre, 1615.⁂ Rare first edition in French of this chemistry textbook. This edition prints for the first time a reaction diagram where there are two or more reagents. The first edition was published in 1610 under the title Tyrocinium chymicum. Béguin had visited the mines of Hungary and Slovenia.

Horology.- Whitehurst (John) An attempt towards obtaining invariable measures of length, capacity, and weight, from the mensuration of time, independent of the mechanical operations requisite to ascertain the center of oscillation, or the true length of pendulums, first edition, half-title, 3 folding engraved plates, modern morocco-backed patterned boards, spine gilt, rare in commerce, 4to, Printed for the author, 1787.

London.- Wyatt (M.C.) Prospectus of a Model to the Memory of Lord Nelson, first edition, 2 engraved plates, some foxing, library morocco-backed cloth, by Richard Taylor and Co., 1808; and 6 others, London, 8vo (7)

Central Asia.- Zichy (Comte Eugene de) La Migration de la Race Hongroise, 2 vol., text in Hungarian and French, plates and illustrations, original printed wrappers bound in at end, contemporary red half morocco, 4to, Budapest, Gustave Ranschburg, 1897.⁂ First edition of the account of Zichy's first two expeditions to the Caucasus and Central Asia to trace the roots of the Magyar race.

NO RESERVE Geology & Mines.- Behrens (Georg Henning) The natural history of Hartz-Forest, in His Majesty King George's German dominions. Being a succinct account of The Caverns, Lakes, Springs, Rivers, Mountains, Rocks, Quarries, Fossiles, Castles, Gardens, the famous Pagan Idol Pustrich or Spit-Fire, first edition in English, 2 advertisement ff. at end, some spotting or foxing, 20th century half morocco, stained, printed by W. Pearson, for T. Osborne in Grays-Inn, Holbourn, 1730.⁂ First edition in English of Hercynia Curiosa, oder Curiöser Hartz-Wald, 1703, on the geology, mineralogy, speleology, and mines of the Harz mountain region.

Metallurgy.- Biringuccio (Vannoccio) De la Pirotechnia. Libri X. Dove ampiamente si tratta non solo de ogni sorte & diversita de Miniere, ma anchora quanto si ricerca intorno a la prattica di quelle cosi di quel che si appartiene a l'arte de la fusione over gitto de metalli, collation: [floral symbol]8 A-X8, title within woodcut historiated border incorporating an emblem of Venice and printer's device, woodcut illustrations and historiated initials, occasional early ink marginalia, title repaired lower corners verso (seemingly avoiding any text), 3rd f. working loose, water-stained, occasional spotting, new endpapers, 17th century panelled calf, rebacked, preserving majority of original backstrip, corners worn, crackled and rubbed, small 4to (209 x 145mm.), [Venice], [Venturino Rossinello for Curtio Navo and brothers], 1540.⁂ First edition of the earliest book on metallurgy, with sections on the smelting of metals, metal-casting, type-founding, fireworks and gunpowder. Hoover calls it 'The first comprehensive book on the fire-using arts and one of the classics in the history of science and technology.' and Duveen points out that 'Biringuccio should be credited with the first description of silver liquation, and...was the first to mention cobalt blue and manganese.', praises the 'very fine woodcuts' and highlights 'interesting chapters on alchemy'. Of note to bibliophiles is an early account of typefounding, giving the composition of the metal to be used, and describing the matrix.Literature: Adams B2080; Duveen p.79; Philip B110.1; Mortimer Italian 66; Hoover 129; Partington II, 32-37; Wellcome I, 873; Cockle, Military Books 931.

NO RESERVE Warwickshire.- Bisset (J.) A Descriptive Guide of Leamington Priors, first edition, 9 engraved plates, one folding, one repaired, some foxing and browning, contemporary half calf, spine faded, extremities worn, Coventry, for the Author, 1814; another copy, second edition, engraved map and 10 plates, mostly trade advertisements, library half morocco, Coventry, 1816 § Jaffray (James) Graphic Illustrations of Warwickshire, engraved frontispiece and 30 plates (of 31), vignettes, some browning, library morocco-backed cloth, Birmingham, 1862 § Smith (William) A New & Compendious History of the County of Warwick, engraved map, vignette-title and 60 plates, foxed and browned, contemporary half calf, rebacked preserving original spine, Birmingham, 1830; and 26 others, Warwickshire, v.s. (30)

Chemistry.- Boerhaave (Hermann) A New Method of Chemistry, first English edition, translated by P. Shaw and E. Chambers, 2 engraved plates, fsome foxing and browning, contemporary calf, rebacked, a little rubbed, [Duveen p.84 note], for J. Osborn and T. Longman, 1727 § Lewis (William) Commercium Philosophico-Technicum, first edition, 6 engraved plates, 1 folding, lacks imprimatur leaf, some marginal worming towards end, contemporary calf, rebacked, for the Author, 1763 § Walker (Adam) A System of Familiar Philosophy: in Twelve Lectures, 2 vol., plus accompanying plate vol. with 49 engraved plates, some spotting, text vol. lack half-titles, contemporary tree calf, spine gilt, a little rubbed, plate vol. in contemporary half calf, rebacked, 1802; and 14 others, Chemistry, 4to and 8vo (18)

NO RESERVE Economics.- Money.- Boizard (Jean) Traite des monoyes, de leurs circonstances & dependances, first edition, wood-engraved device to title, 3 engraved plates, some spotting and light browning, contemporary mottled calf, rebacked, [Goldsmiths' 2930], Paris, Widow of Jean Baptiste Coignard, 1692 § Declaration du roy, portant que toutes monnoyes d'or legeres des païs estrangers, seront converties en especes d'or de poids portans le nom du Roy, title with woodcut arms, numerous woodcuts of coins, trimmed, just touching some woodcuts, a few small holes or repairs, some spotting, lighrtly browned, 20th century morocco-backed marbled boards, spine gilt, spine ends chipped, joints splitting, but holding firm, rubbed, Paris, Sebastien Cramoisy, 1640; and 4 others, French Economics, including a volume of bound royal decrees, 8vo & 4to (6)

Jewellery.- Boodt (Anselmus Boetius de) Le Parfaict joaillier, ou Histoire des pierreries, où sont amplement descrites leur naissance, juste prix, moyen de les cognoitre, & se garder des contrefaites, facultez medicinales, & proprietez curieuses, title in red and black and with large engraved printer's device, 2 folding letterpress tables, a few woodcut illustrations, errata f. at end, without cancel leaf F8 (pp.95-96), trimmed at head, affecting part of a number of headlines, some browning to 1 table, occasional spotting, 19th century calf-backed marbled boards, rebacked, rubbed, [Sinkankas 780; Schuh 710; Ward & Carozzi 254; Krivatsy 1541; Caillet 1286], 8vo, Lyon, Jean-Antoine Huguetan, 1644.⁂ Rare first edition in French of 'the first treatise to offer more than the briefest of views of gem cutting' (Sinkankas).

NO RESERVE Cornwall.- Borlase (William) The Natural History of Cornwall, first edition, folding engraved map with short tear at fold, 28 engraved plates, errata leaf at end, list of subscribers, some foxing and browning, especially to last few leaves, contemporary mottled calf, gilt, rebacked, extremities worn, folio, Oxford, for the Author, 1758.⁂ A comprehensive account covering the climate, geography, flora, fauna, minerals and mining for tin, iron, copper, silver, lead and gold.

NO RESERVE Mining.- Hungary & Transylvania.- Born (Baron Inigo) Travels through the Bannat of Temeswar, Transylvania, and Hungary, in the year 1770. Described in a series of letters to Prof. Ferber, on the mines and mountains of these different countries, translated by R.E Raspe, first edition in English, 2 folding engraved plans, lacking final advertisement f., offsetting, occasional spotting or finger-marking, engraved armorial bookplate of Archibald, Earl of Eglingtoune to front pastedown, contemporary calf, gilt spine in compartments, joints splitting, but holding firm, spine ends and corners worn, rubbed, [Goldsmiths' 11549; cf. Hoover 154], 8vo, printed by J. Miller, No. 6, Old Bailey; for G. Kearsley, 1777.⁂ Rare in commerce. Born was curator of the Imperial Mineralogical Collections in Vienna. He introduced the amalgamation process for the extraction of gold and silver to Austria.

Boulton (Matthew).- Young (Arthur) A Tour in Ireland, 2 vol., second edition, 5 folding engraved plates on 4 sheets, slight offsetting, contemporary calf-backed marbled boards with vellum corners, spines rubbed and heads chipped, by H. Goldney, 1780; A Six Months Tour through the North of England, 4 vol., first edition, 28 engraved plates, some folding, 6 folding tables, contemporary calf, rubbed, spine ends chipped and worn, 1770 § Holland (Henry) General View of the Agriculture of Cheshire, 8 engraved maps and plates, 3 hand-coloured, contemporary polished calf, gilt, a little rubbed, joints cracking, 1808; and 2 others similar, all from Matthew Boulton's or his family's library, 8vo (9)

Boulton (Matthew).- Provis (John) Tables of the most useful kind to facilitate business in several branches of the copper trade, first edition, list of subscribers, woodcut decorations and tables, contemporary half roan, covers detached, spine chipped, 4to, Truro, printed for the author by J. Tregoning, at the Cornish Press, 1801.⁂ "Mw. Boulton Esq., Birmingham" is listed among the subscribers. Provenance: Sold Christie's, 12th December 1986, Books from the library of Matthew Boulton and his family, lot 171.

Boulton (Matthew).- Jameson (Robert) System of Mineralogy, 3 vol., first edition, 16 folding engraved plates, 2 folding tables, some foxing and offsetting, contemporary polished calf, gilt, vol.1 upper cover detached, 8vo, Edinburgh, for Archibald Constable and Co., 1804-08.⁂ Rarely on the market and found complete. From the library of Matthew Boulton or his family (Christie's 12 Dec. 1986, lot 120).

NO RESERVE Boulton (Matthew).- Documents relative to an Investigation of the Manner in which the Funeral of the late Matthew Boulton, Esq. was furnished, first edition, 2 folding tables, 1 torn, Birmingham, R. Jabet, 1811; bound with Lander (George) An Answer to the Pamphlet of Matthew Robinson Boulton, Esq. of Soho, relative to his father's funeral, folding letterpress frontispiece of the funeral procession (torn in several places), Birmingham, 1811; and Whateley (W.) A Reply to a Letter of Mr. George Barker, Attorney, contained in Documents relative to an Investigation..., Birmingham, 1811; and Barker (George) An Answer to the Letter of Mr. W. Whateley, Birmingham, 1811, together 4 works in 1, some water-staining, mostly to first work, contemporary half calf, worn; and 4 others, Boulton, 8vo and 4to (5)⁂ The dispute regarding the overcharging by George Lander for the provision of silks and other materials for the furnishing and decoration at the funeral of Matthew Boulton, alleged by his son Matthew Robinson Boulton.

Boulton & Watt's Steam Engines.- [Wilson (Thomas)] A Comparative Statement of the Effects of Messrs. Boulton and Watt's Steam Engines with Newcommen's and Mr. Hornblower's, first edition, Truro, Printed by W. Harry, 1792; An Address to the Mining Interest of Cornwall, on the Subject of Messrs. Boulton & Watt's and Mr. Hornblower's Engines, ?first edition, [Truro], 1793, together 2 works in 1, library calf-backed cloth, 8vo⁂ Two extremely rare pamphlets, neither of which has seemingly ever appeared at auction. ESTC locates 6 copies of the first (3 in UK, all in Birmingham libraries, and 3 in N. America) and 3 copies only of the second (National Library of Scotland and 2 at Columbia University). There is another issue of the second work with only 22pp. - ours has 31 [1]pp. The second work bears an ink signature of J. Rennie on the title - presumably John Rennie the Elder (1761-1821), Scottish civil engineer, designer of Waterloo and Vauxhall bridges, who visited Watt at Soho, Staffs in 1784 before moving to London and running the Albion Flour Mills at Blackfriars, for which Boulton and Watt were building a steam engine.