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Click here to subscribeJames (P.D.) Unnatural Causes, first edition, signed by the author on title, light browning to endpapers, original cloth, light rubbing to tips of spine and corners, small stain to foot, dust-jacket, some light creasing, neat strengthening to verso of spine ends and one corner, a very good copy overall, 8vo, 1967.⁂ James' third novel, scarce signed.
Kafka (Franz) Die Verwandlung [Metamorphosis], first edition in book form, staining to a few leaves, text block broken, original pictorial wrappers printed in red and black, uncut, a little rubbed and soiled, rebacked preserving most of slightly frayed spine, a few neat repairs to edges and split fold of rear wrapper, new red endpapers, 8vo, Leipzig, Kurt Wolff, 1916 [but 1915].⁂ One of the most important and influential novellas of the 20th century, which first appeared in Die Weissen Blättern in 1915. Die Verwandlung was one of the few works by Kafka published within his own lifetime. Kafka took a close interest in Ottomar Starke's illustration for the cover, specifying that "The insect itself must not be illustrated by a drawing. It cannot be shown at all, not even from a distance."
Le Carré (John) Call for the Dead, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Clive Hirschhorn on title, spot to outer margin of text, neat ink ownership inscription dated 1962 and small spot to endpaper, Hirschhorn's neat pencil purchase notes to front pastedown, original boards, dust-jacket, spine ends and corners a little chipped, light surface soiling, an excellent example overall, preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, 1961.⁂ The author's first novel that introduced George Smiley, his most enduring creation and arguably the greatest and most complex character in all of spy fiction.
Le Carré (John) The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, first edition, signed by the author on title, light spotting, original blue boards, light fading to lower edge, dust-jacket, very light fading to spine, faint markings to flaps from careful removal or tape residue neatly retouched in places, light creasing and faint surface soiling to lower panel, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1963.⁂ Le Carre's third novel, an overnight sensation that firmly established his reputation as the master of the literary spy thriller. One of the great British novels to come out of the Cold War.
Le Carré (John) The Le Carré Omnibus, first edition, double signed by the author "John Le Carré aka David Cornwell" on title, slight cockling to endpapers, original boards, faint sunning to head of spine, dust-jacket, light browning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, upper panel with small hole towards foot and small chip to head, 8vo, 1964.⁂ Rare, we can trace no other examples at auction either signed or double-signed. Le Carré's first two novels, Call for the Dead and Murder of Quality released together by Gollancz to capitalise on the success of Spy Who Came in From the Cold.
Le Carré (John) A Small Town in Germany, first edition, signed by the author on endpaper, very slight bumping to spine ends, dust-jacket priced at 30s., some slight creasing to head, but a near-fine, bright example overall, 8vo, 1968.⁂ Le Carré's fifth novel, rare signed and in such superb condition.
Le Carré (John) Single & Single, first edition, signed by the author on title, original boards, first issue dust-jacket with the juggling hands, a fine copy, 1999; with the original promotional set of three juggling balls with explanatory booklet in original "Season's Greetings from Single & Single" presentation box, v.s. (2) ⁂ Single & Single was originally issued in the present jacket as part of the publisher's promotion, seemingly with some copies accompanied by the present set of juggling balls. Signed copies of the first issue are rare and we can trace no other examples of the juggling balls, either at auction or online.
Le Carré (John) The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, number 39 of 124 copies signed by the author, printed in red and black, tipped-in signed woodcut portrait of the author by Stephen Alcorn, original cloth-backed boards with paper label to upper cover, mint, slip-case, Oak Tree Press, 2008; The Spy Who Came in the From the Cold, fiftieth anniversary edition, signed by the author, original boards, dust-jacket, "signed by the author" sticker to upper panel, a fine copy, slip-case, 2013, 8vo (2)⁂ The first a scarce reprinting of the first three chapters. This special edition dedicated to children living with HIV/Aids.
Lodge (David) Out of the Shelter, first edition, ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper, original boards, dust-jacket, very light bumping and creasing to spine ends and corners, still overall an excellent example, 8vo, 1933.⁂ The first book to be printed using a computer, which lead to it being littered with errors.
Australia.- Jukes (Joseph Beete) Narrative of the Surveying Voyage of H.M.S. Fly ... in Torres Strait, New Guinea, and other Islands of the Eastern Archipelago ..., 2 vol., first edition, frontispieces and 17 plates, illustrations, 2 folding maps, scattered faint spotting, later half-morocco, gilt, slight rubbing to spine extremities, [Ferguson 4549], 8vo, 1847.
Mansfield (Katherine) In A German Pension, first edition, half-title, 4pp. advertisements and 22pp. publisher's catalogue at end, embossed presentation stamp to title, contemporary ink name to front pastedown, original cloth, gilt lettering very slightly dulled, small nick head of upper joint, lower corner of upper cover rounded (?as issued), preserved in green cloth drop-back box by Temple Bookbinders, 8vo, [1911].⁂ A very good copy of her first published collection of short stories. Published by the ill-fated Stephen Swift (aka Charles Granville) who ended up imprisoned for bigamy and his publishing company liquidated in 1912. This first printing is one of only 500 copies. This edition was followed by two further reprints of 500 copies in January and in May/June 1912. The title was then not republished until 1926 after the author's death, when her husband John Middleton Murry had it reprinted. Extremely scarce with such attributes.
Maugham (William Somerset) Cakes and Ale, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to C. W. Dawes to endpaper, scattered spotting, original cloth, light fading to spine, spine ends and corners a little rubbed and bumped, dust-jacket priced at 7/6, light browning to spine, minor chipping to spine ends and corners, very short closed tear to foot of upper panel, some light spotting and slight surface soiling but an excellent example overall, [Stott A40a], 8vo, 1930.⁂ An excellent copy of Maugham's classic inscribed to Charles Reginald Dawes (1879-1964), collector of erotica, bibliographer and writer.
Milne (A. A.) Now We Are Six, first edition, signed by the author on title, cut signature of the illustrator to front free endpaper verso, illustrations by E. H. Shepard, light browning to half-title and imprimatur f., original pictorial cloth, gilt, light rubbing and minor bumping to tips of spine and corners, t.e.g., dust-jacket, neat repairs and restorations to spine ends and corners, neatly repaired tear to upper panel, some light surface soiling but in effect an excellent example, 8vo, 1927.
Nesbit (E.) These Little Ones, first edition, 2pp advertisements, 10 plates by Spenser Pryse, prize bookplate to pastedown, original cloth, dust-jacket, light sunning to spine, some light marking to panels, extremities a little rubbed, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1909.⁂ A collection of short stories for children, rare in the jacket.
O'Donnell (Elliott) The Sorcery Club, first edition, 4 plates by Phillys Vere Campbell, 18pp. advertisements, ink ownership inscription to endpaper, original decorative cloth lettered in gilt, some light rubbing to extremities, but a bright and near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1912.⁂ A superb example of this rare work of supernatural fiction involving occult powers and the lost city of Atlantis.
O'Flaherty (Liam) The Informer, first edition, bookplate to pastedown, small ownership stamp to front free endpapers, original boards, dust-jacket, very light rubbing to joints and spine ends, overall an excellent copy, 8vo, 1925.⁂ Previously the property of the renowned collector Adrian Homer Goldstone. A lovely copy in jacket of the author's classic novel set in the aftermath of the Irish Civil War, the inspiration for a number of film adaptations, most famously that of John Ford in 1935.
Orwell (George) Homage to Catalonia, first edition, endpapers browned, very occasional light dust-soiling, original green cloth, spine gilt, very lightly marked, dust-jacket, minor fraying to spine ends, spine a little darkened, still overall an excellent copy, 8vo, 1938.⁂ Orwell's personal account of his experiences and observations fighting for the POUM militia of the Republican army during the Spanish Civil War. The war was one of the defining turning points of his political outlook and a significant impulse for what led him to write in 1946 "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for Democratic Socialism, as I understand it."
Orwell (George) Coming Up for Air, first edition, one of 2000 copies, very light dust-soiling to endpapers and half-title, original blue cloth, very lightly faded, dust-jacket, faded, spine browned with head a little frayed, still overall a crisp copy, 8vo, 1939.⁂ Very scarce first edition from a printing of 2000 copies, rare to find in dust-jacket.
Ransome (Arthur) Swallows and Amazons, first edition, illustrations and map endpapers by Stephen Spurrier, publisher's Arthur Ransom book list loosely inserted, light browning to endpapers, neat repair to foot of front pastedown, original cloth, very light sunning to spine, small patch of discolouration to foot of upper cover, dust-jacket priced at 7s. 6d., very light toning to spine, small chip to head of upper joint, small nick for foot of upper panel, light rubbing to extremities but a bright, near-fine example overall, preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, 1930.⁂ Ransom's children's classic, the first instalment in the Swallows and Amazons series and rare in such superb condition.
Warhol (Andy) The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again), first edition, signed and inscribed "To John Campbell's Duck Soup Andy Warhol Oct 1975" with large soup can drawing in black felt tip pen to half-title, original red cloth-backed yellow boards, dust-jacket, a little rubbing to edges and slight creasing to foot of upper panel, 8vo, New York & London, 1975.⁂ Two American icons in one go; excellent Soup Can drawing and inscription with amusing reference to the Marx Brothers' film Duck Soup and its star Groucho Marx. Warhol executed a print of the Marx brothers as one of his Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century series in 1980. Although he inscribed several copies with a soup can drawing it is rare to find one including a flavour and this one with the pun is exceptional.
*** Please note the description for this lot has changed ***Waugh (Evelyn) Brideshead Revisited, first edition, very tiny ink marking to pastedown, upper hinge weak, original red cloth, lightly discoloured, dust-jacket, minor bumping and chipping to extremities, spine browned, lower panel lightly marked, still an attractive copy, 8vo, 1945.
Wells (H.G.) The Autocracy of Mr. Parham, first edition, signed by the author to front free endpaper, original boards, dust-jacket, some chipping and creasing to extremities, edges very lightly toned, spine browned, 8vo, 1930.⁂ Wells' classic satire on dictators and dictatorships, rare signed.
Wilson (Romer, editor) Red Magic, first edition, colour plates and illustrations by Kay Nielsen, occasional slight foxing, original red cloth, dust-jacket spine slightly faded and lower panel a little soiled, 8vo, 1930.⁂ An excellent copy of this "collection of the world's best fairy tales from all countries".
Yeats (William Butler) The Tower, first edition, half-title, ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper, endpapers lightly browned, very light even foxing to first few pages, original pictorial cloth, blind-stamped and gilt by T.Sturge Moore, uncut, dust-jacket, light chipping to spine head and extremities, lacking lower portion of spine, 8vo, 1928.⁂ One of 2000 copies. The Tower was Yeats' first major volume of poetry to appear as Nobel Laureate (he had been awarded the Nobel Prize five years earlier in 1923). It is considered one of the poet's most important volumes, and firmly established his place in the Modernist canon.
[Dodgson (Charles Lutwidge)], "Lewis Carroll". Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, second (first published) edition, half-title, frontispiece and illustrations by John Tenniel, tissue guard, scattered foxing, short marginal tear not affecting text (p.139), pale blue free endpapers bound in, previous owners pencil inscription, contemporary red half morocco by 'The Atelier Bindery', original cloth pasted to front pastedowns, slight rubbing to joints, housed in a contemporary red slipcase, a little rubbed at extremities, [Crutch 46], 8vo, 1866.⁂ With the inverted 'S' in the last line of the Contents page. This copy is in the earliest state with the pale blue endpapers, as opposed to green. The original 1865 first edition was suppressed by Dodgson on account of the inferior printing quality.
[Dodgson (Charles Lutwidge)], "Lewis Carroll". Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, third edition, the suppressed 'sixtieth thousand' issue, half-title, frontispiece and illustrations by John Tenniel, 4pp. advertisements at end, cracked hinges, original decorative cloth, faint staining, lightly sunned spine, slight chipping to spine extremities, 8vo, 1893.⁂ Scarce. This suppressed issue was, according to Carroll, riddled with printing production faults. The illustrations were over-printed, the pages badly folded and it led to him threatening to terminate his contract with Macmillan. This had already been an issue for the first edition of the 1865 Alice, which was recalled after Tenniel complained about the quality of the printing. Only 60 copies had gone out when Carroll intervened. He asked Macmillan to destroy the remainder of the edition, which led to Through the Looking Glass being out of print until 1897. He later changed his mind about destroying the remaining copies of this edition, and instead favoured rebinding it and distributing it to charitable institutions, which had been done with the first suppressed Alice.
Rawstone (Lawrence) Gamonia: or, the Art of Preserving Game, first edition, half-title, hand-coloured aquatint frontispiece and 14 hand-coloured plates, tissue-guards, errata bound-in, occasional faint foxing, contemporary green morocco, gilt, lightly sunned spine, slight bumping to corners and extremities, housed in a modern drop-back box, [Tooley 393], 8vo, Rudolph Ackermann, 1837.
Strutt (Joseph) Borda Anzel-cynnan: or A Complete View of the Manners, Customs, Arms, Habits. &c. of the Inhabitants of England..., 3 vol., 158 engraved plates printed in sepia, errata slip in vol.2, Benjamin White; Walter Shropshire, 1775-76; The Chronicle of England, 2 vol., first edition, 42 engraved maps and plates, errata leaf at end of vol.1, by Joseph Cooper, for Walter Shropshire, 1777-78; The Regal and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of England, with supplement at end, 72 engraved plates printed in sepia, Benjamin & John White, 1793; A Complete View of the Dress and Habits of the People of England, 2 vol., first edition, hand-coloured engraved frontispieces and 151 hand-coloured plates, J.Nichols, for J.Edwards, 1796-99; Glig-Gamena Angel-Deod. Or, the Sports and Pastimes of the People of England, 2 vol., first edition, hand-coloured engraved frontispiece and 39 hand-coloured plates, some light foxing, T.Bensley for J.White, 1801, together 5 works in 9 vol., many plates with paper guards, uniform nineteenth century green morocco, covers with triple gilt fillet border and gilt-tooled floral ornament to corners, red, brown and green morocco labels to spines, g.e., a little rubbed, mostly to edges, a few marks, joints cracked, 4to⁂ A handsome and generally very clean set of Strutt's works on the social history of England, with many of the plates engraved by Strutt himself from illuminated manuscripts in the British Museum.
[Surtees (Robert Smith)] Mr Facey Romford's Hounds, first edition in the original 12 parts, 24 hand-coloured etchings by John Leech and Hablot K. Browne, wood-engraved illustrations, advertisements as called for, very occasional faint spotting, original illustrated wrappers, slight rubbing to extremities, housed in modern dropback box, [Tooley 475], 8vo, [1864].
Middleton (Bernard, binder).- Gide (André) Oscar Wilde: A Study, from the French, edited by Stuart Mason [C.S.Millard], one of 50 copies on hand-made paper, from an edition limited to 500, plates, bound in russet goatskin, by Bernard Middleton, titled in gilt across head and foot of upper cover, spine titled in gilt and with five raised bands, each with three small gilt dots within double rules in blind extending onto covers in style of old thongs, t.e.g., others uncut, signed "Bound by Middleton. Oct.'00" in pencil at foot of rear free endpaper and with his monogram to rear pastedown, 8vo (binding c.205 x 140mm.), Oxford, Holywell Press, 1905.⁂ First English edition of this account of Wilde which first appeared in L'Ermitage, a monthly literary review, in June 1902, and in a simple but elegant binding by the celebrated British binder.
Fleece Press.- Buckland Wright (John and Christopher) Bathers and Dancers, one of 180 copies from an edition limited to 206, with letter and notes from the printer loosely inserted, original vellum-backed Japanese wood veneer boards, slip-case, Wakefield, 1993; Baigneuses, one of 204 copies from an edition limited to 240, original vellum-backed marbled boards, cloth drop-back box, Denby Dale, 1995; Surreal Times: The Abstract Engravings and Wartime Letters..., one of 210 copies from an edition limited to 266, original cloth-backed JBW patterned-paper, slip-case, Denby Dale, 2000; Endeavours & Experiments...Essays in Woodcut and Colour Engraving, one of 150 copies from an edition limited to 300, original cloth-backed patterned-paper boards, slip-case, Upper Denby, 2004; To Beauty...Work with Joseph Ishill of the Oriole Press, one of 246 copies, original cloth-backed Venetian marbled paper, with prospectus in cloth drop-back box, Upper Denby, 2006; Sensuous Lines: A Catalogue Raisonné of the Intaglio Prints..., one of 100 copies from an edition limited to 366, errata slip mounted on front pastedown, original cloth, Upper Denby, 2014, illustrations, many tipped in, a few colour, most uncut, v.s., Fleece Press (6)⁂ A complete set of the press's works devoted to John Buckland Wright, with many of the engravings printed from the original blocks left in the artist's studio at his death. As a postcard from the printer in the first item records, several copies were damaged in binding so in fact only 164 copies of the standard edition were issued.
France.- Le Rouge (George Louis) Recueil des Cotes Maritimes de France, first edition, double-page engraved pictorial title, folding key map and 50 double-page coastal maps, some damp-staining and mottling, mostly to corners, later calf-backed marbled boards with vellum corners, [Phillips Atlases 5998; Tooley p.44], 4to, Paris, 1757.⁂ Scarce atlas of French coastal charts by Le Rouge who, according to Tooley, "specialized more on atlases of plans and fortifications. He was educated as a military engineer." This copy has a contemporary ownership inscription of "E.P. Sole" (or possibly E.S. Pole) on title and recto of key map; beneath the latter, in another contemporary hand "found at Cancale on our march to attack St. Malos. 1758". This refers to the raid on St. Malo in June 1758 when an amphibious British naval expedition, under the command of Admiral Howe, landed at Cancale, about 12 miles east of St. Malo in Brittany. Whilst St Malo itself was not attacked, as had been planned, many French privateers and other ships were destroyed before the force withdrew about one week later.
India.- [Hastings (Warren)] A Narrative of the Insurrection which happened in the Zemeedary of Banaris ..., first edition, spotting to first few leaves, occasional damp-staining to gutter, some leaves cleaned, 2 small holes affecting odd letter (2D3 & 2K2), one or two tiny marginal tears, neat old repairs, bookplate, later half-calf, a little rubbed, 4to, Calcutta, by order of the Governor General, 1782.
India.- [Lord (Henry)] A Discoverie of the Sect of the Banians. Containing their History, Law, Liturgie, Casts, Customes, and Ceromonies, 2 parts in 1, first edition, additional engraved pictorial title by William Marshall, second part with separate title, both signed by previous owner, ink inscription to preliminary blank, lacking Y4 (final blank), tiny rust hole affecting odd letter (F2), bookplate, modern morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, [STC 16825], small 4to, by T. and R. Coates, for Fra. Constable, 1630.⁂ Early work on two religious groups of India, the Hindu Bania (merchant caste) and the Zoroastrian Parsees, by the chaplain to the East India Company at Surat in Gujarat from 1624 to 1629. The engraved title reads: A Display of two forraigne sects in the East Indies vizt: The sect of the Banians the Ancient Natives of India and the Sect of the Persees the Ancient Inhabitants of Persia....
Roscoe (William) The Life of Lorenzo de' Medici, called the Magnificent, 2 vol., first edition, lacking half-titles, with engraved portrait (lightly offset on title), engraved title vignettes, head- & tail-pieces, some light spotting, engraved bookplate of Abraham Wildey Robarts, handsome contemporary diced russia with neo-classical gilt borders, spines gilt, rubbed at edges and corners, splits to joints, Liverpool, by J.M'Creery [for] J.Edwards, 1795 § Roscoe (Thomas) Memoirs of Benvenuto Cellini, a Florentine Artist, 2 vol., engraved portrait, foxing, contemporary cloth-backed boards, uncut, rather worn, 1822, 4to & 8vo (4)
Japan.- Hepburn (J.C.) A Japanese and English Dictionary, with an English and Japanese Index, first edition, lithographed frontispiece of Japanese characters, printed in double column, preliminary leaf p.vii/viii replaced with early pamphlet printed in Japanese and English with the new recommendations on the updated Hepburn system headed 'Romaji Zasshi Dai Ichi Go no Furoku', extensively annotated in ink to text and on many interleaves in both Japanese characters and English, a little browned and stained, a few marginal repairs, contemporary roan-backed cloth with vellum tips, rubbed, rebacked preserving old spine, 4to, Shanghai, American Presbyterian Mission Press, 1867.⁂ Very rare; the first serious attempt to produce a Japanese-English dictionary. This copy obviously belonged to a scholar and highly-accomplished Japanese speaker who was also interested in the overlaps between Japanese and Chinese. At the beginning are also bound in several manuscript leaves on diacritics and stenographic signs, notes in German on Chinese grammar (dated 1886) and on primitive symbols in Chinese grammar. The neat annotations to the text include suggested new words and the additional notes on interleaves include further discussion e.g. 3 pages of notes on how to express relative time, while at the end of the dictionary is a list of transliterations of the provinces of China.
Netherlands.- Bruin (C.) De Zegepraalende Vecht, vertoonende verscheidene Gesichten van Lustplaatsen, Heeren Huysen en Dorpen ..., first edition, additional engraved title, engraved map, 102 engraved plates on 51 sheets, Amsterdam, Nicolaus Visscher, 1719, bound with, Leth (Hendrik de) Het Zegenpralend Kennemerland ..., 2 additional engraved titles (1 misbound), folding engraved map, 100 plates on 50 sheets, Amsterdam, Andries en Hendrik de Leth, [c.1729], together 2 works bound as 1, scattered faint spotting, later panelled calf, gilt, folio.
Commerce.- Parkes (Samuel) Thoughts on the Laws Relating to Salt; with arguments for the repeal of those laws, first edition, advertisement leaf at end, light spotting, original boards, uncut, rubbed, spine worn, joints split, for the author, 1817 § Skrimshire (F.) Letters on the Consumption of Malt, addressed respectively to the Farmer, Labourer, and Labourer's Friend, first edition, half-title, stitched, lightly soiled, 1834; and another copy of the first and 2 pamphlets on the malt tax, 8vo (5)
Turkey.- MacFarlane (Charles) Constantinople in 1828. A Residence of Sixteen Months in the Turkish Capital and Provinces, first edition, half-title, 5 lithograph plates (3 hand-coloured, one in sepia, one double-page), with 7pp. A.L.s. to 'My dear Hawes' loosely inserted, contemporary signature of Elizabeth Blackett to title, later half morocco over marbled boards, spine gilt, [Atabey 741; Blackmer 1047], 4to, Saunders and Otley, 1829.⁂ The letter mentions his forthcoming "(not official) mission" to Turkey, his "old friend Henry Marshall's recent work on Ceylon" and the work Marshall has done "to improve the condition of the soldiers, and to do away with the torture and brutality which disgraced the Army & the whole nation."
Voyages.- Hakluyt (Richard) The Principal Navigations, Voiages, Traffiques and Dicoveries of the English Nation, made by Sea or overland..., 3 vol. in 2, second edition, black letter, woodcut title ornaments, head-pieces and initials, lacking title to vol.1 (supplied in facsimile and with old photograph loosely inserted) and the folding engraved map (as usual), also lacking final 10ff. of vol.1 including the suppressed leaves on the conquest of Cadiz pp.607-619 and final 12ff. of vol.3, title of vol.2 defective at fore-margin but no loss to text (repaired), title to vol.3 with contemporary ink signature "Thos. Pattenden Dover" and another crossed out at head, some worming (mostly marginal but occasionally affecting text), edges frayed with several leaves repaired at fore-edge, water-staining to vol.3, vol.1 & 2 bound together in old red morocco, rubbed, a few small gouges, rebacked preserving old spine, vol.3 modern red morocco, spine faded, [Hill 743; Pforzheimer 443; Sabin 29596-29598; STC 12626], folio, by George Bishop, Ralph Newberie, and Robert Barker, 1598-1600; sold not subject to return⁂ Monumental record of Elizabethan exploration and greatly expanded from the first edition of 1589; vol.3 is entirely devoted to the Americas.
Britain.- Ogilby (John) and Emmanuel Bowen, Britannia Depicta or Ogilby Improv'd..., first edition, engraved throughout, title, 4 pp. tables, 273 county maps and strip road maps (complete), title nearly loose, occasional spotting, bookplates to front pastedown and endpaper as well as ink ownership inscription, contemporary calf, upper cover detached, lower joint beginning to crack at head and foot, covers and extremities rubbed, [Chubb, CLIII], 8vo, 1720.
England.- Loutherbourg (Philippe James de) The Romantic and Picturesque Scenery of England and Wales, first edition, additional hand-coloured aquatint title, 18 hand-coloured aquatint plates, titles and text in English and French, faint off-setting, one or two faint marginal finger marks, bookplate, later half-morocco, a little rubbed, slight bumping to corners and extremities, [Tooley 305], folio, 1805.
Mayhew (Henry) London Labour and the London Poor, 4 vol. including extra volume, half-titles, wood-engraved portrait and 96 plates only (of 97, extra volume lacking plate of Chinese prostitute), plate of 'Book Auctioneer' in vol.1 titled as 'Street-Stationer', maps, lightly browned, occasional spotting, one or two small marginal tears, hinges a little weak with some first few leaves in vol.1 becoming loose, near uniform original purple or brown cloth, gilt, rubbed and faded, especially pictorial gilt spines, 8vo, 1861-62.⁂ Important and ground-breaking study of the living conditions of the poor; vol.1-3 concern street folk, vol.4 "Those that will not work" i.e. prostitutes, thieves, swindlers and beggars. This is the first edition to contain the extra volume.
Anatomy.- Falloppio (Gabrielle) Observationes anatomicae, first edition, second issue, Cologne, Arnold Birkmann, 1562; Vasse (Loys) In anatomen corporis humani tabulae quatuor, Venice, 1549, together 2 works in 1, printer's device to titles, bookplates to pastedown, neat contemporary ownership name to title, some water-staining, contemporary vellum, yapp edges, manuscript lettering to spine, covers lightly marked, spine darkened, else a very clean copy, [Norman 757; Lilly, Notable Medical Books 39; Heirs of Hippocrates 331; Garrison-Morton 378.2 (all the 1561 edition); Wellcome 2148], 8vo (160 x 99mm).⁂ One of the great anatomical works of the 16th century. Rather than a complete study of the whole anatomy, Falloppio (1523-1562), pupil of Vesalius, designed this work as a critical commentary of his teacher's De humani corporis fabrica, correcting some of its errors and adding details. In the work he first describes many new anatomical parts, including the structure and course of the cerebral vessels, and enumerated all the nerves of the eye, though he is perhaps best known for his account of the tubes in the female reproductive system which are named after him.
Architectural geometry.- Pomodoro (Giovanni) Geometria prattica tratta dagl'Elementi d'Euclide, first edition, first issue, engraved title in scrollwork boarder with coat of arms, historiated initials, engraved full-page illustrations after Pomodoro and Scala, some light even browning to title and throughout, damp-staining to first 2 signatures, small paper repair to tail of M⁴, contemporary vellum, light marking to upper cover, heavier staining to lower cover, [EDIT 16 CNCE 28377; Harvard Italian 394; Riccardi I (2), 300], folio, Rome, Stefano Paolini, 1599.⁂ Rare finely illustrated manual of Euclidean geometry and its practical applications for surveyors and architects. The illustrations show geometrical constructions and surveying and measuring instruments and issues, including architectural plans and elevations of buildings and streets. The coat of arms on the title is of the dedicatee, Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini.
Astrology & Astronomy.- Astrologer to Catherine de' Medici.- Gauricus (Lucas) Ephemerides recognitae et ad ungem Castigatae ... Eiusdem schemata & praedictiones ad Annum usque virginei partus 1552. Eiusdem Isagogicus in totam ferme Astrologiam Libellus. Quo pacto aeris q[ua]litas diiudicet ex Theophilo. Ventorum nomina, ordo..., first edition, woodcut illustrations, colophon with woodcut Junta device, near-contemporary annotations to endpapers and text, occasional very light spotting or staining, letter in early hand loosely inserted, contemporary limp vellum, manuscript lettering to spine, bound with remains of a medieval manuscript, rubbed with some loss to spine and extremities, [Adams E202; Gardner 488; Houzeau & Lancaster 14657; Honeyman 1448; EDIT 16 CNCE 20516], 4to (218 x 160mm), Venice, for Lucantonio Giunta, 1533.⁂ First edition of these very rare ephemerides by the astronomer, astrological data collector, and mathematician Luca Gaurico (1474-1558), containing tables and astrological prognostications for the years 1534 through 1551. Gaurico's contemporary reputation stemmed from his astrological prognostications, and was appointed 'astrological consultant' to Catherine de' Medici after correctly predicting at age fourteen the ascension to the papacy of Catherine's great-uncle Giovanni de Medici. He became famous throughout Europe after twice predicting in 1529 and 1532 the ascension of Alessandro Farnese who, as Paul III, rewarded him by making him bishop of Giffoni in 1539, transferring him in 1545 to the see of Civitate nella Capitanata. As a mathematician Gaurico is best known for the first published Latin translations of Archimedes' works De Mensura Circuli and De Quadratura Parabolae (1503). He went on to publish an edition of Pecham's Perspectiva Communis in 1504.
Astronomical instruments.- Maurolico (Francesco) Opuscula mathematica [Arithmeticorum libri duo], 2 parts in 1, first edition, printer's device to title, woodcut illustrations and initials, title with contemporary inscriptions and stamp, occasional light scattered spotting and minor water-staining, contemporary limp vellum with manuscript title to upper cover and spine in different hands, spine worn, covers marked and stained, [Adams M919; Riccardi I, 141; Smith, Rara arithmetica pp.348-350; EDIT 16 CNCE 28131], 4to (214 x 160mm), Venice, Francesco De Franceschi, 1575.⁂ First printing of the majority of Maurolico's works, including treatises on geometry, horology and astronomical instruments. The Arithmeticorum contains original results on number theory, many established using the principle of induction, which is published here for the first time.
Astronomy.- Kepler (Johannes) Prodomus dissertationum cosmographicarum, continens Mysterium Cosmographicum de admirabili proportione orbium coelestium, 2 parts in 1, second, enlarged, edition, woodcut head-pieces and initials, 5 folding plates (4 woodcut and 1 engraved), woodcut diagrams, title to second part with large woodcut device, lacking final blank, A3 lacking portion from fore-margin, light water- and damp-staining throughout, some worming (mostly single wormhole to lower margin but passing through plates 4 & 5 and causing track to final few leaves), some tears to plates (one repaired), lacking free endpapers, ink shelf-mark of Dupplin Castle, Perth & Kinross to front pastedown, with another earlier shelf-mark and later signature of Bernard Pagel, contemporary calf with borders ruled in blind, rubbed and lightly stained, rebacked preserving scraps of old spine, folio, Frankfurt, Erasmus Kempfer for Godefrid Tampach, 1621.⁂ Kepler's first book, usually referred to as "Mysterium Cosmographicum" and first published in 1596, is a Copernican treatise which set the course for his life's work. It contains his theory that the orbit of each of the five planets is determined by the circumference of the five platonic solids nested one inside the other (see the engraved plate). As well as Kepler's own introductory chapter expounding and defending the Copernican theory, the book contains a reprint of Rheticus' Naratio prima, the first announcement of the theory which was first published in 1540 and before De revolutionibus in 1543. This second edition includes Kepler's additional notes reflecting the development of his thinking in the intervening 25 years, and appended is the first edition of Kepler's response to attacks by Robert Fludd on his Harmonices mundi of 1619.
Calculating π.- Ceulen (Ludolph van) De Arithmetische en Geometrische fondamenten ... In veele verscheydene constighe question, soo geometrice door linien, als arithmetice door irrationale ghetallen, cock door den regel coss, ende de tafelen sinuum ghesolveert, first edition, head- & tail-pieces, illustrations, very occasional scattered spotting, contemporary vellum, manuscript lettering to spine, lightly browned, [Tomash & Williams C57], tall 8vo, Leiden, Joost van Colster and Jacob Marcus, 1615.⁂ First edition of this rare work, containing the best approximation to the value of π achieved at that time. Ceulen calculated the value of π to 33 decimal places, using the method of Archimedes' On the measurement of the circle, enclosing a circle between polygons with larger and larger numbers of sides.
Canine anatomy.- Blaes (Gerard) Miscellanea anatomica, hominis, brutorumque variorum, fabricam diversam magna parte exhibentia, first edition, additional engraved title and 29 plates, a few laid down to interleaved pages, bookplate to pastedown, contemporary ink ownership name to endpapers, very occasional light spotting or toning, contemporary brown morocco, lightly stained, occasional small wormhole or crack though holding strong, overall still an excellent example, 8vo, Amsterdam, Caspar Commelin, 1673.⁂ A superb copy of this important work of human and comparative anatomy by the Dutch physician and chemist Gerard Blaes (1627-1682). Blasius describes the anatomy of fourteen types, including tortoise, duck, pigeon, ox, sheep, pig, dog, cat, civet-cat, fox, rat, hare and monkey, and others. The first 167 pages are devoted to human anatomy, followed by the description of the anatomy of various animals, and pp. 168-252 are devoted to the anatomy of a dog. This is the first comprehensive and original treatise on a vertebrate since the publication of Ruini's volume on the horse in 1598.
NO RESERVE Descartes (René) Discours de la Methode pour bien conduire sa Raison, & chercher la verité dans les Sciences, 2 parts in 1, third edition, titles with woodcut device, woodcut illustrations and diagrams, some browning, extensive worming to inner margins at head and foot occasionally touching text, contemporary calf, spine gilt, rubbed, spine ends worn with worming to foot, splits to joints, [PMM 129, first edition of 1637], 4to, Paris, Charles Angot, 1668.⁂ Containing the first edition of La Mécanique and the first edition in French of Musicae compendium of 1650, also the first French editions of two early works, Déscartes' first book Compendium musicae written in 1618 and Traité de la Méchanique written in 1637. It includes optics, meteorology, mechanics and the theory of music.
Geology.- Mantell (Gideon) The Fossils of the South Downs; or Illustrations of the Geology of Sussex, first edition, half-title, 42 aquatint and engraved plates, 2 folding, 4 hand-coloured, illustrations, hand-coloured map, list of subscriber's, occasional spotting, previous owner's ink signature, near contemporary half-calf, a little rubbed, 4to, Lupton Relfe, 1822.
Manhood (H. A.) Nightseed, the author's first book, 1928; Gay Agony, limited edition, 1930; another copy, inscribed by the author "This is No.2 of Twelve copies specially bound for private distribution. October 1930", original pigskin-backed marbled boards, t.e.g., 1930; Bread and Vinegar, number 48 of 205 copies signed by the author, tipped-in frontispiece by Rowland Hilder, White Owl Press, 1931; Apples by Night, 1932; Three Nails, number 44 of 125 copies signed by the author, White Owl Press, 1933; Crack of Whips, 1934; Maiden's Fury, one of 35 hors-commerce copies (unnumbered) signed by the author and from an edition limited to 285, 1935; Fierce and Gentle, 1935; Sunday Bugles, 1939, first editions, the first lacking front free endpaper, some with spotting to fore-edges, all but the third original cloth with dust-jackets (the fourth and fifth in transparent wrappers, the fifth torn), the second with small tear to head of spine; and 4 others by the same, 8vo (14) ⁂ A good group of works in excellent condition. Harold Alfred Manhood (1904-91) was primarily known for his collections of short stories but he also wrote novels, most notably Gay Agony. Having settled in Sussex living in an old railway carriage, in 1953 he became disillusioned with editors and the paltry proceeds from his books so gave up writing and devoted his time to growing his own food and brewing cider. Frank Herrmann negotiated the sale of his extensive working papers to the British Library. It included manuscripts, notebooks of ideas, early drafts, reviews etc., and correspondence with editors and publishers as well as many of his literary contemporaries.
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