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Click here to subscribeHawaii.- Jarves (James Jackson) History of the Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands, first edition, additional vignette title, engraved frontispiece and folding map, plates and illustrations, some offsetting, a few leaves slightly browned, light foxing, mostly to endpapers, original blind-stamped cloth, spine gilt but sunned, small chips to spine ends, lightly rubbed, 8vo, Boston, 1843.
Secret Speech denouncing Stalin.- Khrushchev (Nikita Sergeyevich) O Kulcie Jednostki I Jego Nastepstwach, first edition, first issue, original paper wrapper, ink-stamp '3083' to upper cover, minor creasing to spine, light sunning to edges, 8vo, Warsaw, Marzec, 1956.⁂ Rare and important copy of the first issue of Khrushchev's speech, given to a closed session of Communist Party delegates on 25 Feburary 1956, in which he openly denounced the deceased dictator Joseph Stalin (who died in March 1953). "Khrushchev recalled Lenin's Testament, a long-suppressed document in which Vladimir Lenin had warned that Stalin was likely to abuse his power, and then he cited numerous instances of such excesses" (Encyclopaedia Britannica Online). This Polish translation of the speech was the only version that circulated during the Cold War, the official Russian text being unknown until its publication in 1989. The CIA counterfeit edition, with false imprint Moscow 1959, was in fact a translation into Russian from the present Polish text, which was smuggled out of Moscow and leaked, via Israel, to the USA.
Golding (William) Lord of the Flies, first edition, third impression, signed by the author on endpaper, foxing to endpaper, pencil and ink ownership inscription to endpapers, original cloth, shelf-lean, wear to head of spine, sunning to spine tips, dust-jacket, price-clipped, toning to spine, spine ends and corners chipped, marking and soiling to panels, 8vo, 1955.⁂ With the ownership inscription of Maisie Purves-Smith, wife of the Australian painter Peter Purves-Smith.
Reform Act of 1832.- Satirical broadside.- Richards (Printer, active 1830s) His Satanic Majesty's Proclamation, And Form of Thanksgiving for the Downfall of the Tories, broadside, letterpress with large wood engraved vignette of Satan carrying [?] John Bull on a pitch fork, with [?] William IV and others tethered to his back by rope as he marches into the fiery gates of hell, with further letterpress text below under the title 'Death and Burial of the late Departed Tories', with vignette of the Duke of Wellington being dragged towards a noose, and portraits of Henry Peter, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux, and another, possibly Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, on fine wove paper, sheet 575 x 365 mm (22 1/2 x 14 1/4 in), numerous small nicks and tears, extensive handling creases, some browning and surface dirt, unframed, [circa 1832]⁂ Unrecorded satirical broadside, with fantastical caricatures of leading political figures involved with the first Reform Act. We cannot trace another example within an institution or having been offered at auction.
Warhol (Andy) Andy Warhol's Index (Book), first edition, pop-up and folding illustrations, original stiff pictorial wrappers, Andy Warhol price sticker to upper cover (rubbed), some rubbing to covers, light creasing to corners, 4to, New York, 1967.⁂ This is a complete copy containing: pop-up castle; pop-up accordion (now silent as often); pop-up aeroplane; a folded geodesic dome; a paper disc on a wire spring (still attached to book); a flexi-disc with a portrait if Lou Reed; a folding image of a nose with colourful overlays; pop-up tomato paste tin; a sheet of 8 stamps (2 detached but present), and a gold balloon (melted and fusing the pages together, as usual).
Trade.- Davenant (Charles) Discourses on the Publick Revneues, and on the Trade of England, 2 vol., first edition, vol.1 with half-title and final advertisement leaf, 4 folding tables, contemporary ink signature of Jacob Joye to head of titles, very occasional foxing, 1698; An Essay upon the Probable Methods of making a People Gainers in the Ballance of Trade, second edition, 6 folding tables, lightly browned, 1699, both with engraved bookplate of Lord Sandys, uniform contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt, spines gilt in compartments with red morocco labels, rubbed, spines of the first neatly repaired at head, spine ends of the second chipped, [Einaudi 1435, first title only; Goldsmiths' 3523 & 3651; Kress 2074 & 2116; Wing D306 & D310], 8vo, for James Knapton (3)⁂ Important late 17th century works on economics. Sir Charles Davenant (1656-1714), M.P. and, at the end of this life, Inspector-General of Exports and Imports, took many years to become recognized as an economist of the first rank, a fact explained by the sophistication of his thought. Part I of the Discourses contains five essays, on 'Political Arithmetic', credit, and other matters of public finance; Part II contains essays on trade including Essay on the East-India Trade which was first published in 1696.
Mathematics.- Newton (Sir Isaac) Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, 3 vol., first 'Jesuit's' edition, titles in red and black with engraved vignette, illustrations and diagrams, half-title in vol.2 only (ie lacking from vol.1), final 2 preliminary leaves misbound at end of vol.1, foxing and browning to vol.1 and 2, damp-staining and mottling to vol.3, old ink stamp to titles, contemporary sheep, spines gilt, worn, [Babson 30], 4to, Geneva, Barrillot & Filii, 1739-42.⁂ "The first of the so-called Jesuit's edition, although its editors were Minims [Thomas le Seur, and Francois Jacquier], and valued for its copious commentary" (Babson).
Faulks (Sebastian) A Trick of the Light, first edition, signed by the author on title, original boards, slight bumping to spine tips, dust-jacket, light creasing to head and foot, minor chipping to spine tips and corners, light rubbing, an excellent example, 8vo, 1984.⁂ The author's first book.
Esper (Eugenius Johann Christoph) Die auslaendische oder die ausserhalb Europa...Schmetterlinge, part 1 only (all published), first edition, 63 fine hand-coloured engraved folding plates by Bock, Sturm, Tyroff, Volkart, Walbert and others after Esper, some foxing and browning to text, bookplate of Henry Jerome Turner and ex-libris sticker of Lionel George Higgins, contemporary half calf, spine gilt, joints cracked, spine ends chipped, [Nissen ZBI, 1317], 4to, Erlangen, 1801.⁂ Esper (1742-1810) was a German entomologist and phsycologist, professor at Erlangen and director of the Natural History Museum.
Hawaii.- Byron (Capt. George Anson, Lord) Voyage of H.M.S. Blonde to the Sandwich Islands in the Years 1824-1825, first edition, folding aquatint frontispiece of the Great Volcano of Peli, folding engraved map, 13 plates including plan, 3 engraved portraits, 8 fine aquatint views after Robert Dampier and wood-engraving, all but one with tissue-guards, a few light creases to frontispiece from previous folds, foxing, mostly to margins, hinges repaired, original grey boards, rebacked in modern paper with original spine label laid down, corners repaired, rubbed, label chipped, housed in a cloth drop-back box, [Sabin 100816; Hill 231; Abbey Travel 597], 4to, 1826.⁂ An account of the state visit of Kamehameha II of Hawaii and his queen, Kamamalu, to Britain in 1824 where they succumbed to measles and died, and the subsequent repatriation of their bodies to Hawaii by the British Government.
Coxe (William) Les Nouvelles Découvertes des Russes, entre l'Asie et l'Amérique, first French quarto edition, half-title, 4 folding engraved maps and folding plate, woodcut head- & tail-pieces, bookplate of Rodney Davidson, 1 map with short tear to inner margin but no loss, some light foxing and offsetting, contemporary mottled calf, spine richly gilt with red morocco label, lightly rubbed, an attractive copy, 4to, Paris, Hôtel de Thou, 1781.⁂ A key work in Russian-American exploration, including a detailed examination of the fur trade between the Russian and the Chinese.
Reynolds (Jeremiah N.) Voyage of the United States Frigate Potomac...During the Circumnavigation of the Globe, 2 vol., 10 engraved plates, some folding and neatly mounted on stubs, a few minor tears and repairs to folding plates, not affecting image, some light browning and foxing, later half calf over blue moiré cloth, spines gilt, very lightly rubbed, 8vo, New-York, 1835.⁂ An apparently unrecorded pre-publication variant of the first edition, published in the same year. This copy is in two volumes rather than the customary one, with individual title pages and continuous pagination. The text ends on p.521, without the Appendix and Meteorological Tables (pp.523-560) included in the first edition. We can trace no other copy in this format, which is not in Sabin or Hill.
Prisons.- Howard (John) The State of the Prisons in England and Wales..., 2 vol. in 1 including Appendix, first edition main text, with half-title, Appendix second, enlarged edition, without initial blank but with half-title and Directions to Binder leaf at end, 21 engraved plates and plans, most folding, some foxing or offsetting, contemporary ink inscription "Geo.Allen 's 1852" to front free endpaper and engraved bookplate of Jerh. Harman, contemporary calf, gilt, rubbed, corners worn, rebacked with gilt spine and black morocco label, [Garrison and Morton 159; Goldsmiths' 11625; PMM 224; Rothschild 1163-4], 4to, Warrington, 1777-84. ⁂ The Appendix is a much expanded version of that of 1780 which included only 7 engraved plates. Howard has also added here the stories of his journeys in 1781 and 1783 to those previously published in the 1780 edition."His single-handed campaign not only caused a revolution in his lifetime but is the direct progenitor of subsequent work in the most critical branch of penal reform." Printing and the Mind of Man.
Food Rationing & Beer.- [James I.] Orders Appointed by his Maiestie . . . for the preuenting and remedying of the dearth of Graine and other Victuall, variant with "other Victuall" on title, wide margins, light damp-staining, library cloth, uncut, [STC 9242.5], by Bonham Norton, 1622; another edition, contemporary ink inscription to first leaf, first and last leaves soiled, cropped, modern half morocco, g.e., [STC 9250.7], Robert Barker, 1630 § Burnaby (A.) Two Proposals Humbly Offer'd to the Honourable House of Commons...That a Duty be laid on Malt..., first edition, small stain to a few leaves causing small hole to one leaf affecting a couple of letters, cropped, modern calf-backed marbled boards, red roan label, [Goldsmiths' 3258; Kress 1940; Wing B.5742], 1696, the first two with first leaves blank but for signature 'A' within mortised ornament, titles with woodcut devices and Royal Arms to verso, woodcut head-pieces and initials, black letter, both ex-Rothamsted Agricultural Library copies, small 4to (3)
Jacobite rebellion .- Boyse (Samuel) An Impartial History of the Late Rebellion in 1745. from authentic memoirs, engraved portrait frontispiece, trimmed at fore-edge, 1 wood engraved plan, trimmed affecting title and text, 2 letterpress plans, ?lacking 2 maps, remnants of ink inscription to head D1, previous owner's ink signatures to endpapers, contemporary calf, rebacked, upper cover detached, Reading, 1648 [i.e. 1748] § The Trial of James Stewart in Aucharn in Duror of Appin, for the Murder of Colin Campbell of Glenure ..., first edition, folding engraved map, scattered faint spotting, tiny marginal worming towards end, bookplate, contemporary calf, a little rubbed, bumping to corners and extremities, Edinburgh, for G. Hamilton and J. Balfour, 1753 § Ray (James) A Compleat History of the Rebellion, engraved portrait frontispiece, 2 engraved plans, scattered spotting and staining, front free endpaper becoming detached, later calf, a little rubbed, York, for the Author by John Jackson, 1749; and another similar, 8vo & 12mo (4).
Tahiti.- Marigny (Édouard Taitbout de) Essai sur l'Isle d'Otahiti, Située dans la Mer du Sud, et sur l'Espirit et les Moeurs de ses Habitans, first edition, engraved frontispiece, title with some faint scattered ink spots and short tear to fore-margin repaired, D4 with tear neatly repaired without loss, small worming to upper and inner blank margins, a couple times touching a letter of text, very light spotting, uncut in original marbled wrappers, neatly rebacked, rubbed and frayed at edges, 2 tiny wormholes to covers, preserved in a cloth drop-back box, [Sabin 4178; Hill 1666], 8vo, Avignon & Paris, Froullé, 1779.⁂ Scarce earliest separate work on the island of Tahiti.
Coal.- Scotland.- Steuart (Henry) Account of a Plan for the better supplying the City of Edinburgh with Coal, 1800 bound with [Dunlop (James)] Observations on the Account of a Plan...by Henry Steuart, By an Old Coalmaster, 1800 and Steuart (H.) Supplement to an Account of a Plan..., 1800 and [Dunlop (J.)] Remarks on the Supplement..., 1801, together 4 works in 1 vol., first editions, title to first a little spotted and soiled, contemporary half calf, rubbed, rebacked preserving old spine, [Goldsmiths 18045', 18046 & 18239.1, first, third & fourth titles only; Kress B4283, B4116, B4284 & B4365] § [Cochrane (Archibald, Earl of Dundonald)] Description of the Estate and Abbey of Culross, particularly of the Mineral and Coal Property, first edition, the words "and Abbey" crossed out in ink on title (a later issue omits these as in the Kress copy), modern marbled boards, [Goldsmiths' 15575], 1793 § Milne (David) Memoir on the Mid-Lothian and East-Lothian Coal-Fields, first separate edition, presentation copy from the author, 7 large folding tables, cross-sections etc., 3 with partial hand-colouring, original cloth, 1839, Edinburgh, 8vo & 4to (3)⁂ In the first Sir Henry Seton Steuart, Bart., (1759-1836), landowner, agriculturist and arboriculturist, advocated the construction of a canal from the Lanarkshire coalfields to Edinburgh in order to cheapen and improve the coal supply to the city. The second concerns the coal mine at Culross in Fife, which was a centre of the coal mining industry during the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1575, Sir George Bruce of Carnock established at Culross the first coal mine in the world to extend under the sea. The mine used ingenious contrivances to drain the constant leakage of sea water from above and was considered one of the marvels of the British Isles in the early 17th century, until it was destroyed in a storm in 1625. The Earl of Dundonald (1748-1831), the owner of the Culross estates in the late 18th century, was a highly inventive chemical manufacturer already with several patents to his name. By 1793, he had become financially embarrassed and evidently put his mining interests on the market, the present publication being a detailed sales prospectus.
Anson (George).- Pascoe (Thomas) A True and Impartial Journal of a Voyage to the South-Seas...Under the Command of Commodore George Anson, first edition, list of subscribers, engraved armorial bookplate of S.P. Peach, A7 with small section torn, affecting a couple of letters but without loss of sense, L5 with upper corner torn away, with loss to a portion of text, some light browning and occasional foxing, heavier to K1-3, a few later ink notes and marks to rear free endpaper, upper hinge repaired, contemporary panelled calf, neatly rebacked, covers rubbed and worn, [Sabin 95437; Hill 1693; Palau 331781], 8vo, Printed, and Sold by S. Birt [& others], 1745.⁂ A scarce account of the Anson expedition, preceding the official account by three years.
DNA.- Watson (James D.) The Double Helix, first edition, signed by Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins to front free endpaper, signature of James Watson loosely inserted, illustrations, original cloth, a few small patches of fading, dust-jacket, very light fading to spine, spine ends and corners chipped, extremities rubbed, 8vo, New York, Atheneum, 1968.⁂ Watson's account of the discovery of the structure of DNA one of the great scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century. Scarce signed by Crick and Wilkins, with whom Watson shared the Nobel Prize.
Cook (Capt. James).- [Rickman (John)] Troisieme Voyage de Cook, first French edition, half-title, folding engraved frontispiece of the death of Cook and folding map, bookplate of Auguste Boullongne, G8 with tiny hole affecting a letter of text, occasional slight browning, the odd spot, handsome contemporary mottled calf, gilt, rubbed at extremities, 8vo, Paris, Pissot & Laporte, 1782.
Cinderella.- Geiler von Kaisersberg (Johann) Das irrig Schaf. Sagt von kleinmuetigkeit und verzweiflung. Geprediget und gedeutscht... mit sampt den nachvolgenden tractaten, first edition, 7 parts in 1, collation: A8 B-C4 D8 E-F4 G6 H4; a8 b-c4 d8 e4 f6; aa6 bb8 cc-dd4 ee8; Aa6 Bb8 Cc6 Dd-Ee4 Ff8; (a-(b8 (c-(d6; (A6 (B4; AA4 BB6 CC-DD4 EE6, complete with all blanks, title and sectional titles with woodcut illustrations, first five gatherings rubricated, upper margin of title repaired, some worming, mostly marginal but single hole through most of text, contemporary blind-stamped pink-stained half pigskin and wooden boards, tears to spine, brass clasp (tip of catch missing), 4to (196 x 139 mm.), Strasbourg, Matthias Schürer, 1510.⁂ First edition of this collection of Geiler's moral tales, including the earliest illustrated appearance in print of Cinderella 'Der eschen Grüdel'. Geiler was a popular Strasbourg preacher of the pre-Reformation era, and this volume was published around the time of his death, March 1510.Provenance: Arthur & Charlotte Vershbow, sale at Christie's NY 2013, lot 186 $15,000 (bookplate).Literature: Dacheux Die Altesten Schriften Geilers 47; Kristeller 528; Panzer Annalen 670; Ritter Catalogue... de la Bibl. Munnicipale de Strasbourg 1078; VD16 G 764.
Mining.- Hardy (William) The Miner's Guide: or, Compleat Miner, first edition, with final errata/advertisement leaf, woodcut initials, 10 woodcut plates, tables, contemporary ink inscription "Robert Burton His Book 1753" to front free endpaper, worming sometimes affecting text but no loss of sense, light staining, contemporary sprinkled sheep, spine gilt, new red morocco label, rubbed, spine wormed at foot, [Goldsmiths' 8326; Kress 4910], Sheffield, Francis Lister, 1748 § Mander (James) The Derbyshire Miners' Glossary, first edition, engraved frontispiece, list of subscribers, a few spots, modern cloth, uncut, [Kress C1289; Not in Goldsmiths'], Bakewell, for the Author, 1824 § Stirling (Patrick James) The Australian and Californian Gold Discoveries..., first edition, with half-title and final advertisement leaf, folding chart (split to fold), a little browned, contemporary half calf, rubbed, [Ferguson 16282; Sabin 91851], Edinburgh, 1853, 8vo (3)⁂ The first is an authoritative and now very scarce guide to mining published in Sheffield and dedicated to William Cavendish (1720-1764) Marquis of Hartington, later the 4th Duke of Devonshire. It Includes methods employed in finding veins of various ores, the laws regulating the mining industry, and articles for mines in Derbyshire, Devon and other locations. The last concerns the effect of the gold discoveries on European prices.
Medicine.- Harvey (Gideon) The Family-Physician, and the House Apothecary, second edition, variant B with catchword "Sar" on G4 and signature of H2 below O of "Ounce", early ink signature "Ja: D'arcy" to front free endpaper, contemporary sheep, rubbed, [Wellcome III p.218; Wing H.1065], for M.R[ookes], 1678 § Ball (John) A New Compendious Dispensatory; or, a select body of the most Useful, Accurate, and Elegant Medicines..., only edition, with final advertisement leaf, title lightly browned, contemporary calf, rubbed, rebacked, corners repaired, [Wellcome II p.92], for T.Cadell, 1769 § Corry (John) The Detector of Quackery, second edition, later half roan, rubbed, [Wellcome II p.394], 1802 § Colbatch (Sir John) A Dissertation concerning Mistletoe, first edition, half-title, modern cloth, [cf.Wellcome II p.368, later printings], William Churchill, 1719, 12mo & 8vo (4)⁂ The first item, first published in 1676, is a marvellously detailed commentary on the exorbitant prices charged by apothecaries for cheaply (and easily) prepared medicines. Recipes for a wide range of preparations are provided, instructions on method of calculating and mixing ingredients are given, and each is fully costed. The second item is scarce with only 6 UK copies listed by ESTC.
Orwell (George) Nineteen Eighty-Four, first edition, light spotting to endpapers and edges, original cloth, slight shelf-lean, spine slightly faded, light sunning to upper and lower edges, red dust-jacket by Michael Kennard, spine sunned, slight fraying to head of spine, minor chipping to corners, short closed tear to head and foot of lower panel, light rubbing, an excellent copy overall, 8vo, 1949.⁂ An excellent example of Orwell's final novel, as dystopian classic and one of the most popular and influential novels of the 20th century.
Physics.- Malus (Etienne Louis) Théorie de la Double Réfraction de la Lumière dans les Substances Cristallisées, first edition, half-title, 3 folding engraved plates, p.7 with 2 marginal tears and neat old repairs, p.295 with marginal paper defect, scattered spotting, contemporary calf-backed boards, a little rubbed, slight bumping to extremities, 4to, Paris, 1810.⁂ Malus (1775-1812) was a French officer, engineer, physicist and mathematician, who participated in Napoleon's expedition to Egypt. This work includes his work on double refraction and subsequent discovery of polarisation.
DNA.- Watson (James D.) The Double Helix, first English edition, signed by the author on title, some edge-spotting, ink ownership inscription to endpaper, original boards, slight shelf-lean, light sunning to lower edge, dust-jacket, short tear to head of upper panel, light rubbing and creasing to head and foot, 1968 § Crick (Francis) What Mad Pursuit, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to endpaper, original cloth, dust-jacket, sunning to spine and head of upper panel, New York, 1988, excellent copies, housed together in custom velvet-lined drop-back box, lettered in gilt on upper cover, 8vo (2)⁂ Two accounts of the discovery of the structure of DNA, a milestone in the history of science, signed by the two key figures, joint authors of the original paper published in Nature magazine that gave rise to modern molecular biology.
Rosen (Michael) We're Going On a Bear Hunt, first edition, signed by the author "hello!" facing title, illustrations by Helen Oxenbury, ticket to An Evening with Michael Rosen in association with Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham loosely inserted, original boards, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, price-clipped, minor chipping to spine tips and corners, closed tear to foot of upper fore-edge (with neat tape repair) and head of lower fore-edge, a few very short nicks to head and foot with some creasing, some pencil scribbles to verso, largely erased, overall an excellent example, oblong 4to, 1989.⁂ A modern children's classic, scarce signed and in the jacket.
America.- Hearne (Samuel) A Journey from Prince of Wales's Fort in Hudson's Bay, to the Northern Ocean, first edition, folding engraved map with hand-coloured routes, 4 folding engraved plates and 4 folding plans, bookplate of Frederick A. Ellis, occasional slight browning or foxing, damp-staining to a few plates, 19th century marbled boards, rebacked in later calf, spine gilt, worn at corners, elsewhere lightly rubbed, uncut, 4to, Printed for A. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1795.
Scotland.- [Charles I.] The Acts made in the First [& Second] Parliament of our most high and dread soveraigne Charles, together 2 works in 1 vol., first collected editions, first work with woodcut Royal arms on both sides of title and with final blank leaf, the second work with typographical ornament and ornamental border to title, both with woodcut or typographical head-pieces and initials, with many contemporary ink annotations & underlinings and 12pp. extensive and detailed manuscript index of "ye principall matters" in the various Acts of Parliament of James VI(I) and Charles I from 1612 to 1649 at end, browned, marginal staining towards end, contemporary calf, gilt, rubbed, rebacked, corners worn, [Goldsmiths' 644 & 718; STC 21902 & Wing S1168D], folio, Edinburgh, by Robert Young; Robert Young and Evan Tyler, 1633-41.⁂ Containing 31 and 110 Acts respectively printed in full, several being directly or closely concerned with taxation and financial matters.
Fencing.- Agocchie (Giovanni dall') Dell'arte di scrimia libri tre, first edition, collation: A-V4, woodcut printer's device to title, 2 woodcut diagrams in text, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, lacking final blank, some spotting or mostly light foxing, lightly browned, hinges cracked, but binding holding, contemporary limp vellum, lacking ties, small hole to upper cover, some staining, small 4to (202 x 146mm.), Venice, Giulio Tamborino, 1572.⁂ Scarce first edition of this treatise on self defence with the side-sword. The author was a Bolognese fencing master. Literature: Thimm p.3; Adams A331; EDIT 16 CNCE 15869.
Tahiti.- Hawaii.- History of the Otaheitean Islands, from their First Discovery to the Present Time...With an Historical Sketch of the Sandwich Islands, half-title, folding engraved frontispiece, ink ownership inscriptions to head of title crossed out, contemporary ink ownership inscription of H. Maxwell to head of F6v, browned throughout, occasional light spotting or staining, original sheep, neatly rebacked, red morocco label to spine, corners repaired, old covers worn, [Ferguson 306; Forbes 316], small 8vo, Edinburgh, Printed by T. Maccliesh and Co., 1800.⁂ Important early compendium of information on Tahiti and Hawaii at the close of the eighteenth century. This copy with the two leaves of introduction cancelled, as called for in the directions to the binder.
Fishing.- Gander (Joseph) A Vindication of a National-Fishery, first edition, lacking initial blank, staining to last couple of leaves, Signet Library copy with label to front pastedown, later half russia, rebacked in calf, [Goldsmiths' 3573; Kress S.2108; Westwood & Satchell p.259; Wing G196], for F.Coggan, 1699 § Smith (Simon) A True Narration of the Royall Fishings of Great Brittaine and Ireland, first edition, contemporary manuscript markings to margins (cropped), [Goldsmiths' 723; Kress 605; W&S p.301; Wing S4210], by E.P. for Nicholas Bourne, 1641 § Company of the Royal Fishery of England. A Discourse concerning the Fishery within the British Seas..., first edition, some ink underlinings, a few ink stains, title soiled, some spotting, [Goldsmiths' 3063; Kress 1887; Wing D1585; Not in W&S], 1695, the last two uniform modern calf-backed marbled boards, red roan labels; and 2 others, similar, on the fishing trade, 8vo & small 4to (5)
Melville (Herman) Moby-Dick or the White Whale, second English edition, a few spots to fore-edge, light browning to endpapers, Lord Rosebery's copy with his "Durdans" blind-stamp to to title and pp.99 and 101 and the odd pencil note or marking to margins and endpaper, original pictorial cloth, light toning to spine, spine ends and corners slightly bumping, small patch of fraying to foot of upper cover, some slight rubbing or faint marking, but a bright, crisp copy generally, 8vo, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1892.⁂ The second English edition of one of the Great American Novels and a key work of 19th century literature. This second English edition is both rare (we have traced not like example at auction) and significant as it is the first English edition to include the missing epilogue as well as a number of other passages and phrases that were omitted for the Bentley first edition (an edition that was famously mutilated by self-appointed censors).
Asquith (Lady Cynthia) Shudders, first edition, edge-spotting, original pictorial cloth, light spotting to upper joint, else fine, dust-jacket priced at 7/6, two short tears with creasing to head, some spotting to spine, a near-fine example overall, 8vo, [1929].⁂ Cynthia Asquith's second supernatural anthology in the rare dust-jacket, we can trace no like example at auction. Including stories by E. F. Benson, L. P. Hartley, Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood and Somerset Maugham. Also includes the M. R. James story Rats, first published in At Random magazine in March of the same year.
Huxley (Aldous) Brave New World, first edition, light spotting to endpapers and scattered edge-spotting, original cloth, slight shelf-lean, dust-jacket, some light spotting, minor chipping to tip of spine and corners, very light creasing to head, a bright, near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1932.⁂ A superb example of Huxley dystopian classic.
Founding Father of the United States.- Witherspoon (John) A Practical Treatise on Regeneration, first edition, ?lacking A3, 3pp. publisher's advertisements at end, near contemporary calf, a little rubbed and worn, 12mo, for Edward and Charles Dilly, 1764.⁂ Scarce. Only 2 copies in the UK at the National Library of Scotland and Senate House Library. John Witherspoon (1723-94) was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister, educator, slaveholder, and was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence. He was the sixth president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University.
Pullman (Philip) The Haunted Storm, first edition, signed by the author on title, light toning to text margins, ink library stamp to title verso, original boards, light bumping and rubbing to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, sunning to spine, minor chipping to spine tips and corners, light rubbing and some creasing to upper and lower edge, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1972.⁂ The author's rare first novel. Though ex-library a far better copy than might be expected.
Nonconformists.- Forms of Prayer, for the Use of a Congregation of Protestant Dissenters, in Bradford, contemporary sheep, titled "Grove Meeting 39" in gilt on upper cover, rather worn, rebacked and repaired, [ESTC lists the BL copy only], Trowbridge, by Abraham Small, 1793 § [Smart (Thomas)] A Letter to the Rev. Richard Elliott, in Refutation of his Charges against the Unitarians, in a Sermon at Huddersfield, [1792] bound with Moorhouse (W.) The Refutation Refuted..., [1792], together 2 works in 1 vol., only editions, foxing, later half calf, Huddersfield, J.Brook § Field (William) A Letter addressed to the Inhabitants of Warwick, in answer to several charges...advanced against the Dissenters, first edition, bound with 2 others relating to the dispute, some leaves misbound, some spotting or soiling, book-label of Paul Morgan, later cloth-backed marbled boards, Birmingham, 1791; and 4 others, similar, all provincial imprints, 8vo et infra (7)⁂ The first is a Unitarian liturgy from the Grove Meeting House, the oldest nonconformist place of worship in Bradford on Avon, Wilts., built in 1698. ESTC lists one copy only (BL) but Library Hub adds another at National Library of Scotland. Most of these provincial imprints are scarce.
Law.- Wilson (John) A Short Treatise on the Law, Relative to Arbitration..., first edition, slight worming to lower margin of last few leaves and rear pastedown, engraved bookplate of John Clarke Stoughton, Wymondham, Norfolk, original boards, uncut, rubbed and lightly stained, spine worn and defective at foot, 8vo, Hull, for the Publisher, 1792.⁂ The author was a member of the Yorkshire Law Society to which the book is dedicated. The Society, the second oldest of all the numerous regional law societies in England and Wales, was founded in 1786. Very rare. ESTC records Harvard Law Library copy only but Library Hub cites one at the British Library and OCLC adds 6 others in US libraries but no more in UK. This copy is the only one we have been able to trace at auction, sold in these rooms in 2019.
Economics.- [Verri (Pietro)] Meditazioni sulla Economia Politica, first Naples edition, title with decorative border and ornament, some light foxing, Henry Hobhouse's copy with his ink signature at head of title and bookplate, contemporary vellum, a little soiled, small hole to vellum on upper cover, [Kress 6828; this edition not in Einuadi], 8vo, Naples, Giovanni Gravier, 1771.⁂ Influential work by Pietro Verri (1728-1797), Italian economist, administrator and philosopher, first published in Livorno in 1771, which went through several editions in the first year and was translated into French, German, Dutch and, more recently, English. It is known that Adam Smith owned a copy in his library.Rt. Hon.Henry Hobhouse (1776-1854), English archivist and civil servant, succeeded John Bruce as Keeper of the State Papers in 1826 following retirement from his role as Permanent Under Secretary of State for the Home Department (1817-1827).
Prisons.- Rules and Regulations for the Government of the Gaol and House of Correction, at Dorchester, 1835, light spotting, modern cloth, Dorchester, [1835] § Symons (Jelinger C.) Tactics for the Times; as regards the Condition and Treatment of the Dangerous Classes, first edition, half-title, tinted lithograph frontispiece,4 hand-coloured lithographed bar charts, 3 folding tables, original blind-stamped cloth, rubbed and faded, rebacked, new endpapers, [Goldsmiths' 36553], 1849 § Hunt (Henry) Investigation at Ilchester Gaol..., first edition, etched frontispiece by George Cruikshank and 5 plates (probably by Robert Cruikshank), with additional portrait of the author mounted & bound in and with both supplementary addresses not always found, foxing and offsetting, later half morocco, uncut, rubbed, [Cohn 421; Goldsmiths' 23262 (but lacking the address to Graham)], 1821 § Campbell (John) Thirty Years' Experience of a Medical Officer in the English Convict Service, first edition, presentation copy from the author inscribed on front free endpaper, 4pp. advertisements at end, original cloth, spine rubbed and faded, 1884; and 4 others on prisons, 8vo (8)⁂ The first is very rare and not listed by Library Hub although it does include an earlier set of rules of 1824 in the British Library.Henry Hunt was a radical politician who had been incarcerated in Ilchester gaol for his involvement in the Peterloo Massacre of 1819. He was released in 1822 and brought a series of complaints against the prison particularly the gaoler, William Bridle, instigating an Inquiry into prison conditions.
Australasia.- Péron (François) and Louis-Claude de Saulces de Freycinet. Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes, 5 vol. including Atlas, second edition, half-titles, engraved portrait after C.A. Lesueur, errata leaf, Atlas with 9 engraved maps or plans, 1 double-page, and 60 engraved plates by N. Petit or C.A. Lesueur on 59 sheets, 2 double-page, 27 hand-coloured, a few partly printed in colours, double-page plates neatly mounted on stubs, 1 with vertical tear expertly repaired, some light foxing and the odd small stain, a few coloured plates slightly browned, uniform 19th century calf-backed marbled boards, spines gilt, lightly rubbed, Atlas with short split to upper joint at foot, [Ferguson 978-79; Nissen ZBI 3120; Wantrup 82], 8vo & 4to, Paris, 1824.⁂ An attractive set of the scarce revised edition of the account of the expedition to the Pacific, first published in 1807-16, with corrections and 25 plates not found in the first edition. The Atlas includes the first detailed chart of the entire Australian continent, views (including 2 of Sydney, one folding), coastal profiles, artefacts, natural history and ethnographic subjects.
Cook (A.B.) Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion, 3 vol. in 5, first edition, plates and illustrations, light browning to endpapers, M. F. Ashley-Montagu's copy with his ink ownership inscriptions to front free endpapers of vol. 1 and vol. 3 part 1, original pictorial cloth, some light bumping to fading to spine tips, dust-jackets, those to vol. 3 price-clipped, light toning to spines, some chipping to spine ends and corners, some light creasing but a sharp and excellent set generally, 8vo, 1914-40.⁂ An excellent example of this important work with an excellent association. The anthropologist Ashley-Montagu (1905-1999) has included a copy of a glowing review of this work, published in Isis magazine: "It is a work pressed down and over-flowing with riches, in which the student of mythology, the anthropologist, the theologian, the classical scholar and the student of religion will find a treasure of ideas and facts which is well-nigh inexhaustible."
Scotland.- Speed (John) The Kingdome of Scotland, First edition, with inset map of the Orkney Islands, four costumed figures to vertical borders, engraving with early hand-colouring, sheet 395 x 520 mm (15 1/2 x 20 1/2 in), edges re-margined with paper support, careful repairs to vertical fold, several small repaired tears, surface dirt to lower right corner and scattered elsewhere, framed, Sudbury and Humble, 1610 [-1611]
Sebald (W.G.) Austerlitz, uncorrected proof copy, number 2 of 100 copies signed by the author, illustrations, original pictorial boards, small bump to head of upper joint, otherwise mint, 8vo, 2001.⁂ The author's final novel before his death in 2001, Austerlitz has been cited as the first literary masterpiece of the 21st century.
Imaginary voyages and utopias.- [Legrand (Marc-Antoine)] Les Avantures du Voyageur Aerien, first edition, ink stamp to title, ink ownership inscriptions to title and pastedown, contemporary wrappers, spine chipped at foot, uncut, housed within a drop-back box, 8vo, Paris, Andre Cailleau, 1724.⁂ A very early fantasy of air travel, to an imaginary land; the novel is of great significance for the history of flight, and also appeared in Garnier's anthology of imaginary travel along side Paltock's flying adventurers and Voltaire's science-fiction work, Le Micromegas.
Heidegger (Martin) Die Selbstbehauptung der deutschen Universitat, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to half-title, original printed wrappers, light spotting to covers, preserved in custom drop-back box, 8vo, Breslau, Korn, 1933.⁂ An inscribed copy of Heidegger's notorious inaugural address as rector of Freiburg, seen by many as a part-endorsement of by Heidegger of the Nazi Party's ideology.
South Asia.- Schouten (Wouter) Voyage de Gautier Schouten aux Indes Orientales, 2 vol., first French edition, titles in red and black, identical engraved frontispieces of a ceremonial elephant, vol. 1 with additional folding portrait frontispiece, 13 engraved plates, 4 folding, contemporary ink ownership inscription to titles, 1 crossed through and the other partially erased, portrait chipped at fore-edge and repaired, 1 folding plate with expert small repair to verso, another with a few small holes to fore-margin, the odd spot, attractive contemporary speckled calf, spines richly gilt, a few skilful repairs, including small portion of vol. 1 lower cover, 12mo, Amsterdam, Estienne Roger, 1707.⁂ A rare edition. Of the copies we have traced the plate count varies.
Archimedes. Opera quæ extant, edited by David Rivault, first bilingual edition, title in red and black, woodcut diagrams, engraved initials head- and tail-pieces, small marginal worming at gutter, most R1-T6 and 2K1-2M6, old repairs to final text ff., final few ff. misbound, lightly browned, scattered spotting, minor worming to front pastedown, later vellum, gilt, small split to lower joint but holding firm, a little rubbed, folio, Paris, Claude Morel, 1615.⁂ The first bilingual Rivault edition of the complete works of the great mathematician Archimedes (c.287-212 BC), founder of hydrostatics and theoretical mechanics. Brunet considers this to be one of the two finest editions of Archimedes.
Jamaica.- Assembly (The) of the Island of Jamaica having, on the 9th Day of December 1784, come to the following Resolution...Mr.Stephen Fuller, Agent for the same island, thinks himself in duty bound to lay before both Houses of Parliament ..... The substance of the petitions presented to the Assembly...in respect to the Intercourse with the American States..., 15pp., 1785 sewn with Jamaica. Ss. To the King's most excellent Majesty in Council. The humble memorial and petition of the Council and Assembly of Jamaica, 8pp. including large folding table of exports (sugar, rum etc.) & imports, [1785] and Representation (The) of Stephen Fuller Esq; Agent for Jamaica, to His Majesty's Ministers, 4pp., [1785], together 3 works in 1, first editions, drop-head titles, stitched in original blue wrappers, uncut and unopened, a little spotted, 4to⁂ The eleven petitions from the Jamaican planters in the first mentioned ask for both understanding and relief from "the Parent State" and ask for taxation to be reduced; the second is on the grievances of the colony and the necessity of trade with the United States; in the third Jamaica, in a desperate plight, has unilaterally opened its ports to American and other ships "solely by motives of self-preservation".All rare; ESTC records 3, 3 & 2 UK copies respectively (none in British Library), and a handful in America.
[Royal Bank of Scotland]. A collection of printed papers, depositions and reports, all Court of Session papers, concerning a major legal dispute between the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Greenock Banking Company, together 9 works in 1 vol., light foxing, first title lightly soiled, the third with slight wear from previous fold and with marginal tear to final leaf, the eighth lacking final leaf (catchword "state"), contemporary half sheep, rubbed, corners worn, rebacked, red morocco label, 4to, [Edinburgh], 1794. ⁂ An apparently very rare complete collection of the Court of Session papers relating to the Royal Bank of Scotland's civil action against the Greenock Banking Company, and vividly illustrating the sometimes far from easy relationships between a new Scottish provincial commercial 'private' bank and the 'national' Royal Bank in the latter years of the 18th century. The Greenock Banking Company, established in 1785, was Greenock's first and only bank until 1802. However, it was never very successful and failed in 1842 when its business was acquired by the Western Bank of Scotland (est. 1832) of Glasgow. The problem that arose in the early 1790s, and culminated in an expensive and protracted hearing in the Edinburgh Court of Session (the Scottish Supreme Court), related to the Royal Bank's arrangements for inter-bank accounting and once or twice weekly note exchange with the Greenock Banking Company, otherwise known as Dunlop, Houston, Gammill and Company, Bankers in Greenock.All the papers in this collection are rare, with only one copy of each recorded in ESTC (BL). A complete list of the contents is available on application.
Compleat Mendicant (The) : or, Unhappy Beggar. Being the Life of an Unfortunate Gentleman..., first edition, with initial advertisement leaf for a second part, blank leaf a2, errata leaf a8 and 2 final advertisement leaves, some spotting, browned, modern book-labels, contemporary sheep, rubbed and scuffed, rebacked, corners repaired, [Wing C5646B], 8vo, for E.Harris, 1699.⁂ An intriguing work of fiction, sometimes attributed to Daniel Defoe and to Thomas Price but according to ESTC probably erroneously regarding Defoe.
Prynne (William) A Legall Vindication of the Liberties of England, Against Illegal Taxes and Pretended Acts of Parliament Lately Enforced on the People, first edition, with initial errata leaf, small rust-hole to B4 touching a couple of letters, modern cloth, [Goldsmiths' 1113; Kress 792; Wing P3997], to be sold at the Swan near Charing-cross, 1649 § City Alarum (The), or the Weeke of our miscarriages...whereunto is annexed a Treatise of the Excize, first edition, title with woodcut ornament and typographical border, woodcut initials, a little water-stained, later calf-backed boards, spine worn and defective, upper cover detached, [Goldsmiths' 890; Kress 677; Wing C.4346], for Joseph Kirton, 1645 § Lilburne (John) To Every Individuall member of the Supream Authority of the Parliament of the Commonewealth of England. The Humble Addresse...by way of Answer to a most false and scandalous Printed Petition, delivered...by one William Huntington..., 12pp., only edition, drop-head title, woodcut head-piece and initial, stitched into modern marbled wrappers, [Wing L2186], 1651, small 4to (3)⁂ The first is undoubtedly one of the most important of all Prynne's political pamphlets. Following his arrest to Colonel Pride in November 1648 he was released from custody sometime in January 1649 and then retired to Swainswick. He there began a paper war against the new government. He wrote three pamphlets against the engagement of the faithful to the Commonwealth, and proved that neither in conscience, law, nor prudence was he bound to pay the taxes which it imposed. The government retaliated by imprisoning him for nearly three years without a trial.The last item is rare: ESTC lists copies at 5 UK libraries (BL, Durham, LSE, National Library of Scotland, and John Rylands Library) but only one elsewhere (Sutro Library, California).
Slavery.- [?Knight (James)] Some Observations on the Assiento Trade, as it has been Exercised by the South-Sea Company; proving the Damage, which will accrue thereby to the British Commerce and Plantations in America, and particularly to Jamaica...by a person who resided several Years at Jamaica, first edition, a few markings and underlinings in ink, stab-holes, later half roan, uncut, very slightly rubbed, [Goldsmiths' 6598; Hanson 3721; Kress 3765, "The best account we have of the Assiento trade" (Foxwell); Sabin 86683], 8vo, H.Whitridge, 1728.⁂ In 1713, by the Treaty of Utrecht, England had been granted a 30-year slave asiento (assiento) by Spain which gave Britain the contract to export slaves from Africa to the Spanish colonies, a monopoly that was administered by the South Sea Company. The present work describes the difficulties between the Company and the Jamaica merchants over the terms of the contract. It is a useful treatise on the economics of the Atlantic slave trade attacking the policies of the South Sea Company which, the author suggests, had deprived Jamaica of its fair share of the lucrative slave trade.
Fitzgerald (F. Scott) The Great Gatsby, first edition, first issue with 'northern' to p.119, 'it's' to p.165, 'chatter' to p.60, 'sick in tired' to p.205, and 'Union Street station' to p.211, spotting, light browning to endpapers, original cloth, light soiling to upper cover, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, but a sharp and excellent example overall, 8vo, New York, 1925.
Pacific.- Moerenhout (Jacques-Antoine) Voyages aux Îles du Grand Océan, 2 vol., first edition, vol. 1 with 16pp. publisher's advertisements at start, half-titles, 4 lithographed plates, folding map with hand-coloured outline, original wrappers bound in at end (chipped and frayed at edges), contemporary ink ownership inscriptions to head of titles, map with tiny tear at inner margin but no loss, foxing and occasional browning, later half calf, spines with double morocco labels, very lightly rubbed, vol. 2 with a few minor ink marks to covers, t.e.g., others uncut, [Sabin 49829], 8vo, Paris, 1837.
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