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Bonhams
Lot 221

Ghosted Reserve-26 year old (2)Rare Cask Reserve. Distilled, blended and bottled by William Grant & Sons LimitedBatch 04/2600. Bottle 2565. Source distilleries Ladyburn & Inverleven. In original presentation case accompanied by certificate of authenticity. Good labelling. Filled to 750ml. blended malt, 42% volume2 bottlesFootnotes:The Ghosted Reserve series from William Grant & Sons showcases blended malts from silent distilleries. This 26 year old example, the first in the series, contains spirits from Inverleven and Ladyburn among others.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: †† VAT at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

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Bonhams
Lot 252

Martell-Premier VoyageA fine blend of 18 eaux-de-vie, of which the oldest dates from 1868, to the youngest from 1979.Crystal de Sèvres decanter 111 of 300, fixed on a metal sculpture by French conceptual artist Bernar Venet (b.1941). In original wooden presentation chest (some scratches and chipping to surface). Accompanied by glass pipette. Engraved labelling. Filled to 100cl. Cognac, 40% volume1 crystal decanterFootnotes:In 2014 Martell celebrated their 300th anniversary with the release of Premier Voyage. A limited edition of only 300 pieces paying tribute to the Maison founder Jean Martell's first journey through the Cognac region selecting the best eaux-de-vie he could find. The famous French conceptual artist Bernar Venet, designed and created the distinctive minimalist metal sculpture that encloses the Crystal de Sèvres decanter.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: †† VAT at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

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Bonhams
Lot 256

Rémy Martin-Louis XIII Rare Cask 43.8First Edition. Bottled 2004. Grande Champagne.Baccarat black crystal decanter No. 426 of 786. Palladium plated collar neck. In original presentation case (some damage) with lightning system incorporated and outer packaging. Accompanied by certificate of authenticity, booklet and stopper. Engraved labelling. Filled to 70cl. Cognac, 43.8% volume1 Baccarat crystal decanterFootnotes:A single very old tierçon cask held 786 bottles, to create this incredibly rare expression of Louis XIII.The evocative Baccarat decanter is a true spectacular race against time, executed by a team of some twenty master craftsmen working in union to perform more than fifty operations against a perfectly opaque blackness. Each numbered decanter is a genuine work of art in crystal, requiring nearly two weeks of work to complete. Rare Cask was bottled as a special edition in its own right.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: †† VAT at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

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Bonhams
Lot 264

Hennessy-Richard HennessyFirst Edition. Jas Hennessy & Co.Crystal decanter No. 59. Hallmarked silver collar. Bottled 1999. In original presentation case (dampness damages) and outer packaging. Accompanied by certificate of authenticity and stopper. Engraved labelling. Filled to 70cl. Cognac, 40% volume1 crystal decanterThis lot is subject to the following lot symbols: †† VAT at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

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Bonhams
Lot 63

The Macallan Fine Oak-10 year oldBottled 16:34, 1.9.04. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd.Bottle No. 2 of the first 100 bottlings, signed and witnessed by Bob Dalgarno. In original carton. Good labelling. Level: top shoulder. 700ml. Single malt, 40% volume1 bottleFootnotes:At the inception of their Fine Oak range, Macallan released the first 100 bottles of 10-year-old Fine Oak signed by their former Master Distiller Bob Dalgarno.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: †† VAT at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

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Bonhams
Lot 83

Glenmorangie Special Bottling-17 year old-1987Filled 1st July 1987. Bottled 3rd November 2004 in recognition of and thanks to all those who contributed to the successful sale of Glenmorangie plc. Distilled by The Glenmorangie Distillery.Hand-selected First Fill Hogshead cask #5779. Bottle 40 of 50. In original presentation case. Good labelling. Level: into neck. 70cl. Single malt, 56.4% volume1 bottleFor further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

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Forum Auctions
Lot 1

With original drawing.- Repton (Humphry) Sketches and Hints on Landscape Gardening, first edition, half-title, 16 fine aquatint plates (10 hand-coloured and with overslips, including 4 double-page and 6 uncoloured, all but 2 with overslips), woodcut illustrations and vignette tail-piece, one plate with marginal tear, with an original pen and brush drawing with monochrome wash mounted on front pastedown, some foxing, light browning to edges, uncut in old marbled boards, rebacked, rubbed and soiled, extremities worn, preserved in modern silk-lined brown half morocco drop-back box, [Abbey, Scenery 388; Tooley 400], oblong folio, Printed by W. Bulmer and Co., [1795].⁂ An exceptional copy of the rarest of Repton's landscape books. Only 250 copies were printed and Repton refused to issue a second edition although some of the chapters were re-used in 'Observations' and 'Fragments'. This copy enhanced by the inclusion of the original drawing, signed lower right "H. Repton" and within the original wash border, of plate VIII showing "the effect of cutting down some chestnut trees in the avenue at Langley [Langley Park, Kent, the seat of Sir Peter Burrell, Bart, M.P.], to let in the hill, richly covered with oaks, and that majestic tree, which steps out before its brethren like the leader of an host..."Another original drawing for plate 2 from this work (Rivenhall Place) was sold by Christies NY in 2004 for $16,000.Repton (1752-1818) was the first person to use the term 'Landscape Gardening', explaining in the introduction to this highly important and influential work that "the art can only be advanced and perfected by the united powers of the landscape painter and the practical gardener."

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Lot 10

Birds.- Stonham (Charles) The Birds of the British Islands, 5 vol., first edition, half-titles, 318 photogravured plates, captioned tissue guards, 2 folding maps, endpapers browned, scattered foxing and offsetting, some lightly affecting plates, one or two finger-soiling marks to plates, tissue guard corner creased to plate CXXXVIII and plates CLVII & CLVIII detached with tissue guards, original cloth, gilt, faded and a little discoloured, lightly soiled, extremities rubbed, [Nissen IVB 898; Zimmer 604], 4to, 1906-11.

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Lot 100

London.- Ackermann (Rudolph, publisher) The Microcosm of London, 3 vol., first edition, wood-engraved titles and engraved dedication leaves, 104 hand-coloured aquatint plates after Rowlandson and Pugin, bookplates to pastedowns, plate 5 splitting along platemark, marginal paper repairs to pp.269-272, some offsetting or occasional foxing, later half morocco with red & green spine labels, g.e., extremities rubbed but still a very bright and attractive set generally, [Abbey Scenery 212; Tooley 7], 4to, [1808-10].

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Lot 101

London.- Ackermann (Rudolph, publisher) The History of the Abbey Church of St. Peter's Westminster, 2 vol., first edition, half-titles, additional vignette title, engraved plan and portrait, 81 hand-coloured aquatint plates, list of subscribers, occasional spotting and offsetting, modern half morocco, spines gilt in compartments, corners lightly bumped, though an attractive set overall, 4to, 1812.

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Lot 104

Ireland.- Davies (Sir John) A Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely Subdued...untill the Beginning of his Maiesties happie Raigne, first edition, with initial leaf blank except for signature 'A', with later ink inscription to verso, woodcut device and decoration on title, dedication leaf within typographic borders, corner of O4 torn away with slight loss to ruled border, tear and printing flaw to Y1, V2 and Bb4 with small holes slightly affecting text, some water-staining, occasional slight worming at inner margin, not affecting text, later calf, gilt, extremities bit worn, upper joint split but covers holding firm, [STC 6348], 4to, Printed for John Jaggard, 1612.⁂ Important work on Anglo-Irish relations. Davies (1570-1652) was an eminent poet, lawyer and political writer. In 1603 he was sent to Ireland as solicitor-general and soon was promoted to Attorney-general and one of the justices of assizes. This work was the result of a judicial circuit round Ireland and on his return to England he wrote an account to the King. He was appointed Lord Chief Justice of England but died shortly afterwards.Provenance: Charles Hughes (bookplate); John Boyle, 5th Earl of Orrery (bookplate to verso of title).

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Lot 106

Bible leaf, Latin. Single leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, comprising Numbers 7.38-8.12, double column, 42 lines, Gothic type, headlines of Lombard capitals in alternating red and blue, 2-line chapter initial L in red, chapter number in alternating blue and red, initial-strokes in red, central ox head watermark clearly visible, a few patches of light foxing, inner margin neatly strengthened, preserved in folding card chemise and custom morocco-backed drop-back box, folio (390 x 285 mm.), [Mainz], [Johann Gutenberg & Johann Fust], [c.1454/55].⁂ A single leaf from "greatest of all printed books" (PMM). This leaf is particularly desirable since the distinctive ox head watermark is clearly visible right in the middle of the page and is only partially covered by one column of text. This is one of three watermarks used in the Bible (the others being a bunch of grapes and a walking ox); the paper itself was imported from Caselle in Piedmont, Northern Italy, one of the main paper-making centres in the 15th century.It is the first substantial European printed book. The humanist Aeneas Sylvius, secretary of Emperor Fredrick III, saw sample sheets of the Bible at the Imperial diet in Frankfurt am Main, in late October or early November 1454, and again at Wiener Neustatt in March 1455, from where he wrote about the amazing production to his friend Cardinal Carvajal in Rome."Its printers were competing in the market hitherto supplied by the producers of highclass manuscripts. The design of the book and the layout of the book were therefore based on the book-hand and manuscript design of the day, and a very high standard of press-work was required, and obtained, to enable the new mechanical product to compete successfully with its handproduced rivals. Standards were set in quality of paper and blackness of ink, in design and professional skill, which the printers of later generations have found difficult to maintain" (PMM).Literature: BMC I, 17; Goff B-526; H 3031*; Bod-inc B-237; BSB-Ink B-408; GW 4201; ISTC ib00526000.

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Lot 108

Marchesinus (Johannes) Mammotrectus super Bibliam, collation: A-C8; a10; b-y8; 1 28; 310, double column, 228 ff. (including initial and final blanks), 39 lines and headline, Gothic type, rubricated throughout with alternating blue and red Lombard initials,, A1r richly illuminated with a 7-line initial 'I' in gold and colours with opaque white highlights, a historiated initial 'F' (beginning of the Epistle of St Jerome) also in gold and colours with a representation of St. Ambrose, flourished in red and green, four-sided filigree-work border with tendrils and flowers, gold dots and individual thorn leaves also in gold, and a medallion of green laurel leaves, a red infield and a flowering tree in green and red, occasional light damp-staining to head, the odd patch of light marginal soiling, ink library stamps to A2r and n6v, ink inscriptions trimmed from earlier endpapers and laid onto pastedowns, contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, possibly a remboitage, with circular pelican and egg-shaped lily stamps, brass clasps, early repairs to spine ends, worm holes to covers, pastedowns and endpapers renewed, preserved in custom drop-back box, 4to (210 x 160mm.), Venice, Franciscus Renner de Heilbronn & Nicolaus de Frankfordia, 1476.⁂ First Venetian edition of this manual for the clergy, containing etymological and grammatical explanations of difficult words in the Bible, along with the liturgical hours, arranged in the order of the Bible and the church year. It is one of the most important Franciscan texts of the later Middle Ages. Our copy with a finely illuminated leaf in an Italian hand. The Mammotrectus was written between 1279 and 1297 as a manual for the clergy, containing etymological and grammatical explanations of difficult words in the Bible along with the liturgical hours, arranged in the order of the Bible and the church year. Very popular during the 16th century, this work quickly became a classic among Catholic priests, and was as such subject to repeated attacks by Luther and protestant theologians.Provenance: "Comparatus sum anno Domini M.V.20" (ink note laid onto rear pastedown); "Duplum Bibliotheca regiae Monac(ensis)" (ink note laid onto front pastedown); Franciscan monastery of Riva del Guarda (ink library stamps); H. Legel (bookplate). Literature: BMC V, 194; HC 10557; Goff M-236; GW M20827; Bod-inc M-083; BSB-Ink 155.050; ISTC im00236000.

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Lot 112

Geography.- Dionysius Periegetes. De situ orbis, translated by Antonius Beccaria, first edition, collation: a-d8 e10, 42 ff., the last blank, 24-27 lines, Roman type, text of a1r within woodcut white vine on black border with shield within roundel at foot, woodcut white on black decorative initials, occasional later ink marginalia, outer margin trimmed, just touching printed side-notes in places, foxed, some staining, modern binding of ?older vellum over boards, soiled, small 4to, (200 x 140), [Venice], [Bernhard Maler, Erhard Ratdolt & Peter Löslein], 1477.⁂ Rare first edition of this compendium of geographical descriptions of the known world. Here in its first prose translation by the Veronese humanist Antonio Beccaria, who was secretary to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, himself a great patron of the humanistic arts. The final two leaves contain a list of countries and islands in Europe, Africa and Asia. As well as one of the earliest references to China ('Thina') in Western literature, we find information on the gems and minerals of various countries. Also, amongst the updated material from our translator, we read about the merits of Ireland's horses and that country's use of peat. Literature: BMC V 244; Goff D-253; H 6226*; Bod-inc D-099; BSB-Ink D-177; GW 8426; ISTC id00253000.

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Lot 119

Annotated Jurisprudence.- Montholon (Jean de) Promptuarium divini juris et utriusque humani, pontificii et Caesarei, 2 parts in 1, collation: ⁌6 a10 b-z, A-Z, aa-dd8, ee ff6; AA-ZZ, aaa-sss8 ttt10, first title within woodcut border with personifications of Divine, Canon and Civil Law, second title within a woodcut border comprising angels, a coat of arms at head and a blank shield at foot, woodcut decorative initials, errata at end of both parts (4pp & 3pp.), colophon f., early ink marginalia in Latin in various hands, sometimes extensive, some trimmed by binder, lacking final blank, water-stained, heaviest towards end of part 2, that to inner gutters causing short short split near head throughout, affecting printed side-notes or text in places, a few repairs, some spotting or staining, lightly browned, 19th century calf-backed marbled boards, richly gilt spine in compartments and with black leather label, covers scuffed, rubbed, folio (305 x 207mm.), Paris, Henri Estienne [& Simon de Colines], 1520.⁂ A rare work in commerce; here with evidence of early scholarship. The author was a French priest, who was born in Autun. He received a doctorate in law at an early age, and he rapidly gained a reputation for his theological and legal scholarship, which led to him being appointed a cardinal by Pope Clement VII. Literature: Adams M1718; Renouard Estienne 22:2; Schreiber Colines 1 ('This, the first book issued by Simon de Colines, contains the first recorded appearance of his name in print.').

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Lot 121

Holy Land.- New World.- Crusades.- Breydenbach (Bernhard von) Le grant voyage de Hierusalem diuise en deux parties, translated and edited by Nicolas Le Huen, second edition of Le Huen's French translation, 2 parts in 1, collation: ✠4 a-c6 d-z A-M8.4, Gothic type, first title in red and black and with a woodcut criblé initial, second title with woodcut printer's elephant device, folding woodcut plan of Jerusalem printed on two conjoined sheets, folding woodcut of the Papal court printed on two conjoined sheets, woodcut illustrations in text, and white on black decorative initials, final f. blank, plan of Jerusalem closely trimmed at head to just outside border, with a short split at a fold and some creasing, but otherwise well preserved, Papal court woodcut trimmed at foot to just within border in places and with a few very short splits / nicks at folds, otherwise well preserved, the odd marginal tear, occasional spotting or mostly light foxing and some staining, lightly browned, 18th century calf, gilt, rebacked, preserving original gilt backstrip in compartments with red leather label (darkened and a little chipped), corners repaired, rubbed and marked, 4to (247 x 177mm.), Paris, [?Antoine Couteau] for François Regnault, [20 March, 1522].⁂ The Boies Penrose copy of the second French edition of Le Huen's translation, which expands the journal of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and St. Catherine's monastery, Mount Sinai. The second part of this edition is a compendium of other travel literature, principally accounts of the crusades, but also including a description of Gaspar Corte-Real's third voyage to the New World. The two folding woodcuts are often missing or in poor condition and depict a detailed plan of Jerusalem and the Papal court with crusaders facing-off against Turkish opposition. Provenance: Charles, Viscount Bruce of Ampthill, 1712 (engraved armorial bookplate to front pastedown and the lower margin of verso of title); Boies Penrose (engraved bookplate depicting Old East India House to front free endpaper).Literature: Alden & Landis 522/4; Fairfax Murray French, 625.

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Lot 122

Erasmus (Desiderus, editor).- Plinius Secundus (Gaius) Historia mundi, edited by Desiderius Erasmus, 2 parts in 1, collation: A-C6 a-z A-Z Aa-Kk6; a b6 c8 d-g6 h10 A-C6, woodcut printer's device to titles and final verso of first part, charming woodcut historiated initials after Hans Holbein the Younger, lacking final f. with woodcut printer's device only, all mentions of Froben scored through, obliterated ink stamp to front free endpaper, outer margin of first title and margin of F5, ink number to head of title, some worming to lower blank corners towards end of part 2, occasional spotting or staining, lightly browned, 18th century German calf, spine in compartments, profusely tooled in black and with double cream leather labels, upper joint splitting, but holding firm, corners worn, both covers with strip of clear tape at foot, small worm trace to upper cover, a few scuffs, rubbed, folio (351 x 225mm.), Basel, Johann Froben, March, 1525.⁂ A wide-margined copy of the first Froben edition of Pliny's Naturalis historia, based on Ermolao Barbaro's text. It was edited by Erasmus, and bears his preferred title. Includes agriculture, horticulture, mining, mineralogy, botany and ethnography. Provenance: Jesuits of Empoli, 1563 (ink inscription to head of first title). Literature: Adams P1560; VD 16 P 3533.

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Lot 125

Whitney (Geoffrey) A Choice of Emblemes, and Other Devises, 2 parts in 1, first edition, collation: *-2*4 3*2 A-Z4 a-f4, lacking final blank, title with woodcut printer's device and typographical border, dedication to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester with full-page woodcut coat of arms, title to second part with woodcut bear and the ragged staff enclosed by garter belt, 248 woodcut emblems within woodcut typograhical borders after Plantin, Alciati, Faerno, Sambucus and Junius, each with a Latin caption and with explanatory text in English or Latin, part II with repaired tears to d3&4, touching text, but with no loss and to f1-3, mostly marginal, but touching a few letters of sidenotes and just touching 2 typographical borders, occasional marking or light soiling, but generally a very good copy, nineteenth century brown crushed morocco, gilt, rubbed, [Landwehr, Low Countries, 898; Praz p.535; Green, Alciati, 111; Freeman pp.56-61; STC 25438], 4to (222 x 165 mm.), Leiden, In the House of Christopher Plantin, by Francis Raphelengius, 1586.⁂ The first Emblem Book in English. Dedicated to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (1532? -88), favourite of Elizabeth I. In 1585 Leicester was appointed as commander of the English expedition to the Low Countries to aid the fight against The Duke of Parma, nephew of Philip II of Spain. On arrival Leicester was received with great hope and offered the absolute government of the States-General, which he accepted much to Elizabeth's displeasure. Despite this honour Leicester was not a competent General and the campaign faltered, so much so that in under a year he had left the country and England had offered to make peace with Spain. A 12 plate work was published in 1586 which depicted Leicester's triumphant entry at The Hague (see Landwehr, Splendid Ceremonies, 48 ).The emblems are split into three distinct kinds as Whitney describes in his preface, ' Historicall , as representing the actes of some noble persons, being matter of historie. Naturall, as in expressing the nature of creatures, for example the love of the yonge Storkes.... Morall , pertaining to vertue and instruction of life, which is the chief of the three...'Included is an emblem representing the achievements of Sir Francis Drake.Provenance: Fontaine Walker; John Landwehr (sold his sale, Bloomsbury Auctions, 15th November, 2006; bookplates).

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Lot 128

ben Israel (Menasseh) De Creatione Problemata XXX, first edition, printer's device to title, contemporary ink noting to title and a couple of instances of underlining, one or two light stains, paper flaw to K¹ margin, small wormholes throughout, modern cloth, 12mo, Amsterdam, by the author, 1635.⁂ The first of Menasseh's philosophical texts, focusing here on the Jewish notion of creatio ex nihilo. Following in the footsteps of Maimonides, Menasseh sought to disprove the Aristotelian notion of the pre-eternity of the world.

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Lot 13

Birds.- [Syme (Patrick)] A Treatise on British Song-Birds. Including Observations on their Natural Habits, Manner of Incubation, &c., first edition, half-title, 15 hand-coloured engraved plates, occasional light browning, attractive blue calf by Asprey, covers ruled in gilt with birds and leafy sprays, spines gilt in compartments with birds and leaves, g.e., 8vo, 1823.

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Lot 133

Merian (Matthaeus) Todten-Tanz / La Danse des Morts, text in French and German, roman and blackletter type, French letter press title with woodcut vignette, German title engraved, dated 1744, with upper margin trimmed (?to remove previous ink ownership inscription, visible offsetting to French title; no loss to plate), woodcut head- & tail-pieces, 43 engraved illustrations, a couple of minor instances of light spotting or soiling, occasional light browning, contemporary brokatpapier boards depicting two allegorical figures representing Spring and Summer within foliate borders, rebacked in modern morocco, three very small abrasions to lower cover, small discrete repairs to lower corners, 4to, Basel, Jean Rodolphe Imhof, 1756.⁂ Bilingual edition, with French text by Jacques Anthony Chauvin. The engraved illustrations here present were slightly revised by Chauvin from the final state of Matthaeus Merian's own originals. First appearing in 1621, Merian's illustrations were taken from a fresco of the Totentanz (c.1440) on a cemetery wall in Basel, which thereafter itself became renowned accross Europe, although was sadly demolished in 1805. Provenance: ?J Newton (ink ownership inscription front endpaper)

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Lot 136

Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin & French, illuminated manuscript on vellum, 93 leaves (catchword on f. 83 does not follow, but text complete, f. 48 should follow f. 52, lacks final blank), the first and last blank, save for a liquid gold border on the first and red rules on both, catchwords, single column, 17 lines plus headline, written in dark brown ink in a fine slightly sloping italic hand with calligraphic flourishes, some small gold capitals, line-fillers in gold on red or blue, full-page miniature of St. Louis of France, on a landscape background, within border of flowers on liquid gold ground, occasional light staining, spotting or finger-marking, handsome contemporary Parisian olive morocco, gilt, covers with large leafy spray centre-pieces and corner-pieces of a cherub's head enclosed by leafy sprays, all within a triple filet outer border, spine in compartments, each with a central stylised ?leaf decoration within double filet borders, spine ends with hatching decoration, lacks ties, lower joint starting, but holding firm, rubbed at extremities, g.e., housed in a reddish-brown crushed morocco case by Rivière & Son, (146 x 103mm.; binding 154 x 114mm.), [Paris], [c.1575-80].⁂ Apparently written for use by a member of the French royal court. The Calendar (ff. 3-28) is extended to include a series of anniversaries including biblical and classical events, and notices of events relating to many members of the French royal family are given in great detail. The high quality binding has corner-pieces enclosing a cherub's head that are highly reminiscent of the royal binder Nicolas Ève (cf. Fletcher Foreign Bookbindings, pl.XXXVI & G.D. Hobson Les reliures à la fanfare, 1935, pp.38 & 52, and fig.43). Provenance: I: Apparently written for use of a member of the French royal court, with an unidentified monogram in silver on blue at the foot of the miniature. II: 'Barbe Dormant' (19th century ink inscription to rear endpaper) III: Christie's, 28th June, 1973, lot 57. IV: Sotheby's 8th December, 1975, lot 85, sold to Lawrence J. Schoenberg. V: Bibliotheca Schoenbergensis, sold Sotheby's 6th December, 2001, lot 93, bought by present owner. Literature: L.F. Davis Bibliotheca Schoenbergensis, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts and Rare Books from the collection of Lawrence J. Schoenberg, 1998, no.1, pl.1.

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Lot 137

Elizabethan Courtier.- Spencer [married names Stanley, Egerton] (Alice, Countess of Derby, noblewoman, daughter of Sir John Spencer, d. 1586 of Althorp, Northamptonshire, 1559-1637).- Petition of Alexander Bannyon on behalf of his father John Bannyon, "whereas aboute a month past yt pleased the Ladie Stafford, and the Lady Digby to write their favorable lines unto ye La: in my fathers behalf, that in compassion of the poore of all of him, his wife and x children, most of them younge, yor honor would vouchsafe to extend yor goodness towards him in permitting him to enioy his his finale livinge of xxii s... whout paying... a lease graunted by the... late Earle of Derby...", manuscript on paper, 12 lines, 1p. with conjugate blank, folds, browned, folio, ?Dragon watermark, [c. 1595].⁂ Three prominent Elizabethan courtiers, including Maids of Honour and Gentlewomen of the Bedchamber."Alice [Spencer] married Ferdinando Stanley, Lord Strange, heir to the earldom of Derby, secretly in 1579/80. Since he and his mother, Margaret, countess of Derby, were potential successors to Elizabeth I, the marriage caused considerable suspicion, especially as it had been promoted by the earl of Leicester. A beautiful, well-educated, and cultured woman, Alice entered the queen's household and became prominent at court. Ferdinando, one of the richest noblemen in the country, sponsored actors and playwrights and wrote poetry. She encouraged the visitation of acting companies in the 1580s, when the Queen's Men, Earl of Leicester's Men, and Earl of Essex's Men appeared there many times. After Ferdinando's death in 1594, his own company, Lord Strange's Men, became the Countess of Derby's Men. This was the company that merged with the Lord Chamberlain's Men in 1594, with Shakespeare as chief playwright." - Oxford DNB.Bannyon had two powerful supporters in his petition, comprising, Dorothy Lady Stafford (1526-1604), daughter of Henry tenth Lord Stafford, by Ursula Pole; grand-daughter of George Duke of Clarence, brother of King Edward IV; married 154Os (second wife) Sir William Stafford (died 1556), his first wife Mary Boleyn was sister of Queen Anne Boleyn and Abigail Lady Digby (c.1552-1611), daughter of Sir Arthur Heveningham (d. 1557), by Mary Shelton (buried 1571), a first cousin of Queen Anne Boleyn, first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth I.

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Lot 138

Scottish Discourses and Sermons.- Schank or Shank (Martin, minister of Banchory, Aberdeenshire, married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Downie, Edinburgh merchant in 1697, father of Alexander Schank, of Castlerig, 1670-1747) A Practical Discourse, on Heaven [with] A Practical Discourse concerning the Accomplishment of the Promises on the first part of the Text, & on the Second a Discourse of our Pilgrimage in the World [with] Preparatis. Sermons..., small hole with loss of part of title, [with] [A Sermon concerning The Peace], together 4 works in 1 vol., manuscripts in two hands, ink inscription on front free endpaper, slightly browned throughout, engraved bookplate of Shank of Castlerigg on front pastedown, part of bookplate torn away, contemporary panelled calf, rubbed, corners worn, upper cover detached, sm. 4to, dated in text 1697, 1709 and 1710.⁂ Four religious works by a Scottish minister, seemingly unpublished.

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Lot 142

Austen (Jane, novelist, 1775-1817).- Brydges (Sir (Samuel) Egerton, first baronet, styled thirteenth Baron Chandos, writer and genealogist, 1762-1837).- Brydges Family with some female Collateral Branches [including a poem by Jane Austen on Anne Lefroy], collection of c. 100 manuscripts, letters, cards and engravings, numerous newspaper cuttings, all laid down, bound in late 19th century paper wrappers, manuscript label on upper cover, upper cover torn, items v.s., 1748-1907; and a small collection of engravings of the Brydges and related families coats of arms, v.s., v.d. (2).⁂ Manuscripts including:(1). Brydges (Jemima, maiden name Egerton, wife of Edward Brydges and mother of Anne (Brydges) Lefroy, the friend of Jane Austen, 1728-1809) A.Ls to her mother Anne Egerton, 3pp. and address panel, sm. 4to, n.p., 14th August 1750, "We have had great rejoycings to day in our Neighbourhood on account of Mr Oxendn bringing his Lady home, Sr. George sent all the Tenants to meet them as far as Harbledown."(2). Valentine, watercolour of a naval captain, with manuscript poem addressed to Miss Bridges at Rev. George Lefroy's house at Ashe, 2pp. with conjugate blank and address panel, sm. 4to, 1804.(3). Elegiac Lines on Mrs Lefroy by Sir Samuel Egerton Bridges. Bath, "Deep Grief is dumb, she long ago, dear shade/Strikes in glad notes to the Creators praise" [first and last lines], inscribed at tail: "Mrs. Lefroy died by a fall from her horse on 16th of December 1807", manuscript poem, 2pp., sm. 4to, n.d.(4). Austen (Jane) The following lines were addressed by Miss Jane Austen ro the memory of Mrs. Lefroy, who died Decr 16th the birthday of the composer, manuscript poem, 3pp., first f. slightly creased, 8vo, n.d.⁂ This poem with the full 13 stanzas as written by Jane Austen, her nephew, Edward James Austen-Leigh, only published 11 in his memoir of 1869. Austen Leigh deleted stanzas 4 "At Johnson's death by Hamilton 'twas said" and 5 "So we of thee - unequalled in thy race".(5). Austen-Leigh (James Edward, nephew of Jane Austen, son of her eldest brother James and his second wife Mary Lloyd, 1798-1894) A.Ls to the Rev John Branfill Harrison, 2pp. with conjugate blank, 8vo, Bray Vicarage, Maidenhead, 11th June 1870, thanking him for "sending the two stanzas, which are not given in my Memoir, of the verses of Jane Austen in Memory of Mrs Lefroy. Perhaps they may be thought long enough without them; as the whole is valuable rather as a record of the affection for her friend than for any great poetic merit, which could add to my Aunt's literary reputation", folds.(6). Brydges (Edward, of Wootton Court, Kent, father of Anne Lefroy, 1712-80) 2 A.Ls.s. to his wife Jemima Brydges, together 3½pp. with conjugate blanks and address panels, slightly depressed and missing his wife.Anne Bridges Lefroy (1747-1804), writer of prose and verse; daughter of Edward Brydges of Wootton Court, Kent. She married in 1778, George Lefroy (1745-1806), vicar of Ashe in Hampshire. Anne led a lively social life and as a writer was something of a mentor to the young Jane Austen. The Lefroys and Austens lived not far apart in Hampshire and socialised on a regular basis. As a young woman, Jane Austen met and fell in love with George Lefroy's nephew Thomas Lefroy (1776-1869, judge and politician) who was visiting from Ireland. George and Anne sent Tom away to London, as he was not in a position to marry Jane. Anne Lefroy died on 6 December 1804 (on Jane Austen's birthday) when she was thrown from a bolting horse and four years later, Jane Austen recorded her regard for Anne, with the above poem, written in 1804. Provenance: Compiled by Edith Dering Harrison (1852-1934), daughter of Reverend John Branfill Harrison and a descendant of the Brydges family.

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Lot 147

Gunmaker to George III.- Mortimer (Harvey Walklate) and others. Commonplace book, manuscript, 94pp., excluding blanks, includes 6pp. index at end by Mortimer's son, first few ff. loose, occasional spotting, lightly browned, contemporary marbled boards, crudely rebacked in thick paper / card, corners worn, rubbed and scuffed, 8vo, [c.1790-1843].⁂ Harvey Walklate Mortimer (1753-1819), English gunsmith, who was appointed Gunmaker to George III in 1783. He kept his shop at 89 Fleet Street, London between 1782 and 1799, and was Contractor to the East India Company from 1796 until 1806. Includes a poem on time-pieces 'On a Watch', and epistolary poems to H.W. Mortimer from Mr. Francis Knight of St. James's Street, who according to the son's index was a 'workman of my fathers'.

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Lot 15

Botany.- Curtis (William) The Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed, 76 vol. in 55, vols. 19 & 63 only with engraved portrait frontispieces, c.4550 engraved hand-coloured plates, c.465 folding, lacking 4 plates (490; 491; 633 and 634), plates occasionally misbound, 1 folding plan, vol. 71 with front free endpaper detached and loosely inserted, occasional off-setting, scattered spotting, several vol. with previous owner's ink signature to titles, occasional pencil notes, bookplate, contemporary calf, not uniform, several vol. neatly rebacked retaining original backstrips, several vol. sympathetically rebacked, first 4 vol. with incorrect vol. numbers to spine, very slight rubbing to corners and spine extremities, [Nissen BBI 2350], 8vo, 1793-1850.⁂ "The Botanical Magazine" is the longest and greatest serial of botanical illustrations. Many plants received their first descriptive and illustrative publication in the magazine. It is rare to find such a long and complete run; the plates are generally clean and the colouring bright and fresh.Provenance: Bookplates of: Tremayne [of Heligan House]; Simon Stephenson; and Charles Scrase Dickins. The Tremayne family built gardens at Heligan House from the mid-eighteenth century onwards. They include Europe's only remaining pineapple pit. The gardens are now called "The Lost Gardens of Heligan" and are one of Cornwall's major tourist attractions.

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Lot 16

Botany.- Darwin (Charles) The Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants, second edition, revised, but, first edition in book form, half-title, illustrations, contemporary ink ownership inscription to title, partially erased, 32pp. publishers advertisements at rear, spotting to half title, otherwise a few other minor light instances, original cloth, joints and extremities lightly scuffed and bumped, 8vo, 1875.⁂ This first appeared in volume 9 of the 'Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London' in 1865, and was also printed as a pamphlet and offprint in the same year.Provenance: Bernard Coleridge, 2nd Baron Coleridge (bookplate to half-title verso).

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Lot 163

Churchill (Sir Winston Leonard Spencer, Prime Minister, 1874-1965) Letter signed to Lord Northcliffe, 1p. with conjugate blank, 1st December 1911, in reply to a letter from Northcliffe on "The Question of the suppression of news of naval movements in the newspapers", "I certainly agree with what you say. See the article in today's Daily Telegraph, which gives away much important information. I wish you would read the enclosed remarkable speech by Compton Rickett, & let me have it back. It has passed quite unnoticed by the Press", folds; and 2 typescript copies of letters from Northcliffe, the first as quoted above and the second in reply to Churchill's letter, "I have written to Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett, asking if he will write me something on the same lines as his excellent speech... . When I wrote to you yesterday I was not referring to any particular newspapers, but to the general system of publication of naval news, which proceeds as a rule from indiscreet people at Plymouth...", v.s., 1911 (3).

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Lot 167

Crompton (Gigi, née Richter, art conservator, botanist and author, 1922-2020).- Collection of material from the archive of Gigi Crompton, including a first edition of A Visit to Morin with a presentation inscription from Greene, printed ephemera, 2 loose photographs, and c.30 letters from various correspondents, letters autograph or typed and signed, some scribbles or creases, folds, v.s. v.d., 1942-1966 (sml qty).⁂ A fascinating and assorted archive of letters with notable correspondents as Graham Greene, Valentine Penrose (née Boué, poet, surrealist artist and first wife of Roland Penrose), Sir John Rothenstein (longest standing director of the Tate Gallery from 1938-64), Gian Carlo Menotti (Italian-American composer and playwright), and Dojean and Peter Smithers (conservative politician and possible inspiration for Ian Fleming's James Bond). Other notable features include a scarce a Penang postage stamp to the Greene postcard, and various curious mentions of Picasso - another figure on the periphery of this group.Though lesser-known herself, Crompton cultivated a close friendship circle of artistic and literary luminaries who write fondly and extensively of their lives across the early 1940s to the 1960s. Highlights of some of the Greene letters include invitations from the writer "is there any chance of tempting you and Gigi on a holiday with me and Catherine? by the luck of the game I've got a lot of kroner in Sweden...", and a brief update regarding his refuge in France after he was swindled by his financial advisor, Tom Roe in 1965 "circumstances have driven me to take up residence in France....I'm not allowed back to England for about fifteen months". The postcard from Graham Greene has a desirable Malaya/Penang postage stamp. Her sister-in-law, Catherine Walston, had a 14-year affair with Greene and the Cromptons rented a cottage on the Walston estate for many years.Other notable mentions feature from Dojean Smithers, "Warsaw tomorrow. Picasso and Eluard are here. Picasso has brought some of his pottery (magnificent). I asked Leger what he thought of it. He said 'trés joli'. Another picturesque figure is to Davidson, American sculptor, who looks exactly like Karl Marx..."; and in another letter she notes "Picasso's play was quite wonderful, though I can't imagine how the London Gallery was able to clean up the mess. WHO played La Tarte?...". Letters from Menotti excuse himself for his late note "I have a weakness for old maids and unanswered letters which explains my aversion to marriage and correspondence"; and copious mentions of concerts - "I've corrected so many pages of score that my eyes began to revolt".Overall an expansive and delightful insight into the lives of a close-knit artistic circle.

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Lot 171

Henry VIII's Primer.- Church of England. The Primer, set foorth by the Kynges maiestie and his clergie, to be taught lerned, & read: and none other to be vsed throughout all his dominions, first edition, black letter, printed in red and black, title and later ink ms. additions within woodcut ornamental border, woodcut historiated and decorative initials, some criblé, F3 blank, lacking H4, fragment only of final f. (2L2), title frayed at head, wormed and with repair verso, ⁂1 3 lines of text obliterated and with 17th century note next to them, L1 lower margin torn and with large repair, M1 lower margin torn away, affecting signature mark, M4 torn with loss of text, tears, occasional wormholes / small traces, some water-staining and soiling, occasional spotting, lightly browned, later endpapers, later mottled calf, spine in compartments, ?later blind-stamped decoration, rubbed, [STC 16034], small 4to, [VVithin the precinct of the late dissolued house of the] Gray friers by Richard Grafton printer to the Princes grace, [29th May, 1545]. sold not subject to return. ⁂ The first edition of the first Primer in English, which was authorised by the king and prepared under his supervision. Rare in any condition, with no copy of this first edition traced at auction. Indeed, we find only a handful of later issues of 1545 or 1546 sold since the beginning of the 20th century.

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Lot 172

Bible, English.- The Bible. That is the Holy Scriptures conteined in the Olde and Newe Testament, titles with woodcut illustration, general title with first two words of title within woodcut entablature, woodcut initials and numerous illustrations in text, double page woodcut plan depicting the temple at Jerusalem, double-page woodcut map of the Holy Land, general title mounted on stub with some restoration to inner margin, [Herbert 144, STC 2118], Christopher Barker, 1576 bound with The Whole Booke of Psalmes, collected into englishe by Thomas Sternh, title within architectural woodcut border, musical notation, final f. creased, [STC 2446], John Day, 1576 together 2 works in 1 vol., double column, ruled in red, the odd chip or tear to margin, occasionally straying into text but without significant loss, occasional light foxing or soiling, ink family notes to endpapers dating from the early 18th century, later morocco, gilt, fillet and roll borders, central decoration with ornamental thistles, neatly and sympathetically rebacked, retaining original backstrip, some rubbing, g.e., folio.⁂ A very good, complete copy of an early folio edition of the Geneva Bible, either the first or second to be printed in England.

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Lot 173

Livius (Titus) The Romane Historie, first edition in English, translated by Philemon Holland, large woodcut device on title, woodcut portrait of Queen Elizabeth on title verso and of Livy on verso of A4, lacking initial blank but with final blank, first few leaves with chipping to fore-edge, title with a few light creases, small holes to H2, 2S2 and 5M, each affecting a letter or two of text, light spotting at beginning and end, the odd spot or mark throughout, occasional slight browning, some damp-staining to lower margin, final blank creased with paper repair to inner margin on verso, generally a good, crisp copy, contemporary calf, rebacked preserving part of original spine, worn, [STC 16613; Pforzheimer 495], folio, Printed by Adam Islip, 1600.⁂ A very good copy of this important Shakespeare source book, used in particular for Coriolanus.

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Lot 176

Augustine (Saint, Bishop of Hippo) St. Augustine, Of the citie of God: vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues, translated by John Healey, first edition in English, title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut head-pieces and historiated or decorative initials, lacking initial and final blanks, worming to varying degrees throughout, but with respite in text in places, some repaired, marginal repairs, water-stained, spotting, lightly browned, hinges cracked, early 20th century morocco, spine in compartments and with slightly earlier brown leather label, compartment at foot coming away, head of spine and corners worn, lower joint starting, but holding firm, rubbed and marked, [Pforzheimer 19; STC 916], folio, Printed by George Eld, 1610.⁂ First English edition of a translation of De civitate Dei, with the commentary of the great Spanish humanist scholar Juan Luis Vives. Aside from a second printing of this translation in 1620 this was the only English version published until the late 19th century. Provenance: James & Joseph Barker (17th century signatures to title); Shillabeer family (19th century ink signatures).

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Lot 177

[Shakespeare (William)] The Taming of the Shrew, single leaf extracted from the first folio, pp.227/28, double column, a few small marginal chips, short tear to head, just touching pagination but with no loss, small portion torn away at foot and repaired with later paper, with loss to 3 words of text recto and 2 verso, affecting some other words with loss to a few letters, a few light spots, loose and unbound, folio (302 x 203mm), [1623].⁂ A fine leaf from one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies - here printed for the first time. The leaf falls at the end of Act 4 and the commencement of Act 5, featuring Petruchio's wager among the newlywed couples and his victory for the most obedient wife.

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Lot 178

Shepherds Kalender (The)...Newly augmented and corrected, collation: A-Q⁶ R⁴, largely printed in black letter, numerous woodcut illustrations, diagrams and decorations, lower half of title cut away and replaced with later paper, affecting title-vignette, imprint and full-page woodcut to verso, A2-3 with loss to lower corner, affecting catchword of A2 and a few letters to verso, K2 with rust-hole affecting a couple letters of text, some damp-staining to first and last few leaves, occasional light spotting or marking, final few gatherings slightly browned, contemporary calf, rebacked, worn, [STC 22423], folio, [for John Wright], [1631].⁂ Profusely illustrated with curious cuts, this work seldom appears on the market. The 1631 edition has appeared at auction only 3 times, and no more recently than 1947.Provenance: Geo. Frere (early ink inscription to pastedown and head of A2).

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Lot 18

Herbal.- [A lytel herball of the properties of herbes newly amended and corrected, with certayne addiciions at the ende of the boke [as] appoynted in the almanacke, made in M.D.L. the xii. day of February by A. Askham.], black letter, occasional early ink marginalia, early ink recipe for 'A medsin for ye tothe ache' to blank verso of K7, lacking A1-3 (including title), A8, and blank K8, A4 torn and repaired with loss of text to upper corner, A5 margins repaired on 3 sides, with loss of several letters, a few ff. with marginal repairs / mounted on stubs, closely trimmed at head, occasionally just touching text, water-stained, some spotting or soiling, mostly light browned, antique style calf, spine in compartments and with burgundy leather label, [Henrey 184; STC 13175.13], 8vo, [In Fletestrete at the signe of the George nexte to Saynte Dunstones Churche by Wyllyam Powell], [12th March, 1550].⁂ Exceedingly rare. We locate a BL copy, and ESTC records copies at the Royal College of Surgeons, the Wellcome (lacking title) and Yale (defective). Medieval in origin this herbal was first published by Richard Banckes in 1525, and as a result is sometimes referred to as 'Banckes' Herbal'. 'Askham's name on the title page refers to the almanac, and he may have had nothing to do with the editing of this edition' (ESTC).

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Lot 180

Sir Joshua Reynolds' copy.- Donne (John) Poems, by J.D. With elegies on the authors death, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece (not called for and from Letters, 1651), large woodcut decorative initials, lacking initial and final blanks, a few pen trials to verso of title, with some show-through, closely trimmed at head, some water-staining, occasional spotting or staining, lightly browned, 19th century half calf over marbled boards, rebacked, preserving the original gilt backstrip in compartments, rubbed, [STC 7045; Keynes 78; Pforzheimer 296; Hayward 54; Grolier, Langland to Prior 286], small 4to, Printed by M[iles]. F[lesher]. for Iohn Marriot, and are to be sold at his shop in St Dunstans Church-yard in Fleet-street, 1633.⁂ The Sir Joshua Reynolds-Philip Bliss copy of the first collected edition of Donne's poems. This the issue (presumably the first, but precedence not established) without the two inserted leaves 'The Printer to the Understanders' and 'Hexastichon Bibliopolæ' after A4, and with Nn1 in its uncorrected state, without a headline recto. Provenance: Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) English painter and a founder and first president of the Royal Academy of Arts, who was knighted by King George III in 1769 (ink signature to title); Philip Bliss (1787-1857) book collector, and variously sub-librarian at the Bodleian, Registrar of the University of Oxford, and Principal of St. Mary Hall, Oxford. He 'assembled a substantial library...strong in books with Oxford connections, sixteenth- and seventeenth-century English poets, and works by 'royal and noble' authors' (Oxford DNB). The present book bought by him in 1812 (his discreet ownership mark 'P.' before the printed signature mark 'B', and with two-digit year of purchase '12' following it. Beneath this 'i:a:').

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Lot 182

The Irish Rebellion of 1641.- Temple (Sir John) The Irish Rebellion: or an History of the Beginnings and first Progresse of The Generall Rebellion...Together with the Barbarous Cruelties and Bloody Massacres which ensued thereupon, first edition, title within double-rule border, woodcut initials and headpieces, occasional light marginal marking or finger-soiling, the odd spot, but a good copy generally, contemporary calf, a few light stains, hinges and joints strengthened and repaired, [Wing T627], 4to, by R. White, 1646.⁂ First edition of this important contemporary history that did much to inflame English opinion against the Irish.Provenance: Fairfax of Cameron; Fox Pointe Collection (bookplates).

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Lot 183

Raleigh (Sir Walter) Judicious and select essayes and observations, by that renowned and learned knight. Sir Walter Raleigh. Upon the first invention of shipping. The misery of invasive warre. The Navy Royall and sea-service. With his apologie for his voyage to Guiana, 4 parts in 1, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece by Robert Vaughan, title within woodcut typographic border, woodcut head-pieces, 4 advertisement ff. (bound after To the Reader), G8 blank, some ff. on stubs, portrait with small chip to lower blank corner and neatly laid down, final 2 advertisement ff. trimmed at foot, touching text, small worm trace / holes to upper inner corner in places, mostly marginal, but very occasionally just touching part of a letter or a rule, some repaired, occasional spotting or light staining, lightly browned, 20th century sheep, rubbed and scuffed, particularly the spine, [Pforzheimer 822; Wing R170], small 8vo, By T. W. for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at the Princes Armes in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1650.⁂ The first appearance of Raleigh's account of his second voyage to Guiana, which was an attempt to excuse his final failure. It includes one of the earliest appearances of the word 'tobacco' on pp. 24 (spelt 'tobaccho') & 34.

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Lot 185

Killigrew (Thomas) Comedies, and tragedies, first edition, second issue (with the final two sectional titles cancelled and replaced with those bearing Herringman's imprint), engraved portrait frontispiece by W. Faithorne after W. Sheppard, woodcut printer's device to title, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, 19th century ink ms. 'Memoir of Mr. Thomas Killigrew' to blank verso of title and lower margin of 'To the reader', portrait outer margin trimmed to within image and laid down, K2 hole within text, with loss of 2 words recto and a few letters verso, E4 small section from upper blank corner, stained, some spotting, lightly browned, antique style blind-stamped panelled calf, spine in compartments and with red morocco label, [Wing K450; Pforzheimer 571], folio, Printed [by John Macock] for Henry Herringman, at the sign of the Anchor in the lower walk of the New-Exchange, 1664.

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Lot 188

Pett (Sir Peter) The Happy Future State of England, first edition, lacks second title and 2 blanks, errata leaf present at rear, upper hinge cracked, a few marginal paper flaws, damp-staining, contemporary calf, blind-stamped panelling, joints rubbed and cracking, corners bumped, lower cover a little marked but still an attractive and clean copy, [Kress 1678; Wing P1883], folio, n.p., 1688.

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Lot 19

Herbal.- The grete herball whiche gyueth parfyt knowlege and vnderstandyng of all maner of herbes [and] theyr gracyous vertues whiche god hath ordeyned for our prosperous welfare and helth, second edition, double column, black letter, numerous woodcuts of plants, animals, minerals, and related subjects, final f. with large woodcut 'woodwose' device of Peter Treveris [McKerrow 60], otherwise blank, lacking all before B2 (including title), D3-6, E1-6, F1&6, G3, I3, and Ee5, B2v soiled, Dd3 upper corner torn and repaired with loss of text, repairs, mostly marginal, but occasionally within text (remaining legible), for the latter see F2-4 and Bb1 in particular, some staining or spotting, lightly browned, 19th century vellum, gilt, spine with double green morocco labels, upper joint very short split at foot, [Henrey 169; Hunt 25 (1526), Nissen BBI 2297; STC 13177], small folio, Imprynted at London in Southwarke by me Peter Treueris, 17th March, 1529. sold not subject to return. ⁂ Second edition of the first illustrated English herbal, which is much rarer at auction than Treveris' first edition of 1526 (we can trace only five copies since 1967, the majority of which were defective). Provenance: John Linford (early marginal ink inscription to Bb6v & Cc1r).

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Lot 199

Slavery.- Clarkson (Thomas) The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade by the British Parliament, 2 vol., first edition, 2 engraved plates, 1 folding with short tear, 1 folding map, 2N8 vol. 1 with short marginal tear and neat repair, C4 & N3 vol. 2 with tiny marginal hole, Z4 vol. 2 with short marginal tear, bookplate, previous owner's ink signature, cracked hinges, contemporary calf, a little rubbed, slight bumping to corners and extremities, [Goldsmiths 19725; Kress B.5319], 8vo, 1808.⁂ Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) devoted most of his life to fighting for the abolition of slavery and toured the country assembling evidence, interviewing 20,000 sailors an acquiring equipment used on the slave-ships.

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Lot 2

Repton (Humphry) Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening, first edition, stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait by W.Holl after S.Shelley slightly foxed, 11 hand-coloured aquatint plates (9 with overlays, 1 folding and with short tear), 14 engraved plates (mostly aquatint, some tinted, 3 with overlays, 1 double-page) and 2 engraved maps (1 hand-coloured), 11 aquatint vignettes and illustrations in text, 2 with overlays, wood-engraved illustrations, some offsetting, uncut in original printed pink boards, rebacked, rubbed and soiled, [Abbey, Scenery 390; Berlin Kat. 3431; Tooley 399], 4to, Printed by T. Brinsley...for J. Taylor, 1803.⁂ Repton's "most important work" in first edition and unusual to find in the original boards.

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Lot 201

Austen (Jane) Northanger Abbey: and Persuasion. By the Author of "Pride and Prejudice", Mansfield-Park &c. With a Biographical Notice of the Author, 4 vol., first edition, lacking final 2 blanks in vol.4, neat contemporary ink ownership inscriptions to each front pastedown, some light foxing or spotting to pages (worse to titles), but otherwise a very clean set internally, late 19th century half calf, spines gilt with red morocco spine labels, corners very lightly bumped and joints very lightly rubbed, overall a very attractive set, [Gilson A9], 12mo, John Murray, 1818.⁂ First edition of both novels, published posthumously. Northanger Abbey, a Gothic novel parody, had been drafted fifteen years earlier under a working title of 'Susan', but was abandoned when another novel of the same name appeared in 1809. Persuasion was completed by Austen in the summer of 1816, shortly before she was forced to stop writing due to ill-health.

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Lot 21

[Ward (Hon. Mrs.)] Sketches with the Microscope in a Letter to a Friend, first edition, 14 hand-coloured plates, lacks front blank, contemporary and later ink ownership or presentation markings to title, one or two light spots but very clean otherwise, original blind-stamped cloth, gilt, spine rather faded and frayed, 12mo, [F. H. Shields, Parsontown, County Offaly], 1857.⁂ The very rare provincially printed first edition of a volume that later ran to several editions.

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Lot 225

[Dickens (Charles)], "Boz". Oliver Twist or, The Parish Boy's Progress, 3 vol., first edition, first issue with "Boz" on titles, half-titles, 24 etched plates (including the 'fireside' plate) by George Cruikshank, lacking advertisements, bookplates to pastedown, contemporary ink ownership name to titles, some light foxing and spotting to plates or text leaves, contemporary half calf, rubbed, 8vo, [Eckel pp. 59-60; Smith I, 4], Richard Bentley, 1838.

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Lot 226

Le Fanu (Joseph Sheridan) Uncle Silas: A Tale of Bartram-Haugh, 3 vol., first edition, half-titles, scattered spotting, contemporary morocco-backed boards, fractional bumping to corners and spine extremities, housed in modern slip-cases, light fading, a little rubbed, [Wolff 4025; Sadleir 1386; Tymn 2-63], 8vo, 1864.⁂ Scarce.Tymn writes; "Uncle Fanu is perhaps Le Fanu's most celebrated work, superior in atmosphere and emotional power. Draped in black, it is a psychological thriller with a highly concentrated small cast."

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Lot 228

Le Fanu (Joseph Sheridan) The Purcell Papers, 3 vol. bound as 1, first edition, previous owner's ink signature to front pastedown, faint spotting to first and last few leaves, original decorative cloth, gilt, slight bumping to corners and extremities, 1880.⁂ This is a variant binding. John Carter initially lists 4 variants in 'Binding Variants' before adding an additional two in "More Binding Variants" where he lists this binding as 'Variant F.' He also says of this binding, "... the wooden spoon in the race for priority obviously goes to F, whose cheap finery is in sharp contrast to the sober decoration of all its predecessors."

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Lot 229

Wilde (Oscar) Poems, first edition, [one of 250 copies], the odd spot, light browning to endpapers, "Norton Burr Stelle" bookplate to front pastedown, original parchment boards with gilt floral designs to covers and spine, very short split to head of upper joint, a little soiling, light rubbing to spine, t.e.g., others uncut, preserved in folding chemise and custom slipcase, [Mason 304], 8vo, David Brogue, 1881.⁂ "The first printing (June 1881) consisted of 750 copies, of which only 250 copies were used for the first edition, the remaining 500 being equally divided between the second and third editions." - Mason.

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Lot 230

Hardy (Thomas) Wessex Tales, Strange Lively and Commonplace, 2 vol., first edition in book form, [one of 750 copies], with initial blanks, half-titles and two advertisements leaves at end of vol. 2, ink stamp to title vol. 1 'with the publisher's compliments', a few minor instances of light spotting or finger soiling, browning to endpapers, original green cloth with bands of bright green rules across top and bottom, spines very lightly toned, very light rubbing to joints, spine ends and corners, spine ends a little bumped, housed within presentation drop-back box, cloth with morocco spine, slightly rubbed, [Purdy p.58], 8vo, Macmillan and Co., 1888.

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Lot 231

Hardy (Thomas) Tess of the d'Urbervilles. A Pure Woman..., 3 vol., first edition in book form, second impression revised, [one of 500 copies], half-titles, with initial blank in vol. 3 and final blanks in vol. 2 & 3, small booklabels to pastedowns, vol. 1 front free endpaper laid down to pastedown, all vol. hinges slightly weak but holding, original decorated tan cloth, upper covers blocked in gilt with two vertical wavy lines of honeysuckle and gold disks designed by Charles Ricketts, spines toned, some toning and staining to covers, lightly rubbed, spine ends a little bumped, [Purdy p.74], 8vo, James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1892.⁂ One of 500 copies (the first impression of the previous year was 1000), with a few very minor corrections or changes to spelling and imprints. Hardy's tragic tale of a fallen woman shocked Victorian readers, particularly the subtitle of the novel "A Pure Woman". It was first published in the Graphic from July to December 1891 in weekly instalments, having being rejected by several other periodicals, but with the seduction and mock-baptism scenes removed and some alterations. Both sections were published separately prior to serialisation but reinstated with the original text when issued in book form.

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Lot 233

Douglas (Lord Alfred) Poèmes, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "Arthur Jackson from his friend Alfred Douglas. Aix . September 1898" to recto of English half-titles, portrait frontispiece by Dujardin after Spindler, parrallel text in French and English, light browning, ink ownership inscription to endpaper, 20th century half morocco, upper and lower wrappers (a little soiled) bound in, 8vo, Paris, Mercure de France, 1896.

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Lot 236

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) Lord Randolph Churchill, 2 vol., first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Frederick Smith, 1st Baron Colwyn dated 13 Jan. 1906 to vol. 1 endpaper, plates, foxing, note on Chancellor of the Exchequer letterhead loosely inserted, Colwyn bookplate to front pastedown, original red cloth, spines faded, spines a little frayed at head, some bumping to foot of spines and corners, light rubbing, uncut, [Woods A8a], 8vo, 1906.⁂ An excellent association copy, inscribed by Churchill in the final days of the 1906 election. Frederick Smith (1859-1946) was a banker, industrialist and influential Liberal figure in Manchester politics. The 1906 elections was Churchill's first as a Liberal and saw him successfully contest the Manchester North West seat. As a significant player in the local political arena, it seems likely that Smith would have assisted Churchill in his campaigning and that the present work was a gift of thanks from the author.

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Lot 237

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) The World Crisis, 6 vol., first editions, half-titles, folding maps and plates, errata slips to vol. 1, 4 & 5, some scattered spotting to prelims and the odd spot elsewhere, modern dark blue half morocco, spine gilt in compartments with maroon morocco labels, 8vo, 1923-31.

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Lot 239

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) [The War Speeches], 7 vol., comprising Into Battle, 1941; The Unrelenting Struggle, 1942; The End of the Beginning, 1943; Onwards to Victory, 1944; The Dawn of Liberation, 1946; Victory, 1946; Secret Session Speeches, 1946, first editions, frontispieces and plates, occasional spotting, modern royal blue half-morocco, spines gilt in compartments with red morocco labels, 8vo.

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Lot 24

Brunschwig (Hieronymus) A most excellent and perfecte homish apothecarye or homely physick booke for all the grefes and diseases of the bodye, first edition in English, translated by John Hollybush, collation: a-g6 h4, lacking final blank leaf, printed in black letter with headlines and some headings in italics and side-notes in roman, large woodcut device on title, some worming throughout, getting heavier towards end, upper corner of g4 defective, affecting pagination, some light browning, light water-stain to upper corners, modern blind-stamped goatskin, [STC 13433], folio, Cologne, by Arnold Birckman, 1561.⁂ Often bound with part 2 of William Turner's A New Herbal [STC 24365]. Includes several very early suggestions for the use of medical cannabis ('hempsede') - "If a man haue a sounding or piping in his eares / the same cometh somtyme of a hote slymy fylthynesse / or of a hote slymy moystnesse. He that is so diseased / ought to take pilles de iera picra / & then put oyle of Hempsede warme into his eares / mixt wt a litle vinegre / after yt let him leape vpon hys one legge / vpon that syde / where the disease is / than let hym bowe doune ye eare of that syde / if happely any moysture or fylth would issue out."A pencil note on front pastedown reads "Bound in my own goat skin bred at Ivel House, Ilchester, Somerset, 1947."Provenance: "TBS" (old ink monogram at foot of title).

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Lot 240

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) The Second World War, 6 vol., first edition, one of 100 sets specially-bound for presentation, maps, plans and illustrations, many folding (in vol.6 2 a little frayed at fore-edge, 1 torn), printed author's note tipped into vol. 1, light spotting, some occasional light creasing, original black pebble-grain morocco, spines lettered in gilt, some light spotting and faint marking but a very good set overall, t.e.g., [Woods A123(b)], 8vo, 1948-54.⁂ One of the great Churchill rarities, specially-bound by the publisher for presentation.

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Lot 241

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) [Post-War Speeches], 5 vol., comprising The Sinews of Peace, 1984; Europe Unite, 1950; In the Balance, 1951; Stemming the Tide, 1953; The Unwritten Alliance, 1961, first editions, modern royal blue half-morocco, spines gilt in compartments with red morocco labels, 8vo.

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