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MUSSOLINI BENITO: (1883-1945) Italian Fascist Dictator of World War II. T.L.S., `Mussolini´, one page, folio, Rome, 11th September 1934, in Italian. The partially printed document, bearing the heading of the Minister of War, is an official letter to His Majesty the King Vittorio Emmanuele III requesting his approval to the ministry´s decision of readmitting infantry second Lieutenant Antonio Raynal, and according to `..Judicial sentence by Judge of Catanzaro, dated 26th January 1933, he has been acquitted because he did not commit the fact ascribed to him. Because he has been fully acquitted..´ Signed in bold black ink at the base of the document. Left edge very slightly damaged as a result of its detachment. G to VG

BEATON DAVID: (c.1494-1546) Scottish Cardinal who served as Archbishop of St. Andrews 1539-46. Beaton was the last Scottish Cardinal prior to the Reformation. An extremely rare L.S., d[avid] Card[ina]lis S[anc]ti Andree, one page, folio, Paris, 17th July 1542, to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, in Latin. Beaton writes to Farnese in relation to Alfonso Salmeron and Paschase Broet, the Apostolic nuncios to Ireland and the disturbances they have witnessed there, commenting that there is 'still so much cruelty from the English and the barbarian people themselves, and fierceness, from whom I have saved [them] and they have escaped unscathed. [It is] astounding all that I have been able to see' and adding that he will continue to write with reports to Farnese. With integral address leaf. Some very light, minor water staining to the right edge, only very slightly affecting a few words of text, which remain perfectly legible. About VG Alessandro Farnese (1520-1589) Italian Cardinal and Diplomat. Grandson of Pope Paul III and appointed as his principal secretary in 1538, managing most of the papal business until 1549. Alfonso Salmeron (1515-1585) Spanish Biblical Scholar, a Catholic Priest, and one of the first Jesuits. Paschase Broet (1500?-1562) French Catholic Priest, one of the first Jesuits. In late 1538 King Henry VIII of England was excommunicated by Pope Paul III and the constitutional position of the lordship of Ireland remained uncertain.  In the autumn of 1541 Pope Paul III sent Salmeron and Broet as Apostolic nuncios to Ireland. Before leaving they met with Cardinal Beaton at Lyon who discouraged them from going to Ireland with stories of the dire state of the Church there. After leaving France they reached Edinburgh on 3rd December 1541. Although warmly received by King James V, he, and everyone else they met agreed with Beaton and also discouraged them from going to Ireland. Nevertheless, Salmeron and Broet made the short crossing on 23rd February 1542. The title of King of Ireland had been re-created in 1542 by King Henry VIII and the English began establishing control over the island. The situation in Ireland proved to be worse than previously thought and Broet wrote 'in a short while we found matters just as we had been told, if not worse'. Bishops who remained faithful were turned out of their dioceses and went on the run. Monasteries and friaries were all in ruins. Pope Paul III's original instructions had stated that if their lives were in danger then they were return and therefore in the summer of 1542 they travelled back to Scotland where the people there were surprised to see them return alive. 

ROOT ELIHU: (1845-1937) American Statesman. 38th United States Secretary of State, under President Theodore Roosvelt, 1905-09. Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 1912, "for  bringing about better understanding between the countries of North and South America and initiating important arbitration agreements between the United States and other countries". Signed page, 'Elihu Root', one page, Brown paper, folio, n.p., 8th September 1920, in French. The document is headed, 'Autographes des Grandes Figures du Monde Entier'. G

MARTI JOSE & ESTRADA PALMA TOMAS: José Marti (1853-1895) Cuban Poet, Writer and Revolutionary Philosopher. Martí is considered a national hero as well as a leading figure in Latin American literature. He became a symbol for Cuba's fight for independence in the 19th century, and is referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban Independence"; & Tomas Estrada Palma (1835-1908) First President of Cuba 1902-1906, and previously during the Ten Year´s War. Remembered for allowing the Platt Amendment which ensured American dominance over Cuba. An excellent and attractive multiple D.S., `Jose Marti´, and `T. Estrada Palma´, four pages, folio, New York, 30th April 1893, to Jose Verdaguer Kierman, in Spanish. The partially printed document bears the printed heading of the New York delegation of the Cuban Revolutionary party, being a title given to contributors in favour of the cause, "Patriotic Assistance - Fundraising - To finance the war in favour of the Independence and for the Freedom of Cuba". The attractive partially printed document, bears four printed drawing portraits of Jose Marti, Tomas Estrada Palma, Gonzalo de Quesada and Benjamin Guerra, with their printed names beneath. The document is signed by Marti and Estrada Palma in their capacity as delegates and is also signed by Gonzalo de Quesada as Secretary of the delegation and Benjamin Guerra in his capacity as Treasurer, acknowledging the receipt of 25 pesos of gold from the contributor Jose Verdaguer. The lengthy written text in Marti´s hand, entitled "The Revolution", is a manifesto in favour of Cuban Independence and freedom, against the Spanish occupancy and slavery, and states in part `Today, the revolution cannot be threatened, blind of irresponsible disorder that augurs a regime of exclusion and supremacy…´, concluding with the motto `Patria y Libertad´, ("Homeland and Freedom"). The document bears beneath the signatures a large black paper seal affixed of the Delegation of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. Also bearing two blind embossed seals of same delegation. Overall age wear, few tears to the edges and one tear repair to the second page, not affecting the signatures. With small remnants of a former red wax seal to the upper edge of the second sheet. About G

DIAZ PORFIRIO: (1830-1915) President of Mexico 1876, 1877-80 & 1884-1911. Diaz rose the rank of General leading republican troops against Emperor Maximilian, and seizing power after a coup. D.S., `Porfirio Diaz´, two pages, large folio, Mexico, 31st July 1901, to Alfredo Chavero, in Spanish. The attractive partially printed document, bearing to the heading a very large and impressive vignette showing an eagle, snake, drums and flags, is the appointment of Alfredo Chavero as Controller of the Bank of London and Mexico. Beneath the vignette, the document shows the printed title “Porfirio Diaz, Constitutional President of the Mexican United States”. To the front lower left border the document bears a very attractive blind embossed paper seal affixed. Countersigned at the base, with ink stamp over a post-stamp affixed to the upper corner. To the second page the document bears three countersignatures and two official ink stamps, dated 14th and 17th March 1902, one from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. With blank integral leaf. Extremely small tear to the fold edge, and minor age wear, otherwise G to VG

CASTRO FIDEL: (1926-2016) Cuban Prime Minister 1959-76, later President 1976-2008. A good, three times signed, T.L.S., Fidel Castro at the conclusion, also signed with his initials `F.C´ to first and second pages, to the borders, three pages, to three sheets, folio, La Habana, 25th September 1959, in Spanish. The document bears to the heading a blind embossed monogram above the printed text ''Republic of Cuba - Executive Power'', and is a decree, numbered 2065, being the approval of a pension in favour of Enrique Isaac Miyares y Catasús. The document reports on his services and rights and the amount of his pension. Also signed in full at the conclusion and with their initials to first and second page by Osvaldo Dorticos in his capacity as President of Cuba and by Cuban Minister of Communications. Bearing at the conclusion alongside their signatures three attractive blind embossed seals, one of Presidency, the second of the Prime Minister office and the communications Ministry one. With small staple to the upper left corner. VG Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado (1919-1983) Cuban Politician who served as the President of Cuba 1959-76. Dorticos commit suicide by shooting himself.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

CHE GUEVARA ERNESTO: (1928-1967) Argentine Marxist Revolutionary and guerrilla Leader. An iconic symbol of rebellion. Guevara joined the Cuban communist revolutionary movement leaded by Fidel Castro. Assassinated. A rare T.L.S., `Che´, two pages, folio, La Habana, 14th June 1963, in Spanish. The document bears to the upper left corner the printed heading “Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara - Minister”, and refers to a declaration of heirs, to the Party prosecutor report and to the testimonies of witnesses obtained, all related to the belongings of Serafin Yet or Yec, a Chinese-born citizen who obtained the Cuban nationality since 1946 and died in 1956, but had not registered his will. Che Guevara, in his capacity as Minister of Industry, approves seven years after, the inheritance in favour of the spouse Pilar Fuentes. The typed letter bears a Ministry of Industry purple ink stamp, one to each page. Overall age wear, toning to the left border and a very small tear to the upper edge, otherwise G

O´HIGGINS BERNARDO: (1778-1842) Chilean independence Leader of Spanish and Irish ancestry. Supreme Director of Chile 1817-23. O´Higgins freed Chile from Spanish rule and is considered one of the founding fathers of Chile. D.S., `O´Higgins´, two pages, folio, Palace of Santiago de Chile, 12th January 1819, in Spanish. The partially printed document, entitled “The Supreme Director of the State of Chile”, is a grant given to Antonio Miguelen, soldier of the 7th Battalion of the Andes army, injured during the last war campaign, authorizing the payment of four pesos from now. The document bears a paper seal affixed to the front and several countersignatures to front and verso. Overall foxing stains, with edges slightly trimmed. FR to G

PERON JUAN: (1895-1974) President of Argentina 1946-55 & 1973-74. T.L.S., `Peron´, in his capacity as Minister of war, one page, folio, Buenos Aires, 19th August 1944, to Vicente Fernandez, in Spanish. The typed document bears to the upper left corner the printed heading "Republic of Argentina - Ministry of war" beneath the blind embossed seal of the Argentinean emblem. The document reports on the return to service of soldier Fernandez after an accident and recovery. With ink stamp of the Argentinean army, and countersigned to the verso by Guillermo Beghe. Two binder holes to the left border not affecting text or signature. Small age wear with edges very slightly trimmed. G

ABDELKADER IBN MUHIEDDINE: (1808-1883) Algerian Religious and Military Leader "Sharif". Abdelkader led the struggle against the French colonial invasion. L.S., `Abd el kader bin Mohi eddine´, above his personal ink seal, one page, folio, Paris, 12th Rabii II of year 1282 of the Hegira, (4th September 1865), to Monsieur Lapaine, in Arabic and alongside the translation into French. Abdelkader sends his best wishes to his correspondent, blessing him, and stating in part `..we specially recommend you the bearer of the present friendly letter Kaddour bin Mohi ed din who we consider as our son and the dearest person.. Give him your support and influence according to your generosity.. God bless you and increase your dignity.´ With blank integral leaf. Folded, otherwise VG

HUSSEIN SADDAM: (1937-2006) President of Iraq 1979-2003. D.S., in Arabic, one page, folio, n.p., 7th August 1980, featuring the blind embossed coat of arms of Iraq to the upper edge. The typed document, in Arabic, relates to Police Commissioner Hussein Yahaya Wolley and confirms that they completed their work on 7th August 1980 and should now be appointed as a minister for finance. Signed by Saddam Hussein in red fountain pen ink at the conclusion. With four small file holes to the right edge and some light creasing and a small, neat tear (repaired to the verso) to the upper edge. About VG

PORTER COLE: (1891-1964) American Composer and Songwriter. T.L.S., Cole, one page, 4to, Los Angeles, California, 8th May 1954, to Cy Feuer of Feuer and Martin Productions in New York. Porter sends an answer (no longer present) to Oliver Messel and states that he will not talk to Bob Alton again until Feuer gives 'the “go” signal', further writing 'This sounds like very good news about Shirl Conway. I only pray that she can really belt out her numbers', also remarking that he was interested to read about Henry Lascoe and Leon Belasco, and concluding 'I have finished the new lyric to the former IF WE EVER GET OUT OF JAIL and I hope when you hear it you will approve. It is definitely saccharine and when I go over it I feel slightly sick!'. Together with an original unsigned printed folio programme for a performance of Silk Stockings in New York, 1955, directed by Cy Feuer and starring Hildegarde Neff and Don Ameche as well as Leon Belasco and Henry Lascoe. A letter of good content. One staple to the upper edge of the letter, VG Cy Feuer (1911-2006) American Theatre Producer, Director, Composer, Musician and half of the celebrated producing duo Feuer and Martin. The musical Silk Stockings, with lyrics by Cole Porter, opened on Broadway on 24th February 1955 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 478 performances. The song If We Ever Get out of Jail was transformed to As on Through the Seasons We Sail. Silk Stockings was to be the last musical that Porter wrote for the stage.

ROSSINI GIOACHINO: (1792-1868) Italian Composer. Rare A.M.Q.S., Gioachino Rossini, one page, oblong folio manuscript paper, Florence, 3rd June 1853. In bold dark fountain pen ink, Rossini has neatly penned a quotation for piano forte comprising ten bars of music across two staves, with small annotations, which he identifies as A[ndanti]no. Signed and dated by the composer immediately beneath the quotation. The document bears a watermark. Some light creasing and minor overall age wear, VG

PONCHIELLI AMILCARE: (1834-1886) Italian Composer. Best remembered for his opera La Gioconda (1876) based on a play by Victor Hugo. An exceptional and rare M.S., `Ponchielli´, seven pages, oblong folio (12 x 9) stave paper, n.p., n.d. Signed by Ponchielli to the heading of the front page. The full autograph working manuscript is in the hand of Ponchielli and corresponds to the complete score of his work Dio Amore as he entitles to the heading. He also annotates to the front page heading `Parole di Silvio Pellico´ (“Words by Silvio Pellico”). Ponchielli has penned over 90 bars of music, on three staves, adding tempos alongside and the Romanza voice text beneath the musical notes, bearing also multiple annotations, crossed words and amendments. Attractively bound within modern decorative boards featuring sea horses and with a gilt stamped leather title to the front. Small overall minor age wear and staining otherwise VG Dio Amore! is a work for choir and pianoforte by Ponchielli, opus 277. Musical critics have widely commented about this Romanza that it highlights the innate sense of Ponchielli's theatre as well as his uncommon lyrical vein.Silvio Pellico (1789-1854) Italian Writer, Poet and Patriot active in the Italian unification.

VISCONTI LUCHINO: (1906-1976) Italian theatre, opera and film Director. One of the leading figures of Italian neorealism. Best remembered for his films The Leopard (1963) and Death in Venice (1971). A very interesting A.L.S., `Luchino Visconti´, two pages, folio, n.p., 22nd July 1955, to Danilo, in Italian. Visconti refers to a film project, stating in part, `Dear Danilo, the proposal I have to make to you is the following one - I have decided to personally assume the task of staging the crucible of Miller. I mean the scenography and costumes.´ Visconti further explains to his correspondent the assistant post he has been considering for research of documentation and film making, saying `..I have been thinking in you. If you want to accept such task.´ and reminds and requests secrecy `Right now I tell you that I demand an absolute discretion and secrecy at work..´ Visconti further again explains that the work will be in Rome and that he needs a prompt response. Small overall minor creasing. Folded. G

FELLINI FEDERICO: (1920-1993) Italian Film Director, Academy Award winner. A good original blue pen and ink drawing signed by Fellini, one page, folio, n.p., n.d. Fellini has drawn a caricature of a male tennis player, with an exaggerated mouth, standing in a full length pose and holding a large tennis racket in one hand. Signed by Fellini with a truncated example of his first name only to the base. Some extremely minor, light wrinkling and very light uniform age toning, most likely the result of previous framing. About VG 

Two boxes of Folio Society volumes

Folio Society. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. 8 sleeved volumes

Fourteen Various Folio Society Books, to include: London Portrait of a City, Samuel Smiles, The Riddle of The Sands, Michaelangelo, Cranford, Cold Comfort Farm and Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl, all in slipcases. (14)

A Set of Five Folio Society Books - The Renaissance of Europe, The Flowering of the Renaissance, The Florentine Renaissance, The Travel and Discovery of the Renaissance and Europe From Renaissance to Reformation, in a slipcase; plus four other Folio Society titles 'Anthem For Doomed Youth', 'Birkett Foster', 'The Brownings' and a 'Biography 1947-1996' and Batsford books in slipcases. (11)

Hardy [Thomas]; Eight Folio Society Editions, including Far From The Madding Crowd, The Wessex Tales, in slipcases. (8)

The Decorative Arts in England 1660 - 1780 [Herbert Hall Mulliner], pub B.T. Batsford, first edition, folio, in slipcase; Decoration in England 1660-1770 and Furniture in England [Francis Lenygon], pub B.T. Batsford.

The Name of The Rose [Umberto Eco], pub by the Folio Society, 2001, in slipcase; Shakespeare's Sonnets and a Lover's Complaint, pub by the Folio Society, 1989, in slipcase, 'Shakespeare the Complete Works, Collectors Library editions and two other Folio Society books. (5)

David [Elizabeth]: Four Folio Society Editions - French Provincial Cookery, French Country Cookery, Mediterranean Cookery and Italian Food in slipcases; plus seven other Elizabeth David cookery books. (11)

Hardy [Thomas]; A Set of Three Folio Society - Life's Little Ironies, A Changed Man and A Group of Noble Dames, in slipcase; plus two further sets by the same author, in slipcases. (9)

Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus) Opera Omnia Medico-Chemico-Chirurgica, tribus voluminibus comprehensa. Editio novissima et emendatissima ad Germanica & Latina exemplaria accuratissime collata, 3 vol. in 2, first Tournes edition, half-title, engraved portrait frontispiece and title vignette to vol.1, some light foxing, titles in red & black, woodcut initials, head- & tail-pieces, and illustrations, contemporary Dutch vellum, blind-stamped centre-pieces, rubbed with some dark spots to boards, joint to vol.1 split but holding firm, [Caillet 8283; Heirs of Hippocrates 215; Wellcome IV, 293], folio, Geneva, for Joan. Antonii, & Samuel De Tournes, 1658.⁂ First Tournes published edition, 'the best and most complete edition of Paracelsus' collected works' (Neville), complete with the often-lacking portrait after Tintoretto. Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (c.1493-1541), who wrote under the pen name Paracelsus, was a Renaissance pioneer of medicine, an astronomer and alchemist. As native of Switzerland, he was educated in Basel, Vienna, and Ferrara, and travelled extensively throughout Europe during his life as an itinerant physician. He is credited with establishing the role of chemistry in medicine, and is often referred to as the "father of toxicology." His most known legacy is his record of the first clinical descriptions of syphilis and epilepsy, and his advocation of the humane treatment of the mentally ill in an era when they were believed to be possessed by demons.

Cornford (Frances Crofts, poet, 1886-1960) 22 Autograph Letters signed and 7 autograph postcards signed to Daniel George of Jonathan Cape Ltd. publisher, 1 letter incomplete, c. 88pp., 8vo, Conduit Head, Madingly Road, Cambridge and elsewhere, 8th March 1945 - November 1946 & n.d., an interesting series of letters concerning her translations from the French surrealist poet, Louis Aragon, which Cape was proposing to publish; together with her autograph draft of the table of contents , dedication, and Preface (5pp. folio), and typescripts with autograph corrections of 18 of the 20 poems to be included, folds, in a cloth-box, v.s., v.d. (c. 45 pieces excluding typescripts).⁂ The letters provide a vivid picture of the difficulties and frustrations of the translator's work; both poetically (she refers to help from Gwen Raverat, Stephen Spender and Sir Edward Marsh amongst others), and practically (after receiving permission to make the translations Aragon never answered any of her other letters). The last letter suggests that Cape finally decided against publication.

Brookshaw (George) Groups of Flowers, 1819; Groups of Fruits, 1819; Six Birds, 1819, together 3 vol.in 1, second editions, half-titles, each with 6 stipple-engraved plates in both hand-coloured and uncoloured states, foxing but mostly to text leaves, contemporary red straight-grain morocco, gilt, g.e., extremities a little rubbed, [Dunthorne 53, 55 and 54; Nissen IVB 150 third work], folio, Minerva Press, 1819.⁂ A lovely copy of this drawing manual intended for students of drawing, and capitalising on the fashion for natural history drawing in the late 18th and early 19th centuries: each subject is depicted by a hand-coloured plate which faces an uncoloured plate and is accompanied by a leaf of letterpress which describes the species and gives guidance for drawing and colouring it.

Curtis (William) Flora Londinensis, 2 vol., first edition, vol.1 title with engraved vignette, 435 hand-coloured engraved plates on 432 leaves, final text leaf of vol.1 defective at inner margin with slight loss of text, index page numberings corrected in ms in both vol., some light foxing and toning but overall an excellent, clean copy, modern red half morocco, spine gilt, lower covers partially sunned, [Nissen BBI 440; Henrey 595; Hunt 650], folio, Printed for and sold by the author, 1777-[98].⁂ A very good copy of the first colour plate national flora of England. Inscription on verso of title of vol.1 reads "This work coloured by Mrs Ann Yonge of Park Street, Finished in the year one Thousand Eight hundred and Two, Aged Seventy Three." The word "coloured" has been largely erased but is still just legible.

Gerard (John) The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes, second edition, engraved title by John Payne trimmed and laid down with small marginal defect, numerous woodcut illustrations, 6Z6 defective and laid down, a few other leaves at end with marginal repairs, a few leaves in middle with light water-stain, generally a very good copy, 19th century russia, single gilt rule, blind-stamped arms of Lord Bagot to covers, joints cracking and repaired, [STC 11751; Garrison-Morton 1820; Henrey I, pp.48-54; Hunt 223], folio, Printed by Adam Islip, Joice Norton and Richard Whitakers, 1633.⁂ A very good copy of the preferred edition of the greatest English herbal, expanded and improved by Thomas Johnson from the 1597 first edition.

Ashendene Press.- Hornby (C.H.St.John) A Descriptive Bibliography of the Books printed at the Ashendene Press MDCCCXCV-MCMXXXV, number 8 of 390 copies signed by the author/printer, printed in red and black in Ptolemy type, plates, illustrations and specimen leaves, some folding, a few with initials supplied by hand by Graily Hewitt, 2 errata leaves tipped in at end, with 2 copies of the prospectus, 3 bookplates (one armorial) and book-label of C.H.St.J.Hornby loosely inserted, engraved bookplate of Oliver Howard, original russet calf, press device in gilt on upper cover, t.e.g., others uncut, slightly rubbed and scuffed, particularly spine, split to upper joint, marbled board slip-case (slightly rubbed), [Hornby XL], folio, Ashendene Press, 1935.

Henderson (Edward George and Andrew) The Illustrated Bouquet, consisting of Figures with Descriptions of New Flowers, 2 vol. in 1, 49 hand-coloured lithograph plates only (of 84), one double-page, one folding, all heightened with gum arabic, tissue guards, plus folding view and accompanying plan of Henderson's Horticultural Establishment, contemporary green half morocco, rubbed and scuffed, [Nissen BBI 847], folio, 1857-59-61

Oeder (Georg Christian von) Flora Danica, one vol. only containing 60 hand-coloured engraved plates, pencil captions, some damp-staining, marginal worming at end, later half cloth, rubbed, folio, Copenhagen, 1764; sold not subject to return⁂ Includes several plates of fungi.

Velley (Thomas) Coloured Figures of Marine Plants, found on the Southern Coast of England, first edition, 5 hand-coloured engraved plates, modern green morocco-backed cloth, gilt, [Nissen BBI 2045; Henrey 1448], folio, Bath, S. Hazard, 1795.⁂ An attractive copy of the rare first work devoted to marine plants.

Arboriculture.- Ravenscroft (Edward) The Pinetum Britannicum. A Descriptive Account of Hardy Coniferous Trees, 3 vol., first edition, 48 hand-coloured lithographed plates, 4 mounted albumen prints, 1 engraved map, errata slip, foxing, almost exclusively affecting the text but not plates, contemporary red half morocco, covers lightly stained, a little rubbed, folio, [Nissen BBI 1588], 1884.⁂ This stunningly illustrated work was the result of over twenty years of collaboration and research. The tree portraits in colour are predominantly from the original drawings of William Richardson, those of cones and leaves by Dr Greville and James and Robert Black, and the characteristic sketches of the Deodar Cedars in vol. 3 were captured 'in the field' by Lady Canning during her time in India. The extensive woodcut illustrations throughout the text were also executed by multiple hands; Andrew Murray, James M'Nab, Dr Greville and Dr Maxwell T Masters. Meanwhile, leading conifer specialists of the day, from institutions such as the British Museum, Royal Horticultural Society and Royal Botanical Gardens, as well as individual professors from Florence, Berlin and Paris, and several private experts, all contributed to enhance the publication. On its commencement in 1863, the project received immediate royal support; Queen Victoria requested the work be dedicated to the memory of the recently deceased Prince Albert and provided photographs of two specimens at Osborne House for inclusion, while Emperor Napoleon III secured thirty copies for distribution among French schools of Forestry and Agriculture. Considered one of the great British works on coniferae, the Pinetum Britannicum is a testament to the nineteenth century fascination with natural history and fashion for classifying and cataloguing, and remains unmatched in scope and quality.

Birds.- Johnson (Theophilus) Illustrations of Typical Birds: First Series, 24 mounted gouache illustrations, heightened with gum arabic, printed title, corrections inserted by hand, one or two pencil annotations, marginal spotting, original vellum, morocco spine label, lightly rubbed, folio, [Dartford Heath], 1900.⁂ Scarce, with no copies recorded on Library Hub and this the only copy recorded at auction. One copy of the 'Second Series' is recorded at the Natural History Museum Library. Theophilus Johnson (1836-1919) was born in Tottenham. He was an amateur naturalist and artist, privately printing a large number of natural history title. He illustrated all of his works with original watercolours and drawings. Provenance: Sotheby's 7th December 1993. Bradley Martin Sotheby's New York sale, 12th December 1989, with pencil note to blank.

Birds.- Rickman (Philip) A Selection of Bird Paintings and Sketches, number 334 of 500 copies signed by Rickman, with an original pencil sketch by Rickman mounted, frontispiece, portrait and 31 colour plates, illustrations, original half-morocco, gilt, original slipcase, a little rubbed, folio, 1979.

Birds.- Thorburn (Archibald) Birds of Prey: a facsimile of the 1919 edition, 1 of 15 deluxe copies, 12 colour plates, Lamarsh, original green morocco, original cloth slipcase, a little rubbed, folio, Major Iain Grahame, 1985.⁂ Please see Lot 161 for the original 1919 edition.

Ferns.- Moore (Thomas) The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland, first edition, edited by John Lindley, half-title, 51 nature-printed plates by Henry Bradbury, tissue-guards, occasional spotting, occasional marginal water-staining, ex-library with small ink-stamp to title, previous owner's ink inscription to front pastedown, contemporary half-calf, rebacked with original spine laid down, gilt, a little rubbed, [Nissen BBI, 1400], folio, 1855.

Gardens.- Rea (John) Flora: seu, de Florum Cultura. or, a Complete Forilege, first edition, additional engraved title, 8 engraved plates, title in red and black, previous owner's ink signature to title, occasional very faint marginal damp-staining, short marginal tear not affecting text (2G4), contemporary calf, repairs to spine head and corners, a little rubbed, [Hunt 301; Wing R421], folio, by J.G. for Thomas Clarke, 1665.

Grew (Nehemiah) Musæum Regalis Societatis. Or, a Catalogue & Description of the Natural and Artificial Rarities belonging to the Royal Society, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece, 31 engraved plates (1 folding), corrections inserted by hand, occasional spotting, short marginal tear not affecting text (O2), bookplate, previous owner's ink stencil and signature to front pastedown, near contemporary calf, rebacked, rubbed and worn, [Wing G1952; Wood p.369], folio, by W. Rawlins, 1681.

Herbal.- Gerard (John) The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes, edited by Thomas Johnson, third edition, engraved architectural title by Jo. Payne, numerous woodcut illustrations throughout, with title and woodcuts coloured in a contemporary hand, lacking initial and final blanks, engraved title soiled and slightly frayed at edges (laid down), lightly browned, some slight marginal worming and staining, a few small tears or minor defects, with unobtrusive show-through or offsetting from the colouring but a good copy, engraved bookplate of Stephen Holland, contemporary calf, rubbed and scuffed, rebacked, corners repaired, [Henrey 156; Hunt 230; Nissen BBI 698; STC 11752], folio, by Adam Islip, Joice Norton and Richard Whitakers, 1636.

Reptiles.- Topsell (Edward) The History of Serpents, woodcut title vignette of a child being swallowed by a boa, woodcut illustrations, reinforced at inner edge and with manuscript alteration pasted over part of title, some light soiling or browning, a few stains, small hole to Nnn4 with loss of a couple of letters and affecting woodcut of crocodile, Ttt3 with small portion lacking from upper margin with loss to head-line, a few minor marginal tears and repairs, old ink inscriptions to front free endpaper, modern half calf, [Nissen 4147; Wing G624], folio, by E. Cotes, 1658.⁂ The second part only (of 3, pp.591-818) of Topsell's The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents of 1658 (second edition), with its own separate title but amended in manuscript to read "...Or, The Book of living Creatures" instead of "...Or, The second book of living Creatures". It covers bees & wasps, chameleons, crocodiles, dragons, frogs & toads, lizards, scorpions, spiders, and tortoises as well as snakes.

Bible leaf from 1462.- Bible, Latin, Single leaf, from Genesis chapters 34 to 36, double column, 48 lines, Gothic type, 2 initials supplied in red and blue with large marginal flourishes, chapter numbers and head-lines in red and blue, ruled, light staining to head and foot, small patch of worming to margins, [BMC I 22; Goff B529; GW 4204], folio, (400 x 300mm.), [Mainz, Johannes Fust and Peter Schoeffer], [1462].⁂ A leaf from the first dated bible (and the fourth edition of the Vulgate); preceeded only by the Gutenberg Bible at Mainz, the Pfister Bible at Bamberg and the Mentelen Bible at Strasbourg. The text is from Genesis 34 - 36 and concerns the aftermath of the rape of Jacob's daughter Dinah and the moving of his family to Bethel in Canaan. 1462 Bible leaves from the Book of Genesis are very rare in commerce.

Pelbartus de Themeswar. Sermones Pomerii de tempore, collation: 1-68 i-iiii6 a-g8 h-q6.8.8. r6 s8 t6 v.x8 y6 z8 A-B8 C6 D-K8, 263 ff. (of 264, lacking final blank), 58 lines and headline, Gothic type, initials in red or blue, initial-strokes, paragraph-marks and underlining in red, a few instances of early ink marginalia, k8 torn with loss of text, numerous wormholes in text, Hagenau, Heinrich Gran for Johannes Rynman, 3 August, 1501 bound with Pelbartus de Themeswar. Sermones Pomerii quadragesimales, collation: a-m8.8.6 n8 o6 p8, 110 ff., 58 lines and headline, Gothic type, initials in red or blue, paragraph-marks and underlining in red, wormholes/traces in text, Hagenau, Heinrich Gran, for Johannes Rynman, 10 June, 1501, together 2 works in 1 vol., stained, some spotting, 16th century ornately blind-stamped calf over wooden boards, metal clasps, spine in compartments, covers decorated with agnus dei lozenge and various floral and foliage tools, all within intersecting triple filet borders, wormholes, a few nicks, rubbed and scuffed, folio (285 x 209mm.)⁂ The author was a Hungarian Franciscan writer and preacher (1430-1504). Provenance: 'Sum Bibliothecæ Fratrum Minorum Recollectorum Provinciæ Thuringiæ S. Elisabethæ...Brückenavium, Anno 1706' (printed label to inner front board); Klosterbibliothek ?Volkenberg (inscription and later ink stamp to title). Literature: I: VD 16 P 1180; cf. Goff P-255; HC 12552*; BSB-Ink P-131 II: cf. VD 16 P 1164; BMC III 688; HC 12560*; Goff P-256.

Ptolomaeus (Claudius) Geographiae libri octo, edited by Gerard Mercator, second edition, collation: []2 A-L6, M4, (?)4, A-L2, K2, M-O2, N-Z2, Aa-Bb2, a-b6, c4 (lacking final blank c4), engraved title and 28 engraved maps, all but Egypt double-page, but that of Egypt bound horizontally and thus appearing double-page and smaller, woodcut illustrations, decorations and initials, title with marginal soiling, last map with marginal defect, occasional minor soiling, modern calf, folio, Cologne, Godfried von Kempen, 1584.⁂ The second edition of Mercator's version of Ptolemy, which first appeared in 1576. An important 16th century work, representing Mercator's life-time fascination with Ptolemy and, more broadly, the Renaissance's continued negotiation with the classical past. In order to produce this book, Mercator edited and revisited Ptolemy's Geography, which had been rediscovered in a Greek version in the 14th century and then translated into Latin. Though Ptolemy gave detailed instructions and coordinates in the work as to how maps should be prepared, none are known from classical example. Mercator therefore went through the Latin text carefully, trying to ensure that he obtained the best and truest possible version and drew up the maps from it according to Ptolemy's specifications. The result is this important and attractive work.Literature: VD 16 P 5219

Bible, Arabic & Latin.- Sacrosancta quatuor Iesu Christi D.N. Evangelia arabice scripta, Latine reddita, title in red and black and with woodcut arms, large woodcut vignettes in text after Antonio Tempesta, lacking Latin dedication f., portrait and colophon f., f.207 tear within text, without loss, f.457 torn at inner margin, some foxing and browning, occasional spotting or staining, 20th century half vellum, [D&M 1643], folio, Rome, Medici Press, 1619.⁂ A scarce reissue of a 1591 edition (D&M 1637) of the Bible in Arabic, with interlinear Latin gloss added. Provenance: 'Ex lib, Domus Antonii Florentia...' (17th century ink inscription to f.9v).

Brandt (Gerard) Het Leven en Bedryf van den heere Michiel de Ruiter, additional engraved pictorial title, woodcut title vignette, 8 engraved plates, of which 6 double page and 1 folding, engraved portrait, initials and head- and tail-pieces, occasional spotting, including to a couple of plates, occasional light browning with I1-I4 more heavily browned, bookplate to front pastedown, contemporary vellum, covers slightly toned, spine with red morocco label, joints beginning to crack, folio, Amsterdam, for Waasberge, Boom and Goethals, 1701.

Music.- Handel (George Frederick) Suites de Pieces pour le Clavecin, 2 vol. in 1, first uniform edition (fourth edition of vol.1, first edition of vol.2), engraved throughout with calligraphic titles and musical notation, vol.1 with sheets numbered 1-94 and vol.2 numbered 2-83, most printed on both sides, a few ink or pencil markings for fingering and ornaments, title soiled and frayed at edges (repaired), slight worming to corners of first few leaves (some repaired), contemporary ink signature of Grisel Hamilton to front pastedown, contemporary reversed calf with roll-tooled panels in blind and gilt-stamped red morocco label to upper cover, slightly rubbed, a few light stains to upper cover, [Smith 6 & 5], oblong folio, John Walsh, No.490, [c.1736-1733].⁂ An excellent clean copy of the standard edition of Handel's harpsichord suites, and the basis for the numerous subsequent editions.Possibly Grisel Hamilton (1719-1811), daughter of Charles Hamilton, Viscount Binning, married Philip, 2nd Earl Stanhope in 1745.

Type Specimen.- Thieme (Carl Albert) Letterproef der Boekdukkery, only edition, 43 plates of specimens of type, scripts, music, ornaments, numbers, symbols, coats-of-arms, vignettes, and masonic decorations, contemporary ink signature "L.H.Eberson" to title, original printed boards with decorative border, title on upper cover, printing press on lower, spine lettered in manuscript, rubbed, joints a little worn, [Not in Bigmore & Wyman], folio, Arnhem, 1830.⁂ Rare printer's type specimen showing the range of types and ornaments in a Dutch printing house in the early nineteenth century. The firm was founded by Herman Carel Anton Thieme of Wesel in Germany in 1792, and was continued by his four sons in Arnhem and Zutphen. Carl Albert was his grandson and operated as a bookseller, printer and publisher. WorldCat records only 5 copies, all in the Netherlands.

Russian order of merit.- Статутъ Орден Св. Станислава [Statute for the Order of St. Stanislaus], light foxing, some browning to first and last ff., but a very good copy generally, attractive modern calf-backed boards, folio, [St. Petersburg], [c.1831].⁂ Russian statute to establish the Order of Stanislaus, an order of merit for military and civilian distinction within the empire. The order was originally Polish but was incorporated by the Russian Empire in 1831 following the November Uprising. We can trace no other examples of this statute.

Taxation without Parliamentary consent.- Davies (Sir John, lawyer and poet, attorney-general for Ireland, bap. 1569, d. 1626) An Argument Uppon the question of Impositions Divided in to Severall Chapters, manuscript, 7pp. only (List of Contents with 33 chapter headings), later manuscript title, slightly soiled, browned throughout, unbound, folio, [c. 1620].⁂ First part of a work first published in 1656, years after the death of the author. The Bodleian Library has a similar, complete manuscript, MS. Add. A. 116, of 95 leaves. The work is "on the prerogative right to levy impositions without parliamentary consent, building his argument on the Roman-law concept of ius gentium, or the law of nations... ." - Oxford DNB.

Scotland.- Porteous (John, army officer and victim of crowd violence, c. 1695-1736).- [Examinations of the Witnesses Before the House of Lords in the Inquiry into the Murder of Captain Porteous], manuscript, 94pp. excluding blanks, printed Act of Parliament, "An Act to disable Alexander Wilson... any Office or Place of Magistracy", 2ff. of manuscript with holes slightly affecting text, slightly browned, William Roughead's copy with his bookplate on front pastedown, 20th century buckram, gilt label on upper cover, discoloured, Pro Patria watermark, folio, 1736.⁂ Porteous was appointed captain of the city guard of Edinburgh in 1726. "On 14 April 1736 a condemned smuggler, Andrew Wilson, was taken to be executed in the Grassmarket. After Wilson was hanged, perhaps because of concern about a possible rescue, Porteous asked, but was denied, permission to cut the body down early. A few minutes later when the hangman tried to remove Wilson's body the crowd began to stone the city guard and, in the confusion, the corpse was cut down and rushed off with a view to attempted resuscitation." (Oxford DNB). Porteous then ordered his guard to fire on the crowd. For this he was arrested and tried and condemned for murder. He was lynched and hanged the night before his judicial execution.Provenance: "These examinations were printed for the first time in the Trial of Captain Porteous, by William Roughead W.S. Appendix XII. (Notable Scottish Trials Series, Edinburgh: 1909.)" William Roughead (1870-1952), writer on Scottish criminal trials.

Cookery recipes.- [?Appleby (J., ?housekeeper, of Wootton House, Laceby, Lincolnshire)] [Collection of recipes], manuscript in several hands, 54pp., 1f. cut at head with loss, last f. loose, browned, later pencil inscription on front pastedown: "Appleby Wootton House 1756... 1786... 1801", inner hinges broken but joints firm, original vellum, yellowed and soiled, folio, [18th century].⁂ Recipes include: "To make Calfs head hash"; "To make Isenglas Flumery"; "how to make Coffe Cakes"; "To make Tea Biskits"; "To make Puff Poste"; "To make Ginsbread Drops"; "To Dress hogs feet & ears the best way"; "Mrs Neesby To make a white frigesy of Rabbits"; "Amber greese"; "To make Almond Hedge hog"; "A Receipt of ye late Dockter Ward, for a sore throat which may be depended on as genuine" etc.Provenance: 19th century note: "Copied from the Marriage Register of Wootton Parish Church. John Nicholson of... Laceby and Mary Atkinson of... Wootton were married.... One thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty One... In the presence of J. Appleby... ."

Maritime exercise book.- The Mariner's Compass [first title], manuscript in an Italic hand, 106pp., pen and ink diagram of the mariner's compass and a full-page chart of coastline, and numerous geometric diagrams, small tear in inner margins of rear half of volume, compass at beginning soiled, some other light dust-soiling and few marks, slightly browned, 20th century marbled boards, spine detached, sm. folio, n.d. [c. 1800].⁂ Various exercises, including: "plane sailing"; "traverse sailing"; "middle latitude sailing, Mercators sailing"; "oblique sailing"; "current sailing"; "of tides"; "rules for correcting the dead reckoning"; "rules for keeping a journal"; "a journal of a voyage from London to Madera and Teneriffe in the Frances of London, William Johnson Commander kept by Joseph Mills, Mate"; "the manner of surveying the coasts and harbours" etc.

Northumberland.- Harley (Edward, fifth Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, 1773-1848).- A Survey of Several Baronies, Manors, Townships Ec. lying and being in Northumberland belonging to... Edward, Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, manuscript, title and 93pp., signature of Amea Bell at tail of title, 1821 bound with Book referring to a Plan of that part of Bothal Barony in the County of Northumberland; belonging to... the Duke of Portland..., title and 53pp., Surveyed in 1779 & 1780, first title with pink stain, front endpapers and some blank ff. at end also stained, original half calf, covers loose, rubbed and stained, folio.⁂ Provenance: "This is a faithful copy of a M.S. bearing the above Title, and now in the possession of Mr John Fenwick, Attorney at Law, Newcastle. Newcastle. June 16th. 1821."

Royal Navy.- Malcolm (George John, Rear-Admiral, 1830-84) Log of the Proceedings of H.M.S... Inconstant... Curacoa... Firebrand..., autograph manuscript, titles and c. 380pp., numerous monochrome wash watercolour slips of coasts and pen and ink maps (including a map of Pernambuco, Brazil), slightly browned, original calf, repaired, folio, 1842-46.⁂ Places visited include: Spain (Tarifa), Straits of Gibraltar, Funchal (Madeira), west coast of Africa, Brazil (Pernambuco), Uruguay ("Plan of the Harbour of Monte-Video") and Argentina (Buenos Ayres Mole").Malcolm was the eldest son of Sir Charles Malcolm (1782-1851), naval officer. He followed in his father's footsteps, serving in the Royal Navy for his entire career and becoming Rear Admiral in 1882. His long naval career took him to North and South America, the West Indies, the Baltic, the English Channel, Egypt, and the East Coast of Africa. After he retired from active service in 1873, he entered the Turkish services as Pasha and was employed at Constantinople as Director General of the Abolition of the Slave Trade and Judge of the Slave Courts.

Heraldry.- [Morant (Alfred William, FSA, antiquary, heraldry enthusiast and engineer, completed "The Ordinary of British Armorials" after the death in 1870 of his cousin John Papworth, 1828-81)] [Arms of the Knights of the Order of the Garter], autograph manuscript, 12pp., 684 numbered shields (printed in outline) with manuscript captions of which c. 480 with completed coats on 57pp. with accompanying autograph manuscript notes on tipped-in slips, most in ink, a few in pencil, extra-illustrated with the insertion of 16 pen and ink drawings of coats of arms, banner, badges of the Order of the Garter etc. on tracing paper, 19 engraved prints & 2 ALs.s. from J.R. Planche and T.W. King, College of Arms all tipped-in or laid down, slightly browned, bookplates of A. W. Morant, Henry J.B. Clements and Stansfield on front endpapers, contemporary morocco-backed marbled boards, slightly rubbed, upper joint splitting at head, gilt spine, folio, letter dated 1862.⁂ (1). ALs from James Robinson Planché (1796-1880), playwright and herald, discussing Thomas Cromwell's Garter plate (2). ALs from Thomas William King (1801-72), regarding the Garter plate of Henry Ratcliff.Provenance: Part of a lot from the library of H.J.B. Clements, Killadoon, Co. Kildare, Sotheby's, London, 1966.

Churchill & Tanks.- Crompton (Rookes Evelyn Bell, FRS, engineer, 1845-1940) Proof of Evidence [at the Tank Inquiry held at Lincoln's Inn in 1919], typescript with manuscript corrections, 19pp., folio, 15th September 1919; and a collection including a printed copy of the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventions... Lincoln's Inn... 1919 and other papers and correspondence relating to Crompton's career, slightly browned, v.s., various dates &1919 & 1925-35 (qty).⁂ "... I had been acting as the Consulting Engineer to the Road Board... and had done... work in connection with Mechanical Transport... so that Colonel Dumble... informed Mr. Churchill through Major Hetherington that he strongly advised that I should be called in to assist by my advice the Admiralty Committee which had been formed by Mr. Churchill to report on what could be done to deal with the problems of trench warfare by putting at the disposal of the Army large moving forts armoured to a sufficient extent, and to carry men and guns up to over and through the enemy's trenches." - Crompton.

[Erasmus (Desiderius)] [Paraphrases upon the New Testament], vol.1 only (of 2), 5 parts in 1, collation: D4-6 E-S6 T2; [para]2 [para]6 Aa-Pp6 Qq4; [para]6 ⁂8 a-Hh6 Ii8; [para]2 ( )6 A-S6 T10; [para]2 A-M6, black letter, lacking all before D4 (fo.xx of Matthew), I5 (fo.li Matthew), Ll1 & Mm2 (fo.lxi & lxviii Marke), k1 (fo.lv Actes) and all after M6 (fo.lxxii Actes), with blank T10 at end of John, a few contemporary ink inscriptions of Thomas or John Browne, some soiling and staining, occasional worming, first and last few leaves frayed at edges and reinforced, a few other marginal defects, modern thin card leaves loosely inserted as new endpapers, contemporary calf over wooden boards, worming to upper cover, stitching to lower where two pieces of leather attached, rebacked, [cf. Herbert 72 & 73; also STC 2854 but not seemingly conforming to any of the variants on ESTC], folio, [?Edward Whitchurch], [?1548]; sold not subject to return⁂ In 1547 Edward VI decreed that a copy of Paraphrases should be acquired by every parish church, as companion to the Great Bible of 1539. Herbert reports that the scarcity of this work can be attributed to the efforts of Mary I of England in attempting to restore the Vulgate Bible, leading to many copies of the first and contemporary editions being destroyed.