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English Statutes in contemporary bindings.- Table (A) to al the Statutes made from the beginning of the raigne of Kyng Edwarde the vi, 2 vol., black letter, woodcut general titles, numerous divisional titles, some with woodcut borders, woodcut initials, some light water-staining at end of vol.2, occasional spotting, last few margins of both vol. affected by clasps (causing holes and rust-marks), contemporary blind-stamped calf over wooden boards, vol.1 rebacked preserving original spine, a few other repairs and clasps renewed, folio, Richard Tottell [and others], 1570-76.⁂ A remarkable survival in generally excellent condition and in contemporary bindings, albeit restored. These statutes provide a profound insight into the legal framework governing the lives and times of the Elizabethans, such as apparel, apprentices, bail, beggars, the Book of Common Prayer, Brickmakers, Cathedrals, Counterfeiting, Rebellious Assemblies, Sheriffs, Wool, and so on, as well as statutes of major impact such as the Supreme Head of the Church of England (26 Henry VIII c 1).The bindings appear to be those of Oldham's "F.D. binder", who he believed came from Germany and of which some 35 examples are known. These bindings are characterised by a particular design - "his design was, with very few exceptions, always the same, one roll, used doubled, with an inner frame touching the outer" (Oldham, English Blind-stamped Bindings, p.32 and plate XIX). The first volume in this set has the collective table by Tottell, and individual issues by Tottell (five), Jugge (ten), and Christopher Barker (one), covering Edward VI; Mary 1, Philip and Mary, and Elizabeth 1 as follows: Edward VI year 1 (Tottell); 2-3 (Tottell), 3-4 (Tottell), 5-6 (Tottell), 6-7 (Totell), Mary 1 year 1 (Jugge); year 1 (Until October) (Jugge); Phillip and Mary Years 1-2 (Jugge), 2-3 (Jugge), 4-5 (Jugge), Elizabeth 1 Year 1 (Jugge), 5 (Jugge), 8 (Jugge), 13 (Christopher Barker), 14 (Jugge), 18 (Jugge). The second volume opens with the title page to volume two, collective table by Marsh, and is followed by his reissue of the Henry VIII statutes: years 1, 3-7, 14-15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34-35, 35.The group offered here is unusually coherent, being printed entirely between 1570-1576. Marsh is known to have produced a two-volume issue, and presumably he took over the stock of Jugge after his death, using it as spare parts to constitute the first volume, to go alongside his reissue of the Henry VIII statutes.

Bible, English. [The Holy Bible, conteining the Olde Tesament and the Newe: Of That Translation authorised to be read in Churches], woodcut initials and head- and tail-pieces, double column in black letter, dedicatory engraved frontispiece to Ann of Denmark and another to Frances Teresa Stuart (2F3?), lacking original general title, but with New Testament title substituted (woodcut border, with text block cut out and paper restoration to verso with new title inserted), and with similar substitution of Psalter title for New Testament, lacking initial 19ff. (all before C6), the Psalms (30ff. comprising 2F2 - 2I6), Apocrypha title, and individual ff. O1, 3M3, 5-6, 3S6, some spotting and staining throughout, many ff. with small repairs (mainly marginal), trimmed, in some cases close to side notes and headlines, a small amount of worming to initial leaves, ink ownership stamp, 'W. Newell Cambridge' to a few margins, C18th ink ownership inscriptions to title and elsewhere, front endpaper defective and rear endpapers restored, eighteenth century burgundy morocco, spine with red morocco label, covers lightly scuffed and stained, corners and spine slightly rubbed, particularly upper joint, [STC 2141, Herbert 185], folio, [Christopher Barker], [1584], sold not subject to return.

Essex.- Morant (Philip) The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, 2 vol., list of subscribers, 9 folding engraved maps and one plan, 23 engraved plates, several folding, with additional hand-coloured engraved plate of tessellated pavement mounted on blank leaf and bound into vol.1 and additional engraved plate of Little Maplestead Church bound in opposite p.284 of vol.2, a few ink marginalia, occasional spotting, I2 and plate of Wanstead House torn and repaired, some plates frayed at edges, R1 in vol.2 supplied in good facsimile and mounted on stub, contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt, rubbed, a few scuffs, handsomely rebacked with gilt morocco spines and green calf labels, folio, for T.Osborne [& others], 1768.⁂ Including the second edition of The History and Antiquities of the most ancient Town and Borough of Colchester.

Chaucer (Geoffrey) The Workes of our Antient and lerned English Poet...newly Printed, black letter, double column, lacking title and all before para 1 in preliminaries (supplied in photocopy, but without b1), F6 also in photocopy and lacking all after 3Z6 (glossary etc.), with woodcut divisional titles, large coat-of-arms at end of Prologue and illustration at head of Knights Tale, a little soiled and stained, final leaves defective at lower outer corner with slight loss to text, a few others at upper outer corner with loss of pagination, modern calf-backed cloth, a little rubbed and stained, spine faded, [Pforzheimer 177; STC 5077], folio, George Bishop, 1598; sold not subject to return⁂ The sixth edition and the first by Thomas Speght which would become the preferred edition over the following centuries.

[Chaucer (Geoffrey)] [The Workes...], black letter, double column, lacking a1-6, b1, 3 & 4, c4, G2, 3T1 & 6 and 3V7 & 8 (including title with woodcut border, divisional title with woodcut coat-of-arms, engraved portrait and errata leaf at end), woodcut illustration to head of Knights Tale and head- & tail-pieces and initials, with missing G2 leaf supplied in near contemporary ink manuscript on 5pp., 2Y signature supplied from another copy (cropped, soiled and frayed at fore-margin), 3K2 defective at lower outer corner with loss of a few letters on verso), several old ink signatures and inscriptions in various hands (Edward ?Bird at beginning and other leaves, Chessborough Le Poer-Kennedy to Knight's Tale, Richard Blagrave 1659 at end), slight worming to first few leaves, some light soiling and occasional water-staining, final leaf a little frayed, old bookseller's ticket of Attwood's of Dublin loosely inserted, contemporary calf, worn, rebacked, new endpapers, [STC 5080 or 5081], [printed by Adam Islip or George Bishop], [1602]; with a rather damp-stained but complete copy (bar initial blank) of the Adam Islip 1602 edition, containing all the missing leaves from the mentioned copy (including woodcut title, coat-of-arms, engraved portrait and errata leaf), folio (2); sold not subject to return⁂ The second Speight edition, additionally edited by Francis Thynne; including Lydgate's The Storie of Thebes and much erroneously attributed to Chaucer.A note at end of the leaves supplied in manuscript reads, "This copy of Chaucer is of a very rare edition. The order of the tales differs from that adopted in the ordinary editions. I purchased this book at a sale in Dublin (Lewis auctioneer Anglesea St.). Le Poer-Kennedy MA. Harbertonford, Totnes Devon 1863...".

Homer. The Whole Works, 3 parts in 1, translated by George Chapman, engraved general title by William Hole with portrait to verso, engraved plate of memorial to Prince Henry, Odyssey lacking engraved and printed titles, (engraved supplied in facsimile), also lacking R8 and Ii8 at end (both blank), Iliad lacking engraved title and 'faults escaped' leaf at end of preface, Bb2 and Bb6 with lower margins repaired, Batrachomyomachia lacking title, occasional soiling, browning and staining, modern calf, [STC 13634; 13637 and 13628; Pforzheimer 169 and 170], for Nathaniell Butter, [c.1612-15]; and another copy of the same, also defective but with engraved title to Odyssey present, folio (2); sold not subject to return

Bible, English.- [The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly translated out of the Originall Toungues], woodcut illustrations, initials and head- and tail-pieces, double page map, double column in blackletter 72 lines, Kalendar in red and black, lacking general title but with New Testament title within woodcut border, lacking 6 initial ff. (all before B2, and B4) and final 4ff., some spotting and staining throughout, initial and final leaves heavily creased or defective at margins, several loose, contemporary boards, all leather missing, binding stitching largely present, corners worn, [STC 2226, Herbert 322], [Robert Barker], folio, [1613].⁂ An example of the 'She-Bible' version of the King James Bible, distinguishable from the other folio version of 1613 by its smaller type in 72 lines per column. The She-Bible nomenclature stems from the typographical difference in Ruth 3:15 between early printings of the King James Bible, in some the verse reading 'and she went into the city', while in others it is 'he' who went into the city, known as the 'He-Bibles'. This discrepancy, being the most famous of several such examples, has sparked comment ever since. The desired rapidity and quantity of the print roll out of the King James Bible led Barker, whose family had previously been granted monopoly of royal authorised bible production by Elizabeth I, to subcontract printing out to two further publishing houses, soon resulting in dispute and fervent competition. Thus, it has often been assumed that the She-Bibles are the result of a 'correction' by a typesetter, compositor or proof-reader at some point during the printing process in one or other of the presses; 'she' seems to make more sense in the narrative flow and subsequently became the dominant translation. Such interpretation supports the view that the editio princeps is indeed the He-Bible, but not necessarily as is often consequently thought, because the male pronoun is an original error. Considering the biblical text of Ruth 3:15 in its ancient languages is also obscure since Hebrew and Syriac manuscripts, the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate offer alternative translations. The 40 or so biblical scholars responsible for the King James Old Testament, however, based their efforts on the Masoretic Hebrew texts (the canonical Hebrew as established c.1000AD), which provide the strongest support for the male 'he' translation. Thus the He and She-Bible phenomenon offers scholars of biblical history and book production a continuing historical mystery, touching as it does upon unanswerable questions over the complex material production process of the King James Bible, as well as upon an ancient query of translation.

[Raleigh (Sir Walter)] A History of the World, engraved pictorial title by R.Elstrack but lacking initial 'The Minde of the Front' leaf, also lacking Preface (A-E4) and final 2 leaves (errata/colophon and blank), with 8 double-page engraved maps and plans, with blank 3K4, 2 plates a little frayed at left hand edges (one with slight loss), tables at end cropped at fore-edge, some soiling, water- & damp-staining, a few minor tears and repairs, contemporary calf, rubbed, rebacked, new endpapers, [STC 20637; Pforzheimer 820], folio, [printed by William Stansby for Walter Burre], [1614]; sold not subject to return⁂ Raleigh's ambitious project in which he sought to tell the history of the world from Creation up to his own times. It was written whilst he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, after being charged with conspiracy by James I.

Drayton (Michael) Poems..., with engraved additional title with allegorical figures by William Hole (name erased at foot) but lacking letterpress title with engraved portrait on verso, woodcut initials and ornaments, engraved title with old ink inscriptions to upper & lower margins and a little soiled & water-stained, some light marginal staining, contemporary calf, a little worn, joints split, spine repaired at head and foot, [Pforzheimer 307; STC 7222.3], folio, [by W.Stansby for John Smethwicke], [1619]; sold not subject to return⁂ One of several variants issued the same year.

Genealogy.- Vincent (Augustine) A Discoverie of Errours in the First Edition of the Catalogue of Nobility, first edition, with initial blank & final errata leaf and the 5 additional leaves called for by ESTC, woodcut head-pieces, initials and numerous coats-of-arms, a few minor marginal tears, final leaf creased, engraved bookplate mounted on initial blank facing title, contemporary ink manuscript notes to front free endpaper, contemporary speckled calf, rubbed, corners worn, rebacked preserving most of old spine, [STC 24756], folio, William Jaggard, 1622.⁂ Essentially a corrected reprint of Ralph Brooke's Catalogue of Nobility of 1619, and now known principally as the reason for William Jaggard's delay in printing Shakespeare's First Folio, due to him being occupied with the corrections for this work.

Shakespeare.- Drayton (Michael) The Battaile of Agincourt, first edition, lacking engraved portrait and final blank, woodcut initials, preliminary leaves misbound, old ink signature of W.Dalton Scoones to dedication (twice) and inside front cover, cropped, C2 folding at foot, some light water-staining and damp-spotting, a few leaves slightly frayed at edges and reinforced, no endpapers, contemporary calf, rubbed, repaired, [STC 7190; Pforzheimer 301], small folio, for William Lee, 1627.⁂ The elegy to Henry Reynolds includes mention of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Chapman and Jonson.

Shakespeare (William) A Midsommer Nights Dreame, extracted from the second folio, comprising pp.145-162 (p.153 misnumbered p.151), p. 149 with small paper restoration to foot of inner margin, occasional spotting and light staining, modern calf, gilt, folio, [Printed by Thomas Cotes], [1632].⁂ The most popular of all Shakespeare's plays.

Shakespeare (William) The Life of Tymon of Athens, extracted from the second folio, comprising pp.107-128, slightly trimmed occasionally affecting ruled border at head and foot, minor foxing, modern calf, folio, [Printed by Thomas Cotes], [1632].⁂ The revenge of Timon of Athens whose friends refuse to help him pay off his debts when he gets into financial difficulties after lavishly entertaining and helping them.

Shakespeare (William) The History of Sir John Oldcastle, the Good Lord Cobham, extracted from the fourth folio, comprising pp.241-261 of part 3, 1685; The Puritan: or, the Widow of Watlingstreet, comprising pp.262-279; A Yorkshire Tragedy, comprising pp.280-285, i.e. 3 complete 'spurious' plays, together with most leaves from the following plays (but lacking at least the opening and closing leaves of each): The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, The Comedy of Errors, Love's Labour's Lost, The Life and Death of Richard the Third, Pericles Prince of Tyre, The London Prodigal and The Tragedy of Locrine, in total 84 leaves, most browned and slightly chipped, others more severely torn and/or defective, folio; sold not subject to return

Ariosto (Lodovico) Orlando Furioso in English Heroical Verse, 2 parts in 1, translated by Sir John Harington, engraved title incorporating portraits of Ariosto and Harington, and 46 full-page engraved illustrations, a few leaves at beginning (including 2 plates) with fore-edge repaired, slight loss to side-notes, a couple of short tears, slight worming to first dozen leaves with slight loss of text, some minor staining, contemporary sheep, rubbed and lower cover with worm-tracks revealing board, spine ends renewed, [STC 748], folio, Printed by G. Miller for J. Parker, 1634.⁂ Ownership inscription on front free endpaper "Elizabeth Tyringham, Her Booke (Aprill ye 5, 1668)."

Emblemata.- Wither (George) A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne..., 4 parts in 1, engraved additional pictorial title by William Marshall, engraved portrait of the author, engraved circular emblems after Crispijn van de Passe the elder, lacking initial 'Preposition to this frontispiece' leaf and all after 2N3 (including final leaf with 2 woodcut dials and index), engraved title torn and frayed with some loss to corners (laid down), soiled and stained, many tears and repairs, mostly marginal but with occasional slight loss, with charming pen, ink & watercolour drawing mounted on front free endpaper dated "August XXX, MDCCCXVII" in ink below, later ink inscription to facing leaf, engraved bookplate of Lichfield Close, attractive eighteenth century green morocco with gilt roll-tooled scalloped border and small flowers to corners, spine gilt in compartments with title, floral tools and five raised bands, g.e., rubbed, [STC 25900a], folio, by A[ugustine] M[athewes] for John Grismond, 1635; sold not subject to return⁂ The watercolour drawing appears to show Christian from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress on his journey to the Celestial City with some of the allegorical figures and experiences he encounters on the way.

Militaria.- Ward (Robert) Anima'dversions of Warre, or, a Militarie Magazine of the Truest Rules, and Albest Instructions, for the Managing of Warre, 2 parts in 1 vol., first edition, lacking additional engraved title, with 2 folding woodcut plates, woodcut initials, head-pieces and numerous illustrations and diagrams, title supplied from another copy (trimmed and remargined), a few other leaves reinforced at edges, slight worming to lower margin (mostly single hole), with contemporary manuscript leaf listing officers' and soldiers' pay loosely inserted (presumably once bound in but omitted when repaired, lacking portion at upper outer corner removing name), contemporary calf, a little rubbed, staining to lower cover, rebacked preserving old spine, new endpapers, [Cockle 147; STC 25025], folio, by Iohn Dawson, and are to be sold by Francis, 1639; sold not subject to return⁂ Extensive work covering nearly all branches of military tactics and warfare.

Jonson (Ben) The Workes..., [vol.1 only (of 3)], 2 parts in 1 vol., engraved portrait by Robert Vaughan and architectural title by William Hole, woodcut head-pieces and initials, portrait and title soiled and frayed at edges (laid down, title trimmed close at fore-edge), first few and last couple of leaves also frayed at edges and rather crudely repaired (mostly to margins but occasionally slightly affecting text, B2 torn and repaired), traces of damp-staining, washed and cropped, some worming to lower margin, modern calf-backed marbled boards, spine faded, [Greg 1073; STC 14753], folio, Richard Bishop [and Robert Young], and are to be sold by Andrew Crooke, 1640; sold not subject to return⁂ The first volume of Jonson's works, first published in 1616; the second and third volumes followed later in 1641.

*** Please note, the description for this lot has changed *** Foxe (John) [Book of Martyrs] Acts and Monuments Of matters most speciall and memorable, 3 vol., half-title to vol. 1, woodcut titles and illustrations to all 3 vol., 4 plates only (of 6), one folding (engraved as issued in this edition, sheet mounted on a stub with indistinct watermark of a large armorial device which appears to be C17th or slightly later, lower fold and margin reinforced with paper to verso and single tear to fold), vol.1 initial 6ff. including half-title and title with hole, vol.2 large marginal tear to D3 affecting text but with no loss, contemporary ink ownership inscription to title of vol. 1 'Elizabeth Dawson her book, 1697 Ap. 27', some spotting and staining throughout, contemporary calf, rebacked and cornered, covers to vol. 1 rubbed with some abrasions, the others lightly scuffed, [Wing F2035], for the Company of Stationers, folio, 1641.

Hobbes (Thomas) Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme & Power of a Common-Wealth, first edition, first issue, printed title with 'head' ornament, additional engraved pictorial title with paper restorations to upper corner (not affecting image) and light minor staining, folding letter press table with small tear to lower margin, initial 4 ff., including title, and a few other ff. with small marginal tears, occasional spotting and staining, worm hole from 2R2 onwards, very slightly affecting text, contemporary ink ownership inscription to title, endpapers renewed, contemporary calf, re-backed, covers and extremities rubbed, [Pforzheimer 491; PMM 138; Wing H2246], folio, for Andrew Crooke, 1651.⁂ Hobbes is now widely regarded as among the greats of political philosophy and Leviathan, his most famous work, has been described as rivalling the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau and Kant in terms of political significance due to its early and influential development of the 'social contract theory' (Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy). His argument, drawn from experiencing the English Civil War, was that a contract between society and an absolute power was necessary to prevent a degradation into anarchy or the 'war of all against all'. The iconography of the frontispiece, created after detailed consultation with Hobbes by Parisian etcher Abraham Bosse, reflects many of the book's fundamental concepts; the gigantesque sovereign-king is composed of over 300 tiny individuals, the contractual co-signers, who face away from the viewer towards their ruler, rendering him more powerful by their consent and the double columns beneath, whose panels represent the two sources of sovereign authority, ecclesiastical and temporal.

Howell (James) Londinopolis; An Historicall Discourse or Perlustration of the City of London, first edition, title in red and black, engraved frontispiece and double-page view by Hollar, foxed and browned throughout, some water-staining, contemporary calf, rebacked and repaired, [Wing H3091], folio, by J. Streater, 1657.⁂ Interesting provenance dating back to near the time of publication. Ownership inscription of John Glyd [presumably John Glyd, c.1651-89 of Gray's Inn, MP for Bletchingley] on front endpaper (dated 1670) and at head of title; then inscription of John Salter in same places and dated 1788, with note "Bought of Mr Howard at his sale of Miss Northey's furniture on her leaving Limehouse in 1788" and longer inscription in his hand regarding the Great Fire "Copy'd from a manuscript account which had been taken soon after the fire"; later inscriptions on front endpaper detailing the passing of the book from Mrs Parkinson (Miss Salter) to Mrs Eliza Barbara Gardner (and with her signature dated 1845 on title); thence to George Wallis [Keeper of the Fine Art Collections at the South Kensington Museum]; thence to W.R. Lethaby.

Witchcraft.- Scot (Reginald) The Discovery of Witchcraft, proving, that the compacts and Contracts of Witches with Devils and all Infernal Spirits or Familiars, are but erroneous novelties and imaginary conceptions, 2 parts in 1, third edition, variant without half-title, with woodcut initials, head-pieces and illustrations, title very torn and defective (laid down), dedication and final leaf (Contents) almost detached, I1 & 6 torn and frayed (I1 repaired, some loss), lacking O3 & 4, contemporary panelled calf, later red calf label, rather worn, [Wing S945], folio, for A. Clark, and are to be sold by Dixy Page, 1665; sold not subject to return⁂ A work often found incomplete or defaced; apart from the few damaged leaves in this copy the remaining text is clean. Scot (1538-1599) here attempts to debunk belief in magic and witchcraft, attributing much of it to mental disturbance and frauds, and lays much blame at the feet of the Catholic Church for encouraging the superstitions. This edition contains an enlarged text with nine chapters by an anonymous author added to Scot's work, and an anonymous second part entitled 'A Discourse concerning the Nature and Substance of Devils and Spirits'.

Milton (John) Paradise Lost. A Poem in Twelve Books, fifth (second illustrated) edition, engraved portrait by R.White after William Faithorne and 12 engraved plates mostly by M.Burghers and P.P.Bouche after Medina, [Wing M2150], for Jacob Tonson, 1692; Paradise Regain'd...to which is added Samson Agonistes, third (first folio) edition, [Pforzheimer 721; Wing M2154], by R.E[veringham]...to be sold by Randal Taylor, 1688, together 2 works in 1 vol., old ink inscriptions "L.Streate 1697", "M.Streate" (crossed out) and "Mary Ann Watts Lawson 1850" to head of first title, portrait a little frayed at inner edge and laid down, some light browning and staining, a few minor tears (mostly marginal), later armorial bookplate of Chas. Ino. Lawson Esq. of Middle Temple, contemporary sprinkled calf, rubbed and scuffed, rebacked, corners repaired, folio

Linguistics.- Lhuyd (Edward) Archaeologia Britannica, giving some Account...of the Languages, Histories and Customs of the Original Inhabitants of Great Britain, vol.1: Glossography [all published], title with engraved vignette of Sheldonian Theatre, list of subscribers, a few contemporary ink annotations, title lightly soiled, occasional spotting or light browning, small paper flaw hole to Xxx1 with loss of a couple of letters, engraved armorial bookplate of Jonathan Rashleigh of Menabilly, contemporary polished calf, a little rubbed, slight worn patch to upper cover, rebacked preserving old green roan label, corners repaired, folio, Oxford, at the Theater for the Author, 1702.⁂* Includes a Cornish grammar and dictionary of the Irish language, as well as the first printed specimen of Manx.The Rashleigh family were wealthy merchants dating back to the sixteenth century who became prominent and influential landowners in Cornwall. Their family seat, Menabilly, near Fowey, was let to the writer Daphne du Maurier from 1943 to 1969. She restored the house and used it as a model for Manderley in her novel Rebecca.

NO RESERVE [?Pulteney (William)] The Negotiators. Or, Don Diego brought to Reason. An Excellent New Ballad. Tune of Packington's Pound, 4ff., first edition, woodcut frontispiece, woodcut title ornament and head-piece, lightly soiled, horizontal crease where previously folded causing small tears and holes touching a few letters but no significant loss, reinforced on verso frontispiece, modern roan-backed marbled boards, a little rubbed, [Foxon N18], folio, for R.Thompson, 1738.⁂ A satire on Sir Robert Walpole's ultimately successful negotiations with Spain over trade, the failure of which led to the war with Spain declared in 1739, the "War of Jenkins' Ear", which lasted until 1748. The frontispiece depicts the Spanish king pulling the tail of the British lion.

Numismatics.- [Snelling (Thomas)] A View of the Silver Coin and Coinage of England, first edition, 17 engraved plates, one with pencil annotation, light foxing, some leaves reinforced at edges, modern morocco, T.Snelling, 1762 § Martin-Leake (Stephen) An Historical Account of English Money, second edition, 13 engraved plates, traces of tape to inner margin of title, bookplate of John Dunn Gardner and book-label of Roy. Redvers. King, modern calf-backed cloth, red roan label, W.Meadows, 1745, folio & 8vo (2)

Africa.- Ludolf (Hiob) A New History of Ethiopia, being a Full and Accurate Description of the Kingdom of Abessinia..., first English edition, engraved plate of Ethiopic alphabet, 8 engraved plates, most folding and mainly of natural history (sheep, monkeys, elephants, hippopotamus etc.), folding genealogical table, some spotting or browning, final leaf defective at lower outer corner not affecting text, contemporary calf, red morocco label, rubbed, upper joint split, spine ends a little worn, [Wing L3468], folio, for Samuel Smith, 1682.⁂ Including important material on Ethiopic languages.

Caricatures.- Looking Glass (The); or, Caricature Annual, vol. 2., hand-coloured etched or lithographed plates after William Heath and Robert Seymour, pictorial title and 12 monthly parts, one leaf chipped at edges, one or two short marginal tears with neat tape repairs, occasional faint spotting, contemporary half-morocco, short tears to spine extremities, a little rubbed, folio, 1831.

Duelling.- Angelo (Henry) A Treatise on the Utility and Advantages of Fencing ... to which is added, A Dissertation on the Use of the Broad Sword ..., 47 engraved plates, 6 aquatints, 1 mezzotint portrait plate, scattered faint spotting, abrasion mark to front pastedown where label removed, later half-morocco, a little rubbed and faded, slight bumping to corners, oblong folio, 1817.

Herbert of Cherbury (Edward, Lord) The Life and Reign of King Henry the Eighth, engraved portrait by W.Faithorne, title in red and black, woodcut initials, some light browning, 3H1 a little stained, bound in dark red morocco, by Rivière & Son, with overall design of swirling Tudor roses inlaid in fawn, red and green morocco and tooled in gilt, spine title in gilt, five raised bands with five gilt dots and compartments of inlaid Tudor roses, g.e., a little rubbed, corners bumped, light fading to upper cover, neatly rebacked preserving old spine, [Wing H1505B], folio (binding c.305 x 190mm.), Andr.Clark, for J.Martyn, S.Mearne, and H.Herringman, 1672.

Kelmscott Press.- Chaucer (Geoffrey) The Works [with] A Companion Volume to the Kelmscott Chaucer by Duncan Robinson, 2 vol., number 483 of 515 copies, the first a facsimile reprint of the Kelmscott Chaucer illustrated by Edward Burne-Jones, printed in red and black, illustrations, many tipped in, original floral patterned cloth designed by William Morris, together in board slip-case, rubbed at extremities, folio, Basilisk Press, 1974-75.

Piper (John) Brighton Aquatints. Twelve original aquatints of modern Brighton with short descriptions by the artist and an introduction by Lord Alfred Douglas, number 37 of 55 copies signed by the artist, 12 hand-coloured aquatint plates by John Piper, tissue guards, text printed on blue paper, some spotting to preliminaries and endpapers, original green buckram-backed marbled boards, spine titled in gilt, printed label to upper board, upper board faded, with some staining and a very small chip to lower edge, [Levinson 12-23], oblong folio, Curwen Press for Duckworth, 1939.⁂ John Betjeman, who was a friend of John and Myfanwy Piper, suggested the impoverished Lord Alfred Douglas for the introduction, for which he was paid five guineas. While Piper hand-coloured each plate of the deluxe edition, Betjeman and his wife Penelope were known to have coloured the odd impression, under the strict guidance of the artist. Alan Powers in his edition of the work notes how the 'emphasis on the architecture of the seafront was linked to the threat of redevelopment in plans proposed by Sir Herbert Carden' (Mainstone Press, 2019).

Italy.- [Merigot (James)] A Select Collection of Views and Ruins in Rome and its Vicinity, additional hand-coloured engraved title and 61 hand-coloured plates, watermarked 1817, text in French and English, occasional faint spotting, bookplate, later half-calf, rebacked, folio, [c.1819].

Netherlands.- Bruin (C.) De Zegepraalende Vecht, vertoonende verscheidene Gesichten van Lustplaatsen, Heeren Huysen en Dorpen ..., first edition, additional engraved title, engraved map, 102 engraved plates on 51 sheets, Amsterdam, Nicolaus Visscher, 1719, bound with, Leth (Hendrik de) Het Zegenpralend Kennemerland ..., 2 additional engraved titles (1 misbound), folding engraved map, 100 plates on 50 sheets, Amsterdam, Andries en Hendrik de Leth, [c.1729], together 2 works bound as 1, scattered faint spotting, later panelled calf, gilt, folio.

Spain.- Vivian (G.) Spanish Scenery, lithographed throughout comprising tinted pictorial title, list of plates, introductory leaf with tinted illustration and 31 tinted plates on 27 sheets, occasional spotting, faint marginal water-staining, original roan backed embossed cloth, a little rubbed, bumping to corners and spine extremities, folio, P. & D. Colnaghi, 1838.

Voyages.- Hakluyt (Richard) The Principal Navigations, Voiages, Traffiques and Dicoveries of the English Nation, made by Sea or overland..., 3 vol. in 2, second edition, black letter, woodcut title ornaments, head-pieces and initials, lacking title to vol.1 (supplied in facsimile and with old photograph loosely inserted) and the folding engraved map (as usual), also lacking final 10ff. of vol.1 including the suppressed leaves on the conquest of Cadiz pp.607-619 and final 12ff. of vol.3, title of vol.2 defective at fore-margin but no loss to text (repaired), title to vol.3 with contemporary ink signature "Thos. Pattenden Dover" and another crossed out at head, some worming (mostly marginal but occasionally affecting text), edges frayed with several leaves repaired at fore-edge, water-staining to vol.3, vol.1 & 2 bound together in old red morocco, rubbed, a few small gouges, rebacked preserving old spine, vol.3 modern red morocco, spine faded, [Hill 743; Pforzheimer 443; Sabin 29596-29598; STC 12626], folio, by George Bishop, Ralph Newberie, and Robert Barker, 1598-1600; sold not subject to return⁂ Monumental record of Elizabethan exploration and greatly expanded from the first edition of 1589; vol.3 is entirely devoted to the Americas.

Devon.- Polwhele (Rev. Richard) 3 vol. in 1, The History of Devonshire, 24 engraved plates, engraved map trimmed inside platemark and laid down, double-page map, occasional spotting, later morocco, gilt, folio, Exeter, 1797-1806.

England.- Loutherbourg (Philippe James de) The Romantic and Picturesque Scenery of England and Wales, first edition, additional hand-coloured aquatint title, 18 hand-coloured aquatint plates, titles and text in English and French, faint off-setting, one or two faint marginal finger marks, bookplate, later half-morocco, a little rubbed, slight bumping to corners and extremities, [Tooley 305], folio, 1805.

Essex.- Morant (Philip) The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, 2 vol., large paper copy, extra illustrated, titles for 1768 and 1815 editions, list of subscribers, c.330 engraved, aquatint and lithograph plates, window-mounted, pasted down or bound-in, most with several plates per sheet, illustrations, 18 engraved maps (12 folding), folding genealogical table, manuscript index of additional plates and several manuscript leaves bound-in, 3 tears expertly repaired (*N1, vol.1; 7O1 & 6S1, vol. 2), occasional faint spotting, bookplate, near contemporary calf, rebacked in morocco, gilt, a little rubbed, folio, [c.1768-1815].

Lighthouses.- Smeaton (John) A Narrative of the Building and a Description of the Construction of the Edystone Lighthouse with Stone, second edition, engraved vignette title and 23 etched and engraved plates and charts, one or two trimmed within platemark, occasional faint spotting and marginal finger-soiling, not affecting plates, occasional pencil corrections with one to plate, contemporary calf, rebacked with original spine laid down, a little rubbed, [Goldsmiths' 15747], folio, for G. Nicol, 1793.⁂ Smeaton's own account of his great lighthouse, completed in 1759. His tower was the third on the treacherous Eddystone reef, 14 miles off the Plymouth coast. The two earlier timber structures, by Winstanley and Rudyard, had both been destroyed. Building with masonry, Smeaton devised and ingenious method of dovetailing and interlocking the blocks of stone to ensure maximum strength, and his example was followed for later towers. In the appendix Smeaton describes the construction of Spurn Point lighthouse on the Humber bank, which was also built to his design.

Ornament.- Collinot (E. ) and A. de Beaumont. Encylcopédie des Arts Décoratifs de l'Orient, 4 vol. only (of 6), of 500 copies, 169 lithographs only (of 170 for these volumes), most printed in colour, many pages loose and endpapers defective, some light soiling and offsetting, original morocco-backed boards, spines and extremities heavily worn, one spine with large chip at head and another with large tear, folio, 1883.⁂ Ornements Arabes; Ornements de la Perse; Ornements Turcs; Ornements Vénitiens, Hindous, Russes etc.

Architectural geometry.- Pomodoro (Giovanni) Geometria prattica tratta dagl'Elementi d'Euclide, first edition, first issue, engraved title in scrollwork boarder with coat of arms, historiated initials, engraved full-page illustrations after Pomodoro and Scala, some light even browning to title and throughout, damp-staining to first 2 signatures, small paper repair to tail of M⁴, contemporary vellum, light marking to upper cover, heavier staining to lower cover, [EDIT 16 CNCE 28377; Harvard Italian 394; Riccardi I (2), 300], folio, Rome, Stefano Paolini, 1599.⁂ Rare finely illustrated manual of Euclidean geometry and its practical applications for surveyors and architects. The illustrations show geometrical constructions and surveying and measuring instruments and issues, including architectural plans and elevations of buildings and streets. The coat of arms on the title is of the dedicatee, Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini.

Astronomy.- Kepler (Johannes) Prodomus dissertationum cosmographicarum, continens Mysterium Cosmographicum de admirabili proportione orbium coelestium, 2 parts in 1, second, enlarged, edition, woodcut head-pieces and initials, 5 folding plates (4 woodcut and 1 engraved), woodcut diagrams, title to second part with large woodcut device, lacking final blank, A3 lacking portion from fore-margin, light water- and damp-staining throughout, some worming (mostly single wormhole to lower margin but passing through plates 4 & 5 and causing track to final few leaves), some tears to plates (one repaired), lacking free endpapers, ink shelf-mark of Dupplin Castle, Perth & Kinross to front pastedown, with another earlier shelf-mark and later signature of Bernard Pagel, contemporary calf with borders ruled in blind, rubbed and lightly stained, rebacked preserving scraps of old spine, folio, Frankfurt, Erasmus Kempfer for Godefrid Tampach, 1621.⁂ Kepler's first book, usually referred to as "Mysterium Cosmographicum" and first published in 1596, is a Copernican treatise which set the course for his life's work. It contains his theory that the orbit of each of the five planets is determined by the circumference of the five platonic solids nested one inside the other (see the engraved plate). As well as Kepler's own introductory chapter expounding and defending the Copernican theory, the book contains a reprint of Rheticus' Naratio prima, the first announcement of the theory which was first published in 1540 and before De revolutionibus in 1543. This second edition includes Kepler's additional notes reflecting the development of his thinking in the intervening 25 years, and appended is the first edition of Kepler's response to attacks by Robert Fludd on his Harmonices mundi of 1619.

Hart (James) Klinike, or, The Diet of the Diseased, first edition, woodcut device on title, woodcut head-pieces and initials, lacking initial blank, stain and small hole to title, spotting, small marginal loss and tear not affecting text (A4), tiny marginal worming, damp-staining to last few leaves, contemporary calf, rebacked and recornered, retaining original backstrip, folio, by John Beale, for Robert Allot, 1633.

PAO YUE-KONG IN PICTURES [Signed By YK Pao's Daughter And Son-In-law] 包玉刚画册. Hang Zhou, China: Zhejiang Photographic Press, September 1991. First Edition. Folio. (36.5cm x 26.5cm). Gift inscription to flyleaf: "In memory of my late father... With best wishes from the Pao family, Anna and Helmut, June 1992". Anna Pui Hing Pao was YK Pao's daughter and married Helmut Sohmen in 1967. Sohmen ran maritime firm BW Group until 2010, the main shipping concern of the Pao empire. In slipcase. Black linen backed boards with gilt lettered title to spine and covers. Pictorial dust jacket. Pp. 252. Profusely illustrated in colour and b&w. A biography of Hong Kong tycoon YK Pao (1918-1991) with details of his early family history, on to his first ventures in shipping and up to the empire he bequeathed his four children in 1991. A very scarce account of Pao's life, especially so signed by one of his daughters. No other copies available online. Condition: Some minor scuffs to slipcase, otherwise fine. 

EMPSON, HAL. MAPPING HONG KONG: A HISTORICAL ATLAS. Hong Kong: Government Information Services, 1992. First Edition. Folio (42.5cm x 31cm). Brown cloth, gilt lettered titles to cover. Brown endpapers. pp. 249. Profusely illustrated with fine colour reproductions. Empson was a former senior cartographer with the Hong Kong Ordnance Survey. The book provides an overview of the historical mapping of Hong Kong up to the modern period, and is the most detailed reference of its kind available. Condition: Fine in a very good dust jacket with a little light edgewear. Scarce. 

A selection of Folio Society books, various titles, a couple still in sellophane.

Folio Society - Winston Churchill, The Second World War, in six volumes.

FOLIO SOCIETY.  Edward Gibbon, Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire. 8 vols. in two slip cases.

FOLIO SOCIETY. History of Chinese Civilisation, 2 vols. in slip case & Italian Cities, 3 vols. in slip case.

FOLIO SOCIETY.  Folio Poets, Coleridge, in slip case & various others.  (9).

FISHER HARRISON.  A Girl's Life & Other Pictures. 16 good chromolitho plates. Folio. Orig. pict. brds., soiling & tending to split at back but contents generally clean. New York, 1913.

CRESSY R. F. S.  The Church History of Britanny (Britain) from the Beginning of Christianity to the Norman Conquest. Rubricated title. Eng. bands & decs. Folio. Old calf, rebacked. 1668.

RYCAUT PAUL.  The Lives of the Popes. Eng. port. frontis. Rubricated title. Folio. Old calf, internal damp stng. & wear with corner chips to some early leaves. 1685; also a 16th cent. Missale Romanum in well worn cond., poor bdgs. & damp stng., worming to later leaves but rubricated text with eng. vignettes & decs., Salamanca, 1586.  (2).

(NEWMAN SAMUEL).  A Concordance to the Holy Scriptures. Folio. Calf, worn back. Cambridge, 1672; also vol. 1 only of Rapin de Thoyras, Histoire D'Angleterre, quarto with fldg. eng. maps, The Hague, 1727 & 3 other vols.  (5).

BREDOW G. G.  Compendious View of Universal History & Literature in a Series of Tables, trans. by Major James Bell. Folio. Rubbed qtr. calf. 1824; also William Berry, Genealogia Antiqua, 1816 & 3 other vols including Juvenal, Mores Hominum, folio, lacking plates 1660 (5).

(DIDEROT DENIS).  Peches, Peches de Mer, Peches de Riviers, Fabrique des Filets &c. 9pp text extract followed by 35 eng. plates of fishing & fishing equipment. Folio. Late qtr. brown morocco, marbled brds. (1770's).

LUCAS SUZANNE.  In Praise of Toadstools. 2 vols. Life size col. plates. Folio. Orig. cloth in d.w's. 1992 & 1997; also 1 other vol.  (3).

BOLTON ARTHUR T.  The Architecture of Robert & James Adam. 2 vols. Illus. Folio. Orig. cloth, rather worn. 1922; also G. P. Bankart, The Art of the Plasterer, illus., quarto, orig. cloth, 1908.  (3).

Museum of Rugby.  The Laws of Rugby Football. Ltd. ed. 133/500. Good mounted & slipped in facsimile photographs & documents. Oblong folio. Half maroon morocco in rather worn slip case. N.d.