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Click here to subscribeA 19th Century quilt with red stylised sunburst and floral motifs on a white ground with plain white back CONDITION REPORTS Some loose threads to the edges and edges are particularly worn especially in the corners. One small hole in the corner. Some light staining. Hole in one of the sunbursts. All over general signs of wear and tear through age and use throughout
A 20th Century oak gate-leg table on barley twist supports, an oak TV cabinet with single drawer and united undertier, a 19th Century mahogany chest of two deep drawers with brass drop-ring handles, two 19th Century spindle back chair, a walnut mid 20th Century bachelors chest with brushing side over four drawers to cabriole legs, a light mahogany two tier shaped top centree table, a serpentine fronted mahogany chest with four drawers to bracket feet and shaped apron, a mahogany centre table with turned column to cabriole legs and a mahogany bookrest on four splayed supports to brass caps and castors and two Victorian mahogany balloon back chairs with plush red upholstered seats to turned supports together with one feather chair frame
K REDMORE "Shipping in choppy seas with fishermen in foreground", oil on panel signed bottom left CONDITION REPORTS Has been cleaned, visible under UV light. Crazing all over and otherwise has general wear and tear, some spots of dirt, some surface scratching etc to include a larger line in the top right hand corner and a couple of pinhead sized areas of flaking. The frame is modern and has general wear and tear, chips etc - see images for further details. Image measures 35 cm x 51 cm and including frame measures 44 cm x 60.5 cm. Substantial crazing and cracking to the paint throughout. Some dark spotted marks
A pair of two seat sofas upholstered in cream with red foliate pattern, both serpentine fronted on turned front legs to brass caps and castors CONDITION REPORTS Both sofas in generally good condition. Some small light stains with small signs of general wear and tear through age and use throughout
A light elm Ercol seated chair with low beech spindle back and beech turned supports CONDITION REPORTS Basically sound condition though lacquer to the rear hoop with losses in places - see images and some discolouration - see images for further detail. Ercol label with apparent chipping top right corner, otherwise throughout with wear and tear conducive with age and use including minor denting, scratching etc
An Ercol light elm studio couch/sofa with elm back and beech frame CONDITION REPORTS Various impressed marks, light scratches and scuffs throughout, beech arms worn presumably where arms have rested, some webbing underneath needs attention. Various knocks to the legs, backboard with some deeper scratches to the right hand side - see images for further details
A vintage (1980's) super table lamp by Martine Bedin for Memphis aka Rolling Hedgehog bearing label to underside "Memphis Milano M Bedin 1981 Made in Italy" CONDITION REPORTS Various light scratches throughout. Loss of plastic to the front - see images. Some black marks, needs re-wiring, no plug
A two seat sofa and single wing back armchair upholstered in Filkin Woollen Weavers green ground tartan CONDITION REPORTS Fabric in reltively good condition, some small light marks, chir with a hole to the back. Front legs have various scratches and scuffs, marks. Sme general signs of wear and tear through ange and use throughout
C BREMNER "Figure fishing in a river", oil on canvas, signed and dated '82 lower left CONDITION REPORTS 39 cm x 65 cm approx. Some light scratches, some spotted dark marks, some slightly dirty marks,. Frame shows evidence of some repairs but also has some losses and cracks. All over general various signs of wear and tear throughout. Picture has possibly been re-lined.
A box containing various white metal and plate wares including watering can, wine bottle holder, butter dish, pair of jugs, various animal figures including dachshunds, ox, elephant, lapis lazuli hippo and elephant figures, three light two branch candelabra, shoe horn, lighter holder, paper handkerchief box cover, model Alpha Romeo Grand Prix car and box of 30 miniature Russian dolls
A collection of Goebel Hummel figures including "Apple Tree Boy", "Mountaineer", "Meditation", "Skier", "One for you one for me", "March Winds", "Apple Tree Girl" and five others (12) CONDITION REPORTS Figure with boy sitting with boy by apple tree - branch broken off. One other figure of girl sitting in flowering tree has dmage to the back of her hat, the front of her hat and to her blue dress. the figure of boy sitting down with staff in his hand pointing to a flower in his hat has large chip to the base. All items have general small signs of wea rand tear, light scratches etc, some crazing
A collection of various bird figures including Capodimonte figure of "Alighting Mallard", a Country Artist's figure of an Owl, Albany Fine China figure of "Robins upon a branch", modelled by David Burnham-Smith, No'd. 22, Connoisseur Fine China figure of a Goldcrest, No'd. 11/500 and five others various CONDITION REPORTS Robins on a branch - no petals appear to be damaged but hard to tell because of the crimped finish. All generally looks OK - very small light suface scratching, generally good. All other birds in generally good condition, one bird where the tail has been off and re-glued, various scratches etc throughout, general signs of wear and tear - see images for further details
An Aynsley "Pembroke" part dinner service, eight place settings CONDITION REPORTS Most pieces in generall y good condition. Some light scratches and some wear to the gilt on some pieces. Some small signs of wear and tear through age and use. One smaller plate missing but generally an eight place setting - see images for further details
A collection of five Royal Crown Derby Japan pattern animal figures including: Tortoise pottery button, Mouse pottery button, Snail no button, seated Cat pottery button, Chipmunk no button, Noah's Ark no button, toghether with two Royal Worcester Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee 1952-2002 Japan pattern commemorative mugs CONDITION REPORTS All generally good condition - some light scratches and very slight wear to the gilt work - generally good see images
A 19th Century Continental walnut commode or washstand, the three quarter galleried top with white veined grey marble over two short and three long graduated drawers to bracket feet CONDITION REPORTS Some light scratches and scuffs and marks throughout. Top back rtight hand corner coming slightly loose and needs some attention - with a small split. There isa piece of marble to the interior on the left hand side but no corresponding piece to the right hand side so it possibly once had a shelf. There is a split to the marble on the left hand side- see images. The front lip is loose and wobbling so will need attention. Some woodworm holes, splits down the sides. All over variosu general signs of wra and tear throughout. Approx 103.5 cm wide x approx 57 cm deep. All over varoousd general signs of wear and tear throughout
A late 19th Century carved coquilla nut boat finely decorated with moveable shutters and figures, the hull with eight line inscription CONDITION REPORTS One door on one side doesn't open properly and needs some attention, some light scratches, general small signs of wear and tear - see images for furher details. There is a split to the hull
A two seater and a three seater sofa in blue self-patterned upholstery on turned supports to brass castors CONDITION REPORTS Some pale marks to the upholstery, some other darker marks. The loose covers could probably benefit from a good clean. Some light scratches and marks to the legs. A small amount of fading to the upholstery. General condition OK but some general signs of wear and tear
Ovidius Naso (Publius) Les Metamorphoses d'Ovide, 4 vol., half-titles, printed titles in red and black with engraved vignette, vol.1 with additional engraved title and 2 engraved dedication leaves, 140 engraved plates, engraved decorations, occasional light water-staining and soiling, contemporary mottled calf, gilt, rather worn, 4to, Paris, chez Le Clerc, 1767-70.
Economics.- Smith (Adam) An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, 3 vol., some foxing and light browning, contemporary calf, gilt, spines a little rubbed, Edinburgh, 1806 § Parnell (Sir Henry) Observations on Paper Money, Banking, and Overtrading, first edition, 1827; bound with Graham (Sir James) Corn and Currency; an Address to the Land Owners, 1828; bound with [Attwood (Thomas)] The Scotch Banker, first edition, half-title, 1828, together 3 works in 1, contemporary polished calf, gilt, spine gilt with triple black morocco labels, 8vo (4)
World.- Barrow (John) A Voyage to Cochinchina, first edition, 19 hand-coloured aquatint plates, 2 folding engraved maps and charts, one hand-coloured the other hand-coloured in outline, lacking half-title, some light offsetting, 1806; Travels in China, second edition, 5 hand-coloured aquatint plates, 3 engraved plates (2 double-page), foxing, 1806; Travels into the Interior of Southern Africa, 2 vol., second edition, vol.1 with 8 hand-coloured aquatint plates, vol.2 with 9 engraved maps, most folding, 3 hand-coloured in full or outline, occasional offsetting, lacking half-title in vol.2, 1806, together 3 works, uniformly bound in contemporary polished calf, gilt, spines elaborately gilt in compartments but sunned, joints a little rubbed, [Abbey, Travel 514, 531 and 322], 4to ⁂ A handsome set of Barrow's major travel books. The first work covers Barrow's service in Macartney's embassy to China as well as descriptions of Brazil and Java. The second work includes many observations on the Chinese language and examples of Chinese characters.The third work is in the preferred second edition with the inclusion of the 8 hand-coloured aquatints after Samuel Daniell, not present in the first edition.
Astronomy.- Reynolds (James, publisher) Astronomical Diagrams, 13 hand-coloured engraved diagrams of astronomical phenomena, all but two on card, some with tissue paper to be held up to the light, loose as issued in original gilt-lettered cloth covers, spine lacking, 4to, c.1846. ⁂ Auction records suggest that 12 diagrams complete the set, but this copy has 13. The plates are: Telescopic View of the Moon, Transparent Solar System, The Seasons and Signs of the Zodiac, The Planets, Transparent Diagram of the Phases of the Moon, Methods of Ascertaining the Longitude (on paper), Eclipses and the Theory of the Tides, Methods of Ascertaining the Latitude (on paper), The Earth and its Atmosphere, The Sun and Solar Phenomena, The Earth's Annual Revolution round the Sun, Comets, Diagram of Meteorology.Saleroom Notice: This lot is from c.1858 not c.1846.
Butterflies.- Wilkes (Benjamin) One Hundred and Twenty Copper-Plates of English Moths and Butterflies, second edition, list of subscribers,120 exquisite hand-coloured plates, plate XIV trimmed at lower edge into plate-mark, occasional light offsetting, a couple of spots, small hole in index leaf at end but no loss of text, contemporary green straight-grain morocco, elaborately stamped in gilt and blind, slightly faded, extremities very slightly rubbed, g.e., 4to, [Nissen 4410a], for Benjamin White, 1773. ⁂ A lovely copy of this beautiful work with the plates depicting butterflies and moths against extensive backgrounds of plants, these plants after drawings by Ehret and van Huysum. The short 2pp. list of subscribers includes Joseph Dandridge (who gave Wilkes open access to his private collection of entomological specimens), Dr Christopher Jacob Trew (who died 4 years before the book was published), and Sir Hans Sloane (who likewise had died some 20 years earlier). This would suggest that the list was perhaps gleaned from the original edition, which had appeared in 1747-49.
Law.- Fitzherbert (Sir Anthony) The Newe Boke of Iustices of Peace, black letter, woodcut initials, ink annotations in contemporary hand to a few leaves and inscriptions to front free endpaper (torn), light staining to upper margin towards end, contemporary calf, small tool blocked in silver to centre of both boards (tarnished), scraps of old manuscript used as binder's waste, rather worn, spine defective, [STC 10977; Beale T343], 8vo, [Richard Tottill], [1566]. ⁂ Early edition in English of a law manual, first translated in 1554.
Asia.- Coryate (Thomas) Coryat's Crudities...to which are now added, his Letters from India, &c..., 3 vol., half-titles, engraved additional pictorial title and 7 plates, one folding, woodcut illustrations, advertisement leaf at end of vol.3, some light offsetting, occasional spotting or browning, one or two minor marginal defects, note in contemporary hand tipped to leaf [f5] of preliminaries, contemporary speckled calf, spines gilt in compartments with red roan labels, a little rubbed, spines slightly faded, 8vo, for W.Cater...Samuel Hayes...J.Wilkie...and E.Easton, 1776. ⁂ Eccentric work covering the author's travels in Europe, the Levant, Middle East and India. This is the first reprinting of the first edition of 1611, and the first to contain the Letters from India.
Zoology.- Richardson (John) and others. Fauna Boreali-Americana; or the Zoology of the Northern Parts of British America, 4 parts in 4 vol., comprising: Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes & Insects, first edition, 110 etched, engraved and lithograph plates, many hand-coloured (including all 50 of the Birds), errata slip in part 2 and leaf at end of part 4, some light offsetting and very occasional spotting, lacking half-titles, contemporary polished tree calf, elaborate gilt border of urns and leafy sprays, spines gilt in compartments with gilt-lettered black and tan morocco labels, slightly sunned, [Anker 493; Arctic Bibliography 14491; Nissen, IVB 773 and ZBI 3385; Sabin 71026; Wood p.536], 4to, 1829-37. ⁂ A gorgeous set of this important work on the natural history of the fur-trading regions. Richardson took part in Sir John Franklin's two successful overland expeditions. "The influence which this work exerted cannot well be overstated...it was the unique source of inspiration of numberless writers upon the same subject, and it continues to be a standard authority." E. Coues American Ornithological Biography, Washington, 1878-80, vol.1, p.50.
Botany.- Sweet (Robert) The British Flower Garden, 1st and 2nd series, 7 vol., 712 hand-coloured engraved plates, a few folding, by Weddell, F.W. Smith and others after E.D. Smith, J. Hart and others, occasional light spotting and offsetting, generally a handsome set in contemporary half russia, gilt, g.e., [Nissen BBI, 1923; Great Flower Books p.77; Dunthorne 293], 8vo, 1823-38.
Sporting Art.- Travies (Edouard, 1809-1868) La Grive Litorne, Le Verdier, Le Moineau-Franc et le Pinçon, from the series 'La Vènerie. Souvenir de chasse', lithograph with hand-colouring, heightened with gum arabic, on wove paper, sheet 615 x 435 mm. (24 1/4 x 17 1/8 in), minor handling creases and light surface dirt, printed by Lemercier, Paris, E. Gambert & Co., [19th century]; together with 29 other sporting prints and prints with animal interest, including two mezzotints after Morland of Rabbits and Guinea Pigs, 9 tinted lithographs of 'Equestrian Sketches', and others after Ward, Edouard Odier, Edwin Landseer, Godfried Mind, and others, engravings, etchings, lithographs, on various papers, largest sheet approx. 360 x 540 mm. (14 1/4 x 21 1/4 in), some occasional spotting and browning, surface dirt, all unframed, [mainly 19th century], (30).
Bartolozzi (Francesco, 1727-1815) A good group of 27 works, including the artists own designs and others after old masters, such as Reynolds, Guercino, Balestra, Amigoni, Kauffman, da Cortona, Benjamin West, Poussin et al., stipple engravings, printed in red, sepia, and black inks, various papers, various sizes, largest 520 x 660 mm. (20 1/2 x 26 in), most with good margins, minor surface dirt and light browning, some nicks, tears, and handling creases, [late 18th, early 19th century]; together with a group of 35 others prints, mainly after old masters, including four putti after Domenichino, Rosa, three landscapes by Bolswert after Rubens, Flaxman, Joseph Vernet, Zurbaran, and others, engravings and etchings, various sizes, largest 610 x 430 mm. (24 x 16 7/8 in), occasional spotting and browning, minor surface dirt, all unframed, [18th and 19th century], (62).
Russia.- Lyall (Robert) The Character of the Russians, and a Detailed History of Moscow, first edition, 13 hand-coloured aquatint plates, 10 plain plates and one large folding engraved plan of Moscow, some light offsetting, lacking half-title, contemporary half calf, spine richly gilt but sunned, [Abbey, Travel 224], 4to, 1823. ⁂ A very good copy of this important work, which includes a fine folding panoramic view of the Kremlin palace from the river Moskva, a catalogue of plants found in the vicinity of the capital, an essay on Russian architecture and an account of Napoleon's burning of Moscow in 1814.
Ascham (Roger) Toxophilus, the Schole, or Partitions, of Shooting, edited by Rev. John Walters, light browning at beginning and end, contemporary mottled calf, rubbed, lacking most of spine label, Wrexham, R. Marsh, 1788 § Ronalds (Alfred) The Fly-Fisher's Entomology, second edition, 20 hand-coloured engraved plates, pencil annotations, broken, original cloth, 1839 § Maxims for Playing the Game of Whist, contemporary calf-backed boards, a little rubbed, for R. Payn and Son, 1783; and 4 others, 8vo (7)
Insects.- Moffet (Thomas) Insectorum sive Minimorum Animalium Theatrum, first edition, superb woodcut title of a bee-hive with other insects surrounding, numerous woodcut illustrations in text, minor worming to inner margin towards beginning, last 2 leaves with small holes, slightly affecting woodcuts, some light browning and marginal water-staining, old ink annotations to front free endpaper, contemporary calf, a little rubbed, [Garrison-Morton 288; Nissen 2852; Norman 1528; STC 17993; British Bee Books 25], folio, Thomas Cotes...[and] William Hope, 1634. ⁂ An excellent copy in a strictly contemporary binding of the first book on insects published in England. Moffet's was "the best work of its kind...it set a new standard of accuracy in the study of the invertebrates" (Garrison-Morton). He was educated at Cambridge and Basel, where he obtained a degree in medicine, travelled widely in Europe before establishing a practice in Ipswich and London and serving as physician to Queen Elizabeth's forces in Normandy in 1591. The first edition has three variant imprints.
Derbyshire.- Watson (White) A Delineation of the Strata of Derbyshire, first edition, folding engraved frontispiece of strata and one other plate, list of subscribers, light browning and offsetting, contemporary calf-backed boards, vellum corners, joints worn, Sheffield, W. Todd, 1811 § Mander (James) The Derbyshire Miners' Glossary, first edition, list of subscribers, engraved frontispiece, uncut in original printed boards, Bakewell, printed at the Minerva Press, for the Author, 1824 § Cotton (Charles) The Wonders of the Peak, title in red and black within typographic border and decorative vignette, contemporary sheep, worn, covers detached, Nottingham, printed by John Collyer, 1725; and another edition (Nottingham, 1774) of the same, v.s. (4)
Birds.- Gray (George Robert) The Genera of Birds, 3 vol., first edition, list of subscribers, 185 hand-coloured and 150 plain lithograph plates, some of the latter double-page, occasional light foxing and slight browning particularly to gutter of double-page plates, contemporary green half morocco over marbled boards, spines gilt in compartments, very slight rubbing to extremities and spines a little faded, g.e., [Nissen 388; Wood p.367; Ayer & Zimmer pp.268-269], folio,[1837]-44-49. ⁂ Important and beautiful work. David William Mitchell is credited with the illustrations on the title-page but in fact the work of several artists is included, notably Edward Lear (2), H.C. Richter (2) and Joseph Wolf, who was responsible for 11 of the coloured plates and over a third of the plain ones, as well as finishing a number of Mitchell's drawings and transferring them to stone. These represented Wolf's first book illustrations after his move to England. The list of subscribers includes many of the great ornithologists of the day, e.g. J.J. Audubon, John Gould, Sir William Jardine, H.E. Strickland and William Yarrell.
[Walpole (Horace)] The Castle of Otranto. A Gothic Story, third edition, half-title, occasional spotting or light staining, contemporary calf, covers detached, for John Murray, 1769 § Pope (Alexander) The Rape of the Lock, An Heroi-Comical Poem, engraved frontispiece and 5 plates plates by Bartolozzi and others after William Hamilton, Stothard, Fuseli and others, frontispiece trimmed at head and foot, affecting imprint, contemporary tree calf, gilt, spine richly gilt and with red morocco label, rubbed, T. Bensley, 1798 § Erasmus (Desiderius) Colloquia familiaria, notis novis illustrata, engraved frontispiece, final errata f., some ink underlining, occasional staining, contemporary calf, worn, Dublin, Aaron Rhames, 1712; and 120 others, 18th century Literature & History, v.s. (123)
America.- Railroads.- Sketch Map Showing the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad, & Connections, showing from New York in the lower right, to Niagra Falls and Lake Ontario in the upper left, lithograph printed in red and black ink, on wove paper, sheet 280 x 440 mm. (11 x 17 1/4 in), loose with minor handling creases and light spotting, unframed, [circa 1876-1891]; Sketch Map shewing the Little Rock Bridge Co.'s Railway Connections, showing from New York to San Francisco, lithograph printed in red and black ink, sheet 245 x 370 mm. (9 3/4 x 14 1/2 in), minor handling creases and folds, spotting, unframed,[circa 1870-1880]; together with a group of 7 miscellaneous maps, including three manuscript late 19th century pen and ink maps of France, Germany and Africa, and with James Wyld's Sketch of the Colony of Natal, 1850, Smith, Elder, & Co.'s The Punjab and Adjacent Countries, 1846, and George Philip & Son's 1852 map Canada, Nova Scotia & New Brunswick &c., lithograpghs, the latter the largest, 530 x 625 mm. (20 7/8 x 24 1/2 in), folds and handling creases, minor spotting and browning, all unframed, [the majority circa 1850-1900], (9).
Botany.- Trees.- Menzies (William) Forest Trees and Woodland Scenery..., signed and inscribed by the author "with many thanks for all his valuable assistance in preparing this work..." on front free endpaper, 20 mounted chromolithographed plates by M. & N. Hanhart after Sir Howard Elphinstone, W.L.Walton, and A.Y.Nutt, some light foxing to text or plate mounts, paper guard to frontispiece foxed and loose, gutta percha starting to give, original decorated cloth, gilt, g.e., very slightly rubbed, 4to, 1875.
Herbal.- Dodoens (Rembert) A Niewe Herball, or Historie of Plantes, first English edition, translated by Henry Lyte, title within ornate woodcut historiated border and with woodcut arms of Henry Lyte to verso, woodcut portrait of the author, numerous woodcut illustrations, a few coloured by an early hand, final leaf laid down thus obscuring colophon and printer's device to verso, with "my" corrected to "me" in imprint, a few early ink annotations, title with a few small repairs to verso, some minor marginal worming, marginal browning and soiling, some light marginal water-staining, a few other stains, 20th century vellum, a little soiled, [Henrey 110; Hunt 132; Nissen 516; STC 6984], folio, At London [Antwerp], by me Gerard Dewes, 1578. ⁂ A very good copy of this important Renaissance herbal. Dodoens served as court physician to Emperor Rudolf II of Austria before becoming Professor of Medicine at Leiden University in 1582. Provenance: Thomas Plumpton (contemporary ink inscription to title).
Greene (Robert) The Principles of Natural Philosophy, first edition, folding table, woodcut diagrams, names inked out from title and front free endpaper, some light water-staining to lower corner, contemporary panelled calf, rubbed, spine ends chipped, Cambridge, Printed at the University-Press, for Edm. Jeffery, 1712.
Herbal.- Parkinson (John) Theatrum Botanicum, first edition, additional engraved title by W. Marshall incorporating portrait of the author (trimmed and bound as frontispiece), over 2700 woodcut illustrations, errata leaf at end, 4L1 with 2" piece missing from upper edge with loss to headline on both sides, a couple of other leaves trimmed close at head and just touching headline, 6J6 with tear (partially repaired) affecting woodcut on both sides, occasional light water-staining and a few minor burn-holes, generally clean and crisp, later blind-stamped red morocco, spine ruled in gilt and with gilt stag device at foot, a little rubbed, headcaps worn, [Henrey 286; Hunt 235; STC 19302; Nissen 1490], folio, by Tho. Cotes, 1640. ⁂ A very good and complete copy of one of the great early English herbals. Provenance: contemporary ink ownership signatures of Robert Parker (head of engraved title, trimmed), John Hyphantos (title), later signature of Samuel Hadfield and date 1812 (front free endpaper) and bookplate of Old Hall (probably Mottram Old Hall in Longdendale).
Mining.- Pettus (Sir John) Fodinae Regales. Or the History, Laws and Places of the Chief Mines and Mineral Works..., first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece laid down, 2 engraved plates trimmed at fore-edge as often, 2 engraved illustrations, corrigenda leaf at end, several leaves with marginal pen and ink sketches for portraiture, some light water-staining, last few leaves foxed, contemporary sheep, later endpapers, foot of spine repaired and chipped, spine a little faded and rubbed, [Wing P1908], by H.L. and R.B. for Thomas Basset, 1670. ⁂ A very good copy of the standard 17th century English work on mining. The fine portrait by W. Sherwin is here in the rare first state with reading "W. Sherwin ad vivum facibat".
Scotland.- Description of the Western Isles of Scotland, called Hybrides; by Mr Donald Monro High Dean of the Isles, who travelled through the most of them in the year 1549, first title with part of upper margin cut away and short tear, some spotting or light staining, contemporary calf, rubbed and scuffed, 8vo, Edinburgh, by William Auld, 1774.
Dickens (Charles) A Tale of Two Cities, first edition in book form, first issue, additional etched title, frontispiece and 14 plates by H.K. Browne, occasional light foxing and slight offsetting, ink name at head of etched title, upper hinge weak, primary binding of original red cloth, spine blocked and lettered in gilt, a few marks and a little shaky, [Smith I, 13; Hatton & Cleaver pp.333-342], 8vo, Chapman and Hall, 1859. ⁂ A very good copy of Dickens' classic set during the French Revolution which opens with one of the most famous lines in literature: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." The work was originally serialised in All the Year Round and then issued in monthly parts. Its huge popularity meant that initial demand for the book version was less than usual, making surviving copies quite rare. This copy, in the primary red binding (it was also issued in olive green cloth) conforms to all the internal flaws mentioned by Smith, the most obvious of which is the mis-numbering of p.213. This novel also marked the final Dickens work illustrated by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz").
China.- Alexander (William) The Costume of China, first edition, additional aquatint title and 48 plates, all hand-coloured, list of subscribers, some light offsetting, lacking half-title, contemporary aubergine straight-grain morocco, elaborately tooled in gilt and blind, g.e., slightly rubbed at extremities, [Colas 74; Lipperheide 1527; Abbey, Travel 532], 4to, 1805. ⁂ An excellent copy. Alexander accompanied Macartney's Embassy to the Chinese Emperor as a draughtsman from 1792-94. As well as costumes, the plates depict buildings, ships and other vessels.
Puckle (James) The Club; a Dialogue between Father and Son, one of 500 copies, in an edition of 734, initial title / justification f., engraved portrait frontispiece, wood-engraved pictorial title and vignettes, some foxing, contemporary red straight-grain morocco, gilt, g.e., 1817 § [Combe (William)] The Tour of Doctor Syntax in Search of the Picturesque, third edition, hand-coloured aquatint frontispiece, vignette title and 29 plates, all by Rowlandson, some light browning or staining, contemporary half calf, spine gilt, [Abbey, Life 265; Tooley 427], a good copy, R. Ackermann, 1813 § Campbell (Thomas) Gertrude of Wyoming; A Pennsylvanian Tale, occasional spotting, contemporary half calf, gilt, 1809; and 63 others, 19th century Literature & History, v.s. (66)
Economics.- Ricardo (David) On the Principles of Political Economy, and Taxation, first edition, occasional light foxing and soiling, without the publisher's advertisements at end, contemporary half calf over marbled boards, spine ruled and lettered in gilt, joints cracking and a little rubbed, [PMM 277; Goldsmith 21734; Kress B7029], 8vo, John Murray, 1817. ⁂ An excellent copy of Ricardo's key work on Economics. "The fundamental ground-work of the Principles is based on the theory that, given free competition in trade, the exchange value of commodities will be determined by the amount of labour expended in production: not a wholly original thesis, nor one capable of absolute expression, but one which was given new force by the theory of distribution with which Ricardo reinforced it. This has been summarized thus: 'the demand for food determines the margin of cultivation; this margin determines rent; the amount necessary to maintain the labourer determines wages; the difference between the amount produced by a given quantity of labour determines profit'" (PMM).
Zoology.- Scharf the Elder (George, 1788-1860) The Giraffes with the Arabs who brought them over to this Country, probably part of the series issued in printed wrappers entitled 'Zoological Gardens. Regent's Park', lithograph with hand-colouring, heightened with touches of gum arabic, on wove paper without watermark, sheet 280 x 380 mm. (11 x 15 in), minor browning and light surface dirt, unframed, published by the artist, 1836; together with a group of seven anthropomorphic prints of chimpanzees and monkeys, and two others, after Waterhouse Hawkins, Decamps, and others, engravings, lithographs, on various papers, largest 405 x 575 mm. (16 x 22 3/4 in), occasional spotting and surface dirt, all unframed, [mainly 19th century], (10).
Mining.- [Shiers (William)] A Familiar Discourse or Dialogue concerning the Mine-Adventure, 2 parts in 1, first edition, 'An Abstract of the Present State of the Mines of Bwlchyr-Eskir-Hyr' with separate title, contemporary ink inscription on front pastedown "Tho. Husband 1700 Ex dono Sr Humphrey Mackworth" with long explanatory note on the work on versos of title and second title and facing leaves, a little worming to lower margin, light water-staining, mostly marginal but for last few leaves, contemporary panelled sheep, rubbed, upper joint split, lower cover detached, gouge to spine, [Wing S3458], 1700 § Pettus (Sir John) Fodinae Regales. Or the History, Laws and Places of the Chief Mines and Mineral Works..., first edition, lacking engraved portrait but with 2 engraved plates, 2 engraved illustrations in text, corrigenda leaf at end, title soiled and frayed at inner margin (reinforced), marginal water-staining to last two leaves, engraved bookplate of Sir George Beaumont Bart., contemporary sprinkled sheep, spine faded and chipped at head, [Wing P1908], by H.L. and R.B. for Thomas Basset, 1670, both a little worn, 8vo & folio (2) ⁂ The first relates to an early 18th century industrial scandal. Through his wife Sir Humphrey Mackworth had inherited an estate with coal mining rights in Wales. Following the demise of the Society of Mines Royal in 1694 he established the Company of Mine Adventures and began to smelt copper but this was declared bankrupt in 1709 and he was accused of fraud, although with a change of government the charges were dropped. The contemporary note comments that the work was probably written by Mackworth himself, although attributed to his secretary William Shiers "a creature of Sir Humphrey's". The writer continues, "...William Waller, the mineral projector & manager of the company's mines in Cardiganshire appears to have stood high in Sir H's favor [sic], but they afterwards quarrelled" and in 1710 he "published a pamphlet intitled the ''Mine adventure laid open', wherein he endeavoured to blacken the character of Sir Humphrey".
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) Three Oriental Figures (Jacob and Laban?), etching with drypoint, 1641, on laid paper, without watermark, second, final state, trimmed within the plate mark, small tear in lower margin and right hand edge at centre, light surface dirt and discolouration where tipped onto support at upper corners, unframed, sheet 140 x 111 mm. (5 1/2 x 4 3/8 in). Literature: Bartsch 118; Hind 183; New Hollstein 118 ii/ii
Ward (William, 1766-1826) Christ in the Garden, after Correggio, plate 26 from the series 'Gems of Art', lettered state, mezzotint and etching, a rich velvet-like impression, on wove paper without watermark, plate mark 215 x 215 mm. (8 1/2 x 8 1/2 in), sheet 445 x 310 mm. (17 1/2 x 12 1/4 in), minor surface dirt and spotting, unframed, published by Cooke, 1825; together with Ward's Daniel in the Lion's Den, after Rubens, mezzotint, on thick cream laid paper, without watermark, trimmed to image, sheet 480 x 610 mm. (18 7/8 x 24 in), some nicks and tears and curling to lower edge, several light handling creases, published by Thomas Simpson, circa 1789 § Turner (Charles, 1774-1857) Rembrandt's Mill, and Maecenas' Villa, Tivoli, two works, the first after Rembrandt, the latter Richard Wilson, both from 'Gems of Art', mezzotints, on wove paper, one with Whatman watermark and dated '1820', each plate mark approx. 175 x 200 mm. (6 7/8 x 7 7/8 in), both with wide margins, minor spotting and browning, 1823 § Reynolds I (Samuel William, 1773-1835) Georgius Quartus, portrait of George IV after a bust by Sir Francis Chantrey, mezzotint and etching, plate mark 230 x 150 mm. (9 x 5 7/8 in), sheet 435 x 290 mm. (17 1/8 x 11 1/2 in), some spotting and surface dirt, 1825; together with David Lucas's etching and mezzotint after Constable's 'Spring', and John Young's mezzotint after Zoffany's 'Flower Girl', all unframed, (7).
Levant.- Hobhouse (John Cam, 1st Baron Broughton) A Journey through Albania...to Constantinople, first edition, engraved frontispiece, 2 folding maps, 2 facsimiles, 2 plates of music, sepia plan and 17 hand-coloured aquatints (7 folding or double-page), occasional offsetting, contemporary russia, gilt, spine faded, g.e., [Abbey, Travel 202; Atabey 584], 4to, 1813. ⁂ Excellent copy of Hobhouse's important account of his journey with his friend Lord Byron. "This work is of great interest not only for the light it sheds on that journey, but for the mass of information Hobhouse provides, in particular on the court and character of Ali Pasha." (Atabey)
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