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DEBIERNE ANDRE-LOUIS: (1874-1949) French chemist, often considered the discoverer of the element actinium. Manuscript D.S., A. Debierne (twice), one page, 4to, n.p., 9th April 1948, in French. Debierne responds to a researcher's questionnaire entitled Enquete Mondiale ('World Enquiry') at the head, with the researcher's manuscript questions beneath, '1. Vos debuts scientifiques furent-il heureux ou difficiles? 2. Des moyens d'existence (un second metier ou une fortune personelle) vous permirent-ils de vous faire un nom dans la science ou ne vecutes-vous que de votre travail de laboratoire? 3. Quel ouvrage (ou quelle decouverte) vous fit-il le plus connaitre? Lequel considerez-vous comme votre chef d'oeuvre?' (Translation: '1. Were your scientific debuts happy or difficult? 2. Did the means of existence (a second job or a personal fortune) allow you to make a name for yourself in science, or do you only live from your laboratory work? 3. What work (or which discovery) made you most well-known? Which do you consider your masterpiece?). Debierne provides his answers beneath, explaining that his first scientific research was conducted with Charles Friedel at the Sorbonne and following this 'Pierre Curie m'a demande d'etudier la preparation du Radium……et je suis reste son collaborateur et celui de Madame Curie......La vie pendant mon enfance avait ete tres difficile et mes etudes ont toujours ete faits dans des conditions peu favorables. Mes travaux principaux ont ete faits sur la Radioactivite et mon nom a ete mis en evidence par la decouverte de l'actinium, nouvel element radioactif, qui a donne son nom a la famille de l'actinium suite d'elements analogue a celle du Radium et du Thorium' (Translation: 'Pierre Curie asked me to study the preparation of Radium…….and I remained his collaborator and that of Madame Curie…….Life during my childhood had been difficult and my studies were always done in unfavourable conditions. My main work was done on Radioactivity and my name was highlighted by the discovery of actinium, a new radioactive element, which gave its name to the family of actinium, a series of elements similar to that of radium and thorium'). Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG 

SCIENTISTS: An unusual 4to sheet of paper featuring the manuscript title Maximes de vie des Grands Savants Contemporains (Translation: Maxims of Life of the Great Contemporary Scholars) in the hand of a researcher at the head of the page, beneath which appear three individual autograph statements signed by various scientists, comprising (in order of appearance) Fritz Strasmann (1902-1980) German chemist, 'Reverence for the achievements of others, but no adoration of prevailing views and courage for one's own convictions' (translated from German), Aleksandar Sabovljev (1907-1963) Professor of Physiology at the University of Sarajevo, 'Vivre pour le progress dans la science' (Translation: 'Live for the progress of science') dated at Paris, 10th September 1957, in his hand, and Sahay Ram Bose (1888-1970) Indian botanist, 'To work for science patiently and persistently, and not to seek for spectacular results which lie in the hands of the Providence', dated at Paris, 11th September 1957, in his hand. With various ink annotations in the hand of a collector to the left margin. VG 

NEUFCHATEAU NICOLAS FRANCOIS DE: (1750-1828) French statesman, poet and agricultural scientist who, during the French Revolution, was elected deputy supplant to the National Assembly and charged with the organisation of the Vosges Department. Neufchateau also served as President of the Legislative Assembly from December 1791 to January 1792. D.S., Francois (de Neufchateau), one page, 4to, Epinal, 31st December 1792, in French. The manuscript document consists of three statements, the first signed by Jean Bernard, a farmer in Punerot, who provided a horse and transport to assist in the delivery of army supplies, explaining that the horse died (as certified by the Captain and Commander of the battalion) whilst in the care of a ploughman, Nicolas Godard, and seeking a compensation payment of one hundred and twenty six pounds, that being the value of the horse according to a report drawn up by the municipal officers of Punerot. The second statement, signed by Barret, Gerardin and Panichot, appears in the upper left margin and represents the judgement of the District Directory, recommending that, according to the provisions of the law of 29th April, the petitioner should be paid the sum of one hundred and twenty six pounds by the public treasury as compensation for his horse which perished whilst in the service of the Republic. At the foot of the page appears the final statement signed by Neufchateau, explaining that he has considered the petition and the opinion of the District Directory and confirms that the Directory of the Department of Vosges will send to the Minister of War a 'priere de prendre la reclamation du petition naire en consideration pour lui procurer le paiement des 126 faisant le prix du cheval perdu au service de la republique' (Translation: 'request to take the petitioner's claim into consideration to procure for him the payment of the 126 representing the price of the horse lost in the service of the republic'). Very slightly irregularly trimmed edges and some light age wear, otherwise VG 

JENNINGS CHARLES EDWARD: (1751-1799) Brave Kilmaine. Irish soldier, an active supporter of the French Revolution who served as a brigade and division commander under Napoleon. D.S., Jennings Kilmaine, one page, folio, n.p., n.d. (June 1793), in French. The main body of the document is represented by a L.S. by the financial commissioner of the northern army, performing the functions of chief financial officer of Ardennes, dated 17th June 1793, and certifies that the war commissioner Feres has been employed in the army since the beginning of November 1792 and that 'il a toujours donne des preuves d'un civisme non equivogue, qu'il a constament reste fidele a son poste et n'a pas quitte un seul instant l'armee…..[et]….. il a toujours montre le plus grand attachement pour la cause de la liberte, et pour les interets de la Republique' (Translation: 'he has always given evidence of unequivocal good citizenship, that he has consistently remained faithful to his post and has not left the army for a single moment……[and]……..he has always shown the greatest attachment for the cause of freedom, and for the interests of the Republic'). At the foot of the letter Jennings, in his capacity as General of Division, has added his own manuscript statement, in full, 'Je cerifie que le Citoyen Feres a rempli avec beaucoup de zele et d'intelligence les devoirs de sa charge depuis qu'il sert sous mes ordres' (Translation: 'I certify that Citizen Feres has fulfilled with great zeal and intelligence the duties of his office since he has served under my command'). Some light creasing and minor age wear, VG

[REIGN OF TERROR]: BILLAUD-VARENNE JACQUES-NICOLAS (1756-1819) French politician and lawyer, one of the key architects of the Reign of Terror and a militant member of the Committee of Public Safety & CARNOT LAZARE (1753-1823) French politician, mathematician and physicist, a member of the Committee of Public Safety and 'Organiser of Victory' in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. D.S., Billaud Varenne and Carnot, one page, 4to, Paris, 19th November 1793, in French. The manuscript document, issued in the name of the members of the Committee of Public Safety, is addressed to the Minister of War and states, in full, 'Nous vous faisons passer, Citoyen Ministre, une denonciation contre le General Beffroy, envoyee au procureur general du Departement de la Vendee et qui nous a ete adressee par votre collegue Maignen' (Translation: 'We send you, Citizen Minister, a denunciation against General Beffroy, sent to the Attorney General of the Department of Vendee and which was addressed to us by your colleague Maignen'). Some very light, minor staining to the edges and a few spots of foxing, otherwise VGJean Baptiste Noel Bouchotte (1754-1840) French politician and military officer who served as Minister of War 1793-94. Louis Paul de Beffroy (1737-1802) French Brigadier General who served during the French Revolution and who was suspended from duties on 30th September 1793 following the Battle of Chantonnay.  

MERLIN DE DOUAI PHILIPPE-ANTOINE: (1754-1838) French politician and lawyer who served as Minister of Justice 1795-96, 1796-97. L.S., Merlin, two pages, small 4to, Paris, 15th April 1797, to the director and jury of the district of Courtray, on the printed stationery of the Criminal Bureau, in French. Merlin de Douai states that he has been informed that the accomplices of Francois Fallambier have been transferred to Courtray, noting that 'ce n'est qu'a l'aide de la surveillance la plus active et la plus suive qu'on est parvenu a empecher l'evasion de ces prevenus qui pendant leur sejours dans la prison de Bethune l'avaient presque demolie et qu'il est a craindre que ces individus ne parviennent enfin a s'echapper si l'on n'apporte a leur garde la plus grande des precautions' (Translation: 'it was only with the aid of the most active and the most consistent supervision that we managed to prevent the escape of these defendants who during their stay in the prison of Bethune had almost demolished it and that it is to be feared that these individuals will finally manage to escape if the greatest precautions are not taken') and further urging his correspondent to liaise with the commissioner of the Executive Directory to take appropriate measures to prevent an event which would spread consternation in neighbouring districts and also instructing him to continue with his investigation into Fallambier and his accomplices. To the third page appears a manuscript response to Merlin de Douai, the author stating that he would have liked to have had the opportunity to study the trial of Salenbier and his many accomplices, but is unable to do so at present as he is recovering in bed and will not be able to start the trial, believing it to be harmful to the public to start such a case and not be able to follow it up. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

MASSENA ANDRE: (1758-1817) Prince of Essling, Duke of Rivoli. French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, one of the original eighteen Marshals of the Empire created by Napoleon I. D.S., Massena, three pages, 4to, n.p., 24th March 1796, in French. The manuscript document relates to Lieutenant Jacques Elliot and provides certified details of his military service and campaigns. Signed by Massena at the conclusion of the second page in his capacity as Commander of the Vanguard of the Italian Army and countersigned by various members of the administrative council of the 70 Demi-Brigade including Amedee Emmanuel Francois Laharpe (1754-1796) Swiss military officer who served as a volunteer in the French Army during the French Revolutionary Wars, rising to the rank of General of the Revolutionary Army and leading a division in Italy under Napoleon Bonaparte; and Jean Joseph Magdeleine Pijon (1758-1799) French General of the French Revolutionary Wars who commanded a Brigade in Napoleon Bonaparte's French Army of Italy. The third page of the document is devoted to a statement on the health of Elliot. Some very light, minimal age wear, VG 

BERNADOTTE JEAN-BAPTISTE: (1763-1844) French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, one of the original eighteen Marshals of the Empire created by Napoleon I. Bernadotte later became King Charles XIV John of Sweden and Norway 1818-44. D.S., J: Bernadotte, two pages, large folio, Rennes, 27th October 1801, in French. The manuscript document, issued by the 82 Demi-Brigade, is a memorandum of proposal for the retirement pay in favour of Lieutenant Francois Moniot 'hors d'etat de continuer son service par suite d'une blessure recue a la jambe droite a l'affaire de Savene' (Translation: 'unable to continue his service following an injury to the right leg received in the Savene affair') and provides details of his military service and campaigns from the age of 18 years in 1776, as well as details of his health following a medical examination. Signed by Bernadotte at the conclusion, adding one line of text in his hand, 'Vu et approuve par le General en Chef de l'armee de s'ouest' (Translation: 'Seen and approved by the General-in-Chief of the Western Army'). Also bearing the countersignatures of various members of the administrative council of the 82 Demi-Brigade. Some light overall age wear and a few small, neat tears and splits to the edges, about VGThe Battle of Savenay took place on 23rd December 1793 and marked the end of the Viree de Galerne operational phase of the first war in the Vendee after the French Revolution. The Republicans suffered thirty fatalities at the Battle and two hundred officers were wounded.  

DAVOUT LOUIS NICOLAS: (1770-1823) Marshal of France, Duc d´Auerstaedt and Prince of Eckmuhl. Known as the Iron Marshal, Davout was the only Napoleonic Marshal not to have been defeated in battle by 1815. Unusual A.L.S., `L. Davout´, two pages, 4to, Pultusk, in Poland, 22nd January, n.y. [1807], to his wife Aimée Leclerc, in French. Davout sends a bold ink manuscript letter to his wife from Poland, only two weeks before the very important Battle of Eylau, and refers to the troubles experienced with the post mail, stating in part `…vivement ma très bonne aimée que les lettres que je t´écris te parviennent…ton exactitude et ton attachement me sont trop connus pour qu´il puisse me venir dans l´idée d´attribuer à d´autres causes que la poste cette râreté de tes nouvelles. Tout ce qui t´intéresse jouit d´une parfaite santé…´ (Translation: “…happy my dearly beloved, that the letters I'm writing to you reach you... your exactitude and your attachment are too well known to me for it to occur to me to attribute this scarcity of your news to causes other than the post office. Everything you care about enjoys perfect health…”) Davout further sends all his love to his one year old daughter, saying `J´envoi mille caresses à ma petite Joséphine et mille et mille baisers à son excellente et belle maman…´ (Translation: “I send a thousand hugs to my little Josephine and a thousand and thousand kisses to her excellent and beautiful mother…”) Paper with attractive watermark. With blank integral leaf. G

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of the French 1804-14, 1815. L.S., Np, one page, small 4to, Paris, 16th January 1812, to the Duke of Feltre, in French. Napoleon requests that Feltre sends him the appointment of the Guard of Amsterdam and of Rotterdam, adding that the Arch-treasurer has written informing Napoleon that they have been sent to Feltre. With the original small manuscript acknowledgement of receipt neatly pinned to the lower left corner. VGHenri Jacques Guillaume Clarke (1765-1818) 1st Duke of Feltre. Marshal of France who served as Minister of War 1807-14, 1815, 1815-17. 

BRITISH ARMY: A good selection of signed pieces, cards, letterheads etc., by various British Field Marshals and Generals, all of whom served in World War II, comprising Viscount Alanbrooke (3; including an A.L.S. and a manuscript statement signed, in part, 'On the occasion of the Swaziland Ex-Gunners Annual Dinner of 1957 I am delighted to take the opportunity of sending my best wishes to all assembled. I hope it will be an opportunity for many old friends to meet and to recall old memories', 26th August 1957), William Slim, Claude Auchinleck, Archibald Wavell, Gerald Templer, Neil Ritchie, Bernard Paget, Richard Gale, William Gott (rare) and Frederick Pile (brief A.L.S.), G to generally VG, 12 

[EISENHOWER DWIGHT D.]: (1890-1969) American General of World War II. American President 1953-61. HORROCKS BRIAN (1895-1985) British Lieutenant-General of World War II, commander of the XXX Corps in Operation Market Garden. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. (c.1952). The manuscript, penned in blue fountain pen ink (and with a few pencil corrections), is an appreciation of Dwight D. Eisenhower and states, in part, 'General Eisenhower is a warm and friendly man with a most persuasive manner; one of those rare beings who has risen to the supreme heights and yet remained at heart a simple person. It is these qualities allied to his complete selflessness which have made him so popular, and no one can remain in his presence for long without succumbing to his charm. Even the British soldiers who do not as a rule take kindly to "foreign" Generals knew him affectionately as Ike. He has been accused of being pro-British, be that as it may, there is no doubt at all that the British are pro-Eisenhower……But no one can rise to be the commander of the military forces of the free Western world on charm alone and after a few minutes in his company it is soon obvious that behind his charming personality lie many sterling qualities. He is a man of the highest possible moral courage and having once decided on what is the right thing to do nothing will deflect him from his course. For a General he has a remarkably shrewd political sense which is particularly important in his present appointment……There have been rumours in connection with the next Presidential election in the U.S.A: we must all pray that these are untrue and implore our friends across the Atlantic to add one last thing to their generous Marshall Aid, by leaving us IKE. He is irreplaceable over here'. Two partial holes to the left edge, which is irregularly torn, although not affecting the text. G  

AN EARLY ISLAMIC LEATHER BOUND FIQH MANUSCRIPT ON JURISPRUDENCE, dated 969AH, 23cm x 14.5cm.

AN ISLAMIC NORTH AFRICAN LEATHER-BOUND MANUSCRIPT, 24.5cm x 19cm.

A PERSIAN ILLUMINATED DOUBLE-PAGE MANUSCRIPT, the two panels depicting hunting scenes with figures on horseback, with an inscribed panel to the top and bottom of each image, the reverse with calligraphy, framed with double-sided glazing, 30.5cm x 40cm.

ANTIQUE MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENTS, collection of 5 x 19th Century documents including land in Bratton Clovelly dated 1867

Ethiopian Coptic Bible / book of religious texts, late 18th / 19thC handwritten manuscript in red & black on vellum with the addition of several hand-drawn illustrations, comprising over 100 pages contained in a small, near miniature handcrafted leather binding (some marking of pages)

(Falkenskjold,S.O.v.).: Authentische und höchstmerkwürdige Aufklärungen über die Geschichte der Grafen Struensee und Brandt. Aus dem Franz. Manuscript eines hohen Ungenannten zum erstenmal übersetzt (v. F.Schulz) u. gedruckt. Germanien (d.i. Kempten, Dannheimer) 1788. 168 S. Pbd. d. Zt. (Berieb. u. best.). Borst 587 Anm. Hayn-G. VII, 465. Fromm 8784. - Erste deutsche Ausgabe, gleichzeitig auch mit anderer Kollation (282 S.) erschienen. "Seltene erste Ausgabe der Memoiren, in denen Partei für die unglückliche Königin Karoline Mathilde ergriffen wird" (H.-G.). - Etwas gebräunt und fingerfleckig, stellenweise schwach stockfl.

A SET OF MOUNTED THREE POINT ANTLERS, TWO SMALL AFRICAN SHIELDS, OTHER 20TH CENTURY TOURIST SOUVENIRS AND A PAINTED LEATHER WALL HANGING, the wall hanging decorated in the style of an illuminated manuscript, height 64cm, a painted boomerang, twin handled bowl, etc (9)

MANUSCRIPT / HANDWRITTEN NOTES / SCRAP ALBUM

Leather Bound Visitors Book with Manuscript Entries, including Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra and others, from the Four Provinces pub, Dublin, opposite the Gaiety Theatre

An extremely rare Meissen octagonal sugar box and cover, circa 1718-20Painted, probably in the workshop of George Funcke in Dresden, in green, purple, iron-red and yellow with flower sprigs, the inside of each painted in black 'IX' (or 'XI'), 11cm across, faint lustre mark inside cover (2)Footnotes:Provenance:Margravine Karoline Luise of Baden-Durlach (1723-83); to her sonHereditary Prince Karl Ludwig of Baden (1755-1801); thence by descent toGrand Duke Friedrich I of Baden (1826-1907); thence by descentThe Collections of the Margraves and Grand Dukes of Baden, sold by Sotheby's Baden-Baden, 18 October 1995, lot 1275, when acquired by the present ownerLiterature:Karl Koelitz, Beschreibendes Inventar der Allerhöchsten Privatsammlung kuntgewerblicher Gegenstände (Zähringer Museum), unpublished manuscript, Karlsruhe (1883), nos. 2164;Richter, Inventar des Zähringer Museums, unpublished manuscript, Baden-Baden (1919), no. 2386;Claus Boltz, Die wöchentlichen Berichte über die Tätigkeit der Meissner Dreher und Former vom 6. Juni 1722 bis 31. Dezember 1728, in Keramos 178 (2002), ill. 128Exhibited:Karlsruhe, Zähringer Museum (Private Collection of Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden, exhibited in the rooms of the former Grand Ducal Naturalia Cabinet in the Residenzschloss), 1879-1919;Baden-Baden, Zähringer Museum, Neues Schloss, c. 1960-1990This sugar box and cover was part of the celebrated porcelain cabinet of the Margravine Karoline Luise of Baden-Durlach (1723-83) in the second half of the 18th century. She displayed most of the historic porcelain - that she inherited from various members of her and her husband's families - as part of a scientific display in the Naturalia Cabinet in the Karlsruhe Residence. The collection is listed in her posthumous inventory, which is repeated in that of her son, Karl Ludwig von Baden-Durlach (1755-1801). The porcelain was exhibited from 1879 in the same rooms in the Grand Ducal Residence in Karlsruhe that had contained the Naturalia Cabinet and is listed in an inventory of 1883 by Karl Koelitz. When the last Grand Duke of Baden abdicated in 1918, this collection was considered the family's private property and, in 1919, it was moved to the Neues Schloss, Baden-Baden, where - from around 1960 - it was on public display as part of the Zähringer Museum. See S. Kuhn, 'Porcelaine a la Mode': The Eighteenth-Century Collections of the Baden Princesses, in K. Tsoumis/V. Sigalas (eds.) A Passion for Porcelain. Essays in Honour of Meredith Chilton (2020), pp. 56-71; and H.Jacob-Friesen et al., Die Meister Sammlerin Karoline Luise von Baden (2015), for discussions of the Margravine's extensive art collections. Only one similar example of this rare and very early floral decoration is recorded in the literature: on a teapot and cover from the pre-War collection of Lisa and Heinrich Arnhold in Dresden (published by M. Cassidy-Geiger, The Arnhold Collection of Meissen Porcelain 1710-50 (2008), p. 753, fig. 26.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

MANUSCRIPT. YACHTING ADVENTURES 1910-1913. 'Some Yachting Experiences' by Alan Edwardes, Folio, 118 pages with numerous sepia photographs interspersed throughout the text. The author purchased the 'Idler', a 20-foot yacht of about 3 tons and took her for a voyage starting from Rhyl. He also recounts a fortnight cruise in the 'Dolores', a 23-ton vessel, which began at Conway, and another voyage in the 'Darling'.With a silver cigarette box, S Blanckensee & Son Ltd, Birmingham 1937, 19cm wide. Inscribed "Won by 'Tavira", Alan Edwardes. Fitted interior has suffered from a spillage of shellac or varnish (2)

BLITH, Walter, The English Improver Improved, 3rd edition, 1652. Small 4to. Engraved title and two folding plates. Bound with extra blank leaves at front and back. With extensive manuscript notes by Joseph Clarke, who has dated the book July 31st 1652. 5 full pages of notes and 7 part pages. Contemporary reversed calf, firmly bound. One plate with slight loss at margin.

17TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT. Folio, limp vellum, containing copies of six letters sent by the Lord High Treasurer of England, 1569-1662, ordering officers of the Exchequer to attend upon him with their clerks, manservants, armour, horses and furniture. Letters cover 10 sides. With a drawing on parchment of a round table, below which is written ' This forme of the Exchequer is in an old book remaining in the custodie of the Treasurer and Chamberlayne of the Exchequer'. Written in pencil below is ' Given me by Mr Austin of the King's Bench Office'.Most of the leaves in the book are blank. 'Ex Craven Ord MSS' and 'Phillipps MSS 21727' written on fly leaf.With several loosely inserted pages of hand written notes.Provenance:Provenance: From the collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bt. (1792-1872). Given by Mr Austin of the King’s Bench Office to Craven Ord (1756-1832), antiquary. Probably acquired by Phillipps at the sale of Ord’s manuscripts in January 1830, where Phillipps was a major buyer. Following Phillipps’ death in 1872 there was a series of sales at Sotheby’s, when the manuscript passed into the hands of Worcester antiquary Joseph Bowstead Wilson (1841-1911), rector of Knightwick, Worcs. Thence by descent.

Fabricius (Johann Christian) Philosophia entomologica..., woodcut title-vignette and head- & tail-pieces, foxed, bookplate of Reinhold Charpentier and book-label of Kurt von Rosen, later cloth-backed boards, title in manuscript on upper cover and label, Hamburg & Kiel, C.E.Bohn, 1778; Systema antliatorum..., errata leaf, a little foxed and stained causing one or two leaves to stick together, a few tears and repairs, bookplate of Reinhold Charpentier, contemporary half roan, spine defective, upper joint split, Braunschweig, C.Reichard, 1805, first editions, rubbed, [Hagen 220.4 & 222.29], 8vo (2)

Fabricius (Johann Christian) Species insectorum..., 2 vol., first edition, vol.2 with Appendix and Index at end (pp.495-517, not called for by Hagen), woodcut title-vignettes, head- & tail-pieces, some contemporary ink manuscript annotations, a few ink stains, light browning, old ink stamp "G.Kerssenbrock" to foot of titles, contemporary half calf, spines gilt with floral motifs and red & blue roan labels, a little rubbed, spine of vol.1 slightly worn at head, [Hagen 220.7], 8vo, Hamburg & Kiel, C.E.Bohn, 1781.⁂ Rare with only a few copies sold at auction in over a century.

Fabricius (Johann Christian) Entomologia systematica emendata et aucta, 4 vol. in 5 [&] Index alphabeticus [&] Supplementum, together 7 vol., first edition, mixed set, vol.4 larger and uncut with wide margins, vol.3 & 4 with contemporary ink manuscript annotations, M1 in vol.4 torn and crudely repaired, some foxing and light marginal water-staining, small ink stain to a few leaves of supplement, various ink signatures, vol.1-2 with bookplate of Reinhold Charpentier, vol.1-3 contemporary calf (vol.1-2 uniform with initials "B.C.R." to upper covers), spines gilt, vol.4 later half roan, spine gilt, uncut, Index original boards, spine worn and defective, Supplementum contemporary half calf, all rubbed, [Hagen 221.13, 17 & 19], 8vo, Copenhagen, 1792-96-98.⁂ Rare; we have been unable to trace a complete set at auction.

Harris (Moses) An Exposition of English Insects, second edition, second issue, hand-coloured engraved frontispiece 'Scheme of Colours', engraved title in English dated 1782, letterpress title in French, text in English and French printed in double-column, engraved key plate and 50 hand-coloured plates, most with tissue guards, plate 5 from another copy (on thinner paper and soiled, trimmed and tipped into blank leaf), engraved title browned, light foxing, mostly to text particularly last few leaves, old manuscript presentation label to front pastedown, contemporary calf, rubbed and marked, corners worn, rebacked with gilt spine and red morocco label, [Lisney 243; Nissen ZBI 1838; cf.British Bee Books 129 & Hagen 342.4], 4to, B.White & J.Edwards, 1786.

Moffet (Thomas) Insectorum sive minimorum animalium theatrum, first edition, title with woodcut of a skep bee-hive surrounded by other insects (soiled, torn and defective at outer edge with slight loss to woodcuts and border, repaired and supplied in facsimile), woodcut of skep repeated at end of preliminaries (small rust-hole but not affecting image), numerous woodcut illustrations in text, old pen, ink & watercolour drawing of caterpillar with manuscript note to R2, rather soiled and stained particularly towards end, 2 final leaves of woodcuts severely stained and shaved or frayed at edges (repaired), tear to D5 repaired, a few other rust-spots, contemporary calf, rubbed and stained, rebacked, corners repaired, new endpapers, [British Bee Books 25; Hagen 553.1; Lisney 4; Nissen ZBI 2852; STC 17993a], folio, Thomas Cotes...[and] William Hope, 1634; sold not subject to return⁂ The first book on insects published in England. Moffet 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.It used to be said that the author's daughter, Patience, who was raised surrounded by insects and spiders, was the origin of Miss Muffet in the nursery rhyme, but this is now regarded as unlikely.

Plinius Secundus (Gaius) The Historie of the World: commonly called, The Natural Historie..., translated by Philemon Holland, 2 vol. in 1, second edition, titles with woodcut device, woodcut head- & tail-pieces and initials, lacking initial & final blanks but with final advertisement leaf, vol.1 with title defective affecting device and with loss of imprint (laid down), b4, L6, X4 & Ff5 all trimmed close at fore-margin shaving final letter of lines and C3 & 4 with slips in contemporary ink manuscript pasted over part of text, a little water-stained, worming to vol.2 affecting a few side-notes, contemporary ink signature "W.Stebbing" to front pastedown, modern bookplate of Barrie Macey, contemporary calf, rubbed, resewn and rebacked preserving old spine, [STC 20030], folio, by Adam Islip, 1634; sold not subject to return

[Lightfoot (John)] [Sale Catalogue] A Catalogue of the Portland Museum, lately the property of the Duchess Dowager of Portland, Deceased..., catalogue numbered "757" in manuscript at foot of title (smudged), engraved frontispiece by Grignion after Burney, the first 13½ days with prices and occasionally buyers' names in manuscript (ink or pencil), foxed, title soiled, short tear to inner margin of title and preliminaries (some repaired), with 4pp. advertisement for Edward Donovan's newly-opened London Museum, and Institute of Natural History of 1807/8 loosely inserted, contemporary half calf, rubbed, 4to, Skinner and Co., 1786.⁂ Scarce auction catalogue of the extraordinary collection assembled by the Duchess of Portland, the richest woman in Britain at the time, whose intention according to the introduction was "to have had every unknown species described and published to the world". It consisted mostly of natural history specimens and curiosities, particularly conchology, and included specimens brought back by Capt. Cook from the South Seas. The sale, which amounted to over 4000 lots and lasted for 38 days, was catalogued by Rev. John Lightfoot, the Duchess's librarian and curator of the collection. Loosely inserted is an offprint by S.P.Dance concerning the authorship and nomenclature of the specimens. The penultimate lot on day 38 was the famous cameo glass "Portland Vase" which was bought for £1029 by the Duchess's son, the 3rd Duke of Portland, who then lent it to Josiah Wedgwood to execute copies in black and white jasperware. The 6th Duke later tried to sell it at Christie's in 1929 but it failed to sell, and finally the British Museum bought it in 1945.

Maton (William George) & Rev. Thomas Rackett. A Descriptive Catalogue of the British Testacea, extract from 'Linnaean Transactions' vol.VIII pp.17-250, 6 hand-coloured engraved plates, text lightly browned with stain to lower edge of some leaves, some offsetting to plates, [1804] bound after Jeffreys (J.G.) A Synopsis of the Testaceous Pneumonobranchous Mollusca of Great Britain... [&] Supplement, together 2 extracts from 'Linnaean Transactions' vol.XVI pp.323-392 & 505-523, [1830-33], bound with 3 other papers on malacology by Jenyns, Lea and Porro together in 1 vol., with manuscript note "Ex libris S.Hanley given to me by W.J.Winkle. A.S.Kennard" to front free endpaper, some other plates, 19th century half calf, a little rubbed; and with another paper by Revett Sheppard on the shells of Suffolk, 4to (2)⁂ Collection of malacological papers with an important provenance: Alfred Santer Kennard (1870-1948), malacologist, palaeontologist and malaco-historian; William James Wintle (1861-1934), journalist and malacologist. Both were particularly interested in British freshwater molluscs.

Moquin-Tandon (Alfred) Histoire Naturelle des Mollusques Terrestres et Fluviatiles de France, 3 vol. including plate vol., 54 engraved plates, all but one hand-coloured or partly so, a few heightened with gum arabic, lithographed portrait of the author loosely inserted (foxed), contemporary half morocco, spines gilt, g.e., spines slightly faded, Paris, 1855 § Draparnaud (J.-P.-R.) Histoire Naturelle des Mollusques Terrestres et Fluviatiles de la France, half-title, 13 lithographed plates, errata leaf at end, contemporary half calf, Paris, [1805] § Michaud (A.-L.-G.) Complément de l'Histoire Naturelle des Mollusques Terrestres et Fluviatiles de la France, de J.P.R.Draparnaud, half-title, 3 lithographed plates, contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, rebacked preserving old spine, Verdun, 1831 § Dupuy (Abbé D.) Histoire Naturelle des Mollusques Terrestres et d'Eau Douce qui vivent en France, 2 vol., 31 lithographed plates, a couple of manuscript sheets of notes & drawings loosely inserted, ex-library copy with a few old ink stamps, contemporary half vellum, Auch & Paris, 1847-52, some foxing, all a little rubbed; and 15 others on molluscs, most French, 4to & 8vo (22)

Geology & Palaeontology.- Hawker (Rev. Peter) A Catalogue of Extraneous Fossils...Minerals, &c....at Woodchester Rectory, Glocestershire, only edition, half-title, errata slip, with tipped-in sheet from Gentleman's Magazine March 1806 containing report of a fossil skeleton "of an animal similar to a crocodile" found at Duddridge Glos., original wrappers, Stroud, F.Vigurs, 1817 § Scafe (John) King Coal's Levee, or Geological Etiquette...and the Council of Metals, second edition, light water-staining to inner margin of first few leaves, modern wrappers, uncut, 1819 § Smith (James) Researches in Newer Pliocene and Post-Tertiary Geology, first edition, 4 tinted lithographed plates, illustrations, 4pp. advertisements at end, occasional spotting, original cloth, spine faded, lower joint split, Glasgow, 1862, a little rubbed; and 8 others on geology including Kerney's manuscript journal entitled "Record of Excursions and Fieldwork" of 1950-51, v.s. (11)⁂ The first is rare with Library Hub recording only 3 copies (BL, University of Cambridge, and Natural History Museum).

Butler (Arthur G.) and others. A Collection of sixty-three papers on African Lepidoptera, title in manuscript ink ink to front endpaper, followed manuscript contents list in ink over following 9ff., plates with hand-colouring, some ff. with portions excised and laid down to sheets (start or end of paper), some ff. with foxing or spots, affecting a couple of plates, contemporary half morocco, 8vo, 1871-1904.⁂ In addition to Arthur G. Butler, the other papers are by W.L. Distant, F.D. Godman, Herbert Druce, Roland Trimen and Miss E.M. Sharpe with a broad coverage across the continent.

Geology.- King (William) & T. H. Rowney. 'On the Geological Age and Microscopic Structure of the Serpentine Marble or Ophite of Skye' from a reading to the Royal Irish Academy, January 14 1871, 22pp., plate; 'On Eozoon Candense' from the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, July 12, 1869, signed by the author to title head, Dublin, 1871, 48pp., 4 coloured plates, 1870 § Brady (George Stewardson), David Robertson & H. B. Brady. 'The Ostracoda and Foraminifera of Tidal Rivers' in Annals and Magazine of Natural History, July 1870, signed by H. B. Brady to title head, 70pp., 9 plates; together with a sammelband of other material including other offprints, 2 A.L.s from King, geological plates, and 2pp. manuscript index at end, endpapers browned, bound together in original boards, 8vo.

Birds.- Seebohm (Henry) The Geographical Distribution of the Family Charadriidæ, or the Plovers, Sandpipers, Snipes and their Allies., first edition, first issue with 'Slender-Billed Dotterel' as frontispiece, 21 hand-coloured lithographed plates after J.G.Keulemans, wood-engraved illustrations by J.G.Millais and others, some manuscript annotations in pencil, pages toned, some light spotting, hinges weak, edges toned and uncut, new endpapers, contemporary morocco, slightly bumped at extremities and rubbed on covers, rebacked, retaining original spine, [Anker 455; Fine Bird Books p.141; Nissen IVB 850], 4to, [1887-88].⁂ Containing 21 impressive, bright plates after John Gerrard Keulemans, "the major bird book illustrator for 30 years at the end of the 19th century" (Jackson, Dictionary of Bird Artists of the World), depicting birds from Africa, South America, New Zealand, and Madagascar.

Bees.- Butler (Rev. Charles) The Feminine Monarchie: or the Historie of Bees, second edition, variant with 6 leaves and no blanks in signature A, lacking woodcut frontispiece (old photographic facsimile loosely inserted), with typographic ornaments, woodcut initials and illustrations, 4pp. with musical notation, lacking final blank, title with contemporary ink inscription at head and lightly soiled & stained (small repair to lower outer corner), marginal tear to A2 & C4, small paper flaw hole to O1 with loss of a couple of letters, a few rust spots, light water-staining to lower margin towards end, bookplate of William Fuller Maitland of Stansted Hall, uncut in old vellum-backed marbled boards, spine titled in manuscript, rubbed, small 4to, [British Bee Books 18; Hagen 110.1; STC 4193; Walker Catalogue p.11], by John Haviland for Roger Jackson, 1623.⁂ "This is the greatest early British bee book and contains the best account of skep beekeeping which is available today". (British Bee Books). It is the first edition to contain both the woodcut frontispiece (not present in this copy) and the 4-part madrigal which was an attempt to capture the piping of the queen at swarming time. The Walker catalogue calls it "the most readable Edn.".William Fuller Maitland (1844-1932), art collector, MP, and cricketer.

Bees.- Hartlib (Samuel) The Reformed Common-Wealth of Bees, part 1 only (of 2, without part 2: 'The Reformed Virginian Silk-Worm'), first edition, 2 woodcut illustrations (one full-page) and one full-page engraved illustration, title soiled and browned (laid down), a few spots, small paper flaw hole to first line of E1 with loss of a couple of letters, H2 trimmed at outer margin (no loss to text), engraved armorial bookplate, modern cloth, old manuscript label to upper cover, [British Bee Books 33; Hagen 347.2; Kress Lib., 925; Sabin 30701; Wing H997], small 4to, for Giles Calvert, 1655.

Bees.- Kirby (William) Monographia apum Angliae, 2 vol., first edition, 18 engraved plates, 4 hand-coloured, some manuscript annotations in ink & pencil to plate descriptions at end of vol.2, H.Malcolm Fraser's copy with his ink signature and acquisition note "bought of B.B.K.A. [British Beekeepers' Association] for 7/6 6th May 1938" to front free endpaper, plate 15 stained at inner edge affecting one figure of plate, some light offsetting, ex-Reading University library copy with withdrawal stamp to verso of title, contemporary diced calf, gilt, vol.1 with advertisement for the work printed on blue paper bound in, a little rubbed, rebacked with gilt spines and black morocco labels, corners repaired, [British Bee Books 165; Hagen 415.7; Nissen ZBI 2188], 8vo, Ipswich, for the author by J.Raw, 1802.⁂ Dr. H.Malcom Fraser (1874-1970), schoolmaster and beekeeper who formed an extensive library of books on bees, and gifted his collection of books and papers to the University of Reading.

Bees.- Purchas (Samuel) A Theatre of Politicall Flying-Insects. Wherein Especially the Nature, the Worth, the Work, the Wonder, and the manner of Right-ordering of the Bee, is Discovered and Described, 2 parts in 1, first edition, titles within typographical borders, woodcut initials, errata leaf c2 misbound before c1, without longitudinal half-title but with 3pp. advertisements at end of part 1 and blank leaf following title to part 2, Penelope Jephson's copy with her contemporary ink inscription "Penelope Jephson her Booke 1666" to front free endpaper facing title, title lightly soiled and stained, some worming (mostly at beginning affecting lower border of title & a few catchwords, and a few letters towards end), Rr1 & 2 torn and repaired at lower outer corner, contemporary sheep ruled in blind, a little worn and marked, rebacked with red morocco label, corners repaired, [British Bee Books 35; Hagen 55.2; Wing P4224], small 4to, by R[obert] I[bbitson] for Thomas Parkhurst, 1657.⁂ A good copy of this work by the son of the author of Purchas his Pilgrimes, with an interesting contemporary provenance.Penelope Jephson (1646-1725), daughter of Maj. Gen. William Jephson (1609-1658), M.P. for Stockbridge and a substantial landowner in Mallow, County Cork. She married Simon Patrick, a prebend of Westminster and later bishop of Ely, in 1675. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC owns a manuscript receipt book of cookery and medical recipes complied by Jephson between 1671 and 1675. Recipe 64 is for honeyed gingerbread similar to modern Anglo-American treacle/molasses gingerbread.

THREE GEORGIAN CHILDREN'S MANUSCRIPT SCHOOL BOOKS 'Richd. Beale, His Summing Book May 9, 1759'; another 'Circulating Decimals, 1820, and another from 1825 (3)

An Islamic manuscript sheet, 19th century and an Indian erotic painting. Frame sizes 34.5 x 24.5cm and 32.5 x 23.5cm. (2)

Two photocopy manuscripts of F. O. Miksche's final work, 'Das Ende der Gegenwart', or 'The End of the Present', a political study of modern Europe c1990. The work was published in Munich, and this manuscript was produced for the French publication: however, the work was not well received by French publishers and was never printed. (2)Ferdinand Otto Miksche was a Lt Colonel in the French Amy and the holder of the French Legion D'honneur. Born in Austria he became and Officer in the Czech Army and in 1945 the Czech Military attache in Paris. He spent time in England with De Gaulle at the time of establishing the Free French Forces. He returned to France with De Gaulle and became a French citizen and the Lt Colonel on the Foreign Legion. Miksche spent 8 years in Portugal in the 1950s and received their highest honour (Order of the Portuguese Empire) for his work teaching in the Military academy in Caxias. In later years he was a frequent  guest on German TV and became a liason attache to Strauss and the Bavarian Government.

A large 18th Century manuscript indenture / deeds on vellum relating to the rental / purchase of a premises for brewing in Abingdon (then Berkshire). Highly detailed hand written manuscript in calligraphic letters with wax seal stamp to the bottom. Folded. Measures approx 83x75cm in two parts.Anthony Claxson was the Master Brewer who was renting property from Edward Wolston/Mary Wolston on 17th Oct 1728 in Abingdon . He must have been connected to the Morland Brewery in Abingdon which was started by John Morland in 1711. John Morland proceeded to buy up other breweries during his life time and expand the business. Abingdon became a hub for brewing beer. In 1860 Morland bought Abbey Brewery and Eagle Brewery and changed their name to United Brewery. In 1944 the Brewery changed its name back to Moreland brewery. The main brewery was in Ock Street Abingdon. Moreland became a huge company with 100's of pubs and hotels throughout the UK. In 2000 Green King bought out Moreland and eventually the Ock St brewery was sold for redevelopment and is now flats...

An early Victorian Order of the Garter Seal presentation box with manuscript bestowing the honour to Charles Chetwynd, Earl Talbot K.G (1777-1849) signed HM Queen Victoria in red to upper right section, dated 1844 with accompanying letter to Lord Talbot from Sir Robert Peel dated May 17 1844., the leather box with tooled decoration and lettering EARL TALBOT K.G., the box 31 x 26cm Further details: damage to box to back section (af) 

Spain.- Inquisition, Royal Council orders the inquisitors at Murcia to absolve the local alcade mayor of the crime of which they have found him guilty, and to lift the excommunication of several others, and 2 other supporting documents, manuscript in Spanish, together 10¼pp., folds, browned, edges chipped, folio, no place & Murcia, 1575 & 1577; and a small quantity of others, mostly photographs of various mineral specimens, v.s., v.d. (sm. qty).

NO RESERVE Canal and Railways.- Yorkshire.- Fowler & Son (Surveyors) Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation, Plan No.1 and Plan No. 2, 2 lithographed maps with manuscript additions and alterations indicating changes to the canals, various sizes, dissected and mounted on linen, folding into purple covers, gilt titles to upper covers, very worn, 4to, 1895; together with a group of others, most relating to the navigation of Sheffield and South Yorkshire, including volumes of Parliamentary Acts, Speeches, Minutes &tc, v.s. (Sm. qty.)

Lord Byron.- [Lamb (Lady Caroline)] Glenarvon, 3 vol., second edition, without half-titles, 2 engraved plates of music in vol. 2, bookplates of Sir Thomas Hesketh and Easton Neston Library, vol. 1 front endpaper with key to roman à clef in contemporary ink manuscript, plates lightly browned, occasional light foxing, 19th century blind-tooled polished calf, lightly rubbed, a few chips to spine ends, 8vo, 1816.

NO RESERVE Mining.- Wardle (W.) Reference Book of Practical & Scientific Information for the Use of Colliery Managers...Written with a View to Assist Candidates in Passing their Examinations, first edition, folding plates and illustrations, ink ownership inscription of Wallace Thorneycroft to front pastedown, dated 1886, interleaved throughout, with frequent manuscript notes and the occasional diagram to blank leaves, text with occasional ink correction or marginalia, title lightly browned and with a couple abrasion marks to upper margin, first text f. working loose, light spotting to peripheral ff., hinges cracked but holding, contemporary half morocco, rebacked, with majority of original back-strip laid down, worn at extremities, rubbed, 8vo, 1880.⁂ Wallace Thorneycroft (1864-1954), coal-mine owner and President of the Institute of Mining Engineers.

Strabo. Strabonis Geographicorum Lib. XVII, title within woodcut architectural border, with manuscript shelfmark in ink, woodcut decorations and initials, rear endpaper verso with later ink stamp in imitation of printer's device, lacking final blank (2B6), light browning, damp-staining and spotting, later vellum-backed boards, light wear to extremities, [VD16 S 9347], folio, Basel, Johann Walder, 1539.

Heliodorus, of Emesa Les Amours de Theagene et Chariclee: Histoire Ethiopique d'Heliodore, second edition, engraved title, trimmed at top edge, 52 engraved illustrations, previous owner's ink inscription to early blanks, occasional underlining, early blank detached and loosely inserted, several short marginal tears, one or two into text, scattered spotting, contemporary calf, title in manuscript to upper cover, joints split with old tape repairs, but holding firm, rubbed, Paris, Samuel Thiboust, 1626 § Owtram (William) De Sacrificiis Libri duo...Omnia Judaeorum, nonnulla Gentium Profanarum Sacrificia; altero Sacrificium Christi, first edition, text in Latin and Hebrew, title in red and black, errata f. at end, 2T1 with tear just touching text, some spotting or foxing, contemporary calf, cracked joints, boards becoming loose, loss to edges, rubbed and worn, T. Rycroft for R. Chiswell, 1677; and others, v.s. (22)

Numismatics.- Vaillant (Jean) Numismata Imperatorum Romanorum Praestantiora, 2 vol. in 1, engraved illustrations of coins, Index at *1-4 bound after preliminaries, some foxing or light browning, occasional soiling, contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt in compartments and with red morocco label, rubbed, a few chips to spine head and label, joints split at head and foot but holding firm, Paris, Joannis Jombert, 1692 § Cléry (M.) A Journal of Occurences at The Temple, During the Confinement of Louis XVI, King of France, translated by R. C. Dallas, engraved frontispiece and 2 plates (including facsimile of manuscript text at end), variant without list of subscribers and with 'Reference to plans' on p.256, lacking half-title, 19th century ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper, some toning, the odd spot or mark, later half roan over marbled boards, rubbed, Printed by Baylis...and Sold by the Author, 1798; and others, 17th and 18th century, v.s. (14)

NO RESERVE Book of Hours.- Single leaf from the Calendar of a Book of Hours, for the month of July, manuscript on vellum, 18-lines recto and verso, in brown and red inks, decorative initial heightened in gilt, some staining and light browning, small hole to blank lower margin, 152 x 115mm., [15th century]; and 5 others, 4 15th century manuscript leaves (2 of which portions only), and a leaf from the Nuremberg Chronicle containing a portion of a large woodcut of Krakow (this showing Kazimierz), v.s. (6)

Anti-Jacobite.- Anne (Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, 1665-1714).- Address to George Earl of Northampton Custos Rotulorum of Tower Hamlets and area, "That since Papists and Non-Jurors were so Insolent as... to support the Pretenders Claim to Her Majesties Royal Crown... to put the Laws in Execution... by taking... horses and Armes and Confining them to their usual habitations..., D.s. "Buckingham P", "Shrewsbury", "Dartmouth" and 2 others, manuscript, 4½pp., last f. tear with small loss not affecting text, tears along folds, slightly browned, folds, folio, 1714; and another, a manuscript bill, v.s., v.d. (2).

Legal.- Churchill (Samuel, "Bound Clerk to Mr. Greenwood 11th January 1763, for 5 ys.") Collection of transcripts of leases, mortgages etc, c.430pp. excluding blanks, first c.20pp. loose and chipped at extremities, some light soiling, upper hinge weak but holding, original vellum, "SC 1763" to upper cover and "precedents" to spine in contemporary ink manuscript, worn, loss to spine ends, folio, 1763.

NO RESERVE Juvenilia.- Hanson (William) [Lessons], manuscript poems, title and 25pp., reverse entries, numerous ink corrections, slightly browned, later ink ownership of John M. Morgan of Neath, original marbled wrappers, spine with tears, sm. 4to, 1786 & 1811.

Liverpool Merchant.- Rathbone (William, merchant and ship owner, 1726-89) An account of the last illness & some expressions of William Rathbone of Liverpool who departed this life of the 11th of the 8th month 1789 [& a small group of related material], manuscript, 9pp., folds, browned, folio, [c. 1789]; and a small quantity of other miscellaneous letters (including 4 letters from Benjamin Flower (1755-1829), political writer) and 2 accounts concerning fever epidemics in America, v.s., v.d. (sm. qty).

England to India.- [Mouat (Barbara, sister of Cordelia Campbell, wife of Frederick Campbell)] [Voyage from Madeia to Calcutta on the ship Warren Hastings, 1 July - 1 December 1811], manuscript, 29pp., folds, browned, disbound with contemporary stitching, final leaf verso docketed blan), old clear tape repairs to spine, folio, 1811.⁂ A contemporary copy in the hand of Frederick Campbell (1779-1816) of the 42nd Highlanders, husband of Cordelia Mouat (1788-1921), for whom the journal was intended, Trevor Hall, New Llangollen, Denbighshire, "I promised you my much loved Cordelia that I would keep a journal and from this day I will begin and try to give you as exact an account of all that passes as I possibly can, what your fond Barbara relates may serve to amuse you sweet girl and with that idea she study to recollect all that happens tho' I am afraid the my Delia's' patience will be exhausted long before she reaches the end of her Barbara's journal."