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Rare 17th century printing of Rufus' celebrated history of Alexander the Great
CURTIUS RUFUS, Quintus.
De Rebus Alexandri Magni, Cum Commentario Perpetuo & Indice Absolutissimo Samuelis Pitisci. [History of Alexander the Great].
Utrecht: Apud Franciscum Halma, 1685.
Rare 17th century printing of Rufus' celebrated history of Alexander the Great. Octavo, bound in full vellum, with engraved title, folding map and 9 engraved plates (some folding) depicting the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a view of the ancient city, and a folding map of Alexander's domain. In very good condition. Period ownership inscription.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 131499
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"perhaps our best view of ancient Rome" Early English Edition of Livy's Masterpiece
LIVY,.
The Roman History Written in Latine by Titus Livius. With the Supplements Of the Learned John Freinshemius, and John Dujatius. From the Foundation of Rome to the middle of the Reign of Augustus. Faithfully done into English.
London: Awnsham Churchill, 1686.
An exceptional early English edition of Livy's classic Roman History. Folio, bound in period calf, illustrated with four plates, including frontispiece woodcut portraits of emperors and Hannibal, one two-page plate, and two maps of the early settlement of Rome. In very good condition, rebacked. A very sharp example.
Price: $4,800.00 Item Number: 133257
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"Virtue which is not supported with gravity gains no repute among men": Rare First edition of La Morale De Confucius
CONFUCIUS,.
La Morale De Confucius, Philosophe De La Chine.
Amsterdam: Pierre Savouret, 1688.
Rare first edition of The Morals of Confucius preceding the English translation, regarded as the first work which introduced readers to Confucianism. Small octavo, bound in half vellum over marbled boards. In near fine condition. An exceptional example, scarce and desirable with only three examples appearing at auction in the last 90 years.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 135381
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Rare First Edition of John Locke's Second and Third Letter Concerning Toleration
LOCKE, John.
Second Letter Concerning Toleration and A Third Letter for Toleration.
London: Awnsham and John Churchill, 1690, 1692.
First editions of both volumes of Locke's Second and Third Letter Concerning Toleration. Two volumes bound in one. Octavo, contemporary calf, rebacked. In excellent condition with the text clean contents clean, except for light browning, rebacked. From the library of James Stonhouse with his signatures and armorial bookplate. Exceptionally rare.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 19072
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"Virtue which is not supported with gravity gains no repute among men": Rare First edition of The Morals of Confucius; A Cornerstone of Chinese Philosophy
CONFUCIUS,.
The Morals of Confucius, A Chinese Philosopher.
London: F. Fraser, 1691.
Scarce first edition in English of The Morals of Confucius, regarded as the first work which introduced English readers to Confucianism. Small octavo, bound in contemporary calf. Consisting of three parts: Of the Antiquity and Philosophy of the Chineses; A Collection out of Confucius's Works in Three Books; and Eighty Maxims. Introductory publishers advertisement. In very good condition, rebacked. An exceptional example. Scarce and desirable.
Price: $17,500.00 Item Number: 133826
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Rare 17th century printing of the Act of the Scottish Parliament erecting the Bank of Scotland
Act of Parliament for Erecting the Bank in Scotland.
Edinburgh: [Royal Bank of Scotland] , 1695-1719.
Rare 17th century printing of the Act of the Scottish Parliament erecting the Bank of Scotland. Octavo, original wrappers, the act is dated July 17, 1695 and approved a joint stock amounting to the sum of 120,000 pounds to be raised by a company thereby established to manage the first public bank of Scotland. Bound with Copy of a Signature For a New Bank which approved and act to settle yearly funds payable out of the Revenue of Scotland to satisfy public debts on an annual basis. In very good condition.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 124034
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First Edition of John Carey's An Essay, on the Coyn and Credit of England: As They Stand with Respect to Its Trade
CARY, John.
An Essay, on the Coyn and Credit of England: As They Stand with Respect to Its Trade.
London: Printed by Will. Bonny, and sold by the booksellers of London and Bristol, 1696.
First edition of this work by Cary, a pioneer in the field of economics. Small octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, raised bands, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. Rare with no examples appearing at auction in the last eighty years.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 109827
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Rare First Edition A New and Exact Description of Moscovy
[RUSSIA],.
A New and Exact Description of Moscovy.
London: R. Baldwin, 1698.
First edition of this work. Octavo, bound in modern wrappers, 28 pages. In very good condition with some browning and toning to the text. Rare, with no other examples appearing at auction in the last 80 years.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 112625
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Rare 18th century Danish printing of the Hebrew Bible printed in Hebrew with Yiddish paraphrase
The Torah: Pentateuch, Five Megillot, and Haftorot.
Amsterdam: Caspar Steen, 1702.
Rare 18th century Danish printing of the Hebrew Bible printed in Hebrew with Yiddish paraphrase. Quarto, two volumes bound in one in contemporary full brown calf, remnants of the original clasps, rebacked, illustrated title pages. In very good condition with a few abrasions to the front panel, some dampstaining to the edges of the text block, contemporary inscription to the front free endpaper.
Price: $9,500.00 Item Number: 146336
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Rare early 18th century Dutch Luther Bible illustrated with engravings by renowned Romeyn de Hooghe
ILLUSTRATED BY ROMEYN DE HOOGHE,.
Biblia, Dat is, De gantsche H. Schriftuure vervattende alle de Boeken des Ouden ende Nieuwen Testaments; Nu Van nieuws uyt D.M. Luthers Hoogduitse Bybel in onze Nederlandsche Taale getrouwelyk overgezet, Tot dienst van de Christelyke Gemeynten, d’Onveranderde Augsburgsche Confessie toegedaan in deeze Nederlanden. [Biblia Neerlandica].
Amsterdam: Jacob Lindenberg, 1702.
Rare early 18th century Dutch Luther Bible illustrated with exquisite engravings by renowned Dutch Baroque artist Romeyn de Hooghe. Folio, original full calf with ruling and central motifs to the panels stamped in blind, brass cornerpieces and clasps, illustrated with engravings including frontispiece portrait of Martin Luther, pictorial title page, portrait of Henricus Vos. Amstelodamensis, initials, headpieces and tailpieces. From the library of American interior and architectural designed Edward Francis Searles with his bookplate to the pastedown. Housed in a custom clamshell box. In good condition.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 116383
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Rare 17th century John Seller map of New England and New York, from Daniel Fenning's A New System of Geography
SELLER, John.
17th Century John Seller Map of New England and New York.
London: Seller, Price & Senex, 1703.
Rare 17th century John Seller map of New England and New York from Daniel Fenning's A New System of Geography. One page, with intricate topographical details and hand-colored borders, the map displays the eastern portion of New York and New England and includes Long Island, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island, and Rhode Island. In near fine condition.
Price: $1,800.00 Item Number: 123177
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Rare 18th century Book of Common Prayer; elaborately illustrated with over 40 hand-colored engravings
The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Church of England.
London: Printed for Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceas'd Printers to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, 1705.
Early 18th century Book of Common Prayer, profusely illustrated with over 40 engraved plates, all in period hand-color. 12mo, bound in full contemporary paneled morocco elaborately decorated in gilt, marbled endpapers, hand-colored frontispiece portrait of Queen Ann and over 40 additional hand-colored engraved plates. In very good condition.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 134283
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"Virtue which is not supported with gravity gains no repute among men": Rare Early edition of The Morals of Confucius; A Cornerstone of Chinese Philosophy
CONFUCIUS,.
The Morals of Confucius, A Chinese Philosopher.
London: T. Horne, 1706.
Rare second edition in English of The Morals of Confucius. Small octavo, bound in full contemporary sheep contemporary sheep. In very good condition, toning to the extremities.
Price: $3,200.00 Item Number: 107212
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Finely Bound Example of Strabonis Geographia cum notis Casauboni et aliorum
STRABONIS,.
Strabonis Geographia cum notis Casauboni et aliorum.
Amstelaedami; Joannem Wolters, 1707.
Folio, bound in half morocco over cloth, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. In very good condition.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 3604
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First complete edition in English of The History of Herodotus; translated by Isaac Littlebury
HERODOTUS; TRANSLATED BY ISAAC LITTLEBURY,.
The History of Herodotus. Translated from the Greek. By Isaac Littlebury.
London: Printed for Edward Castle and Sam Buckley, 1709.
First complete edition in English of Littlebury's translation of the histories of Herodotus, also the first appearance in English since Thomas Marshe's 1584 incomplete translation of only the first two books. Octavo, two volumes. Bound in full contemporary calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, red morocco spine labels, stamped ruling, all edged speckled red, woodcut ornaments to the title pages and colophon of volume II, index. From the library of George Paterson of Castle Huntly with his armorial bookplates to the pastedowns. After amassing a large fortune with the East India…
Price: $7,500.00 Item Number: 96521
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Rare Edition of Samuel Kent's The Grammar of Heraldry
KENT, Samuel.
The Grammar of Heraldry. Containing I. Rules of Blazoning, Cautions and Observations. II. Practical Directions for Marshalling with Discourses on the several Parts (or Ornaments) of an Atchievement. III. A Large Collection of Arms, by way of Example, Alphabetically digested. Wioth Two Appendices; And a List of the Subscribers; to most of them their Arms and Titles. The whole adorn’d with proper Cuts. By Samuel Kent.
London: Printed for J. Pemberton and sold by R. Tookey, 1716.
Rare first edition of this illustrated book on heraldry by Samuel Kent, who was one of the most renowned authorities in this field. Each page contains several (mostly five) coat of arms with captions. Small octavo, bound in full calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels, raised bands, inner dentelles. Rare and desirable.
Price: $2,800.00 Item Number: 144131
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Rare second edition of Leoni's English translation of Palladio's monumental Architecture in four books
PALLADIO, Andrea. Translated from the Italian by Giacomo Leoni.
The Architecture of A. Palladio: In Four Books Containing a Short Treatise of the Five Orders, and the Most Necessary Observations Concerning All Sorts of Building; As Also The Different Construction of Private and Publick Houses, High-ways. Bridges, Market-places, Xystes, and Temples, with their Plans, Sections and Uprights.
London: Printed by John Darby for the Author, 1721.
Rare second English edition of Leoni's English translation of Palladio's monumental work, containing new typesetting, but reusing the same plates from the first edition. Folio, two volumes bound in full contemporary polished calf with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling and decorative stamping to the front and rear panels, engraved frontispiece portrait of Palladio, illustrated with 104 numbered engraved plates on 203 leaves (including 15 double-page plates), as well as 12 engraved in-text plates. Armorial bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. In very good condition.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 146284
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GERMAN PRINTING. SECKENDORFF, Veit Ludwig von / Artopoeus.
Compendium Historiae Ecclesiastecae, decreto Serenissimi Principis Saxon. Jul. Cliviae et Mont. Ducis, &c. In usum gymnasii Gothani. Ex sacris literis & optimis, qui extant, autoribus, Libris duobus compositum & ab orbe condito ad nostra usque tempor
GothaL Reyheri, 1723.
Octavo, vellum-backed marbled boards. Two page engraved frontispiece. (14), 430, (2), 913, (10), 311, (11) pages. Three parts bound in one volume. Internally clean. Moderate wear.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 1834
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“He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions": Rare third edition of The Morals of Confucius A Chinese Philosopher
CONFUCIUS,.
The Morals of Confucius A Chinese Philosopher, Who flourished above Five hundred Years before the Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Being one of the Choicest Pieces of Learning Remaining in the Nation.
London: Printed for F. Fayram at the South Entrance into the Royal Exchange, 1724.
Rare third edition in English of The Morals of Confucius, the first published work to introduce English readers to Confucianism. Small octavo, bound in full period or period-style speckled calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges speckled red. Small bookplates to the pastedown. Stated second edition, though actually the third edition (a reissue of the edition of 1706, with a cancel title page). In very good condition. All early editions are very…
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 138719
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Rare First Editions of Vicente Bacallar y Sanna's Comentarios de la guerra de España, e historia de su Rey Phelipe V el Animoso
BACALLAR Y SANNA, Vicente.
Comentarios de la guerra de España, e historia de su Rey Phelipe V el Animoso: Volumes I & II.
Genoa: Matheo Garvizza, 1725.
First edition of this commentary, which covers the reign of King Philip V of Spain and The War of the Spanish Succession. Octavo, 2 volumes, contemporary tree calf, morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. First editions are rare.
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 51019
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Finely bound example of Pierre Bayle's Seminal Work: The Historical and Critical Dictionary
BAYLE, Pierre.
Oeuvres diverses de Mr. Pierre Bayle, contenant tout ce que cet Auteur a publié pendant sa vie, en Philosophie, en Critique, en Histoire, en Littérature etc. excepté son Dictionnaire historique et critique.
Chez P. Husson, J. Swart, H. Scheurleer, J. Vand Duren, R. Alberts, C. Le Vier, 1727-1731.
Rare 18th century set of French philosopher Pierre Bayle's magnum opus, a historical and critical dictionary. Folio, 5 volumes, bound in full contemporary calf, raised bands, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. An attractive set.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 3146
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"The Greatest Work In The History of Science": Rare First Edition in English of Newtons Principia
NEWTON, Isaac.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Translated into English by Andrew Motte. To which are added, the Laws of the Moon’s Motion, according to Gravity.
London: Benjamin Motte, 1729.
First edition in English of Isaac Newton’s magnum opus Principia which Einstein called, "perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make." Octavo, two volumes, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles to the spine, engraved frontispiece after and by A. Motte in the first volume, section-title to Machin's Laws of Motion, 47 folding engraved plates, 2 folding letterpress tables, 3 engraved headpieces by Motte, numerous woodcut head and tailpieces, historiated and ornamental woodcut initials. Translated by Andrew Motte. In very good condition. An exceptional example of this cornerstone of scientific thought, most…
Price: $82,000.00 Item Number: 140042
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"The Greatest Work In The History of Science": First Edition in English of Newtons Principia
NEWTON, Isaac.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Translated into English by Andrew Motte. To which are added, the Laws of the Moon’s Motion, according to Gravity.
London: Benjamin Motte, 1729.
First edition in English of Isaac Newton’s Principia. Octavo, two volumes bound in full calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins, illustrated with forty-six folding engraved plates and two folding charts. In near find condition. A few leaves with light foxing, pages lightly toned. Plate XXV at the end of volume one supplied in facsimile. An excellent example of this landmark work.
Price: $65,000.00 Item Number: 145081
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"Learning never exhausts the mind": RARE EDITION OF LEONARDO DA VINCI'S TRATTATO DELLA PITTURA
DU FRESNE, Rafaelle. [Leonardo Da Vinci].
Trattato Della Pittura Di Lionardo Da Vinci Nuovamente Dato In Luce, Colla Vita Dell’ Istesso Autore, Scritta Da Rafaelle Du Fresne. Si sono giunti i tre libri della Pittura, ed il trattato della Statua di Leon Battista Alberti, colla vita del medesimo, E di nuovo ristampato, corretto, ed a maggior perfezione concotto.
In Parigi ed in Napoli: Giacomo Langlois ed Francesco Ricciardo a spese di Niccola, e Vicenzo Rispoli, 1733.
Rare third augmented edition of the preferred work in Italian of da Vinci’s work on painting. Folio, bound in stiff paper wrappers, illustrated with text engravings throughout, with two full-paged portraits of da Vinci and Alberti, lacking the final two text leaves: H1 & H2. The true date of the Parisian edition, as in all copies, is altered in pen on the title page: from MDCLI to MDCCI. In very good condition. Housed in a custom clamshell box.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 125493
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Elaborately illustrated First pine edition of the complete works of Horace; Alexis de Tocqueville's copy, lengthily inscribed to him by his Father
HORATIUS FLACCUS, Quintus (Alexis de Tocqueville).
Horatii Opera (The Complete Works of Horace).
John Pine: London, 1733-37.
First Pine edition of the collected works of ancient Roman poet and political figure Quintus Horatius Flaccus (Horace), "the most elegant of English eighteenth-century books in which text and illustrations alike are entirely engraved" (Ray). French statesman Alexis de Tocqueville's copy, inscribed to him by his father in Volume I, "Donné à mon fils Alexis le 5 septembre 1822, jour où il a obtenu le prix d'honneur en Rhétorique, le premier prix en version Latine, le second prix en discours Francais, et gratia accessis. Metz, le 5 septembre 1822 le C[om]te de Tocqueville." Alexis de Tocqueville received the gift as…
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 81146
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FIRST EDITION OF SALE’S LANDMARK 1734 ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE KORAN; FINELY BOUND BY BAYNTUN
TRANSLATED BY GEORGE SALE,.
The Koran, Commonly Called the Alcoran of Mohammed, Translated into English Immediately from the Original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, Taken from the Most Approved Commentators.
London: Printed by C. Ackers for J. Wilcox, 1734.
First edition of George Sale’s important translation of the Koran, the first to translate the original text directly from the Arabic into English. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf, rebacked, morocco spine label within five raised bands, folding engraved map with inset view of Mecca, engraved folding plate with plan and view of Mecca, 3 engraved genealogical tables (2 folding). In very good condition. From the library of Francis Enys of Truro, Cornwall with his bookplate to the front pastedown. An exceptional example with noted provenance.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 145520
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Finely bound example of Voltaire's epic poem La Henriade
VOLTAIRE,.
La Henriade avec des Variantes et des Notes. Et l’Effai sur le Poëme Epique.
London : Jacob Tonsen, 1734.
Finely bound example of Voltaire's epic poem La Henriade. Small octavo, original leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers. In good condition. Text in French.
Price: $300.00 Item Number: 81165
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First edition of Le Coq de Villeray's response to Voltaire’s Letters Concerning the English Nation
VILLERAY, Le Coq de [Voltaire].
Reponse ou Critique des Lettres Philosophiques De Monsieur de Voltaire (Response and Critique of the Philosophical Letters of Mr. Voltaire).
Basle: Chez Christophe Revis, 1735.
First edition of Le Coq de Villeray's response to Voltaire’s Letters Concerning the English Nation, published in 1733. Octavo, bound in contemporary calf, gilt title to the spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. Rare.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 82395
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Scarce First edition of The Complete Family-Piece: and, Country Gentleman, and Farmer's, Best Guide
[ANONYMOUS],.
The Complete Family-Piece: and, Country Gentleman, and Farmer’s, Best Guide.
London: Printed and Sold by J. Roberts, 1736.
First edition of this rare 18th century Book of Secrets. Octavo, bound in full calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the panels. Title page supplied in facsimile. In very good condition. Rebacked. Armorial bookplate. Scarce.
Price: $2,500.00 Item Number: 132734
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"THE BOOK THAT INTRODUCED FRANCE TO NEWTONIAN PHYSICS": RARE FIRST EDITION OF VOLTAIRE'S ELEMENS DE LA PHILOSOPHIE DE NEUTON
VOLTAIRE. [AROUET, François-Marie].
Elemens de la Philosophie de Neuton. [Elements of the Philosophy of Newton].
Amsterdam: Chez Jacques Desbordes, 1738.
First edition of one of the most elegantly illustrated science books ever printed and the book that introduced France to Newtonian physics. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, illustrated seven folding engraved plates, headpieces and tailpieces and 60 in-text illustrations. In good condition, lacking the frontispiece.
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 128559
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Rare 18th century printing of the Roman Missal; elaborately bound in full gilt calf with two full page engravings of the Annunciation and Crucifixion and numerous pages of printed sheet music
Missale Romanum, ex Decreto Sacrosancti Concilii Tridentini Restitutum S.PIIV. Pontificis Maximi Jussu Editum: Clementis VII. Et Urbani PP. VII.
Augsburg: Philippi Jacobi Veith, 1739.
Rare 18th century printing of the Roman Missal. Folio, bound in full contemporary black morocco with gilt tooling to the spine in seven compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, brass edges and engraved clasps, gauffered edges, marbled pastedowns and green, blue, and purple silk ribbons laid in. Illustrated with numerous full page engravings including title page vignette, full page engravings of the Annunciation and Crucifixion, headpieces, tailpieces, woodcut initials, text in two columns in black and red ink, printed sheet music and lyrics, index. In very good condition. An exceptional example.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 103526
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Dictionaire Historique Et Critique; Finely Bound
BAYLE, Pierre.
Dictionaire Historique Et Critique.
Chez, 1740.
Folios, 4 volumes. Contemporary full vellum. In very good condition. An attractive set of the author's magnum opus, a historical and critical dictionary.
Price: $1,950.00 Item Number: 3208
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"The foundation of modern Latin lexicography": Rare 1740 edition of Robert Estienne's Thesaurus linguae latinae
STEPHANI, Roberti. [Robert Estienne].
Lexicographorum Principis Thesaurus Linguae Latinae in IV. Tomos Divisus.
Basileae: Typis & Impensis E. & J.R. Thurnisiorum, 1740.
Rare 1740 edition of Robert Estienne's "greatest monument of Latin scholarship", his Thesaurus Linguae Latinae. Folio, four volumes bound in full vellum with spine labels decorated and titled in gilt, woodcut printer's device portrait of Estienne to each title page. In very good condition.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 115020
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First Edition of An Essay on Civil Government: In Two Parts
An Essay on Civil Government In Two Parts: Part I: An Enquiry into the Ends of Government, and the Means of Attaining Them. Part II: On the Government and Commerce of England; with Reflections on Liberty, and the Method of Preserving the present Constitution.
London: Printed for R. Willock, At Sir Isaac Newton's Head, 1743.
First edition of this bold attack on the Whig administration of Robert Walpole. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt tooling to the spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges speckled red, rebacked. In very good condition. Armorial and contemporary bookplates to the pastedown. Exceedingly rare.
Price: $4,500.00 Item Number: 90461
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FOSSATI, George.
Raccolta di varie Favole Delineate, ed incise in Rame (Volume 4).
Venezia: Pecora, 1744.
First edition. Large Quarto. Tome Quatrieme (Volume 4), contemporary vellum. Thirty-six finely engraved plates printed in sepia. Text in parallel columns of Italian and French. Some shelfwear and soiling, generally clean and sound internally.
Price: $1,750.00 Item Number: 1830
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Rare First Edition of the Collected Works of Isaac Newton's Opuscula Mathematica
NEWTON, Isaac.
Opuscula Mathematica, Philosophica et Philologica.
Lausanne and Geneva: Aoud Marcum-Michaelem Bousquet & Socios, 1744.
First edition of the first collected edition of Newton's writings, which has been hailed as "a fine piece of bookmaking" (Babson). Quarto, bound in contemporary velum, contains 64 folding engraved plates; 2 folding letterpress tables. In very good condition, wide margins. Rare in contemporary binding.
Price: $4,500.00 Item Number: 92332
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Rare First Edition of the Collected Works of Isaac Newton's Opuscula Mathematica
NEWTON, Isaac.
Opuscula Mathematica, Philosophica et Philologica.
Lausanne and Geneva: Aoud Marcum-Michaelem Bousquet & Socios, 1744.
First edition of the first collected edition of Newton's writings, which has been hailed as "a fine piece of bookmaking" (Babson). Quarto, bound in contemporary velum, contains 64 folding engraved plates; 2 folding letterpress tables. In very good condition. Small stamps to the spine and title pages. Rare in contemporary binding.
Price: $4,800.00 Item Number: 109523
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FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST PRINTED ATLAS OF RUSSIA, AND ONE OF PETER THE GREAT'S MOST SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS
DE L'ISLE, Joseph Nicolas.
Russischer Atlas welcher in einer General-Charte und neunzehen Special-Charten das gesamte Russische Reich und dessen angräntzende Länder.vorstellig macht.
St. Petersburg: Entworffen bey der Kayserl. Academie der Wissenschaften, 1745.
Rare first edition of the first atlas printed of Russia. Folio, bound in full leather, 19 double-page maps, one large folding general map. In excellent condition with light toning. An exceptional example.
Price: $35,000.00 Item Number: 105840
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Rare Eighteenth Century Map of China by Renowned French Cartographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin
BELLIN, Jacques-Nicolas.
L’Empire de La Chine Pour Servir a l’Histoire Generale des Voyages. [Eighteenth Century Jacques-Nicolas Bellin Map of China].
Paris: 1748.
Eighteenth century engraved map of China by renowned French cartographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. One page with two decorative cartouches. In near fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 22 inches by 17.25 inches.
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 137234
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Early English translation of Frederick II, King of Prussia's history of the Brandenburg Dynasty
FREDERICK II, King of Prussia.
Memoirs of the House of Brandenburg.
London: Printed for R. Dodsley, 1748.
Early English translation of Frederick II, King of Prussia's history of the Brandenburg Dynasty. Dedicated to his Royal Highness to Prince of Wales. Authors Preface. Initially published in three installments by Frederick II's private press at the palace of Sanssouci near Berlin, the volumes were read as part of the curriculum at the Prussian Academy of Sciences and considered as the fourth volume of Frederick's Oeuvres du Philosophe de Sans Souci (The works of the philosopher of Sans Souci). Small octavo, disbound with part of the original gilt spine intact. In very good condition. A nice example.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 92480
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Rare First Edition of Thomas A Kempis' The Imitation of Christ
A KEMPIS, Thomas.
The Christian Pattern, or the Imitation of Jesus Christ, being an abridgement of the works of Thomas a Kempis. By a Female Hand.
Germantown: reprinted by Christopher Sowr, 1749.
First American edition of The Imitation of Christ and the first printing of any work by a Kempis in America and one of the earliest works of Catholic Americana. In very good condition with some browning to the text and rubbing to the extremities.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 112577
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Rare First Edition of Thomas Hobbes' The Moral and Political Works
HOBBES, Thomas.
The Moral and Political Works.
London: 1750.
First edition of the collected works of Hobbes. Folio, bound in full calf to period style, raised bands, gilt spine emblems, red morocco title label, marbled endpapers, frontispiece engraved title page. In very good condition. Containing Leviathan, De Corpore, Human Nature, Behemoth (1679) and other key writings. xxviii, (2) ii, 697 (3) pp. Macdonald & Hargreaves 107. CBEL I:871. See Lowndes, 1077. First editions are rare.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 121929
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First edition, first state of David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals
HUME, David.
An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.
London: Printed for A. Millar, 1751.
First edition, first state of what Hume, himself, considered his masterpiece with leaf L3 uncancelled and with the catchword "than" on recto. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with five raised bands to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt-turn ins. Half-title, errata, and advertisements at rear. In very good condition. Ownership signature. Housed in a custom folding chemise slipcase. Exceptionally clean internally, most rare and desirable bound in a contemporary binding.
Price: $11,000.00 Item Number: 129419
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SARPI, Fra-Paolo; Courayer.
Histoire Du Concile De Trente, écrite en italienne par Fra-Paolo Sarpi, de l’Ordre des Servites; et trauit de nouveau en français, avces des notes critiques, historiques et theologiques, par Pierre-François Le Courayer.
Amsterdam: J. Wetstein et G. Smith, 1751.
Two volumes, original leather, gilt tooling to the spine. In good condition. Text in French.
Price: $350.00 Item Number: 2055
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Rare First Edition of Edmond Halley's Astronomical Tables with Precepts both in English and Latin for Computing the Places of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Comets
HALLEY, Edmond.
Astronomical Tables with Precepts both in English and Latin for Computing the Places of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Comets.
London: Printed for William Innys, 1752.
First edition in English of Halley's classic work. Quarto, bound in contemporary full calf, gilt titles to the spine, gilt embossed stamp of The Society of Writers to the Signet on the front and rear panel, copper-engraved frontispiece portrait. Edited by John Bevis. In very good condition with light rubbing and wear.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 70038
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Rare First Edition of Edmond Halley's Astronomical Tables with Precepts both in English and Latin for Computing the Places of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Comets
HALLEY, Edmond.
Astronomical Tables with Precepts both in English and Latin for Computing the Places of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Comets.
London: Printed for William Innys in Pater-noster Row, 1752.
First edition in English of Halley's classic work. Quarto, bound in full morocco with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, copper-engraved frontispiece portrait of Halley, illustrated with numerous charts. Edited by John Bevis. Complete with the half-title, license to print, errata and index. In very good condition with light rubbing and wear. Very rare with only 9 copies appearing at auction over the past century.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 130557
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Rare 18th century engraved map of North and Central America by famed French cartographer Guillaume Delisle
DELISLE, Guillaume.
America das Mitternachtige nach der Zeichnung des Herrn Wilhelm Delisle in Verlag Joh. Justine Gebauers. [18th Century Guillaume Delisle Map of North America].
Halle: Johann Justinus Gebauer, 1752.
Rare 18th century engraved map of North and Central America by famed French cartographer Guillaume Delisle. One page, hand-colored, the engraved map shows North and Central America including California, Nova Mexico, Florida, and Greenlandia, decorative cartouches. In near fine condition.
Price: $600.00 Item Number: 138497
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FIRST EDITION OF CAESAR’S COMMENTARIES, “BEAUTIFULLY PRINTED AND RICHLY ADORNED,” WITH FAMOUS BULL PLATE, IN CONTEMPORARY CALF-GILT
[CAESAR, Julius]. William Duncan.
The Commentaries of Caesar, Translated into English. To Which is Prefixed a Discourse Concerning The Roman Art of War.
London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson, et al, 1753.
First edition of Duncan’s famous translation of Caesar’s Commentaries, sumptuously illustrated with frontispiece portrait of Caesar, six double-page maps, and 78 splendid plans and plates (most double-page). This copy with the famed double-page bull plate, often not present. Thick folio, contemporary full brown calf rebacked with elaborately gilt-decorated calf spine, raised bands. In very good condition. Period bookplate to the front pastedown and front free endpaper.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 99425
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Rare second edition of Cochin and Bellicard's Observations Upon the Antiquities of the Town of Herculaneum, Discovered at the Foot of Mount Vesuvius
COCHIN, Charles; Jerome Bellicard.
Observations Upon the Antiquities of the Town of Herculaneum, Discovered at the Foot of Mount Vesuvius. With some Reflections on the Painting and Sculpture of the Ancients. And a short Description of the Antiquities in the Neighbourhood of Naples.
London: Printed for D. Wilson and T. Durham, 1756.
Second edition of the first illustrated account of the discoveries made in the excavation of Herculaneum. Octavo, bound in full calf with gilt ruled raised bands to the spine, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, profusely illustrated with 42 engraved plates. In good condition. Ownership stamp.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 134550
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"One of the most splendid editions of Homer ever delivered to the World": First edition of the Foulis Homer
HOMER,.
Homeri Opera. [The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer].
Glasgow: Robert & Andrew Foulis, 1756-1758.
First edition of the Foulis Homer; the typographic masterpiece of the Foulis Press, and one of the finest editions of Homer. Folio, 4 volumes bound in full tree calf, rebacked with gilt titles and Greek key ruling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, Greek key ruling to the front and rear panels, text in Greek. Vols. I and II lacking the half-titles as usual. Provenance: John Hope (1868-1936) with his stamp to the title pages. Ownership signatures of Henry Schwab. In very good condition. Housed in a custom slipcase. An excellent example of this typographic gem.
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 143357
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Rare 18th Century Map of Florida, Louisiana, and Neighboring Countries by famed French cartographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin
BELLIN, Jacques-Nicolas.
Carte de la Floride, de la Louisiane, et Pays Voisins. [18th Century Map of Florida, Louisiana, and Neighboring Countries. To be used in the General History of Travel].
Jean-Francois de La Harpe, 1757.
Rare 18th century engraved map of North America by French cartographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. One page, hand-colored, the map shows the French territory of Louisiane and Florida. Labelled cities and regions include St. Augustine, Savannah, New Orleans, Santa Fe, Toronto, Detroit, Mobile, Pensacola, New Mexico, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Topographical features include Lakes Michigan, Erie, and Superior, the Savannah, Mississippi, and Missouri Rivers, and the Appalachian Mountains. Bellin also labels the locations of various Native tribes such as the Cherokees, Osages, and Apaches, as well as locations of major forts. In near fine condition. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures…
Price: $750.00 Item Number: 138434
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Rare Second Venetian edition of Giovanni Domenico Mansi's Latin translation of Antoine Augustin Calmet's dictionary of the Holy Scriptures
CALMET, Antoine Augustin. Translated by Giovanni Domenico Mansi.
Dictionarium Historicum, Criticum, Chronologicum, Geographicum, et Literale Sacrae Scripturae, Cum figuris Antiquitates Judaicas repraesentantibus Authore R.P.D. Augustino Calmet Ordinis S. Benedicti Abbate, E Gallico in Latinum translatum A Joanne Dominico Mansi, Congregationis Matris Dei, Lucensi.
Venetiis: Apud Sebastianum Coleti, 1757.
Second Venetian edition of Giovanni Domenico Mansi's Latin translation of Antoine Augustin Calmet's dictionary of the Holy Scriptures, perhaps the most famous and meticulous exegetical, historical and geographical dictionary of the Holy Scriptures produced. Folio, 2 volumes bound in full vellum with morocco spine labels, all edges speckled red, elaborately illustrated with full-page woodcut engravings, folding maps, printers device to the title page. In very good condition.
Price: $475.00 Item Number: 114059
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Rare First Edition of Jonathan Edwards' The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended
EDWARDS, Jonathan.
The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended.
Boston: S. Kneeland, 1758.
First edition of this important work by the famed theologian. Octavo, bound in contemporary calf. In very good condition, contemporary names to the front free endpaper. First editions are rare.
Price: $15,000.00 Item Number: 141609
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Original swatch from Martha Washington's white silk wedding dress, given by her as a gift to Mrs. Alexander Hamilton and handed down through generations of the Hamilton family
[WASHINGTON, Martha; George Washington].
Martha Washington Silk Wedding Dress Fragment.
1759.
Original swatch from Martha Washington's white silk wedding dress, given by her as a gift to Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth, and handed down through generations of the Hamilton family. The silk swatch measures roughly 2.75 inches by 2 inches, mounted on a stiff paper card inscribed in pencil on the verso, "A bit of Martha Washington's wedding dress Wh. was Mrs. Alex Hamilton's" in the hand of Hamilton's granddaughter-in-law, Mrs. Allan McLane Hamilton, and from her collection. Hamilton’s grandson, Allan McLane Hamilton was a prominent psychiatrist and founded the New York Psychiatric Society. In 1910, he published The Intimate Life…
Price: $50,000.00 Item Number: 134228
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Rare Complete Set of the Ibarra Edition of Verdadero método de estudiar, para ser util a la Republica y la Iglesia
VERNEY, Luis Antonio (el Barbadino).
Verdadero método de estudiar, para ser util a la Republica y la Iglesia, proporcionado al estilo, y necessidad de Portugal, expuesto en varias cartas, escrito en idioma Portugués.
Madrid: Joachin Ibarra, 1760.
Rare complete edition in Spanish published by the great Ibarra in Madrid. Octavo, original vellum, 4 volumes. Many of the OCLC citations are for single volumes. This set, the author's most famous work, was first published in Valenca in 1746. Verney's royalist orientation is seen even in the title, where behavior and study are to be practiced for the good of the republic.
Price: $1,800.00 Item Number: 81952
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First edition of Richard Owen Cambridge's An Account of the War in India, Between the English and French; from the private library of Benjamin Franklin
CAMBRIDGE, Richard Owen [Benjamin Franklin].
An Account of the War in India, Between the English and French, on the Coast of Coromandel, From the Year 1760. Together with A Relation of the late Remarkable Events on the Malabar Coast, and the Expeditions to Golconda and Surat; with the Operations of the Fleet. Illustrated with Maps, Plans &c. The Whole Compiled from Original Papers.
London: Printed for T. Jefferys, 1761.
Benjamin Franklin's first edition copy of Cambridge's account of the progression of the Seven Years' War in India, from Franklin's private library. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 12 engraved maps and plans and 6 plates, mostly folding. From the private library of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin's contributions to science and politics were immense and his passion for making books more available to a broader audience prompted him to establish North America's first subscription library. In 1731, Franklin convinced the members of his Junto (a mutual improvement club he founded) to pool their money to purchase books…
Price: $65,000.00 Item Number: 137375