Rare books from Bruce McKittrick Rare Books

The Hague: J. Swart and P. de Hondt, 1730. Mid-18th-century sheep-backed marbled boards (worn, front hinge of Vol. I repaired), flat spines gilt with rules, crosses and gilt-lettered labels (rubbed). A wonderful collection of books" (Dibdin). The forty thousand titles are offered by format, subject matter and language - as they were shelved? They include illuminated manuscripts, incunables on vellum, English books (3000 lots), Spanish books (1200 lots) and library catalogs (c. 400 lots). Huls had many of his books elegantly bound in morocco by the most fashionable local binders. A good set (browned, more so in some quires), bookplates of Dr. E.S. Flamm. ¶Foot, "An Eighteenth-Century Dutch Patron of Bookbinding" in Quaerendo 41 (2011) 193-207; Dibdin, Bibliomania 82; Taylor, Book Catalogues ed. Barlow 246.

Augsburg: M. Manger, 1578. CONTEMPORARY GILT-TOOLED CALF WITH SUNKEN PANELS AND PAINTED VELLUM INSETS BY SEVERIN RÖTTER of Wittenberg (insets 90 x 54/51 mm.; minor restoration, endleaves renewed).  The front vellum sheet bears a blind-stamped hand-painted half-figure portrait of August of Saxony with Rötter's initials, the date 1579 and three lines of text all painted in gold ink (Haebler, Rollen- und Plattenstempel I: 387,VII). The initials H*A*P*S are above the inset and the date 1579 below it. The rear vellum sheet bears the Duke's blind-stamped hand-painted arms (Haebler I: 388,XVIII), stars and cherubs above and below. The spine compartments have a bloom and foliage roll slightly run over onto the panels; edges are gilt and gauffered with lilies enclosed in half circles and frames painted in red, green, brown and black. To decorate a binding in this way, the central portion of each pressed paper board is partly removed, the whole covered with thoroughly dampened leather which is pressed into… Read More

Paris: G.-F. Debure, 1782. Retrospective mottled calf (nicely done), spine and title gilt, red edges. One finds in this catalog the best French vernacular books in all areas...the best editions, printed on large paper" (p. [iii], tr.). The duc d'Aumont oversaw official and theatrical state entertainments for Louis XV and Louis XVI and was an outstanding collector of objets d'art. His library was rich in literature, theater, history, the decorative arts, print suites, festival books, priced copies of art auctions and architecture. In this copy, PRICES ARE SUPPLIED IN CONTEMPORARY MANUSCRIPT AND LOTS PURCHASED BY PARISIAN BOOKSELLER PIERRE-MICHEL LAMY (fl. 1777-1813) HIGHLIGHTED. In good condition (a few upper corners lightly stained, outer margin of the title neatly supplied), some outer and lower edges uncut. ¶North, Printed Catalogues of French Book Auctions 304.

Vienna: Imperial and Royal Court and State Printer, 1808. SUPERB CONTEMPORARY VIENNESE PAINTED AND GILT ETRUSCAN BINDING of light tan calf decorated with freehand designs, morocco onlays, multicolor stenciling and delicate tooling (the initials PG on the spine and rear panel remain unresolved). The spine compartments are also painted and tooled; gilt-lettered black and beige morocco labels, gilt crowned pg in the top compartment; board edges gilt.  The elaborately decorated dark green silk pastedowns have wide gilt rose morocco borders, gilt green silk flyleaves and a set of red and black marbled flyleaves. The book block edges are gilt over a hand drawn design. First Complete and First Illustrated Edition, presentation copy. "The archduke was without doubt the most trusted and skilled general in the [Hapsburg] army" and one of the best strategists in the anti-Napoleonic camp (Eysturlid). As Field-Marshal, he (1771-1847) thoroughly reorganized the Austrian army between 1800 and 1805 along the lines… Read More

Florence: F. II Giunta, 1590. Contemporary limp vellum (soiled), manuscript spine title and label, evidence of four pigskin ties. The Order of Saint Stephen was founded in 1561 by Duke Cosimo I de'Medici to CLEAR THE MEDITERRANEAN OF PIRATES and free Christian captives held by the Turks. These statutes cover the finances, medical care, dress, celebrations, office holder's duties and disciplinary action, including for fornication. The Order remained a vital naval force into the 18th century. In good condition (a few scattered stains), 17th-century signatures on title. ¶Bibliografia delle edizioni giuridiche antiche in lingua italiana I(1): 187; Camerini, I Giunti...di Firenze 168; EDIT16 CNCE 10542.

Rome: Paolo Manuzio, 1566. Contemporary vellum over flexible paper boards (soiled), manuscript spine title, evidence of four pigskin ties. First Edition of the Tridentine catechism, one of two issues (priority unresolved). this justly handsome book is the bedrock of roman catholic faith instruction. Five popes oversaw its extended and complex creation.      Paolo Manuzio's papal privilege expressly prohibiting domestic and international piracy is backed by the threat of excommunication for any infringement. However, by the end of 1568, it had been printed a dozen times in four countries. A few quires on poorer paper, pale stains in half the lower margins, a few outer margins uncut, a Macerata cleric's partly canceled ownership inscription dated 1626, stamps of the church of San Paolo (Macerata; deconsecrated). ¶Mortimer, Italian 16th-Century Books 504; Bellinger, Bibliographie des Catechismus Romanus 1 & Abb. 1; Renouard, Annales...des Alde 200,5; EDIT16 CNCE 12057 var. B; Ferraglio, Il Concilio… Read More

Lyon: D. de Harsy for S. Vincent, 1538. Contemporary limp vellum (stained, spine damaged), overlapping edges, contemporary gothic lettered manuscript title in a cartouche on the front panel with the owner's initials and arms on the sides and below, manuscript spine title, evidence of four ties. Second Edition. Employing Bembo to draft and send these five hundred eighty-one chronologically arranged letters, Pope Leo X addressed Raphael, Lucrezia Borgia (with whom Bembo had a notorious affair), rulers from England to Hungary to Venice and dozens of Italian city states, friends' daughters, prelates, humanists, merchants, intimates and artists. Bembo's poem on Lago di Garda and five of his private letters to Longolius, Budé and Erasmus conclude the volume - an early reader censored Erasmus' name from the title and text. Nice copy (spot on one leaf), a couple of uncut edges, early signature of Do. Sofronio ?Parri, bookplate of Guelfo-Sitta. ¶Erdmann, Ars epistolica 65.

Poitiers: J. Fleuriau, 1661. Contemporary vellum over flexible paper boards, contemporary marbled paper pastedowns. A fugitive collection of verse gathered by the printer. Most pieces address the king and Mazarin. Two praise Christian missionary work in the East and a third the recent Venetian victory over the Turks at sea. I've found one copy in the U.S. In good condition (slightly browned), signatures of Louis Barnabé, ?the Jesuit missionary in Asia and Russia (1649-87), later inscription of the Bordeaux Jesuits. ¶Sommervogel-deBacker, Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus III: 1008,10.

Arbois: [A. Javel] for the Author, 1802. Contemporary calf-backed pink boards (worn, defective), flat spine and label gilt, gilt arms of the Counts of Roussillon at the base (O-H-R 1494), edges sprinkled red. Only Edition of the author's only book, which includes CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN THE LOCAL DIALECT and a guide to its pronunciation. Helpfully, Billot (1736-1811) explains local traditions and word-play opaque to contemporary readers. His other songs lament the Revolution and celebrate Napoleon's return from Egypt. Printing began in Arbois in 1797. In good condition, later flyleaf inscription of Bruno Donnier. ¶Collins, Catalogue of the Library of...L.-L. Bonaparte 3619; Bousson de Mairet, Annales historiques...de la ville d'Arbois 65-6; Deschamps, Dictionnaire de géographie 1410.

Paris: J. II Le Blanc for J. Beguet, 1592. Contemporary vellum over soft paper boards (slightly damaged), medieval manuscript spine reinforcements, evidence of four pigskin ties. First Edition of this study of the ancient Greek liturgy performed annually on 16 October at the Basilica of St. Denis (Paris). A Counter-Reformation leader, Génébrard appended HIS REVISED AUTOBIBLIOGRAPHY - AMONG THE FIRST DOZEN TO BE PRINTED. It gives the full title, imprint and all editions of his thirty-one published texts, then lists nineteen of his works still in manuscript - his Bible recension and commentaries, a Syriac dictionary, Talmudic studies, balance of sacred and secular power.... A good copy (a few light stains, narrow worm trail in a few blank margins), some lower and outer edges uncut (natural paper flaw affecting three shoulder notes); early signature of F.M. Boscheron, title stamp of the St. Dié Seminary, two pages of notes from July 1830. ¶Burnett, Christian Hebraism in the Reformation Era 125;… Read More

[England], 1665. Contemporary blind-paneled English reversed calf (top and base of the front hinge cracked), narrow foliage roll decoration at the base of spine, edges sprinkled red and brown. A NEW THING IN THE WRITING OF NARRATIVE ENGLISH" - Bligh. "A SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLE OF ENGLISH PROSE IN A SEMINAL STAGE OF ITS DEVELOPMENT" - Gabrieli.           HITHERTO UNKNOWN TO SCHOLARS, THIS IS THE SECOND EXTANT COPY of the diplomat, scientist, sea captain and bibliophile's autobiographical romance.             Son of an executed regicide, suspect for his Catholic faith and secretly wed to a woman of sullied reputation, Digby sought to dramatically advance his career and fortune in 1627-28 through piracy in the eastern Mediterranean. He commanded two armed vessels and some three hundred crew. Disease reduced the latter by nearly half as they coasted North Africa, the Adriatic and Greece in search of prizes. His famous assault on the Ottoman port of Iskenderun yielded only booty seized… Read More

Paris: J.-M. Eberhart, 1819. Modern binding using 19th-century red, green, and yellow woodblock-printed Italian paper. Bound with: Marcel, J.-J.             Leçons De Langue Chaldaique.  Paris, J.-M. Eberhart 1819. 8vo. [iv], 4, 8p. Two Chaldaic types - root letters printed in solid ("closed") types and inflectional letters in outline ("open"), Marcel's monogram on the main title. Bound with: Marcel, J.-J.             Leçons D'Hébreu Rabbinique.  Paris, J.-M. Eberhart 1819. 8vo. [iv], 8, 4, 4, 4, 4p. Four Hebrew alphabets, Marcel's monogram on the main title.             Ad I-III: Only Editions of these introductory grammars to Samaritan (I; nine lessons), Chaldaic (II; two lessons), and Rabbinical Hebrew (III; five lessons) by the distinguished philologist, punch cutter, printer, and professor at the Collège Royal, where he taught from 1817 to 1820. The Lord's Prayer was the primary translation exercise; the first and second books also contain the first… Read More

[Brandenburg]: s.n., 1780. Contemporary blind-ruled sheep-backed and -tipped gray pressed paper boards (minor defects, upper rear joint neatly repaired), spine with blind-ruled sewing cords, uncut. What follows. The question is - why?             This massive tabular account-management ledger for the Schlaberndorf(f) estate itemizes some seven dozen categories of crops and goods produced on or acquired by the property during a twelve-month period, from 1 July to the following 30 June. The categories include building supplies such as lime, axle grease and roofing shingles, several types of grains (just harvested, threshed, milled...), livestock, brandy, beer (ordinair or doppel), potash, salt, yarn, beeswax and oil for burning. The granularity extends to the amount of bread destined to the dogs and to the poor, the species and size of each fish in the pond, the age of the horses, and the contractual food allowance (cheese, eggs, beer...) for different classes of laborers, the use of tally… Read More

Paris: Louis Fordrin, 1723. Contemporary mottled calf (worn, a few neat repairs), spine and red morocco label gilt. First Edition of this ironwork pattern book presenting chandeliers, grilles, railings, lattice gates, balconies, garden ornament, staircases, signs, lamps and A SPECTACULAR TWELVE-SHEET CHOIR-SCREEN (850 x 1008 mm.), inspired by Fordrin's work at Notre Dame. This copy is an early issue with all but five plates before numbers; in the ?19th century, three small related cuts (c. 165 x 175 mm.; one signed Babin) were tipped in on stubs. In good condition, label of pn on the front pastedown. ¶Guilmard, Les Maîtres ornemanistes 123-4,96 "Very fine examples" (tr.); Cohen-de Ricci, Guide de l'amateur de livres à gravures 408 "rare"; Jervis, The Penguin Dictionary of Design 186-7; Destailleur, Catalogue (1895) 458 (plates numbered).

[Geneva]: H. II Estienne, 1557. Mid-19th-century gilt- and blind-decorated calf (hinges worn), spine and lettering gilt, marbled edges, red silk marker. With: Maximus Tyrius.             Sermones siue Disputationes XLI.  [Geneva], H. II Estienne 1557. 8vo. [xvi], 320p.              Ad I-II: Editio Princeps of these Greek lectures on moral philosophy, here with the Latin translation of Cosimo de' Pazzi (1466-1513). Estienne edited the Greek text, added critical notes and substantially emended the Latin version. In good condition (first title cut close at the top), scattered early manuscript annotations, bookplate of Bob Luza (1893-1980). ¶Renouard, Annales...des Estienne 116,2.