Rare books from John Price Antiquarian Books

Paris: Chez Jean-Baptiste Coignard..., 1676. FIRST EDITION. 4to, pp. [xxiv], 795 [796 blank], 65 full-page engraved plates, 3 engraved head-pieces, p. 295 mis-numbered as 695, clean tear in pp. 3M3 (pp. 461 - 462), occasional annotation in pencil, handsomely rebound in full 17th century style panelled calf, raised bands within gilt rules across spines, title blocked in gilt, marbled end-papers; margins a little age-darkened, but generally a fine copy. Félibien (1619 - 1695) was one of the most important French architects and aestheticians in 17th century France. He had earlier published Entretiens sur Les Vies et sur Les Ouvrages des plus excellentes Peintres Ancien et Modernes (1666 - 1668), as well as Conferences de l'Academie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture (translated into English in 1740) and Origine de la Peinture (1660). The first part of the book, consisting of three chapters of unequal length, cover the principles of architecture, sculpture, and painting, while the… Read More

Romæ, Impensis Fausti Amidei Bibliopolæ in via Cursus. Ex Typgraphia Bernabò, & Lazzarini, 1742. FIRST EDITION. Large 4to, xi [xii blank], 58, 8 full-page engraved plates of musical instruments, 5 engraved vignettes, contemporary vellum, with the armorial book plate of E. de Blavette on the front paste-down end-paper; fore-margins of first few leaves slightly frayed, slight wear to binding, but generally a very good copy. Francesco Bianchini [1662-1729] was librarian to Cardinal Ottoboni, later Pope Alexander VIII, in Rome. He seems to have been a much respected antiquary who enjoyed considerable Papal patronage. Bianchini's name is often spelled Blanchini, but it seems to be one and the same person. Graesse in his 'Supplement' of 1869 lists the work under Bianchini gives these as alternative spellings for the same person. [With thanks to John Wilbraham for this information.] This seems to be a work that Bianchini compiled as librarian, and it was not… Read More

Augsburg, gedruckt und zu finde ben Johan Jacob Lotter und Sohn, Buchbrucker und Musickalien Verleger, 1800. Small 4to, pp. [vi], 268 [269 - 276 index], engraved frontispiece, three full-page engraved plates, folding engraved plate of music at end, contemporary marbled boards, paper label on spine; repairs to folding plate, engraved frontispiece rather faint, but other plates fine, occasional spotting and staining, but otherwise a very good copy. Leopold Mozart (1719 - 1787) published this in a propitious year for music and music-lovers, 1756, the year of his son's birth. It was republished several times (a second edition appeared in 1770, a third in 1787, and a further edition in 1791), translated into other languages, and became a standard text on the subject of violin playing. In a paper published by the American Mozart Society, Thomas Irvine argues that, "Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule (1756) is more than a mirror of eighteenth-century violin playing. In this paper I… Read More

[?Philadelphia] [c.1800]. These embroideries are possibly the work of Samuel Folwell (1764 - 1813), the American miniaturist, silhouettist, engraver, and hair worker. In any case, they are very much in the style of needlework and embroideries produced by Folwell and his wife, Ann Elizabeth Gebler Folwell. In the first embroidery, Emma sits contentedly under a tree holding a garland of flowers, with a basket of flowers at her feet. She wears a long flowing white gown, and her long curly hair (very much in the style of the 1790s) is decked out with flowers. In the background is a road and gate leading to a farm house. The second picture is a fine example of the iconography of mourning so popular in America after the death of George Washington in 1799. In this one, a forlorn woman sits under a tree in front of a tombstone which reads "In Memory of Emma Corbett." There are withered and dead leaves around her and in the background is a house with a thatched roof. Both textiles have some… Read More

London: Printed by W. Bowyer, for Awnsham and John Churchill, at the Black Swan in Pater-Noster-Row. 1706. 2 volumes. Folio, 313 x 193 mms., pp. [xvi],xlviii, 720 [721 - 732 indexes]; [viii], xl, 742 [743 - 748 Chronological Index, 749 - 789 tables and indexes, 750 blank], folding engraved map between pages 748 and 749 in volume 2, handsomely bound circa 1830 by Hering, with the stamp, "Bound by Hering/ 9 Newman Street" on the verso of the front free marbled end-paper in each volume, contemporary plum morocco with a lozenge on each cover, surrounded by 90 degree triangles with acorn motif and the gilt arms of John Lumly Savile, Eighth Earl of Scarborough, within lozenge, with large gilt armorial shield within large lozenge on covers, gilt spine, gilt dentelles, all edges gilt; some occasional foxing and slight staining to some margins from the gilding process, but a fine and attractive set, with the Rufford Abbey bookplate on the verso of the leaf preceding the title-page in each volume.… Read More

In Roma Per Gioacchino Salvioni Stampatore Vaticano, Nell' Archiginnasio della Sapienza, 1768. 12mo, 158 x 86 mms., pp. xviii, 775 [776 blank], title-page in red and black with engraved vignette of Christ, text also printed partially in red and black, 14 full-page engraved plates by Alessio Giardoni (fl. 1760 - 1795), at pages 1, 37, 49, 73, 87, 93, 113, 129, 161, 309, 333, 409, 455 and 619, stylishly bound in full contemporary red morocco, gilt border to a floral design on both covers, with a central gilt panel enclosing a cross in black, all edges gilt, marbled end-papers; slightly shaken in casing, very minor wear to binding, but a fine copy with the armorial bookplate of Prince Constantin Radziwill at the Chateau d' Ermenonville on the front paste-down end-paper, and the Ex Libris label of Albert Natural on the front paste-down end-paper. Prince Constantin Radziwill (1850 - 1920) married Louise Antoinette Blanc in 1876, despite his well-established and almost promiscuous homosexuality;… Read More

Basilae [Colophon]: Basileae per Hieronymvm Frobenivm, et Nicolaum Episcopium, Mense Martio, Anno M.D. XLVI. 1546. Large, thick follio, 335 x 218 mms., pp. [xliv], 1071 [1072 colophon], marginal annotation on recto of aa2, contemporary tawed pigskin, with a fleur-de-lys in centre panel, with binding date of 1549 just visible in central panel, the date is also just visible in a tiny trapezoid 42 mms. from the top front cover near the spine, a border in blind of what appears to be images of juveniles, and another outer border with images of saints, vellum working clasps, with brass endings, almost certainly a Wittenberg binding; binding soiled but would probably repay cleaning, ex-library, with library stamps (Leabharlann Lair, na mBraithre Criostai, which I think was/is a monastery in Maynooth, Ireland) on recto of front free end-paper and on last leaf, with small rectangular bookseller's ticket of J. Mozley Stark, 17 Garrick Street, Covent Garden on the top margin of the front paste-down… Read More

Venetiis Apud Iuntas. 1587. 4to, 237 x 162 mms., pp. [xii], 1 - 53 [two pages numbered 53], 54 - 56, 56 - 308 [309 - 334, with page 305 mis-numbered 283], two preliminary leaves [pp. ix - xi] bound between pp. [330] and [331] in index [leaves Xiii and Xiv, with small leaf inserted explaining in Italian where the misbound leaves are to be found], with two illustrations at pages 22 and 23, and 21 full-page woodcuts at pages 31, 45, 55, 56, 89, 93, 98, 104, 106, 112, 113, 114, 120, 122, 124, 125, 127, 148, 151, 155, and 164, figure in text on p. 166, title-page with engraved woodcut, contemporary vellum (slightly soiled); remains of ties, some waterstaining on pages 53 - 54, small corner torn from lower pages of pp. 179 - 180, natural paper flaw at top margin of pages 225 - 232 [P - Pii], slightly affecting running title on page 231 - 232, contemporary marginal annotations on pages 182 and 229, ownership inscription (probably 18th century) of "Carioli Guarini/ Medico [?Bavgornerii]" on recto… Read More

Antverpiae, Ex Architypographia Plantiniana, 1737. Large folio, 412 x 289 mms., pp. [lxiv], 628, cxxviii [cxxix - cxxxii Lindex], [6] 5 - 30, [4] 24. BOUND WITH: Missae Sanctorum Hispaniorum, qui Generaliter in Hispania Celebrantur. Ex Apostolica Concessione, & Auctoritate S. Pii V. Gregorii XIII. Sixti. V. Clementis VIII. & Urbani. VIII. Aliorumque Summorum Pontificum. Antverpiae, Ex Architypographia Plantiniana, 1737. Folio, pp. 28 [29 - 40], texts printed in red and black throughout, historiated initials throughout also printed in red and black, small leather leaf finders on outer margin, engraved vignettes on title-pages, 20 full-page engraved plates by Cornelius Galle,, ten with engravings surrounding text, vocal music lines on pages 153 - 155, 196 - 197, 199 - 207, 220 - 233, 235 - 237, 240 - 272, 286 - 288, 290 - 292, xvii, three engraved ornaments printed in red, attractively bound in contemporary full red morocco, probably Portuguese, elaborately and ornately gilt in the rococo… Read More

Napoli Dalla Tipografia di Angelo Trani, 1814. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 8vo, 213 x 132, pp. 59 [60 blank], bound in contemporary marbled paper; corners curled, spine defective. Ventignano addresses his preface to Canova (1757 - 1822) who was, of course, still alive in 1814, stating that he (Canova) cannot induce his soul to hope or to fear and that he does not presume to glorify him with his verses. A rare book of poetry on the sculptor Antonio Canova (1757-1822), widely regarded as the greatest sculptor of his day. Cesare della Valle, Duke of Ventignano (1776-1860) addresses his preface to Canova, who was, of course, still alive in 1814, stating that he (Canova) cannot induce his soul to hope or to fear and that he does not presume to glorify him with his verses. COPAC locates only a single copy: the National Art Library in the V&A Museum, London. OCLC adds UCLA, Harvard, NYPL, and the National Art Gallery in Washington, DC, plus four copies in continental libraries. The inscription,… Read More

Exeter, Printed by Tewman and Son, no date, [1796]. FIRST EDITION, [?second issue]. 2 volumes. 8vo, 247 x 148 mms., pp. [vi] - viii, 270; [2], 271 - 573 [574 blank], including half-title, engraved plates at pages 110 (foxed), 115, 118 (foxed), 124 (foxed), and 312 (slightly foxed), original boards, uncut, rather crudely rebacked with quarter vellum spine; front hinges cracked, boards worn, corners worn, but a good set. The physician and poet Hugh Downman (1740 - 1809) began his life as a parson, after a stint at Balliol College, but he turned to a career as physician, studying in Edinburgh for three years and living in an apartment with the poet Thomas Blacklock. He moved to London, began practicing medicine, and obtain an M D. from Aberdeen, probably by paying for it, which was not that unusual for an Aberdeen M. D. in the 18th century. His literary career began in 176, with one of the few poems published in Spenserian stanzas in the 18th century, The Land of the Muses. His best-known poem… Read More

London, Printed by John Field, one of His Highess's Printers 1658. 2 volumes (?ex 3). 12mo, 113 x 60 mms.,, unpaginated, collating A-Aa12 in volume 1, Bb - P12 Q5 for volume 2, with Q5r, Malachi, (the last of the Old Testament books), with a printed tail-iece, engraved title-page with figures of Moses and Aaron either side of the title, and engraved image of London at London Bridge as extant in 1658, on lower margin, ruled in red throughout, bound in dark red morocco, in the fanfare style, by Queen's Binder A, all edges gilt; 17mm. piece cuat from top margin of front free end-paper, title-pages almost detached at upper margin, tops and bases of spine slightly chipped, corners slightly worn, but a very good, if darkened, copy. A previous owner attributed the binding to the so-called "Queen's Binder A" (William Nott). There are certainly a number of Restoration fanfare bindings to be found on various databases of bindings from that period, but I didn't find one identical… Read More

Cambridge, Printed by John Archdeacon and John Bures, Printer to the University; And sol by C. Dilly, F. and C. Rivinton, And B. & J. White in London; and J. &j. Merrill, in Cambridge. 1794. 8vo, 202 x 126 mms., unpaginated, collating a-b8 c2 A-Aa8 A-P8�, contemporary red sheepskin, spine ornately gilt in compartments, all edges gilt; marbled free end-papers removed, last leaf water-stained binding a bit worn, corners worn, joints creased, top and base of spine chipped, spine creased; a fair copy. For some years the works of the now-acclaimed eighteenth-century painter Francis Towne (1739-1816) lay mostly unknown. The work of his most accomplished pupil, John White Abbott (1763-1851), was also for many years largely unknown and unexplored. Today, the works of both artists stand in high regard in the history of British art. Very recently, the paintings and drawings of Francis Towne have been described comprehensively in a Catalogue Raisonné, by the art historian and curator Dr… Read More

London: Printed for F., C., and J. Rivington; T. Egerton; J. Cuthell; Scatcherd and Letterman; Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; Cadell and Davies; Lackington and Co.; J. Booker; Black and Co.; J. Booth; J. Richardson; J.M. Richardson; J. Murray; J. Harding; R.H. Evans; J. Mawman; R. Scholey; T. Earle; J. Bohn; C. Brown; Gray and Son; R. Pheney; Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy; Newman and Co.; Ogles, Duncan, and Co.; T. Hamilton; W. Wood; J. Sheldon; E. Edwards; Whitmore and Fenn; W. Mason; G. and W.B. Whittaker; Simpkin and Marshall; R. Saunders ; Cambridge : J. Deighton and Sons ; York : Wilson and Son ; Edinburgh : Stirling and Slade; Fairbairn and Anderson; and D. Brown [Printed by C. Baldwin, New-bridge street London], � 1821. 21 volumes. 8vo, 212 x 126, pp. [volume 1]: lxxvi, [3] – 585 [586 blank]; [volume 2]: [iv], 697 [698 blank]; volume 3: [iv], [3], 4 – 549 [550 blank], with engraved illustration of the Globe on page 64 and 3 folding leaves inserted between pages 356 and 357;… Read More

London and Edinburgh, Hamilton 1754 - 1762. FIRST EDITION of volumes 1 - 5, second edition of volume. 6 volumes. 4to, pp. viii, 424; viii, 446 [447 Errata, 448 blank]; viii, 402; [ii], [403] - 739 [740 adverts]; vi, 473 [474 advert]; v [vi blank], 459 [460 adverts], including half title in volumes 1, 2, and 3, and contents leaf for volume 4 bound in volume 3, bound in contemporary calf, spine gilt in compartments, red leather labels; title-page for volume 6 slightly detached at inner margin, with title-page dated 1759, front cover volume 6 detached, joints and corners a bit worn. These volumes are all early issues, except for volume 6, of the work that Hume eventually called his History of England. The first volume, volume 5 in the collected set, was published in Edinburgh in 1754, by Hamilton, Balfour and Neill, with the title, The History of Great Britain. Vol. I. Containing The Reigns of James I. and Charles I. Volume 6 was the second volume to be published in 1757, this time in London by… Read More