Antique & Collectible Books

Paternoster Row, London: Robert Baldwin, 1812. Quarto, pp viii, 552, lxxxi, (i), uncut, some age-toning and blemishes throughout but still an impressive wide-margined unpressed copy, original green boards and red cloth spine, rubbed and marked, upper joint splitting but still very sound, spine torn at head and tail and creased down the middle. Considering this copy is still in its original state, the condition is impressive. The Hartland Library copy, with labels and ticket pocket attached to the front endpapers. SCARCE. [The Library was formed by Edwin Sydney Hartland, and was a diverse, but major, collection of herbals, archaeology and anthropology. It was donated to Gloucestershire County Council in 1936, and was eventually dispersed around 2010.] . First Edition. Cloth-backed boards. Good.

1882 Our Western Empire America INDIANS California Gold Mining Atlas MAPS Texas

'Our Western Empire' is a late 19th-century treatise on the development and expansion of the American West. Written by L.P. Brockett, this work is one of the most thorough descriptions of western migration – notes on plains and mountain animals, population trends, mining, farming, and extensive discussion on Native American Indians! One interesting part of this book, that differs from similar tomes, is the inclusion of information on specific states including a large chapter on California and Indian territories.

Item number: #11784
Price: $499
BROCKETT, L.P
Our western empire, or, The new West beyond the Mississippi : the latest and most comprehensive work on the states and territories west of the Mississippi
Philadelphia ; Brantford, Ont. : Bradley, Garretson ; Columbus, Ohio : W. Garretson, 1882.

Details:
· Collation: Complete with all pages
o [2], 3-1312
o Illustrated throughout
·
Provenance:… Read More

London: Groombridge & Sons, 1857. Second edition. Small thick xvi, octavo, pp 508, + 2 page publisher's advertisements, all edges gilt, clean and sound internally, ornate gilt decorated publisher's binding, (a "signed" binding, initialled by John Leighton), a little rubbed and worn, slightly worn at the corners, the spine slightly more worn and a little faded, neatly re-cased with original spine laid down, strengthened at the head and tail, new endpapers. Illustrated with six fine colour plates, an extra colour title page, and many engravings throughout the text, all printed and engraved by Benjamin Fawcett of Driffield. {Garden ornaments, the rockery, the aviary, the marine and fresh-water aquarium, floral ornaments for the table. the pleasure garden, the flower garden, the rockery, the fernery, the apiary, the Wardian case, other garden embellishments.]The second edition was considerably enlarged. The epitome of Victorian suburban extravagance.]. First Edition. Decorative… Read More

Denniston, Capt. The battle of Craignilder. 1832 DENNISTON, Capt. [James]The battle of craignilder, a very ancient gallovidian ballad; arranged for publication, with an introduction and notesPublished by R. Cadell; & R. Griffin and Co., Edinburgh, 1832. title pageprefacepp v - l ; introductionpp 51 -77 ; Battle of Graignilderpp 78 - 104 ; notesUntrimmed, in original publisher's green cloth backed plain paper boards, name inscription inner front board. Some pages in notes compartment with heavy rodant damage, otherwise remarkedly good condition.Having previously compiled a collection of Gaelic tales in Legends of Galloway (Edinburgh, 1825), Denniston here records a fragment of a poem from the Gallwegian oral tradition that recounts the conflict between Scottish and English forces at the site of Threave Castle in 1378 . The poem is preceded by a lengthy introduction and followed by detailed notes providing historical grounding for the text. Somewhat fittingly, although published by Cadell in… Read More

1841 Jardine Mammals Naturalist Squirrels Porcupine Platypus Rodents Illustrated
Sir William Jardine was a 19th-century Scottish naturalist most known for his extensive series of books on natural history, 'The Naturalist's Library'.

This edition of Jardine's 'Mammalia'
is beautifully color illustrated with 34 engravings of various species of large rodents! The plates from Jardine's works are exceedingly desirable and are found framed and displayed by themselves. This volume showcases illustrations and descriptions of squirrels, mongoose, platypus, porcupines, and other similar animals.
Item number: #18728
Price: $499
JARDINE, Sir William
The Naturalist's Library, Mammalia… vol xi.
London, Edinburgh: W. H. Lizars, Henry G. Bohn, [1841].

Details:

· Collation: Complete with all pages
o
xvi, 17-323, [1]
o
37 engraved plates (including engraved frontispiece and title page)
· References: Lowndes 1192
· Provenance: Bookplate – Leonard Harrison Matthews
o
Leonard Harrison… Read More

1615 Martial Epigrams Roman Literature Epigrammata Corruption in Rome Farnaby

"I live in a little cell, with a window that won't even close,
In which Boreas himself would not want to live."
– Martial, Epigrams
Martial was a 1st-century Roman poet from Spain most-known for his 'Epigrams.' This important, early piece of Roman literature expresses details of life in Rome focusing in on the brutal daily life during the Roman Empire. Martial describes living conditions of Rome, corrupt physicians and senators, cruel treatment of slaves, and secrets and rumors of emperors. Because of the style of Martial's writing, he is often considered the first insult comic, as he used humor to disguise his disdain for the life with which he was so familiar.
This 1615 London edition was edited by English classical scholar Thomas Farnaby who was known for his annotations of Juvenal, Ovid, Lucan, Virgil, and of course Martial.
Item number: #19558
Price: $499
MARTIALIS, Marcus Valerius
M. Val. Martialis epigrammaton… Read More

1684 Tertullian Apologetics Early Church Father Pagan Gnosticism Heresy Giry

"Truth persuades by teaching, but does not teach by persuading."
― Tertullian

Tertullian was a 2nd-century early Christian church author and apologist. His works helped establish Western theology and early Church doctrine, especially those that spoke out against heresy. He is perhaps most famous for being the first Latin writer to use the term 'trinity' in reference to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Tertullian emphatically defended Christianity against pagans as well as defended 'freedom of religion' as human right unable to be taken away. One of his important apologetics was an anti-Jewish treatise to counteract Gnosticism and other philosophically based doctrines.
These defenses, along with other Tertullian works, are collected in this 1684 French edition. This edition features the translation and notes of Louis Giry.
Item number: #20417
Price: $499
TERTULLIAN
Apologetique de Tertullien, ou Defense des chrétiens… Read More

1836 Famous Voyages Captain Cook Magellan Columbus Marco Polo Anson Exploration
'An Historical Account of the Circumnavigation of the Globe' is a rare, 19th-century book collecting the most important world voyages from the earliest and most iconic explorers. This work describes the lives and voyages of Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, Ferdinand Magellan, Francis Drake, George Anson, and of course Captain James Cook. And while these names are certainly the most famous, the author includes dozens of other voyages and explorers in this fine Scottish edition of 'Circumnavigation of the Globe'.
It should be noted that this book features fine, full-page engravings throughout – views of islands, boats and ships, portraits, and natives to explored lands.
Item number: #40016
Price: $499
[Anonymous]
An historical account of the circumnavigation of the globe, and of the progress of discovery in the Pacific Ocean, from the voyage of Magellan to the death of Cook.



Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1836.… Read More

1860 FAIRY TALES Charles Perrault Illustrated Cinderella French Riding Hood RARE

"A dream is a wish your heart makes."
― Charles Perrault, Cinderella

Charles Perrault was a 17th-century French author who is most-remembered for his fairy tales. When "Les Contes" was first written it was quite ahead of its time, and his writing helped lay the groundwork for a new literary genre that would become very popular throughout Europe of the next century. Many of his fairy tales include stories that are still popular today such as Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Thumbelina, and Sleeping Beauty.

This printing is a fine, 19th-century printing that includes charming illustrations and a decorative front cover.

Item number: #21720
Price: $499

PERRAULT, Charles

Les Contes des Fees

Paris: J Langlume, [1860].

Details:
• Collation: Complete with all pages
o 179, [1]
o 5 plates, plus vignette title page
• Provenance: Handwritten – Florence V. Grimston, 1860
• Language: French
• Binding:… Read More

George Yard, Lombard Street: William Phillips Published 1803 - 1804. First Issue. Thee volumes, well illustrated with an engraved portrait frontispiece and 119 hand coloured plates, [as usual the plates are erratically bound but all are present], all edges gilt in Volume 2, bound in modern blue cloth with only very slight signs of use. Despite the rather plain binding, the contents are, overall, in remarkably bright condition. There is a little offsetting of plate on to text, and occasionally of text on to plate, but there are only six plates where this is really noticeable (and of these plate 91 is rather poor). In Volume 1 the second plate is bound slightly on a skew so that the margin protrudes slightly at the top and fore-edge; in Volume 2 a number of the descriptive leaves are bound together at the end rather than opposite the plate they describe. Volume 3 concludes with Thortnon's "Sketch of the Life and Writings of the Late Mr William Curtis, 33 pages. Ignoring the minor oddities of… Read More

1810 ENGLISH Voyages Switzerland CHINA Chardin PERSIA Vietnam Korea 6v Pinkerton
'A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages' is a monumental and important early 19th-century historical account of world voyages by Scottish historian John Pinkerton. Pinkerton includes notable voyagers as well as essays and treatises on voyages, ranging from the earliest known voyages to late 18th-century expeditions. Includes 65 engraved plates.
Notable voyages and events in this complete six volume set include:
· Bourgoanne's Travels in Spain
· Coxe's Travels to Switzerland
· Pietro Delle Valle in Persia
· Jean Chardin in Persia
· Balbi and Fitch voyages to Pegu
· Voyages in Tonquin
· Bovis history of Cochin China
Item number: #22815
Price: $995
PINKERTON, John
A general collection of the best and most interesting voyages and travels, in all parts of the world
Philadelphia: Kimber and Conrad, 1810-1811.
Details:
· Collation: 6 volumes
o Vol. 1 – [6], 851, [1]
Table of Contents leaf… Read More

Berolini [Berlin]: Ex officina Rungiana, 1682. Engraved allegorical title page age-toned and frayed at margins with neat fore-margin repair, printed title in red and black, pp (14),(i), 331,(i),(20) + 11 engraved plates, the last plate frayed and mounted along the fore-edge, all the pages are aged and age-toned, the plates are browned and foxed and have been simply numbered in pencil, the main body of the text is heavily age-toned (see illustration) and with some foxing; simply bound in a good quality full lined brown calf with red morocco label. The final 20 pages comprise Jacques Breyn's 'Pugillus Rariorum Plantarum Indici Botanico Polyglotto Appendicis Ioco' with an engraved plate showing the title within an urn of flowers. Not in Stafleu & Cowan. The Hartland Library copy, with library labels attached to the front endpapers. RARE. The Library was formed by Edwin Sydney Hartland, and was a diverse, but major, collection of herbals, archaeology and anthropology. It was donated to… Read More

Octavo (8 1/4 by 5 1/4 inches) Hartford, 1840. vii, [2], 10-487, [1] pages: illustrated with engraved steel plates; somewhat shelf worn, original full leather binding with panel ornament on front and back cover, title in gilt on spine between ornamented raised bands. Good condition, previous owner's name in ink on front fly leaf (at least one page with neat pencil notation, juvenile style squiggles on back fly leaves; none affecting contents or overall condition of the book).

A metaphysical approach, explaining historical, religious, and literary mysteries and "curiosities;" and phenomena of Nature and other "New-World-Wonders." With references to the American experience, including: Patrick Henry, John Randolph, Salem Witchcraft, William Penn, Robert Morris, and "History and Anecdotes of Women."Topics include "American Antiquities, Remains of Giants, Geology, Volcanoes, Egyptian and Indian Magic, Diet, Dress, Drinks, Diseases, Sleep Somnambulism, Trances, Resuscitation, Also An Account of Persons… Read More

1885 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ALICE Carroll Tenniel Illustrated Fantasy

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," authored by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by John Tenniel, is a timeless, imaginative masterpiece published in the 19th century. The story follows a young girl named Alice who tumbles down a rabbit hole into a fantastical realm filled with peculiar creatures and bizarre experiences. From engaging in a mad tea party to meeting the Queen of Hearts, Alice navigates through Wonderland, offering readers a compelling exploration of logic, absurdity, and the complexity of childhood. This whimsical tale continues to captivate children and adults alike with its intricate wordplay and surreal adventures.

This 1885, "New Edition" was published in New York is a scarce, early printing and features all 42 original illustrations from the beloved English artist, Sir John Tenniel.

Item number: #41618
Price: $599

CARROLL, Lewis; TENNIEL, John (Illus.)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis… Read More

1888 DANTE Inferno Gustave Dore Alighieri Divine Comedy Purgatory Paradise Cary
"Dante's Inferno," part of the 14th-century epic poem The Divine Comedy, follows Dante's journey through the nine circles of Hell. In this 19th-century edition, Rev. Henry Francis Cary's translation is accompanied by Gustave Dore's striking artwork displayed across 76 full-page plates. Dore's detailed, emotional depictions of Dante's Hell intensify the reading experience and make this edition a classic in both literature and art.
Item number: #41004
Price: $550
ALIGHIERI, Dante; DORE, Gustave (Illus.); CARY, Rev. Henry Francis (Transl.)
Dante's Inferno. Translated by The Rev. Henry Francis Cary, M.A. From the Original of Dante Alighieri and Illustrated with the Designs of M. Gustave Dore. New Edition. With Critical and Explanatory Notes, Life of Dante, and Chronology.
New York; London; Paris: Cassell and Company Limited, [1888].
Details:
· Collation: Complete
o [2], xxiv, 183, [1]
o 76 full-page plates
· References:… Read More