Antique & Collectible Books

1671 1ed Fides Ecclesiae History of Greek & Oriental Christians Severus & Simon

Richard Simon was a 17th-century French divine who preached and lectured on philosophy throughout his career. His most important book was 'Fides Ecclesiae Orientalis', which was merely a translation of one of the tracts of Gabriel Severus (Metropolitan of Philadelphia, Ala-Shehr). According to the NCUK, Simon "gave this work as a supplement to first volume of 'Perpetuity of the Faith Respecting the Eucharist', whose authors he accused of having committed many gross errors." Ultimately, this work was a description of the condition and history of Greek Oriental Christians.
Item number: #7538
Price: $750
GABRIEL Severus
Fides Ecclesiae Orientalis seu Gabrielis Metropolitae Philadelphiensis opuscula: nunc primum de Graecis conversa. Cum notis vberioribus ... Adversus Claudii Caluiniani ritus Carentone ministri responsum ad perpetuitatem fidei ecclesiae catholicae, de iisdem rebus eucharisticis, à clarissimo Arnaldo Doctore… Read More

1835 Hannah More 1st ed Female Education Women's Rights Feminism Suffrage 2v

A rare and important collection of the complete works of Hannah More, an 18th-century English author. She played a critical role in the development of women's rights and education, as well as being an advocate for promoting literacy among the poor.
Prior to 1792, very little had been printed on the importance of female education. In that year, Wollstonecraft published "Vindication of Women's Rights" a work that was far beyond its time. Seven years later, Hannah More published "Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education". According to Demers,
"women [should] exert themselves, with a patriotism at once firm and feminine, for the general good ' and that 'the chief end to be proposed, in cultivating the understandings of women, is to qualify them for the practical purposes of life'".
These two works, in conjunction, 'promoted fundamental changes in attitude…in which More envisions as a needed seriousness" (Demers,… Read More

1876 Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Defoe Voyages Shipwreck English Cassell ART

"It is never too late to be wise."
― Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

"One of the most beautiful travel books in figures of the eighteenth century." (Gumuchian)

Called the original adventure novel, Robinson Crusoe was originally published in 1719 and depicts the life of a castaway who learns to survive on an island for decades. However, while it saw substantial success with the masses, there were still those that were not impressed. Charles Dickens said,
"...Robinson Crusoe should be the only instance of a universally popular book that could make no one laugh and could make no one cry."
This impressive edition was published in London by Cassell and features decorative page borders and in-text illustrations.
Item number: #15529
Price: $499
DEFOE, Daniel
The life and strange surprising adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, mariner, as related by himself : With upwards of 100 illustrations
London : Cassell, Petter &… Read More

1713 LAW 1ed Gibson Codex Juris Anglicani Church England HUGE FOLIOS Anglican
Edmund Gibson was an early 18th-century British bishop who is best known for his writings on ecclesiastical law. One of his best works was his 1713 'Codex Juris ecclesiastici Anglicani", or 'Code of Anglican Law'. In the years leading to this work, Gibson argued for the rights of archbishops many of which were called into question during the reign of William and Anne.
According to Hugh Chisolm, this book
"discusses more comprehensively than any other, the legal rights and duties of the English clergy"
It also covers church constitutions, Anglican canons, and articles and liturgy of the Church of England.
Item number: #17058
Price: $950
GIBSON, Edmund
Codex juris ecclesiastici Anglicani, or, The statutes, constitutions, canons, rubricks and articles, of the Church of England, methodically digested under their proper heads.
London : Printed by J. Baskett, 1713. First edition.

Details:
· Collation: Complete with all… Read More

1864 Japanese Eight Dog Samurai Battle Fantasy Novel Illustrated Edo Japan 6in1

An interesting Edo woodblock-print of 'The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes' from the early 19th century by Utagawa Kunisada II. "The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes " is a series of prints by Utagawa Kunisada II showing kabuki actors as characters from the novel Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (The Eight Dog Chronicles). "The Eight Dog Chronicles" is a Japanese epic fantasy novel written and published over nearly thirty years from 1812 to 1842 about the "Eight Dog Samurai" bound by fate with Princess Fuse, and the dog of kami Yatsufusa, set in the late Muromachi period.
This rare 1871 edition is written in a column handwritten format with furigana usage for easier reading and has illustrations of samurai, battles, weapons, town maps, and more!
Item number: #16661
Price: $499
Kyukutei Bakin
"The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes" Inu no Soshi Hakkenden八犬傳犬之草紙廼内（はっけんでんいぬのそうしのうち）
[Edo]:… Read More

1858 Japanese Samurai Ninja Yokai Battle Hokusetsu Utagawa Illustrated Naruto

An interesting Meiji woodblock-print of the classic novel 'Hokusetsu Bidan Jidai Kagami,' which was serialized from the Edo period for 30 years with 48 volumes written in Hiragana drawn by Utagawa Kunisada II and intended for a popular audience. 'Hokusetsu Bidan Jidai Kagami,' became a major influence for all modern ninja stories in modern day being adapted into theater, movie, video games, and manga, most notable the manga Naruto.
This rare edition is written in a column handwritten format. This edition contains excellent illustrations throughout of different scenes from 'Hokusetsu' of samurai, battles, courtesans, ninja, flying yokai, monks, and more!
Item number: #16693
Price: $499
TANEKAZU, Ryukatei
(Uplifting Tale of Northern Snows, Mirror of the Ages) (Hokusetsu bidan Jidai Kagami) 児雷也豪傑譚(じらいやごけつものがたり)
[Edo: Ansei 5 1858]

Details:

·
Collation: Complete with all pages; 2… Read More

1844 1st Charles Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit English Literature Satire Illustrated

"If I was a painter, and was to paint the American Eagle, how should I do it?"
– Charles Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit
This rare first edition, first issue, was believed by Dickens to be his best work, though it was the least popular of his works. Dickens originally released the story in 20 monthly parts; however, upon realizing its failing popularity, he changed the plot to send the title character, Chuzzlewit, to America. Dickens sought to elaborate on his own views of selfishness in America, and, in doing so, created popularity within a lesser-known character.

Item number: #17202
Price: $750
DICKENS, Charles

The life and adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. With illus. by Phiz.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1844. First edition.

Details:

· Collation: Complete with all pages
o xiv, [2], 624
o 40 steel engraved plates
· Edition Note:
o
Smith's State 2 (no priority), with vignette title page signed… Read More

1865 1ed Confederate Rebel Prisons TORTURE Andersonville Civil War Life & Death

Robert Kellogg's 'Life and Death in Rebel Prisons' is a rare Civil War account of prisoners of war and conditions of Confederate prisons. According to Nevins,
"A sergeant's journal of captivity, reworked by the editor; very bitter over deliberate cruelty to prisoners, but also gives facts tending to show the opposite."
The contents describe prisoners in Andersonville, Atlanta, Millen and Libby prisons, and other notable prisons, as well as descriptions of prison hospitals in the South.

In addition to the fascinating contents, this work features impressive full-page engravings of Civil War battle scenes and treatment of prisoners, including one disturbing view of prisoners being hanged by their thumbs – strappado torture!
Item number: #17330
Price: $499
KELLOGG, Robert H
Life and death in rebel prisons; giving a complete history of the inhuman and barbarous treatment of our brave soldiers by rebel authorities
Hartford,… Read More

1886 1ed Mormon Portraits Joseph Smith Orson Sarah Pratt Polygamy LDS Wymetal
"Many little bodies of new-born children floated down the Mississippi..." -Abigail Harris
An exceptionally rare and controversial work, this first volume of the 'Mormon Portraits' by Austrian journalist Wilhelm von Wymetal is an intense yet fascinating read. Wymetal, using the pseudonym Dr. W. Wyl, presents a compilation of interviews with a variety of individuals affiliated with Mormonism and its leadership. Wyl's intent was to both debunk claims by and expose scandalous practices within the early Mormon church. One such example; In response to pro-polygamous beliefs and claims, Sarah Pratt, wife of early prominent Mormon leader Orson Pratt, insisted Joseph Smith had no polygamous offspring due to the large-scale secret practice of abortion in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Item number: #40020
Price: $599
WYL, Dr. W (pseud.); [VON WYMETAL, Wilhelm]
Mormon Portraits, Or, The Truth about the Mormon Leaders from 1830 to 1886… Joseph… Read More

1850 1ed Voyage of US Exploring Squadron Wilkes Ross d'Urville Expedition Maps

A rare first edition of John Jenkins'book, 'Voyage of the U.S. Exploring Squadron.'This work is a condensed voyage anthology, covering the United States Exploring Expeditions, the discoveries of Dumont d'Urville and Captain Ross, and an account of the expedition to the Dead Sea under Lieutenant Lynch. The book focuses on the Wilkes Lynch Expeditions which were important for American Oceanography. Jenkins divided the work into two parts the first being the Pacific and South Seas expeditions with the second part describing Lynch's expedition to the Dead Sea and the River Jordan.

Item number: #40248
Price: $550
JENKINS, John S.
United States Exploring Expeditions : Voyage of the U.S. Exploring Squadron : Commanded by Captain Charles Wilkes, of the United States Navy, in 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842: Together with explorations and discoveries made by Admiral d'Urville, Captain Ross, and other navigators and travellers,… Read More

1829 BIRDS 1ed Animal Kingdom Baron Cuvier Aves Ornithology 56 Color Plates
"The Animal Kingdom" originally by Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, Baron Cuvier is a comprehensive zoology work, translated and expanded by British naturalist, Edward Griffith. This collection focuses on the classification of animals, particularly vertebrates, and provides a detailed analysis of their anatomy and organization. Upon translation, Griffith added descriptions alongside commissioning a myriad of hand-colored illustrations to make the book more accessible and appealing to a broader audience.
This first edition of "The Animal Kingdom," collection, "Class Aves" includes 56 color plates depicting various species of birds such as warblers, swallows, goat suckers, grosbeak, parrots, hummingbirds, hornbills, woodpeckers, and many more!
Item number: #40974
Price: $499
CUVIER, Baron; GRIFFITH, Edward (Editor; Transl.); PIDGEON, Edward; GRAY, John Edward
The Animal Kingdom…Volume the Seventh. The Class Aves Arranged by… Read More

1870 Japanese Cat Monster Ukiyoe Color Seven Manifestations of Golden Flower
A rare, 19th century Japanese woodblock print of "Kinka shichi henge" (Seven Manifestations of the Golden Flower) is a ukiyo-e graphic novel about a cat monster. According to Japanese folklore, a cat that has lived for a long time can become a kind of supernatural monster or 'yokai' called a fork-tailed cat, nekomata. It was believed that after a cat reached ten years of age, its tail would slowly split into two tails, and it would develop magical powers. Nekomata can shape-shift into human form and are generally hostile to people.
This rare, collection is written in a column woodblock print format with furigana for easier reading with illustrations painted by Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) throughout and color illustrations on the cover.
Item number: #30361
Price: $499
Kakutei Shuuga (鶴亭秀賀)
(Golden Ornaments Seven Changes) (kinka shichihenge) 金花七變(変)化(きんかしちへんげ)
[Edo]: Meiji 3 [1870]… Read More

1877 Confederate CSN Capt Wilkinson 1ed Narrative of Blockade-Runner Civil War

Confederate Naval Captain John Wilkinson's "The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner" is a fascinating 19th-century first-hand account that provides a detailed narrative on blockade-running during the American Civil War. In addition to chronicling the experiences of smuggling goods through the Union's naval blockade, the book also offers insights into significant events such as the controversial capture of New Orleans. Through access to previously unpublished documents, Wilkinson presents a fresh perspective on these historical events. The book aims to contribute to a better understanding of the war and to promote dialogue between the North and South.

This 1877 first edition, first printing is significantly rare with only one other copy recorded across library archives worldwide.

Item number: #40899
Price: $499

Wilkinson, J.

The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner.

New York: Sheldon and Company, 1877. First edition, first… Read More

1890 CUSTER 1ed Following the Guidon Civil War Indian Wars PROVENANCE Burnside

"There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the Seventh Cavalry"
– General George Custer

First edition of Elizabeth Custer's 'Following the Guidon.' She wrote this book with the attempt of creating a legacy for her husband, General George Custer. She succeeded. In fact, she is without a doubt the most important force in creating a sense of 'legend' around her late husband. She turned him into a Western hero and martyr, which slightly differs from the truth in his military failures, mainly at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

This work includes a description of the march into Indian Territory, dealing with scouts, the Battle of the Washita, Indian prisoners and trials, hunting records, army housekeeping, Indian captivity of white women, and more!

Item number: #30705
Price: $599

CUSTER, Elizabeth Bacon

Following the Guidon

New York: Harper & Bros., 1890. First edition.

Details:
· Collation: Complete… Read More

1849 CALIFORNIA 1st/1st Los Gringos Exploration Mexico Peru Hawaii DONNER PARTY

"Los Gringos" by Henry Augustus Wise is a travelogue and memoir documenting his experiences as a U.S. Navy officer during the Mexican-American War. The fascinating narrative captures his voyage from Boston around Cape Horn to engagements along the Mexican and Californian coasts, with colorful depictions of battles, local customs, and the early American presence in California, including interactions with survivors of the infamous Donner Party. Wise's return trip adds observations from visits to Hawaii and Polynesia, offering a picturesque and forthright account of the mid-19th century naval expeditions and cultural encounters.

Item number: #41602
Price: $499

WISE, Lieut.

Los Gringos: or, An Inside View of Mexico and California, with Wanderings in Peru, Chili, and Polynesia.

New York: Baker and Scribner, 1849. First Edition. First Printing.

Details:
· Collation: Complete
o xvi, 453, [1]
· Reference(s):… Read More