Rare books from Caravan Book Store

Quarto (12 by 8 1/4 inches) London: "Printed by Joseph Streater, and are to be Sold by T. Basset, at the George in Fleet-Street. J Robinson, at the Golden Lyon in St. Paul's Church-Yard. B. Ayimer, at the Three Pigeons over against the Royal-Exchange. Job. Southby at the Harrow in Cornhil. And by W. Canning, in the Temple." 1688. (16) 267 (12) & (3) 40 pages.

TWO works bound together, as published, in original full mottled calf, with raised bands and gilt ornaments on spine.
Good condition, with some chipping along outside hinges, but holding; and normal wear to corners. Title page of first part printed in red and black. Lower right corner of title page to second part torn and missing, but not affecting text; and minor old insect damage to lower portion of same; date and other particulars still very readable. Engraved bookplate of Henry Maister (of an early English mercantile family).

There are thirty-one full page engravings of animals in the first part; and five full page engravings of scientific… Read More

32 mo. 5 x 7 inch original rectangular souvenir stapled booklet of 16 unnumbered pages, with color captioned photos of the famous gardens in Pasadena, California which no longer exist. Los Angeles: Engraved and Printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Co., 1915-1920. Good condition.

Buff-colored wrappers, front cover oval cutout surrounded by the title and line drawings of the gardens; through the cutout oval, part of the first colored illustration under the cover is visible.

Folio (13 3/4 X 10 1/4 inches) Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Free Press Printing Co., (circa 1913-1914) promotional advertisement of 8 unnumbered stapled pages, illustrated with full page black and white halftone photo stills of scenes from the play to be performed at Hamburger's Majestic Theatre "Two Weeks Commencing Monday, June 2, Regular Matinees." Title in large letters, cover printed in two colors, original wrappers, good condition (minor bending and curling to edges and margins - not affecting contents).

"Henry W. Savage's $60,000 Musical and Dramatic Production combining all the attractive elements of Drama-Grand Opera-Musical Comedy. The Largest Musical and Dramatic Organization ever toured. 150 People Special Symphony Orchestra. The World's Most Sumptuous Panoramic Pageant."

The Majestic was located at 845 South Broadway. It was built in 1913, and knocked down in the early 1930s. Savage was a theatrical manager. His play "Everywoman" was performed in Los Angeles shortly after the Majestic opened.

Octavo (9 x 4 inches) Original, promotional staplebound brochure printed on stiff paper, with embossed gilt monogram "A" on upper left corner of front cover, folded once to form 12 unnumbered pages, illustrated with drawings and black and white halftone photos, map of Southern California and vicinity with local attractions in relation to the hotel's location.

Evocative of the early 1920s Hollywood: Art Nouveau style sepia drawings on the cover, and at lower margin on every page, projecting the elegance of the hotel; of guests enjoying fine dining, dancing, and golf, while socializing in furs and formal wear.

Very good condition (discreet Peck Judah rubber stamp on front cover, not affecting contents).

The hotel was on Wilshire Boulevard, and the location of the famous Coconut Grove nightclub. Both hotel and nightclub are gone, replaced by a high school.

12 mo. (6 x 4 inches) San Francisco: Marvin & Hitchcock, 1852. First Edition. 2 [v]-viii, 258 pages, original quarter blind tooled red roan, good condition, cloth boards, with wear to lower spine (lower left hinge on front cover split, but holding), gilt title at head of spine, publishers name in gilt at foot of spine, original cloth boards showing evidence of old moisture splash or spill, minor foxing on preliminary and last leaves; contents clean, intact and unaffected. Old library label beneath old inked inscription "Placed in Library because of California history contained in the (the last word is un-readable)" on front pastedown.

A fine unsophisticated example. The Norris catalogue refers to it as "The first text-book published in San Francisco."

An observation attributed to Cowan refers to it as "... the first educational work published in California after American rule." The last 12 pages are titled "Geography, History, and Present Condition of California."

Marvin and Hitchcock were San… Read More

12 mo. (7 x 4 1/2 inches) Glasgow, 1700. First Edition. (viii) 112 pages. Good condition: early nineteenth century half calf, marbled boards, considerable wear to hinges (front hinge split, but holding), title in gilt on spine.

Walter Herries (or Harris) was a pamphleteer who participated in the first Darien "adventure." Upon his return to England, he was offered inducements by English politicians to write a book that would ruin the reputation of the members of the Darien Company. His book was "Declared by a royal proclamation to be a 'false, scandalous, and traitorous libel'."

This book, attributed to Ridpath, is an answer to Herries's book, and an attack on English politicians. Ridpath was a Scottish journalist who wrote and supported Whig interests against the Tories.

Small octavo (8 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches) Los Angeles: Westernlore Press, 1961. An Edition of 900 copies only of which 800 copies are for sale. Brick red cloth boards with embossed device of a covered wagon on the front cover. 100 pages illustrated with black and white historic photographs, index, Indian vocabulary, bibliography. Very good condition (previous owner's neat inscription and date on first fly leaf).

At the time of the California Gold Rush, shortly after the end of the Mexican War, in September 1849, Whipple and the man assigned to guard him, Cave Couts, were assigned to survey the new international boundary line in the vicinity of the Gila and Colorado rivers; as required by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

According to E. I. Edwards, who wrote the introduction, notes, and bibliography: "Of all the early accounts written by the emigrants of the gold trail who crossed our Southern California desert, none can claim quite the same degree of distinction that attaches to the Whipple Report .... "

Octavo (9 x 6 inches) Richmond, Virginia: Jones & Cook, 1880. 92 pages, six unnumbered leaves of illustrations (one of them a foldout map "Showing Transportation Facilities of Richmond, VA"), numerous local advertisements, an index of the advertisers that includes four booksellers, among tobacco leaf dealers, horse collar manufacturers, and many other trades and services. Good condition (original decorated printed wrappers beginning to separate, but still holding, minor chipping, not affecting contents).

A promotional directory of public buildings and landmarks, with a history of the city.

Under "Trade Notes," a paragraph for "Books, Binding &c." states, "The Booksellers of Richmond are all gentlemen of superior intelligence, and of long experience, possessing a critical knowledge of books, and a thorough familiarity with the needs of the scholar, professional man, and the general public."

Small quarto (11 x 8 1/4 inches) Published in the Interest of the Firemen's Relief Fund, December 1900. 116 pages of half tone black and white photos of early Los Angeles, portraits, and advertisements for Los Angeles businesses of the period.

Descriptive text includes a short history of the Los Angeles Fire Department: "In May, 1875, Engine Company No. 2 was organized."

Good condition: original red cloth binding, showing mild age toning, title on front cover, floral patterned end papers.

Many photos of early Los Angeles fire stations, with horse drawn equipment.

Portraits include: the mayor, the Fire Commissioners back to 1871, Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants, Engine Drivers, Engineers, Hosemen, and Ladder men.

Advertisements include breweries, hardware supplies, saloons, blacksmiths, and stables among many others.

Octavo (9 1/4 x 7 inches) Cambridge: Welch, Bigelow, & Co.: Published by Authority of the Legislature, 1870. First Trade Edition, Second Printing. 155 pages, illustrated with engraved cuts of scenery throughout the text, and eight full page engraved plates with protective tissue guards; maps in pockets missing.

Original green cloth trade binding, decorated with a map of the Sierra and surrounding country stamped in gilt on the front cover; and similarly, a logo of the Geological Survey team with their equipment stamped in gilt on the back cover; title in gilt on spine.

Good condition, showing the results of being carried in a pocket or ruck sack (the covers and corners of the fragile binding show some wear; lower right corner of front cover appears to have been bent). Inscription of previous owner dated "July 4, 1889, (In camp under the Royal Arches, Yosemite)" on front fly leaf, light pencil notation on a few pages not affecting text or illustrations, contents clean and intact; ticket of the… Read More

Large quarto (14 X 10 1/2 inches) San Francisco: David Magee, 1967. One of 475 copies printed by Robert Grabhorn & Andrew Hoyem. 171 pages printed on heavy wove paper, quarter bound brick red leather with title in gilt on the spine, patterned paper over boards, hardcover - very good condition (minor scuffing at head and tale of spine from shelf wear, not affecting contents).

Illustrated with 60 plates - full size reproductions showing examples of California Gold Rush letter sheets - one facsimile is in a pocket at the rear of the book. Also included: a selective bibliography; an index of artists, engravers, lithographers, and publishers; and a subject and title index.

A checklist and census of artists and printers who produced "... thousands of vivid pictorial records on sheets of writing paper, (that) remain the major surviving visual account of California of that era....," both during and after the California Gold Rush.

"A . . . curious blend of local enthusiasm and topical recording ...… Read More

Octavo (8 3/4 X 5 3/4 inches) Philadelphia: Printed For Gratuitous Distribution, 1863. Original First Edition. 16 page sewn paper pamphlet in wrappers, minor discoloration to edges of covers, old $2 price, and old library call numbers written in pencil on top of front cover, old 15 cent price, and calculation figures not related to text written in pencil on back cover, contents clean and unaffected.

In this pamphlet, Judge Leavitt states his reasons (based on historical fact and the Constitution) for his ruling that denied a writ of habeas corpus for the defendant C. L. Vallandigham; leader of the "Peace Democrats," and Supreme Commander of the "Sons of Liberty."

The accused was charged with "mischievous disloyalty" in his opinions and statements; and subsequently arrested at the orders of General Burnside. Lincoln became involved when, in May of 1863, he wrote to Stanton stating that suspension of habeas corpus, as Stanton wanted, would not be necessary in this case.

Lincoln is not referred to in… Read More

Quarto (12 1/4 X 8 inches) England: Printed by Edward Jones in the Savoy, And Published by him and Randal Taylor near Stationers Hall, 1693. First Edition. 64 pages (pages 29-32 are misnumbered with no loss) containing testimony and the transcript of a sensational murder trial that later figured in Thackery's Henry Esmond; hardcover, bound in nineteenth century course grained half calf, with matching corners, and marbled paper over boards. Very good condition (showing normal shelf wear to corners and along spine), printed on wove paper (minor age blemishes to a few pages, not affecting text or contents), armorial bookplate.

A contemporary record of a murder trial, "... contain(ing) all the requisite elements to command attention: the death of a popular celebrity actor; the attempted kidnap of another; and the involvement of an underage member of the peerage .... "

"The ensuing trial proceedings proved one of the society events of the year." A record of intrigue that drew the attention, at the time,… Read More

Quarto in oblong format (11 by 14 1/2 inches) Oakland, California: Thompson & West [Printed by Pacific Press Printing and Publishing House], 1880. First, Original Edition. [3] iv-vi [2], [1] 12-192 pages; eighty-seven full page lithographic views, including a double page bird's-eye-view of the Wolfskill Ranch; full page colored map showing the Western States of Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California dated 1878.

Good condition: stamped-embossed original cloth over boards, with title in gilt centered on the front cover; professionally re-backed, with new corners, new endpapers to match the period; title in gilt on spine. Loss to lower right margin of one view, not affecting that image, archival repair to tear in margin of another plate, not affecting that image; another view, and pages 19-22, 37-38, 129-130 provided in facsimile, and are compatible to the contents - the book is in otherwise original condition, with binding and contents intact.

The fine plates are of local businesses, residences, farms,… Read More

12 mo. (7 3/8 by 5 inches) New York: Excelsior Publishing House, 1888. Original hardcover, 111 pages, 16 pages of publishers' advertisements, illustrated with many black and white drawings taken from photographs, demonstrating various boxing positions. Very good condition, quarter cloth binding, with title on spine; decorative paper over boards.

After a short biography of the author, some of the many other subjects covered are: "Breakfast Diet," "Dumb-Bell Exercise," "Ducking," and "The Marquis of Queensberry Rules," to name a few.