Michaux, André
THE ARPAD PLESCH COPY, UNTRIMMED; FROM THE COLLECTION OF JOHN GOLDEN. First edition. Paris: Crapelet; An IX, 1801. Folio (534mm x 345mm). With the half-title and 36 engraved plates by A. Plée and L. Sellier after Pierre Joseph Redouté and Henry Joseph Redouté. Bound in XIXc quarter green pebbled clothover marbled boards. All edges of the text-block untrimmed. Corners bumped, just starting at the head and tail (perhaps 1/8"). Scattered edge-years with peripheral tanning and faint foxing. Bookplate of Arpad Plesch to the front paste-down. Francis Edwards invoice to Edward Dodd (27 September 1977, £610!) laid in. André Michaux (1746-1802, not to be confused with his son François André) explored America from Florida to Hudson's Bay up to the Mississippi, looking particularly for timber that would be useful to the French navy. Arpad Plesch (18891974) was among the greatest collectors of botanical books in history, and the catalog of 1,001 of his finest ( Mille et un livres botaniques de la collection Arpad Plesch) like the Arabian Nights is a constellation of the genre's greatest prizes. The present item was lot 529 (£350) in the 1975 Sotheby's London sale of his collection at the Stiftung für Botanik in Liechtenstein. Purchased at the Sotheby's New York sale of John Golden, 22 November 2022, lot 36. A FULL DESCRIPTION AND SUITE OF PHOTOS WILL BE PRODUCED UPON REQUEST.
Regenfuss, Franz Michael
First edition, second issue. FROM THE COLLECTION OF JOHN GOLDEN. Volume I (all published). Broadsheet folio (642mm x 460 mm). Mounted on guards throughout, half-title in French and German (with dual-language instructions to bookbinders on verso), two letterpress titles, one in French, the other in German, parallel text in French and German in roman and gothic types. With an allegorical mezzotint portrait frontispiece of Frederic V, King of Denmark and Sweden, printed in sanguine, and mezzoting head- and tail-pieces also printed in sanguing; and 12 hand-colored engraved plates after and by Regenfuss, mostly colored by his wife, Margaret Helene, as well as by G. Mueller and Johann M. Leyh, mezzotint head- and tailpiece printed in sanguine. Bound in contemporary marbled boards (re-backed and re-cornered in calf). Presented in a yellow cloth clam-shell box. Some plates a little spotted, soiled, or creased, plate IV with several short tears at lower margin artlessly repaired at early date, a few leaves with marginal fraying or tears, very occasional light marginal dampstaining. Armorial bookplate of Wilbraham Egerton (1781-1856) of Tatton Park in Cheshire to the front paste-down. Regenfuss (1712-1780) was appointed engraver to the King of Denmark and, after a series of production delays, brought out this most sumptuous of conchological works, largely hand-colored by his wife. The first issue, published the same year with a brief text by C. G. Kratzenstein, was supressed by King Frederic V; the second issue featured a longer, collaborative text by Lorenz Spengler, Johann Andreas Cramer, and Peter Ascanius, expanded from Kratzenstein's original. Regenfuss completed twelve further watercolor illustrations for a planned second volume, but although a few sets of engravings were printed, a text was not completed and the work was never published .BM (NH) IV, p.1665; Brunet IV. 1180; Dance, A History of Shell Collecting (1986) 38; Nissen, ZBI 3338. A FULL DESCRIPTION AND SUITE OF PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE PRODUCED UPON REQUEST.
Gould, John
London: by the Author, 1865. 2 Volumes. Octavo (9 1/ 2" x 6", 242mm x 155mm ). First edition. Bound in original green cloth with a gilt superlibros of a Lyre Bird surrounded by an elaborate blind border, repeated in blind on the back boards. On the spine, lettering and decoration of a bird in the landscape. Extremities lightly rubbed. Light tanning. Published 20 years after Gould's monumental eight-volume "Birds of Australia" in order to supply new information about subsequently discovered species. An exceptionally fine and attractive set. John Gould (1804-1881) was an English ornithologist, who published many significant monographs on birds. Ayer/Zimmer, p. 262; Casey Wood, 365; Ferguson, 10031; Sauer, 25; Whittell, 295-6.
GOULD, John (1804-1881) and Nicholas Aylward VIGORS (1787-1840).
A PARTICULARLY LOVELY EXAMPLE OF GOULD'S FIRST MONOGRAPH. First edition, first issue (with uncolored backgrounds). Folio (22 ½" x 14 ½", 625mm x 368mm). With 80 fine handcolored lithographic plates after Elizabeth Gould after sketches by John Gould, and printed by Charles Hullmandel, dedication, list of subscribers; faint pigment offset from approximately 15 plates to text, light foxing to about 4 plates chiefly marginal, neat repair to very short tear to plate 65 (Tragopan hastingsii, female), scattered spotting to text for pl. 66. Contemporary green morocco elaborately paneled gilt with 3 bands of foliate roll tools, spine in 7 compartments richly gilt with raised bands (one lettered), marbled endpapers, gilt dentelles, edges gilt; joints and bands lightly rubbed, covers a trifle scuffed. In 1825, Gould removed to London to pursue a career as a taxidermist. In a letter dated 5 February 1844 to Lord Derby, Gould wrote: "You probably recollect that in my first work. . . neither the plants or Backgrounds were coloured; In order to render the Series of my Publications complete. . . I have had those parts coloured in the few copies of I have left. . ." (quoted in Sauer). In 1827, Gould was appointed Curator of Birds and Preserver as a taxidermist for the newly founded Zoological Society of London (1826), which in 1830 acquired a collection of exotic bird skins from the Himalayas. Its acquisition enabled him to produce this, the first of many folio volumes. Gould's sketches were transferred to lithographic stones by his wife, the former Elizabeth Coxon, whose artistic talents were to enhance many of his works until her death in 1841. The text was largely written by N. A. Vigors, secretary to the Zoological Society and Gould's mentor. Failing to secure a publisher for his monograph, Gould undertook the enterprise himself; it appeared in twenty monthly parts with four plates to a part. Nevertheless, "[t]he work scored such a great success that Gould continued for the rest of his life to publish large uniform monographs and faunas all on the same lines" (Anker, 168). Anker 168; Ayer/Zimmer p. 251; Fine Bird Books (1990) p. 101; McGill/Wood p. 364; Nissen, IVB 374.
Cook, James, Captain et al.
First Voyage: Hawkesworth, John. An account of the voyages undertaken by the order of His Present Majesty for making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere. Three volumes. London: for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1773. Second edition. WITH Second Voyage: Cook, James, Captain; Captain Tobias Furneaux; illust. William Hodges. A voyage towards the South Pole, and round the world. . . Two volumes. London: for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1777. Second edition. AND Cook, James, Captain; and Captain James King. A voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, by the command of His Majesty, for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. . .Four volumes. London: H. Hughs for G. Nicol and T. Cadell, 1785. Second edition. Text: quarto (11 ¼" x 8 15/16", 287mm x 229mm). Atlas (to the third voyage): folio (22" x 16 5/16", 559mm x 414mm). [Full collation available.] With 201 engravings in toto: 69 maps, of which 44 are folding; 132 plates, of which 41 are folding; and 2 folding letterpress tables. Text: bound in later half calf over marbled boards by J.H. & A. Ashworth, Leeds (their ticket to the front paste-down of each volume. On the spine, five raised bands. Author and title (Cook's First, Second or Third Voyage) gilt to red sheep in the second panel, number gilt to green sheep in the third. Marbled end-papers, matching the boards. All edges of the text-block glazed yellow. Atlas: bound in half tree-marbled calf over later brown buckram (re-backed, with the original back-strip laid down). On the spine, 6 panels. Title ("PLATES TO COOK'S VOYAGE") gilt to red sheep in the second panel, continuing ("NORTHERN HEMISPHERE") gilt to green sheep in the fourth. Broadly a very good set. The rear hinge of the first volume of the second voyage (2.I) starting at the head and tail, and the rear hinge of the third volume of the third voyage (3.III) at the head. Text rubbed generally, with wear at the extremities. Stub-tear to the folding map of 1.III. Split to the fold of pl. LIX of 2.II, and the imprint of pl. LV shaved. A long tear to the third plate ("A Woman of Van Dieman's Land") of the atlas volume, not affecting the image. A few quires tanned, with offsetting at the engravings generally, particularly at the maps. The atlas volume re-backed, with the original back-strip laid down. Ownership signature of "A. Ely" to the title-pages of the second voyage, with an illegible small ink-stamp at the bottom. "Dr Hinckss" in ink manuscript to the first plate of the atlas. Captain James Cook (1728-1779) was a British explorer, cartographer and naval officer, known for his three voyages to the Pacific. He provided the first recorded contact with eastern Australia and Hawaii, and the first circumnavigation of New Zealand. His travels also included the Antarctic, America and the Bering Strait. He sailed to the Southern Hemisphere on the Endeavor (1768-1771) for the first of his three major voyages. His research contributed to the British annexation of Australia and New Zealand. Cook sailed thousands of miles across uncharted water and made an enormous contribution to the geographical knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere. The ownership of "A. Ely" for the second voyage is too vague to specify. Dr. Hincks, whose signature appears at the upper margin of the first plate of the atlas volume, is perhaps William Hincks (1794-1871). Hincks was born in Ireland, took holy orders as a Unitarian and emigrated to Canada, where he was the inaugural professor of natural history at University College, Toronto. He was president of the Canadian Institute (now the Royal Canadian Institute) from 1869 to his death. Beddie 650 (First), 1217 (Second), 1552 (Third); Hill 358 (Second), 783 (First: "second edition, considered the best one"); PMM2 223 (Second).
Jaume Saint-Hilaire, Jean Henri
Paris: chez l'auteur, 1825. 2 vols. Octavo (10 1/2" x 6 7/8", 265mm x 175mm) With 176 colour-printed stipple engraved botanical plates numbered 1-88, 89-176, finished by hand. Bound in half red morocco over marbled boards, gilt. On the spine, gilt with 4 raised bands. Title in the second panel and volume to the fourth. Extremities lightly rubbed. Some foxing throughout. Tissue guards. Plates 97 and 98 with tiny stain at the top edge affecting one adjacent text leaf. Marbled endpapers. Jean Henri Jaume Saint-Hilaire (1772-1845) was a French naturalist and artist. In 1805, he wrote his first important publication: Exposition des familles naturelles et de la germination des plantes [An exposition about natural families and the germination of plants, containing the description of 2,337 genera and about 4,000 species, 112 plates whose figures were drawn by the author]. With a particular interest in forests, Jaume beame a member of the Societé Royale d'Agriculture in 1831. From the collection of Jaime Ortiz-Patino (his sale Sotheby's New York, 21 April 1998, lot 138). Nissen BBI 991.
GOULD, John (1804-1881).
Large folio (21 2/8 x 14 inches). 33 hand-colored lithographic plates by Edward Lear and John and Elizabeth Gould, one uncoloured plate by George Scharf, all printed by Charles Hullmandel (some occasional light spotting and offsetting, one plate with marginal stain not affecting the image). Contemporary green morocco gilt (skillfully rebacked to style). Provenance: Armorial bookplate of J.T. Hales Tooke on the verso of the front free endpaper. First edition of Gould's first monograph, originally issued in three parts in 1833, 1834 and 1835. "In geographical distribution these birds are strictly confined to the tropical portions of America. According to the best information, they are a retiring and shy race, are mostly observed in small flocks or companies, and inhabit the dense woods and forests of that luxuriant country" (Introduction). Sacheverall Sitwell in "Fine Bird Books" described Gould's "Ramphastidae" as one of his "most lovely works": Lear's and the Goulds's plates depicting the Toucans and Aracaris (or "smaller, pocket toucans") "with their enormous beaks [and]. unimaginable transformations of their basic colours; their eyes, even, vary from bright blue to red." (page 31). Anker 170; Fine Bird Books (1990) p.101; Nissen IVB 378; Sauer 3; Wood p. 364; Zimmer pp. 252-253. Catalogue description prepared for and on behalf of Arader Galleries by Kate Hunter.
Brookshaw, George
London: Thomas McLean, 1819. 3 volumes in 1. Second Edition. Folio (14 x 10 , 358mm x 260mm) With 18 lithographic plates. Each in two states: one colored, one uncolored. 6 plates per volume. 3 separate title pages. Bound in contemporary full green straight grain morocco gilt. Decorative gilt border to the boards. Gilt edges on the text block. On the spine, 5 raised bands with Flowers Birds Fruit in the second panel. Gilt to remaining panels. Head of spine worn and foot starting. Foxing and spotting throughout. George Brookshaw (1751-1823), also known as G. Brown (c.1794-1804) was a notable English painter, illustrator and instructor. He spent his early career in London as a cabintet-maker, specializing in painted furniture decorated with flowers, He made a living as a teacher of flower painting and producing flower manuals such as these. Brookshaw's most important published work, was his finely illustrated treatise on growing fruit, the Pomona Britannica, issued in parts from 1804.
Doughty, John and Thomas Doughty
Philadelphia: John Doughty, 1830. 3 volumes bound in 2. Quarto (11 1/ " x 9", 285mm x 230mm). 3 engraved title-pages, and 56 lithographed plates with original hand-colour and 3 uncoloured wood-engravings. Engraved frontispiece portrait in each volume. Vol. 1: Charles Wilson Peale engraved by J B Longacre from an original painting by Rembrandt Peale and Vol. 2: William Bartram. Bound in Contemporary black morocco, gilt. Rebacked preserving the original spines. On the spine, 4 raised bands with title gilt to second panel and volume to the fourth. Extremities worn. Light foxing and toning. Tissue guards. Country pursuits have long been the traditional occupation of a gentleman. In some regards, this is universal: hunting, cultivation, games and so forth. What the American sportsman adds, especially in the early XIXc, is the sense of exploration and wildness that comes from the vast expanse of the continent. The Doughtys Thomas (17931856) was the father of the Hudson River School, though a Philadelphian gathered anything having to do with the great outdoors, from glossaries to botanical and ornithological publications, to cultivation guides and home- and land-owner's tips, right through to tales of hunting and fishing. Initially issued monthly, the popularity of the venture (and doubtless old sheets as well) led to this issue in book form. Bennett calls volume III "perhaps the most difficult of all American sport item to find." The work is distinguished as the first major publication in America illustrated with hand-colored lithographic plates. For the next thirty years, this was the prime means of disseminating color images in America; although chromolithography would be developed a few years after the present work, it would not be used widely till after the Civil War. Modern red leather library labels of John Talbot Gerdon on the front paste-down of each volume.
London: Printed and Sold by R. Sayer and J. Bennett, 1776. Folio (546 x 419 mm). 23 maps on 30 sheets (all folding or double-page except one single-page) by Henry Mouzon, William Scull, Lewis Evans, and others, handcolored in outline, letterpress title and index, map sheets numbered on versos with several misnumbered, maps hinged on guards; light browning and faint offsetting affecting six maps (The Banks of Newfoundland, no. 13; Lake Champlain, no. 18; Virginia and Maryland, no. 21; Florida, no. 25; Mississippi, no. 26; and South America, no. 29, minor dampstaining on bottom margins of title, index, and first 7 maps. Contemporary speckled calf; rebacked, endpapers renewed, but generally a handsome copy. "One of the most authoritative and comprehensive atlases of America" (Ristow). After the British victory in the Seven Years War, scientific surveys were undertaken that explored and mapped the interiors of the land east of the Mississippi River. The resulting maps, published separately by Jefferys as Geographer to the Prince of Wales (and subsequently to the King), were generally the best available for their respective regions. This atlas was published by Jefferys' successors Robert Sayer and John Bennett, and it provides a comprehensive record of the thirteen colonies during the Revolutionary War era and includes extensive reconnaissance mapping of French Canada, including Newfoundland. "As a major cartographic reference work it was, very likely, consulted by American, English, and French civilian administrators and military officers during the Revolution" (Ristow). REFERENCE: Howes J-81; Phillips, cf. 1166, 1165; William Ristow, "Bibliographical Note," in American Atlas [facsimile of 1776 edition], 1973; Sabin 35953, not. PROVENANCE: Ingilby (contemporary ownership inscription on title-page) Dillon/Dunwalke Library (bookplate and shelfmark) Sotheby's New York, 15 June 2006, lot 204 (undesignated consignor)
London: Printed by Richard and John E. Taylor, 1850. Large Folio (21 1/2" x 14 1/2", 548mm x 370mm). First edition. With 32 hand-coloured lithographic plates by John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter, printed by Hullmandel and Walton.Bound in half black morocco over black cloth boards, gilt. 5 raised bands to spine and gilt title to second panel and author to the fourth. John Gould (1804-1881) was an English ornithologist who published monographs on birds, many illustrated by his wife Elizabeth(1804-1841), and other artists, including Henry Constantine Richter, Joseph Wolf and William Matthew Hart. This is the first of Gould's monographs on gamebirds, and was originally issued in three parts by subscription 1844, 1846 and 1850. In this, Gould's fourth monograph, he considerably enlarged the number of recorded species of the American partridge family. Gould was persuaded to undertake this project by the sight of the beautiful Callipepla Californica, presented to the Zoological Society of London by Captain Beechey, in 1830. The elegant design and natural arrangement of the birds on the plates show Gould's mastery of art and science, and reflect his distinctive style. Gould was inspired by the gift of an English Arctic explorer, and received much useful information from a Scottish botanist and finally dedicated the work to the French ornithologist Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte (1803-1857) the author of American Ornithology. Born in Boston, Charles Barney Cory (18571921) was an America, ornithologist, golfer and author. Cory donated his sizable bird specimen collection to The Field thMuseum in Chicago, and he was given the position of Curator of Ornithology. Nissen IVB 376; Zimmer p. 257.
THE DE BELDER-PETER JAY SHARP-JOHN GOLDEN COPY. First (and only) edition of "certainly one of the most effective colour-plate folios of its period" (Blunt, Great Flower Books p. 85). Folio (640mm x 485mm). With an engraved title-page and 51 color-printed aquatint plates finished by hand. Bound in contemporary half green russia over marbled boards. Rubbed, with the joints and hinges strengthened in places. Quire 3 worn with repair at the lower fore-corner. Sporadic and faint foxing in the margins. Bookseller's ticket of J. Simcoe of Chester to the front paste-down. Hexandrian (hex-, six; -andrian, masculine) plants -- those having six stamens, per the classification of Linnaeus -- include amaryllis and lily families. Priscilla Susan Bury (née Falkner, 1799-1782) was "raised in the greenhouses of her family home" and was as gifted a botanist as she was a botanical illustrator. Robert Havell Jr., simultaneously working on the Birds of American of Audubon (one of the 79 subscribers to this work), "managed to translate the artist's fine watercolours into aquatints of even more striking beauty" (Tomasi in An Oak Spring Flora, 86). Dunthorne 71; Great Flower Books, p. 85; Nissen, BBI 306; Pritzel 1404; Stafleu-Cowan 937; Tomasi, Oak Spring Flora 86.
THE "FIRST AMERICAN BIRD BOOK WITH COLOURED PLATES PUBLISHED IN AMERICA" (Fine Bird Books). THE GOLDEN SET. First edition, first issue. Nine volumes. Philadelphia: Robert Carr for Bradford and Inskeep, 1808-1814. Small folio (344mm x 245mm). With 76 hand-colored engraved plates by Alexander Lawson, George Murray, John G. Warnicke and Benjamin Tanner after Wilson. Bound in XIXc half red morocco over paper boards by N.G Hawley of Rochester, NY (his tickets to the front paste-down). Some wear to the extremities, with a few chips and stains to the backs. Tissue guards present in vols. 4 and 7-9. Volume indexes bound variably at front or rear of each vol., 7 pp. subscriber's list and general index at rear of vol. 9; a few light dampstains, occasionally heavy browning, spotting, and oxidization (as usual), scattered marginal tears with a few minor losses to text leaves, "Ruffed Grous" (Vol. 6: plate 49) just shaved. Armorial bookplates of A.J. Porier to the front paste-down of each volume. The Scottish background of Wilson (1766-1813), his study of Divinity, and his apprenticeship to a weaver, gives little inkling of his contribution to a field which occupied only the last five years of his life. While in prison in 1786, he anonymously published a book of poetry, Watty and Meg, upon the example of Robert Burns. He emigrated to America in 1794, where he taught school at Milestown, Delaware. Wilson was 40 years old when, inspired by the flights of birds and geese over his school, he left teaching to try to classify and describe all the bird species in America. He traveled extensively in the northeast and south where he studied 320 species, discovering several not previously known, while he taught himself the technique of drawing. ''In the 76 plates included in his book, Wilson portrayed more than three-quarters of the species of birds known to have existed in America at that time. His work would be overshadowed by the monumental vision of John James Audubon by mid-century, yet the text of Wilson's book was of major scientific importance. Wilson paved the way for much of what would follow, and the excellence of his contributions brought Wilson the distinction of being considered the Father of American Ornithology'' (M.R. Norelli, American Wildlife Painting, New York, 1982.) Anker 533; Fine Bird Books, p. 114; Nissen, IVB 992; Sabin 104597; Zimmer, p. 679
THE FAIRHAVEN COPY. First edition. Folio (628mm x 476mm). With an engraved title-page and 51 color-printed aquatint plates finished by hand. Bound in modern half red morocco. Top edge of the text-block gilt, fore- and lower edges untrimmed. A little soiling to the boards. Some light creases. Foxing to the preliminaries and a general light offsetting. A very good example. Hexandrian (hex-, six; -andrian, masculine) plants -- those having six stamens, per the classification of Linnaeus -- include amaryllis and lily families. Priscilla Susan Bury (née Falkner, 1799-1782) was "raised in the greenhouses of her family home" and was as gifted a botanist as she was a botanical illustrator. Robert Havell Jr., simultaneously working on the Birds of American of Audubon (one of the 79 subscribers to this work), "managed to translate the artist's fine watercolours into aquatints of even more striking beauty" (Tomasi in An Oak Spring Flora, 86). Henry Rogers Broughton (19001973), second baron, was the brother of the first Baron Fairhaven (Urban Huttleston Rogers Broughton), a title created for their father, Urban Hanlon Broughton, who died before it could be bestowed. Their mother was the heiress of Henry H. Rogers, the stupendously wealthy oil magnate who became a senior executive of Standard Oil. Armed with their grandfather's fortune, the Broughtons were able to buy and to maintain Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire. The second Baron Fairhaven amassed one of the great collections of natural history books and art (donated to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge). The present volume was bought from the second part of his epochal sale (Sotheby's London, 29 November 2022, lot 287). Dunthorne 71; Great Flower Books, p. 85; Nissen, BBI 306; Pritzel 1404; Stafleu-Cowan 937; Tomasi, Oak Spring Flora 86.
"THE MOST IMPORTANT COLOUR PLATE BOOK ON BRITISH TOPOGRAPHY" (Tooley). First edition, special issue (plates printed on card). Eight volumes. London: T. Davison for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown and William Daniell, 1814[-1825]. Quarto (351mm x 253mm). With 308 hand-colored aquatint plates with grey wash borders, by and after Daniell, on card and mounted on guards. Bound in contemporary diced half Russia (re-backed) over marbled boards. Extremities lightly rubbed. Lacking the engraved dedication and uncolored 'Kemaes Head' plate in vol. I, occasional spotting and staining. ALS (signed "W. Daniell," dated 9 July 1825) to an unknown subscriber pasted onto the front end-paper of vol. III (one page, 185mm x 114mm). Tooley suggests that as few as 25 of these special sets may have been issued. The ALS presents the final part of the publication and sending his thanks for the 'kind and constant support' he has received. Abbey, Scenery 16; Tooley 177.
Geographia: Cologne: Godfried von Kempen, 1584. Second edition (first 1576). Italia: Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius, 1595. First edition. Folio (395mm x 267mm). Geographia: with 26 of 28 hand-colored engraved maps, of which all are double-page (one of the missing maps, Egypt, is single-page; the other missing map is of North Africa), and lacking the M4 and c4 blanks. Italia: 17 of 22 double-page hand-colored engraved maps; including the first state of Rumold Mercator's "Europa ad magnae Europae Gerardi Mercatoris P. imitationem Rumoldi Mercatoris." Bound in later (XVIIIc?) paste-paper boards backed in vellum. On the spine, "MERCA-/TOREM/~/ORVIS[sic]/TERRA-/RUM./A[NN]O/1584" in ink manuscript. Worn generally, with the front board detached. Ink notations to the front board. Blind-stamped paper label to the title-leaf. Tanned generally, with some foxing. Marginal worming with reinforced edges to the last 2-3 leaves. Superb contemporary color throughout. Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) was called by Ortelius the "Ptolemy of our times," and the maps in the Ptolemy volume are among the only maps published by him during his lifetime. Van der Krogt 1:502; VD-16 P 5219. A FULL DESCRIPTION AND SUITE OF PHOTOS WILL BE PREPARED UPON REQUEST.
THE BADIA DI TORRECHIARA-PHILADELPHIA FREE LIBRARY COPY, WITH SUPERB CONTEMPORARY COLOR. Amsterdam: Blaeu, 1650. Latin edition. Vol. II, pt. II only of 6 voll. Folio (510mm x 325): with 15 hand-colored double-page engraved maps. Bound in contemporary Dutch vellum (apparently a remboîtage -- a complete recasing of a book), re-backed. Presented in a cloth pull-off case. Letterpress over-slip to the title-page. A short marginal repair to the title-lead. Map of Peru and Chili a little abraded. Ink-stamp ("PAX") of the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria della Neve in Torrechiara to the title-page. A list of maps "Americae," "Insulae Americanae," "Nova Belgica et Anglia Nova," "Barmudas," "Nova Virginiae," "Virginiae et Floridae," "Nova Hispania et Nova Galicia," "Novum Regnum Granatense et Popayan," "Venezuela, cum Novae Andalusiae," "Guiana sive Amazonum Regio," "Brasilia," "Paraguay, o Prov. De Rio de la Plata cum Tucuman et S.ta Cruz de la Sierra," "Magellanica," "Chili," and "Peru." Of particular interest is the map of "Nova Belgica et Anglia Nova." Burden 241 and 242; Koeman I, Bl 24C
First revised edition. Four volumes. Augsburg: Johann Elias Haid, 1787. Folio (395mm x 258mm). With 4 engraved title-pages heightened in red and gold, and 1,025 hand-colored engraved plates, of which 14 are double-page, after Ehret, Ridinger, Seutter and J.J. Haid. Bound in contemporary calf. On the spine, five raised bands. Rubbed and chipped at the extremities. One of the lettering-pieces to vol. IV perished. Foxed generally. Marginal worming to the first 50 plates of vol. IV. First revised edition. "Printed in color from the original mezzotint plates (finished by hand) from Weinmann's influential masterwork Phytanthoza iconographia (1737-1745) issued without the descriptive text. Rare and valuable record of the plants cultivated in the early 18th century, based on Weinmann's own collection. The high artistic standard of its plates, became an important source for copyists, and appeared in designs for Meissen porcelain. Many are "of particular interest on account of the colour printing, especially the plates of Aloes and Cactus depicted in pots of different designs, and the folding plates of gourds" (Dunthorne 327, first edition); Nissen 2126 (notes); Pritzel 10139; Stafleu/Cowan 17050." A FULL DESCRIPTION AND SUITE OF PHOTOS WILL BE PRODUCED UPON REQUEST.
First edition. Four volumes (three text plus atlas). London: G.G. & J. Robinson, & J. Edwards, 1798. Text: quarto (11 3/4" x 9", 302mm x 230mm): [8], xxix, [9], 432; [10], 504; [10], 505, [3]. With 17 engraved plates and 1 engraved chart. Atlas: folio (21 1/4" x 16 3/4", 540mm x 425mm). With 10 folding engraved charts and 6 engraved plates. Text: bound in contemporary calf (re-backed with the original back-strips laid down) with a triple gilt fillet border. On the spine, five raised bands. Author and title gilt to black sheep in the second panel, number gilt to black sheep in the fourth. Atlas: bound in contemporary half calf over marbled boards. On the spine, six raised bands. Spines darkened slightly, corners bumped with some repair; a bit of offsetting from plates, light foxing; maps with a few splits at folds, minor tears, a bit of offsetting, light foxing to views, front endpaper starting from foot, light bump at top right corner slightly affecting plates and maps (mostly in margins); very good or better. "First edition, including the atlas, of one of the great accounts of Pacific exploration, rivaling the works of Cook and La Perouse. Streeter writes that "This narrative is one of the most important accounts of the exploration of the Pacific Northwest and New Zealand, and valuable source information about Tahiti and the Hawaiian Islands in the last decade of the eighteenth century. Cowan considered the account to be superior to any of its kind and the chief authority on the areas explored during this period. Vancouver (1758-1798) was an extraordinarily capable explorer, having sailed with Cook on the second and third voyages (1772-4, 1776-80) and served under Rodney and Alan Gardner. It was Gardner who recommended him for a voyage in search for a northwest passage to the Great Lakes. The present narrative is the complete account of that voyage, accompanied by an atlas of maps and views of the areas explored. Vancouver died on May 10, 1798, his brother John completing the task of preparing and editing the narrative. Among the important features of the narrative are the engraved views in Volume II of the Mission of San Carlos and the Presidio of Monterey, probably the first published views of California. It is possible that the artist sailing with La Perouse, who visited Monterey in 1786, drew a sketch of the Mission, but no views of California scenery appear in the La Perouse atlas." Howes is of the opinion that "of all modern exploring voyages to the Pacific those of Cook, La Perouse and Vancouver were the most important," Hill holds out that "This voyage became one of the most important ever made in the interests of geographical knowledge," and Lada-Mocarski states emphatically that "this is one of the most important voyages for the history and the cartography of the northwest coast in general and of Alaska in particular." The engraved views were drawn by William Alexander from sketches made on the spot by expedition members. Cowan p.654-5; Forbes 298; Graff 4456; Hill, Pacific Voyages, pp.303-4; Hill (2nd Ed.) 1753; Howes V23; Lada-Mocarski 55; Sabin 98441; Streeter Sale 3497; Tweney 78; Verner, Stuart-Stubbs, no 41; Wagner N.W.C. p.209 et seq.; Zamorano Eighty 77." A FULL DESCRIPTION AND SUITE OF PHOTOS WILL BE PRODUCED UPON REQUEST.
First edition. Two volumes (two text volumes bound in one, atlas). Paris: F. Schoell, 1811-1812. Text: quarto (13" x 10", 335mm x 250mm): 92, 904, errata leaf. Atlas: folio (22 1/2" x 16 1/2", 570mm x 410mm): [iv], 1 2-4; with 19 engraved plates, of which 10 are double page; several in sepia, bronze and brown aquatint. Text: bound in contemporary mottled calf. Atlas: bound in contemporary marbled boards, presented in a custom black clam-shell box. Both text and atlas conserved by Brockman in 2024 [full report available upon request]. Persistent damp-stain throughout the atlas, mitigated. Lacking the vol. II text title-leaf, with pp. 348-349 repeated in its place. The essential text of Mexico and the American west, with Humboldt's social, physical and cartographic analysis. From the collection of J. Kislak. Howes H 786; Graff 2009; Streeter, Textas 1042n; WCB 7a:3a:2. A FULL DESCRIPTION AND SUITE OF PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE PRODUCED UPON REQUEST.
First edition. London: for T. Cadell, 1787. Quarto (11 ¾" x 9 1/8", 297mm x 233mm): with 5 folding engraved maps, of which 4 have hand-color in outline. Bound in contemporary blue-drab boards (re-backed) backed in grey paper with a paper label. All edges of the text-block untrimmed. Conserved by Brockman in 2024 [full report available]. Some staining to the boards, with wear at the extremities. The spine and paper label modern. Some tanning at the edges, with the odd passage of foxing. Split in the text-block at U-X and Nn-Pp. LACKING QUIRE Oo. Many quires unopened: K3.4, L, M-O, P3.4, Q-Ee1.2, Ff3.4-Ii, Ll3.4-Mm, Nn3.4, Pp-3B1.2, 3E3.4-3T1.2, 3U3.4. Sir Banastre Tarleton (1754-1833; Lt.-Col. at the time of publication, eventually General) was mostly associated with the British Legion in New York, but the present work principally describes his expedition under Lord Cornwallis to capture Charleston, South Carolina -- famously disastrous. The present example shows essentially no use, with its unopened quires and full margins. Church 1224; Clark Old South 317; Howes T37; Nebenzahl Battle Plans of the American Revolution 60, 83, 90, 92, 197 ("this well engraved map [of the siege of Yorktown in Virginia] conveys considerable useful information"); Sabin 94397. A FULL DESCRIPTION AND SUITE OF PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE PRODUCED UPON REQUEST.
London: J. Mount, T. Page, W. Mount, 1780. Folio (478 x 305 mm). 21 engraved full-sheet maps, 4 engraved in-text maps; tissue repair to lower margin of title, browning, foxing, and offsetting, occasional staining, some short splits to folds, one or two instances of restoration to splits. Contemporary calf, early manuscript notes on free endpapers listing names of various contemporary sea captains and their ships; rebacked and recornered, ring-shaped scorch mark to upper board; endpapers torn and restored. Maps include: 1. "A New and Correct Chart of the North Part of America." (double-page) 2. "A New Generall Chart for the West Indies" (double-page) 3. "A New and Accurate Chart of the Vast Atlantic or Western Ocean" (double-page, folding) 4. "A Chart of the Sea Coast of New Found Land." (double-page) 5. "The Harbour of Casco Bay." (double-page) 6. "A New and Correct chart of the Coast of New-Found-Land" (double-page, folding) 7. "Island of St Peter s" (in-text) 8. "A Chart of the South-East Coast of Newfoundland" (double-page, folding) 9. "A Map of the Coast of New England." (double-page, folding) 10. "A Draught of New York." (double-page) 11. "Virginia, Maryland, Pennsilvania [sic], East & West New Jersey" (double-page, folding) 12. "Barbados" (in-text) 13. "A Draught of Virginia" (double-page) 14. "Antegua [sic]" (in-text) 15. "A New Mapp of the Island of St. Christophers [sic]" (double-page) 16. "A Draught of South Carolina and Georgia." (double-page, folding) 17. "A Correct Chart of the Caribbee [sic] islands" (double-page) 18. "A Correct Chart of Hispaniola" (double-page, folding) 19. "A Draught of the West End of the Island of Porto [sic] Rico" (double-page, folding) 20. "A New & Correct Chart of Cuba" (double-page, folding) 21. "A New and Correct Draught of the Bay of Matanzas" (in-text) 22. "Bermuda" (in-text) 23. "A New & Correct Chart of the island of Jamaica" (double-page, folding) 24. "A Chart of the Coast of Guayana [sic]" (double-page, folding) 25. "A New and Correct Chart of the Trading Part of the West Indies" (double-page, folding) "The first significant collection of charts exclusively of the American coasts to be published in England" (Cumming 9). Influenced by the Dutch pilot books of Pieter Goos (see lot 21), the English Pilot series was started by John Seller in 1671. "For British trading in North America and for the colonists there, the publication of The English Pilot: The Fourth Book must have been a godsend. For the first time an English sea atlas presented charts of the whole eastern seacoast of North America. To modern eyes the charts are crude and sparse of detail; but to the navigator of American waters in that period, it was his Bible. Whatever its shortcomings, there was really no substitute, no real competitor, for over sixty years" (Cumming 39). Perhaps due to its usefulness, 37 editions were published from 1689 to 1794, as were three pirated editions. Over the course of these editions, the charts went through various changes, beginning with the addition to the 18 charts in the first edition to an eventual 26 in the final edition. Verner specifies that 64 different chart titles have been recorded from the editions he examined. Given its practical nature and use, copies of any edition rare. Full description available on request.
London: for R. Sayer and J. Bennett, 1778. Folio (542 x 390 mm). Additional engraved double-page title, letterpress title-page, 25 charts on guards (2 folding, 21 double-page, and 2 full-page); some guards renewed, inner blank margin of title-page renewed, folding maps lightly worn in folds, one with a small closed tear at a fold and a repaired tear in the fore-margin, occasional stray smudges and browning, very light offsetting. In full speckled calf, green morocco label to upper board lettered in gilt; skillfully rebacked (with parts of the original spine laid down) and recornered, some rubbing, browning to endpapers. An extremely rare early edition of Jefferys' masterful charts of the Caribbean. Various issues of this work were printed by Sayer and Bennett and Laurie and Whittle into the nineteenth-century, and Sabin only cites editions printed in 1788 or later. Indeed, early editions are very uncommon: only two copies of the 1778 edition have appeared at auction in the last 50 years. Jefferys' first work on the Caribbean, The West-India Atlas, was published in 1775 as a companion to his American Atlas (see preceding lot). Following its publication, Sayer and Bennett produced the present work, which contains only the charts from the Atlas. REFERENCE: cf. Sabin 35956 Full description upon request.
