![[BINDING - PHILADELPHIA CA. 1865]. The Photograph Album](https://rarebookinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/31334529957-1-600x756.jpg)
[Anonymous]
Album 5 x 6 x 2.5 in. Title-page (a little foxed, verso blank), Index to portraits (2 pp.), followed by 25 thick cards creating 50 slots; all are filled, with 47 cartes-de-visite, 2 views, and one chromolithograph (a little foxed). Bound in original blue-green roan over deeply embossed carved boards, covers and spine gilt, edges dazzlingly gilt and gauffered, each board with four porcelain beads, two working catches and clasps with luxuriously wrought mounts and two porcelain beads, moire pastedowns and endpapers. Minor scuffing to binding extremities. SUPERB CIVIL WAR ERA PHILADELPHIA BINDING, THE GILT AND GAUFFERED EDGES GLEAM AMAZINGLY. The assemblage of the present album may be localized to Minnesota or neighboring Wisconsin owing to the surprising inclusion of two small views by Benjamin Franklin Upton (1818-1910) of the St. Croix River, which demarks the two states. One of the images is entitled "Views of the Dells on the St. Croix River" (a stereoscopic copy, dated 1865, is at the Getty); the other is a log jam downriver from the bridge with a group of loggers posed in the foreground (two stereoscopic copies of this scene are view held by NYPL Photography Collection). While it is not certain that the family who assembled the album are from either Minnesota or Wisconsin, it seems self-evident that the St. Croix River was of considerable significance. Was the last name of this family "Quincy"? We are perplexed by a third surprising inclusion, namely a chromolithograph of a "Quince Blossom," probably not at random. The present album is far more luxurious than Harding's more common and much more inferior "Universal Photograph Album" (1861), and ours is distinguished by its exceptional condition.
![[ANTIQUARIAN BIBLIOGRAPHY]. [BOOK AUCTION](https://rarebookinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/31334529945-600x863.jpg)
[Jahn, Johann Joseph]
8vo. 51, [10] pp. + 1 blank p. Stitched (front wrapper lacking, back wrapper of old drab paper). Title-page quite soiled and with evidence of adhesive tape residue, corners curled, text-block browned (but not brittle), early inscription on title-page: "Beermann" (?). An unattractive but complete copy, priced accordingly. Preserved in a green cloth chemise and slipcase. UNRECORDED 1777 VIENNESE BOOK AUCTION CATALOGUE, CONTAINING A MODEST COLLECTION OF BOOKS ALONGSIDE A GIGANTIC ASSEMBLAGE OF MORE THAN 2000 PRINTS. No auctioneer or consignor is named, but the printer was Johann Joseph Jahn, described on other title-pages as the Printer to the University. On our title-page only the year of the auction was actually printed (the day and month were left blank) and are here accomplished in manuscript. The title-page informs potential buyers that the sale would be held from 9am-12pm and 3pm-6pm in the Vienna Hoher Markt "No. 504, at the blue gate on the 2nd floor where may be given cash payment." This format follows very closely another rare catalogue, now in the old Transylvanian library of Samuel von Brukenthal (1721-1803) of Sibiu, Romania, who built a library of more than 15,000 volumes which included more than 200 book auction catalogues (mostly Viennese). These catalogues have been analyzed in detail by Alexandru-Ilie Munteanu, Curator of the Brukenthal Library, who describes this one in Latin (likewise printed by Johann Joseph Jahn): "Catalogus Librorum varii idiomatis et argumenti qui Auctioni publicae exponentur die 20. Decembris 1776. & subsequentibus diebus. Mane ab hora 9 ad 12; post meridiem vero a 3 ad 6. Auf dem Hohenmarkt Nro. 504. im blauen Gatter 2ten Stocks. Wien, gedruckt bey Johann Joseph Jahn" (SOURCE: "Book auction catalogues from the Brukenthal library 1756-1796" no. 58; in: Brukenthal. Acta Musei, XII. 1, 2017). Note that the sale was likewise held in the Hoher Markt no. 504. Jahn's involvement in the Viennese antiquarian book trade has not been adequately described by bibliographers. We know, however, that in the 1770s-1780s there was a Viennese bookseller named Johann Friedrich Jahn; presumably they were related. One wonders how the Viennese print trade could have absorbed an auction of over 2,000 prints at one time. The prints in our catalogue were divided into 157 lots (some of which contain more than 300 prints), featuring such artists and engravers as Rembrandt, Durer, Vischer, van Velde, Goltzius, Carracci, Sadeler, Boucher, Poussin, Wierix, and many others. The books were modest, but represent a surprisingly wide variety of books of theology, law, history, voyages and travels, Judaica, mathematics, medicine, physics, natural history, numismatics, politics, art, architecture, etc. The earliest imprint seems to have been a copy of Aldobrandini's "Institutiones juris civilis" of 1546 (lot 423 8vo), followed by a 1575 Viennese Missale Romanum (lot 39 folio) of which no edition is recorded in KVK.
![[BINDING - ALBANY 1835]. The Works of Robert Burns; containing his Life](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
Burns, Robert
Large 8vo. [2], xv, [1], clxvi, [1], [4], 425, [1], 12 pp. With the frontispiece. Text foxed (pastedowns and endpapers particularly) as commonly. Affixed to second blank leaf is a contemporary magazine clipping of "Gems of Scottish Poetry." Contemporary Albany binding of smooth "Spanish marbled" calf; smooth spine divided into five compartments, black lettering piece in the second, the others with large gilt ornament, covers framed by a single gilt fillet. Minor wear to binding extremities. A lovely provincial American binding, suitable for exhibition. A RARE ALBANY BINDING BY D.L. VANANTWERP, SIGNED WITH HIS TICKET. THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF AMERICAN "SPANISH MARBLING" NOT OFTEN SEEN ON PROVINCIAL AMERICAN EXAMPLES OF THIS ERA. Daniel Lewis Vanantwerp (a.k.a. Van Antwerp) was born in 1826 and learned binding from A.L. Harrison of Albany (est. 1843), whom he succeeded in 1852. His first premises (where our binding was made) was No. 3 Broadway. From 1855 to 1869 he was installed at No. 72 State Street, and then at No. 16 James Street. His was one of the best equipped bookbinding and blank book manufacturing establishments in the city, and he enjoyed a prosperous career. He died in Loudenville (Albany), NY in 1910. Our ticket, with the address of No. 3 Broadway, is recorded by Spawn and Kinsella, American Signed Bindings (Bryn Mawr), no. 135, an unremarkable binding of half-morocco over cloth boards. Another unremarkable binding by Van Antwerp (with the address of No. 72 State Street) is in the Craig Collection at AAS. Papantonio did not have a single binding by Vanantwerp. Provenance: Early ownership inscription in pencil on first blank: W. Mooney, presumably a relation to Mary Helen Mooney, whose name appears in an acrostic in a loosely inserted poem, written in a juvenile hand and replete with misspellings. The same hand has written on another scrap of paper, likewise loosely inserted: "Our home, Dansville, Kingston County, N.Y." Then, as now, Dansville was but a small village located in the middle of the woods; that the present volume of Burns' Works ended up there at such an early date is surprising, given that Dansville is more than 260 miles away from Albany. In any event, such a fine binding as this one would have been greatly prized then, as now.
Young, Edward
8vo. 234 pp. With 7 full-page plates by Richard Westall (1765-1836) engraved by Oliver Pelton (1798-1882). Contemporary polished calf, outer frame rolls in blind and gilt, in central panel a large rectangle, diamond, and "X" composed with black lines, at each conjunction a small or large gilt flower; four raised bands on spine profusely gilt, central compartment lettered direct; marbled pastedowns and endpapers, marbled edges. Text and plates foxed; minor wear to binding extremities, front blank leaf loosening. An attractive and unusual binding, suitable for exhibition. AN EARLY 19TH CENTURY AMERICAN BINDING OF A RARE TYPE, LIKELY BOUND IN NEW YORK CITY. The only other example known to us was published in Papantonio's Early American Bookbindings, no. 49 (unidentified binder, but localized to "New York"). The two bindings share very similar designs and techniques: in central panels the black lines bisect to form a diamond and rectangles, at their conjunctions a small gilt dot or flower, the entire motif framed by gilt and blind rolls. Papantonio's binding formed part of a set of four books by Samuel Judah (New York, 1827), and he found two more in the Barrett collection at UVa. They all belonged to an early resident of New York City and Westport, NY. Our binding features the letterpress bookplate of Oliver V. (Valentine) Amerman (a.k.a. Ammerman). Rev. Amerman was born in Brooklyn in 1804, and was orphoned by the age of sixteen. Rev. Averman became an itinerant Methodist Episcopal minister throughout the Northeast. In 1824 he began his career as an itinerant preacher in the Queens and Suffolk County (NY) circuits. "He afterwards labored at Suffolk and Sag Harbor, Stamford, Redding, Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton, Stamford, Fairhaven, Salisbury, Hillsdale, New Haven, Woodbury, Sangerties, Salisbury, Red Hook, Bedford Street (NYC) and Duane Street (NYC), Goshen, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Sheffield, Shrub Oaks, Dobb's Ferry, Kensico and Northcastle, Hillsdale, and Fishkill Landing, thus closing forty-two years of effective service. The remainder of his life was spent as a superannuate" (SOURCE: McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia). Amerman died in Peekshill (Westchester County, NY) in 1879 and was buried in Green-wood Cemetery. His bookplate in our binding is annotated in MS: "No. 124," suggesting that he had at least 123 volumes (or titles?) in his collection. Where are they all now? Interestingly, a small group of Amerman's papers are at UVa.
Goold, Joseph (et al.)
8vo. [8], 215, [5] pp. (including index and Price-list). COMPLETE with all 28 plates and requisite 27 printed tissue sheets (there are 2 tissue guards for plate V). Original publisher's green ribbed cloth, spine gold-stamped, patterned-paper pastedowns and endpapers. Some foxing here and there; slight shelf lean; faint traces of damp. The cloth is bright and the hinges are perfect, and there are no objectionable stamps or markings anywhere. NOT ex-library! HARMONOGRAPHIC PERFECTION, ANTICIPATING MATHEMATICAL ART OF EARLY COMPUTER GRAPHICS. The harmonograph is a mechanical apparatus that uses pendulums to draw a geometric image, the result being delicately rendered "analog" line drawings executed in real-time. The present volume introduces newly developed or perfected harmonographs, based on Lissajous curves; these are Tisley's compound pendulum (fully illustrated), and the twin elliptic pendulum of Goold, published here for the FIRST TIME. The significance of Goold's harmonograph is that it has a pendulum (free to swing in all directions) connected to a pen, and second pendulum (likewise free to swing in all directions) which actually moves the paper. Harmonograph drawings can be quite beautiful, as we see herein. Although now almost completely forgotten, the harmonograph became a popular parlor instrument in the late-19th and early 20th centuries, the participants unknowingly engaging in the pure mathematics, and the physics of phase relationships, frequency, chords, the vibration of sound, potential energy, and frequency ratios. Ugly reprints and garbage digital surrogates of "Harmonic Vibrations and Vibration Figures" fail to reproduce the incredibly fine vortex-line illustrations herein, which MUST BEE SEEN TO BE FULLY APPRECIATED. This first edition is scarce on the market: ours is the only copy we have located in private ownership; furthermore, it is preserved in unsophisticated museum quality condition. The book was published by Newton and Co., a small shop which sold scientific instruments; the manuscript had been rejected by "two of the most famous scientific publishing firms in London." The present volume was produced as a promotional manual for Newton's twin-elliptic harmonograph and other models produced by the company. At the end of the volume is a catalogue of Newton's harmonographs, with a price list. There are chapters by J. Goold, C. E. Benham, R. Kerr, and L. R. Wilberforce; the work was edited by H. C. Newton [proprietor of Newton and Co.] who also wrote the extraordinary Preface. From a contemporary review in Nature: "The four authors of this book have each contributed an account of the construction and use of apparatus which they have invented or brought to perfection, the several parts of the book being independent of one another, but related by the similarity of the subject-matter. Lissajous's figures were originally introduced as a convenient method of illustrating optically or mechanically acoustic phenomena, but the beauty and perfection of the results obtained by the compound pendulum of Tisley, and later by the twin elliptic pendulum of Goold, have made the subject sufficiently attractive to be pursued for its own sake. As two leading scientific publishers declined to take the book on the ground that it could not pay, we are indebted to Messrs. Newton and Co. for rescuing and producing a book which will be valued in many quarters." (Nature 82, p. 96, 1909).
[France, Provence. Law. 1539]
Small 4to. Collation: A-T6 (lacking two leaves at end, including colophon on T6v). Foliation: cv, [7] (of 9) ff. Woodcut title-border and initials throughout (see below). Bound in modern (Italian?) full vellum, title in calligraphic manuscript on spine in red and black, marbled endpapers, edges (at one time) stained red. Title-page with two small worm tracks in lower blank margin, diminishing through first two gatherings; verso of title with contemporary MS title and early ownership inscription (abrasions suggest the removal of something that had been pasted down at one time); upper and outer margins closely cropped, with frequent loss of headlines and shoulder notes; foxing and blemishes throughout; fol. K6 with large tear. A washed copy, and strongly (and inexplicably) pungent. Preserved in a marbled slipcase tipped with citron morocco. With stated faults, and priced accordingly. VERY EARLY FRENCH PROVENCAL LAWS AND STATUTES, A RARE AND IMPORTANT EDITION, BEAUTIFULLY PRINTED IN AN ELEGANT BATARDE TYPE, WITH THE TEXT IN HIGH RENAISSANCE FRENCH AND A WOODCUT TITLE BORDER ATTRIBUTED TO GUILLAUME LEROY. This is a significant collection of royal ordinances and edicts promulgated by Francois I for Provence, more specifically for the town of Forcalquier and adjacent lands. The original sheets were printed in 1536 in the Papal city of Avignon by Jehan de Channey with a privilege; the work was then reissued with a new title-page in 1540, either in Lyon by Thibaud Payen (ut Bechtel) or by Channey's son Bernard (ut Betz). "Perhaps the priviledge might have been usurped or contested, because the true first edition of the Ordonnances was printed in Lyon by Denys de Harsy in 1536, with a privilege of three years [.] Thus the edition of Channey could well be only a counterfeit favored by the political position of Avignon, a dependence of the Papal States" (M. Rouard in the 1860 Bulletin du bibliophile, p. 1404, "Note sur les editions de la 'Meygra Entrepriza' d'Antoine Arena"). Francois I ordered to be printed this collection of Provencal laws which sought to consolidate his authority as king of Provence (which was subject to the incursions of Emperor Charles V), and to bring regional justice closer to "common" (i.e. Parisian) forms. The collection shows that the king wished to appease Provencal legal custom by not modifying the existing Privileges or administrative frameworks; nonetheless, the entire Provencal legal system was effectively brought under his control. Every aspect of the Provence law is addressed; of particular interest: -- The ordinance of Is-sur-Tille, an edict intended to curb the abuses of Provencal magistrates by forbidding them, among other things, to use Latin during trials (i.e. Villers-Cotterets ordinance). -- The edict of Joinville - 5 September 1535 which carries out a reform of justice and administration by strengthening the powers of parliament. -- Ordinance on the of the Navy -- January 17, 1517 -- one of the first of its kind. -- Ordinance of Dijon 23 November 1535. -- Ordinance on wheat - -- Ordinance of King Rene of September 4, 1438 against imperial and apostolic notaries -- Ordinance of King Rene, prohibiting imperial and apostolic notaries if they were not invested with the royal investiture. -- Ordinances of Louis XII (1501 and 1502), an edict establishing the Parliament of Aix. -- Ordinance on the Gendarmerie - Bordeaux, July 15, 1530. -- Ordinance of Saint Germain -- July 24, 1534. -- Edict establishing the 7 legions of "Gendarmerie" (or footsoldiers), an ordinance on tolls and repair of highways - Fontaine, September 1535. -- Edict on "reforming the justice [system]" of Marsailles (dated in manuscript "1535"). -- Table of Ordonnances of Provence (our copy lacks the final two leaves of the Table). Provence was not annexed to France until 1486, but even then was preserved as a separate administrated organization. Francois I strengthened royal authority through a series of reforms to control and optimize the management of the state and its territory. It was for these purposes that he had the Villers-Cotterets ordinance drawn up in 1539, certainly the best known and most enduring of his reign. He instituted French as the exclusive official language of the administration, and initiated its civil status. The Montpellier Ordinance issued in 1537 gave rise to the legal deposit of printed publications from the Kingdom. The colophon on T6v, which is not present in our copy, reads: "Ces presentes ordonnances ont este imprimees en Avignon par Jehan de Channey, l'an de grace 1536, au moys Daoust." Other copies of the 1540 reissue have additional works bound with it, e.g. the Berkeley Law Library copy which collates A-T6, V4 + 2A-D4 E2. These added works are considered discrete bibliographical units. BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTES: Judging from the title-page transcription in HOLLIS, our Jehan de Channey edition must have a different title-page than that of Harvard Law Library; their transcription begins: "Ordonnances du tresch[r]estien roy de frãce Francoys p[r]emier" [etc.]. The cataloguer informs us that the 1540 edition is "the same as the 1536 Avignon edition except for a new t.p. and leaves 6,9,14,27,50. The son of the original printer reissued this; cf. Panzier." Whereas our copy lacks two leaves and has faults as stated, we note with interest that the Friedlaender copy of the Denis de Harsy 1536 edition, bound with two other works, sold in 2001 at Christie's for $11,162; a similar Sammelband was offered (and sold) by Messrs Sokol for EUR 11,315. Baudrier vol. IX, p. 303. Bechtel O-220. Collection des ordonnances des rois de France: Catalogue des Actes de Francois Ier" Vol. 9, p. 374. Repertoire bibliographique des livres imprimes en France au seizieme siecle, I, Avignon, pp. 244-246, no. 50. Fairfax Murray / Davies, French 411. USTC 22905. CENSUS: Bibl. Mejanes, Aix-en-Provence; Bibl. municipale Livree Ceccano, Avignon; Bibl. municipales Grenoble; Bibl. municipale Lyon; Univ. de
Weeks, William Raymond (collector). Henkels, Stanislaus Vincent (auctioneer). Davis & Harvey (auctioneers)
Small folio. [2], 140 pp., 997 lots, neatly PRICED throughout. Original printed wrappers (toned; chipped where extending over the fore-edges and bottom edges). Written on front cover: "Priced Catalogue / Priced by lot" and in another hand an early census of copies. ADDED: Contemporary NY Times clipping (browned) concerning the results of the sale (dated March 15, 1902). The Library of WILLIAM R. WEEKS, Esq. comprised much rare and valuable Americana, in particular relating to New Jersey and New York, and many record prices were realized according to a review of the sale by the NY Times (of which a copy is loosely inserted). The most important book in the sale was a superlatively rare Indian item (and one of the earliest books printed about New Jersey), namely "A True Account of the Dying Words of Ockanickon, an Indian King" (London, 1682) which realized $1,450. Weeks owned an excellent copy of Horsemanden's History of the Negro Plot (lot 56: $200); numerous editions of Irving's History of New York by Diedrich Knickerbocker, including a copy of the First Edition (lot 60: $122), and the beautiful one issued by the Grolier Club (lot 77: $132); as well as significant works of Biography, Bibliography, Genealogy, the American Revolution, the formation of the Constitution, etc. Lot 30 was a second edition of Vander Douck's "Nieuw-Nederlant" (Amsterdam, 1656) with the map which is not present in the first edition ($305). Lot 435 was Weeks's thick-paper copy of the Federalist (1788) bound in the Franklin's Head shop in NYC (ascribed to J. and A. M'Lean) which was subsequently in the Papantonio Collection (his Catalogue no. 16, failing to note that Winthorp was the buyer) and is now in AAS ($100). Lot 446 was Weeks's uncut copy in original boards of the same work, same edition ($110). Lot 632 was Washington's original military order book (87-pages) from June 22 to Aug. 8, 1779 written out by a member of the family ($210), which was actually LESS than a copy of Sabin's still-incomplete "Dictionary" (1868-1892, 20 vols. only) which realized $230 (lot 960, to E.M. Crane). The full title of the catalogue is instructive, as we learn that Weeks also owned a copy of the Grolier Club's Bradford Laws of New York; Acrelius' New Netherlands; Washington's Copy of White's Military System for New Jersey cavalry, fine specimens of Zenger, Franklin, Armbruster, and other early printers, pamplets and tracts relating to the boundry line of New Jersey, Weems' Life of Washington, eulogies on Washington, a beautiful collection of early American chap-books, and much more. Weeks (1848-1919), a lawyer by profession, was also a serious numismatist. It would appear that in order to pay for his many purchases of books, coins, and medals, he became involved in certain illegal activities, namely extortion and grand larceny. In 1901 he was arrested and imprisoned for plundering two important estates (to the tune of $37K). In order to raise money (while still imprisoned), he sold his autograph and historical papers at Davis & Harvey on Feb. 20-21, 1902 (likewise catalogued by Henckels) and the present library on March 5-6, 1902. None of this information was revealed in the catalogue or in the NY Times article (although the latter mentions that "a few of Mr. Weeks's best books were missing [.] and apparently had been disposed of at private sale"). Of the present catalogue we have located copies at NYPL, Cornell, UMich (Clements), LC, Duke, and Princeton (unpriced, but nonetheless digitized by Google Books).
[Bible, New Testament. Persian, 1895]. Bruce, Robert (translator)
8vo. 421 pp. Original green cloth embossed in black and blind, gilt lettering in Persian on front cover (some foxing and age toning, minor water-staining on the edges and endpapers, endpapers with old annotations in Ottoman inside front cover, bookseller's stamp on rear endleaf, lower hinge cracked; binding stained, worn and shaken). A rough-looking but complete copy, priced accordingly. Preserved in a fitted cloth protective case. FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT FROM THE GREEK INTO MODERN PERSIAN: THE ROBERT BRUCE TRANSLATION, "THE VERSION BY WHICH ALL LATER RENDITIONS ARE JUDGED." Published by the British and Foreign Bible Society, the text builds upon the 1845/6 translation of the New Testament by Mirza Sayyed Ali Khan / Henry Martyn, which was published with the Old Testament in a single volume (likewise by the British and Foreign Bible Society). This was the first complete Christian Bible to be published in Persian. However: "After some years it was recognized that changes in the Persian language required a revision of the 1845 Bible. With the help of others, Robert Bruce, a missionary and representative of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Iran, spent 20 years on this project. The revised New Testament was published in 1882, and further revisions of the whole Bible was published by the British and Foreign Bible Society in Leipzig in 1895. The so-called 'Bruce translation' is still the standard Bible translation in Persian, and it is the version by which all later renditions are judged." (Encyclopedia Iranica, Persian Translations of the Bible, online). As stated, Bruce's translation of the New Testament first appeared in 1882, but it was deemed necessary to revise it further. Portions of Bruce's translation into modern Persian appeared in 1893 (Pentateuch) and 1894 (Joshua to II Chronicles). Finally, in 1895, Bruce's further revised translation of the New Testament (the present edition) was issued, appearing independently from a one-volume edition of the complete Bible. Darlow and Moule (7358) state: "The Old Testament practically represents a new translation and the New Testament is a fresh revision." Robert Bruce (1833-1915) was an Irish born CMS Missionary, active in Persia from 1869-1893. He was aLecturer in Persian at University College London (1895-6), vicar at Durham (1896) and Rector of Little Dean Gloucester (1903). His Bible translation work was carried out with assistance of others including, for example, Karapet Ohaness from Julfa (Persia).
SOR JUANA Ines de la Cruz
Together 3 vols., small 4to (208 x 146 mm). A few small closed repairs, even toning throughout, in some instances foxed or quite browned as is true in all copies of this edition on account of the paper stock, but the paper is strong; erased inscriptions on the title-pages of each volume; blank margin of top right corner of vol. 1 almost invisibly extended. Bound in 18th-century Spanish mottled calf, refurbished with new lettering piece on vol. 1, and gilt diamond-and-frame rolls added to covers, red edges, marbled pastedowns and endpapers (a few pin-sized wormholes spine and joints, not extending to the text). A very attractive copy in uniform Spanish bindings, suitable for exhibition. EARLY AND COMPLETE SET OF THE WORKS OF THE "TENTH MUSE" OF MEXICO, A FINELY BOUND COPY (RARE THUS). INCLUDES HER "CARTA ATENAGORICA" AND THE POSTHUMOUSLY PUBLISHED "RESPUESTA A SOR FILOTEA," BOTH OF WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE FIRST STATEMENTS IN THIS HEMISPHERE TO ARGUE A WOMEN'S RIGHT TO STUDY AND TEACH AND LEARN. There is no doubt that Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651-1695) remains one of the greatest Mexican authors. Although she never received a formal education, she became a leading literary and intellectual figure in Latin America and Spain. She has been described by modern scholar Arturo Torres-Ríoseco as "the last great lyric poet of Spain and the first great poet of America." More recently she has been described as "America's first feminist" (Julie Greer Johnson). Between 1669 and 1690 Sor Juana built one of the largest libraries in the New World, an immense collection which consisted of approximately 4,000 volumes. Here in her "Collected Writings" we find autobiographical sonnets, reverential religious poetry, secular love poems (which have continue to inspire readers all over the world for more than three centuries), playful verses, and lyrical tributes to New World culture that are among the earliest writings celebrating the people and the customs of this hemisphere. Of particular interest is Sor Juana's "La Carta Atenagórica" (1690) which appears in vol. 2 (pp. 1-34). This Athenagoric Letter (or "Letter Worthy of Athena") is one of her most ardently feminist declarations, and it caused serious problems for her with the Inquisition. This letter written by Sor Juana criticizing a well-known Jesuit sermon was published without her permission. This elicited a pseudonomynous response from "Sor Filotea" (actually the Bishop of Puebla, Manuel Fernandez de Santa Cruz) criticizing Juana for her comments, and for the lack of serious religious content in her poems. But there was nothing "sisterly" about the Bishop's message, which urged Sor Juana to give up writing and devote herself entirely to religion (see vol. 3, pp. 107-113). Sor Juana replied with the incomparable, autobiographical "Respuesta a Sor Filotea," the celebrated defense of women's right to intellectual freedom and learning (vol. 3, pp. 114-166). The "Respuesta" is a truly remarkable work; in it she gave a complete resumé of her life, character, and literary pursuits; more importantly, she clarified her statements in favor of "the culture of Mexican women" and "the right to dissent." Suffice it to say that Sor Juana displayed an independence of spirit that was completely unprecedented for a woman (to say nothing of a Nun) living in male-dominated 17th century Mexico. As we can expect, Sor Juana's fervent response was the subject of even more criticism, and the Bishop and others demanded that she give up any non-religious books or studies. In vol. 2 (pp. 171-200) is perhaps Sor Juana's poetic masterpiece, the epistemological poem "Primero Sueno" (First Dream), which explores the limits of self-knowledge, of nature, and of God. In the same volume two important plays appear. The first is her "Amor es más Labyrinto" (1689) reflects on the nature of tyranny and the complications of love, both timeless themes that are particularly timely for today's audiences, and especially for those eager to celebrate the contributions of women writers throughout history (see pp. 313-373). The second play is "Las Empeños de una Casa," often considered the pinnacle of Sor Juana's theatrical work, and one of the truly great plays written in colonial Latin America. One of its most peculiar characteristics is that the woman is the driving force of the story: she is a strong and determined character who expresses her often frustrated desires. While the play could be classified as a "swashbuckling comedy," Sor Juana explores the complexities of love, specifically: what is the greatest sorrow, and the greatest joy, of a lover? Finally, in the soirée that closes the "Los empeños de una casa," Sor Juana depicts Spaniards, Indians, and blacks all singing together, a veiled criticism of the caste order in New Spain (see pp. 385-449). Sor Juana was born in the State of Nepantla; as her parents were not married, she was placed in the custody of his maternal grandfather. In 1667 she joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites in Mexico City, where she was free to immerse herself in her intellectual and literary interests; she became a great scholar of literature, philosophy, theology, astronomy, music and painting. She wrote plays, essays and Christmas carols, but is best known for her lyric poetry, ALL OF WHICH ARE INCLUDED HEREIN. Having fallen upon the disapproval of her superiors in both Mexico and Spain, by 1694 she was forced to sell her library, abandon scholarship, and focus on exclusively on charity, which she did. Sor Juana died of typhoid in Mexico City while nursing other nuns who fell victim to the 1695 epidemic. The high esteem in which Sor Juana was held is reflected in the eighty (!) pages of "Panegíricos" dedicated to her by poets from Spain and the New World (see vol. 3), with sonnets and acrostics written in praise of Sor Juana, various "Decimas" and other poetic compositions contributed by 42 different poets and other luminaries. These tributes were col
Mehmed Nuri
Small 8vo. 4 pp., [4 pp.], 137 pp., [2] pp. of lithographed text (some foxing or staining). Contemporary Turkish brown goatskin richly gilt (slight wear to binding extremities), original yellow endpapers with relief floral pattern (missing front endpaper). Occasional old annotations on the first pages. A FINE OTTOMAN BINDING ON AN UNLIKELY SUBJECT: POISONS. This scarce Ottoman book on poisons in animals, plants and minerals was published by the Imperial Medical School in Istanbul. The author, Mehmed Nuri (ca. 1844-1883), received a doctoral degree in 1858, and was a teacher of medicine, and later of civil medicine at the Ottoman Military Medical School. He authored several important medical books and articles and also translated foreign scientific literature. Mehmed Nuri was also one of the founders of Ottoman Society of Medicine. We could trace two institutional examples of this work in Worldcat: Orient-Institut in Istanbul and University of California, Los Angeles.
Contemporary mottled calf; spine tooled in gold; red edges; marbled endpapers. The first Grenoble imprint lacking the first leaf (half-title?); both Grenoble imprints cropped close, just shaving some text; occasional light foxing. Text block splitting from the bottom between two of the pamphlets, roughly two-thirds into the volume. Modern armorial bookplate on the front paste-down. Later, perhaps early 20th-century, handwritten table of contents tipped in at front. An attractive Sammelband, suitable for exhibition and study. SAMMELBAND OF 30 ANTI-JESUIT TRACTS, ATTESTING TO THE "INTRACTABLE" RELATIONS BETWEEN THE FRENCH STATE AND THE JESUITS, DOCUMENTING THE OFFICIAL SUPRESSION PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE PARTICIPATION OF A LITTLE-KNOWN JEWISH PRINTER IN METZ. The earliest documents, beginning in 1761 and running into 1762, demonstrate the French government's early steps toward suppression. Many of these edicts demand copies of the order's Constitutions for inspection. Of course it's clear the authorities had already made up their minds, evidenced, too, by their numerous judgments against Jesuit books (which appear to have provided abundant bonfire fuel in palace courtyards across the country). We find plenty of references to the Jesuits being kicked out of their homes, the confiscation of their property, and much on the closure of their schools and plans for their continued operation under state-sponsored control. The penultimate document in our volume is the French king's final blow to the Jesuit order, followed by a final edict outlining conditions of Jesuit resettlement in France. If you're expecting sanitized administrative legalese from these documents, the amount of invective, animosity, and hatred may surprise you. Endless referrals to the "so-called Jesuits" underscore a perception that the order must hardly be aligned with the teachings of Jesus. Grievance-laden dressing-downs are ubiquitous. The devastation to Jesuit lives seen here was enormous. Our brief commentaries below merely scratch the surface of what these contain. Our Sammelband contains a very rare tract printed by "Joseph Collignon" in Metz. This individual wasin fact MOYSE MAY, considered to be the FIRST JEWISH PRINTER IN FRANCE, and who published numerous Anti-Jesuit writings pseudonymously, not only as Joseph Collignon but "Joseph Antoine." This fact that seems to have been unknown to several scholars of the suppression of the Jesuits in Metz and elsewhere in France, including L. Viansson-Ponté, who lists more than a dozen tracts printed by "J. Collignon" and "J. Antoine" in his Jésuites à Metz: Collège Saint-Louis, 1622-1762 (Strasbourg, 1897), without recognizing Moyse May's participation. The suppression of the Jesuits was a global phenomenon that began with their expulsion from Portuguese territories in 1759. From there, it spread not simply through the European continent, but through its countries' vast overseas empires. The final blow landed with a papal decree of 21 July 1773, though the Jesuits found some sympathetic European pockets where they managed to continue their mission. The order's official restoration was enabled by a papal decree in 1814, from which the Jesuits eventually regained their European footing. The depths of blame for Jesuit suppression has been endlessly plumbed by scholars. The Enlightenment is an oft cited factor, as was fear of outsize political influence from Rome, and royal desires to seize control of Jesuit revenue sources. "Whichever way one analyses the surviving evidence, any attempt to provide a single, all-embracing explanation of the destruction and ultimate suppression of the Society is fruitless: there was a whole host of reasons, which curiously coalesced into a wider international phenomenon" (Whitehead). In France, groundwork for Jesuit antipathy had been laid by a deep, long-standing theological tension between them and the Jansenists. But everything came to a head with the well intentioned but ill advised trade dealings of one Father Lavalette in Martinique. In trying to improve the condition of his overseas community, he found himself hopelessly indebted to French creditors. The Jesuits tried to cover the debts themselves, but eventually found themselves in French courts. A Jesuit appeal to the French parlement, stacked with individuals not favorably disposed to them, was a fatal mistake. "The protracted court proceedings lasted from April to August 1761 and were to prove immensely damaging for the Jesuits, as the Society's Institute was examined and ultimately denounced. During the winter of 1761 and the spring of 1762, the parlement of Paris and the fifteen provincial parlements of France deliberated independently on how to deal with the future of the Jesuits within their respective jurisdictions." (This decentralized approach to their suppression is vital context for the broad geographic coverage of the volume here.) "Enormous power struggles took place in various parlements, but the detailed debates of their members were rendered largely irrelevant when, on 1 April 1762, the parlement of Paris, having found against the Society of Jesus, forced the Jesuits to leave the thirty-eight colleges within its jurisdiction" (Whitehead). Some provincial parlements continued to shelter the Jesuits-Artois, for example, from which we have a 1762 decree here-but Louis XV's edict of November 1764 ordered the Society's complete dissolution. The unusually broad geographic coverage of the volume is impressive. While eleven tracts were printed in Paris, nineteen (!) come from ten different provincial cities, the latter often broadcasting the same language, the same grievances, and the same judgments as those issued from Paris. Even the spine title hints at the variety of origins: Arrets de div[ers] par[ts] Jesuites. The collection is a telling witness to how demotic anger towards the Jesuits developed into an official campaign of suppression in France. CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION: 1.
Manuscript on paper (see below). Folio (364 x 244 mm). 8 pp. Original blue silk stitching at head and tail. Horizontal fold, edges creased and worn but the paper stock is strong and clean. RARE MANUSCRIPT INVOICE OF THE EXTENSIVE WORK OF A WELL-KNOWN PARISIAN GLAZIER, undertaken over a period of five years, in the creation of painted glass in the private residence of a wealthy Parisian aristocrat: Pierre-Paul Bombarde de Beaulieu (1698-1783), Seigneur de Montesquiou, at one time conseiller au Grand Conseil. Pierre-Paul was the son of Geo Paulo de Bombarda (1660-1712), a musician born in Rome who became the immensely rich treasurer to the Elector of Bavaria. The artist, Jean Le Vieil (1711-1796), belonged to a dynasty of Parisian glaziers; at the height of his career he was appointed "Peintre der verre ordinaire du Roy." He contributed to the execution of the stained glass window friezes of the chapel of Versailles, the castle of Crécy (the property of the Marquise de Pompadour), the cathedral of Paris, the Hôtel de Toulouse, the Collége des Bernardins, and several other important buildings. He and his brother Pierre (1708-1772) were considered to be the most important practitioners of painting on glass. Pierre was also a historian of the art, the author of the still valuable "Essai sur la peinture en mosaique" (1768) and "L'art de la peinture sur verre et de la vitrerie" (first published in the "Encyclopedie," and then in book form, in 1774 with several subsequent editions). The invoice describes in exceptional detail the painting on glass on M. Bombarde's "hotel" which began in 1761 (!) as is stated on p. 7; evidently the work continued through 1766 (p. 6). The total amount of the invoice is 469 livres. On the final leaf is a note -- signed by Le Vieil -- indicating that 212 livres had been paid. Beaulieu had a younger brother, an important figure in the cultural world of Paris who has almost completely disappeared from historial memory: Paul César Fabrice Bombarde de Beaumé (1702-1766). It is possible that Le Vieil's reference to Beaulieu's "frere" may be identified with this individual, for which see Rochelle Ziskin, "Private Salons and the Art World of Enlightenment in Paris" pp. 33 et seq.). The present manuscript was written on paper manufactured by Amable Vimal, of the great Vimal dynasty of Riom papermakers, for which see Gauldriault p. 278 and plate 141, illustrating various watermarks, although ours is not among them. See also Anatole Grandes de Surgeres, "Artistes français des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles (1681-1787)."
Manuscript on paper. Folio (310 x 195 mm). Stitched in contemporary marbled stiff wrappers (worn and partially defective, shaken). 63 pp. numbered in MS. TOGETHER WITH: working collapsible brass spyglass (likely contemporary), three draws, lens cap no longer present, clearly damaged but FULLY FUNCTIONAL. Dimensions: 440 mm (open), 190 mm (closed), 46 mm (diameter). FASCINATING MANUSCRIPT SHIP'S LOG, RECORDING THE 60-DAY VOYAGE OF THE BRIG HELEN FROM RIO DE JANEIRO TO THE PORT OF BALTIMORE, CHESAPEAKE BAY. The log records the ship's daily course, wind directions and conditions, longitude, latitude, "Remarks on board," ailments of various crew members, and seafaring sightings. The voyage commenced on Feb. 3rd and ended on April 4, 1849. Named are Maceió (Brazil), Cabo de Santo Agostinho (Brazil), Barbados, Cape Hatteras (Virginia Beach), Cape Henry (Virginia Beach), and Baltimore. The manuscript was compiled by shipmaster Thomas Crosby Perry (1807-1885), lifelong resident of Cape Cod, Mass. (specifically Sandwich / Bourne). Herein Perry records very heavy gales and strong winds on March 10-13, March 21, March 23, March 27-28, and March 30-31, often causing the ship to take on water, and necessitating hauling down sails. On April 2 the Brig made anchor at Cape Henry: "So ends these 36 hours [.] and I am glad." The Brig then went to Sandy Point, VA through the Chesapeake Bay. Upon arriving to Bowley's Wharf (Baltimore Harbor), Perry states: "I had the indescribable joy to hear from my wife, Brother & sisters by letter conveying the pleasing inteligence (sic) that all my family & friends were well." While at port, the sails were sent to the sail loft of B. Buck & Sons for repairs, and the crew discharged (with the exception of two mates). On April 14th "got the [unidentified] cargo all out & put in store at Messrs. T. Whitridge. Perry Gipson was our stevedore." Of particular interest are the events on April 16, at which time the brig was transported by rail to Messrs. Flannigan & Kimbul "and concluded to copper her anew & put on a shoe on her keel [.] the whole weight of the new put on not including the nails was 537 sheets, 3795 lbs (!) and the weight of the old was 2007 lbs including the old nails & the weight of the new nails used was 430 lbs. The brig was painted and the deck and cabin varnished. Perry notes that already by April 14, he made ready to undertake a voyage to Demarara (now Guyana). "Since I have been in Baltimore have written regularly twice a week & got 2 letters a week from home and have had the pleasure of seeing 3 of my near neighbors, but all that is not like going home." On p. 13 the compiler states that the average number of miles traveled per day is "61." Also, he notes "The rule for working longitude by the sun's setting taken with a spyglass [i.e. THIS spyglass?]: Note the time of her setting by cronometer (sic), in getting the lower limb subtract 21 minutes from the sun and add 21 minutes to the half sun for the remainder; for the upper limb subtract 53 minutes from the sun and add 53 to the half sun. See p. 42 for example." It is possible that the Brig Helen described herein is the same as that which transported Alfred Russell Wallace from Belem, Brazil, to London, in 1852 (Wallace was one of the greatest field biologists of all time, and had just spent four years in the Amazon collecting specimens). The penultimate leaf records Perry's abstract of a voyage by the brig Wm. Crawford from Boston to Cardenas Cuba, Jan. 8 - Feb. 1, 1854 ("a very long passage"); on the final leaf is an abstract of the same brig, likewise to Cardenas, but the port of call is Savannah (March 15-26, 1853). Perry's manuscript log book of a three-month trading journey from Charleston to Bordeaux on the brig Abby & Elizabeth (New Bedford, Mass.) is now at the University of South Carolina (see Caroliniana Society Annual Gifts Report April 2010). The date of the log is Nov. 1856 - Feb. 1857. THE SPYGLASS: The spyglass is engraved by the maker: "Steel & Co Cornhill London Improv'd Pilot Telescope." We have been unable to locate any information about this firm.
Small square 8vo (140 x 105 mm). 320 pp. Text evenly browned, paper stock weak, front endpaper torn along inside margin, front hinge starting. Original publisher's red cloth, covered with brocade fabric, board edges framed with ribbon woven with gold thread, central panel composed of large ornamental semi-circle with art-nouveau vines and three-leaf clovers, smooth spine with velvet overlay. A REMARKABLE PRODUCTION, BEING AN ORDINARY 1905 PUBLISHER'S CLOTH CASE BINDING HERE LUXURIOUSLY COVERED IN GOLD BROCADE AND VELVET FABRIC, EDGED WITH GOLD THREAD RIBBON. THIS MAY BE A PREVIOUSLY UNRECOGNIZED "DELUXE ISSUE" PUBLISHER'S BINDING BY THE AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY. A very similar binding on a copy of the American Book Company's equally cheap "Webster's New Handy Dictionary" (c. 1927) was formerly with Messrs. George Bayntun. It was created in the same manner -- no doubt in the same bindery -- utiziling the same gilt brocade ribbon: the front cover had an embroidered floral panel, a dark patterned velvet overlay on the spine, and a panel of purple textile on the back. These were no amateur productions; instead, we are inclined to think that they may have been part of a conscious publishing effort by the American Book Company itself, now forgotten.
2 vols., 4to. Elegant contemporary French blue morocco, smooth spines gilt (faded to chestnut brown), vol. 1 with special label at the foot of the spine gilt with the author's name, place of imprint, and date, inner dentelles gilt, marbled pastedowns and endpapers, all edges gilt. In beautiful unsophisticated state, the paper stock virtually without blemish save for browning to endleaves and on final leaf of vol. 2. One of the few English titles from the absolutely epic library of Chretien-Francois de Lamoignon copy. The present volumes were bound in the workshop of Pierre & Etienne Enguerrand (a.k.a. Anguerrand). Pierre Enguerrand was royal binder to Louis XV from 1759 to 1766; he was succeeded by his son Etienne in 1767, who served as royal binder to Louis XVI until 1783. The shop accepted commissions from the foremost collectors of the age, such as the Abbe Rothelin, the Comte d'Argenson, the Marquis de Paulmy (son of Comte d'Argenson and founder of the Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal), and Lamoignon, for which see Sabrina Le Bris, "La communaute des relieurs et doreurs parisiens a la fin de l'Ancien Regime (1776-1795)" (Thesis: Ecole nationale des Chartes, 1995). See also Thoinon, "Notes historiques sur les relieurs des rois de France" in: Le Moniteur du bibliophile, Vol. 1 (1878) p. 363. Lamoignon (1735-1789), magistrate and statesman, was one of the wealthiest men in France, and one of the first to anticipate the momentous bloodbath now known as the French Revolution. Initially on the side of Parlement, and later on that of the king (who named him Garde des Sceaux in 1787), Lamoignon was one of the assistants of Lomenie de Brienne, whose unpopularity -- and fall -- he was to share (Lamoignon died in his Baville castle on 15 May 1789, presumably by suicide). He left behind a magnificent collection of books, most of which he had had elegantly bound by Enguerrand in the highest quality goatskin (as here). Lamoignon was one of the earliest collectors to deman that the date of publication appear at the foot of the spine, usually on the first volume only (as here). PROVENANCE: "Bibliotheca Lamoniana" label inside both volumes (printed letter "R" below which are written shelf marks 76 and 77), his crowned "L" ink stamp on fol. B2 in both volumes. -- The Lamoignon library was purchased en bloc by Thomas Payne and sold at auction in Paris in 1791 and 1792 ("Catalogue des Livres de la Bibliotheque de feu M. de Lamoignon, Garde de Sceaux de France"); the present volumes comprised lot 5366. -- From the notable collection of Dr. Gordon W. Jones of Falmouth, Virginia, with his bookplate. ESTC T144344.
Small 8vo (19 cm). 52 pp. Original illustrated wrappers (stained and worn), stapled as issued. Text toned but clean and unmarked. Written in Ukrainain, but printed in Winnipeg, Canada, this rare pamphlet is illustrated throughout with diabolical caricatures of Hitler and other Nazis, reproductions of striking photographs, and two maps. Despite extensive searching, we have located just three copies of this work worldwide: Univ. Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Thomas J. Fisher Library, and Univ. Alberta. A Romanized transcription of the title-page and imprint follows: Hitler, holovnyÄ voroh ukraïnsÊ koho narodu / P. LysetÍ¡sÊ . LysetsÊ , Pylyp.; Tovarystvo dopomohy vyzvol'nomu rukhovi na ZakhidniÄ UkraiÄni. Vinnipeg : Nakladom Tovarytsva Dopomohy VyzvolÊ nomu Rukhovi na ZakhidniÄ Ukraïni, 1939.
Single sheet typescript on onion-skin paper (327 x 200 mm), two brad holes at top (staining along left edge), folded four times. PRECIOUS WWII RELIC FROM WAR-TORN OKINAWA, BEING A TYPEWRITTEN ANNOUNCEMENT OF GERMANY'S SURRENDER, THE NEWS OF WHICH HAD BEEN RECEIVED VIA SHORTWAVE RADIO AND DISSEMINATED BY A SEABEE SOLDIER. The text of the announcement itself does not appear to conform with any official communiqué and may be unique, possibly written by the radio operator himself, one W.W. Lewis, a soldier in the 79th USNCB (Special Naval Construction Battalion, or "Seabees"). It has not escaped our notice that the Battle of Okinawa had been raging since April 1st, 1945 and would continue until June 22nd. Thus the present typewritten announcement -- dated May 8th -- would have seemed bittersweet to surviving members of the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army then under constant fire: it has been estimated that approximately 50,000 Allied soldiers died there in those three months, an extraordinary loss considering that the US Army had ca. 103,000 soldiers in Okinawa (of these, 38,000+ were non-divisional artillery, combat support and HQ troops, with another 9,000 service troops), and ca. 88,000 Marines and 18,000 Navy personnel (mostly Seabees and medical personnel). The text of the present announcement reads: "German Foreign Minister announced German's (sic) unconditional surrender to Western Allies and Soviet Russia today in a broadcast to his country-men. Broadcasting on the radio Germany's Foreign Minister said that the High Command of the Armed Forces today asked Admiral Doenitz declare unconditional surrender of all fighting German troops. Two hours earlier radio had broadcast the order of the day from Admiral Doenitz notifying all German submarines to cease activities. The German general, Commanders-in-Chief broadcasted an order of the day over Radio commanding his troops lay down their arms. "Surrender of German Armed Forces to Allies and Soviet Russia has not yet been officially confirmed by Supreme Headquarters or any other Allied forces. However, British MinIster of Information announced that May 8th will be treated as V-E day in Europe and that both Tuesday and Wednesday will be public holidays. Prime Minister Churchill will broadcast an official announcement at three in the afternoon, nine o'clock Tuesday morning, Eastern War Time. "In Washington, White House announced that on the basis of reports now received, the President will make an announcement to the nation by radio at nine o'clock Eastern War Time, Tuesday. "The White House report was made by Presidential Pressy (sic) Secretary Daniels. When asked if present message of V-E address (sic), Daniels said, "The statement speaks for itself." "War-scarred London's millions of happy citizens were unable to wait for formal announcement of V-E Day tomorrow morning. "The Nation's Capitol took news of German's surrender as just a battle won, the biggest but not the last." CATALOGUER'S NOTE: Our writer's Seabee Batallion (the 79th) was first deployed to Saipan, and then on to Okinawa. We have learned that Lewis belonged to Company C Platoon 1 (see p. 37 of the May 1944 79th Naval Construction Battalion Guide held by the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum). Lewis returned to the States and resided in San Jose, CA (specifically at 927 California Avenue). For a lengthy discussion of the heroic efforts of the Seabees, see: Building the Navy's Bases in WWII: History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946, especially vol. II, p. 400.
Broadside (48 x 31 cm). Abrasions to outer edges in places, overall very good. STRIKING 1875 POSTER ANNOUNCING A "HUMOROUS" LECTURE ON VIRGINIA NEGROES, DELIVERED BY A POPULAR ANTI-NORTHERNER AND FORMER SLAVE-OWNER, GEORGE WILLIAM BAGBY (1828-1883). The editors of "Representative Men of the South" (writing in 1880) state that: "[Bagby's] lecture on 'The Virginia Negro, Past and Present,' was prepared for the North, where he delivered it; but, the general subject being in that section considerably less popular in the lecture-hall than on the hustings, he failed sufficiently to interes his audience, and consequently soon laid the lecture aside. The truth is, the negro, although he once lent himself easily to the purposes of literary art, and no doubt will thus lend himself again, is just at present the subject of quite too little illusion, standing out as a naked fact, uncovered by so much as a shred of romance or a fig-leaf of picturesqueness. A better time undoubtedly is coming for this lecture, and when it comes may the gifted lecturer be here to improve it." (p. 430). Bagby was vitriolic in his assessment of New Englanders, writing: "The Yankee is not in any sense a person. He is a chattel of the worst possible master -- a machine. He is a bad version of Frankenstein [.] a wiper and cleaner of the dirty structure made by his own hands" (Selections of the Miscellaneous Writings, 1884, vol. 1, p. 183). Very scarce broadside. The date of publication is conjectured from text in the broadside itself ("Opinions of the Press"). Four copies are located by Worldcat: UMich (Clements), UVa, Virginia Historical, and Univ. Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; to these we are able to add the one in the Bagby Collection at Wake Forest. Hummel, Southeastern Broadsides no. 5090.
8vo. [2], xxix, [2], 34-384 pp. Illustrated with a portrait of the author and numerous in-text woodcuts and diagrams throughout. Original publisher's morocco binding gilt extra, at the corners of both covers are medicine bottles labeled "Alternative," "Bitters," "Syrup," and "Cough," smooth spine gilt. Extremities lightly rubbed, inherent foxing and browning to text as is true in all copies. EXCELLENT COPY IN ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S GILT MOROCCO, SCARCE IN GOOD UNSOPHISTICATED CONDITION, AS HERE. "Immensely popular in the nineteenth-century, Dr. Chase's Recipes [.] went through dozens of editions and was believed to have sold over four million copies (second only to the Bible in total sales). This book was a vital reference to young Americans, particularly homesteaders, who depended upon it for information on health, diet, cooking, animal husbandry, household hints, and general how-to's. Containing recipes for both food and household products, delivered in a warm, chatty tone, this book was, and still is, a comprehensive source of information that deserves to be read and remembered." (SOURCE: Applewood Books). Dr. Chase's own title-page is instructive, and "briefly" presents the extraordinarily broad array of topics herein: "an invaluable collection of about eight hundred practical recipes, for merchants, grocers, saloon-keepers, physicians, druggists, tanners, shoe makers, harness makers, painters, jewlers, blacksmiths, tinners, gunsmiths, farriers, barbers, bakers, dyers, renovaters, farmers, and families generally: to which have been added A rational treatment of pleurisy, inflammation of the lungs, and other inflammatory diseases, and also for general female debility and irregularities: all arranged in their appropriate departments." CATALOGUER'S NOTE: The bibliographic complexities of this self-published book have not been satisfactorily explained, specifically pp. [xxix]-33. Our copy collates as per the 1870 edition digitized by Applewood Books, with the exception that p. [xxx] of the latter has an advertisement for The Courier Steam Printing-Press, whereas in our copy this page is blank. Similarly, the copy of the 1866 "30th edition" in the National Library of Medicine has additional text of "Opinions of the People" on pp. xxx-xxxi, and p. [xxx] features the very diagram of a horse which in our copy appears opposite the title-page. In the 1864 "Forty 3d Thousand" copy at MSU, the text of "Opinions of the People" continues onto p. xxxii and there is no diagram of the horse. Provenance: Ruby H. Farrell (her pencilled inscription on second blank leaf). 'Forty-Fifth Edition" / "Three Hundred and Fourth Thousand".
Manuscript on paper. 8vo. [16] pp. (including 2 blank pages), with handwriting almost entirely filling 13 pages. Stitched (recent?), evidence of two old folds, minor toning and soiling but overall in very good antiquarian condition. DIMINUTIVE AND CURIOUS MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY CATALOGUE OF VOYAGES AND HISTORY, NO DOUBT WRITTEN BY A FRENCH ANTIQUARIAN (note the compiler's almost unwavering spelling of "Voiages" (sic). The entries are classified as belonging to just two types of books: Voyages and "Histoire," the latter being very broad in scope -- as commonly among early French library catalogues. For instance, classified as "Histoire" is Hirzel's "Le Socrate rustique"; unusually, the complete imprint is recorded here (Zurich, Heideggeur, 1764), as is the size (12mo); most entries are more brief. Listed also are works by Sessa, "celebre mathematicien indien" who "invented Chess," and Ardschir, who "invented Tric-Trac." Below this is written More's Utopia translated by Sorbierre. Also included is Jean Swammerdam's "Histoire general des insectes" by Jean Swammerdam (undated). At the end is a collection of various works, such as Voltaire's only scientific work, the "Elements de la philosophe de Neuton [Newton]" (8vo., undated, but 1738 or after). An unusual inclusion is Francois Genil's "Le jardinier solitaire; ou, Dialogue entre un curieux & un jardinier solitaire" Intriguing entries on the front wrapper require further investigation. The first is dated 1781: "Quitances de Henry de ___ 432" (the meaning of which is unclear); this would be the "newest" book in the catalogue. Below these are two other titles dated 1777 and 1778.
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