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Swan's Fine Books

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A Hebrew Grammar, Without Points; Designed to Facilitate the Study of the Scriptures of the Old Testament, In the Original.

Smith, John First (and only) printing, octavo size, 56 pp. The author, John Smith (1752-1809) took his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Dartmouth, eventually becoming their first professor of learned languages (Chaldee, Hebrew, Latin and Greek). This work, "A Hebrew Grammar", was written during Smith's junior year at college, and published later (1803). He also wrote grammars on Chaldee (Aramaic), Latin and Greek that were never published (n.b. above information from the web site of Dartmouth College). The reason for issuing this Grammar "without points" (the vowel marks in the Hebrew language) was explained by Smith by use of a quote from "Wilson's 'Elements of the Hebrew Grammar' "(p. 55): "Every one acquainted with Hebrew knows, that the whole structure of the language is independent of them, and can be much more easily learned, and much better understood, without than with them." ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in marbled paper over boards with a leather spine, simple rules on the spine in gilt, several charts throughout; octavo size (8 5/8" by 5 3/8"), pagination: [1-5] 6-56. ___CONDITION: Near fine, with clean boards, straight corners with minimal rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior mostly clean (a few scattered spots of foxing and a few pages with light soiling), the book entirely free of prior owner markings; we had a professional restore the leather spine with is now sturdy, some light wear to the board edges, and off-setting to the endpapers from the leather turn-ins. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $500
book (2)

The Wedding Songs of Edmund Spenser, being the Prothalamion & the Epithalamion; Printed from the best editions, with Wood-cuts by Ethelbert White.

Spenser, Edmund; White, Ethelbert (Wood-engravings) One of 350 copies (on paper), duodecimo size, 49 pp. Edmund Spenser (1552/3 to 1599) is probably best known for his epic poem "The Faerie Queene", an ode to Elizabeth I. Even today he is considered one of the greatest poets of the English language. This work, "The Wedding Songs", is a publication uniting two works which were published a year apart, both dealing with love and romance. According to "Chanticleer", this is the first work of the Press to be illustrated with wood-engravings; however, they go on to state that "[t]here is no great feeling of harmony between the engravings and the type" (p. 16). We find the three wood-engravings charming; Ethelbert White (1892-1972) was a founding member of the English Wood Engraving Society, beginning his career with water colour but being introduced to wood-engraving in 1920. ___DESCRIPTION: Quarter linen, white paper spine label with black lettering, blue paper sides over boards, fore- and bottom edges uncut, the frontispiece one of three wood engravings and the only one in three colours (rust, green and yellow), the other two only in rust; Caslon type on hand-made unbleached Arnold paper, duodecimo size (7 3/8" by 4 1/2"), pagination: [1-8] 9-46, [47, final wood-engraving] [48, colophon] [49, publisher's device]; no. 329 of the 350 copies on paper (per the bibliography; note that the colophon states 320 copies on paper), there were an additional 25 copies on Japanese vellum. ___CONDITION: Volume near fine, with clean boards, perfectly straight corners with a hint of rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; some sunning to the margins of the board edges and some offsetting and light foxing to the endpapers. ___CITATION: Chanticleer no. 14. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $200
book (2)

The Little Ape; & Other Stories

Keen, Ralph Holbrook; Austen, John (Illustrations) Octavo size, 68 pp., signed by both Keen and Austen on the half-title. John Archibald Austen (1886-1948), whose style initally was "much influenced by Aubrey Beardsley" became a highly prolific illustrator. He would eventually illustrate approximately eighteen books, with his work finding favour: "His line is always graceful, his drawings vivacious and spirited, very skilful in its arrangement of blacks and whites, and his composition rightly balances." (n.b., quotes from Horne, p. 80). "The Little Ape" was Austen's first published work, unaccountably scarce in the marketplace; as of this writing, we see only two copies online, neither signed by Austen (as is this copy). This was the first book to be illustrated by Austen, and already showed his promise as an illustration artist. The stories included are: "The Little Ape", "The Judgment", "The Friend", "Block B", "Lolette", "An Unpleasant Incident", and "The Dance of Death". ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full gold cloth over boards, the Austen title page illustration on the front board in black, black lettering and a small image of a skull on the spine, the Austen tailpiece illustration on the back board, in addition to the title page and tailpiece there are four full-page black-and-white plates by Austen; octavo size (8 3/8" by 6 3/4"), pagination: [1-10] 11-68. ___CONDITION: A solid very good copy, the cloth relatively unworn (although with light overall dustiness), straight corners with minimal rubbing, and a strong, square text block with solid hinges; a prior owner gift inscription (from 1932) at the top corner of the front pastedown, the endpapers toned, and with foxing and some light soil throughout (the four plates clean with just a few light spots of foxing). Even with its faults, still a special volume signed by both the author and artist. ___CITATIONS: Horne, Alan; "The Dictionary of 20th Century British Book Illustrators"; and Baumgarten, Artist, pp. 15 and 16. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $500
book (2)

The Diary of Samuel Pepys

Pepys, Samuel; Latham, Robert [and] Matthews, William (Editors) Eleven volumes (complete), octavo size, approximately 4700 pp. "Samuel Pepys is as much a paragon of literature as Chaucer and Shakespeare. His Diary is one of the principal sources for many aspects of the history of its period. In spite of its significance, all previous editions were inadequately edited and suffered from a number of omissionsâ€"until Robert Latham and William Matthews went back to the 300-year-old original manuscript and deciphered each passage and phrase, no matter how obscure or indiscreet. The Diary deals with some of the most dramatic events in English history. Pepys witnessed the London Fire, the Great Plague, the Restoration of Charles II, and the Dutch Wars. He was a patron of the arts, having himself composed many delightful songs and participated in the artistic life of London. His flair for gossip and detail reveals a portrait of the times that rivals the most swashbuckling and romantic historical novels. In none of the earlier versions was there a reliable, full text, with commentary and notation with any claim to completeness. This edition, first published in 1970, is the first in which the entire diary is printed with systematic comment. This is the only complete edition available; it is as close to Pepys's original as possible. Robert Latham was Pepys Librarian at Magdalene College, Cambridge. In addition to editing the eleven volumes of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, he was the editor of the acclaimed Shorter Pepys (1985) and A Pepys Anthology (1988), both published by University of California Press. William Matthews was Professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles" (n.b. from University of California Press website). ___DESCRIPTION: Green cloth over boards, gilt illustration on the front board, gilt lettering on the spine with a red stamped spine "label", tipped onto the rear pastedown of Volume 2 is a black-and-white reproduction of "Long bird'seye view of London from Bankside, 1647" (etching by Wenceslaus Hollar); octavo size (8 5/8" by 5"), with approx. 4700 total pp. The set is comprised of nine volumes which cover the years 1661 through 1669, the tenth volume being a Companion volume, and the eleventh the Index. ___CONDITION: Overall the set is in near fine condition, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges, the interiors are clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; Volume 1 has small 1/2" dark spot on front board in the upper left corner, else fine. The dust jackets are also near fine with minimal edgewear, Volumes IV-IX are price-clipped. Overall a very nice set of an important work. ___POSTAGE: Please note that this is a large and heavy set, and therefore additional postage will apply. We are happy to ship at cost to both domestic and international customers, please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $250
book (2)

Laus Veneris

Swinburne, Algernon Charles; Buckland-Wright, John (Illustrator) One of 750 copies, quarto size, 30 pp., with prospectus. Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909) was a part of the Pre-Raphaelite circle which included Dante Gabriel Rossetti, at times with a "medievalising strain" inspired by Edward Burne-Jones; at one point Swinburne met William Morris which may have had an additional influence on his work. In this work Swinburne "explores the relationship between the femme fatale and the tragic lover"; speaking through the figure of the Knight, who is "doomed to live forever in the Venus mountain, with his goddess-love: the tragic aspect of the legend comes from the knight's belief that he has lost God's grace; thus although he gains his love, he conceives of this as a sin" (n.b., above info from Wiki and an article by Siobhan Lam, Brown University, 2006, on "The Victorian Web"). With lovely wood engravings by John Buckland-Wright (1897-1954), who was born in New Zealand and moved to England at a young age; initially a student of architecture he instead decided to pursue a career in art. He worked primarily with illustrating private press books, many for the Golden Cockerel Press; his "naturally elegant style, coupled with his abiding interest in the female form, created a distinctive and sensuous style" (n.b., quote from the web site of Brier Hill Gallery). ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in quarter purple cloth with marbled paper over boards, gilt lettering and publisher's device on the spine, top edge gilt, fore- and bottom edges uncut, illustrated title page, eleven total wood-engravings including the frontispiece; Perpetua type on mould-made paper, quarto size (10" by 6.5"), pagination: [1]-28 [1, blank], [1, colophon], limited edition of 750 copies, this no. 285. Loosely laid in is the prospectus, a single sheet measuring 9 3/4" by 6 1/4", the title page on the recto, one illustration and information on the verso. ___CONDITION: Near fine overall, the marbled paper sides clean (with some light rubbing on the back board), straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; the cloth on the spine lightly sunned with a hint of wear at the head and tail. The prospectus very good, with light toning, the original mailing fold and minor overall wear. ___CITATION: Cockalorum no. 178. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $400
book (2)

The Golden Cockerel

Pushkin, Alexander; Dulac, Edmund (Illustrator) One of 1500 copies, quarto size, 44 pp., signed by Edmund Dulac, with Announcement. After Nicholas I, the newly crowned Tsar of Russia, had suppressed the revolutionary rising of December 1825, Alexander Pushkin, who had shown sympathy with the movement but had influential friends at Court, was granted an audience. He was forgiven. When he has gone, Nicholas said to his Secretary of State, Count Bludov "I have been conversing with the wittiest man in Russia." With Pushkin's death Russia lost not only her "wittiest man" but also one of her best poets and a writer who was among the first to lay the foundations of modern Russian literature and to gather together some of the best stories and popular songs from the immense treasure of Russian folklore (from Foreward). Edmund Dulac (1882-1953), who truly needs no introduction, was the only illustrator of his day on a par with Arthur Rackham and was known for his sensational colors, great design impact, orientalism and humor. ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in Russian-red cloth with brass cockerel on cover and gilt text on spine; teal, gold, and black text and illustrations on title page, illustrated throughout with watercolours by Dulac; set in monotype Poliphilus, Abbey Mills special paper; quarto in size (approximately 12" tall); pagination: (1) - (42), blank (43), colophon (44); signed by illustrator, Limited Edition no. 1285 of 1500. With original glassine wrapper. Russian-red chemise with gold stamped paper of cockerel illustrations, gilt text on spine; Russian-red paper slipcase with no text or decoration. Loosely laid in is the LEC Announcement for the book, a single sheet measuring 8 3/8" by 5 1/2". ___CONDITION: Book in near fine condition; usual tarnishing and light wear to brass cockerel on the front board, all else fine; clean, sturdy, free of prior owner markings. Wrapper near fine with minor wear. Chemise is near fine with sunning to the spine, front and back joints. Slipcase is near fine with sbustantial sunning to the sides, but still strong and sturdy. Announcement near fine, clean, with a few very light creases, no edgewear. ___CITATION: LEC no. 205. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $75
book (2)

Disneyland, Welcome to Disneyland

[Disney Studios] "To All Who Come to This Happy Place, Welcome". On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened its doors for the very first time. It now attracts almost 17 million attendees per year. This guide to Disneyland carries a copyright date of 1955, the year the Park opened; it may have been the first such printed, but we have no way to confirm such. Structured to fold twice, the guide consists of four panels. The front of the map, when folded, has a prominent "Welcome to Disneyland" message ("This is the kingdom that was created for YOU - and your personal happiness"), the back with "Let's Dine at Disneyland", a list of restaurants below. Unfolding the guide once would display two panels describing each of the five areas of the Park (Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Tomorrowland; and Fantasyland). Unfolding the guide once again (so to be fully extended) on the inner-most panels there is a drawing of the grounds with another Welcome message and "Your Personal Guide" describing the Park amenities. Scarce; as of this writing, we see no copies online, no listings in Worthpoint and none in OCLC. ___DESCRIPTION: A single sheet designed to fold twice creating four panels on each side, details on both sides as set forth above, printed in green and black; the sheet measures 13 5/8" by 8 7/8" when open, when folded 3 3/8" by 8 7/8". ___CONDITION: A bit better than very good; the sheet has no tears and remarkably little edgewear (although there are several unintended creases), it is relatively clean with just a few very light spots and a bit of dustiness along the folds; fortunately, the former owner of this guide ignored the directions listed under the "Personal Guide": "Take home this map and color it after your visit to Disneyland". ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $450
book (2)

Cornelius Cole, California Pioneer and United States Senator, A Study in Personality and Achievements Bearing Upon the Growth of a Commonwealth

Phillips, Catherine Coffin; Wilke, William (Illustration) One of 1000 copies, quarto size, 386 pp., this copy in a full vellum binding. Cornelius Cole (1822-1924) was a politician who became an important figure in California politics after his arrival there in July 1849; he became District Attorney of Sacramento and later went on to the United States Senate. This book forms a clear and forceful portrait of a man who played an active role in the political scene of the United States and particularly of California. Included also are twenty-seven illustrations and facsimiles, as well as two fold-out letters, to complete the picture and scope of this influential individual. Out of the total edition of 1000 copies, an unspecified number were bound in full vellum, as is this. As of this writing, we see no other copies online in this vellum binding, therefore we presume the number bound in this manner was relatively small. This volume with an additional interesting point, being a biblio-mystery: on the front pastedown is what appears to have been an inscription by the author, Catherine Coffin Phillips, which has now been partially obscured; one can just make out the last portion of her name. There are currently several copies (in the standard binding) of this work online inscribed by Phillps, so it is not a huge stretch to see that this copy may also have been; however, why the inscription was obscured is a total mystery. ___DESCRIPTION: Full vellum over boards with yapped edges, the boards with a single narrow ruled gilt border, the spine with each compartment ruled in gilt and with gilt lettering, top edge gilt, fore-edge uncut, bottom edge rough-cut, title page with decorative border in black and white, frontispiece an engraving of Cornelius Cole by William Wilke (1879-1958), a San Francisco painter and printmaker who created many illuminations and bookplates for John Henry Nash, a two-page fold-out facsimile of a letter by Schuyler Colfax to Cornelius Cole (1865), a three-page fold-out facsimile of a letter by Julia Dent Grant to Olive Cole (1874), twenty-seven illustrations and facsimiles pertaining to Cornelius Cole throughout; Bulmer type on Nuremberg hand-made paper, quarto size (10.5" by 7.75"), pagination: [i-ii] iii [iv] v [vi] vii 1-379, one of 1000 copies (total edition), unnumbered, this copy one of an unspecified number bound in full vellum. Lacking the Erratum slip. In a slipcase covered with the same marbled cloth in which the standard copies were bound and lined with white felt. ___CONDITION: Volume fine overall, the vellum boards smooth and without wear, straight corners, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright with many of the signature unopened, and other than the residue of Philip's inscription mentioned above free of prior owner markings; a few very small spots of light soil, else fine. Slipcase near fine; strong and sturdy, clean, with a truly minimal amount of wear. ___CITATION: Wright-Howes no. 307; O'Day, p. 70, which does not note that any copies were bound in vellum. ___POSTAGE: Please note that due to weight additional postage may apply; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $500
Scenes From the Life of an American Jew (5 volumes): The Color of the Air

Scenes From the Life of an American Jew (5 volumes): The Color of the Air, The Waters of Darkness, A Very Good Land to Fall With, A Walk in the Fire, [and] The Season, It Was Winter

Sanford, John Five volumes (complete), octavo size, approx. 1500 total pp., each volulme one of the signed, limited publications. John Sanford (born Julian Lawrence Shapiro, 1904-2003) was awarded the a PEN/Faulkner Award and the Los Angeles Times Lifetime Achievement Award for this five-volume, autobiographical work (originally envisioned to be only three volumes). Each volume in this set one of the Black Sparrow special signed, limited copies (see below for details). If read at all, it was done gently, as the books still have that "tight" feel. Loosely laid into the second volume is a small "Note Concerning John Sanford's Epic Trilogy" which summarizes the plot line of the first volume and announces the forthcoming third volume. ___DESCRIPTION: Each volume bound in decorated paper over boards with a cloth shelfback (each volume in different colours), Vol. One published in 1985, this no. 31 of 150 numbered copies (total HC edition 476), signed by on a page tipped onto the copyright page, in blue ink, using both names ("John Sanford / Julian Shapiro"), 301 pp.; Vol. Two pub. 1986, no. 30 of 150 numbered copies (total HC edition 476), signed as Vol. One, 289 pp.; Vol. Three pub. 1987, this no. 21 of 150 numbered copies (total HC edition 476), again signed as Vol. One, 296 pp.; Vol. Four pub. 1989, this no. 33 of 150 numbered copies (total HC edition 476), signed on the tipped-in page but solely as "John Sanford", 323 pp.; and Vol. Five pub. 1991, this no. 108 of 125 numbered copies (total HC edition 451), signed as Vol. Four, 296 pp. All volumes with the publisher's acetate wrapper, loosely laid into the second volume the publisher's "Note", a single sheet folded once to four pages, measuring 7 1/2" by 4 7/8". ___CONDITION: Volumes are uniformly fine, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges, the interiors clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; clean, crisp, and as new. The acetate wrappers near fine, clean, all with a small amount of rubbing to the soft plastic; the "Note" fine, clean and free of wear. ___POSTAGE: Please note that this set is unusually heavy and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $250
John Henry Nash

John Henry Nash, Printer; Legend and Fact in the Development of a Fine Press, Intimately Reviewed

FauntLeRoy, Joseph One of 235 copies, octavo size, 79 pp. John Henry Nash (1871-1947) was one of the pre-eminent printers in the early part of the 20th century, printing high-quality editions at his printshop in San Francisco. He quickly gained a reputation for exceptional precision and attention to detail from his earliest years as a printer, when he was in complete charge of design and production for Paul Elder under the Tomoye Press imprint, and later formed a part of the firm Taylor, Nash and Taylor. He opened his own establishment in 1916 which he operated successfully until the early 30s, when, as a result of the changing economy following the Great Depression, continuing was no longer possible. This work provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of the man himself as well as his operation. Written by Joseph Fauntleroy who worked for Nash first as a compositor and subsequently as supervisor, his acquaintance with Nash over the span of many years gave him a unique view into both the person and work of John Henry Nash. ___DESCRIPTION: Quarter tan linen spine with paper covered boards, paper spine label with black lettering, fore- and bottom edges uncut, frontis a tipped-in reproduction of a photograph of Nash by Will Connell, marginal chapter/book titles in red throughout, tipped-in reproduction of a photograph of FauntLeRoy by Lenhardt follows the introduction, first page of text with a lovely eight-line initial capital in blue and gold, Errata slip bound in at the colophon; octavo size (9" by 6 3/8"), pagination: [i-iii] iv-viii, [1] 2-71, limited edition of 235 copies, this no. 203. ___CONDITION: Near fine, with clean boards (other than a very small spot on the back board), straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright with most signatures unopened, and entirely free of prior owner markings; some marks to the cloth shelfback (may be offsetting from the glue used), spine label sunned and a bit rubbed (text still legible), front board very slightly bowed, and some light offsetting to the endpapers. Overall a better than very good copy of a fascinating look into John Henry Nash by a man who knew him likely about as well as any. ___CITATION: Harlan, "John Henry Nash, The Biography of a Career" p. 37. ___PROVENANCE: In pencil at the top of the rear pastedown is written "7/11/49 | Lawton Kennedy". Presumably this written by Kennedy himself, this may have been his copy (which could account for the unopened signatures). ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • $125