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1885 - Illustrated flyer offering board-free enrollment at the Maryland Military and Naval Academy that was beset by scandal

1885 – Illustrated flyer offering board-free enrollment at the Maryland Military and Naval Academy that was beset by scandal

This four-page, partially printed handbill, measuring 5½" x 8¼", offering board-free enrollment as a "Special Cadet" at the Maryland Military and Naval Academy is datelined "Oxford, Md. Dec 26 1885. The name field is blank. A large patriotic illustration titled "The Maryland Military & Naval Academy / Oxford. Md." Decorates the cover. Storage folds. The application reads in part: "You are hereby informed that you have been appointed through Supreme Judge, Towville, NY, as a Special Cadet. . . You will immediately signify by letter . . . your acceptance or nonacceptance . . . and in the event of your appointment . . . report for duty Jan 4. . . / Expenses of a Special Cadet, from January 4 to June 12, 1885 / Board Free, tuition $80, room rent $15, washing $15, fuel and lights $15. Total $125 . . . The Expense of a Pay Cadet are $350 per School year." An internal page of requirements reads in part: "The applicant must be at least thirteen years of age. . . The Special Cadet will also be required to provide himself with the uniform of the Academy. . ." and a long list of clothing and equipment that were required to be purchased from the academy. . The academy, a preparatory school for West Point and Annapolis, was established by ex-Confederate Colonel Otto Tighman. It was based upon a similar institution at Oxford that had been destroyed by fire in 1885. It had an excellent facility, first-class faculty, and two vessels (a schooner and clipper ship). Its first class attracted over 250 students from prominent families from thirty states. However, the school was quickly beset by financial problems and after its cooks and servants quit because they had not been paid, the school's 180 cadets were not fed. Subsequently, four cadets got drunk on hard cider and attacked the assistant superintendent at home and cut off his beard with shears. Afterward fifty cadets went to a local restaurant for a celebratory meal. The next January, the superintendent, B. J. Burges, convinced a retired Army major to purchase the academy. After the major did, he discovered that Burgess had absconded with at least $50,000 of academy funds causing the school to fold in March of 1887. A subsequent state investigation revealed the students had been supplied with insufficient numbers of uniforms, only one or two rooms had been heated, the water supply was unpotable, and meals were sparse and of poor quality. (For more information, see "Museum Unveils 'Scoundrels and Scandals' Exhibit" at the Oxford Museum website, "Rebellious Maryland Boys" from the 29 September 1886 edition of The Boston Globe, and a host of other contemporary newspaper articles, all available online.) Scarce. At the time of listing, nothing similar is for sale in the trade, and the Rare Book Hub shows no similar items have appeared at auction. OCLC identifies no institutional holdings of original source materials related to this academy. .
  • $200
Circa 1865-1870 - Thank you letter from General Robert E. Lee's daughter

Circa 1865-1870 – Thank you letter from General Robert E. Lee’s daughter, Mildred to Mrs. Preston, probably the daughter of a former President of Washington College and wife of the founder of the Virginia Military Institute

Mildred Childe Lee This undated luncheon thank you note, signed by Robert E. Lee's daughter, Mildred Childe Lee, was hand delivered to "Ms. Preston / At Home". It is in nice shape with light toning and a short tape repair to split along a fold. In this letter Lee thanks Preston for a luncheon and remarks that she desires to share a gift of sugar plum candy received from her father, Robert E. Lee, with Mrs. Preston's boys. "My dear Mrs Preston All of us enjoyed yr nice lunch yesterday & Moma desired me to than you for it. I hope the walking will permit you soon to come & see us & that you will come prepared to spend a long time. A delightful Candy friend in Richmond sent me by Papa a large supply of sugar plums & I send some to the dear little boys. Yrs affec'ly Mildred Lee" . As Mildred Lee was living in Lexington, Virginia at the time while her father was serving as the president of Washington College (today Washington & Lee University), Mrs. Preston was undoubtedly Mrs. Margaret Junkin Preston, the daughter of a former president of Washington College and the second wife of one of the founders of the Virginia Military Institute, which is also located in Lexington. At the time of this letter, Mrs. Preston had two young boys, George and Herbert. Mrs. Preston, an associate of Robert Browing, Lord Tennyson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Christina Rosetti, was known as the Poet Laureate of the Confederacy. She was an important southern apologist and champion of "The Lost Cause" who authored the oft quoted and widely anthologized work, Beechenbrook: A Rhyme of the War, and wrote extensively for popular magazines and newspapers. (For more information, see Carrino's "Lee's Daughters, Part 5: Mildred Childe Lee" at the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable website and "Margaret Junkin (1820-1897)" at the Joseph Junkin Family Tree website.) The Rare Book Hub shows this letter was sold at a University Archives auction in 2022. .
  • $150
1847 - Circular addressing a conflict between the "Grand and Subordinate Division of Maryland" and National Division of the Sons of Temperance which was sent to a "Brother" in Maine with a cover letter discussing the location of the society's next quarterly meeting

1847 – Circular addressing a conflict between the “Grand and Subordinate Division of Maryland” and National Division of the Sons of Temperance which was sent to a “Brother” in Maine with a cover letter discussing the location of the society’s next quarterly meeting

Philip L. White and Fred. A. Fickhardt This four-page folded letter contains a two-page printed circular with a blue Sons of Temperance seal and a one-page manuscript letter. The circular is signed in print by Philip L. White and Fred. A. Fickhardt and datelined "Philadelphia, November 16, 1847", The letter is datelined "Phila. Dec 7/47" and signed by White. It bears a blue "10 Cts" Philadelphia postmark also dated December 7th and was sent to the Reverend J. P. Weston, leader of Maine's temperance movement, in Gardiner. The Sons of Temperance, a semi-secret organization dedicated to "free the intemperate from the Slavery of King Alcohol," was divided into Subordinate, Grand, and National Divisions. It was established in 1847 on the bones of a prior temperance group, the Washington Temperance Society which had fractured into ungovernable pieces over prohibition, religion, politics, and abolition. To become a Son, members had to pledge not to manufacture, sell, or drink any intoxicants. Before being accepted for membership, an applicant's lifestyle was thoroughly investigated and had to be approved by a panel of members. One of the biggest benefits of membership was the organization's beneficial services which provided insurance in case of illness, unemployment, or death. These were funded by a two-dollar initiation fee and six-cent per week dues. While this might initially seem insignificant, by 1850, the Sons had over 230,000 members, so its coffers must have been full. This circular addresses attempts to mollify members of the Maryland Grand Division who were apparently dissatisfied with management of the benevolent fund. The letter informs Weston that the next quarterly meeting would not be held in Waterville and alludes to the resolution of some undescribed controversy. . (For more information, see Beattie's "Sons of temperance: Pioneers in total abstinence and 'Constitutional' prohibition," Chapman's "The Mid-Nineteenth-Century Temperance Movement in New Brunswick and Maine," and One Hundred Years of Temperance: A Memorial Volume of the Centennial Temperance Conference Held in Philadelphia, Pa., September 1885, all available online.) Scarce. At the time of listing, no similar circulars are for sale in the trade. The Rare Book Hub shows none have appeared at auction. OCLC shows none held by institutions, however some libraries hold reprints or digital copies of a Sons of Temperance circular distributed in Nova Scotia. .
  • $150
[Silsilat al-tawarik - English]. Ancient accounts of India and China

[Silsilat al-tawarik – English]. Ancient accounts of India and China, by two Mohammedan travellers, who went to those parts in the 9th century.London, Samuel Harding, 1733. 8vo (ca. 12 x 20 cm). With a wood-engraved printer’s device and the half-title-page and title-page printed in red and black. Contemporary blind-tooled panelled calf, sewn on 6 supports creating 6 compartments on the gold-tooled spine. With a red morocco title-label lettered in gold on the spine, red sprinkled edges.

SULAYMAN AL-TAJIR and ABU ZAID HASAN IBN YAZID, AL-SIRAFI. (Eusèbe RENAUDOT, editor). XXXVII, (1), 260, VII pp.First English edition of the famous travel report given by the Arab merchant Suleiman al-Tajir, who had visited China and India in the 9th century. His book is the oldest Arabic account of China, written more than 400 years before Marco Polo. This is augmented by the "Silsilat al-Tawarikh" of Abu Zayd al-Hasan al-Shirafi, written in the early 10th century and based on the account of Ibn Wahb al-Basri, who had visited China shortly after Suleiman.Translated from the French version by Renaudot. According to Renaudot, the account of events such as the great revolution which swept across China during their second voyage confirms that the journeys were undertaken four centuries prior to Marco Polo. Their travels took place in 851 CE and 877 CE, respectively. The text gives a lively account of life in China and India, with "the first foreign descriptions of tea and porcelain, and a whole panorama of Chinese society, from the Son of Heaven and Confucian ethics down to toilet paper and bamboo urinals" (Mackintosh-Smith). Later Arabic geographers such as Ibn Khordadhbe and al-Mas’udi relied heavily on this work for their information on India and China. "Ces relations sont de la plus haute importance pour la connaissance de l’Inde et de la Chine au moyen-age" (NBG).The book includes stories about the Indian Ocean and its fish species, the cities around the Arabian Gulf, whales and other large man eating fish, the religions of China and India. Other sections discuss commercial routes and the most important products of India, Srinadeb, Java, and China, as well as the presence of Muslims in China in the third and fourth centuries.With the bookplate of "Will[ia]m Markham Esq[ui]r[e] Becca Lodge, Yorkshire" on the front paste-down, covering another bookplate. The boards are slightly scuffed around the edges, slightly foxed throughout. Otherwise in very good condition.l Cordier, Sinica 1924; Cox I, 335; Lust 297. NBG 41, 997f (Renaudot); cf. T. Mackintosh-Smith & J. Montgomery (eds.), Two Arabic Travel Books (2014).
  • $30,746
  • $30,746
A FEAST FOR CROWS

A FEAST FOR CROWS

GEORGE R.R. MARTIN First US Edition, First Printing, Signed: Fine/Near fine condition book in a beautiful fine dust jacket. SIGNED across the title page by George R.R. Martin “George Martin, 11/18/05”. Book Four of the author’s acclaimed Game of Thrones series. Accompanied by a fine copy of the pre-publication excerpt. The Game of Thrones Series has been likened to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings saga and T.H. White’s Once and Future King. Critics call this “one of the best fantasy series ever written” (Denver Post). The books in the series have sold more than 15 million copies and have been translated into more than 20 languages. A Game of Thrones is the first of seven planned novels in A Song of Ice and Fire, an epic fantasy series by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published in August 1996. The novel won the 1997 Locus Award, and was nominated for both the 1998 Nebula Award and the 1997 World Fantasy Award. The novella Blood of the Dragon, comprising the Daenerys Targaryen chapters from the novel, won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Novella. In January 2011 the novel became a New York Times bestseller and reached #1 on the list in July 2011. The book has crisp red boards with vibrant gilt titles to the spine. The boards have sharp corners and no edgewear, very slight bump to the top of the spine. The binding is tight and square. Clean endpapers with no owner names, inscriptions, no bookplates, and no bookstore stamps. The internal pages are clean, bright and flat with No marks, No stains, No writing, No handling marks, and No foxing. SIGNED across the title page by George R.R. Martin “George Martin, 11/18/05”. A beautiful clean, example of this landmark title, appearing as unread! Accompanied by a fine copy of the pre-publication excerpt. The original vibrant first edition dust jacket is in beautiful fine condition. The jacket is NOT price clipped and has a stated price of $28.00. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. PLEASE SEE OUR ABE STORE FOR MORE IAN FLEMING TITLES.
  • $495
GOLDFINGER

GOLDFINGER

IAN FLEMING FIRST STATE, First Edition, First Printing: A FINE example of the EARLIEST STATE OF THE FIRST PRINTING BINDING – With extra stamped detail to the skull. Beautiful Fine book and fine/near fine bright and vibrant unrestored dust jacket. First State Book in the First State Dust Jacket. Original crisp black covered boards with a stamped skull with golden eyes to the front of the boards. A FINE COPY of the earliest FIRST STATE of this title, with the additional detail located to the forehead of the skull. Bright unfaded gilt titles to spine. The book is in fine condition with clean cloth boards, sharp corners and no edgewear. No dry or splitting spine. The end papers are clean with no owner names, no inscriptions, no bookstore stamps or bookplates. The internal pages are very clean, bright and flat with No writing, No marks, No stains, No bent pages, No foxing and No age toning. Please see detailed images. The original bright first edition unrestored dust jacket is in stunning condition. This fine/near fine jacket has no only a bit of tiny tiny nicks to the tip of the spine, otherwise this fine jacket has strong vibrant colors with No edgewear, No chips, No rips, No stains, No fading, No rubbing, and No foxing. The jacket is extremely bright and fresh withOUT any of the otherwise common toning to the rear panel or spine. The dust jacket is NOT price clipped and has a stated price of 15s. net. Please see the many images for more details. A very handsome example in difficult to locate condition, of the scarce true first state of this title. Presents very well on the shelf. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. PLEASE SEE OUR ABE STORE FOR MORE IAN FLEMING TITLES.
  • $5,995
  • $5,995
MAPA ANTIGUO DE CRETA Y CORFÚ. CANDIA ET LA CITA DE CORPHU.

MAPA ANTIGUO DE CRETA Y CORFÚ. CANDIA ET LA CITA DE CORPHU.

BRAUN, Georges / HOGENBERG, Frans Materia: Grabado del siglo XVII de una vista de pájaro de las islas de Candia (Creta) y Corfú. Autores: Georg Braun y Frans Hogenberg. Año: 1580. Dimensiones aprox.: 410 x 535 mm [papel], 370 x 490 mm [huella]. Técnica: Grabado calcográfico en cobre. Impresión oscura en papel grueso y fuerte, de gran calidad y tonos caros. Coloreado a mano con acuarela en la época. Reverso: Texto en latín. Conservación: Buen estado. Color antiguo, pliegue de imprenta en el ángulo superior derecho con separación de la zona impresa. Pequeño desperfecto en la parte central del grabado de Candia". Ligeras manchas: mancha de óxido más oscura en la esquina superior derecha de Candia, otra en el puerto de Corfú, y en la parte inferior derecha del lado del mar. Descripción: Dos vistas grabadas en cobre de las ciudades venecianas de Creta y Corfú del segundo volumen de "Civitas Orbis Terrarum" de Braun &, Hogenberg. La vista superior muestra a Creta o Iraklion conocido como "Candia" durante la ocupación veneciana. Es una vista desde el mar con el castillo y las murallas de la ciudad, un barco de pesca y una galera en primer plano. La vista inferior del Fuerte Viejo y la ciudad de Corfú dibuja una ciudadela coronada por castillos "viejos" y "nuevos" y separada de la ciudad por un foso, muchas galeras venecianas en el puerto y el mar circundante, varias áreas identificadas incluyendo San Rocho y "El Bazaro" ahora conocido como la Spianada Civitates Orbis Terrarum: conocido también como el "Braun &, Hogenberg", se trata de un atlas de ciudades en seis volúmenes y está considerado el mejor libro de vistas y planos de ciudades jamás publicado. Se compone de 363 grabados, muchos de ellos ricamente bellamente coloreados, y fue una de las obras más vendidas del último cuarto del siglo XVI. Georg Braun escribió el texto que acompaña a los planos y vistas en el verso. Un gran número de las placas se grabaron según los dibujos originales de Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600), un artista profesional. El primer volumen se publicó en latín en 1572, el sexto y último en 1617. Georg Braun (1541-1622) nació en Colonia, donde realizó sus estudios hasta ingresar en la Orden de los Jesuitas como novicio. En 1561 obtuvo su título de bachiller y en 1562 su Magister Artium. Aunque dejó la Orden de los Jesuitas, estudió teología, obteniendo una licenciatura. Por su parte, Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590) fue un pintor, grabador y cartógrafo flamenco y alemán. Nació en la ciudad belga de Malinas y a finales de 1560, trabajó en Theatrum Orbis Terrarum de Abraham Ortelius. En 1568 fue expulsado de Amberes por el duque de Alba y viajó a Londres, donde permaneció unos años antes de emigrar a Colonia. Allí se embarcó inmediatamente en sus dos obras más importantes: los Civitates, publicados a partir de 1572 y los Geschichtsblätter, que aparecieron en varias series desde 1569 hasta aproximadamente 1587. Murió como un hombre rico en Colonia en 1590. Referencias: Koeman IV, 1901, Fauser 2298 u. 6507."
  • $659
VISTA DE LA PUERTA DEL SOL

VISTA DE LA PUERTA DEL SOL, Y DE LA CASA DE CORREOS / VUE DE LA PORTE DU SOLEIL ET DE L’HÔTEL DES POSTES / VIEW OF THE GATE OF THE SUN AND OF THE HOTEL OF THE POSTS.

LIGER, François Materia: Grabado original de la primera mitad el siglo XIX. Aguafuerte. Perteneciente a la serie de Alexander Laborde. Grabadores: Jacques Louis Constant Le Cerf y Levée. Dibujante: François Liger. Publicación: París, Imprimerie de P. Didot l'aîné, edición indeterminada, 1806-1820. Técnica: Aguafuerte, buril, estampa iluminada sobre papel avitelado. Medidas: 220 x 290 mm [papel], 155 x 160 mm [plancha]. Descripción: Vista de la Puerta del Sol desde su extremo occidental con la Casa de Correos en primer término, a la derecha de la imagen, la iglesia del Buen Suceso, al fondo, delante de ella, la fuente y la embocadura de las calles de Alcalá y Carrera de San Jerónimo con la torre del convento de La Victoria. Conservación: Buena impresión. Referencias: A. Laborde, Voyage pittoresque et historique d'Espagne. Á Paris: de l'imprimerie de P. Didot l'ainé , 1820, Páez Ríos, Elena, Repertorio de Grabados Españoles, II, H-Q, Ministerio de Cultura, Madrid, 1982, pp. 85, n. 1182. Otros datos: Inscripción con firmas de los autores en la parte inferior del grabado: Liger del." / "M.lle Levé aquâ forti" / "Lecerf sculp.", además del título aportado. Corresponden a François Liger (1755-post.1803), dibujante francés, Levée, grabadora fracesa que estuvo activa entre 1802-1820, y Le Cerf, grabador francés activo entre 1802-1824. " Liger del." / "M.lle Levé aquâ forti" / "Lecerf sculp.""
  • $275
The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid

The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid, in which Coloured Diagrams and Symbols are used instead of Letters for the Greater Ease of Learners.

BYRNE, Oliver [EUCLID] 4to (236 x 186 mm). [7] viii-xxix [1], 268 pp. Including half-title, four-line woodcut initials, color diagrams throughout printed in red, blue, yellow and black. Contemporary three-quarter calf over cloth, spine-ends and raised bands with gilt-decoration, gilt-lettered red morocco spine-label, original blue endpapers (extremities rubbed, corners bumped). Some pale brown spotting of text as usual*, minor age-toning of paper, but in all a better-than-average, crisp and clean copy. ---- FIRST AND ONLY EDITION OF BYRNE'S SPECTACULAR RENDERING OF EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRY USING FOUR-COLOR PRINTING, AND "THE MOST ATTRACTIVE EDITION OF EUCLID THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN" (Oechslin). The stark use of primary colors was envisaged by Byrne as a teaching aid. "Each proposition is set in Caslon italic, with a four line initial engraved on wood by Mary Byfield: the rest of the page is a unique riot of red, yellow and blue . . . attaining a verve not seen again on book pages till the days of Dufy, Matisse and Derain" (McLean). "This truly visual Euclid discards the letter-coding native to geometry texts. In a proof, each element names itself by consistent shape, color, and orientation; instead of talking about angle DEF, the angle is shown - appropriately enough for geometry" (Tufte). Byrne's depiction of Pythagoras is a classic, with the squares being visually interpreted so in vivid blocks of colour. In a technical tour-de-force, Whittingham skillfully aligned the different color blocks for printing to produce "One of the oddest and most beautiful books of the whole century" (McLean). "According to Julie L. Mellby, graphic arts librarian at Princeton University, in her online article "Euclid in Color," Byrne's Euclid was exhibited in London at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Praise was given for its beauty and the artistry of the printing, which may have influenced future publications and artwork. However, the book was sold for an extravagant price by contemporary standards, placing it out of the reach of educators who were supposed to make use of this new way of teaching geometry." *Virtually all copies of this print show more or less heavy brown spotting (or foxing) due to the used paper stock, but this copy is less affected than most copies we have seen. References: Janet Ing, Charles Whittingham, Printer, 46; Keynes, Pickering, pp. 37, 65; R. McLean, Victorian Book Design and Colour Printing p. 50-51 (illustration facing p. 53); E. R. Tufte, Envisioning Information, p.84; P. Lynch, That’s Maths: The rebel who brought Technicolour to Euclid, Irish Times, February 20, 2014; W. Oechslin, ed., Oliver Byrne: The Elements of Euclid (Cologne, Germany: Taschen America LLC, 2013), p.15; J. L. Mellby, Euclid in Color, Princeton University Library, Princeton, New Jersey, 2008. - Visit our website to see more images!
  • $15,373
  • $15,373
HISTOIRE UNIVERSELLE

HISTOIRE UNIVERSELLE, depuis le commencement du Monde, jusqu’à présent ; traduite de l’anglois d’une Société de Gens de Lettres. [45 volumes].

[PSALMANAZAR (George)]. Amsterdam et Leipzig, Arkstée et Merkus, 1742-1788 [puis pour le tome 45 :] Paris, Mérigot, 1792. Quarante-cinq volumes in-quarto (207 X 256 mm) veau fauve marbré, dos cinq nerfs filetés or, caissons dorés ornés fers et fleurons dorés, pièces de titre et de tomaison en maroquin, tranches mouchetées en rouge (Reliure de l'époque). Quelques manques à plusieurs coiffes, rousseurs éparses, les fers et le cuir de la reliure du tome 45 diffèrent de ceux des autres volumes. Ex-libris « Cournault - Lieutenant-Colonel du Génie » collé sur le premièr contreplat des 44 premiers volumes. ÉDITION ORIGINALE de ce MONUMENTAL OUVRAGE de la seconde moitié du XVIIIe siècle qui tente de compiler l'HISTOIRE DE L'HUMANITÉ en une imposante série de 45 volumes au beau format in-quarto. Traduite de l'anglais, cette "Histoire Universelle" doit une part importante de sa rédaction à George PSALMANAZAR (1679-1763), anglais d'origine française possédant une vaste érudition. Elle est constituée de deux grandes parties : l'histoire ancienne et l'histoire moderne. Elle est illustrée de 37 PLANCHES hors-texte gravées en taille-douce et de 102 CARTES gravées, la plupart dépliantes. MANQUE le tome 46 et dernier, comme souvent : il a en effet paru postérieurement (1802) et est constitué de la table des dix-huit derniers volumes. Brunet précise que la traduction de l'édition originale est plus exacte que la seconde, et également plus complète car « plusieurs passages hardis, qui n'auraient pas été soufferts à la censure » y ont été supprimés. (Brunet, III-212). DE LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE de Henri COURNAULT (1783-1856), avec son ex-libris collé sur la première contregarde des 44 premiers tomes. Polytechnicien, brillant officier du génie de la Grande Armée, il participe à la campagne de Russie et poursuit en 1813 la guerre en Allemagne (batailles de Lützen, Bautzen, Dresde, Leipzig et Hanau). Nommé lieutenant-colonel en 1814 par Napoléon juste avant son abdication, élevé à la dignité de Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur en 1835, il se retire finalement à Toul en 1836 et s'y adonne aux sciences, à l'histoire et aux arts jusqu'à sa mort. BEL EXEMPLAIRE, conservé dans sa fraîche reliure de l'époque. NICE COPY. PICTURES AND MORE DETAILS ON REQUEST.
  • $5,776
  • $5,776
DICTIONNAIRE UNIVERSEL D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE. [16 volumes].

DICTIONNAIRE UNIVERSEL D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE. [16 volumes].

ORBIGNY (Ch. d'). Paris, Renard, Martinez et Cie, Langlois et Leclercq, Masson, 1847-49. Seize volumes in-8 (171 X 242 mm) demi-chagrin rouge, plats de toile chagrinée, dos à nerfs filetés or décoré de caissons et fleurons dorés, titre et tomaison dorés (Reliure de l'éditeur). Rousseurs aux volumes de texte, très éparses aux volumes de planches, quelques fentes aux onglets, quelques accrocs avec manques et petites épidermures à la reliure ainsi que plusieurs plats tachés. ÉDITION ORIGINALE de cet ouvrage considéré comme l'UNE DES MEILLEURES ENCYCLOPÉDIES D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE DU XIXe SIÈCLE. Elle est composée de treize volumes de texte et trois volumes d'ATLAS contenant 288 PLANCHES gravées en noir, AQUARELLÉES et gommées, toutes montées sur onglets. Les planches, qui reproduisent plus de 1200 figures, ont été réalisées d'après les dessins de Werner, Meunier, Traviès, Oudart, Prêtre, Dujardin, Richard, Decaisne, etc. Les plus illustres scientifiques et naturalistes français de l'époque ont participé à cette importante publication : on peut notamment citer ARAGO, Isidore GEOFFROY SAINT-HILAIRE, BRONGNIART, MILNE-EDWARDS, QUATREFAGES, AUDOIN, DUVERNOY, VALENCIENNES ainsi que quelques scientifiques étrangers comme le célèbre Alexander von HUMBOLDT. SÉDUISANT EXEMPLAIRE, en BON ÉTAT, conservé dans sa solide reliure éditeur uniforme (volumes de texte et atlas), avec les PLANCHES en BEAUX COLORIS de l'époque. PLEASANT COPY. PICTURES AND MORE DETAILS ON REQUEST.
  • $2,952
  • $2,952
LE CAVALERICE FRANÇOIS. Quatrième édition reveue et augmentée de beaucoup de leçons et figures par l'autheur.

LE CAVALERICE FRANÇOIS. Quatrième édition reveue et augmentée de beaucoup de leçons et figures par l’autheur.

LA BROUE (Salomon de). Paris, Charles Du Mesnil, 1646. Trois parties reliées en un volume in-folio (250 X 383 mm) basane brune, encadrement de double filet à froid sur les plats, dos à six nerfs ornés d'une roulette dorée, caissons ornés de fers et fleuron central dorés, titre doré, tranches mouchetées en noir (Reliure de l'époque) ; titre illustré, (2) ff. de dédicace et stances, 23 pages d'"Avis du Sieur de La Broue", 177 pages - 178 pages (dont titre), (1) f. de table - (4) ff. dont titre, 5-105 pages, (3) pages de table et privilège. Dos de la reliure moderne, quelques feuillets uniformément brunis et quelques petites taches brunes dans le corps d'ouvrage. QUATRIÈME ÉDITION du PREMIER TRAITÉ D'ÉQUITATION composé par un écuyer français. Divisée en trois livres avec titre et pagination propre, elle contient un SPECTACULAIRE TITRE ILLUSTRÉ à pleine page, gravé en taille-douce par Charles de Mallery (1571-1635), de nombreux bois gravés dans le texte et à pleine page représentant pour la plupart des mors, filets, brides et rênes, ainsi que des bandeaux et lettrines. Le premier livre est dédié au duc d'Épernon, le deuxième au duc de Montmorency et le troisième et dernier au baron de Bellegarde. Salomon de LA BROUE (Gascogne, 1552-1610), surnommé par le Comte Savary de Lancosme-Brèves « le restaurateur de l'équitation française », est un écuyer français formé à Naples pendant cinq ans par Cesare Pignatelli dont il fait sien les principes de patience et de douceur dans le dressage des chevaux, puis devient l'élève du fameux écuyer Gianbatista Pignatelli, qui fut aussi le maître d'Antoine de Pluvinel. Il est ensuite nommé écuyer du duc d'Épernon et, sous Henri III, écuyer ordinaire de la Grande Écurie du Roi. C'est à la fin de sa vie qu'il rédige son traité d'équitation, fruit de sa longue expérience et de ses patientes observations, qu'il intitule "Préceptes principaux que les bons Cavalerisses doivent exactement observer en leurs Escoles" et qui est publié en 1593 à La Rochelle, chez l'éditeur Jérôme Haultin. Cet ouvrage sera réédité à plusieurs reprises jusqu'à l'édition de Du Mesnil parue en 1646, qui est l'édition définitive, la plus complète et la dernière édition ancienne de cet ouvrage. Notre exemplaire est bien complet de l'"Avis du Sieur de La Broue, sur le debvoir de l'escuyer de grande escuyrie" (23 pages), ici relié en tête de l'ouvrage, qui manque souvent aux exemplaires des éditions précédentes. D'après le Comte Savary de Lancosme-Brèves, qui a consacré à La Broue une excellente et très complète étude, cet avis est « un véritable modèle de civilité puérile et honnête, mis à la portée de l'intelligence des maîtres, souvent d'une écorce peu délicate, et de l'élève pour la plupart du temps espiègle, vif et courageux. » (Mennessier de La Lance, II, 5 : « Ses récits du dressage de quelques chevaux difficiles ou extraordinairement craintifs sont à lire d'un bout à l'autre et sont un éclatant témoignage de sa patience, de son jugement et du remarquable esprit d'observation qui est sa qualité dominante. » - Graesse, "Trésor de livres rares et précieux", IV-60 - Brunet, VI-10326). BEL EXEMPLAIRE de cet ouvrage RARE, conservé dans sa reliure d'époque, au dos pastiche habilement réalisé. NICE COPY. PICTURES AND MORE DETAILS ON REQUEST.
  • $6,418
  • $6,418
NOUVEAU DICTIONNAIRE D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE

NOUVEAU DICTIONNAIRE D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE, appliquée aux Arts, à l’Agriculture, à l’Économie rurale et domestique, à la Médecine, etc. Par une Société de naturalistes et d’agriculteurs.

VIREY (Julien-Joseph) [Publié sous la direction de]. Paris, Deterville, 1816-1819. Trente-six volumes in-8 (135 X 209 mm) veau fauve glacé, plats marbrés ornés d'un encadrement de dentelle dorée, dos lisse cloisonné de filets dorés et orné de maillages et fleurons dorés, pièces de titre et de tomaison maroquin rouge, tranches marbrées (Reliure de l'époque). Petits défauts d'usages aux reliures. SECONDE ÉDITION, presqu'entièrement refondue et considérablement augmentée : la première édition de 1803 ne contient en effet que 24 volumes. Cet IMPORTANT DICTIONNAIRE ENCYCLOPÉDIQUE, l'un des grands classiques parmi ceux de l'histoire naturelle (Buffon, Cuvier, Lacépède, d'Orbigny, Valmont de Bomare, etc.) a été rédigé sous la direction du naturaliste et anthropologue Julien-Joseph VIREY (1775-1846) avec la participation de scientifiques de renom tels que Jean-Baptiste Biot, Louis-Augustin Bosc d'Antic, Jacques-Martin Cels, Jean-Antoine Chaptal, Jean-Baptiste Huzard, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, Pierre André Latreille, Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, Charles-Nicolas-Sigisbert Sonnini, André Thouin, etc. Elle contient 261 PLANCHES hors-texte, gravées au burin sur vélin fort par Tardieu, Letellier, Meunier, d'après les dessins de Jean-Gabriel PRÊTRE (1768-1849) et Jacques-Eustache de SÈVE (actif avant 1790 - mort en 1830), ainsi que deux tableaux dépliants aux tomes 9 et 16. Les planches ont été finement et exceptionnellement AQUARELLÉES à l'époque, exceptées quelques gravures restées en noir dont les trois planches dépliantes de la "Théorie de la cristallisation". (Nissen, "Die Botanische buch-illustration", 2236 - Brunet IV-112 - Graesse IV-692). BEL EXEMPLAIRE, bien conservé, avec les GRAVURES MISES EN COULEURS, CONDITION RARE, la plupart des exemplaires possédant les gravures en noir. NICE COPY. PICTURES AND MORE DETAILS ON REQUEST.
  • $3,209
  • $3,209
HISTOIRE DU CIEL

HISTOIRE DU CIEL, où l’on recherche l’origine de l’idolâtrie et les méprises de la philosophie, sur la formation, & sur l’influence des corps célestes. [2 volumes].

PLUCHE (Noël-Antoine). Paris, Veuve Estienne, 1740. Deux volumes in-12 (105 X 171 mm) veau fauve marbré, dos à nerfs orné de caissons et fers dorés, pièces de titre et de tomaison maroquin rouge, tranches mouchetées en rouge (Reliure de l?époque). Tome I : frontispice, XXXVII pages (dont titre), (3) pages, 518 pages, 24 planches hors-texte - Tome II : (2) ff. de faux-titre et titre, 496 pages, (3) pages d'approbation et privilège. Taches sombres aux plats des reliures, sans gravité. Ex-libris manuscrit « Jonas Berthoud » en marge des feuillets de titre. SECONDE ÉDITION de cet « ouvrage utile à toute personne s'occupant de l'occulte ; on y trouve des renseignements précieux. » (Caillet). Il est ainsi divisé : le Zodiaque, l'Écriture symbolique, les Cérémonies symboliques, la Théogonie, la Divination, les Principes des alchimistes, les Principes des compositions connues, la Matière première, le Monde des Péripatéticiens, d'Épicure, de Gassendi, de Descartes, de Newton, la Physique de Moïse, etc. L'ouvrage contient 25 PLANCHES hors-texte (dont le frontispice) gravées par Le Bas ayant trait au symbolisme de la religion des anciens égyptiens et grecs, au sphinx et autres symboles divers. EXEMPLAIRE DE JONAS BERTHOUD (1743-1831), natif du Jura neuchâtelois et originaire d'une famille d'horlogers, avec sa SIGNATURE AUTOGRAPHE aux feuillets de titre. (Caillet, 8756 - Dorbon, 3689, pour l'édition de 1739 - Cohen, 462 - Fr. Berthoud, "Jonas Berthoud, 1769-1853, un révolutionnaire tranquille.") BEL EXEMPLAIRE, d'une remarquable fraîcheur. NICE COPY. PICTURES AND MORE DETAILS ON REQUEST.
  • $578
CURIOSITEZ DE LA NATURE ET DE L'ART

CURIOSITEZ DE LA NATURE ET DE L’ART, aportées dans deux Voyages des Indes ; l’un aux Indes d’Occident en 1698 & 1699 & l’autre aux Indes d’Orient en 1701 & 1702. Avec une relation abrégée de ces deux Voyages.

BIRON (Claude). Paris, Moreau, 1703. In-12 (100 X 165 mm) veau brun, dos à nerfs orné de caissons et fers dorés, pièce de titre, tranches rouges (Reliure de l?époque) ; (3) ff., XXIII pages, (3) pages, 282 pages, 7/8 planches dont une dépliante, (4) pages de table. Tache d'encre noire en marge intérieure de la gravure de Confucius, sans atteinte au dessin. Cachet ex-libris en marge du titre avec la devise « Là ou ailleurs », mentions manuscrites anciennes couvrant la première contregarde et le premier feuillet blanc. ÉDITION ORIGINALE RARE de cet ouvrage dédié à la marquise de La Vallière. Dans un premier voyage (septembre 1698 - septembre 1699), Claude BIRON visite Cayenne, la Martinique et la Guadeloupe. Au cours d'un second voyage (février 1701 - juillet 1702) après avoir côtoyé les Canaries, le Sénégal, le Cap de Bonne Espérance, Madagascar, il mouille à l'île d'Anjouan, Pondichéry où il séjourne 13 jours, à l'île Bourbon, etc. Dans une lettre à l'abbé de Vallement, il traite du thé, longuement du tabac, etc. Dans la partie qu'il consacre aux "Curiositez de la nature" il décrit le serpent de la Guadeloupe (pp. 178 à 182) et le « Huart oiseau du Canada » (pp. 206 à 208). 7 PLANCHES hors-texte [sur 8, MANQUE la planche du crocodile pp. 154/155 : on joint une REPRODUCTION de la planche manquante sur un feuillet A4] dont 6 représentent des plantes et des animaux et une, dépliante, donnant le portrait de Confucius, un en-tête et des lettrines. (Ryckebusch, 816 - Sabin, 5582). BEL EXEMPLAIRE conservé dans sa reliure d'époque, très habilement restaurée. NICE COPY. PICTURES AND MORE DETAILS ON REQUEST.
  • $1,540
  • $1,540
1880s Photograph of Rock Formations on the Spokane River

1880s Photograph of Rock Formations on the Spokane River, Washington

Isaac G. Davidson 5.5" x 8" albumen photograph on a 9.25" x 12" mount. Titled "Barrel and Pitcher Rocks, Spokane River, five miles below the falls," with further caption for the series: "Scenery Along the Line of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, Pend d'Oreille Division." Credited "Davidson, Photo. Portland, Oregon." Very good condition, with some small chips at the edges of the mount. This series of views was apparently taken to celebrate and promote the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Construction had begun in Minnesota in 1870, and the final section was completed on September 8, 1883. An article published in the Helena [Montana] Semi-Weekly Herald on July 19, 1883, reports that "Mr. Ed Stone, General Agent of the Land Department of the Northern Pacific Railroad, is the possessor of a large album of views entitled "Oregon and the Pacific Northwest." Glimpses of pretty sports along the valley of the Columbia River from northern Montana to the Pacific Ocean. Scenery along the line of the Northern Pacific railroad, showing the new Trans-continental route. The photographs were made by I.G. Davidson of Portland, Oregon.There can be no grander promise of pictures of fine scenery given to any travelers than will be viewed by the tourists over the Northern Pacific railroad when it is completed through to the Pacific ocean this fall." Isaac Grundy Davidson (1845-1922) moved to Oregon from Illinois in 1850 and opened a photography studio in Portland in 1878. Mautz describes him as "one of the Northwest's premier photographers."
  • $125
A Tale of Two Cities.

A Tale of Two Cities.

DICKENS, Charles. First US edition, the earliest known copy in wrappers, from the collection of Dickens's bibliographer Walter Smith, described and photographed in pp. 358-361 of his bibliography. The novel was issued in various formats, the earliest being the issue in wrappers, first published on 29 November 1859. The edition was afterwards issued in various formats of cloth in December 1859, with inserted illustrations (the wrappers issue is unillustrated); subsequent editions in duodecimo and octavo followed with variant pagination and integral illustrations. The issue in wrappers was intended as a cheap format: "putting a cheap edition on sale a few days before copies in more substantial bindings with illustrations were available is in keeping with publishing practices by large firms of the period" (Smith, p. 357). This copy cannot be from the very earliest issue, as the rear wrapper advertises Great Expectations (1861) and an advertisement leaf cites Our Mutual Friend (1865). Contemporary advertisements for the earliest issue state 50 cents as the price, with the front wrapper here priced 75 cents. However, no other copy in wrappers which could be deemed earlier was ever found by Smith, nor do we know of another. The novel was first published in the UK in monthly parts from April to November 1859 and serialized in Dickens's weekly journal All the Year Round in the same period, before publication in book form in November that year. In the US, the novel was serialized in Harper's Weekly from May to December 1859. Harper's paid Dickens 5,000 dollars for the early proof sheets to beat competitors, and in May 1859 sold the rights to publish the novel in book form to Peterson. The sum paid is unknown, but Peterson later complained to Harper's that he never recouped his investment. Dickens's great historical romance, set during the French Revolution, remains one of his best known and most widely read works. "In its tightly organized and highly romantic melodrama and the near-absence of typical 'Dickensian' humour and humorous characters, A Tale of Two Cities certainly stands apart from all his other novels" (ODNB). Gimbel D25; Walter Smith, Charles Dickens: A Bibliography of His First American Editions, pp. 354-361. Octavo. Uncut in original wrappers printed in black. Housed in red quarter morocco box. Text printed in double columns; unillustrated as issued, though retaining a list of illustrations which featured in the subsequent cloth issue. Neat early pencilled ownership signature to title page; recent bookplate of collector Peter Russell mounted to inside cover of box. Very minor wear at extremities, nonetheless a very well-preserved copy of a fragile publication.
  • $3,809
  • $3,809
Autograph letter signed

Autograph letter signed, to Alfred Milner.

WILDE, Oscar. A characteristically nonchalant letter, signed by Wilde to his friend Alfred Milner (1854-1925), requesting a book to be sent for him to review. The full letter reads: "Dear Milner, I want 'Comyns Carr's' Essays on Art - Macmillan - to review: it and Melchin[?] should have a column between them. Essays on Art are naturally what I like to write about. Yours, Oscar Wilde". Wilde and Milner first met at Oxford in the 1870s, where both studied classics. At the time the present letter was sent, Milner was an deputy editor at the Pall Mall Gazette, to which Wilde contributed several essays from 1884 to 1890. Milner was one of a few friends whom Wilde invited to his wedding in 1884: "My dear Milner, I am going to be married tomorrow - quite privately - but would be so glad to see you at the church and afterwards at 100 Lancaster Gate" (Wilde, p. 227). Milner later gained distinction as an administrator in Egypt and the Southern African colonies; he was created 1st Viscount Milner in 1902 for his service in the Boer War, and during the First World War served as a member of Lloyd George's five-man War Cabinet. The book Wilde hoped to be sent was J. Comyns Carr's Papers on Art (1885). Joseph Comyns Carr (1849-1916) was a member of London's literary and artistic scene, and later an admirer of Wilde's dramatic works. He wrote in 1908 that Wilde "had a sense of the theatre, a genuine instinct for those moments in the conflict of character to which the proper resources of the theatre can grant both added force and added refinement". His wife, Alice, contributed an essay on fashion to The Woman's World magazine when Wilde was editor. It seems Wilde never did review Papers on Art; Milner instead sent him a book on cookery, Dinner and Dishes (1885), which Wilde took to with distinctive flair: "A man cannot live for three days without bread, but no man can live for one day without poetry, was an aphorism of Baudelaire's. Who indeed, in these degenerate days, would hesitate between an ode and an omlette, a sonnet and a salami?" This letter is mentioned in Thomas Sturgis's biography Oscar: A Life (2018), but its contents remain unpublished. Single bifolium (folded to 179 x 113 mm), handwritten in black ink across two pages, watermarked "Ye Antient Roman Writing Paper". Faintly creased from folding, slight toning to extremity of lower edge, excellent condition.
  • $8,571
  • $8,571
The Classic Anthology defined by Confucius.

The Classic Anthology defined by Confucius.

CONFUCIUS (attrib.), & Ezra Pound (trans.) First edition, first English issue of Ezra Pound's translation of the Shi Jing - the oldest extant collection of Chinese poetry, once thought to have been composed by Confucius. The quality of Pound's 305 poems has been readily recognised: "His renderings are not scholarly translations. but are bravura recreations of the ancient Chinese poem" (Xie, p. 213). The Journal of Asian Studies reviewed it on release as "contain[ing] many beautiful poems, expressing genuine feelings in an artistic form" (p. 273). Pound's translation was first published on 10 September 1954 by Harvard University Press in the US; 785 sets of sheets from this printing were imported and bound with a cancel title leaf by Faber & Faber in the UK, and published there on 25 February 1955. This copy is identified as part of the first US printing (and thus, the first English issue) by the correctly-printed "airs of pei" on the running title of p. 19 (Gallup, pp. 90-92). Gallup A69B. Vincent Y. C. Shin, "Review", in Journal of Asian Studies, vol. 14, no. 2, 1955; Ming Xie, The Cambridge Companion to Ezra Pound, 1999. Octavo. Original blue cloth, lettered in gilt to spine. With dust jacket. With two sections of musical score in the text. With the owner's inscription on the front free endpaper of one Richard Stockow at Athens on the 12th of October, 1955. Spine ends slightly bumped, moderate wear to lower cover edges, toning to pages and endpapers; light toning to jacket spine, closed tear of c. 60 mm. to upper margin of front panel, text not affected, not price-clipped: a very good copy in like jacket.
  • $190
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Twenty-first edition.

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Twenty-first edition.

RUSSELL, Bertrand (his copy) - STEVENSON, Robert Louis. Bertrand Russell's copy, with his pictorial bookplate shared with his first wife, Alys Russell, on the front pastedown. Russell's own affinity with the Jekyll and Hyde dichotomy has been observed before, most notably by David J. Peterson, who remarked that "His unstable and repressed personality was constantly on the verge of erupting in a Jekyll and Hyde fashion" (p. 79). In his correspondence, Russell wrote that "there is a fierce hate in me, a hate that is also a well of life and energy - it would not really be good if I ceased to hate. I used to be afraid of myself and the dark side of my instinct [but] now I am not" (ibid., p. 80). This self-awareness might thus help to explain Russell's interest in this copy of Stevenson's classic of gothic horror. Though not marked as such, this copy then passed to Russell's niece-in-law Rachel 'Ray' Strachey (1887-1940), the prominent author and activist. Strachey was the daughter of Mary Pearsall Smith, an object of Russell's affections during the breakdown of his first marriage, which might explain how this copy came to be in her possession. As a suffragist, Strachey worked closely with Millicent Fawcett and later established several organisations to campaign for female admission to the professions. David J. Peterson, Revoking the Moral Order: The Ideology of Positivism and the Vienna Circle, 1999. Octavo. Original orange cloth, front cover lettered in black with publisher's device, black coated endpapers. Spine toned, ends and upper corners bumped, cloth slightly rubbed and soiled with faint pink mark on front cover, occasional internal foxing: a very good copy.
  • $317
Hard Times.

Hard Times.

DICKENS, Charles. Both the first and second US editions of Hard Times, the shortest, but also arguably the most political, of Dickens's novels, as well as being the only novel set entirely outside of London. The novel was first published in the UK in Household Words from April to August 1854, and in book form on 7 August 1854. The novel was first published in the US by T. L. McElrath, who paid $1,500 for the advance sheets of the final parts of the UK edition, on 8 August 1854. This copy is in Smith's binding variant B, with the front wrapper also naming the published Dewitt & Davenport. The second US edition was published by Harper & Brothers a single day later, on 9 August 1854. Harper was unwilling to pay for advance sheets, and so used the T. L. McElrath edition to quickly typeset their edition and publish it the following day. The Harper edition was published at half the price, and was designed to outcompete the former edition. Smith notes a contemporary newspaper reporting that this "entirely stopped the sale of McElrath's book, robbed him of the profits of his enterprise, and literally crushed the young rival out of existence" (cited in Smith, p. 328). Smith, American Editions, pp. 323-8. 2 copies, octavo. Original brown wrappers printed in black. Housed together in custom green quarter morocco box. Recent bookplate of collector Peter Russell mounted to inside cover of box. Wrappers a little worn, the first edition with some reinforcement at extremities, contents a little spotted, second edition with some peripheral staining and minor fire damage to bottom fore corner. Good copies.
  • $1,270
  • $1,270
The Chimes! A goblin story of some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in.

The Chimes! A goblin story of some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in.

DICKENS, Charles. First US edition, published a few hours earlier than a competitor edition - it was published the morning of 27 January 1845, the rival edition of Harper & Brothers was published later that day. E. Winchester soon published a superficially similar second edition, distinguished by the illustration on p. 32 comprising the whole page rather than below the text. The Chimes, the second of Dickens's Christmas books, was first published in London on 16 December 1844. Dickens's works did not have copyright protection in the US, hence the rush by publishers to bring out their editions first, as soon as the UK edition could arrive by steamship and be copied. Lea & Blanchard also published a relatively tardy edition on 30 January 1845. The work is more political than its genial predecessor, and attacks heartless magistrates and smug politicians. "It marks a decisive shift away from the spontaneous comedy of Dickens's early work and points to the careful planning and thematic seriousness of the work of his maturity" (Schlike, p. 98) Gimbel A89; Smith, Charles Dickens: A Bibliography of His First American Editions: The Christmas Books, pp. 49-50. Paul Schlicke, ed., The Oxford Companion to Charles Dickens, 2011. Octavo. Original tan wrappers printed in black. Housed in custom brown cloth chemise and slipcase. Recent bookplate of Peter Russell to inner chemise. Wrappers a little worn, wrappers and contents clean without spotting. A very good copy.
  • $1,587
  • $1,587
A Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol.

DICKENS, Charles. First US edition, first impression, of the defining Christmas story, one of the most culturally influential works of English literature. Dickens's reputation in America was otherwise waning after his unpopular American Notes (1842), but this publication "was sensational, and restored Dickens's prominence" (Smith, p. xvi). A Christmas Carol was first published in the UK on 19 December 1843. This first US edition was published on 24 January 1844 by Harper & Brothers. An edition published by Carey & Hart followed in April. Prior to Smith's bibliographic research the Carey & Hart was often stated as the first US edition, and is occasionally still incorrectly listed as such. Of this true first edition, there were three subsequent impressions. The second and third impressions have varying advertisements in the letterpress, and the fourth impression is dated 1845 on the title page. The first impression is also found in tan wrappers, without priority, and there are likewise variations within the wrapper advertisements, here conforming to the standard advertisements given by Smith. Smith, Charles Dickens: A Bibliography of His First American Editions: The Christmas Books, pp. 28-32. Octavo. Original light green-blue wrappers printed in black. Housed in brown solander box. Recent bookplate of collector Peter Russell mounted to inside cover of box. Wrappers lightly chipped at extremities, short closed tear in inner margin throughout, contents a little toned. A very good, unrestored copy of this fragile publication.
  • $6,349
  • $6,349
American Notes for General Circulation.

American Notes for General Circulation.

DICKENS, Charles. Both the first and second US editions, the former achieving this status by beating the latter's publication time by two hours. Both copies are from the collection of Dickens's bibliographer Walter Smith, and are photographed in his bibliography (pp. 12 & 16). The work was first published in the UK on 19 October 1842. Both of these editions call themselves the "First American Edition". The J. Winchester edition was confirmed as the true first in 1975 in an article by Peter Bracher (Bibliographical Society of America, vol. 69, pp. 365-376) and this was re-affirmed by Walter Smith. The J. Winchester edition was published at 2 PM on 7 November 1842, the "Brother Jonathan Edition" of Wilson & Company was published at 4 PM. The next day, Harper published another edition, and the day following that, Lea & Blanchard published an edition. All four publishers raced to press with the arrival of the first copies of the UK edition by boat. J. Winchester published a second impression soon after - the first impression as here has "number 32,23" printed incorrectly in the heading. Wilson & Company also printed a second impression, most readily distinguished by the rear wrapper illustration "Riots in Ireland" - this is an example of the second impression. American Notes detailed Dickens's thoughts on America following his 1842 visit, and proved his most controversial book. Although complimentary of the United States in many ways, Dickens antagonized much of his American readership by his criticisms of the penal system and the entire system of slavery. However, perhaps his most strident attack targets the lack of copyright and subsequent pirating of English works. The fact that four publishers produced four piracies of the work in three days aptly proved his point. Smith, Charles Dickens: A Bibliography of His First American Editions: The Christmas Books and Secondary Works, pp. 11-17. 2 copies, folio. Original wrappers. Housed together in custom blue quarter morocco box. Recent bookplate of collector Peter Russell mounted to inside cover of box, first edition with contemporary ownership signature at head, second edition with contemporary bookseller's stamp to front wrapper. Wrappers worn, a little soiled, still very good copies of these fragile publications.
  • $1,905
  • $1,905
George SAND - rare dessin Dendrite aquarellée originale

George SAND – rare dessin Dendrite aquarellée originale

George SAND George SAND (1804 - 1876), écrivain français Paysage, rochers et ruines, (vers 1870) Dendrite et aquarelle sur papier, 14 x 19,5 cm. Provenance : Collection Franca et Pierre Belfond Expositions : A rapprocher des expositions : Maison Balzac (Dessins d écrivains français du XIXe siècle, 1983), Sueños de tinta, 1993 (La Palmas de Gran Canaria), Musée de la vie romantique (George Sand, une nature d artiste, 2004), à l IMC au musée Berardo à Lisbonne, Musée communal d Ixelles (dessins d écrivains, 2008), Schim Kunsthalle à Francfort (Turner, Hugo, Moreau, Entdeckung der Abstraction, 2008). L ensemble de ces dessins proviennent d un album, anthologique, préparé ver 1875 par George Sand et complété plus tard par son fils Maurice, d environ 47 dessins à destination de ses chère petites-filles Aurore et Gabrielle, les enfants de son fils. Elle réalisa ses premiers dessins dans le plus pur style romantique à l époque où elle ne s appelait encore qu Aurore Dudevant, pour évoluer plus tardivement vers des formes abstraites dont elle donna le nom célèbre de « dendrites ». Dans ses souvenirs, relatés dans « Histoire de ma vie (IV, 12), la romancière raconte comment elle voulut gagner sa vie en peignant « des fleurs et des oiseaux d ornement, en compositions microscopiques sur des tabatières et des étuis à cigares », mais aussi des éventails et des boîtes à thé, entre autres. Elle précisait qu elle aimait réaliser « des portraits au crayon ou à l aquarelle en quelques heures : « je saisissais très bien la ressemblance, je dessinais pas mal mes petites têtes. ». A l aune de sa vie, elle s exerça aux dendrites ou aquarelle à l écrasage. Ce procédé consistait à écraser la couleur pour en sortir des formes figuratives. Nous avons ici un témoignage touchant de cette vie méconnue d artiste de la célèbre romancière. Un ouvrage est consacré aux uvres graphiques de George Sand par Christian Bernadac, « Georges Sand, Dessins et aquarelles, éditions Belfond, 1992. »
  • $7,131
  • $7,131
THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLYCLORAN. A Novel

THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLYCLORAN. A Novel

Trollope, Anthony Philadelphia: T.B. Peterson & Brothers, n.d. [1870]. 22 pp ads paginated [11]-12, 1-16, [1-4] -- undated but referring to the year 1870. Original blind-stamped black cloth with spine decorated and lettered in gilt. First American Edition of Trollope's first book. This tale was first published in three volumes, in 1847 by Thomas Cautley Newby; in 1951 it was ranked by Sadleir as the very scarcest of Trollope's 53 first editions. Next came THE KELLYS AND THE O'KELLYS in 1848, and then LA VENDÉE in 1850. But Trollope was not really "noticed" in America until after the success of his fourth and fifth novels -- THE WARDEN in 1855 and BARCHESTER TOWERS in 1857. Soon Harper began publishing Trollope's novels, beginning with DOCTOR THORNE in 1858 and THE BERTRAMS in 1859. In 1860 Rudd & Carleton of NY published Trollope's second novel (THE KELLYS AND THE O'KELLYS), but the first and third novels remained unpublished in America. According to Smith, in early 1861 Harper announced the forthcoming publication of THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLYCLORAN, but it never happened. It was another decade before T.B. Peterson published this first American edition of Trollope's first book. As with all Peterson publications, this book has an undated title page; the only way to discern the date of a Peterson publication is via the ad catalogue, which here properly includes the date 1870. This is a bright, tight, near-fine copy, with scarcely any wear and with the original dark-brown endpapers intact. In our experience this is one of the scarcest Trollope American editions -- probably because Peterson printed few copies of a book that had in fact come out almost a quarter of a century earlier. Smith (US Trollope) 26 -- with the same ads as here, except that the [11]-12 and [1-4] ads precede the 16-page catalogue; see Sadleir (UK Trollope) 1, which for a First American Edition cites "None within any reasonable period of time"; also see Sadleir (XIX) pp 382-383.
  • $875