Hammer, Joshua
The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and their race to save the world’s most precious manuscripts
Simon & Schuster, New York: 2016
- $25
Fine condition with dust jacket likewise.e
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Accurata y succinta descrizione topografica delle antichita di Roma
Venuti, Ridolfino Large quarto (28x21 cm), 2 parts in 1 volume, pp 96 leaves of plates plus one large folding plate - all etchings. The large foling plate is a map of Rome, showing the location of each of the sites described in the text. Both volumes - referred to as parts - are full of magnificent head and tail pieces. Artists include Giovanni Piranesi (19 signed plates), but also present are Duflos, Bellicard, Legeay an Bernabo and Lazzarini. The etchigs are exquisite, and there is text describing each site as well. Paper and illustrations are very clean, in fine condition. Numerous copies in libraries noted on OCLC, but no copes listed at auction.Book has been rebound at some point, but it looks like the original binding was retained: full calf, spine with raised bands with diapered leather panels; hinges repaired. The book is quite sturdy now. Very good copy.- $2,500
- $2,500
Obras Completas de Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
4 vols, octavo sze hardback.The complete set of Sor Juana's works, with excellent notes and references by the editor (of the first 3 volumes) commentary - Alfonso Mendez Plancarte. At his early death in 1955 at the age of 45, his long-time collaborator Alberto Salcedo completed the task and is responsiible for the fnal volume. The work is considered definitive. This set is in fine condition: former owner's bookplate (Denis Hines) in first voolume only, all with orginal dust jackets. Obras Selectas de la monja celebre de Mejico
Small octavo or perhaps 12mo, 2.5 x 4 in, ll [8] lxxxvi, pp 402. The prelimary material, pagnated in roman numerals, is a biography of Sor Juan; the rest of the book consists of selected work and a short index. A very scarce and early attempt to resurrect Sor Juana. Quito imprints from this period are uncommon. OCLC lists only 7 copies of this work, none outside US libraries. It is unusual and worth noting that the rebirth of interest in Sor Juana should have come from such an unexpected locale. Binding is full mottled calf, and certainly looks to be contemporaneous with the publication of the book. Spine is gilded in panels, with title material in lighter brown leather strip. Very good condition. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz: Doncella del Verbo
Octavo siz, paperback, pp 531, + (2) index. The first full-scale biography of Sor Juana (1648 - 1695) since Octavio Paz' Las Trampas de la Fe, which, though beautifully written and important for the resurrection of interrest in Sor Juana, is biased in many respects and simply false in others. Soriano Valles corrects these in great detail and based on the most exhaustive research. Sor Juana is gnerally considered the greatest literary figure of colonial Mexico and an integral member of the Golden Age of Spanish literature, which included Cervantes, Calderon, Lope et al. All of the historical fragments which have come to light recently associated with Sor Juana confirm Soriano Valles' reading of the crucial period toward the end of her life when she gave up her books and devoted herself to her religious practices, finally dying while attending her sister nuns sickened from a contagious disease which ultimately infected her. Fine condition - as new. Libro de la infancia y muerte de Jesus (Libre del tres reys d’orient)
Large 8vo size, 10 x 7 in, pp pp xiii, 197, with numerous b/w photo reproductions of the original text. Translation ad study of this 13th century poem, in Spanish and Aragonese, of th elegends surround the l=ife, particularly the infancy narratives, of Jesus. Fine condition, in thinck wrappers, with fench fold. Andancas e viajes de un hidalgo espanol
Small folio size, limited edition of `1000 copies, pp 615 + indicial matter. "Libro de conocimientos de todos los reinos y tierras y senorios que son por el mundo. escrito a meiados el siglo xiv por un anonimo franciscano espanol. escrito antes de 1350."Fine copy in maroon leather, with gilt titling. Fine copy in maroon leather with gilt tittle s, and slightly stained dust jacket. Fray Servando
Paperback, pp 162. A fictionalized version of Servando de Mier's life, October 18, 1765 December 3, 1827, which was surely one of the most colorful in Mexican history. Pursued by the Mexican Inquisition over a sermon on the Apostle St. Thomas, in which he claimed that the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe was imprinted on Thomas' cloak, centuries before it was "discovered" by Juan Diego. Jailed in Spain, he escaped to France, before finally returning to Mexico to take part in the struggle for independence. He left some memoires which are generally onsidered dubious as to the actual facts of his life. This version is in the inimitable style of Valle-Arizpe - keep your dictionary handy! Spanish language. This copy is in perfect condition. Incidents of Travel in Yucatan
2 vols., 8vo, pp. [xiv], 303 + folding plates; [xiii], 336 + catalog of Dover publications. Very good reprint of this classic, including all of the original Catherwood ilustrations, 254 in toto. Catherwood's drawings are well reproduced, in some cases folding out into multi-panelled views, as in the original. Maps, groundplans, all included. Bound in stiff colored wrappers. Fone condition. Historia de los musulmanes de Espana. vol. 2 (of 2)
Dozy, Reniero-Pedro small octavo, pp 357. Standard history of the Moslem period of Spanish history, here translated from the French. It consists of 4 volumes, the two latter in this volume. Lovely copy, bound in red cloth, with previous owner's elaborate book plate affixed to inside front cover. Fine condition with dust jacket likewise.- $50
- $50
Vocabulario de lengua castellana y mexicana . Coleccion de incunables Americanos
Molina, Alonso de Folio, 19x27,5 m, ff 121 (242 p.) + 161 (322 p.) Fray Alonso de Molina, a Franciscan friar (1513 1585[) was one of the remarkable early missionaries that come over to Mexico from Spain. His dictionary of nahuatl - the first dictionary printed in the "New World" - is still useful in grammatical studies of the language. He served for many years in nahuatl-speaking missions and was completely fluent in the language. This is a facsimile edtion of tthe original Mexico City imprint of 1571, by the noted printer Antonio de Espinosa . de la Orden del Bienaventurado Nuestro Padre San Francisco. Obra impresa en México, por Antonio Espínola en 1571 y ahora editada en facsímil. Madrid. Tapas originales con roce Binding is wrappers, sections are sewn: a handsome reprint, forming volume 4 of the Coleccionde Incunables Americana. Excellent condition- $375
- $375
Poesia espanola del siglo xx. de Unamuno a Blas de otero.
Cano, Jose Luis Small octavo size, pp 543 + 4 of index. Not simply an anthology o poetry of the period, but a narrative and biographical history of the vrious movements of the period. Fine copy in slightly chipped dust jacket, with bookplate of the previous owner.- $50
- $50
Humanisme et Religion Chez Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. La Femme et la Culture au XVII Siecle
Benassy-Berling, Marie Cecile Large octavo size, 10 x 6in, 510 pp, b/w frontispiece portrait. An extraordinary work, basically the doctoral these of prof. Benassy-Berling, and probably the most erudite work yet published on this important figure, and great poet of colonial Mexico. It seems that every aspect of Sor Juana and her cultural milieu is discuseed at depth in this work. Paperbound, but with sewn signatures, and on very good paper. Occasional lightly pencilled marginal notes. Condition is very good.- $125
- $125
La Salud en el Hogar. Primera serie de las 300 recetas utiles de medecina. . Dedicads prncipamente a las personas del campo
Anonymous; Posada, Jose Guadalupe (illus) 16 pp, small pamphlet, 5.25 x 3.5 in. Contains recipes. Subtitle reads: "Recetas utiles para curar las enfermedades mas comunes, recopilads de las mejores obras de medecina." The title is a bit ambiguous, as this is only the first booklet in a series of three, which all told apparently would contain 300 "recipes." Probably each pamphlet contained 100 recipes each. This has about 100. Fine condition, stapled wraps, colored front wrapper possibly by Jose Guadalupe Posada (as noted by OCLC and UT San Antonio, Posada being the principle illustrator for Vanegas Arroyo). Extremely rare, as OCLC locates only one copy of each of the three pamphlets.- $200
- $200
El Distrito Federal y Territorios de la Republica Mexicana
Arriaga, Miguel Spanish language, narrow folio, 8.5 x 4, pp 105, with 7 fold-out maps, most in color. The street map of Mexico City is particularly interesting - see photo - as it shows the old street names, each block having its own, which were all changed after the revolution. Excellent condition.Bound in leather with colored paper cover .- $95
- $95
The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu and their race to save the world’s most precious manuscripts: https://rarebookinsider.com/rare-books/the-bad-ass-librarians-of-timbuktu-and-their-race-to-save-the-worlds-most-precious-manuscripts/