Aristotle

Politiques, or Discourses of Government.

London : Adam Islip, 1598.

Rare first edition in English of one of the world’s most important and influential political texts, “the most valuable work on that branch of philosophy that has descended to us from antiquity.” Small folio, bound in full leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels. In near fine condition, bookplate, smallContinue reading "Politiques, or Discourses of Government."

Lewis, C.S. Illustrations by Pauline Baynes

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle.

London : Geoffrey Bles/The Bodley Head, 1950-1956.

Complete first edition set of C.S. Lewis’s best-selling work, one of the best-selling series of all time which has sold 120 million copies in 47 languages. “Adored by children and academics alike, these books are extremely collectable, sought-after, and scarce” (Connolly, 186). Octavo, seven volumes, original publisher’s cloth, each volume illustrated with plates, in-text illustrations,Continue reading "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle."

Joyce, James and Henri Matisse

Ulysses.

New York : Limited Editions Club, 1935.

First illustrated edition of Joyce’s landmark Ulysses, one of only 250 examples signed by James Joyce in pen and Henri Matisse in pencil, with 26 illustrations by him, one of the 20th-century’s most desirable illustrated books, combining the work of two great modern artists. Large quarto, original gilt-stamped pictorial brown cloth, original slipcase. In fineContinue reading "Ulysses."

Pratt, Samuel Johnson. [George Washington]

Family Secrets: By Mr. Pratt. Volume III. [From the Library of George Washington].

London : Printed for T.N. Longman, Paternoster-Row, 1798.

Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with a burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine. Vol. III of the original five volumes. Tipped in to the pastedown is a small clipped note in the hand of George Washington which reads, “with the said” and the bookplate of Benjamin Lincoln Lear.Continue reading "Family Secrets: By Mr. Pratt. Volume III. [From the Library of George Washington]."

Homer. Translated by Raphaello Maffei

Odissea Per Raphaelem Volaterranum in Latinum Conversa (The Odyssey of Homer translated by Raphael of Volterra in Latin).

Rome : Per Lacoubum Mazochium, 1510.

One of the earliest Latin translations of Homer’s epic poem, translated from the Greek by Roman Hellenic scholar Raphaello Maffei (Raphael of Volterra). Quarto, bound in contemporary vellum, rebacked, woodcut titles and printer’s device to the title page and at end of text. From the library of Robert R. Dearden, Jr. of Philadelphia with hisContinue reading "Odissea Per Raphaelem Volaterranum in Latinum Conversa (The Odyssey of Homer translated by Raphael of Volterra in Latin)."

Yan, Liu (Liu Dezhi). [Ye Zipei]

Complete Map of the World with All Nations.

China : Wanguo Dadi Quantu, 1851 [Xianfeng period].

Exceptionally rare second edition of Ye Zipei’s complete map of the world, one of only two known copies produced by terrestrial globe expert Liu Yan. The terrestrial map is comprised of six accordion-style albums bound in handmade paper with white titular labels lettered in hand to each front panel. A woodblock print in red andContinue reading "Complete Map of the World with All Nations."

Chapman, George. [Homer]

The Whole Works of Homer; Prince of Poetts In his Iliads, and Odysses. Translated according to the Greeke by Geo. Chapman.

London : [Richard Field and William Jaggard] for Nathaniel Butter, [c.1616].

First edition, first issue of the first complete English translation of Homer’s works. Folio, bound in full contemporary English calf with elaborate gilt floral tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised richly gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt scrolling to the front and rear panels, rebacked, boards restored preserving mostContinue reading "The Whole Works of Homer; Prince of Poetts In his Iliads, and Odysses. Translated according to the Greeke by Geo. Chapman."

Faulkner, William

The Complete Novels of William Faulkner. [Soldier’s Pay, Mosquitoes, Sartoris, The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, Sanctuary, Light in August, Pylon, Absalom, Absalom!, The Unvanquished, The Wild Palms, The Hamlet, Go Down Moses, Intruder in the Dust, Requiem For a Nun, A Fable, The Town, The Mansion, The Reivers].

New York : Various Publishers, 1926-1962.

First editions of each novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, 19 volumes, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt stamped signature to the front panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed byContinue reading "The Complete Novels of William Faulkner. [Soldier’s Pay, Mosquitoes, Sartoris, The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, Sanctuary, Light in August, Pylon, Absalom, Absalom!, The Unvanquished, The Wild Palms, The Hamlet, Go Down Moses, Intruder in the Dust, Requiem For a Nun, A Fable, The Town, The Mansion, The Reivers]."

Brown, Sir Thomas

Christian Morals.

London : Cambridge at the University Press, 1716.

Rare first edition of this classic philosophical work. Octodecimo, bound in full leather by J & K custom binding, gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. In near fine condition with light rubbing and toning, some pencil underlining from previous owner, stamp on the second free endpaper. Scarce with only one exampleContinue reading "Christian Morals."

Saint Augustine

Of the Citie of God: With the Learned Comments of Jo. Lod. Vives. [The City of God].

London : George Eld, 1610.

Rare first edition in English of Augustine’s monumental work. Translated by John Healey. Folio, bound in full brown calf, gilt titles to the spine, morocco spine label, raised bands. Large woodcut printer’s device on title (McKerrow 375). Decorative woodcut head-pieces and decorative and woodcut initials, including three twelve-line initials. In very good condition, ownership signatureContinue reading "Of the Citie of God: With the Learned Comments of Jo. Lod. Vives. [The City of God]."

Tolstoy, Leo. [Count Lyof N Tolstoi]

Anna Karenina.

Moscow : T. Ris, 1878.

First edition in Russian of Tolstoy’s masterpiece. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in three quarters calf, gilt titles, raised bands. Housed in a custom box. In near fine condition. First editions in Russian are rare.

Gibbon, Edward

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

London : Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, 1776-1788.

Rare complete first edition set, including the rare first state of volume one, of Gibbon’s landmark work of historiography. Quarto, 6 volumes bound in full contemporary mottled calf, with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt turn-ins, three engraved folding maps by Kitchin ofContinue reading "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

Opera Omnia. Ed. Jac. Sirmond (Volumes 1-4), and J. Garnier (Volume 5).

Paris : Sebastian and Gabriel Cramoisy, 1682-84.

A fine set of the works of Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus, beautifully painted on each panel. Quarto, five volumes, bound in full 17th-century vellum, both covers on each volume fully painted with a scene from the life of Christ, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, brown and black morocco lettering pieces. The first fourContinue reading "Opera Omnia. Ed. Jac. Sirmond (Volumes 1-4), and J. Garnier (Volume 5)."

Saint Augustine

Of the Citie of God: With the Learned Comments of Jo. Lod. Vives.

London : George Eld, 1610.

First edition in English of Augustine’s monumental work. Translated by John Healey. Folio, bound in full contemporary English panelled calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, central ornament tooled in gold to the front and rear panels, rebacked. Decorative woodcut head-pieces and decorative and woodcut initials, including three twelve-lineContinue reading "Of the Citie of God: With the Learned Comments of Jo. Lod. Vives."

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

The Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, Flappers and Philosophers, Tales of the Jazz Age, The Beautiful and Damned, The Vegetable, The Great Gatsby, All the Sad Young Men, Taps at Reveille, Tender is the Night, The Last Tycoon.

New York : Charles Scribners, 1920-1941.

First edition, first printings of each of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works. Octavo, 10 volumes, bound by full green morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, twin rule to turn ins, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. F. Scott FitzgeraldContinue reading "The Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, Flappers and Philosophers, Tales of the Jazz Age, The Beautiful and Damned, The Vegetable, The Great Gatsby, All the Sad Young Men, Taps at Reveille, Tender is the Night, The Last Tycoon."

Tolstoy, Lev Nikolayevich. [Leo]

The Complete Works of Count Leo Tolstoy.

Boston : Dana Estes & Company Publishers, 1905.

The Edition de Luxe of the complete works of Leo Tolstoy, limited to one thousand numbered copies. Octavo, 28 volumes bound in full elaborately decorated marbled levant morocco with gilt titles, tooling, and three red morocco floral inlays to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling, botanical gilt scrolling andContinue reading "The Complete Works of Count Leo Tolstoy."

Van der Hooght, Everardo

Biblia Hebraica, Secundum Ultimam Editionem Jos. Athiae, a Johanne Leusden, Denuo Recognitum, Recensita Variisque Notis Latinis Illustrata, ab Everardo Van Der Hooght. Editio Prima Americana, Sine Punctis Masorethicis.

Philadelphia : Printed by William Fry for Thomas Dobson, 1814.

Very rare first edition of the first Hebrew Bible published in America. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in full contemporary calf, including half-titles and front and rear blanks, as well as scarce publisher’s notice in volume one (not found in all examples); Van der Hooght’s four leaf Preface bound in at front of second volume, moroccoContinue reading "Biblia Hebraica, Secundum Ultimam Editionem Jos. Athiae, a Johanne Leusden, Denuo Recognitum, Recensita Variisque Notis Latinis Illustrata, ab Everardo Van Der Hooght. Editio Prima Americana, Sine Punctis Masorethicis."

Atwood, Margaret

The Complete Works of Margaret Atwood. [The Edible Woman, Surfacing, Lady Oracle, Life Before Man, Bodily Harm, The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin, Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood, MaddAddam, The Heart Goes Last, Hag-Seed, and The Testaments].

Toronto : McClelland and Stewart Limited/Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 1969-2019.

Complete true first edition set of the novels of Margaret Atwood, finely bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery. Octavo, 16 volumes bound in full red crushed levant morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front andContinue reading "The Complete Works of Margaret Atwood. [The Edible Woman, Surfacing, Lady Oracle, Life Before Man, Bodily Harm, The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin, Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood, MaddAddam, The Heart Goes Last, Hag-Seed, and The Testaments]."

Carrera, Pietro

Il Gioco De Gli Scacchi Di D. Pietro Carrera Diviso in Otto Libri. (The Game of Chess).

Militello : Giovanni de' Rossi, 1617.

Rare first edition of one of the early chess manuals, and the first book printed in Militello at Prince Francesco Branciforte’s private press. Octavo, bound in full contemporary vellum with ink titles to the spine, large engraving of the Branciforte coat of arms opposite the dedication page, woodcut illustrations throughout the text. In near fine condition.Continue reading "Il Gioco De Gli Scacchi Di D. Pietro Carrera Diviso in Otto Libri. (The Game of Chess)."

Carroll, Lewis. [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson]

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland.

London : MacMillan and Co, 1879.

Early edition with sixty-second thousand stated on the title page of this classic work, boldly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Edith Mary Alice Berkeley from the Author, May 15/80.” Octavo, original cloth, gilt titles to the spine, all edges gilt, publisher’s cloth s, all edges gilt, housed in a modern scarlet morocco slipcaseContinue reading "Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland."

Paine, Thomas

Dissertations on Government, the Affairs of the Bank, and Paper-Money.

Philadelphia : Printed by Charles Cist, 1786.

First edition of Paine’s defense of the Bank of North America. Small octavo, bound in three quarters leather over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. Rare.

Dickens, Charles

A Tale of Two Cities.

London : Chapman and Hall, June-December 1859.

First edition, first issue of one of Dickens’ most enduring works, with p.213 in part 7/8 mispaginated “113”, and signature mark ‘b’ present on List of Plates at end, etched frontispiece, additional title and 14 plates by “Phiz” (Hablot K. Browne). Octavo, original blue-green wrappers. Complete with all the advertisements called for by Hatton &Continue reading "A Tale of Two Cities."

Locke, John

Two Treatises of Government: In the former, the False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, and his Followers, Are Detected and Overthrown. The latter is an Essay Concerning The True Original Extent, and End of Civil-Government.

London : Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill, at the Black-Swan in Pater-noster Row, 1694.

Rare second edition of Locke’s famed treatises on government. Duodecimo, elaborately bound in full contemporary calf with ruling and tooling stamped in blind to the front and rear panels, all edges speckled. In good condition with rubbing, losses to the corners, and the spine rebacked. Lacking pages 337-352, which are supplied in facsimile and looselyContinue reading "Two Treatises of Government: In the former, the False Principles and Foundation of Sir Robert Filmer, and his Followers, Are Detected and Overthrown. The latter is an Essay Concerning The True Original Extent, and End of Civil-Government."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de. Translated by Thomas Shelton

The History of Don-Quichote. The First Parte and The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha.

London : Printed for Edward Blount, 1620.

Exceedingly rare first complete edition in English of Cervantes’ masterpiece comprised of a second edition of the first part and first edition of the second part. Small quarto, bound in full crimson crushed levant morocco by Riviere & Son, gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands,Continue reading "The History of Don-Quichote. The First Parte and The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha."