Moliere. [Poquelin, Jean-Baptiste]

The Dramatic Works of Moliere.

Edinburgh : William Paterson, 1875-1876.

Finely bound example of Henri Van Laun’s important translation of Moliere’s complete dramatic works. Quarto, 6 volumes, bound in full straight-grain royal blue morocco, gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling and miniature fleuron cornerpeices to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-insContinue reading "The Dramatic Works of Moliere."

Tocqueville, Alexis Charles Henri Clérel. Translated by Henry Reeve

Democracy in America.

London : Saunders and Otley, 1835.

First edition in English of Tocqueville’s magnum opus. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in three quarters period calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, half-titles, folding engraved map. In very good condition. An attractive contemporary binding.

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."

Trollope, Anthony

The Prime Minister.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1876.

First edition of this classic work, which examines one of the most enduring questions in government; whether a morally scrupulous gentleman can make an effective leader. Octavo, original cloth, four volumes. In near fine condition. An exceptional example, one of the nicest examples we have seen.

Gogol, Nikolai V

Dead Souls.

London : Vizetelly & Co., n.d..

Finely bound example of Gogol’s masterwork, “the first novel from which the world began to form its ideas of 19th-century Russia” (Hornstein, 139). Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. In near fine condition.

Austro-Hungarian Nobility Patent

Vienna 1911.

Rare Austro-Hungarian Nobility Patent bestowing upon Brunn industrialist Adolf Noble von Kurschner and his descendants a Hungarian noble title. Folio, bound in full morocco with elaborate gilt metal onlays embellished with precious stones, inner dentelles, silk-watered endleaves, tasseled ribbon bound in. The patent is richly decorated with hand-painted illuminated borders, large hand-painted coat of arms.Continue reading "Austro-Hungarian Nobility Patent"

Victoria, Queen. Edited by Arthur Christopher and Viscount Esher

Letters of Queen Victoria: A Selection from her Majesty’s Correspondence Between the Years 1837 and 1861.

London : John Murray, 1907.

First edition set of this selection of the letters of Queen Victoria, written between 1837 and 1861. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco by Henry Southeran and Co. with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with tissue-guarded engravings including tissue-guarded frontispiecesContinue reading "Letters of Queen Victoria: A Selection from her Majesty’s Correspondence Between the Years 1837 and 1861."

Dickens, Charles

The Christmas Books: The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain.

London : Chapman and Hall/Bradbury & Evans, 1845-1848.

First editions of the four final novellas in Charles Dickens’ Christmas Book series. Octavo, 4 volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. The set is comprised of aContinue reading "The Christmas Books: The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain."

Dickens, Charles and John Forster

Works of Charles Dickens.

London 1837-1874.

Finely bound collection of a selection of Dickens’ works as well as Foster’s acclaimed biography. Octavo, 16 volumes uniformly bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, red and green contrasting morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. The collection is comprised of: aContinue reading "Works of Charles Dickens."

[Seeley, Emma Louise]

Belt and Spur: Stories of the Knights of the Middle Ages from the Old Chronicles. [Fore-Edge Painting].

London : Seeley, Jackson, & Halliday, 1883.

Finely bound example of this classic on Knights and the Middle Ages. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, inner dentelles, illustrated with six illuminations, all edges gilt. With a disappearing fore-edge painting which reveals a jousting scene. In near fine condition.

Curtius Rufus, Quintus

De Rebus Alexandri Magni, Cum Commentario Perpetuo & Indice Absolutissimo Samuelis Pitisci. [History of Alexander the Great].

Utrecht : Apud Franciscum Halma, 1685.

Rare 17th century printing of Rufus’ celebrated history of Alexander the Great. Octavo, bound in full vellum, with engraved title, folding map and 9 engraved plates (some folding) depicting the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a view of the ancient city, and a folding map of Alexander’s domain. In very good condition. Period ownership inscription.

Webber, Andrew Lloyd

Evita.

1979.

First edition of the musical score from the 1979 Broadway production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated title page. Association copy, inscribed by Mathilde Pincus of Chelsea Music on the second free endpaper to Andrew Lloyd Webber, “To Andrew Lloyd Webber: This is our way of showing our greatContinue reading "Evita."

Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]

The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale of Young People of All Ages.

Leipzig : Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1881.

First Tauchnitz edition of Twain’s first attempt at historical fiction, first published in Canada in 1881. 12mo, 2 volumes bound into one in half cloth over marbled boards. From the library of American journalist William Safire with his bookplate to the pastedown. William Safire was an important American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. HeContinue reading "The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale of Young People of All Ages."

Taylor, Thomas. [Plato]

The Works of Plato, Viz. His Fifty-Five Dialogues, and Twelve Epistles, Translated From the Greek; Nine of the Dialogues by the Late Floyer Sydenham, and the Remainder by Thomas Taylor: With Occasional Annotations on the Nine Dialogues Translated by Sydenham, and Copious Notes, by the Latter Translator.

London : Printed for Thomas Taylor, By R. Wilks, Chancery-Lane, 1804.

First edition of the first complete English translation of the works of Plato. Quarto, five volumes bound in full pebbled cloth retaining contemporary black morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, half-titles, engraved frontispiece to volume I. In the words of the Prometheus Trust, “Taylor’s Works of Plato, has two outstanding features which make it anContinue reading "The Works of Plato, Viz. His Fifty-Five Dialogues, and Twelve Epistles, Translated From the Greek; Nine of the Dialogues by the Late Floyer Sydenham, and the Remainder by Thomas Taylor: With Occasional Annotations on the Nine Dialogues Translated by Sydenham, and Copious Notes, by the Latter Translator."

Dickens, Charles

Dombey and Son.

London : Bradbury and Evans, 1848.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ novel of “Pride,” with 40 etchings by Hablôt Knight Browne (“Phiz”). Octavo, bound in original cloth. With 40 engraved plates including frontispiece and engraved title by H. K. Browne. In very good condition. A nice example.

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."

Milton, John. Edited by Sir Egerton Brydges, Bart

The Poetical Works of John Milton.

Boston : Phillips, Sampson, 1857.

Finely bound example of this compilation of Milton’s poetical works. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, all edges gilt, illustrated with engraved plates. In near fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Boyle, Robert

The Works of the Honourable Robert Boyle. In Six Volumes to which is prefixed The Life of the Author.

London : Printed for J. and F. Rivington, L. Davis, E. Johnston, S. Crowder, et al., 1772.

New edition of the complete works of the first modern chemist and pioneer in modern experimental scientific method. Quarto, six volumes, bound in full calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 24 engraved plates (most folding), frontispiece portrait of Boyle to volumeContinue reading "The Works of the Honourable Robert Boyle. In Six Volumes to which is prefixed The Life of the Author."

Marshman, Joshua [Confucius]

The Works of Confucius; Containing the Original Text, With a Translation. To Which is Prefixed a Dissertation on the Chinese Language and Character. [The Analects of Confucius].

Serampore : Printed at the Mission Press, 1809.

First English translation of the Analects of Confucius complete with the rare Dissertation on the Chinese Language and Character, here bound in a separate volume. Quarto, two volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, illustrated with 2 foldingContinue reading "The Works of Confucius; Containing the Original Text, With a Translation. To Which is Prefixed a Dissertation on the Chinese Language and Character. [The Analects of Confucius]."

Machiavelli, Nicolo

Opere Di Machiavelli.

Firenze : Gaetano Cambiagi, 1782-3.

First Cambiagi edition of the works of Machiavelli, one of the best and most important editions of his works. Quarto, bound in full period vellum with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, engraved portrait frontispiece of Machiavelli by Gregori after Santi di Tito, large arms of Earl Cowper on each title page, folding plate oppositeContinue reading "Opere Di Machiavelli."

Jowett, Benjamin

The Dialogues of Plato. Translated into English with Analyses and Introductions.

Oxford : The Clarendon Press, 1871.

First edition of Jowett’s complete translation of the Dialogues which succeeded in making Plato an English classic. Octavo, four volumes, bound in three quarters vellum over suede-covered boards, gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt. In near fine condition, bookplate. A rare and attractive set.

Thiers, Adolphe

Atlas de L’Histoire du Consulat et de L’Empire Dresse et Dessine Sous La Direction de M. Thiers Par MM. A. Dufour et Duvotenay. [The Thiers Atlas].

Paris : Librairie Furne, n.d..

Rare finely bound example of the Theirs Atlas, containing 66 maps and battle plans drawn by two of the best cartographers of Second Empire. Quarto, quarter cloth over marbled boards, illustrated with 66 plates by Dufour and Duvotenay printed by Dyonnet. In very good condition. A very nice example.

Marshall, John. [George Washington]

The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Forces, During the War Which Established the Independence of His Country, and First President of the United States. [WITH] The Life of George Washington: Maps and Subscriber’s Names.

Philadelphia : C.P. Wayne, 1804-1807.

First edition, first issue of the first biography of George Washington with the scarce atlas volume and list of subscribers. Octavo, six volumes, bound in full contemporary tree calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece portrait of Washington to volume I. With the scarce atlasContinue reading "The Life of George Washington, Commander in Chief of the American Forces, During the War Which Established the Independence of His Country, and First President of the United States. [WITH] The Life of George Washington: Maps and Subscriber’s Names."

Howitt, Margaret. [Fredrika Bremer]

Twelve Months with Fredrika Bremer in Sweden.

London : Jackson, Walford, and Hodder, 1866.

First edition of Howitt’s work on the twelve months she spent with close friend and writer Fredrika Bremer. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine and front panel, tipped in tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Bremer with an inscription from her to Howitt in facsimile. In very good condition. ScarceContinue reading "Twelve Months with Fredrika Bremer in Sweden."