Shakespeare, William. Revised by George Steevens

The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare.

London : Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for John and Josiah Boydell, George and W. Nicol., 1802.

Rare finely bound complete set of “by far the largest single engraving enterprise ever undertaken in England”, John Boydell’s magnificent illustrated folio edition of the dramatic works of Shakespeare. Folio, 9 volumes. Bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine, all edges marbled. Elaborately illustrated with 96 plates engraved by the mostContinue reading "The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare."

Rossetti, Lucy Madox. [Mary Shelley]

Mrs. Shelley.

London : W. H. Allen & Co, 1890.

First edition of Lucy Madox Rossetti’s biography of Mary Shelley; extra-illustrated and with an autograph letter signed by Mary Shelley laid in. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Bayntun with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels,Continue reading "Mrs. Shelley."

Joyce, James; Henri Matisse

Ulysses.

New York : The Limited Editions Club, 1935.

The Limited Editions Club signed limited edition of Joyce’s landmark Ulysses, widely recognized as the first illustrated edition. Large quarto, original gilt-stamped pictorial brown cloth, with 26 illustrations. One of 1,500 numbered copies, this is number 1,476. Boldly signed by Henri Matisse in pencil on the colophon page at the rear. In near fine condition.Continue reading "Ulysses."

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Cambridge : Riverside Press, 1903.

The Autograph Centenary edition of the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of 600 numbered copies containing a double sided manuscript in Emerson’s hand bound into volume one. Octavo, 12 volumes, publisher’s original three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edgeContinue reading "The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson."

Rand, Ayn

The Fountainhead.

London : Cassell, 1947.

First British edition of Rands’s breakthrough work and her first major literary success. Octavo, 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 inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, allContinue reading "The Fountainhead."

Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection.

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Rare collection of illuminated paintings depicting the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Quarto, bound in full calf with gilt tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt ruling to the front and rear panels with fleuron cornerpieces surrounding a gilt-bordered morocco onlay displaying a coat of arms, patterned endpapers, twelve vellum leaves. The illuminated paintings include: theContinue reading "Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection."

Twain, Mark. [Samuel Clemens]

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade).

New York : Charles L. Webster and Company, 1885.

First edition, first issue of Mark Twain’s masterpiece. Octavo, bound in full dark green morocco with morocco spine label lettered in gilt, raised bands to the spine, mar top edge gilt, with 174 illustrations by Edward W. Kemble. With all of the agreed upon first issue points for the clothbound book: page 9 with “Decided”Continue reading "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade)."

[Shaw, Robert Gould; Ralph Waldo Emerson; Harriet Beecher Stowe; James Russell Lowell; et al]

Memorial.

Cambridge : University Press, 1864.

First edition of this scarce volume dedicated to the commander of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Robert Gould Shaw, with contributions by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, William Lloyd Garrison, Edwin M. Stanton, and James Russell Lowell and with extracts from Colonel Shaw’s letters. Octavo, original publisher’s half leather over red boards with giltContinue reading "Memorial."

Stevenson, Robert Louis

The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson [Including Treasure Island; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Kidnapped].

Edinburgh : Printed by T. and A. Constable for Longmans, Green and Company, 1894.

Edinburgh edition of the Works of Robert Louis Stevenson, often considered the finest edition of Stevenson due to the paper quality used. Octavo,  complete set, 34 volumes, bound in full contemporary morocco, gilt titles to the spine, top edges gilt, gilt turn-ins. In fine condition. An exceptional set.

Molière. [Poquelin, Jean-Baptiste]

Oeuvres de Moliere. Nouvelle Edition.

Paris : [Pierre Prault], 1734.

First edition, first issue of one of the greatest French illustrated books of the first half of the eighteenth century. First issue with “Comteese” in vol. VI, p. 360, line 12. Quarto, six volumes bound in full calf with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labelsContinue reading "Oeuvres de Moliere. Nouvelle Edition."

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Cambridge : Riverside Press, 1903.

Autograph Centenary edition with a double sided manuscript in Emerson’s hand bound into volume one. Octavo, 12 volumes, bound in three quarters morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. Numerous mounted photogravure illustrations. One of 600 copies. Emerson discovered Pascal in college and was a lifelong admirer of Pascal’s wisdom. AtContinue reading "The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson."

White, Herbert C. [Art Director]. Introduction by Hu Shih, Ph.D

Peking The Beautiful.

Shanghai, China : The Commercial Press, Limited, 1927.

First edition of White’s fine photographic study of the monuments of Shanghai. Folio, original royal blue embroidered silk pictorial boards, illustrated with seventy mounted color and monochrome photographic plates of the celebrated monuments of China’s Northern Capital and its environs complete with descriptive and historical notes by Herbert C. White, Art Director of Signed ofContinue reading "Peking The Beautiful."

Dickens, Charles

Complete Set of the Works of Charles Dickens Nonesuch Press.

London : The Nonesuch Press, 1937-38.

The complete set of Charles Dickens by the Nonesuch Press, one of only 877 sets. Octavo, 24 volumes, original cloth, woodcut illustrations, original variously colored buckram by Leighton Straker. Edited by Arthur Waugh, Hugh Walpole, Thomas Hatton and Walter Dexter. In near fine condition. A very sharp set.

Machiavelli, Niccolo. Translated by Edward Dacres

Machiavels Discourses upon the First Decade of T. Livius translated out of the Italian; With some marginall animadversions noting and taxing his errors. [Machiavelli’s Discourses].

London : Printed for Thomas Paine for William Hills and Daniel Pakeman, 1636.

Rare first edition in English of Machiavelli’s fundamental work of political history and philosophy. 12mo, bound in one quarter morocco over marbled boards with an earlier morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Translated by Edward Dacres. Ownership signature. Rare and desirable.

Franklin, Benjamin

Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces; Arranged under the Following Heads and Distinguished by Initial Letters in each Leaf: General Politics; American Politics before the Troubles; American Politics during the Troubles; Provincial or Colony Politics; Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces.

London : Printed for J. Johnson, 1779.

First collected edition of “the only edition of Franklin’s writings (other than his scientific) printed during his lifetime” (Ford). Octavo, bound in three quarter olive crushed levant morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in three compartments within raised bands, all edges speckled blue, engraved frontispiece portrait of Franklin, three engraved plates (oneContinue reading "Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces; Arranged under the Following Heads and Distinguished by Initial Letters in each Leaf: General Politics; American Politics before the Troubles; American Politics during the Troubles; Provincial or Colony Politics; Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces."

Machiavelli, Niccolo

The Florentine Historie. Written in the Italian tongue, by Nicholo Macchiavelli, Citizen and Secretarie of Florence. And translated into English by Thomas Bedingfield Esquire.

London : Printed by T. C. [Thomas Creede] for W. P. [William Ponsonby], 1595.

Rare first edition in English of this classic work. Quarto, bound in full calf, decorated with woodcut engraved ornamental title page and engraved head and tailpieces. In near fine condition with some light browning and wear, title trimmed and laid down. Translated by Thomas Bedingfeld. First editions are scarce, especially in this condition.

Palladio, Andrea. Translated from the Italian by Giacomo Leoni

The Architecture of A. Palladio: In Four Books Containing a Short Treatise of the Five Orders, and the Most Necessary Observations Concerning All Sorts of Building; As Also The Different Construction of Private and Publick Houses, High-ways. Bridges, Market-places, Xystes, and Temples, with their Plans, Sections and Uprights.

London : Printed by John Darby for the Author, 1721.

Rare second English edition of Leoni’s English translation of Palladio‘s monumental work, containing new typesetting, but reusing the same plates from the first edition. Folio, two volumes bound in full contemporary polished calf with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling and decorative stamping to theContinue reading "The Architecture of A. Palladio: In Four Books Containing a Short Treatise of the Five Orders, and the Most Necessary Observations Concerning All Sorts of Building; As Also The Different Construction of Private and Publick Houses, High-ways. Bridges, Market-places, Xystes, and Temples, with their Plans, Sections and Uprights."

Dickens, Charles

The Personal History of David Copperfield.

London : Bradbury and Evans, May 1849 - November 1850.

First edition in the original monthly parts of “the most perfect of all the Dickens novels” (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, original blue-green illustrated paper wrappers, twenty parts in nineteen, frontispiece, vignette title-page and thirty-eight additional inserted plates. In near fine condition, an unrestored example of Dickens’ classic work which is virtually complete with all preliminary advertisements withContinue reading "The Personal History of David Copperfield."

Darwin, Charles

The Descent of Man.

London : John Murray, 1871.

First edition of both volumes (with “transmitted” the first word on p. 297 in the first volume; in the second, the printer’s note on the verso of the half-title, errata on title verso, and the postscript leaf after p. viii. both volumes have the January ads). Octavo, two volumes, original green cloth with gilt titlesContinue reading "The Descent of Man."

Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.

Boston and Cleveland : John P. Jewett and Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1852.

First edition, first issue of the author’s classic work. Octavo, two volumes, bound in full brown morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edges gilt, gilt inner dentelles, striped endpapers, illustrated with title vignettes and sixContinue reading "Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly."

Churchill, Winston S

The River War: An Account of the Reconquest of the Sudan.

London : Longmans, Green, and Co, 1899.

First editions of Churchill’s history of the conquest of the Sudan. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth, illustrated with 22 maps and plans, several folding. Association copy, with signatures and annotations by E.B. Lack, who helped to supply gunboats to the Admiralty during the campaign. Woods A2(a). In near fine condition. Housed in a custom halfContinue reading "The River War: An Account of the Reconquest of the Sudan."

Dickens, Charles

The Selected Works of Charles Dickens: Sketches by Boz Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Master Humphrey’s Clock, The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son, The Personal History of David Copperfield, Bleak House, Hard Times. For These Times, Little Dorrit, A Tale of Two Cities, The Uncommercial Traveller, The Adventures of Oliver Twist, Our Mutual Friend, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

London : Chapman and Hall; Bradbury and Evans, 1838-1870.

Finley bound collection of the selected works of Charles Dickens. Octavo, 15 volumes finely bound in full straight grain morocco by Carss & Co. with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and double gilt-ruled inner dentelles,Continue reading "The Selected Works of Charles Dickens: Sketches by Boz Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Master Humphrey’s Clock, The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son, The Personal History of David Copperfield, Bleak House, Hard Times. For These Times, Little Dorrit, A Tale of Two Cities, The Uncommercial Traveller, The Adventures of Oliver Twist, Our Mutual Friend, The Mystery of Edwin Drood."

Halley, Edmond

Astronomical Tables with Precepts both in English and Latin for Computing the Places of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Comets.

London : Printed for William Innys in Pater-noster Row, 1752.

First edition in English of Halley’s classic work. Quarto, bound in full morocco with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, copper-engraved frontispiece portrait of Halley, illustrated with numerous charts. Edited by John Bevis.Continue reading "Astronomical Tables with Precepts both in English and Latin for Computing the Places of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Comets."

Darwin, Charles

The Descent of Man.

London : John Murray, 1871.

First edition, first issue of both volumes (with “transmitted” the first word on p. 297 in the first volume; in the second, the printer’s note on the verso of the half-title, errata on title verso, and the postscript leaf after p. viii. Both volumes have the January ads). Octavo, two volumes, original green cloth withContinue reading "The Descent of Man."