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)."

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]."

Gibbon, Edward

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

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

Rare full first edition set, first state of volume one, of Gibbon’s landmark work of historiography with three engraved folding maps by Kitchin of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire and of Constantinople and frontispiece portrait of Gibbon. Quarto, 6 volumes bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling toContinue reading "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

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."

Loddiges, George. Plates by George Cook

The Botanical Cabinet Consisting of Coloured Delineations of Plants, from all Countries.

London : John & Arthur Arch; Hackney: Conrad Loddiges & Sons, et al, 1818–1833.

Rare first edition, large paper issue set of Loddiges’ renowned Botanical Cabinet with 2000 numbered hand-colored plates by George Cooke. Octavos, 20 volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, all edges marbled.Continue reading "The Botanical Cabinet Consisting of Coloured Delineations of Plants, from all Countries."

Thucydides

The Hystory, Writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan, of the Warre, Whiche was Betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans [The History of the Peloponnesian War].

London : William Tylle, 1550.

First edition of one one of the greatest of classic historical works. Folio, bound in 19th century full vellum, morocco spine label, marbled endpapers, title-page with elaboarate historiated woodcut border. In very good condition with light toning to the text. Rare and desirable in this condition.

Apollinaire, Guillaume. [Pablo Picasso]

Alcools: Poems (1898-1913). Avec un Portrait de L’Auteur par Pablo Picasso.

Paris : Mercure de France, 1913.

First edition of Apollinaire’s first collection of poems, signed by him and Pablo Picasso. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and raised bands to the spine, patterned endpapers, frontispiece portrait of the poet by Pablo Picasso. Association copy, inscribed by both Apollinaire and Pablo Picasso on front free endpaper, “A A P.N.Continue reading "Alcools: Poems (1898-1913). Avec un Portrait de L’Auteur par Pablo Picasso."

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]."

Tolstoy, Leo

Sochinenia Grafa L.N. Tolstogo [Childhood, Boyhood, Youth].

Moscow : Typ. I.N. Kushnerev i Ko, 1893.

Early Russian printing of Tolstoy’s trilogy Childhood, Boyhood, Youth. Quarto, original half leather. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page to his doctor, “To Dmitry Vasil’evich Nikitin. Leo Tolstoy. 28 March 1903.” With an original photograph of Tolstoy with Dmitry Nikitin opposite the title page. The recipient, Dmitry Nikitin was Tolstoy’s familyContinue reading "Sochinenia Grafa L.N. Tolstogo [Childhood, Boyhood, Youth]."

Machiavelli, Niccolò

Discorsi Di Nicolo Machiavelli Pra La Prima Deca Di Tito Livio [bound with] Il Prencipe di Nicolo Machiavelli. [Machiavelli’s Discourses bound with The Prince].

Palermo : Apresso gli heredi d'Antoniello degli Antonielli , 1584 [London: John Wolfe].

Rare 16th century printing of John Wolfe’s famed fictitious Italian editions of Machiavelli’s fundamental works of political history and philosophy. Octavo, elaborately bound in full crushed morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and central motifs to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Discorsi Di Nicolo Machiavelli Pra La Prima Deca Di Tito Livio [bound with] Il Prencipe di Nicolo Machiavelli. [Machiavelli’s Discourses bound with The Prince]."

Cain, Alfred E. [Martin Luther King Jr.] [Sammy Davis, Jr.]

The Winding Road to Freedom: A Documentary Survey of Negro Experiences in America.

Yonkers : Educational Heritage, Inc, 1965.

First edition of this comprehensive anthology that compiles historical documents, speeches, and firsthand accounts to trace the evolving struggle for African American freedom and equality. Quarto, original publisher’s orange cloth boards, with black and white illustrations. Association copy, inscribed by Martin Luther King Jr. to Sammy Davis Jr. on the front free endpaper, “To myContinue reading "The Winding Road to Freedom: A Documentary Survey of Negro Experiences in America."

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques

A Treatise on the Social Compact: or The Principles of Politic Law.

London : Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, in the Strand, 1764.

First edition in English of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s magnum opus; a seminal treatise on political philosophy and precursor of the French revolution. Twelvemo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, triple gilt ruling to the front andContinue reading "A Treatise on the Social Compact: or The Principles of Politic Law."

Bland, James

An Essay in Praise of Women: Or, A Looking-glass for Ladies to See Their Perfections In.

London : Printed for the Author, and Sold by J. Batley, 1733.

First edition of the English physician’s immensely popular early 18th century essay. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with a burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, elaborate woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces. There wereContinue reading "An Essay in Praise of Women: Or, A Looking-glass for Ladies to See Their Perfections In."

Austen, Jane

Emma: A Novel. By the Author of “Pride and Prejudice.”

London : Printed for John Murray, 1816.

First edition of the final novel published during Austen’s lifetime, one of only 2000 copies printed. Small octavo, three volumes finely bound in three quarter leather over marbled boards by Birdsall & Son with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, topContinue reading "Emma: A Novel. By the Author of “Pride and Prejudice.”"

Dickens, Charles

Great Expectations.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1861.

First edition, first impression of Dickens’ rarest novel. Octavo, three volumes bound in full royal blue crushed levant morocco by Bayntun Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and wide gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by Bayntun,Continue reading "Great Expectations."