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."

Churchill, Winston S

Marlborough: His Life and Times.

London : George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, 1933-38.

First editions of Churchill’s magisterial biography of his notable ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Octavo, 4 volumes, original cloth, top edge gilt, illustrated with hundreds of maps and plans (many folding), plates and document facsimiles. Boldly signed and dated by Winston Churchill in the year of publication on the front free endpaper ofContinue reading "Marlborough: His Life and Times."

Homer; Translated by Alexander Pope

The Iliad of Homer [and] The Odyssey of Homer.

London : Printed by W. Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott between the Temple-Gates, 1715-1726.

First editions of Alexander Pope’s monumental illustrated translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the deluxe subscribers’ quarto issue on thick paper, esteemed by Samuel Johnson as “certainly the noblest version of poetry which the world has ever seen.” Quarto, eleven volumes, uniformly bound in full contemporary speckled calf with gilt tooling to the spine inContinue reading "The Iliad of Homer [and] The Odyssey of Homer."

MacKay, Charles

Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.

London : Richard Bentley, 1841.

First edition of this classic study of crowd psychology, a compilation of human folly throughout the ages. Octavo, three volumes, illustrated. Bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. With an autographed letter signed by Charles MacKay in 1867 laid in. In near fine condition with light rubbingContinue reading "Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds."

Marshman, Joshua [Confucius]

The Works of Confucius; Containing the Original Text, With a Translation. [The Analects of Confucius].

Serampore : Printed at the Mission Press, 1809.

First English translation of the Analects of Confucius printed at Serampore, the first major center of English printing in Chinese. Quarto, Vol. I [all published], bound in modern half calf, gilt-lettered morocco spine label, gilt stamping to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, half-title, 4pp. errata, Chinese and English text, without theContinue reading "The Works of Confucius; Containing the Original Text, With a Translation. [The Analects of Confucius]."

Carlos II, King of Spain

Carta Executoria of King Carlos II of Spain for Diego Merino de Bargas of Tornavacas and His Sons Rodrigo, Francisco, and Luis Merino de Bargas.

Valladolid, Spain 1685.

Rare 17th century elaborately illuminated nobility patent of King Carlos II of Spain for the late Diego Merino de Bargas of Tornavacas, represented by two procurators, and his sons Rodrigo, Francisco, and Luis Merino de Bargas, residents of Lugar de Cavecuela. Quarto, bound in early red velvet over pasteboards with red and yellow silk cordContinue reading "Carta Executoria of King Carlos II of Spain for Diego Merino de Bargas of Tornavacas and His Sons Rodrigo, Francisco, and Luis Merino de Bargas."

The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and The New. Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues. And With the former Translations dilligently compared & revised. [with] The Book of Common Prayer, And Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to Use of the Church of England; Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David.

London : Printed by Charles Bill and Thomas Newcomb, Printer to the King and Queens most Excellent Majesties, 1692-1693.

Rare 17th century Holy Bible and Book of Common Prayer uniformly and exquisitely bound. Octavo, two volumes uniformly bound in full crushed levant morocco with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling and scrolling to the front and rear panels with fleuron cornerpieces, engraved silver central ornamentContinue reading "The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and The New. Newly Translated out of the Original Tongues. And With the former Translations dilligently compared & revised. [with] The Book of Common Prayer, And Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to Use of the Church of England; Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David."

King Charles II Of Spain. [Don Carlos]

King Charles II Of Spain Autograph Signed Manuscript.

Madrid May 28, 1699.

Rare elaborately illuminated nobility diploma signed by King Charles II of Spain, appointing Don Martin Damian Mendizabal the title of Marquis of Torre Gines. Quarto, bound in full red contemporary velvet covered boards with two metal clasps, containing five illuminated leaves, two fully illuminated in color with the Royal coat of arms and portrait ofContinue reading "King Charles II Of Spain Autograph Signed Manuscript."

Philip III, King of Spain

Carta Executoria of King Philip III of Spain for Juan and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda.

Valladolid, Spain 1612.

Rare 17th century elaborately illuminated nobility patent of King Philip III of Spain for the brothers Juan and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda. Quarto, bound in full leather with gilt detailing, the patent is comprised of 100 leaves numbered 1-99 in contemporary Arabic numerals, written in round Spanish script within a frame ruled inContinue reading "Carta Executoria of King Philip III of Spain for Juan and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda."

Bolton, James

Harmonia Ruralis; or, An Essay Towards A Natural History of British Songbirds.

London : Printed For and Sold By the Author, 1794.

Rare first edition of Bolton’s magnificently illustrated work on British songbirds. First issue with the original plates 7 and 13 which differ in later issues. Quarto, two volumes bound into one in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with eighty copper-plates of life-size maleContinue reading "Harmonia Ruralis; or, An Essay Towards A Natural History of British Songbirds."

Stevenson, Robert Louis

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

Various : Various Publishers, 1878-1926.

An extensive collection of forty-nine works by Robert Louis Stevenson, publishing date 1878-1926 to include the Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson, Sidney Colvin, Methuen 1899 and The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson by Graham Balfour 1901. 2 vols. Stevenson’s Baby Book, John Howell, San Francisco 1922. Cummy’s Diary, A Diary kept by Robert Louis Stevenson’sContinue reading "The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson [Including Treasure Island; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Kidnapped]."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

The History of the Most Renowned Don Quixote of Mancha: And his Trusty Squire Sancho Pancha, Now Made English according to the Humour of our Modern Language. And Adorned with several Copper Plates.

London : Printed by Tho. Hodgkin, and are to be sold by John Newton, 1687.

First edition of the first illustrated edition in English of Don Quixote. Folio, bound in three quarters calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. With copper-engraved frontispiece and eight copper-engraved plates, each bearing two images. Translated by John Phillips. In very good condition with all plates present, signature trimmed. A veryContinue reading "The History of the Most Renowned Don Quixote of Mancha: And his Trusty Squire Sancho Pancha, Now Made English according to the Humour of our Modern Language. And Adorned with several Copper Plates."

Foxe, John

Acts and Monuments of matters of most speciall and memorable happenyng in the Church, with an Universall history of the same…Newly revised and recognized. [Foxe’s Book of Martyrs].

London : John Daye, 1583.

Fourth edition of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (as it was later known), and the last to be published in his lifetime. The first English edition was published in 1563. Folio, 2 volumes bound into one in full near contemporary full brown calf over beveled boards elaborately stamped and paneled in blind, rebacked, seven raised bandsContinue reading "Acts and Monuments of matters of most speciall and memorable happenyng in the Church, with an Universall history of the same…Newly revised and recognized. [Foxe’s Book of Martyrs]."

Doyle, Arthur Conan

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

London : George Newnes, Limited, 1892-1894.

First editions of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories starring literature’s most famous detective. Octavo, original pictorial black and gilt-stamped light blue and dark blue cloth, illustrated by Sidney Paget, patterned endpapers, all edges gilt. First issues, the first title with the street scene vignette with no text on the street sign and with “Violent” forContinue reading "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes."

Twain, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens]

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn [Tom Sawyer’s Comrade].

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

First edition, first issue of Twain’s masterpiece, one of approximately 500 copies bound in publisher’s three-quarters morocco binding. Octavo, original three-quarters brown morocco and marbled boards, gilt-decorated spine, marbled endpapers. Lithographic frontispiece and with 174 illustrations by E.W. Kemble, photographic portrait frontispiece of the bust of Mark Twain by Karl Gerhardt. Copies of Huckleberry FinnContinue reading "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn [Tom Sawyer’s Comrade]."

Roosevelt, Theodore

The Wilderness Hunter: An Account Of The Big Game Of The United States And Its Chase With Horse, Hound And Rifle.

New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1893.

Signed limited first edition, one of only 200 numbered copies, signed by Theodore Roosevelt. Quarto, bound in original full red morocco by Putnam’s deluxe issue binding, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front panel. Frontispiece plus twenty-three full page plates by Frederic Remington, A. B. Frost I, James Carter Beard, Henry Sandham, and CharlesContinue reading "The Wilderness Hunter: An Account Of The Big Game Of The United States And Its Chase With Horse, Hound And Rifle."

Wells, H.G

The Works of H.G. Wells Including [The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, Etc].

London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1924-27.

One of 20 sets for presentation from an overall edition of 620, this is letter e and Wells has written (Little e), signed by H.G. Wells in volume one, and additionally inscribed by Wells in volume one to his lover Elizabeth von Arnim, “To Little e H.G.” With her bookplate to all but two volumes.Continue reading "The Works of H.G. Wells Including [The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, Etc]."

Dodge, Mary Mapes

Hans Brinker Or, The Silver Skates. A Story of Life in Holland.

New York : James O'Kane, 1866.

First edition of the author’s second and best known work. Octavo, original green cloth, gilt titles to the spine. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Presented to Robert Dale Owen by the author January, 1866.” The recipient Robert Dale Owen was responsible for introducing the legislation to establish the Smithsonian. HeContinue reading "Hans Brinker Or, The Silver Skates. A Story of Life in Holland."

Dumas, Alexandre. [Alexander]

The Works of Alexandre Dumas.

Boston : Estes and Lauriat, 1893-1896.

The Edition De Luxe of the works of Alexandre Dumas, limited to one thousand numbered copies. Octavo, 40 volumes bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, frontispiece with captioned tissue guard to each volume, illustrated with platesContinue reading "The Works of Alexandre Dumas."

Hamilton, Alexander

The Works of Alexander Hamilton; Comprising His Most Important Official Reports; An Improved Edition of The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788; and Pacificus.

New York : Williams and Whiting, 1810.

The first collected edition of the works of Alexander Hamilton, with an early printing of The Federalist. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in full calf, three engraved portraits of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. The first volume contains five of Hamilton‘s reports as Secretary of the Treasury, volumes II and III are devoted primarily to the Federalist Papers, and include significantContinue reading "The Works of Alexander Hamilton; Comprising His Most Important Official Reports; An Improved Edition of The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788; and Pacificus."

Sumner, Charles

The Anti-Slavery Enterprise: its Necessity, Practicability, and Dignity, With Glimpses at the Special Duties of the North. An Address before the People of New York, At the Metropolitan Theatre, May 9, 1855.

Boston : Ticknor and Fields, 1855.

Rare first separate edition of one of the most famous speeches by Sumner, “the most outspoken foe of slavery in the U.S. Senate.” Octavo, bound in period-style half sheep over marble covered boards with gilt titles to the spine on a morocco label, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition, signature to the title page.

Scott, Sir Walter

Scott’s Waverly Novels. [Waverley: or ‘Tis Sixty Years Since, Guy Mannering, The Antiquary, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, Kenilworth, The Pirate, The Fortunes of Nigel, Peveril of the Peak, Quentin Durward, St. Ronan’s Well, Redgauntlet, The Betrothed, Talisman, Woodstock, or, the Cavalier, Chronicles of the Canongate, The Fair Maid Of Perth, Anne of Geierstein].

Edinburgh : Printed for Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne; And Hurst, Robinson, and Co., London, 1816-1821.

Complete first edition set of Scott’s Waverly Novels. Octavo, 74 volumes uniformly bound in full morocco by Morrell, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional set.

Moliere, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin

Les Oeuvres De Monsieur De Moliere, Reveues, Corrigees & Augmentees (Tartuffe).

Paris : Chez Denys Thierry, 1682.

First complete and first illustrated collected edition, including 6 previously unpublished plays of the works of Moliere. Small octavo, 8 volumes. Finely bound in full crushed red morocco by Pouillet, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated with engravings throughout. In near fine condition. An exceptional example.

Doyle, Arthur Conan

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

London : George Newnes, Limited, 1892-1894.

First editions of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories starring literature’s most famous detective. Octavo, original pictorial black and gilt-stamped light blue and dark blue cloth, patterned endpapers, all edges gilt. First issues, the first title with the street scene vignette with no text on the street sign and with “Violent” for “Violet” on p 317. InContinue reading "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes."