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."

Smith, Adam

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.

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

First edition of Adam Smith’s magnum opus and cornerstone of economic thought. Quarto, 2 volumes, bound in full brown calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, front and rear panels, red morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. Remarkably clean throughout with some light toning. Housed in a custom half morocco calf clamshell box, elaborately giltContinue reading "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations."

The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1776.

London : Printed for J. Dodsley, 1777.

Rare first edition, first issue of the The Annual Register for the Year 1776, a long-established reference work, written and published each year beginning in 1758 under the editorship of Edmund Burke. Octavo, bound in full brown calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to theContinue reading "The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1776."

Sterne, Laurence

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy.

London : T. Becket, 1777.

Finely bound set of Sterne’s Tristram Shandy. Octavo, 6 volumes, bound in contemporary full polished brown calf, black morocco spine labels, smooth spines with gilt rules and decorations, marbled endpapers. Frontispiece in volume one after Hogarth. In near fine condition.

Swift, Jonathan [Robert R. Livingstone]

The Works of Jonathan Swift: Including, Gulliver’s Travels.

Edinburgh : Printed by Mrs. Mundell, 1778.

First of 4 issues, Scotch editions, from the library of Robert R. Livingstone, with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. Small octavo, bound in contemporary calf, spine compartments ruled with Greek key tooling, morocco spine labels. From the library of founding father Robert R. Livingston. As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, LivingstonContinue reading "The Works of Jonathan Swift: Including, Gulliver’s Travels."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha: Nueva Edicion, Corregida Por La Real Academia Española.

Madrid : Don Joaquin Ibarra, 1780.

The deluxe illustrated Ibarra edition of Cervantes’ masterpiece “which is to Spanish literature what Shakespeare is to English” (Bloom). Quartos, 4 volumes. Bound in full contemporary Spanish tree calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, red morocco spine labels, gilt ruled borders, marbled endpapers, all edges green, engraved frontispiece to each volume andContinue reading "El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha: Nueva Edicion, Corregida Por La Real Academia Española."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha: Nueva Edicion, Corregida Por La Real Academia Española.

Madrid : Don Joaquin Ibarra, 1780.

The deluxe illustrated Ibarra edition of Cervantes’ masterpiece. Quartos, 4 volumes. Bound in full 19th century green morocco with central motif and cornerpieces stamped in blind to the panels, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, elaborate double-ruled gilt borders, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, engraved frontispiece to each volume and 31 engraved plates throughout,Continue reading "El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha: Nueva Edicion, Corregida Por La Real Academia Española."

Sartine, Antoine de

Carte Reduite des Cotes et de l’Interieur de la Presqu’ile de la Floride, avec le Detroit de Cette Presqu’ile et le Canal de Bahama. [18th Century Anotoine de Sartine Map of Florida]

France : Dépôt General de la Marine, 1780.

Rare 18th century hand-colored engraved map or the state of Florida published for the use of the French Navy during the American Revolution. One page, the map shows coastal topography around the Florida Peninsula depicting harbors, points, keys, shoals and low water areas, the St. John’s River, St. Augustine, Cape Canaveral, Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay,Continue reading "Carte Reduite des Cotes et de l’Interieur de la Presqu’ile de la Floride, avec le Detroit de Cette Presqu’ile et le Canal de Bahama. [18th Century Anotoine de Sartine Map of Florida]"

Raynal, Guillaume Thomas François Abbe

The Revolution of America.

London : Printed for Lockyer Davis, Holborn, 1781.

First edition in English of this classic work. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands. From the library of John Gladstone with his ownership signature to the front free endpaper, “John Gladstone Leith 1782.” Sir John Gladstone, 1st Baronet,Continue reading "The Revolution of America."

Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha: Nueva Edicion, Corregida Por La Real Academia Española.

Madrid : Don Joaquin Ibarra, 1782.

The illustrated Ibarra edition of Cervantes’ masterpiece “which is to Spanish literature what Shakespeare is to English” (Bloom). Octavo, 4 volumes, written in spanish, bound in full speckled calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spines in six compartments within raised gilt bands, red and black morocco spine labels, gilt ruling to the frontContinue reading "El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha: Nueva Edicion, Corregida Por La Real Academia Española."

Johnstone, James [Translator]

The Norwegian Account of Haco’s Expedition Against Scotland.

Copenhagen : Printed for the author, 1782.

Rare first edition of this classic account of Haco’s campaign against Alexander III of Scotland in 1263, a campaign that culminated in the Battle of Largs and resulted in Håkon’s death. Small octavo, bound in half calf over marbled boards, gilt morocco spine label. In very good condition.

Scott, John

The Poetical Works of John Scott Esq.

London : Printed for J. Buckland, 1782.

First edition of John Scott’s collected poems. Octavo, bound in full mottled calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with 14 engravings including 2 by William Blake, engraved frontispiece and pictorial title page, rebacked. In very goodContinue reading "The Poetical Works of John Scott Esq."

Gibbon, Edward

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

London : Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1782-1788.

Rare early editions of the historian’s masterpiece. Quarto, 6 volumes, bound in full paper boards, 3 folding engraved maps. The frontispiece portrait of Gibbon is after Sir Joshua Reynolds, the three engraved folding maps are of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire, and a folding map of Constantinople (this map is in its original foldedContinue reading "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

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."

[Franklin, Benjamin]

Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America].

Paris : D. Pierres/Pissot, Pere & Fils, Libraries, 1783.

First French edition of the Constitution of the United States of America, inscribed by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin who had the translation published and personally distributed each of the 600 copies produced. Octavo, bound in one quarter calf with gilt ruling to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed byContinue reading "Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America]."

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques

The Confessions of J.J. Rousseau: With the Reveries of the Solitary Walker.

London : Printed for J. Bew, 1783.

Rare first edition in English of the author’s classic work. Duodecimo, 2 volumes, bound in three-quarters contemporary calfskin over marbled boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labels. In very good condition, signatures to the front pastedowns.

Day, Thomas

Reflections Upon the Present State of England, and the Independence of America.

London : Printed for J. Stockdale, 1783.

Third edition of Day’s important treatise on American Independence. Octavo, bound in paper wrappers. In very good condition. Uncommon in this condition.

Jackson, Rev. William

The Constitutions of the Several Independent States of America; The Declaration of Independence; and The Articles of Confederation Between the Said States.

London : Printed for J. Stockdale, in Piccadilly, 1783.

Rare second English edition, “the best English edition” (Howes), of the Constitutions of the thirteen newly independent American states, published only one year after the first English edition, with early printings of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and important U.S.-French treaties. Preceded by the 1781 American edition of only 200 copies and the 1782Continue reading "The Constitutions of the Several Independent States of America; The Declaration of Independence; and The Articles of Confederation Between the Said States."

Euripides; Translated by Robert Potter

The Tragedies of Euripides.

London : J. Dodsley, 1783.

First translation of Euripides into English, translated by Robert Potter, from his own library. Octavo, two volumes, bound in contemporary leather, engraved frontispiece to volume I, list of subscribers. The translator’s own copy with his inscription, “From the Library of the Rev Robert Potter, M.A., Rector of Lowestoft from 1789 to 1804” to volume one ofContinue reading "The Tragedies of Euripides."

Linnaeus, Carl

Philosophia Botanica: In Qua Explicantur Fundamenta Botanica Cum Definitionibus Partium, Exemplis Terminorum, Observationibus Rariorum. [In Which Are Explained the Foundations of Botany, Together with Definitions of the Parts, Examples of Terms, and Rare Observations].

Vienna : Printed by Johann Thomas, Nobleman of Trattner, 1783.

Rare second edition of this foundational text of modern botany. Octavo, written in Latin, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within gilt bands, illustrated at the rear. In very good condition. Bookplate to the front pastedown and front free endpaper.

Washington, George; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; James Madison; James Monroe; John Quincy Adams; Andrew Jackson; Martin Van Buren; William Henry Harrison; John Tyler; James Polk; Zachary Taylor; Millard Fillmore; Franklin Pierce; James Buchanan; Abraham Lincoln; Andrew Johnson; Ulysses S. Grant; Rutherford B. Hayes; James Garfield; Chester A. Arthur; Grover Cleveland; William McKinley; Theodore Roosevelt; William H. Taft; Woodrow Wilson; Warren G. Harding; Calvin Coolidge; Herbert Hoover; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Harry Truman; Dwight D. Eisenhower

Autographs of the Presidents of the United States of America.

1783-1956.

Elaborately bound collection of Presidential autographs, containing the autograph of each of the first 34 Presidents of the United States from George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Quarto, bound in full red morocco by Riviere & Son with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt presidential sealContinue reading "Autographs of the Presidents of the United States of America."

Chalmers, George

Opinions on Interesting Subjects of Public Law and Commercial Policy; Arising from American Independence.

London : Printed for J. Debrett, 1784.

First edition of Chalmers’ treatise regarding trade regulations between England and America following American Independence. Octavo, bound in paper wrappers. In very good condition. Exceptionally rare.

Zatto, Antonio [China]

Impero Della China Colle Isole Del Giappone. [Eighteenth Century Antonio Zatta Map of the Empire Of China and Islands Of Japan]

Venice : Presso Antonio Zatta, 1784.

Large eighteenth century hand-colored map of China and Japan by Venetian cartographer Antonio Zatta. One page, hand-colored with a fine botanical cartouche. In near fine condition. The entire piece measures 19.5 inches by 23.5 inches.

Edwards, Brian

Thoughts on the late Proceedings of Government, Respecting the Trade of the West India Islands with the United States of North America.

London : Printed for T. Cadell, 1784.

Rare Second edition, corrected and enlarged, of this pamphlet arguing that restricting trade between the British West Indies and the newly independent United States would devastate the Caribbean sugar economy. Octavo, original wrappers, several pages uncut, with an added postscript. In very good condition. From the collection of Birmingham-Southern College, where is was stored inContinue reading "Thoughts on the late Proceedings of Government, Respecting the Trade of the West India Islands with the United States of North America."