Cook, Captain James; Captain James King

A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, By The Command of His Majesty For Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. [Cook’s Third Voyage].

London : Printed by H. Hughs, for G. Nicol, Bookseller to His Majesty, in the Strand; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1785.

Finely bound example of Cook’s Third Voyage, “one of the most important English books published in the last quarter of the eighteenth century… considered typographically superior to the first edition” (Forbes). Quarto, three volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Bayntun with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, nautical gilt stamping toContinue reading "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, By The Command of His Majesty For Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. [Cook’s Third Voyage]."

Caesar, Gaius Julius

Commentaires de César, avec des Notes Historiques, Critiques et Militaires [Caesar’s Comments, with Historical, Critical and Military Notes].

Paris : A Montargis, 1785.

First edition edited and translated by Lancelot Turpin de Crissé. Quarto, three volumes, bound in full contemporary calf, morocco spine labels, gilt titles to the spine, engraved title pages, two portraits and 40 folding plates, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. An exceptional example.

Paine, Thomas

Dissertations on Government, the Affairs of the Bank, and Paper-Money.

Philadelphia : Printed by Charles Cist, 1786.

First edition of Paine’s defense of the Bank of North America. Small octavo, bound in three quarters leather over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. Rare.

Edwards, Jonathan

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections. In Three Parts.

Elizabeth-Town, NJ : Printed by Shepard Kollock, for Robert Hodge, 1787.

Early edition of Edwards’ Great Awakening classic. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands. In very good condition with wear, bookplates to the front pastedown, signature to the title page.

Journal of the United States In Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings From the Sixth Day of November, 1786, to the Fifth Day of November, 1787. Volume XII.

New York : Published by Order of Congress, 1787.

Rare first edition of Vol. VII of the Journal of Congress; containing the first official Congressional Journal publication of the proposed Constitution of the United States. Octavo, original boards. Contains the first Congressional Journal publications of the proposed United States Constitution (pp. 149-166) and the Northwest Ordinance (pp. 85-93). In very good condition. Small lossContinue reading "Journal of the United States In Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings From the Sixth Day of November, 1786, to the Fifth Day of November, 1787. Volume XII."

Johnson, James [Editor]; Robert Burns [Contributor]

The Scots Musical Museum, Humbly Dedicated to the Catch Club. Instituted at Edinr. June 1771.

Edinburgh : James Johnson, 1787 and 1790.

First edition, first issue of this influential collection of traditional folk music of Scotland. Octavo, two volumes comprised of volumes one and three out of six, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt ruling to the spines, vignettes to the title pages, engraved throughout with musical stanzas. Presentation copy, inscribed by Robert Burns on theContinue reading "The Scots Musical Museum, Humbly Dedicated to the Catch Club. Instituted at Edinr. June 1771."

Franklin, Benjamin

Philosophical and Miscellaneous Papers. Lately written by B. Franklin, LL. D. Fellow of the Royal Society of London; Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris; President of the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia.

London : Printed for C. Dilly, in the Poultry, 1787.

First edition of the last collection of Franklin’s writings to appear during his lifetime; a major collection of his political, philosophical and scientific writings, a second volume of which was planned but never published. First issue with page 25 mispaginated “52.” Octavo, bound in full contemporary tree calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine,Continue reading "Philosophical and Miscellaneous Papers. Lately written by B. Franklin, LL. D. Fellow of the Royal Society of London; Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris; President of the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia."

[Goldsmith, Oliver]

The History of Little Good Twoshoes; Otherwise Called Mrs. Margery Twoshoes.

Worcester, Massachusetts : Isaiah Thomas, 1787.

First Worcester edition of the famed fable. 16mo, original wrappers, illustrated with 8 engraved plates, terminal advertisements. In very good condition. From the library of noted collector and philanthropist Estelle Doheny with her bookplate to the folding chemise case. Housed in a custom full morocco and folding chemise case.

Biblia, Das ist: Die ganze Heilige Schrift Des Alten und Neuen Testaments. Bie Foide von Herrnn Doctor Martin Luther. [18th Century German Martin Luther Bible].

Nuremberg : Endter, 1788.

Eighteenth century printing of the Martin Luther Bible; the first Bible in the German language originally translated by Martin Luther in 1534, considered the foundation of the modern German language. Folio, bound in full pig elaborately stamped in blind with brass cornerpieces, illustrated with numerous engravings in-text, including many 1/3 page and a number ofContinue reading "Biblia, Das ist: Die ganze Heilige Schrift Des Alten und Neuen Testaments. Bie Foide von Herrnn Doctor Martin Luther. [18th Century German Martin Luther Bible]."

Hayley, William

The Triumphs of Temper; A Poem: In Six Cantos.

London : Printed For T. Cadell, 1788.

Finely bound sixth edition of Hayley’s popular work. 16mo, bound in full contemporary calf, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt-ruled turn ins, marbled endpapers, illustrated with fine engraved plates by Stothard. Elegant period ownership inscriptions.

[Hamilton, Alexander; James Madison; John Jay]

The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787.

New York : Printed and Sold by J. and A. McLean, 1788.

First edition of The Federalist, one of the rarest and most significant books in American political history. 12mo, two volumes bound into one in half calf over marbled boards with raised bands, gilt titles to the spine. In very good condition with light toning to the pages. Text blocks trimmed. Housed in a custom halfContinue reading "The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, As Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787."

de Vargas Ponce, José

Relacion Del Ultimo Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes de la Fragata De S. M. Santa Maria de la Cabeza en los Anos de 1785 y 1786. [Account of the Last Voyage to the Strait of Magellan by His Majesty’s Frigate Santa María de la Cabeza in the Years 1785 and 1786].

Madrid : Por La Viuda de Ibarra, Hijos y Compania, 1788.

First edition of this important work on the Strait of Magellan. Quarto, two volumes bound into one in contemporary calf-backed marbled boards with gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in git, engraved frontispiece portrait of Magellan, 5 large folding maps on heavy paper and 5 folding tables. An important work on theContinue reading "Relacion Del Ultimo Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes de la Fragata De S. M. Santa Maria de la Cabeza en los Anos de 1785 y 1786. [Account of the Last Voyage to the Strait of Magellan by His Majesty’s Frigate Santa María de la Cabeza in the Years 1785 and 1786]."

Edwards, Jonathan

Twenty Sermons, on Various Subjects.

Edinburgh : Printed for M. Gray, 1789.

Rare early Edinburgh printing of Jonathan Edwards theological collection of sermons. Octodecimo, bound in full contemporary calf. In good condition.

Smith, Adam

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

London : Printed for A. Strahan and T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1789-1793.

Mixed early edition set of Adam Smith’s magnum opus and cornerstone of economic thought. Octavo, 3 volumes bound in one quarter modern calf over cloth-covered boards with gilt titles and five raised bands to the spine. Volumes I and III are seventh editions (1793), Vol. II is a fifth edition (1789). In near fine condition.Continue reading "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations."

Boccaccio, Giovanni

Il Filostrato, Poema.

Paris : Presso Franc. Ambr. Didot Il Miaggiore, 1789.

Eighteenth century edition of this marvelous narrative poem. Octavo, bound in three quarter contemporary brown calf over blue marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, original silk ribbon laid in. In good condition with rubbing to the extremities, spine, front and rear panels, some loss to the calf binding andContinue reading "Il Filostrato, Poema."

Goldsmith, Oliver; Edmund Burke; Sir H. Walpole; et al

A Collection of Poems, Mostly Original, by Several Hands.

Dublin : Printed for the Editor by M. Graisberry, 1789.

First edition of this rare collection of early English literature. Octavo, bound in full calf, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, ribbon bound in, illustrated with engraved vignettes, lists of subscribers. In near fine condition. An attractive binding.    

Bunyan, John

The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to That Which is to Come: Complete in Three Parts: Delivered Under the Similitude of a Dream: To Which is Added, the Life and Death of the Author.

Worcester, MA : Isaiah Thomas, 1790-91.

Likely first illustrated edition of one of the most significant works of religious English literature. Small octavo, early half sheep over marbled boards, three frontispieces, illustrated with eleven nearly full-page woodcuts, publisher’s error jump in page number from p. 324 to p. 343. In good condition with rubbing to the extremities and loss to theContinue reading "The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to That Which is to Come: Complete in Three Parts: Delivered Under the Similitude of a Dream: To Which is Added, the Life and Death of the Author."

Sanchamau, Jean-Baptiste

L’Ecole des Peuples et des Rois; ou Essai philosophique sur La Liberté, le Pouvoir arbitraire, les Juifs et les Noirs. [The School of Peoples and Kings; or Philosophical Essay on Liberty, Arbitrary Power, the Jews and the Blacks].

Paris : Chez Letellier, Libraire, 1790.

Rare first edition of French abolitionist Jean-Baptiste Sanchamau’s passionate attack on slavery and calling for the emancipation of French Jews, published in Paris in the wake of the American Revolution and amidst the upheaval of French Revolution. Octavo, beautifully bound in full period-style full speckled calf gilt, red morocco spine label, speckled edges. Text inContinue reading "L’Ecole des Peuples et des Rois; ou Essai philosophique sur La Liberté, le Pouvoir arbitraire, les Juifs et les Noirs. [The School of Peoples and Kings; or Philosophical Essay on Liberty, Arbitrary Power, the Jews and the Blacks]."

Edwards, Jonathan

An Humble Inquiry into the Rules of the Word of God, Concerning the Qualifications Requisite to a Complete Standing and Full Communion in the Visible Christian Church.

Edinburgh : Hugh Inglis, 1790.

Rere second edition of this theological treatise by the famed philosopher and theologian. Duodecimo, original half-cloth. In good condition with bumping and rubbing, wear, and losses to the spine and rear panel.

[Watson, Elkanah] [George Washington]

Tour in Holland in MDCCLXXXIV. By an American.

Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts : Isaiah Thomas, 1790.

First edition, presentation copy of a scarce volume from George Washington’s library at Mount Vernon. Octavo, bound in full contemporary sheep with pine gilt in six compartments within raised bands, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, type-ornament title-page vignette, head and tailpieces. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to George Washington on the frontContinue reading "Tour in Holland in MDCCLXXXIV. By an American."

Bligh, Lieutenant William

A Narrative of the Mutiny on Board His Majesty’s Ship Bounty; and the Subsequent Voyage of Part of the Crew, In the Ships Boat from Tofua, one of the Friendly Islands, To Timor, Dutch Settlement in the East Indies.

London : Printed for George Nicol, 1790.

First edition of Bligh’s firsthand account of “one of the most remarkable incidents in the whole of maritime history [which ultimately absolved him] from any blame that might be levelled against him because of the incident” (Hill). Quarto, original boards, lacking the spine, engraved folding plan “A copy of the draft from which the Bounty’sContinue reading "A Narrative of the Mutiny on Board His Majesty’s Ship Bounty; and the Subsequent Voyage of Part of the Crew, In the Ships Boat from Tofua, one of the Friendly Islands, To Timor, Dutch Settlement in the East Indies."

Voltaire (Arouet, François-Marie)

Sofonisba, Mariamne, Orestes: Tragedia de Mr. de Voltaire: Traduzida Em Portuguez.

Lisboa : Na Officina de Simao Thaddeo Ferreira, 1790.

First Portuguese edition of Voltaire’s three tragedies translated into Portuguese. Octavo, bound in full period calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, red spine label, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. A nice example.

James, Bruce

Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772.

Edinburgh : G.G. J. and J. Robinson, 1790.

First edition of this classic work. Quarto, 5 volumes, bound in half leather, all edges gilt. With 58 engraved plates and 3 folding maps. In near fine condition.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von

Scherz, List und Rache. [Jest, Cunning, and Revenge].

Leipzig : Bey Georg Joachim Göschen, 1790.

First edition of this libretto in the original German. Octodecimo, in wrappers. In near fine condition with very light toning. Housed in a custom folding chemise and half cloth case. Rare.