Literature
Art Photographique: Le Nu & Le Drape en Plein Air
BERGON, Paul et Rene Le BegueParis: Ch. Mendel. [1898].First edition. 280x190mm. pp. 48. Text in French. 28 photographs included in the text and seven plates. Original illustrated paper covers, with some soiling and a tear to the joint with lower cover. Internally near fine. A nice copy of a rare book which explains the techniques of photographing the female form both nude and clothed "en plein air". Paul Bergon (1863-1912) was both a photographer and a naturalist specialising in images of orchids and nudes.
View full detailsWege zu Kraft und Schonheit.
PRAGER, Willhelm und Dr Nicholas KaufmannBerlin: Hergestellt von der Kulturabteilung der UFA. n.d..Revised edition. 155x235mm. pp. 32. In pictorial paper covers, some wear and a repaired tear to front cover but overall in very good condition. Bound into blue boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Ten pages of text (in German) and nineteen photographs. Undated, this appears to be an abridged, smaller version of the book that accompanied the 1925 film made by Prager in praise of the beautiful and athletic body.
View full detailsForty Drawings. Text by James Laver.
BRODZKY, Horace.London: William Heinemann. 1935.Presentation copy: 'For Juliet Foyle with the compliments of Horace Brodzky London Nov 4/35'. First edition. 4to. pp. [iv], 17, 40, recto only. Portrait frontispiece and 40 illustrations, chiefly nudes. Horace Brodzky, 1885-1969, was a student at the School of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, but spent most of his creative life in London. He was one of the earliest Australian artists to embrace the modern style of the twentieth century. Original buff cloth with initials on upper cover and spine lettered in brown.
View full detailsThe Death Mask of David Garrick
PINE, R.E.R.E.Pine. 1779.Mezzotint of the death mask of David Garrick against a black background with the eyes articulated. The text "Publish'd April 4th 1779 by R.E.Pine" in scratch letter on plate, within platemark below the image. Initials J.L.G.D handwritten in brown ink. Pencil inscription to lower margin: "The Death Mask of David Garrick with the eyes painted in". Platemark, 240x155mm. Sheet, 305x246mm. Some surface soiling, foxing and a small rubbed patch to the margin. The image itself is in excellent condition.
View full detailsPerspective Studies
MALTON, Thomas (the Elder)n.d. [pre-1775].Original drawing of classical capitals and urns with lines of perspective. Pen and brown and black ink, pencil and grey wash on laid paper without visible watermark, ruled border in brown ink. Sheet 302x218mm, window mount 350x275mm. Very slight soiling and foxing but overall in excellent condition. A very good, and rare, example of a study for an important book on perspective. In 1775 Thomas Malton the Elder (1726-1801) published A Compleat Treatise On Perspective, In Theory and Practice; on the True Principles Of Dr. Brook Taylor.
View full detailsA Design for a Domed Octagonal Temple
SANDBY, Thomasn.d.Original architectural drawing by Thomas Sandby showing a neo-classical domed octagonal temple with baroque details. Pen and grey and black and pale blue and grey watercolour on laid paper with watermark "C&Honig". Sheet 497x258mm, window mount support (with ruled brown ink border) 478x333mm, taped at left edge onto heavy cream card 558x404mm. Slight spotting, otherwise in excellent condition. Although there are important institutional holdings of Sandby's architectural drawings, they are rare in commerce and this is a particularly fine example.
View full detailsTabule Ioa. lanchini Bononiensis cum plerisqu additionibus ac novis tabellis nup impresse per L. Gauricū Neapolit, castigate Venetijs.
BIANCHINI, GiovanniVenice: Lucantonio Giunta. 1526.Second edition, edited by Luca Gaurico (first edition, 1495) 4to. [28], 398 leaves. Contemporary vellum, yapp edges, small wormholes on covers (one on upper and three on lower) and some waterstaining on lower cover, ties missing. Manuscript lettering to spine (partly covered by label reading "A-b") and on bottom edge of text block. Internally very good, some waterstaining to a few of the early leaves (1i (title page)-2ii and 2vii-3ii), marking to leaf r3. Previous ownership inscription on front free endpaper crossed out. Overall in excellent condition. Introductory text in gothic type.
View full detailsA Tessellated Floor of an Ancient Bath in Nants.
FOWLER, William[Winterton, Lincolnshire] n.p.. undated [pre 1804].Original pen and coloured ink drawing (146x108mm) of a mosaic floor on thick paper, mounted on card (198x140mm) and framed. Beneath the drawing is inscribed "William Fowler Fecitt (sic)" and the description "A Tessellated Floor of an Ancient Bath in Nants (sic) in the South of France supposed to be Built by Antonious (sic) Pius". The hand-coloured engraving of this mosaic appears in volume one of Fowler's Engravings of the Mosaic Pavements &c published in 1804. This beautiful drawing is in excellent condition with the colours particularly fresh.
View full detailsThe Text of the New Testament of Jesus Christ, translated out of the vulgar Latie by the Papists of the traiterous Seminarie at Rhemes.
HOLY BIBLELondon: Deputies of Christopher Barker. 1589.First edition. Folio (274x185mm). ll. [23], 496, [5]. *⁴ A-Y⁶ 2A-2Y⁶ 3A-3Y⁶ 4A-4V⁶ 4X⁴. Text in parallel columns, 56 lines to the full column: Rheims New Testament printed in roman type on the left, the Bishops' version in italics on the right, both divided in verses, all arguments, marginal notes, and other annotations of the Rheims NT printed at the end, interspersed with the confutations, title within woodcut border, woodcut initials, head and tailpieces.
View full detailsThe History and Delineation of the Horse in all his varieties
LAWRENCE, JohnLondon: Albion Press. 1809.First edition. 4to, 286x224mm. pp. 288, [4, index]. Engraved frontispiece, dedication leaf and thirteen engraved plates by John Scott after leading equestrian artists including Stubbs, Benjamin Marshall and Sartorius. Eleven wood-engravings in the text, in the manner of Bewick. Tan half calf, recently rebacked, corners worn and boards and edges rubbed. Some foxing, heavier towards the end. Staining to some of the plates. Loosely inserted is a single sheet manuscript "Memorandum" about trotting races.
View full detailsThe Companion. Vol. 1
ANONYMOUSn.p. c1830.An unpublished manuscript literary magazine in twelve numbers. 178x120mm. pp. [2], 256, [2]. Brown half calf notebook with marbled paper covered boards. Joints a little worn and split at the foot of the spine at the lower cover. Chipping to head and foot of spine. Paper label to spine printed with the title "The Companion". Hinges are worn and splitting in places and there is some slight soiling but overall it is in good condition.
View full detailsThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall
BELL, Acton [Anne Brontë]London: T.C.Newby. 1848.First edition. Three volumes. 12mo. 190x110mm. pp. [4], 358; [2], 366; [2], 342. Bound by Bayntun-Riviere (for Henry Sotheran) in modern green half morocco, boards covered in green linen. Spine lettered in gilt, five raised bands with gilt wavy line, compartments decorated with a single gilt border. Marbled endpapers. A neat, attractive binding in excellent condition. Internally very good with only slight foxing in places. Repair to half title in volume I.
View full detailsA set of six early nineteenth-century sporting prints
ANONYMOUSn.p c1820s.A set of six hand-coloured lithographs on card showing the hand signals made to communicate from a distance when game shooting. Mounted on linen with two backed with marbled card so that these form the covers when folded. The folded set is housed in a marbled paper covered card slip-case. Each card measures 66x132mm and unfolded the whole is 200x265mm. The prints are in superb condition, with the colours particularly fresh and bright.
View full detailsIl'ia Muromets - strong and brave bogatyr & Anika - Strong, Glorious and Brave Soldier
VASIL'YEV, V.A. [printer]Sil'nyi khrabryi bogatyr' [Il'ia Muromets. Il'ia Muromets - strong and brave bogatyr] Moscow: V.A. Vasil'yev. c1887.A handcoloured Lubok lithograph, printed on paper, mounted on white card, in a gold painted wooden frame. This print showing Ilya Muromets killing Solovei-Razboinik (Nightingale the Robber) who lived in the forests of Bryansk where he lured travellers to their death. In Russian legend, Ilya Muromets is a Bogatyr, that group of heroic warrior knights whose principal duty was to protect Russia against foreign invasion.
View full detailsThe Plays of William Shakespeare
SHAKESPEARE, WilliamLondon: Printed for George Kearsley. 1806.Fourteen volumes. 8vo. 160x100mm. Green half calf, marbled paper boards. Spine with four raised bands decorated in gilt with a Greek key design. Red label lettered in gilt. All edges marbled and marbled endpapers. Some slight rubbing to edges and a little scuffing in places to the boards but overall an attractive set in very good condition. Internally very good with a little browning in places. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Shakespeare. Engravings throughout reproducing scenes from the plays.
View full detailsThe Historie of the Chvrch since the dayes of Our Saviour Jesvs Christ vntill this present Age.
SYMSON, PatrickDevided into foure Bookes. 1. The first containeth the whole proceedings and practises of the emperours ... 2. The second containeth a breefe catalogue of the beginnings, and proceedings; of all the bishops, popes, patriarchs, doctors, pastors, and other learned men ... 3. The third containeth a short summe of all the heretiques ... 4. The fourth containeth a short compend of all the councels generall, nationall, and provinciall ... Devided into 16. centuries. ...
View full detailsAn Account of the Different Charities belonging to the Poor of County of Norfolk.
CLARK, ZacharyAbridged from the Returns under Gilbert’s Act, to the House of Commons in 1786; and from the Terriers in the office of the Lord Bishop of Norwich. Bury St Edmunds/London Printed by Gedge and Barker; for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown. 1811.First edition. 8vo. 220x130mm. pp. xvi, 296. Contemporary diced russia, double fillet gilt border with gilt roll border inside. A further gilt roll border to the central panel. Spine decorated and lettered in gilt. Some wear to head and foot of spine but otherwise a handsome binding in a very good condition.
View full detailsA Treatise of Gunnery
GRAY, JohnLondon: Printed for William Innys. 1731.First edition. 8vo. 200x120mm. pp. [4], xliii, [1], 94, [2pp adverts], one folding plate. Contemporary sprinkled calf, triple fillet border in gilt to upper and lower cover. Five raised bands, compartments decorated in gilt with crown, thistle and flower pattern. Second compartment with tan lettering piece, lettered in gilt. Some wear to boards, rubbing and rubbing to spine and joints. All edges red. Internally in fine condition. Diagrams throughout. Marbled endpapers.
View full detailsNew invented patent Water Closets with a Screen for the Ladies
WISEACRE, Sir Wilfuln.p. . n.d. [c1780].A manuscript poem on one side of a single leaf. Five verses of four lines each written in a neat italic hand. It has been folded in three for posting (there is the mark of a seal and, on the verso, the name of the addressee, Chas Blatchley Esq, Bury. A strip has been torn on the left edge no doubt when the letter was opened but there is no loss of text. Otherwise it is in very good condition with nice clear text.
View full detailsThe Industry of the United States in Machinery, Manufactures, and Useful and Ornamental Arts.
[WHITWORTH, Joseph and George WallisLondon and New York: George Routledge & Co.. 1854.First edition. 8vo. 159x95mm. pp. xx, 172. Blue-green bubble grained cloth, tan calf backstrip lettered in gilt with a gilt double fillet border. Backstrip damaged with loss of 40mm. Slight bumping to corners. Internally very good save for staining on pp62-63. Library label of The Institution of Civil Engineers on front pastedown and front free endpaper has inscription "Science Museum" in blue biro. Library stamp on the verso of the title page and on the final page.
View full details24 Photos
BISCHOF, Werner (mit einer einleitung von Manuel Gasser)Bern: Verlag L.M. Kohler. 1946.First edition. A portfolio of twenty three loose photographs (each photograph measures 302x231mm) housed in a folder with boards and cloth spine and ties. Some marking to the boards and rubbing to the edges and the cloth spine is torn and damaged but holding. The twenty-fourth photograph is the image on the front cover pasted on board. (306x235mm) Four page folded introduction with one page introduction by Manuel Gasser and a list of the titles of the photographs. The plates are in very good condition with only some very slight rubbing to the edges.
View full detailsEhrenpforte. Arc triomphal de l'empereur Maximilien I. (The Triumphal Arch of Maximilian I.)
DÜRER, Albrecht[Vienna]: [widow of Alberti for T.Mollo]. [1799].Broadsheet (65 x 48 cm). Contemporary, probably original, pink cloth backing marbled boards. With fifty numbered woodcuts on forty three sheets, the first five sheets comprising the legend by Stabius, the last sheet also containing three woodcut inscriptions numbered fifty one to fifty three, the entire design made up from 174 original blocks and eighteen etchings by Bartsch on three sheets.
View full detailsTwo autograph manuscript volumes of the Political History of Europe.
ABBOT, Charlesn.p. n.d. c1780.Two volumes, being volumes III and IV of a four volume Political History of Europe. Manuscript on thick laid paper. 285x210mm. Paginated on verso with even numbers only. The text is on the recto of each leaf with occasional notes and references set out opposite.Vol. III: Germany [1] - 142; Switzerland: [143]-[215], 216-220 bl; Italy: [221]-372, [373]-376 bl; Turky (sic) [377]-[415]. Error in pagination at pp 114/115 but text is continuous and complete. Vol. IV.
View full detailsRemarks on some evidence recently communicated to the Photographic Society (1863)
BOULTON, M[atthew] P[iers] W[att]Remarks on some evidence recently communicated to the Photographic Society (1863)Remarks concerning certain photographs supposed to be of early date. (1864) Remarks concerning certain pictures supposed to be photographs of early date. (1865) London: Bradbury & Evans. 1863-65.Eight pamphlets under three titles. Privately printed by M.P.W. Boulton between 1863 and 1865, the three titles concern a dispute about the origins and invention of photography and are a refutation by Boulton of claims made in 1863 by F.P. Smith. Further details of this are given below. Each title has more than one version.
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