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DAVID MICHAEL JONES (1895-1974): Unicornprint, woodcut, 8.5cm x 6.5cm

HELEN G. STEVENSON (SCOTTISH 20th CENTURY)   THE CORAL BOAT  Woodcut, signed lower right, numbered 35/30, 29 x 21cm   Condition Report:Available upon request

Various antiquarian books to include:-  [Luther Dr. Martin. " A Commentarie of M. Doctor Martin Luther upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galatians......"]  missing end papers, title pages, first page is "After that Mr Luther had once publickly expounded this epistle..."  woodcut headers, includes "A Sermon ...By Mr Martin Luther" and "Sermon II .."final page of "To the Galatians" 486, final page of Sermons is 28, errata page, inked inscriptions ffep, binding loose and stitching apparent, one section totally loose, contemporary leather boards, part of backstrip missing, and  Strickland "Queens of England", 9 vols, half-leather with marbled boards, all rather worn  Thackeray's Works, 4 vols, half-leather, marbled boards, rather worn  Kleiser, Grenville, series of self-help books "How to ..."  "Keith's Evidence of Prophecy", half-leather "The Universal Biography", 3 vols, Crudence Concordance full leather but in poor repair  Goldsmith's Poems, Campbell's Poetical Works Fitz-Adam, Adam "The World for the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Five", London, J & R and J Dodsley, frontis and ep missing, full tree calf, vol 2 only, in need of repair and other volumes (2 boxes)  

Quantity of illustrated books to include:- Heath Robinson, W "Peacock Pie", Constable & Co 1920, 2nd impression, colour plates, pictorial boards Robinson, Charles (ills) "The Four Gardens", William Heineman 1912, coloured plates with lettered tissue guards, purple pictorial cloth Housman, Laurence (ills) "The Sensitive Plant by Percy Bysshe Shelley", London Aldine House 1898, plates with tissue guards, some foxing, gilt titles to front board Strang, William and Clark, J B (ills) "Sinbad the Sailor and Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves", Lawrence & Bullen 1896, black and white illustrations and plates through the text, pictorial boards Robinson, Charles (ills) "A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson", John Lane, The Bodley Head, colour frontis and other colour plates, black and white illustrations throughout, pictorial boards Doddridge Blackmore, Richard "Fringilla; some tales in verse", illustrated by Louis Fairfax Muckley and drawings by James Linton, published Elkin Matthews 1895, black and white plates with tissue guards, decorated tp, pictorial cloth, booksellers catalogue description paste inside front board Hudson, W H "Green Mansions", illustrated by Keith Henderson, Three Sirens Press, New York, n.d., woodcut illustrations and plates with tissue guards, dust wrapper, glassine cover, another copy illustrated by Keith Henderson, New York Illustrated Editions Company, green cloth, quarter black backstrip and other illustrators to include John Austen, Violet Brunton, Mary Carey, Arthur Wragg, etc (2 boxes)  Condition Report All plates present and in good order in the Aladdin - the book has been read, binding not tight, and cloth covers faded

MacDougall W.B. (ills.) "The Eerie Book" J. Sheills & co.1898, stories by Edgar Allen Poe, Hans Christian Andersen, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, de Quincy etc. woodcut ills , some slight foxing, deckle edges, inked inscription on ffep dated 1952, cream pictorial cloth and backstrip, glassine cover

Calepini, Ambrosii " Dictionarium Undecim Linguarum .....Onomasticum..... " Basileae per Sebastianum Henricpetri  (1590) underlining throughout text, small inked stamp on title page, modern rebind in blue cloth with gilt tiltles to back strip, with "Dictionarium Universale Latino-Gallicum ex Omnibus......" Parisiis...Rothomagi...1771, title page text in red and black, woodcut header to the dedication, contemporary leather, backstrip separating and with slight loss, edges red, corners bruised, Littleton, Dr Adam "Latin Dictionary - in Four Parts...." Fourth Edition, London, printed for D. Brown, A. & J. Churchill etc. 1715, engraved frontis, the two maps are present, contemporary full leather, loss and worn, the binding loose, and Schrevelii Cornelii "Lexicon Manuale Graeco-Latinum & Latinum-Graecum....." Londini 1788, contemporary full leather, worn (4)

Two antiquarian volumes - lacking all plates and maps - Camden, William  "Camden's Britannia Newly Translated into English with Additions and Improvements......." published by Edmund Gibson of Queens College, Oxford, Printed by F. Collins, for A. Swale...1695, engraved frontis portrait, plates of the coinage only, recased in brown suede with black rules to the edges, red paste down with gilt titles to backstrip, all edges red, large folio, with [Blome, Richard] "The Gentleman's Recreation - in Two Parts - Arts and Sciences and  Horsemanship, Fowling......." printed by S. Roycroft for Richard Blome....1686, title plate printed in red and black text, woodcut ills within text, rebacked, contemporary leather laid down on boards, red pasted down with gilt titles to back strip, edges and corners having loss of leather, large folio

Roberts W. " The Book-Hunter in London" Elliot Stock 1895, ills, decorative endpapers, pictorial cloth with ills pastedown to front board, binding a bit loose, glassine cover, Uzanne, Octave "The Book-Hunter in Paris" Elliot Stock 1893, ills throughout, decorative endpapers, pictorial cloth and gilt titles, some foxing and binding slightly loose, Burton, John Hill "The Book-Hunter"  William Blackwood and Sons 1882,  second edition, frontis portrait, woodcut letter press headers, blue cloth with gilt decoration to the front board, glassine cover,  and Humphreys, A.L. "The Private Library..." Strangeways & sons, sold by Hatchards, foxed throughout, grey cloth with gilt rules and title, t.e.g. Allan, P.B.M. "The Book-Hunter At Home" Philip Allan & Co. 1922, frontis with tissue guard, quarter cloth over grey boards, deckle edges, and eight other related volumes 

Original ukiyo-e color woodcut on paper by Japanese master Hiroshige. This woodblock is the central image of an incomplete tryptic entitled Crossing the Oi River. Housed in a gilded wood frame with a light grey mat. Sight size: 8.50"L x 9.75"H. Frame size: 16.50"L x 18.50"H x 1.75"W. Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese 1797-1858)Issued: c. 1840Country of Origin: JapnCondition: Age related wear. Vertical creases and soiling on upper right. Sporadic color loss.

Outstanding large original pen and ink drawing on paper by American Expressionist Oliver Grimley. Charging Rhinoceros is made with a multitude of tiny lines in a continuous pattern to form a seemingly realistic animal that follows Albrecht Durer's 16th century woodcut of the Rhinoceros at rest. Signature and date in graphite on lower right: Oliver Grimley 65. Paper glued to beige mat. Artwork dimensions: 30.50"L x 19.50"H. Mat size: 31.50"L x 22.50"H. Artist: Oliver Fetterolf Grimley (American b. 1920-?)Issued: 1965Country of Origin: United StatesCondition: Age related wear.

Large original color woodcut on handmade and crumpled Momigami paper by Japanese Master printmaker Sadao Watanabe who followed the Mingei (folk art) movement. Entitled Beggar and Saints, Watanabe's composition features a biblical subject placed in a Japanese context with sushi rolls set in a vertical row behind the beggar. Signature and date on lower right: Sadao Watanabe 1965. Title on lower center: Beggar and Saints. Edition number on lower left: 125/210. Housed in a black frame with a black color background. Sight size: 23"L x 25.50"H. Frame size: 30"L x 32"H x 1"W. Artist: Sadao Watanabe (Japanese 1913-1996)Issued: 1965Edition Number: 125 of 210 Country of Origin: JapanCondition: Age related wear. Small tear on upper center of paper.

Chinese medicine.- Cleyer (Andreas) Specimen Medicinae Sinicae, 6 parts in 1, first edition, title in red and black with engraved vignette, 30 engraved plates, woodcut illustrations, many leaves browned, slight worming at beginning, lower margin of final leaf repaired, original stiff wrappers with ms. title on spinbe, uncut, 4to, [Waller 9107; Garrison Morton 6492; Wellcome II, 359; Cordier, Bibl. Sinica II, 1470], Frankfurt, Joannes Petrus Zubrodt, 1682.*** "The Specimen Medicinae Sinicae, compiled by a German physician from Kassel, is the first illustrated book published on Chinese medicine in the West. It contains an overview of Chinese medical practices including acupuncture and meridian theories, semiology of the tongue, descriptions of Chinese pharmaceuticals and their uses, and an important translation of a Ming treatise on pulse diagnosis." (NY Academy of Medicine online).

Rembrandt.- Annotated.- Gersaint (Edmé-François) Catalogue raisonné de toute les pieces qui forment l'Oeuvre de Rembrandt, 2 parts in 1, including supplement by Yver, first edition, etched portrait frontispiece of the artist by J.B.G., titles with small woodcut ornament, woodcut head- and tail-pieces, approbation f. at end of first part, errata f. at end of part 2, the first part extensively annotated by a knowledgeable hand (including 4pp. of notes bound in at p.186), occasional spotting, lightly browned, contemporary English calf, gilt spine in compartments and with red morocco label, spine ends and corners worn, upper joint starting, but holding firm, upper cover water-stained, rubbed and marked, 8vo, Paris, Hochereau, 1751-1756.  *** Provenance: George Fairholme (1789-1846), banker, traveller, naturalist and scriptural geologist (engraved armorial bookplate to front pastedown). It is highly feasible that the knowledgeable annotations were by his father William, who was a noted art collector. 

Etterlin (Petermann) Kronica von der loblichen Eÿdtgnoschaft ir harkommen und sust seltzam strittenn und Geschichten, first edition, second issue, ff. [8], CXXIIII, lacking final blank leaf X6, xylographic title with 2 woodcut border pieces, 29 woodcut illustrations from 12 blocks, including full-page woodcut of the Emperor enthroned to title verso and heraldic composition to A1r (verso blank), woodcut printer's device on final leaf, title with crude ?early hand-colouring to border and woodcut to verso, some tears repaired and lower margin reinforced to verso (without notable loss), a few instances of contemporary ink marginalia or passage-marking, a few minor marginal repairs, affecting headline to [a]5, L6 short tear into headline without loss, U6 tiny paper flaw hole within headline, M1 vertical tear within text without loss, some light browning, some soiling or light staining, lacking front free endpapers, eighteenth-century half calf, spine gilt and with black calf label, light wear to corners and extremities, upper joint split at foot, 4to (275 x 195mm.), Basel, Michael Furter, 24 December, 1507. *** The first printed chronicle of Switzerland, starting with St. Meinrad's foundation of the monastery of Einsiedeln (c.835) and continuing up to the year 1503. The woodcuts, some attributed to the renowned artist known by the monogram "D.S.", include a half-page detailed view of Lucerne (the city's earliest printed depiction), episodes from the glorious history of Switzerland including a dragon, and the first pictorial representation of the famous scene, synonymous with the Swiss spirit of insurrection, of Tell aiming at the apple on his son's head. This copy is the second issue of the first edition; the first edition having the first page of text printed on the verso of the coat of arms. Literature: VD16 E 4110.

Execution broadside.- Strange and Singular Execution (The) of James Hughes, who was twice Hanged ... in the County of Down ... and who after the first time being Hanged, sat upright in his own Coffin and drank a glass of Water, printed broadside, woodcut illustration at head, soiled, small spot covering odd letter, creasing, laid down on paper, c.380 x 170 mm, Nottingham, Ordoyno, [c.1823]. *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded.  The strange tale of Patrick M'Cann, also known as James Hughes, who was convicted of murder in Lisburn in 1813, before absconding. He was found, almost by accident, in 1823 working under a different name as a butcher in Galway. He has the dubious honour of being hung twice due to the rope snapping on the first attempt. "... and a short time after the fatal drop fell; when from his great weight, the rope broke, and the miserable wretch fell upwards of twenty feet on the ground; he alighted to his feet, and from his hands being pinioned immediately fell backwards ...".

China.- Murr (Christoph Gottlieb von) and Ignaz Koegler. Litterae patentes Imperatoris Sinarum Kang-Hi, first appearance in book format of the Red Manifesto, 2 plates at end, one a folding engraved plate reproducing the Red Manifesto of October 1716 in Chinese characters, the other a woodcut Linnaean classification of Chinese quadrupeds in Chinese characters, text largely in Latin but with a few Chinese characters, title lightly browned, contemporary limp vellum, preserved in cloth chemise and morocco-backed cloth slip-case, 4to, Nuremberg & Altdorf, Monath & Kussler, 1802.*** Rare. This is the first appearance in book format of the text of The Red Manifesto, a critically important Imperial edict issued in printed broadside format in Peking in 1716. The edition was compiled and partly written by the Nürnberg scholar Christoph Gottlieb von Murr, who had discovered the important commentary on the Manifesto by Ignaz Koegler. Von Murr includes Koegler's account of the activities of the Jesuits in China as well as general notes on the subject and a bibliography of Jesuit works published in China. In 1706, at the height of the Chinese Rites Controversy, the Kangxi Emperor appointed two Jesuit missionaries, Fathers Antonio de Barros and Antoine de Beauvollier, as his special envoys to Rome. Their mission ended tragically when their ship capsized within sight of the Portuguese coast. Not having any news from them, the Emperor appointed Fathers José Ramón Arxo and Giuseppe Provana, also Jesuit missionaries, as his representatives in Rome. Arxo and Provana left Macau in 1708. Arxo died in Spain in 1711 and Provana died in 1720 on the return voyage to China. Since no word of their deliberations came to the Emperor, he had this document, the Red Manifesto, or Hongpiao (紅票), written and all missionaries resident in Beijing sign it, and ordered it given to any Europeans who came to the capital. He states that he will not give credence to any documents regarding the Rites Controversy until his envoys return.Provenance: Silvestre de Sacy (1758-1838, renowned Orientalist, title inscribed "au Citoyen de Sacy" and verso of title inscribed ?in Sacy's hand "acq. chez J. Schlesinger"; Delombardy (at head of text later ownership inscription dated 1848).Literature: Cordier,Sinica, 638; Löwendahl, 718. 

Albania.- Barlezio (Marino) De Vita Moribus ac Rebus Praecipue adversus Turcas..., second edition, collation: [*]6 A-Z a-h6, woodcut device on title with enlarged version on verso of final leaf, small woodcut portrait of Scanderberg on A2v, woodcut historiated initials, a few leaves browned, occasional foxing, minor marginal worming at beginning and end, 2 small stains to title, later sheep, scuffed and wormed, spine gilt, worn at foot, folio (317 x 202mm.), Strassburg, Kraft Mueller, 1537.*** Second edition of this hagiographical account of Scanderberg (or Skanderberg), the Albanian national hero, who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in the mid-15th century.Literature: Adams B217; VD16 B 389.

Islamic Incunabula.- Kitab-I Ligat-I Vankuli [The Crown of Language and the Correct Arabic], translated by Mehmed ibn-i Mustafa el-Vani [or Vankuli], vol. 2 only (of 2), first edition,  756+10, single column text within woodcut border, occasional worming affecting odd word with expert repairs, odd tear into text with expert repairs, many margins strengthened or with tissue repairs, modern crushed morocco with flap, gilt, folio, [Constantinople], Ibrahim Müteferrika, 1141 H [1729]. *** A Turkish translation of the most important dictionary of Arabic, the Al-Sihah of Gauharia, with the Persian routes printed in the margins. Printing was only introduced into the Ottoman Empire in the late sixteenth century, with works in Hebrew, Armenian and Latin being permitted for use only by their respective minorities or millets.  The first press for which Turkish or Arabic printing was permitted was set up by Ibrahim Muteferrika (c.1672-1746). There was considerable opposition to the plan from the scribes, but approval was reached by compromise, with the Sheh-al-Islam agreeing to allow the printing of books in all but the traditional religious subjects.

Execution broadside.- counterfeiting.- Last Dying Speech and Confession of John Atkinson (The), who was executed at Nottingham Gallows ... for uttering Counterfeit Notes ..., printed broadside, woodcut illustration at head, a little rubbed, laid down on paper, broadside c.315 x 230 mm., Nottingham, S. Tupman, [c.1800]. *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded.

Minko (Tachibana) Saiga shokunin burui [Colored Pictures of Occupations of Workmen], 2 vol., first edition, numerous fine hand-coloured woodcut illustrations, some portions of loss at fore-edge folds, generally very small but a couple times just within image, worming, skillfully repaired but sometimes within text or image, a few short tears repaired, some pigments lightly offset, occasional light soiling, bound and stitched Japanese-style in original blue wrappers, original block-printed labels to upper covers, some wear and restoration, stitching renewed, housed in a modern silk wrap-around case with clasps, large 8vo (282 x 180mm.), Tokyo, 1770 or 1771.  *** The rare and beautiful first edition of Minko's depiction of contemporary Edo period craftsmen at work. The 28 featured crafts include hatter, mirror polisher, swordsmith, papermaker, engraver, maker of bamboo blinds, fanmaker, koto (Japanese harp) maker, maker of straw mats (tatami), woodworker, and others, each accompanied by a poetic description. Active in the second half of the 18th century, Minko first made woodblock prints in the manner of Sukenobu (1671-1750). After moving to Edo (now Tokyo) he became influenced by the 'beautiful women' (bijin-ga) style of Harunobu (1725-1770), with considerable commercial success. 

Numismatics.- Huttichius (Johannes) Imperatorum et Caesarum vitæ, cum Imaginibus ad vivam effigiem expressis, 2 parts in 1 vol., title within woodcut border, woodcut illustrations, occasional marginal ink notes, occasional ink underlining, lacking Y6 (blank), 2c4-2d4 with tiny worming at gutter and neat old repairs, scattered spotting, occasional marginal water-staining, bookplate, lacking front free endpaper, later patterned boards, small paper label to spine foot, a little rubbed, bumping to corners and extremities, [Adams H1247], small 4to, [Strasburg], 1534.

Judaica.- Talmud, Babylonian.- [A set of 20 Tractates], a mixed set, in 17 vol., with the following commentaries; Rashi, Tosafoth, Piskei Tosafoth, Rabbi Asher, and Maimonides, all vol. with printer's woodcut device to title, some woodcut initials, damp-staining to varying degrees (7 vol.), paper or silked repairs (3 vol.), ink notes (3 vol.), ink stamps (2 instances) and a single vol. slightly trimmed affecting side-notes, otherwise occasional staining and scattered small worm holes, most bound in modern calf in varying antique styles and stamped in blind, a few modern half-calf, gilt lettering to spines, folio, Basel, Ambrosius Froben, 1578-80.*** This almost complete Talmud published by Basel-based Ambrosius Froben, was produced following the censorship of Hebrew texts in Italy during the later sixteenth century. In large part a response to, and attempt to plug these losses, as a papally sanctioned edition it nonetheless suffered from inevitable censorship, prohibiting publication of all the Tractates. A list available upon request.Provenance: from the Valmadonna Trust Library, and sold as lot 125 in the sale 'The Valmadonna Trust Library: Further Selections from the Historic Collection' at Kestenbaum & Company, November 15th 2018.  

Mineralogy.- Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus) Ettliche tractatus. I. Von natürlichen dingen. II. Beschreibung etlicher kreütter. III von metallen. IIII. Von mineralen. V. Von edlen gesteinen, edited by Michael Toxites, woodcut initials, light browning, some staining to title, ink library stamp to B3, later latin ink ownership inscription of Jonat ?Schreter to pastedown, contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, metal clasps, split to head of upper joint, some chipping and wear to head of spine and corners, small portion of repair to lower cover, soiled, [Sudhoff 120; VD 16 P 693; cf. Norman 149], 8vo, Strasbourg, Heirs of Christian Müller, 1570.*** Rare edition of this supplement to his Archidoxa, which 'includes tracts on the use of magnets in medicine, occult philosophy, the correct administration of medicine, and how to extract poisons from venomous animals' (Norman), as well as minerals and gemstones. The editor (born Johann Michael Schütz) was a physician, alchemist, poet laureate to Charles V, and follower of Paracelsus. 

Execution broadside.- Dying Behaviour (The) and Execution of Wm. Probert ... at the Old Bailey, for Horse-stealing, printed broadside, woodcut illustration of a hanged man, crudely printed with odd word obscured, scattered spotting, short marginal tear with neat tape repair verso, laid down on paper, c.365 x 235 mm., Nottingham, Ordoyno, [c.1825].  *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded.  

Anglo-Spanish War.- [Elizabeth I, Queen of England]. A Declaration of the causes mooving the Queene of England to give aide to the defence of the people afflicted and oppressed in the lowe countries, second edition in English, initial f. blank except for signature-mark, title with first letter within woodcut cartouche and woodcut ornament recto and with large woodcut royal arms verso, large woodcut decorative initials, final f. blank, date inked in at end of imprint in a later hand, initial blank with neatly repaired tear, occasional spotting or light staining, lightly browned, red crushed morocco, by Riviere & Son, neatly rebacked, preserving original gilt backstrip, [STC 9189.5], small 4to, Christopher Barker, [1585]. *** The Robert S. Pirie copy of the second edition of this official declaration of support for the Dutch protestants rebelling against Spanish rule. It marked the beginning of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604). It was published in the same year as the first edition, along with Latin, French, Dutch, Italian, and German versions. Provenance: Roberts S. Pirie (engraved bookplate to front pastedown); contemporary ink inscription to verso of final blank. 

Broadside.- Australia.- Unhappy Transport's (The) Sorrowful Account of his Fourteen Years Transportation, at Botany Bay, New South Wales, who was transported in February, 1806, and returned to Town June 1, 1821, printed broadside, woodcut portrait, poor quality printing with odd letter obscured, faint foldlines, creasing and chipping to edges, a little soiled, laid down on paper, c.370 x 250 mm., Nottingham, Ordoyno, [c.1821]. *** Rare. Only one recorded, on World Cat at the National Library of Australia, though published in Manchester rather than Nottingham.  The rather fanciful tale of James Revel's life and transportation recorded in doggrell verse. "Five of our number in the passage died, Who buried were within the ocean wid', And after sailing seven months or more, We at Port Jackson were put on shore.   Then to refresh us we were all made clean, That to our buyers we might better seem, Against the Planters did come us to view, How well the lik'd the fresh transported crew."

Binding.- Horatius Flaccus (Quintus) Q. Horatius Flaccus: cum commentariis & enarrationibus commentatoris veteris..., collation: *-**4 A-Z4 a-z4 aa-zz4 aaa-vvv4, woodcut printer's device to title, light uniform browning towards end, seventeenth century calf ornate in gilt, covers and spine with a semis of fleur-de-lys within tooled borders, spine head with leather repair, spine foot slightly chipped, upper joint split at foot and fragile, g.e., ink stain to fore-edge, 4to (binding: 227x166mm.), Leiden, ex officina Plantiniana, with Franciscus Raphelengius, 1597.*** Provenance: A previous French owner’s pencil note suggests that this book once belonged to the Count of Provence, later Louis XVIII (1814-1824, with an interruption upon Napoleon's return during the Hundred Days in 1815), forming part of his library in exile from 1791. 

Castiglione (Baldassare) Il libro del cortegiano del conte Baldesar Gastiglione, collation: A-Z8 AA-BB8, woodcut printer's device to title and verso of otherwise blank final f., some staining and spotting, lightly browned, contemporary limp vellum, lacking ties, ring mark to covers, soiled, 8vo (155 x 100mm.), [Florence], [Benedetto Giunta], 1531. *** A scarce early edition of this guide to courtly manners, first published by Aldus Manutius in 1528.  Provenance: 'Joanne Caligario' (early ink inscription to head of A2).  Literature: EDIT 16 CNCE 10060.  

Jewish settlement in England.- Menasseh ben Israel. Vindiciae Judaeorum, or a Letter In Answer to certain Questions...touching the reproaches cast on the Nation of the Jewes, first edition, woodcut device on title and woodcut headpiece, some light foxing and soiling, modern mottled calf, gilt, 4to, [Wing M381], Printed by R[oger] D[aniel], 1656.*** Very good copy of this important work which initiated the unofficial English acceptance of Jewish settlement and led to the granting of an official charter of protection to the Jews of England in 1664 and to the formal recognition of Jewish settlement in England. Cromwell, in fact, had already been moved to sympathy with the Jewish cause, arguably for commercial reasons, and despite Prynne’s able but unfair attack on the Jews (in the ‘Short Demurrer’, a mingling of learning and gross stereotypes), the Whitehall Conference declared that ‘there was no law that forbade the Jews return to England’.Menasseh, born in Lisbon about 1604, grew up in Amsterdam. His family suffered under the Inquisition but found asylum there and Menasseh rose to eminence not only as a rabbi and an author, but also a printer. He  established the first Hebrew press in Holland and numbered Grotius and Rembrandt amongst his friends (the latter painted his portrait).

Games.- Barozzi (Francesco) Il nobilissimo et antiquissimo giuoco Pythagoreo nominato rythmomachia, cioè battaglia di consonantie de numeri, first edition, collation: A-F4 G2, woodcut printer's device to title, woodcut initials and numerous illustrations, modern wrappers, housed within modern cloth drop-back box, 4to (196x135mm.), Venice, Grazioso Perchacino, 1572.*** First edition of this Italian treatise on the medieval numbers boardgame, ‘Rithmomachia’ or ‘Battle of Numbers’. Similar to chess, but dependent on Boethian mathematics, the game was originally attributed to Pythagoras, and is also known as the Philosopher’s Game, but likely originated in the 11th century. Barozzi seems to have learnt the game while in Bologna from Calude de Bossière’s 1556 Latin treatise, and decided to compose an Italian version having played and taught the game himself.Provenance: Erwin Tomash [book label to front pastedown]. Sold as lot 42 in  The Erwin Tomash Library On The History Of Computing at Sotheyby's, 18th September 2018.Literature: Edit16 CNCE 4261; Tomash & Williams B95 [this copy].

Execution broadside.- arsenic poisoning.- Account of (An) the Trial and Execution of John Smith, who was Executed on the New Drop at Lincoln Castle ... for poisoning Sarah Arrowsmith of Alford, printed broadside, woodcut illustration at head, crude printing with smudges and occasionally obscured letters, creases, light soiling and spotting, laid down on paper, c.370 x 235 mm., Nottingham, printed from the Lincoln copy by Ordoyno, [c.1824]. *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded.  The tale of a man who poisoned flour with arsenic, and gave the flour to his unwitting partner who baked it into cakes. The cakes were shared with her siblings, daughter and neighbours, poisoning them all, though the broadside intimates that only the partner, Sarah Arrowsmith and her unborn child died. 

Execution broadside.- woman murderer.-  Last dying Speech and Confession (The) of Eliza Smith ... for the wilful Murder of her Father, printed broadside, woodcut illustration at head, crudely printed with odd letter or word obscured, faint foldlines, small loss to top edge, slight creasing and soiling, laid down on paper, Nottingham, Barber, [c.1830]. *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded. A rare recorded occasion where a woman committed murder. Eliza Smith committed patricide by cutting off her father's head in retaliation for his not approving of the man she wished to marry.  

*** Please note, the description of this lot has changed ***  South America.- Bertonio (Ludovico) Vocabulario de la Lengua Aymara, first edition, 2 parts in 1, woodcut trigram of the Society of Jesus to title, with divisional blank leaf between parts (Hh8), title-page probably in facsimile, without dedication f. ([par]4), some light soiling and occasional damp-stains, final leaf reinforced at gutter on verso, contemporary calf, expertly rebacked, retaining original back-strip with gilt lettering and ornament, some wear and soiling, r.e., faded, with wrap-around slipcase and housed within black morocco drop-back box by Goy & Vilaine, [Palau 28512; Sabin 5023], Juli [Peru], Compañia de Iesu, Francisco del Canto, 1612.*** Extremely rare. First edition of the first Spanish-Aymara dictionary, intended for missionary use to the Aymara people of the central Andes, it is one of only four surviving works from the small Jesuit press at Juli in south-eastern Peru on the shores of Lake Titicaca between, which operated under the established auspices of Francisco del Canto in Lima. The first comprehensive vocabulary of Aymara, which today is one of only six indigenous native American languages with over a million speakers and is now generally accepted to have been the principal language of the Inca, Bertonio’s work is recognised as foundational for the study of pre-colonial Andean culture and ethnography more generally. We can trace only one other copy at auction in the last 60 years. This copy would appear to lack the dedication leaf ([par]4). Whilst the collation is the same as the copy in the John Carter Brown Library, leaves A1-2 are in a different setting to the JCB copy.

Pentland Rising.- A Proclamation, against those rebels that have not accepted the Act of Indempnity. Edinburgh, the ninth day of May, one thousand six hundred and sixty eight, broadside, 2ff., black letter, woodcut royal arms at head and a decorative initial, worming, a few small holes or splits, with minor loss to text (mostly on second f.), some creasing, folds, [Wing S1619A], folio, Edinburgh, Printed by Evan Tyler, 1668.  *** Rare at auction. The act was passed in 1667 in the wake of the Covenantor rebellion, known as the Pentland Rising. It was sparked by the mistreatment of an old man by soldiers in Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire. The locals took those soldiers and reinforcements prisoner. A Covenantor army then marched towards Edinburgh under Colonel James Wallace. They were defeated by a government force led by Tam Dalyell of the Binns. Between 40 and 50 Covenanters were killed and up to 85 prisoners taken, many of whom were allegedly tortured. 36 were executed and others were transported to Barbados. Unrest continued over the next two decades, culminating in the period of repression from 1679 to 1688 known as 'The Killing Time'. 

Broadside.- Australia.- Extract of a Letter, and a copy of Verses written by Valentine Marshall, now in Van Dieman's Land, to his Friends in Nottingham, printed broadside, woodcut portrait at head, crudely printed with some text obscured, lightly soiled, laid down on paper, ex-Nottingham libraries with neat ink-stamp to verso, broadside c.380 x 170 mm., Nottingham, J. Plant, [1834]. *** Rare. One similar, but with a different illustration, listed at the National Library of Australia. Valentine Marshall took part in the Nottingham Reform Riots of 1831, and was tried for the "rioting and burning of Colwick Hall", where he was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging, which was later commuted to transportation for life. 

Execution broadside.- Australia.- More of the Horrors of Transportation: Giving the full Particulars of the dreadful condition of the Transports in Norfolk Island, Van Diemans' Land, New South Wales, &c, printed broadside, woodcut illustration to head, faint foldlines, fractionally rubbed, a little soiled, laid down on paper, ex-Nottingham libraries with neat ink-stamp to verso, c.370 x 245 mm., Nottingham, James Plant, [c.1839]. *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded.  An unusually in-depth record of transportation and convict life in Australia, including details of those held in Macquarie Harbour; Norfolk Island; Phillip's Island as well as a particularly gruesome account of cannibalism. Conditions for the convicts were so bad that the only escape for many would be to murder at random, ensuring they were seen, entirely in order to be convicted and executed.  "A great number of these horrid men committed murder in order to be hanged indeed, the thing was quite common. They used to gamble for life; they would conclude to kill some person, to be hanged." 

Piracy.- Anno XXVII. Henici Octavi. Actes made in the session of this present parliament holden upon prorogacion at Westminster ... in the xxvii. yere of the rigne of our most drad soveraynge lord kynge Henry the viii, title within engraved border, woodcut initials, small rust hole to title (affecting border), short marginal tear to B6, not affecting text, faint water-staining to upper corners, occasional faint spotting, new endpapers, modern antique style calf-backed boards, crushed morocco label to upper cover, [STC 9393], small folio, Thomas Powell, 1562. *** Includes; "An acte declarynge the order and punishment of pirates & robbers at sea." "An acte concernying suches as bene put in trust by their maisters, and after do robbe them." "An acte for punishment of sturdy vacabundes and beggars." "An acte for laws and Justice to be ministered in Wales, in lyke fourme as it is in this realm."

Mathematics.- Euclid. [Opera], first collected edition, translated by Bartolommeo Zamberti, collation: [10], A-Z AA-EE8 FF6 lacking final blank, fine partially calligraphic title with woodcut of St. John the Baptist, woodcut device at foot of final leaf, A1 with superb white-on-black 3-sided woodcut border and with woodcut initial printed in red and part of text also printed in red, numerous other woodcut initials, mostly 4-line but occasionally larger, woodcut diagrams to margins, a couple just shaved, last few leaves with some marginal repairs but text block and diagrams largely unaffected, browning to some leaves and stain to some lower corners, but still a crisp and overall handsome copy, later calf over half-exposed wooden boards with clasps, spine with raised bands, folio (300 x 211mm.), Venice, Johannes Tacuinus, 1505.*** The very rare first edition of Euclid’s collected works, translating all of his extant Greek texts: the Elements, Perspectiva, Phaenomena, Specularia, and Data. An important book, the Opera contains the first translation of the Elements from the original Greek, and the first printing of the remaining texts. The Perspectiva is the first written work on Optics, and the Phenomena appears to be the first application of spherical geometry to astronomy."...a first rate example of the Venetian book...Among the rarest of early Euclids” (Thomas Stanford).Provenance: Alfredo Dusmet de Smours (1879-1964, bookplate).Literature:  Adams E-972; BM/STC Italy p.238; Thomas-Stanford 3; Essling 283.

Bible, Welsh. [Testament newydd ein arglwydd Jesu Christ], translated by W. Salesbury, R. Davies and T. Huet, printed in black letter with some side-notes in italic roman type, woodcut initials and tailpieces, 2 leaf dedication to Queen Elizabeth I, lacks Sig.* (first 8 leaves consisting of title, almanack and kalendar), also A1, 2F2, 2T1, 3E1&2, and all after 3E4 (i.e. final f. of table with colophon and final blank), Sig.2G lacking but supplied in early photographic facsimile, without Sig.(:') (4 leaf errata and addenda sometimes found at end), Sig.2B misbound before Sig.X, contemporary ink inscriptions in Welsh to c3 & c4v, small worming to fore-margin of first c.20 leaves and to lower margin throughout (generally single wormhole or small trace), very occasionally within text and repaired at points, T3 with horizonal tear repaired, affecting catchword but no loss, latter half with some repairs to gutter foot, occasionally affecting text or causing loss to few letters, light browning, some damp-staining, 20th century red morocco, sympathetic repairs to joints and corners, g.e., [Darlow & Moule 9580; STC 2960], small 4to, [H. Denham, at the costes of H. Toy], [1567]. *** The first edition of the New Testament to be printed in the Welsh language. Only around 50 extant copies have been recorded. Following the petition of the bishops of the Welsh Dioceses in 1562, Queen Elizabeth I granted William Salesbury and his colleagues a seven-year patent for the sole right to print the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer in Welsh. While Salesbury's Welsh Lectionary (1551) had included the Gospels, the present edition is the first to contain entire New Testament in Welsh. A complete Welsh Bible including the Old Testament was not published until 1588, by William Morgan and Christopher Barker. Provenance: Sold Sotheby’s, New York, 5 December 2016, The Bible Collection of Dr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie, lot 135. 

Execution broadside.- child rape.- Dying Speech, Confession, Life, Character and Behaviour of David Proctor (The), who was on this day ... executed on Nottingham Gallows, for committing a Rape on the Body of Charlotte Hemms, printed broadside, woodcut illustration of hanged man at head, one or two faint spots, laid down on paper, ex-library with remnants of blind-stamp to top edge, c.400 x 255 mm., [1797]. *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded. Possibly one of the earliest execution trials or broadsides concerning child rape, which at this time legally meant a child under the age of 10. A grim but important document. 

Coryate (Thomas) The Odcombian Banquet: dished foorth by Thomas the Coriat, and serued in by a number of noble wits in prayse of his Crudities and Crambe too. Asinus portans mysteria, first edition in this form, title with woodcut ornament, woodcut head-pieces and historiated and decorative initials, lacking initial blank, title neatly restored and soiled, trimmed at head, affecting headlines, a few neat marginal repairs, some spotting, lightly browned, inner gilt dentelles, modern polished calf, gilt, spine in compartments richly so and with black morocco label, g.e., [Pforzheimer 219; STC 5810], small 4to, [George Eld] for Thomas Thorp, 1611.  *** Rare at auction. According to Pforzheimer the work is apparently a pirated reprint of the 'Panegyricke verses' and other preliminary matter prefixed to Coryate's Crudities. The work consists of complimentary verses by Ben Jonson, John Donne, Henry Neville, Dudley Digges, Inigo Jones, Henry Peecham, Michael Drayton, and many others.

Scotland.- Boece (Hector) Heir beginnis the hystory and croniklis of Scotland, translated from Latin into Scots English by John Bellenden, first edition in Scots, collation: A-F6 A-Z6/4 Aa-Hh4/6 Ii10 Kk-Zz4/6 [pi]6 [pi2]8 complete, mostly black letter and double column, title in red and black with full-page woodcut of royal arms of Scotland, full-page woodcut of the crucifixion on verso of final f., woodcut initials and 2 smaller illustrations to text, title slightly extended at fore-margin, title and A2-3 repaired at centre affecting woodcut and a few words of text, B3 corner restored, gathering y browned and brittle with a few tears into text, with 2 small pieces detached and slight loss to text, final f. verso with margins reinforced, repaired tear to Vv3, occasional damp-staining, occasional marginal marking or staining, a few annotations in a later hand, contemporary ink ownership inscription to title, 19th century olive morocco, gilt, light rubbing to edges, g.e., folio (279 x 190mm.), [Edinburgh], [Thomas Davidson], 1540.*** First edition in Scots of this history of Scotland that did much to shape how the Scottish regarded themselves. Boece's work is also the earliest surviving printed example of Scottish prose and one of the earliest works printed in Scotland, preceded only by a few works printed by Chepman and Millar at the beginning of the century, and by John Scot, only one of whose books survives. Much of Boece's history was distorted to flatter, Macbeth in particular was much maligned in order to please Boece's partron, James IV of Scotland. Provenance: Elisabethe Hide; Richard Hide (18th century inscriptions).

Binding.- Maria Josepha of Saxony, Dauphine of France.- Version du Nouveau Testament selon la Vulgate, woodcut device to title, contemporary red morocco, gilt, with central arms of Maria Josepha of Saxony to covers, small fleur-de-lys corner-pieces and to spine, some very light scuffing and soiling, g.e., 12mo (binding: 140x85mm.), Paris, chez la Veuve Mazieres & J.B. Garnier, 1761.*** Maria Josepha of Saxony, Dauphine of France (1731-1767). Although she never became Queen herself, due to the death of her husband the Dauphin prior to his father Louis XV's, Maria Josepha was mother to three future Kings, Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X, as well Madame Élisabeth.  A pencil note to the rear endpaper suggests this volume was given to the Count of Artois (later Charles X) by his sister Madame Élisabeth, upon his departure from France after the storming of the Bastille.   

Durer (Albrecht).- Roswitha von Gardersheim. Opera Hrosvite illustris virginis et monialis Germane gentes Saxonica orte nuper a Conrado Celte inventa, first edition, collation: a10 b-k8, complete with 8 full-page woodcut illustrations, 2 by Dürer, the others attributed to Wolf Traut and others, woodcut device on final leaf beneath register, faintly ruled in red, last 3ff. with slight marginal worming, some light foxing and soiling, 2ff. from The Saturday Review of 1868 bound in at end, 17th century citron morocco, triple filets on covers, spine with gilt frames and gilt fleurons between raised bands, brown morocco title label, g.e., a few skilful repairs, folio (299 x 204mm.), Nuremberg, Sodalitas Celticae [Frederic Peypus], 1501.*** An excellent copy of this rare work by a woman,  Roswitha von Gardersheim (935-973), widely regarded as the first great German writer and the first person since antiquity to compose drama in the Latin West. Included here are her six prose plays ("Comediae"), written in loose imitation of Terence, eight sacred histories in verse, and a panegyric on her patron, Otto I.Provenance: John Bellingham Inglis & Charles Inglis; Charles William Dyson Perrins; Mildred Bliss; Margaret Winkelman (with their respective bookplates); Bernard Quaritch 1981; Librairie Thomas Scheler 2015.Literature: Brunet, III, 356 : "Très-rare"; Fairfax Murray, German, 210 ("not reprinted until 1707"); British Museum, STC German, 758; Dyons-Perrins, 634 (this copy).

Emblemata.- Alciati (Andrea) Diverse Imprese...tratte da gli Emblemi dell' Alciato, first edition in Italian, translated by Giovanni Marquale, collation: A-I8 complete, fine woodcut title, illustrations and elaborate borders, faintly ruled in red, some soiling and light water-staining, 19th century brown calf preserving 16th century multicoloured Grolieresque covers, a little rubbed, 8vo (188 x 118mm.), Lyon, Masseo Buonhomo, 1549.*** An attractive copy of the first emblem book with Italian text. Provenance: Allan-Heywood Bright (bookplate, Christie's sale 2014, lot 51).Literature: Landwehr Romanic 46; Green 41; Rawles & Saunders F.028.

Japan.- Kyoto.- Akisato (Rito) Miyako Meisho Zue [Collection of Pictures of Famous Places of the Capital], 6 vol., [1786]; Shûi-Miyako Meisho Zue [Supplement to the Collection of Pictures of Famous Places of the Capital], 5 vol., [1787], first editions, woodcut illustrations by Takehara Shunchôsai, xylographically printed, a few skillful repairs along folds, very occasional worming, a few times within text or image, the occasional faint stain or light soiling, still overall very good, original blue paper wrappers stitched with silk-thread, block-printed labels to upper wrappers (some loss and restoration), a few vol. with stitching working loose at foot, rubbed, housed in a modern mustard silk wrap-around case with clasps, Osaka, Kawachiya Tasuke, large 8vo (11) *** An exceptional illustrated guidebook to Kyoto's architecture, festivals and landscape gardens. A rare record of the Imperial Capital before the devastating fire of 1788, in which most of the city perished.

Eliot (T.S.) Ara Vus [sic] Prec, first edition, one of 220 copies, woodcut decorations by Edward Wadsworth, occasional corner creasing, ink ownership inscription of Romaine Brooks to half-title, some creasing to front free endpaper, original second state black cloth boards with yellow spine, paper label to spine, light browning to spine, a little rubbed, uncut, [Gallup A4a], 4to, John Rodker for the Ovid Press, [1920].*** Eliot's third published collection of poetry and the first book printed by John Rodker. This copy with the ownership inscription of the Paris Left Bank painter Romaine Brooks (1874-1970).

Binding.- Louis XIII.- Dempster (Thomas) Antiquitatum Romanarum Corpus Absolutissimum, title in red and black with printer's woodcut device, 2 folding woodcut plates and numerous woodcut illustrations, foxing and browning, contemporary calf, richly gilt, covers and spine with a semis of alternating crowned 'L' and fleur-de-lys, surrounding the central royal arms of Louis XIII to both covers, edges and dentelles likewise gilt, shields of arms on lower cover slightly abraided, leather repair to spine head and a few other small discreet repairs at edges, spine foot a little chipped and rubbed, small split upper joint head and rest of joint slightly rubbed but holding firm, g.e., large 8vo (binding: 241x166mm.), Geneva, Pierre and Jacques Chouet, 1632.

Emblemata.- Alciati (Andrea) Emblemata cum commentariis & notis, additional engraved title, printed title with woodcut device and large woodcut device on verso of final leaf, woodcut illustrations, modern polished mottled half calf over marbled boards, spine gilt, [Landwehr Romantic 99; Green 152], 4to, Padua, Pietro Paolo Tozzi, 1621.*** A handsome copy, complete with the often suppressed emblem LXXX which depicts a woman defecating. With the commentaries of Claude Mignault and Francisco Sanchez and the notes of Lorenzo Pignoria.Provenance: Thomas Westwood (bookplate); S.A. Thompson Yates (bookplate); L. Claessens (Brussels bookseller, ticket). 

Hortulus anime, collation: 1-20, a-z8, ζ8 Ɔ4, but lacking 55ff., printed in red and black, woodcut illustrations and initials by Hans Baldung Grien, finely coloured by an early hand, a2 repaired, margin of z6 repaired slightly affecting text, 19th century orange boards, worn, 8vo (127 x 88mm.), Strassburg, Martin Flach, 1511.*** A rare post-incunable edition with fine contemporary colouring of 'the little garden of the soul' which was first printed in 1498. Provenance: Arthur & Charlotte Vershbow (bookplate on front endpaper).Literature: not in Adams.

Pharmacopoeia .- [Dubois (Jacques)], "Jacques Silvius". La Pharmacopee. Qui est la maniere de bien choisir & preparer les simples, & de bien faires les compositions, translated by André Caille, first edition in French, title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut printer's device to title, woodcut decorative initials, final f. blank, later ink signatures to title (some obliterated) and occasional marginalia and underlining, closely trimmed at head, some marginal water- and ink-staining (the latter to a lesser extent), some spotting and staining, lightly browned, contemporary calf, richly gilt spine in compartments and with leather label, spine ends, lower joint and corners worn, rubbed and marked, 8vo, Lyon, Louis Cloquemin & Étienne Michel, 1574.  *** Rare first edition in French. We can trace no copy at auction. Jacques Dubois or Sylvius (1478 -1555) was a Parisian Galenist physician and professor of anatomy, who taught Vesalius. The translator Caille (1515-1580) was a physician at Lyon. 

Schoener (Johann) Opera Mathematica, 3 parts in 1, first edition, collation: ?6, ?4, A-Z6, Aa-Cc6, Dd-Ee8, Ff-Mm6, Nn8; a-h6, i8, including errata, colophon and final blank leaf, but lacking 2 other blanks, Roman and Greek type, title printed in red and black with two large woodcut ornaments, woodcut printer's device at end, woodcut portrait of the author on ?4v, numerous woodcuts and diagrams, 4 full-page woodcuts, including terrestrial globe, celestial globe and planisphere, complete with eleven diagrams with working volvelles (although moveable parts supplied in later (?18th century) facsimile and thread renewed), woodcut initials, generally very fine, wide-margined copy, title gutter reinforced, quire R lightly browned, few other leaves toned, small wear to lower blank margin of b3v, tiny wormhole in blank outer margin of last several leaves, contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over wooden boards, covers within two blind-stamped rolls, outer roll dated 1541 and depicting the Crucifixion, David, the Resurrection, and St. John, inner roll dated 1556 and showing Lucretia, Caritas, and Justicia, later stamp of Schola Altenburgensis printed in gold in centre of upper cover and in black on lower cover, some minor abrasion to binding, spine slightly chipped at head, corners lightly rubbed, folio (306 x 201mm.), Nuremberg, J. Montanus & U. Neuber, 1551.*** Rare and important work with a most distinguished provenance, in excellent condition and in its strictly contemporary binding. The Honeyman copy of the first edition of the collected works by Johann Schöner, mathematician, astronomer, cartographer, and scientific instrument maker from Karlstadt, in Bavaria.Schöner was a contemporary of Nicolaus Copernicus and in 1526 he became the first professor of mathematics at the University of Nuremberg. His most illustrious pupil was Georg Joachim Rheticus, who in the Narratio prima (1540) announced Copernicus' discoveries. Schöner was also active as a printer and even set up a press in his house, printing numerous previously unpublished works by Johannes Regiomontanus, as well as the first printed terrestrial globe to name the recently discovered continent of America.The Opera mathematica was published posthumously by his son Andreas and is introduced by a preface by the outstanding humanist and reformer Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560). The volume contains a representative sample of Schöner's wide and diverse interests, and a digest of some of his separately published works, most of which are extremely rare. Part 3 contains the most important section, which describes and illustrates eleven instruments, under the title Aequatorium Astronomicum, ex quo errantium stellarum motus, luminarium configurationes, & defectus colliguntur, a revised and enlarged version of the work which first appeared in 1521. The Aequatorium Astronomicum contains the earliest collection of printed equatoria-diagrams, as well as a catalogue of stars adapted by Schöner from that published by Copernicus in his De revolutionibus of 1543.The text is illustrated by an elaborate series of volvelles (movable wheel charts) used to determine planetary positions. Each part of these volvelles was printed on a separate page, such that the reader could cut them out or trace them on separate pieces of paper, and then assemble the various parts with string. These fragile 'paper instruments', which Schöner was among the first to employ, are frequently lacking or only partially present in most other copies of this work, and they are very often constructed incorrectly.Provenance: from the library of the Latin school in Altenburg, Germany (stamp on the binding 'Biblioth. Schol. Altenburgensis'); the English politician and book collector Sir Robert Leicester Harmsworth (1870-1937; his sale at Sotheby's London, 9 February 1953, lot 9605); Robert Honeyman IV (1897- 1987; see The Honeyman Collection of Scientific Books and Manuscripts. Volume vii. Printed Books S-Z and Addenda, Sotheby's New York, 19-20 May 1981, lot 2802A); Astronomy & Science Books from The Library of Martin C. Gutzwiller, lot 175.Literature: Adams S-678, 685; VD16 S-3465; Alden 551/35; BEA, pp. 1027-1028; Houzeau - Lancaster 2388; Sabin 77806

Pierced binding.- Moritz of Hesse (Count) Davidis regii prophetae Psalterium, Vario Genere Carminis Latine Redditum, second edition, collation: A-Z, Aa-Oo4, P1, 147 leaves, woodcut Hesse arms on title and verso of final leaf, final leaf inner corner torn away with slight loss of text on recto and imprint on verso, upper hinge broken, contemporary gilt armorial pierced binding commissioned by the author from the Schmalkalden binder Hans Bapest, with cut stars, blooms, hearts and bars in the vellum panels to reveal the red silk beneath, Count Moritz’s arms appear in centre of upper cover, impressed decoration includes three different rolls and a flowering potted plant (centre of lower cover), two rolls repeated on spine, lilies in the compartments, edges gilt and gauffered with flowers and designs, evidence of green linen ties, yellow silk head-bands (cords broken, head- and tail-bands holding), spine a little soiled, small 4to (binding 185 x 155mm.), preserved in modern cloth chemise and drop-back box, Schmalkalden, [Michael Schmuck], 1593.*** Pierced vellum bindings are extraordinarily rare. A substantial proportion of those known from this period are found on copies of this second edition (the work was first published in 1590): six are recorded in total, all clearly by the same workshop (these include Bodleian, 4o A 111 Th.BS, British Library BL c27e7 and the three illustrated in L. Bickell, Bucheinbände des XV. bis XVIII. Jahrhunderts aus Hessischen Bibliotheken, Leipzig,1896, pl.29.Known as "The Learned", Moritz (1572-1632) worked on this Protestant paraphrase for eleven years, from ages eight to eighteen. The manuscript inscriptions on the title-page and flyleaf record the movement of this volume among scholars in the Landgrave’s immediate circle: Reformer and theologian Daniel Tossanus (1541-1602), his son-in-law Theodor Hack and mathematician and chemist Johann Hartmann (1568-1631), who later served as Moritz’s personal physician.Literature: Adams B 1477; VD 16B 3258; Nixon, Broxbourne Library pp. 105-7; Foot, The History of Bookbinding as a Mirror of Society, pp. 20 & fig.30; L. Bickell, Bucheinbände des XV. bis XVIII. Jahrhunderts aus Hessischen Bibliotheken, Leipzig, 1896, pl.29.

Poland-Lithuania.- [A sammelband of 10 Counter-Reformation Jesuit texts], most in Latin but 2 in the vernacular, various woodcut or typographic ornament to titles and elsewhere, occasional trimming, browning and scattered soiling, third work lacking 2 preliminary ff., sixth work closed tear to D3, bound within contemporary calf stamped in blind, rebacked but retaining much of original back-strip, upper cover with central Madonna and Child surrounded by decorations within border, ?contemporary ties (2 partial), 4to, Vilnius, Krakow, Posnań, 1603-42.*** A collection of apologetic and polemical texts, mainly anti-Calvinist, from the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Mostly by Jesuit scholars and reformers active around the centres of Vlinius, Krakow and Posanań (as imprints reflect), an exception, is the 1610 Vilnius-printed polemic against James I of England's Oath of Allegiance, by Italian Cardinal Roberto Bellarmine SJ. A list available upon request. 

New Testament, German.- Luther (Martin) Das neuw Testament recht grüntlich teutscht, collation: A-C4 D-E2 F4 B-Z6 Aa-Gg6 Hh8, title within ornate figurative woodcut border, 27 woodcut illustrations by Hans Holbein the younger, ink ownership inscriptions to title foot, occasional ink notes in German to margins in early hand (slightly trimmed), A2-4 reinforced at gutter, a few marginal tears (generally small, but L1 affecting text), some damp-staining and soiling, upper hinge broken but stitching holding firm, 17th century binding using an earlier vellum leaf from a choir book (likely 15th century), paper label to spine head, extremities rubbed, remains of leather ties, within modern slip-case, folio (299 x 200mm.), Basel, Adam Petri, 1523. *** Luther's ground-breaking vernacular translation of the New Testament was first published by Lotter of Wittenberg in September 1522. Following swiftly on, in December, Adam Petri issued the first non-Wittenberg edition and a further two folio editions in early 1523. Some discrepancy surrounds the primacy of these two folio editions, issued with variant collations and illustrations for Revelation; the present copy bears the colophon dated 1522 but the title with "zum anderen mal...1523" [for the second time], and the same woodcut illustration of St John as Evangelist and author of Revelation.Provenance: I. ?Jacob Heinrich Petri the younger [title foot], possibly a member of the Basel Petri or Henricpetri family, thus a late relative Adam Petri himself. II. Basel University Library [ink stamp title verso].Literature: Pietsch II, 12a; VD16 B 4324.  

Machzor KeMinhag Roma [festival prayers for the entire year], 2 parts in 1, 210ff., printed on blue paper, double column, title within architectural border, 2 woodcut illustrations in Passover Haggadah of cuffed hands pointing to Matzah and Bitter Herb, censors' signatures on final leaf, title and following f. silked, first 6 leaves (including title) with loss to extremities and portions of text supplied in facsimile, f.127 and final f. also with small portion of text in facsimile, the occasional other small marginal loss and repair, sometimes affecting a few letters, 3 gatherings on slightly lighter paper (ff.7-14, 45-60), the first also with some small wormholes only to that gathering, thus possibly supplied from another copy, trimmed at head, at points affecting text, some light browning, occasional staining, a couple very small wormholes within text to final few leaves, modern blind-stamped morocco, spine lettered in gilt, morocco-edged slip-case, small folio, Mantua, Jacob Cohen of Gazolo, 1557-60. *** Sixteenth century Hebrew books printed on blue paper are extremely rare. The text is according to the Italian rite, including the Passover Haggadah, Ethics of the Fathers, Five Scrolls and laws relating to Festivals.Provenance: Salman Schocken (1877-1959), German Jewish publisher and businessman. Sold his sale, Sotheby’s, London, 6th Dec 1993; The Valmadonna Trust Library, Kestenbaum, New York, 9th Nov 2017, lot 145.

Ramsay (Allan) Poems, first collected edition, eighth issue, woodcut initials, previous owner's ink signature to title, spotting and staining, several ff. with marginal loss not affecting text, several tears, holes and paper defects, one or two affecting text, some with neat repairs, previous owner's pencil notes to final pastedown, lacking free endpapers, contemporary calf, rubbed and worn, bumping to corners and extremities, [Foxon pp.659-660; Kress 3279], 8vo, Edinburgh, for the Author, 1720 [but 1721]. *** Rare at auction. Previously issued as individual poems, Foxon believes that this collection was probably first published in 1719 without a collective title-page and was subsequently re-issued in early 1720 with the collective title-page and some preliminary text. "Later poems were added as they were printed, and an attempt was made to give continuous pagination to the volume ... the result is that copies vary in their constituent parts." (Foxon).  This copy is the version that ends with a glossary and includes 1721 reprints. As such Foxon lists this as being the eighth issue.   

Broadside.- extreme weather.- Full and Particular Account (A) of a most dreadful Hurricane, which took place on the 6th of February last, at Tunis on the Barbary Coast ..., printed broadside, woodcut illustration at head, slight creasing and spotting, laid down on paper, c.365 x 165 mm., Nottingham, Ordoyno, [c.1815]. *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded.  Short statements on the "Hurricane at Tunis" recording damage and losses of life and ships. Given the trading history of the Gulf of Tunisia, and the huge loss of life it would not be surprising if many of the victims were slaves.  "Such is the account of this dreadful Hurricane, in which it is supposed more than Fifty Ships have been cast away and lost, and more than Fifteen Hundred human beings have perished in the merciless deep; for when this account came-away, the full extent of the calamity could not be ascertained." 

Execution broadside.- True and Brief Account (A) of Thos. Clarke & Henry Coster, who suffered upon Lincoln Gallows ... for Burglary, printed broadside, woodcut illustration at head, foldlines, creases, light soiling, one or two small chips and holes, laid down on paper, c.370 x 240 mm, Nottingham, E. Hodson, [c.1815]. *** Rare. Seemingly unrecorded. The broadside describes Thomas Clarke as "a stout man of the middle size, and had the appearance of a desperate daring person." Henry Coster was merely described as "He stood nearly 6 feet high". 

[rare translation of Tolstoy into Irish]. Fíoraon le Fiarán Cluiche de Chuid Leo Tolstoy. Fiachra Éileach do chuir Gaedilg air. Ath Cliath, An Comhar. Circa 1900. Original printed wrappers with attractive woodcut on front cover. An unusual and rare translation of a Tolstoy play into Irish by Risteard Ó Foghludha