La Méthode by Pleynet, Marcelin - 1990

1569. London, 1569. First edition. Folio.. London, 1569. First edition. Folio. Printing and the Mind of Man 89: The First Treatise on English Law Bracton, Henry de [d. 1268]. De Legibus et Consuetudinibus Angliae, Libri Quinq; In Varios Tractatus Distincti, ad Diversorum et Vetustissimorum Codicum Collationem, Ingenti Cura, Nunc Primu[m] Typis Vulgati; Quorum Quid Cuiq; Insit, Proxima Pagina Demonstrabit. London: Apud Richardum Tottellum, An. do. 1569. With imprimatur "Cum priuilegio" at foot of title. [xvi], 172, 175-444 ff. Complete. Folio (11-1/4" x 7-3/4"). Nineteenth-century diced calf, gilt rules to boards, gilt fillets, ornaments and title to spine, gilt rules to board edges, gilt inside rules, marbled endpapers, ribbon marker. Light rubbing to boards, faint dampstain to front board, moderate rubbing to extremities, front joint just starting at head, corners bumped and somewhat worn, armorial bookplate (ExLibris Munden) to front pastedown. Attractive large woodcut decorated initials. Light… Read More

Paris, Louis Janet, ca. 1825. Oblong 8vo (19.0 x 12.3 cm). iv, 146, [i] pp.; title page with large, engraved and finely hand-coloured vignette, 12 finely engraved, tissue-guarded plates with contemporary hand-colouring. Contemporary quarter polished calf over marbled boards. Spine with gilt bands and title, and blind tooled vignettes. A wonderfully preserved copy of a very rare, delightfully illustrated satire on human behaviour, humorously compared with the behaviour of monkeys. The author is unknown, and, given the satire hidden behind the jolly illustrations, perhaps wisely remained anonymous. However, it seems reasonable to assume that the publisher, [Pierre Claude] Louis Janet (1788-1840) was the author, as he was known as a writer, in particular of works published by himself. Former owner's name pencilled in an old hand on the front free endpaper recto. Some (mostly light) rubbing to the boards, occasional light, marginal thumbing, a few small smudges, but generally very clean. The colouring… Read More

London, William Day, Lithographer to the Queen, and Queen Dowager, 1838. Tall folio (40.7 x 25.9 cm). Half-title, title page, [vii]-xii, 106, [i] pp.; nine double-sized, partially hand-coloured tables; a few hand-coloured text figures; mounted tabs. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Spine with triple gilt bands; front board with rectangular ruled morocco label with gilt ornamental borders and title. Edges speckled red. An important work by the British mathematician Oliver Byrne (1810-1880). He "... was a civil engineer and prolific author of works on subjects including mathematics, geometry, and engineering. He is best known for his 'coloured' book of Euclid's Elements." (Wikipedia). The latter work (first published in 1847), renowned for its brightly coloured Mondrian-like illustrations, finds a predecessor in this work, which, although on an altogether very different, practical mathematical subject, already contains tables with typical hand-coloured squares. According… Read More

London: Published for the Proprietor, Printed by J. M'Creery, 1828. full contemporary morocco, five raised bands, decorated headbands. Large folio (365 x 264 mm). full contemporary morocco, five raised bands, decorated headbands. [iv], xxxvi, xxv pages. Illustrative of the history of engraving...with introductory remarks and a catalogue of the plates by William Young Ottley, F.A.S., member of the Society of Arts and Sciences at Utrecht. This incredibly scarce large paper copy has an engraved additional title, 129 engraved plates on India paper all laid down, included with an extra set of 13 of the nielli prints printed in silver; all with tissue guards. Covers lightly rubbed. Corners lightly bumped. Interior in near-fine condition (occasional pale foxing mainly at margins to plates, additional title foxed and with offsetting to opposite blank). Bookseller's ticket of T&W Boone, 29 New Bond Street. Bigmore & Wyman writes that this "work may fairly be stated to be unpublished, as very few copies… Read More

1651. Rennes, 1651. 16mo.. Rennes, 1651. 16mo. A Rare Three-Part Pocket-Sized Breton Coutumier [Brittany]. Les Coustumes Generales des Pays et Duche de Bretaigne: Nagueres Reformees, Et Publiees aux Estats Tenus a Ploermel. Rennes: Et se Vendent, Chez Iean Vatar Marchand Libraire, 1651. 303, [2]; 111, [1]; 122, [6] pp. Three parts each with title page and individual pagination, collation register continuous. Second part titled: Les Nobles Coutumes ou Guidon, Stille et Uzances des Marchands qui Mettent a la Mer, third part titled Traicte de la Nature et Usage des Marches Separantes des Provinces de Poictou, Bretaigne, & Anjou "par M. Gabriel Hullin." 16mo. (3-1/4" x 2"). Contemporary calf, gilt rules to boards, gilt spine with raised bands, speckled edges. A few minor nicks, light rubbing to extremities, (illegible) early owner signature and later owner bookplate (R. Chardey) to front pastedown. Moderate toning to interior, crack in text block between front free endpaper and title page of first part,… Read More

Philadelphia, PA: (John Dunlap and James C. Claypoole), 1788. unbound. folio. unbound. unpaginated. Seven issues of The Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser. This set includes November 20, 1787 (No. 2743); November 21, 1787 (No. 2744); December 1, 1787 (No. 2753); January 23, 1788 (No. 2798); January 26, 1788 (No. 2801); February 2, 1788 (No. 2807); and February 9, 1788 (No. 2813) Each issue with four unnumbered pages, text presented in four columns. The major historical significance, and the unifying theme, of this collection is that it contains the first notices of the publication and marketing of Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, the only book length work published by Jefferson. The November 20, 1787, issue includes an announcement by publishers Prichard and Hall that Jefferson's work is "now in the press," and describes its format. The November 21, 1787, issue includes another notice with brief extracts of Jefferson's comments. The issue of December 1 repeats the… Read More

Washington, DC: National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser, 1807. unbound. folio. unbound. (4), (4), (4), (4) pages. 4 issues. Four consecutive issues of what was, at the time, the official newspaper of the United States government, which published the proceedings and acts of the United States Congress. All four issues in near fine condition. It was edited by Samuel Smith, a loyal ally of Thomas Jefferson. Included in this set are the issues of March 18, 20, 23, and 25. Of special significance is the first printing of the prospectus, by Meriwether Lewis, of his journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804-6). Also in the issue of March 18, preceding the prospectus, is a letter from Lewis warning the public of "several unauthorized and probably some spurious publications" about the expedition "by individuals entirely unknown to me (Lewis)." Lewis noted that permission to publish the journals was granted exclusively to Robert Frazier. Lewis's letter appears once again preceding the… Read More

Paris: Librairie Charles Tallandier, 1898. A Fine Pictorial Inlaid Binding by Franz Ostermann Specially Bound for Sir Henry Harben [BINDING]. OSTERMANN, Franz, binder, aka FRANZ. PRÉVOST, L'Abbé. LELOIR, Maurice, illustrator. Histoire de Manon Lescaut et du Chevalier des Grieux. Préface de Guy de Maupassant. Illustrations de Maurice Leloir. Paris: Librairie Charles Tallandier, [1898]. Large octavo (9 13/16 x 6 3/8 inches; 250 x 162 mm.). xxiv, 203, [1, blank], [2, list of illustrations & contents], [1, printer's statement], [1, printer's emblem] pp. Twelve color plates, two black & white plates, each leaf of text with a black & white vignette. Bound ca. 1905 by Franz Ostermann (stamp signed in gilt "Franz" on front turn-in). Full green crushed levant morocco. Front cover with an elaborate inlaid design (taken from the second chapter heading vignette on p. 113) in multi-colored morocco's depicting Manon and Des Grieux... "Folding her in my arms, I rained a hundred fond kisses on her lips, and… Read More

London: Published for the Proprietor, Printed by J. M'Creery, 1828. full contemporary morocco, five raised bands, decorated headbands. Large folio (365 x 264 mm). full contemporary morocco, five raised bands, decorated headbands. [iv], xxxvi, xxv pages. Illustrative of the history of engraving...with introductory remarks and a catalogue of the plates by William Young Ottley, F.A.S., member of the Society of Arts and Sciences at Utrecht. This incredibly scarce large paper copy has an engraved additional title, 129 engraved plates on India paper all laid down, included with an extra set of 13 of the nielli prints printed in silver; all with tissue guards. Covers lightly rubbed. Corners lightly bumped. Interior in near-fine condition (occasional pale foxing mainly at margins to plates, additional title foxed and with offsetting to opposite blank). Bookseller's ticket of T&W Boone, 29 New Bond Street. Bigmore & Wyman writes that this "work may fairly be stated to be unpublished, as very few copies… Read More

Birmingham, 1907. 312 x 275 mm. (12 3/8 x 10 3/4"). [16] leaves, illuminated on rectos only. Pleasing original full vellum over bevelled boards, covers ruled in gilt and with gilt crosses in each corner, gilt lettering on upper cover, smooth spine, gilt rules dividing compartments with central gilt cross, thick vellum turn-ins ruled in gilt, bright purple silk endpapers (front joint very expertly repaired). Calligraphic lettering mostly in black, green, and red, a few one-line initials and many three-line initials in blue or purple with red penwork, several slightly larger purple or blue initials infilled with ivy of various colors and dotted with gold, EACH PAGE WITH A DIFFERENT ARTS & CRAFTS-INSPIRED FLORAL BORDER consisting of multi-colored blossoms and acanthus as well as meandering vine-stems, and highlighted with gold bezants or stippled gold, ONE LEAF WITH A 90 MM. INITIAL INHABITED BY A REALISTIC CATHEDRAL INTERIOR, the large lettering below it on a gold ground with etched patterns and… Read More