Search Results: 18th Century Rare Book from Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: Pierre [Petrus] Schenck. Good+. 1706. Full-Leather. On offer is a remarkable testament to the art of calligraphy. An awesome manuscript book 'published' by the renowned engraver Schenck of Atlas Sanson fame. There are two [2] title pages, French and Dutch, the first being: "Tablettes Chronologiques contenant la suite des Papes, Empereurs et Roys qui ont règné depuis la naiss. de J. Chr. jusqu'à présent. Pour servir de Plan à Ceux qui lisent l'histoire profane. Présentées au Roy par G. Marcel, avocat au Parlement. Amsterdam Pierre Schenk 1706. [In Dutch: Chronologische tafelen behelzende d'achtervolging der pausen, keizers en koningen, welke geregeerd hebben federt de geboorte van I. Christus tot nu toe, dienende tot een grondbewerp aan de geenen die de wereldlijke hystorian....] A chronological atlas of the Popes and Royals from the birth of Jesus Christ. Previous owner on the fep has made a… Read More

SCHLOSS ZEIL WALDBURG-ZEIL LEUTKIRCH IM ALLGÄU GDR. Good+. 1722. On offer is a super, original 18th Century manuscript relic related to the physical art of war. Thirty hand drawn pages, many with copious, meticulous notes detailing what in 1772 would have been the state of the critical art of moving and parading masses of armed men into and during battle. Napoleon would likely have been trained to the standards or the like in this very handsome German volume. There is a rubber stamped inscription 'Archivrat Dr. R. Rauh Schloss Zeil (Wrtrag)' identifying the book as having been part of the Library of the famed residence of the Princes of Waldburg-Zeil in Leutkirch im Allgäu in southern Germany. The 7 x 5 inch book still has some of the gilt filigree over the leather and marbleized free endpapers attest to the value of this manuscript and was likely a ranking officers though we can only speculate. The binding is rubbed, some damage to the tips but the internal is very good… Read More

Very Good. 1739. On offer is a fascinating document of the Europe’s Scientific Revolution, a long and detailed notebook on Physics, written entirely in Latin and dated 1739. Simply titled, “Physica,” the book is many hundreds of pages in length. It contains, undoubtedly, an extraordinary and immense amount of knowledge pertaining to the study of Physics (and much, much more) in the first half of the 18th century. This includes lengthy sections on: mathematics; geometry; atmospheric and meteorological elements; navigation and sailing science; the discoveries of Newton including his Three Laws of Motion and Law of Universal Gravitation; Energy, motion, speed and acceleration; early theories of thermodynamics; the physics of light, reflection and refraction; fluid dynamics; human anatomy; cosmography (the science that deals with the general features of the universe, including the earth) including various signs and attributes of the Zodiac and constellations, and features of… Read More

Good+. 1750. On offer is an absolutely sensational ancient, original 1750s manuscript sailor's vade mecum or reference manual handwritten by and or for a mariner over 260 years ago. The name William Wine appears on the rear inside cover dated March 4th 1788. The handwriting is similar throughout to the signature but it is inconclusive if Mr. Wine is the author, original owner or a later owner. The first page, detached but present, is dated November 1750. There are many, many tables of information, illustrations, charts, drawings etc. that are indexed and with over 420+ pages written in a small, meticulous hand there are within these pages everything that a mid-18th Century senior officer or mate would require being filled with geographical, mathematical, financial, navigational and geometric information and there are also sections detailing carpenter's work, joiners, painters, glaziers, lavers, masons, plus foreign exchange and monetary info and conversions in foreign countries.… Read More

France. Very Good. 1750. On offer is a superb, ancient, original French Roman Catholic manuscript relic being a handwritten book titled: Exercise de Piete tires de l'Ecriture Sainte - Reflexions et Prieres sur Differens Sujets. A testament to the art of the scribe the book is dated 1750 the 543 page book of exercises in piety and prayers and meditations on different subjects is beautifully done in a fine calligraphic hand and beautiful embellishments in gold and gilt throughout. Stunning and very well kept with hardly a blemish save for some rubbing to the leather cover and some small splits to the foot of the spine. Overall VG.; French Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, ROMAN CATHOLIC, CATHOLICISM, CATHOLIC FAITH, PAPAL, FRENCH ROMAN CATHOLIC, JESUIT, CALLIGRAPHIC, ECCLESIASTIC, ECCLESIASTICAL, PRAYER BOOK, THEOLOGY, THEOLOGIANS, CHRISTIAN, CHRISTIANITY, CATHOLIC CHURCH, SACREMENT, SACREMENTAL, RELIGION, SPECULATIVE RELIGION,… Read More

BOURISP FRANCE PYRENEES. Good. 1759. Manuscript. On offer is a super relic of French Catholic devotion being a manuscript book of the famed story "Saint Alexis" or "L'illustre Olympie" by Nicolas Mary Desfontaines [b. circa 1610 in Rouen, d. 4 February 1652 in Angers; actor, playwright and novelist and noted French poet [see BIO NOTES]. Over 80 pages handwritten by a young Pyrenees student in very nice, steady, calligraphic hand and as stated on the title page: "Tragédie copiée par moy Jean Baratgin habitant du lieu de Bourisp le 24 May mil Sept Cent cinquante neuf 1759". A separate title page at the rear identifies the Teacher, M. Jure and the Ecole Bourisp. One online source provides: "The best known of the early Old French saints' lives is the Vie de Saint Alexis, the life of Saint Alexis, a translation/rewriting of a Latin legend. Saint Alexis fled from his family's home in Rome on his wedding night and dwelled as a hermit in… Read More

Dublin. Very Good. 1776. Full-Leather. Superb find of early Americana on offer: HANDWRITTEN DIARY NOTES ON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE BOOK "THE GENERAL GAZETEER OR, COMPENDIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY" by R. Brookes. Dublin: Printed for J.Williams, 1776.Unpaginated. Original full leather binding with raised spine. This 230 year old book is tight and clean and in a fine state of preservation. This very scarce early book belonged to a sailor aboard the ship Pilgrim who kept a rare hand written account of one of the most successful privateers in the American Revolution. The diary starts July, 1779; "JOHANNES PRINCE Eyus Liber July the 9, 1779." John Prince, of Beverly, Massachusetts, likely an officer aboard the Pilgrim, who, research indicates became a Reverend at the First Church in Salem after the war. It is interesting to note that Prince, as one of the crew of the Pilgrim, was instrumental in founding the Philosophical Library that was the foundation for the Salem… Read More

Louvain Belgium Belge. Very Good+. 1786. Leather Spine. On offer is a superb, fine and unique handwritten manuscript book representative of top tier 18th century European education and study of astronomy including theory, problems, corollaries and observations and with relation to map making, geography and philosophy. This elegant book would have served as a course 'text' at the Catholic University of Louvain as evidenced by the engraved title page vignette of a major building at Louvain straddled by portraits of Plato and Aristotle, while overhead the Latin motto "Porcus Alit Doctos" features Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus on one side and a caped shepherd on the other and then inscribed by hand in the central panel by or for philosophy student Jacobus Van Asten Leendanus ANNO 1786. One online source provides a succinct explanation as to the importance of astronomy at this time in history: "During the course of the eighteenth century the combination of theoretical… Read More

THE POULTRY, LONDON, ENGLAND, UK: CHARLES DILLY. Good. 1788. On offer is an original, hardcover handprinted book from 1788, regarding the Natural Science of Mineralogy (the scientific study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts). The book comes at the end of the Scientific Revolution in the Western World, roughly from 1600-1800 and is a translation of a book written by Baron Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, the famous Swedish mineralogist and chemist who discovered nickel in 1751 and is regarded as one of the founders of modern mineralogy. The title page reads like many in the 17th and 18th century, long and with much information: “An ESSAY Towards A SYSTEM OF MINERALOGY By AXEL FREDERIC CRONSTEDT, Mine-Master Or Superintendent Of Mines In Sweden. Translated From The Original Swedish, With Annotations, And An Additional Treatise On The Blow-Pipe. By GUSTAV VON ENGESTROM, Counsellor Of The College Of Mines In Sweden. THE SECOND EDITION,… Read More

England. Good. 1788. Vellum. On offer is a simply smashing, original late 18th Century manuscript book handwritten and executed in a lovely, mature hand of an advanced student executed superbly with ochre [?] borders of complex mathematical diagrams, longitudinal and latitude charts, hand colored flourishes, illustrations and accents making for a wonderful, ancient book which is one part cyphering work book of complex mathematics, algebra, trigonometry etc. and when turned over a book of education and exercises in seamanship and nautical formulae with Chapters such as: Astronomical Definitions, Gnomonicks or The Art Of Dialling and much much more. Inscribed on the inside cover with a drawing done by the writer, 'George Shapland, His Book March 22 1788.' The first 74 pages of the 8 x 6.5 inch book are comprised of nautical and astronomical definitions presented in beautiful calligraphic hand with many, many confidently hand drawn illustrations. Reverse the book and there are 101… Read More

Fair. 1810. On offer is an interesting and original book of historical significance being an inscribed copy of Blackstone's Commentaries Volume Two, Part Two, having further manuscript notes handwritten by two noted Loyalists. This copy belonged to Loyalist William Wylly as evidenced by his bookplate. He was the first King's Council in New Brunswick, later living in the Bahamas, appointed solicitor-general and surrogate of the court of vice-admiralty. In 1804 he was appointed advocate-general of the vice-admiralty court, in 1812 he became chief justice, and in 1822 chief justice of the island of St. Vincent. The stamped inscription states: To his friend Cd. D. Colden, aka Cadwallader D. Colden, also a Loyalist during the Revolution. Colden studied law under Wylly. He was mayor of New York from 1818 - 1821 and also served as Senator from 1825-1827. This copy has been bound so that every other page is blank, leaving space for hand-written notes, etc. Some of the blank pages have… Read More

Germantaun: Michael Billmeyer. Good. 1799. Full-Leather. Full leather, clasps intact, overall very good save for rubbing to the edges and some chipping to the head of the spine. Lovely frontis woodcut with David at the harp praising God. 585 numbered pages, detailed index, pages of catechism.; German Language; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; antiquité, contrat, vélin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, manuscrito, Papel, Religion, Christianity, German, Luthern, Reformist, Catechism, .

STOCKHOLM SWEDEN. Good+. 1766. Marbelized Paper Over Board. On offer is an original 1766 Swedish book, bound in contemporary marbelized papers over boards. While unable to translate research suggests this is a biography of Anders Carl Rutstrom who was a renowned professor of Theology, priest, author and activist. His work promoting Herrnhutismen also known as the Moravian Church saw Rutstrom banished from the Swedish realm. One online source provides: "This is a comprehensive story about the priest Anders Carl Rutström who was a member of the Hat Party. He became the subject of so many unfair and unreasonable persecutions that it reminds you of an inquisition. This work is an account of this remarkable campaign against Rutström, a campaign that did not end until after his death. Rutström’s Defense is also included. Rutström was forced penniless in exile in Germany and Denmark, where he was well received. When Hat Party was re-elected in 1769, he was recalled… Read More

Oxoniensis Ditata. Very Good. 1770. Leather. De Sacra Poesi Hebraeorum, Praelectiones Academicae Oxonii Habitae...Subjicitur Metricae Harianae Brevis Confutatio: Et Oratio Crewiana….Second Edition. Robert Lowth [1710 - 1787] delivered lectures as Professor of Poetry at Oxford between 1741 and 1748. He held long proposed that Hebrew is the language spoken in Heaven. This edition contains the principal notes of Professor Michaelis, and notes by the translator and others. A mere seven years after the printing of this edition in 1777 the author became Lord Bishop of London. VG copy save for some general light soiling to the ivory boards. Interior is fine save for the odd bit of foxing and agetoning.; Latin, Hebrew; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; JUDAISM, HEBREW LANGUAGE, GRAMMAR, CHRISTIANITY, BIBLE STUDIES, THESAURUS, DICTIONARY,REFERENCE, JUDAICA, JUDAISM, HEBREW, ETHNIC, CHOSEN PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, JEW, HEBRAIC, JUDEO-CHRISTIAN, Poetry,… Read More

New Spain, Mexico. Fine with no dust jacket. 1794. Full-Leather. Handsome Folio Manuscript in early calf with gilt written by the Attorney of the Real Audiencia (see Bibliografia Mexicana, 220) and prepared for the Viceroy. Lengthy stipulations of taxes for the freed mestizos, mulattoes, and negroes as well as exemptions for Indians of the repartimientos even when married to Spanish women. These taxes were the root of the perceived injustice that explains why freed men formed the core of the Revolution when it came. EXTREMELY RARE AND IMPORTANT FIRST HAND TEXT OF MEXICAN HISTORY. (see Archivo General de la Nation, "Los Precursores Ideologicos della Guerra de Independencia (1929) pgs 137.139." LAID IN NOTE: Arce Y Echeagary, J. Yinstruction para que los Administradores de Aduanas del Reyno de Nueva Espana hagan la legitima exaccion de los dros. de Alcabalas y Pulques en los casos que por lo regular se ofrecen en las propias Aduanas. Mexico, 1794. ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: In… Read More

VIENNA AUSTRIA: TYP. IOAN THOMAE Nob. de Trattnern. Good. 1774. Hardcover. On offer: Grammaticae Hebraeo Chaldaicae Harmonice et synoptice adornatae. Editio novissima recognita, emendata & nonnullis in locis discentium commodo inmutata. 1774 publication date in Vienna. This an ancient Hebrew-Latin grammar book with the usual rubbing to the edges and dings to the tips but otherwise G.; Latin, Hebrew; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; Hebrew, Judaica, Grammar, Latin, antiquité, contrat, vélin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, Manuscrito, .

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: WILLIAM F. CLAY. Good+ with no dust jacket. Half-Leather. HERALDIC CREST MANUSCRIPT. Large, thick Folio, late 18th century marbled boards and 1/2 sheep, crack to spine and partial unhinging of front board, age worn but otherwise well-preserved. A handsome and imposing manuscript of 1000s of engraved crests, including numerous crests drawn by hand, arranged by the famed engraver David Deuchar (1743-1808) interestingly organized according to device type (i.e. hands, lions etc.) Carefully compiled and researched manuscript, seemingly intended for publication, with numerous markings accorded to known and unknown heraldic crests and their corresponding family names. Pasted to first blank is a letter dated 1884 from the Edinburgh bookseller William F. Clay explaining how he "secured a unique collection of several thousand heraldic crests and devices, engraved and drawn in ink by the celebrated engraver David Deuchar and his son." He offers the manuscript for… Read More

London: A. Peisley. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1740. Sixth Edition. Full-Leather. Printed 1740. Unusually Fine copy in Full Handsome Original Mottled Calf and Raised Bands minor chipping and split to rear upper spine. The Book: MAUNDRELL, Henry, A Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem at Easter A.D. 1697. The Sixth Edition. The which is now added an Account of the Author's Journey to the Banks of the Euphrates at Beer, and to the Country of Mesopotamia. Printed at the Theatre, Oxford 1740. 6th and FINEST EDITION, 8vo. Engraved vignette on title, 14 engraved plates of which 8 are folding, FINE MOTTLED ENGLISH CALF, VERY FINE COPY THE MOST FAMOUS OF PALESTINE TRAVELOGUES. Henry Maundrell was the Levant Company's chaplain of Aleppo from 1696 to 1701. This work contains the first description of Balbec by an Englishman. Blackmer 1095. Cox i, p.119. Tobler 116d17. Travelogues written by Europeans visiting Palestine after that period point to a shift in Europe's relationship to the… Read More

Good+. On offer, two volumes in one book, being a printed version of the Gospels in Greek, bound in between blank pages wherein handwritten manuscript commentary and translation in English, by James Hume Spry, whose inscribed name appears on the free front endpapers. Research provides that the author was The Reverend John Hume Spry, Doctor of Divinity, Rector of Marlebone and Prebendary of Canterbury who died at his Residence 13 Devonshire Place in 1842. [There was a cousin James who was a Doctor of Medicine but this is clearly written by a very knowledgable and ecclesiastical minded individual. How the book's ownership is inscribed in James' name we can only surmise and making a fascinating book all the more enigmatic.] We believe this is Mr. Spry's life long work interrupted by his demise as there are pencil headings that were prepared for future writings. The handwriting changes over time and gets worse in the final entries, more ink stains etc. These volumes are not… Read More

Rotterdam, Holland: JOHANNES ROTTERDAM, Bookverkoper. Good. 1735. Original Vellum. Moses en Christus, of Tafereel der voornaamste voorbeelden des Ouden Testaments, uit Moses wet, en allerley Joodsche oudheden wydlopig t'samengesteld en op Christus en syn kerke geestelyk toegepast / door Johannes Bierman. Good copy with usual general ageing of ancient vellum covers. Some number of pages loose but overall a very pleasing copy of this rare tome. Included is a mysterious small handwritten manuscript not found being used as a marker.; Dutch; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; CHRISTIANITY, BIBLE STUDIES, CHRISTIAN, JESUS, WAY OF THE CROSS, CRUXIFICTION, CHRIST, VIA DOLOROSA, HANDWRITTEN, HAND WRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, JOURNAL, LEDGER, DIARY, PERSONAL, CATHOLIC, CATHOLICISM, ECCLESIASTIC, RELIGION, FAITH, JOSEPH AND MARY, SON OF GOD, RESURRECTION, APOSTLES, JUDAS, PETER, PAUL, SAINTSJUDAISM, JEWISH STUDIES, YIDDISHKEIT, ISRAEL, MOSES, TENACH, HEBREW STUDIES, TEN COMMANDMENTS,… Read More