Search Results: Authors starting with V from PY Rare Books

FIRST EDITION OF THE AENEID IN ARMENIAN; A BEAUTIFULLY BOUND EXAMPLE WITH ARISTOCRATIC PROVENANCE.
This translation of Virgil's masterpiece was completed by Etvart Hiwrmiwz (Edward Hurmuzian, 1799-1876); it is written in verses of classical Armenian, and explained with an introduction and abundant notes.
It is also illustrated: by three plates due to French artists (the portrait even published by Furne in Paris) and a lithographed frontispiece and illustrated title created specifically for this edition. The edition was reprinted in 1878.
Scarce: we could not trace any other example on the market in recent years. About a dozen copies can be found in public institutions worldwide, including a handful in the US, and apparently none in Italy. Absent from Princeton's Junius Spencer Morgan Collection of Virgil's works.
Provenance'From Percy Radcliffe to his father, June 5th 1848' (i.e. Joseph Percival Pickford Radcliffe, 1824-1908, later 3rd Baronet; manuscript note on flyleaf; given to:); Sir Joseph… Read More

THE FIRST BOOK IN RUSSIAN DEALING WITH THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, illustrated with large folding maps.
VERY RARE: we could trace only one example in public institutions outside Russia, in Rome's National Central Library. We could find a copy in the Russian State Library's catalogue, but not in the National Library.
There was keen interest shown in Russia in the American Civil War, not least because from the reign of Tsar Nicholas I onwards, Russia had increasingly looked towards America, both as an ally, and as a model for diplomatic and military might. This took on extra significance after Russia's defeat in the Crimean War, when the government hoped that the U.S. might provide a counter-balance to European military hegemony, particularly that of Britain and France. Significantly, Russia was the only major European power to offer vocal support to the Union. Indeed, the Russian Navy sent two fleets to US waters in 1861-2 in order to safeguard them in the event of war with the British and French, a move… Read More