Search Results: Titles starting with G from Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts

London: Printed for R. Triphook . . . By Harding and Wright, 1810. First Complete Collected Edition. 184 x 123 mm. (7 1/4 x 4 7/8"). 1 p.l., 46 pp. Attractive 20th century green morocco with single gilt-ruled frame, smooth spine with gilt rules and lettering, binding edges studded with a chain of small and large gilt dots, all edges gilt. Blind stamp of the University Club on title; ink numbering near gutter on p. 1; a few pencil notations on title and in margins elsewhere. Opie, "Three Centuries of Nursery Rhymes" 30. See also: Opie, "The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes," pp. 34-35. ◆Upper board ever so slightly sunned at top, final leaf with thin dampstain in gutter, a couple other trivial imperfections elsewhere, but A FINE COPY with virtually no evidence of use. This is a beautiful copy of a fundamental text in the history of nursery rhymes. First published in 1783 or 1784, the book originally consisted of 79 rhymes collected by antiquary Joseph Ritson (1752-1803), whom DNB calls "one of… Read More

London: Published by David Nutt, 1900. 210 x 152 mm. (8 1/4 x 6"). Three volumes. Translated by Sir Thomas Urquhart and Peter Le Motteux. Introduction by Charles Whibley. VERY ATTRACTIVE BROWN CRUSHED HALF MOROCCO BY BICKERS & SON (stamp-signed on verso of front endpaper), smooth russet linen boards, spines gilt in ruled compartments, raised bands decorated with double rules and small tool at either end, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. Publisher's original buckram covers bound in at rear. Decorated title page, initials, printer's device on verso of last leaf. Title pages printed in red and black; pastedowns with bookplate of Sir James Dunn. ◆A couple of tiny scratches to leather on lower cover of volume I, a hint of soiling to lower board of volume II, just a touch of rubbing to bottom edges and corners, a couple of tiny blemishes internally, but these faults all very minor, and the set in excellent condition overall. This is a pleasing edition of the first English translations of Rabelais'… Read More

Amsterdam: Petrus Shenk, 1735-38. First Edition in Dutch. 415 x 264 mm. (16 3/8 x 10 3/8"). Entirely complete (with continuous pagination, but with a jump in page numbering from the end of book XIII to the beginning of XIV, as usual). 15 parts in eight volumes. Translated by Florentius H. J. van Halen. HANDSOME CONTEMPORARY VELLUM, covers with large gilt entrelac centerpiece framed with gilt floral rule with bouquet-like cornerpieces, gilt floral border, raised bands, compartments richly gilt, titles and volume numbers handwritten in ink on spines, all edges gilt. With head- and tailpieces, 15 engraved titles printed in red and black with engraved vignettes, and complete with frontispiece, two engraved portraits of the author and the engraver (the latter with shorter margins, probably tipped-in), and 760 OFTEN STRIKING COPPER ENGRAVINGS (on 758 plates), one with partial hand coloring, a few double-page. Front pastedown of first volume with handwritten note in French on lined paper; with additional… Read More

London: Printed by J. M. for Henry Herringman and Thomas Dring, 1673. FIRST EDITION, First State (with tailpiece on O2r). 210 x 155 mm. (8 1/4 x 6"). 2 p. l., 88 (i.e., 97), [3] pp. Attractive early 20th century dark blue morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (stamp-signed in gilt on front turn-in), smooth spine with gilt lettering, gilt-ruled turn-ins. From the collection of noted theatrical scholar William Appleton (though without his bookplate). Wing 3744; ESTC R12858. ◆Text lightly toned, title page backed with thin paper, prologue repaired along gutter, and final page with small repair affecting a few letters, but all these expertly done and overall the contents in excellent condition, without the severe foxing and browning often found in similar works of this period. A breath of wear to front joint, spine very slightly darkened, otherwise the binding in fine condition. This is the second of four fine comedies written by William Wycherley (1640? - 1716), considered to be among the three great… Read More

Appealing sprinkled calf by Wallis for C. E. Lauriat (stamp-signed on verso of front free endpaper), covers bordered by double gilt fillet, raised bands, spine gilt in compartments with floral spray at center, encircled by small tools, leafy branch at corners, red morocco label, densely gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.
WITH 60 HAND-COLORED PLATES of costumes from around the world. For first edition: Lipperheide 480; Osborne Collection, p. 193. See also: Megan Nourcia, "X Marks the Spot: Women Writers Map the Empire for British Children, 1790-1895," pp. 33-34. ◆A tiny bit of wear to the top of the front joint, occasional trivial marginal stains or the faintest of browning, but still a fine copy, clean and fresh internally with brightly colored plates, in a well-preserved lustrous binding.Attractively bound and enhanced with excellent contemporary hand coloring, this charming introduction to geography aimed at young readers contains numerous plates depicting the traditional dress of… Read More

Paris: Estes and Lauriat, 1888. No. 17 OF 50 COPIES of the Edition de Luxe, printed for the Continent. 435 x 300 mm. (17 1/4 x 11 3/4"). [2] leaves of text followed by plates. Publisher's ivory cloth, upper cover with two bands of gilt knotwork on a red background, gilt lettering, smooth spine with gilt titling and publisher's device, blue printed endpapers, all edges gilt. 60 ETCHINGS AND PHOTO-ETCHINGS ON JAPON tipped onto lettered cardstock. Baker & Ross F8 (prospectus for deluxe edition). ◆A sprinkling of very faint brown spots to tail edge of upper board, a couple of plates with trivial wrinkles or creases, but AN EXTREMELY FINE COPY, quite clean, fresh, and bright inside and out, with excellent impressions of the plates. This is an outstanding copy of an attractive portfolio containing a suite of plates created for a deluxe edition of the works of George Eliot produced by Estes and Lauriat. In addition to Eliot's eight novels, that edition included collected essays, poems, and a life of… Read More

Portland, Maine: Thomas B. Mosher, 1898. First American Edition and the first reprint of this publication. (Bishop) No. 6 OF 25 COPIES PRINTED ON JAPANESE VELLUM AND SIGNED BY THOMAS MOSHER (there were also 450 regular copies on Van Gelder; four copies on vellum; and 25 copies on Japanese vellum for the Guild of Women Binders). 236 x 160 mm. (9 3/8 x 6 1/4"). xxx, [2], 224 pp., [9] leaves (one blank, plus ads). An unusual publisher's binding of plain beige stiff paper boards with an uncovered spine, the whole in original cream paper wrappers imprinted with a light green honeysuckle border on the front panel and lettering on the panel and spine. WITH torn but mostly surviving ORIGINAL GLASSINE. Housed in a brown cloth chemise and matching brown morocco-backed slipcase with raised bands and gilt lettering. With woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, one facsimile leaf, and four plates (one double-page, three with tissue guards). With small laid-in card noting that "The honeysuckle border on wrapper… Read More

Venegia [Venice]: nelle case d'Aldo Romano e d'Andrea Asolano, 1515. Second Aldine Edition. 170 x 100 mm. (6 3/4 x 3 7/8"). 129, [1] (blank) leaves. Single column, 30 lines, italic type. ATTRACTIVE EARLY 19TH CENTURY RED STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO, GILT, covers with gilt floral border, bands very slightly raised, compartments with delicate gilt floral motif or gilt lettering, gilt turn-ins, all edges gilt. With Aldine printer's device on title and final page. Lowry, "World of Aldus Manutius," pp. 155-58; Kallendorf 122; Renouard 1515:5; Adams, B-579; EDIT16 CNCE 4988. For a detailed discussion of the different states of the first Aldine edition, see C. H. Clough, "Pietro Bembo's Gli Asolani of 1505" in Modern Language Notes, vol. 84 (1969), pp. 16-45. ◆Just a hint of rubbing to joints and extremities, tiny separation at foot of spine, a couple of short, shallow scratches to lower cover, but the very pretty binding extremely well preserved; title a little foxed, an occasional breath of foxing… Read More

Russia, ca. 1835. 420 x 320 mm. (16 1/2 x 12 1/2"). Impressive 19th century brass over wooden boards, covers embossed in high relief with floriate borders, the front cover with five inset paintings under glass of the Evangelists and Jesus, the back cover with figure of Jesus standing among trees with sunburst over his head. Woodcut page borders. ◆Brass a little tarnished, glass on front cover slightly darkened, but the striking binding excellent in every way. Title page a bit soiled, last few leaves with small spots (from wax?), otherwise fine internally, the text clean and fresh. This edition of the Gospels in the Slavonic language used by the Eastern Orthodox Churches is handsomely bound in a Byzantine style popular for books of Scripture in 19th century Russia. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "The liturgy and offices of the Byzantine Church were translated from the Greek into what is now Old Slavonic (or Church Slavonic) by Saints Cyril and Methodius about the year 866 and the period… Read More

London: David Nutt, 1897. 216 x 178 mm. (8 1/2 x 7"). 2 p.l., [v]-xii, 156, [4] pp. LOVELY AND ANIMATED BROWN MOROCCO, ELABORATELY GILT AND INLAID IN A MODIFIED "COTTAGE ROOF" DESIGN, BY HENRY WOOD (signed on front turn-in), covers bordered with fillets and dogtooth roll, arrow and drawer-pull cornerpieces, an inlaid black morocco frame peaked at ends and sides (providing the stylized "cottage" element), the black inlay with much gilt elaboration, including scrolling foliate endpieces, sidepieces, and inner cornerpieces, as well as very long and elegant floral sprays extended toward the center from above and below and enclosing a very intricate lozenge centerpiece with scrolled foliation, acorns, and crowns above crossed scepters; raised bands, spine gilt in compartments featuring foliate sprays at corners and floral centerpiece, ornate gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed. Original gilt cloth wrapper, diapered, with center escutcheon and alternating rose or… Read More

Most plates accompanied by a letterpress leaf describing the species being depicted. ◆A few leaves with slight creasing to a corner or a touch of light foxing, otherwise FINE SPECIMENS, the coloring bright and the paper very clean.These hand-colored lithographs come from two of Gould's most sought-after works and display the characteristic detail, quality, and accuracy that are synonymous with the so-called "English Audubon." Each of these plates captures the individuality and personality of the species depicted, often placing a bird within its natural environments and pairing it with different types of flora. As noted by the DNB, "the design and natural arrangement of the birds on the plates was due to the genius of John Gould, and a Gould plate has a distinctive beauty and quality." Although he did not produce the actual lithographs himself, Gould did create preliminary sketches upon which the plates were ultimately based. He was also intimately involved with the publication process from start to… Read More

New York: Orange Judd Company, 1899. A New Edition. 190 x 125 mm. (7 1/2 x 4 3/4"). xi, [1], 11-211 pp., [4] leaves (ads). Publisher's terra cotta-colored blind-embossed buckram, smooth spine with gilt titling, floral endpapers. With frontispiece and numerous illustrations in the text, one of these full-page. Gabler G16220 (First Edition). ◆A hint of browning to edges of leaves, but a very fine copy, clean and fresh internally, in an unworn binding. First published in 1852, this influential viticultural work is full of practical advice for American growers, providing a month-by-month calendar of operations. As noted by Gabler, "Chorlton's guides to cultivation of European grapes under glass were based on his experiences as gardener to J. C. Green of Staten Island. Chorlton gives a long list of European grapes suitable for indoor cultivation and suggests the American varieties isabella, catawba, diana, and concord for outdoors." Though practical guides such as this were often put through some use,… Read More

New York: The Viking Press, 1939. FIRST EDITION, First Printing, with the words "First Published in April 1939" printed on the copyright page. 202 x 130 mm. (7 7/8 x 5 1/4"). 3 p.l., 619 pp. Attractive red morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe for Asprey (stamp-signed in gilt on front and rear turn-ins), covers with single gilt rule, raised bands, gilt ruled compartments, gilt lettering, all edges gilt. Goldstone-Payne A12.a. ◆Small, unobtrusive stains at spine tail, half title and one text leaf each with a tiny repair along top edge, a half dozen insignificant marginal stains, but an extremely appealing copy showing only the most negligible signs of use. Published when America was still deep in the Great Depression, "The Grapes of Wrath" is a novel detailing the heartbreak of rural dispossession and a work that, in the words of ANB, "captured the decade's angst as well as the nation's legacy of fierce individualism, visionary prosperity, and determined westward movement." In citing it as one of the… Read More

New York: The Viking Press, 1939. FIRST EDITION, First Printing, with the words "First Published in April 1939" printed on the copyright page. 210 x 135 mm. (8 1/4 x 5 3/8"). 3 p.l., 619 pp. Publisher's pictorial linen, endpapers printed with the sheet music for "Battle Hymn of the Republic." In the original, unclipped dust jacket displaying the $2.75 price and "First Edition." In a fine modern blue calf clamshell box. Goldstone-Payne A12.a. ◆A PRISTINE COPY. Published when America was still deep in the Great Depression, "The Grapes of Wrath" is a novel detailing the heartbreak of rural dispossession and a work that, in the words of ANB, "captured the decade's angst as well as the nation's legacy of fierce individualism, visionary prosperity, and determined westward movement." In citing it as one of the "Books that Shaped America," the Library of Congress noted, "Few novels can claim that their message led to actual legislation, but 'The Grapes of Wrath' did just that. Its story of the travails… Read More

Boston: Printed for The Bibliophile Society, 1912. ONE OF 469 COPIES. 263 x 180 mm. (10 1/2 x 7 1/8"). [16] leaves, printed on one side only. VERY PLEASING VIOLET CRUSHED MOROCCO BY JAMES R. BROCKMAN AND ANGELA P. JAMES (stamp-signed on rear doublure and dated 1978), covers with five undulating parallel gilt lines, the lower half of each sprouting gilt leaves and red berries, smooth spine with gilt titling, all edges gilt, vellum doublures reflecting the cover design, smooth spine with gilt titling, PAINTED VELLUM DOUBLURES with a design reflecting that on the covers, the five lines here in purple, bearing blue leaves and gilt berries along their upper halves, all edges gilt on the rough. In a felt-lined navy buckram clamshell box. Pictorial title page and text engraved by Arthur N. MacDonald (signed in pencil on title page), with nine copperplate etchings by W. H. W. Bicknell (each signed in pencil). ◆Small ink mark (from printing process) to margin of frontispiece, otherwise an immaculate copy… Read More

London: Nonesuch Press, 1929. No. 1,460 of 1,600 copies. 206 x 125 mm. (8 1/8 x 4 7/8"). [ii], 189, [3] pp.Translated by Ralph Wright. Original cream cloth with printed pattern of green urns and red flames, smooth spine with printed paper label, top edge gilt on the rough, other edges untrimmed. With original cardboard slipcase (worn at edges). With four headpieces and 30 illustrations in text, 11 of which are colored through stencils at the Curwen Press. Dreyfus 57. ◆Spine label with a small chip at one edge, slight separation between two quires about halfway through, one or two negligible blemishes internally, but an excellent copy, extremely clean inside and out. This is a charming edition of the semi-autobiographical novel by the multi-faceted writer and politician Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869), a man largely recognized as France's first Romantic poet. First appearing in serialized form in 1849 and in book form in 1852, "Graziella" tells the story of a young Frenchman who falls in love… Read More

London: Printed for Edward Orme by W. Bulmer and Co.; J. F. Dove, 1812 [but 1811 - ca. 1823: see below]. FIRST EDITION. 480 x 335 mm. (19 x 13"). 1 p.l. (title), 50 pp. (plus plates). (Collation matching Abbey and Tooley.). Modern retrospective red half morocco over older marbled boards, front cover with original red morocco title label, flat spine with densely tooled gilt panels at head and tail, gilt titling, expertly reinforced hinges, all edges gilt. WITH 25 BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED PLATES by M. Dubourg after Middleton, Philip Giuntotardi, and others, 23 OF THEM HAND-COLORED AQUATINTS (THREE DOUBLE-PAGE), and two of them plain line engravings. Abbey, "Travel" 165; Tooley 328; Avery Architectural Library, p. 666. ◆Inconspicuous abrasions to paper boards, minor stain to fore edge of front flyleaf, a handful of leaves with inconsequential small, faint spots at margins, the vaguest hint of offsetting onto small portions of two plates, but QUITE A FINE COPY, the binding expertly restored and certainly… Read More

London: Published by Thomas McLean, 1819. Second Edition. 368 x 273 mm. (14 1/2 x 10 3/4"). [26] leaves of text, including 3 pp. ads. Three parts in one volume.. SPLENDID CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH RED STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO, ELABORATELY TOOLED IN GILT AND BLIND, covers with concentric filigree frames in alternating gilt and blind tooling, raised bands, spine panels intricately gilt with two large lozenges formed by rectangular and triangular tools surrounded by curling botanical ornaments, turn-ins gilt, all edges gilt. In an excellent recent matching morocco-lipped slipcase. WITH 36 VERY APPEALING ILLUSTRATIONS, BEING 18 ENGRAVINGS (six flowers, six fruits, six birds), EACH IN TWO STATES (monochrome and fully hand colored). Dunthorne 53-55; Sitwell "Fine Bird Books," p. 82. ◆Text leaves with faint mottled foxing and minor browning and off-setting, just a few plates with negligible faint spots or smudges, otherwise A WONDERFUL COPY, THE ORIGINAL SPARKLING BINDING IN AN AMAZING STATE OF PRESERVATION.… Read More

London: Printed by T. Gillet for Longman et al., 1797. 265 x 163 mm. (10 3/8 x 6 3/8"). Two volumes.. Contemporary green straight-grain morocco, covers with double gilt fillet border, raised bands, gilt titling, turn-ins with decorative gilt roll, marbled endpapers, all edge gilt (inexpert older repairs to joints). EACH VOLUME WITH RICHLY DETAILED FORE-EDGE PAINTING, that on volume I depicting the old "Tabard" Inn, Southwark, and that on volume II showing Furnival's Inn, Holborn. Housed in a fleece-lined double-compartment slipcase. Title pages with engraved vignette. Front flyleaf of each volume with ink ownership inscription of Mary Erskine dated 1803, noting it was a wedding gift from her cousin Lord Wodehouse, and with later ink presentation inscription to "Walter and Katherine" on their 13th wedding anniversary (17 February 1931) from "their mother, Kate Goodrich." ◆Spines faded to brown, as usual with green morocco, and with half a dozen minor abrasions, joints somewhat worn (front joint of… Read More

New York: Edmund Byrne Hackett, the Brick Row Bookshop, Inc, 1936. 435 x 312 mm. (17 x 12 1/4"). x, 27, [1] pp. Original stiff printed wrappers, housed in an attractive new dark blue cloth folding box. WITH AN ORIGINAL CATHOLICON LEAF PRINTED BY GUTENBERG. (The leaf, measuring 14 1/2 x 11", printed in double columns with 66 lines to the page and several rubricated initials. ) Front cover with a fine presentation inscription, "To Mr. Alfred W. Pollard, with sincere regards, M. B. Stillwell." ◆Minor wear and fading to paper wrappers, short tear near bottom of fore edge neatly repaired with archival tape on verso, otherwise the book with only trivial imperfections. Leaf with insignificant foxing at edges, and a narrow, light 12-inch ink smear on the verso (no text obscured); recto in fine condition. This is a very special copy, both because the leaf's text is unusually interesting and because the printed essay was presented to a major figure in the world of early printing studies. Gutenberg's… Read More