Search Results: Titles starting with G from Michael Laird Rare Books LLC

London: W. Houstoun, 1834. 8vo. (230 x 120). 8 pp., original self wrappers, unbound. Chipped and very fragile on account of the paper quality. No surviving copy of this remarkable pamphlet is recorded in OCLC or COPAC, not surprising given that the Gude's "Letter" was printed on what seems to be the thinnest possible English paper. The text in the present pamphlet appears to have been completely overlooked by historians of the economics of petroleum distribution and consumption during England's Industrial Revolution. It is a diatribe against gas monopoly by Richard Gude, a governor of the Chartered Gas Company from 1823 to 1832. Gude appears to have broken with them in favor of their competitors, of whom the Equitable Gas Company and London Gas Company are prominently mentioned here. The pamphlet rails against the "evils" of the monopoly which had neutralized the free market, and "the arbitrary provisions to which consumers of gas are subject, under some of the private acts of Parliament of the… Read More

1899. Very Good. 8vo. [4], 165, [6] pp., every page filled with manuscript. Divided into 6 sections of verse, lyric, drama, and prose, with 11 small vignette drawings of which two are heightened in watercolor. Numerous annotations and revisions in the text. Bound in contemporary roan leather with pewter clasp (back of clasp slightly loose), some rubbing along binding extremities; floral endleaves patterned in green and gold, all edges gilt. Front pastedown with a few illegible letters in ink, apparently backwards (offset from a note loosely inserted?), small negligible ink stain on lower right corner on final 10 leaves and the back endleaves, foxing on pp. 41-48. A fascinating literary manuscript from a known WWI German officer, providing insight into pre-war German nationalism and culture. ALL writings contained herein are apparently unpublished. The manuscript is divided into 6 sections: Historische Gedichte (pp. 1-18), Patriotische Gedichte (19-21), Lyrisch (22-30), Erzahland (31-42),… Read More

Paris: Imprimerie veuve Berger-Levrault, 1845. First Edition. Large 4to (306 x 231 mm). 2 ff., 124 pp. With 17 plates lithographed by Delor after drawings by Joly. Bound in modern blue percaline cloth by Lobstein-Laurenchet, red morocco spine label gilt, original front cover wrapper preserved. Separate printing of the "Mémoires de la société du muséum d'histoire naturelle de Strasbourg." Some foxing but an excellent copy. THE FIRST ANATOMICAL STUDY ON THE GIRAFFE. PRESENTATION COPY FROM THE AUTHOR TO THE TAXIDERMIST WHO UNDERTOOK THE ACTUAL 20-DAY DISSECTION. This Abyssinian female giraffe, named "Twiga" (the Swahili word for giraffe), was transported alive to Toulouse in 1843 at the age of approximately 3 years. She died on January 4, 1844, either from the harshness of the European climate or (as some said) nostalgia for her homeland. In any event, after she was dissected and studied by researchers she was cooked and eaten by multiple Toulousian families at the Feast of Epiphany (!) The… Read More

London: Printed for J. Wickins; and to be sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster, 1695. FIRST EDITION. Hardcover. Very good. Octavo. COLLATION: A-B4 C-F8 G-Q4, COMPLETE. [2], 19-176 pp. Attractive half calf antique, marbled boards, red morocco label gilt, compartments gilt with small tools. ¶ FIRST EDITION of this important collection of Parliamentary debates, providing original and valuable documentation of the constitutional crisis that ensued during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. James II of England (a.k.a. James VII of Scotland), while fleeing to France, dropped the Great Seal of the Realm into the Thames. In Parliament the question was discussed whether he had forfeited the throne or had abdicated. The present volume offers detailed arguments for the both, but ultimately the latter designation was agreed upon, and in a full assembly of the Lords and Commons, it was resolved in spite of James's protest "that King James II having endeavored to subvert the constitution of the… Read More

[Edinburgh] : London, printed and re-printed in Edinburgh: by John Reid, 1688. First Edinburgh Edition. Hardcover. Very good. 8vo. 39 pp. Signatures: A-E4, COMPLETE. Edges untrimmed (somewhat browned). Unobtrusive blindstamp on first and last leaves. Bound in recent quarter calf antique (Trevor Lloyd). ¶ THE REPEAL OF THE PENAL LAWS AND TEST ACTS DURING THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION. Whereas William of Orange supported repealing the Penal Laws, but opposed the repeal of the Test Acts, his predecessor James sought to repeal the Penal Laws AND the Test Acts, thereby allowing Catholics the right to hold public office. This is the rare first Edinburgh edition; ESTC lists only BL and NLS in the United Kingdom, and Huntington and Univ. of Illinois in the United States. ¶ James Stewart (1635-1713) was one of the leading Scottish radicals in the revolutionary movement. He was offered a pardon by James II, in return for which he sought to persuade his colleagues to return from exile in Holland. In the present… Read More

Providence, RI: The Providence Journal Print, 1892. First Edition. Very good. 8vo. 421 pp., with numerous illustrations. Recent wrappers. THE FIRST MURDER IN U.S. HISTORY COMMITTED THROUGH THE POSTAL SERVICE. THE SENSATIONAL TRIAL OF DR. THOMAS THATCHER GRAVES FOR THE MURDER (BY POISONING) OF JOSEPHINE A. BARNABY. DENVER, COLORADO, 1891, ILLUSTRATED WITH CURIOUS PORTRAITS. The trial lasted for six weeks, the longest murder trial in the United States up to that time. As we learn from American State Trials (vol. XIII, 1929, pp. 256 et seq.): "Mrs. Josephine A. Barnaby, a wealthy widow whose home was in Providence, R. I., had been spending the winter of 1890 at the California health resorts in company with a friend, Mrs. Edward S. Worrell, of Denver. They separated about the first of April, 1891, it being understood that they were to meet in Denver, where Mrs. Worrell was visiting her son. Mrs. Barnaby arrived in Denver April 9th, and joined her friend, who informed her that a package had arrived… Read More

London: Printed by J. and T. Carpenter, 1803. First Edition. Very good. Large 4to. [4], xii, 43, [1] pp. + [3] page list of published works by John Malton and James Malton. Complete with aquatint half-title and 34 plates of which 29 are stunningly hand-colored and 5 are full-page plates (plans) printed in sepia only. The plates are watermarked "Whatman 1801." Contemporary acid-treated calf, unusually acid-treated with decorative lozenges surrounded by a gilt Greek-key border, flat spine, black lettering piece partially chipped, binding extremities somewhat worn, black, white, red and green marbled pastedowns and endpapers, overall in BEAUTIFUL CONDITION, the paper and plates unspoiled and extremely fresh. EXQUISITELY HAND-COLORED COPY, RARE THUS. Only edition of this very little-known, beautifully illustrated volume of imaginative designs of country "tiny houses" houses and small castles in the neo-Gothic style. In his own words the author / artist asserted that the goal of the present work was… Read More

Dusseldorf: Axel Bender Antiquariat GmbH, 1989. First Edition. Softcover. Very good. Cover creased, minor pencil notations. 68 pp., 100 items, illustrated throughout. Price list loosely inserted as issued. ¶ Scarce, very scholarly catalogue containing descriptions of rare works by Goethe and others. Excellent black and white illustrations on almost every page.

London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1970. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Quarto, 320 pages, original cloth with gilt letter on spine, no dust jacket. Profusely illustrated in black and white and color. ¶ An authoritative survey of the world's greatest libraries and their holdings, profusely illustrated in black / white and color. Multiple images on every page.

London: Printed for Richard Chiswel, 1669. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. 8vo. 1 f., 219 pp. COLLATION: 1 leaf unsigned, B-E8, F-Z4, Aa4, Bb2 (E2, I2 incorrectly signed D2, I3, respectively), COMPLETE, blind-stamps of the Theological Institute of Connecticut (now known as the Hartford Seminary) on first and last leaves. NB: in 1976 a collection of more than 200,000 books from the Hartford Seminary Library were sold to Emory University, including this one --> deaccessioned from Pitts Theology Library. Contemporary panelled English calf (expertly rebacked), gilt floral ornaments at the corners. ¶ FIRST EDITION. Skinner's Case, the name usually given to the celebrated dispute between the House of Lords and the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom over the question of the original jurisdiction of the former house in civil suits. In 1668, a London merchant named Thomas Skinner presented a petition to Charles II asserting that he could not obtain any redress against the East… Read More