Rare books from Classic Books and Ephemera

Baltimore: Samuel Saur, 1795. Hardcover. Very Good -. [8], 304 p.; 17 cm. Signatures: pi4 A-2B6 2C2 (12mo). Contemporary half calf; red morocco spine label with gilt-tooled decoration and title: Heiliger Krieg. Marbled paper over boards. Woodcut head-pieces and tail-pieces. Evans, 28371; Bötte & Tannhof, First Century of German Language Printing in the U.S.A., 964. Translation of: The Holy War. "Nunmehro aber allen, die lieber unter Christo ein seliges, als unter dem Satan ein unseliges Leben führen wollen, im Hoch-deutschen nachgeführt." Pages 198-201 are substituted for pp. 150-153, which are lacking (this mistake in binding is found in some copies, but not all). Errors in pagination found in all copies: pp. 97-240 are misnumbered 98-241. Errors in signing found in all copies: B3 missigned B5, L3 missigned J3, N3 missigned R5, T2 missigned T3, T3 is missigned T5, U2 is not signed, and U3 is missigned U2. Small label on front free endpaper verso with initials in pencil: Mgh. Lacking… Read More

Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1886. Hardcover. Very Good. 30, [4] p.: hand-painted, water color floral illustrations on 13 pages; 29 cm. Original wide cream calf spine with gilt-stamped cover title; light green paper over remainder of boards, with gilt-stamped floral decoration running along leather-paper border. White moire endpapers. Lacking original slipcase. This is no. 47 of a limited edition of 100 copies, each numbered and signed by the artist, Alice Stewart. There are two or more binding variants. The illustrations vary in each of the 100 copies of this beautiful book. In Very Good Condition: edges are rubbed; binding lightly soiled; front free endpaper detached but present, lacking lower gutter corner; first blank leaf following front endpapers also detached but present; a few small spots of light discoloration (as is typical of this book); otherwise, clean and bright.

Liegnitz [Legnica]: David Siegert, 1752. Hardcover. Very Good -. 3 titles bound together: [14], 296 p.; [14], 221, [5] p.; 29, [3] p.: 2 frontispieces (both signed Boetius); 17 cm. Signatures: )(8 (-)(8) A-S8 T4; )( (-)(8) A-O8 P4; A-B8 (8vo). Contemporary half calf with five spine compartments between raised bands. Dark brown speckled paper over boards. Simple decorations on page edges. Woodcut head- and tail-pieces. Small inscription on front free endpaper dated 1754. Contents: (1) Kortholt, Christian. Gründlicher Beweis der Wahrheit der Christlichen Religion, und der Wichtigsten Lehren, Welche in Selbiger zum Voraus gesetzet werden; mit einer Vorrede Herrn M. Jonathan Krausens (Liegnitz: David Siegert, 1752) Zweyte und viel verbesserte Auflage. (2) Sherlock, Thomas. Gerichtliches Verhör der Zeugen der Auferstehung Jesu, Worinnen nicht nur des berüchtigten Woolstons Einwürffe, die er in seinem so genanten sechsten Discours angeführet; Sondern auch diejenigen, welche so wohl er, als… Read More

Venice: apud Dominicum Nicolinum, & Socios [Domenico Nicolino], 1580. Hardcover. Very Good +. Vols. 4 & 5 (of 5) only. 2 volumes in 1. "Hac novissima editione recognitum, pluribusq; in locis accuratissime castigatum; cum quaestionibus, summarii & indice locupletissimo." 117 leaves [234 p.], 139 leaves [278 p.]; 37 cm. Signatures: A-P8 (-P7, -P8) A-R8 S4 (last leaf blank) (folio). Original parchment over boards. Five spine compartments between raised bands; hand-written title in first compartment. Handwritten identification also on lower page edges. Large and elaborate printer's device on title pages, which combines the earlier printer's device of Domenico Nicolino (a woman holding a wreath) with three others, presumably of the partners (Socios) referred to in the imprint. In Very Good+ Condition: original parchment over boards rubbed and soiled, with loss of parchment at ends of spine and over raised bands; loss at lower corner of front board; small stain along lower edge of 5:2-22, not… Read More

Lisboa [Lisbon]: Imprensa Nacional, 1842. Hardcover. Very Good. xx, 154, vi p., 50 leaves of lithographed plates containing 196 illustrations; 26 cm. Rebacked retaining most of contemporary quarter calf with gilt-tooled spine title and decoration; marbled paper over boards. Blue endpapers. Includes list of subscribers. The extremely scarce Portugese edition of Atlas der Geburtshülflicher Abbildungen, the important work of obstetrical plates by Dietrich Wilhelm Heinrich Busch, first published the previous year. This was the first such obstetrical work published in Portuguese. In Very Good Condition: corners of boards are rubbed; reback, as described; browning and foxing to both text and plates, heavy at times; otherwise clean and tight.

West Point, N. Y.: Lithographed by J. C. Poortermans, 1832. Hardcover. Good. [4], 55 p., 24 folded leaves of plates; 35 cm. Original calf spine and plain boards. Plates removed from volume by previous owner. Both text in original plain binding and separate plates are housed in a new clamshell box, the plates within a black cloth enclosure with velcro fastenings. The clamshell box is black and grey with a gilt-tooled spine label. Plate 19 misnumbered "PL. 91." Engraved bookseller's bookplate on front free endpaper verso of "N. B. Holmes, Bookseller, Binder & Stationer," New York. Lithographed by Jacobus C. Poortermans from the manuscript. The first edition of the first book lithographed at West Point. A manual describing the production of ordinance produced for use by the cadets. The plates illustrate the steps in making bombs, rockets, grape shot, and other explosive projectiles. There is some disagreement about the identify of the author, although it is generally attributed to Miner Knowlton… Read More

London: George Humble, 1627. Map. Very Good. Are to be sold in popes head Alley by J. S. & G. H." "R. Elstrack sculpsit." 1 hand-colored copperplate engraving 41 x 55 cm. from Book One of John Speed's Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine (London: George Humble, 1627). See: STC (2nd ed.), 23042. A detailed map of Norfolk County with inset illustrations of a battle in the Peasant's Revolt in 1381, and of the town of Norwich. The town plan of Norwich includes a guide to 24 locations in the town. Above the map is the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom; along one side are seven coats of arms of Norfolk families. text on the reverse describes Norfolk and lists the hundreds. In Very Good Condition: minor loss along upper edge, not impacting image; just starting to separate at lower end of center fold; colors are bright; a clean and crisp map.

Paris: Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1893. Hardcover. Very Good. [14] leaves of text, [87] leaves of plates with illustrations and text, [12] leaves of color plates; 49 cm. Contemporary dark green leather with six spine compartments between raised bands. Gilt-tooled title in second compartment and gilt-tooled decoration in remaining compartments. Gilt-tooled title on front board; blind-ruled borders on both boards. Marbled endpapers. "Historiques et Uniformes de L'Armée Française" at head of title page. No date of publication. WorldCat says 1893, which is the latest date in the regimental histories. Contents: Cuirassiers -- Dragons -- Chasseurs -- Hussards -- Spahis -- Chasseurs d'Afrique. Each section has separate half title and title page and 2 full color plates. Includes detailed history of each regiment as well as the striking large color plates. A heavy book; for international shipping, it will have to be sent by priority international. In Very Good Condition: leather is… Read More

Philadelphia: H. C. Carey & I. Lea, 1826. Hardcover. Very Good. vi, 51, [1] p., 62 leaves of engraved plates, including 4 double-leaf plates (2 folded) containing 72 drawings, plans, and maps; 29 x46 cm. Contemporary half calf with plain boards. Printed paper label on front board. Errata slip tipped in following title page. Howes, S 1075. The Pennsylvania Society for the Promotion of Internal Improvement, organized in 1824, sent William Strickland (1787-1854) to England in 1825 to study the most recent developments in transportation engineering in order to improve the ability to travel and ship goods across the state. Over the course of the year, Strickland sent home reports on canals, railways, roads, and iron-making from Great Britain. After his return in Dec., he was appointed engineer of the Pennsylvania State Canal and his reports were issued in this volume. The great interest that it generated is indicated by the 2-page list of subscribers, among whom were canal companies (Delaware and… Read More

London: T. Woodward, 1744. Hardcover. Good. 2 volumes: vol. 1: [8], xvi, [8], 984 p., [16] leaves of plates; vol. 2: [10], 1056, [22] p., frontispiece and [21] leaves of plates: tables; 44 cm. Contemporary? half calf with seven compartments between raised bands. Gilt-tooled title in second compartment of vol. 1: Harris's Voyages. Plain light grey paper over boards. Leaves are untrimmed. Title pages in red and black. Vol. 1 imprint: Printed for T. Woodward, A. Ward, S. Birt, D. Browne, T. Longman, R. Hett, C. Hitch, H. Whitridge, S. Austen, J. Hodges, J. Robinson, B. Dod, T. Harris, J. Hinton, and J. Rivington. Vol. 2 imprint the same, except for omission of A. Ward. The dedication to George II with royal crest and signed by Carteret appears opposite the title page in vol. 1. A second dedication, "To the merchants of Great-Britain" signed "The author" follows the title page. Index and "List of Charts, Maps and Cutts, in this Work" follow text in vol. 2. Woodcut head pieces, tail-pieces,… Read More

Salem, N.J., 1840. Hardcover. Good. [approx. 650] p.; 41 cm. Remains of original leather binding. Ledger book of David Smith Darmon (1815-1879), a saddler in Salem, N.J. The first part of the ledger begins on April 15, 1840, and goes to Feb. 26, 1858, in Salem, N.J. The next page is headed "Philadelphia July 16 1859." The Philadelphia entries run through March 1860. The next page is headed "The Regular Book of Entries Belonging to David S. Darmon" and starts with April 11, 1865, in Salem, N.J. This suggests that the business had been taken over by David Smith Darmon, one of the sons of David Smith Darmon (1815-1879), the latter generally known as Smith Darmon. This section runs to April 1875. The next section begins in Salem in Feb. 1889 but does not identify the person who "Commenced business this date." It runs to the beginning of 1892. The final section contains entries from the 1870s. David Smith Darmon (1815-1879) worked with leather as well as renting out horses and carriages.… Read More

1865. Hardcover. Good. The West Point account book of William Gerhard, while a cadet, 1865-1869, and 6 documents relating to his military service. William Gerhard (1847-1914) of Philadelphia was the son of Benjamin Gerhard (1811-1864) and Anna Sergeant Gerhard (1815-1873). He married Sally Lyle Howell (1855-1879) and they had one child, Arthur Howell Gerhard (1877-1949). He was appointed a cadet on Sept. 8, 1864, and was at West Point from June 1865 through June 1869, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieut in the 9th United States Cavalry on June 15. He served in Texas from Oct. 1869 until he resigned on September 30, 1874, having been promoted to 1st Lieut on Nov. 19, 1873. Following his military service, he was a manufacturer of chains and anchors in Ardmore, Pa., and then a senior member of Empire Chain Works, Philadelphia, Pa. The account book is the original calf-bound book issued by West Point showing Gerhard's monthly expenses for items from the commisary and other expenses for the 4… Read More

1823. Very Good +. 1 handwritten letter, dated 6 March 1823, from Lord Thomas Cochrane to Captain David Porter of the U.S. Navy expressing condolences over the death of Lt. Cocke, who was killed when the Spanish commander in San Juan fired to warn the American ships from entering the port. Lord Thomas Cochrane (1775-1860), later Admiral, had earned the nickname The Sea Wolf during the Napoleonic Wars before being dismissed from the Royal Navy in 1814 following a conviction for fraud on the Stock Exchange. In 1818 he went to Chile and became First Vice Admiral of its navy, leading it during the Chilean war of independence against Spain. In 1820 he was was active in achieving independence for Peru. He left the Chilean Navy on 29 Nov. 1822. Cochrane was apparently on his way to Brazil on 6 March 1823 when this letter was written. On 21 March 1823 he took command of the Brazilian Navy. He left Brazil in 1825, fought for Greece in 1827 and 1828, and was restroed to the Royal Navy in 1832 as a Rear… Read More

Franckfurt am Mayn [Frankfurt, Germany]: Nicolao Hoffman, in Verlegung Jacob Fischers, 1611. Hardcover. Good -. [10], 460, [27] leaves: many in-text emgraved illustrations; 39 cm. (folio). Contemporary pigskin? binding with seven spine compartments between raised bands. Elaborate blind-rolled and -tooled decoration around central medallion on both boards. Front board includes initials "CBC" in upper portion and date of binding "1620" in lower portion. Handwritten note on back pastedown by binder, dated 1620. Part of the decoration includes human figures and the words "cari," "spes," "fides," and possibly "fort." Printer and publisher from colophon. Includes "Von Distillier und Brennöfen" on leaves 456-460. A German translation by Georg Handsch of the botanical portion of Mattioli's Commentaries, without the text of Dioscorides, but having the Epistola Nuncupatoria in Latin, prefixed. Illustrations by Joachim Camerarius. References: Krivatsy, NLM 17th century, 7575; Nissen, Botanische… Read More

New York: Brooke Alexander, 1977. Paperback. Fine/near fine. [28] pages: black-and-white illustrations; 25 x 26 cm. Paperback with plain white covers; stapled. Dust jacket by Jasper Johns printed with 9 screens on printing parchment. The catalog to accompany an exhibition of screenprints by American artist Jasper Johns at the Brooke Alexander gallery in New York City from Nov. 15, 1977, to Jan. 7, 1978. One of a limited edition of 3,000 copies. Book is in Fine Condition: clean and tight. Dust jacket is in Near Fine Condition: separated along spine; minor loss from 2 corners of front section without loss of screenprint, which is clean and bright.