Rare books from Merchants Rare Books

London: Harding, Mavor, & Lepard, 1823 - 1834. FIRST EDITION / FIRST PRINTING. Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain. Engraved from Authentic Pictures in the Galleries of the Nobility and the Public Collections of the Country. With Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Their Lives and Actions. By Edmund Lodge, Esq. Written in pencil on the front end paper: 'The finest collection of steel engravings ever complied.' All plates are printed on india paper. 240 engraved portraits. FOLIO-SIZED. These measure 12 5/8 inches tall. Roughly 17 inches of shelf space. These are very large and impressive books. These are large heavy books, and weigh roughly 5 pounds each, unpacked. Bound in thick morocco leather. Raised hubs. Gilded spines. the top edges are gilded. Marbled end papers. Printed on thick quality paper. With 3 inch wide margins, and thick black ink. Extremely high quality, detailed steel engraved portraits. All portraits are present. VERY GOOD condition. The leather is very supple… Read More

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY!
With Illustrations by the Author.
Complete in 24 volumes.
Printed in 1869.
This is the FIRST COLLECTED EDITION of Thackeray's Works.
Complete in 22 volumes + the 2 additional volumes added in 1886.Complete in 24 volumes, total.Bound and signed by the prestigious BAYNTUN BINDERY. A gorgeous set.Each book will be individually wrapped and well protected for shipping.The Works of William Makepeace Thackeray. Bound in fine green moroccan leather. High quality bindings. Top edge gilded. Raised hubs on spine. Marbled boards and end-papers. 8.5 inches tall.These are large books. Complete 24 volume set. Smith, Elder & Co., London. Printed in 1869. With an additional final 2-volumes, issued in 1886, are present and uniformly bound. The FIRST EDITION of Thackeray's collected works. Illustrated by Thackeray.Very Good condition. Hinges are all 100% fully attached, very fresh, and sound. Clean, bright interior. Free of foxing. No writing or signs of previous… Read More

Complete in 12 volumes.
BRONTE is exceedingly difficult to find.
These are bound in the highest grade leather. The bindings are original.
Printed in 1907 in Edinburgh. Only light external wear. All hinges sound, some abrasion and rubbing as shown in the pictures. Printed in English.These are large books.
9 inches tall. Bound in the original fine leather bindings.Quality leather.All hinges sound.
A remarkable and imposing set.
Each book will be individually wrapped and well protected for shipping via Priority Mail.

[THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.]
True first edition.

Mémoires De La Vie Privée Écrits Par Lui-Même, Et Adressées À Son Fils ; Suivis D'un Précis Historique De Sa Vie Politique, Et De Plusieurs Pièces, Relative À Ce Père De La Liberté

This book is the first edition of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

Printed in French.

Printed in 1791.

The first edition was in French. This book is printed in French. This is correct.
The first English edition of 1793 is the first English edition, it is not the first edition. It was directly translated from this 1791 French book.

The American Edition from 1793 was translated from this book. The true first edition of the Autobiography was in French.

The binding is original.
Leather supple. Hinges sound. Quality rag paper.
Title page margin was professionally conservated, not affecting text.
First few pages have ink stains at the top as shown in the pictures.
Binding is original. Text is complete. The blank end papers look like… Read More

The works of Washington Irving.
First collected edition to date.
Printed in 1851.
Complete to date as his George Washington wasn't yet published.
Complete in 15 volumes. All volumes present.
These are the original bindings.
This set is in remarkable condition despite the sheer age.
These are the original Victorian gilded calf bindings from 1851.
Set looks like it sat in a shelf for 170 years.
Leather remarkably supple. All hinges sound. Quality paper. Exceptionally supple and well preserved. Slight shelf rubs. An exceptional set. Quality paper.
In exceptional condition.
Quality paper.
8 inches tall.
These are the original Victorian era bindings.
These are a pleasure to read. All hinges are sound.Set is complete. Each book will be individually wrapped and well protected for shipping via Priority Mail.2022.02.17

MANUSCRIPT EDITION.
This is set #4. Number 4 of the 1000 copies of the Manuscript Edition, Bound in full leather.
Full leather end papers.
These full leather bindings are original, and are only found on the first several sets. These are large heavy books, measuring 10 inches tall. This is a gorgeous set.
Complete in 4 volumes.
In very good condition despite the age. The bindings are original. MANUSCRIPT EDITION. Printed in 1928.
Complete in 4 Volumes. Volume I contains a handwritten page of Beveridge's original manuscript. Abraham Lincoln 1809-1858
Complete in Four Volumes.
By Beveridge, Albert J
Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1928. Hardcover. Very Good. Hardcover.
Number 4 of the 1000 copies of the Manuscript Edition, printed at the Riverside Press in Cambridge, MA.
This is a compelling and detailed biography of Abraham Lincoln. The preface describes the rigorous and painstaking research conducted by the author for the book.
Albert Jeremiah Beveridge (1862 - 1927) was an… Read More

Complete in 5 volumes.
Printed in 1683-1686.
Printed in English. Heavily illustrated with full page plates.
All plates present.
Printed on quality rag paper that is still fresh.
The spines are rebacked circa 1900.
The covers are original. This set is over 300 years old. Quality paper.
It is extremely difficult finding Plutarch from the 1600's. In very good condition. Spines are not original. Margins are close affecting some text. Early name on title page. This set is in remarkable condition for the age. These books measure 7 inches tall. Plutarch. 

Lives, translated from the Greek by several hands


5 volumes

London: Jacob Tonson, 1683-1686

Engraved frontispieces, numerous plates, endpapers renewed, original calf, rebacked


Size 4.5 by 7"

Very good condition

text in English2022.06.15

Printed in 1770.
First edition of this translation by John and William Langhorne. Previously only translated by under Dryden's name (compiled piecemeal from the work of various hands).
This is the first edition of Langhorne's translation. It became the standard version.



————
This was the first translation of Plutarch into English done directly from the original Greek as a unified whole, and though criticised for its prose style, it became the standard version, displacing the one published under Dryden's name (compiled piecemeal from the work of various hands) in the 17th century. ESTC T107379

Printed in English.

Complete in 6 volumes.
The bindings are original.

All 6 frontisplates are present.

Printed on rag paper that is still fresh.

In remarkable condition. All hinges strongly attached. Hinges are starting. Spine labels are all present.

Approximately 8.75 inches tall.

Each book will be individually wrapped and well protected for shipping via Priority Mail.

Plutarch's Lives,… Read More

Complete in 11 volumes.
Printed in 1884.

1884 is extremely early for Emerson.
Set is dated 1884 on the title pages.
Presumably the first edition of the Riverside Edition by Houghton Mifflin. Copyright 1883, title pages dated 1884. Thus set was reprinted into the early 1900's. It's extremely difficult to find Emerson from 1883.

Set is remarkably well preserved. Internally the paper is fresh bright and clean. Set looks unread. The bindings have extremity abrasions and scuffs. Some gouges and scuffs in the spines and head caps. Leather supple. Hinges all sound. Each book will be individually wrapped and well protected for shipping via Priority Mail.
Set has extremity abrasions as shown in the pictures. Wear at spine heads.

The half titles list each volume number. The miscellanies is volume 11. 11 is standard for early Emerson. Set is complete.

The bindings are original.

Set has 2 old bookplates.

Quality paper.

The bindings are the original Victorian hindings.

The bindings are original.… Read More

A SYSTEM OF SURGERY.
Printed in 1785-1789.By Benjamin Bell.An extremely rare set.
Complete in 6 volumes.The original owner appears to have purchased this set in 1787.
Volumes 4 and 5 are the rare First Editions. The first 3 volumes are Second Editions.The final volume was added to this set at a later date.The First and Second editions complete to date in 5 volumes + the 6th volume added to this set.Volumes 1-3 are Second Editions.
Volumes 4-5 are FIRST EDITIONS.
Volume 6 is the Third Edition.The first 5 volumes were rebound in fine leather.
Printed 1785-1787. The 6th volume was not issued until later.The 6th volume was printed at a later date and was added to this collection. The 6th volume is the third edition and is dated 1789. Each book will be individually wrapped and well protected for shipping via Priority Mail.A SYSTEM OF SURGERY by Benjamin Bell. Volumes I to VI. Volumes I & II are 2nd editions published in 1785; Vol III is also a 2nd edition but published in 1786; Vols IV and V are the First… Read More

MILITARY HISTORY OF ULYSSES GRANT.
FIRST EDITION.
PRINTED IN 1881.
Complete with all fold out maps in the rear pockets.
Complete in 3 massive volumes.
10 inches tall.
These are the original leather bindings.
This set precedes his personal memoirs that were not published until 1885.
Hinges are all fully attached and sound. Set has some external shelf rubs and abrasions. Early name on second blank end paper. Some light generalized usage wear. Maps may have done splits as is to be expected. In remarkable and highly presentable condition. Leather still supple. These would make an excellent gift or addition to any fine library.

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND!By Tobias Smollett.Complete in 11 volumes.Printed in 1758 - 1760.IN THE ORIGINAL 18TH CENTURY BINDINGS.In remarkable condition.Illustrated with plates and fold outs.Printed on rag paper.SECOND and THIRD EDITION.Printed in 1758 -1760.Complete in 11 volumes, with the index in volume 11._______Printed in 1758 - 1760. In the ORIGINAL 18th CENTURY BINDINGS. In remarkable condition. The condition of this set is unusual. The hinges are all sound despite being from the 18th century. This is the Second and Third Edition. Illustrated with plates and fold outs. Fold outs all appear intact but may have wear or reinforcements but are in far better condition than anticipated. This is a remarkable set in remarkable condition. In far better condition than to be expected. Some abrasions. Early inconspicuous name. There is an old dealer record on the fep. All hinges sound. Rare and highly desirable. This set displays exceptionally well. Set is complete in 11 volumes, with the index in volume 11.

A COURSE OF ANATOMICO-PHYSIOLOGICAL LECTURES ON THE HUMAN STRUCTURE!Complete in 3 volumes.
Printed in 1757.FIRST EDITION / FIRST PRINTING.This set is not illustrated.
This set contains an advertisement on the verso of the title page for his previous mezzotints.
Those mezzotints in the advertisement currently retail at $5000 each, $35000 for a complete set. This set is not illustrated. By Nicholas Jenty, the famous author of: An essay on the Demonstration of the Human Structure, Half as Large as Nature, in Four Tables, from the Pictures Painted after Dissections, for that Purpose. (That book is impossible to find, was a massive undertaking to produce, and the plates sell individually at $5000. The most recent auction record for a single plate is $4750 + 15% = $5462.50, they're scarce and they don't come up for auction, which increases the value of this work by association.) This Anatomico-Physiological Lectures was printed the following year, and it includes an advertisement on the rear of the title… Read More

The complete works of Charles Dickens.Complete in 34 volumes as stated on the title pages.
+ the miscellaneous in 2 volumes.
+ the life by Forster in 2 volumes.
Complete with all 38 volumes. Set is complete. A massive set. Well over five feet of shelf space. Andrew Lang edition.
With the original illustrations.Printed in 1907. Some light generalized wear, some extremity spine chips.
The bindings are high grade leather.
Still supple.
The bindings are original. Some of the spine extremities are chipped, as visible in the pictures. Otherwise, this set is in remarkable condition. Some spine heads are chipped, which may be bothersome. A gorgeous complete antiquarian set of Dickens. Each book will be individually wrapped and well protected for shipping via Priority Mail. 3.25.21IExtra postage required. $140 via Priority Mail, in 6 boxes.

The Koran.
Printed in 1649.
First English Edition.
Prior to this book the Koran had never before been translated into English.
———
Full title:
The Alcoran Of Mahomet, Translated Out Of Arabique Into French; By The Sieur Du Ryer, Lord Of Malezair, And Resident For The King Of France, At Alexandria. And Newly Englished, For The Satisfaction Of All That Desire To Look Into The Turkish Vanities. [The Koran].
By Du Ryer, Andre

Considered an inferior translation. The later translation by Sale is held in higher regard.
Still, this 1649 book is the first edition of the Koran ever translated into the English language.
The spine is not original.
The covers are original.
Text is complete.
This book measure approximately 7 inches tall.
This is a small book.
Quality rag paper is still supple, and this book can be read.
LONDON, 1649.
FIRST ENGLISH TRANSLATION.
SMALL OCTAVO, CONTEMPORARY BOARDS (WITH SOME WEAR) WITH A NEW SPINE, NEW ENDPAPERS. THE BOOK WAS FIRST TRANSLATED OUT OF ARABIC INTO FRENCH BY THE… Read More