"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
— Mark Twain
Gift Books & Fine Bindings
A Natural History of English Song Birds, and Such of the Foreign as are usually brought over and esteemed for their Singing. To which are added, Figures of the Cock, Hen, and Egg of each Species, exactly copied from Nature, by Mr. Eleazar Albin, curiously engraven on Copper. Also a particular Account how to order the Canary-Birds in Breeding; likewise their Diseases and Cure.
London: Printed for R. Ware, 1741. [Ornithology] SECOND EDITION. Octavo in half-sheets (17 x 11cm), pp.[6] 96 [6]. With a copper engraved illustration of each bird, and a frontispiece, by the author. Later full marbled calf, recently re-backed in brown calf, with raised bands, and gilt titles to a red..... More
![Elementa Architecturae Civilis [The Elements of Civil Architecture], ad Vitruvii Veterumque...](/pictures/thumb/58923.jpg?v=1615396803)
Elementa Architecturae Civilis [The Elements of Civil Architecture], ad Vitruvii Veterumque Disciplinam, et Recentiorum Praesertim a Palladii Exempla Probatiora Concinnata [According to Vitruvius and Other Ancients, and the Most Approved Practice of Modern Authors, Especially Palladio].
Oxford: Sold by D. Prince and J. Cooke, 1789. [Architecture] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (25 x 16cm), pp.[12] 54; pp.[6] lxvi; 66 [2]. Complete with all 55 copper engraved plates at rear, as well as the etched portrait frontispiece after Kneller. Recently re-backed in tan calf with raised bands and gilt..... More
Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland, Illustrated. From Original Drawings by Thomas Allom, George Pickering etc., with Descriptions by T. Rose.
London: H. Fisher, R. Fisher, and P. Jackson, 1832-1834. [Northern Topography] FIRST EDITIONS. Three volumes bound as two. Folio (29 x 23cm), pp.[2] 116; pp.[6] 117-220. With 111 engraved plates, including a vignette title page to volume I and a frontispiece to volume II. Contemporary maroon half calf with raised..... More
The Okavango River: A Narrative of Travel, Exploration, and Adventure.
London: Hurst and Blackett, 1861. [Colonial Exploration] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.xxii; 364. With 17 wood engravings by Zwecker and Pearson, including a frontispiece and vignette title page. Contemporary red full calf with raised bands, gilt titles to a navy label on spine, further gilt decoration to spine..... More
The Metropolis. And the Second Part of the Metropolis.
Dublin: John Barlow, 1805 and 1806. SECOND EDITION. Duodecimo. pp. 69, 87. In recent marbled paper-covered boards with navy titles to cream paper label on spine. Top right corner of title page to part two damaged and repaired. Text unaffected. Otherwise a near-fine example in an attractive new binding. An..... More
The History of England Faithfully Extracted from Authentick Records, Approved Manuscripts, an the most Celebrated Histories of this Kingdom, in all Langages, whether Ecclesiastical or Civil. With the Effigies of all the Kings and Queens of England, from the Norman Race, to the present Time; Curiously Engraved on Copper-Plates, from Original Medals and Pictures.
London: Printed for Isaac Cleave, Abel Roper, A. Bosvile, and Richard Basset, 1702. [English History] SECOND EDITION, corrected. Two volumes. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.[10] 503 [3]; pp.[4] 286; 307-554 [26]. With principal dates and events printed in the margins for easy reference, an index to volume II, and 29..... More
Tales of the Classics: A New Delineation of the Most Popular Fables, Legends, and Allegories commemorated in the works of Poets, Painters, and Sculptors. Selected and Written by a Lady, for the amusement and instruction of her own daughters.
London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1830. [Greek Mythology] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Complete in three volumes. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[4] xxiv; 302 [4]; pp.[4] iv; 302 [4]; pp.[4] iv; 370 [4]. Contemporary black half calf with raised bands, gilt titles to burgundy labels, further gilt decoration to spines..... More
Meditations.
London: The Folio Society, 2002. [Stoic Philosophy] FIRST EDITION THUS. Octavo (26 x 18cm), pp.xxxiv; 201 [5]. With an engraving for each of the 12 books, as well as a frontispiece, by Brett. Publisher's brown quarter morocco, with gilt titles to spine and illustrated paper over boards. Top edge brown..... More
The History of Gambling in England.
Chicago, MI: Herbert S. Stone & Company, 1899. [Gambling] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[8] viii, 286 [8]. In contemporary maroon half morocco by the Eagle Art Bindery, with raised bands, gilt titles to spine and marbled paper over boards. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed; marbled endpapers. Text..... More
An Art Tour to Northern Capitals of Europe.
London: Macmillan and Co., 1873. [Russian and Scandinavian Museum Tour] FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[2] xii; 455 [3]. Contemporary dark brown half morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles and blind decoration to spine, and lighter brown cloth over boards, with a gilt institutional device to upper..... More
Histoire des Diables de Loudun, Ou de la Possession des Religieuses Ursulines, Et de la condamnation et du suplice D'Urbain Grandier, Cure de la meme Ville. Cruels effets de la vengeance du Cardinal de Richelieu.
Amsterdam: Aux Depens de la Compagnie, 1740. [Huguenot History] EARLY EDITION. Octavo (16 x 10cm), pp.[8] 378 [4]. With a copper engraved frontispiece. All text in French. Contemporary speckled calf with raised bands, gilt titles and gilt decoration to spine. Marbled endpapers; edges speckled red. Recent repairs to head and..... More
A Companion to the Almanack, containing an Explanation of the Saints' Days and Holidays, with Biographical Sketches of the Persons, and Historical Accounts of the Events, on which the Festivals are founded. To which is prefixed, and Introduction, Explaining the Chronological and Astronomical Terms, and the general Contents of Modern Almanacks; with a brief inquiry into their origin.
London: Printed for J. Mawman, 1808. [Calendars] CONTEMPORARY BINDING, the Third Edition. Duodecimo (16 x 11cm), pp.151; [7]. Contemporary brown full calf with gilt titles and decoration to spine. Light browning and spotting to preliminaries. Contemporary black ink ownership to flyleaf. Joints rubbed and starting, but holding well. Corners bumped..... More
Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers and Other Poems.
Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1870. [Poetry] FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED, a later edition. Quarto (26 x 19cm), pp.[12]; 268. With frequent wood engraved vignettes by the Patons. Contemporary green full morocco by R. and A. SUTTABY of London, with raised bands, gilt titles and decoration to spine, and gilt..... More
Boating
Longmans Green and Co., London 1888. FIRST EDITION. Octavo. Illustrated throughout. Elegantly hand-bound in half dark blue oasis morocco leather over marbled sides, spine gilt-lettered in six compartments with raised bands, top edge gilt. A little spotting to first and final leaves else a fine copy in attractive recent leather..... More
Moral Heroism; or, the Trials and Triumphs of the Great and Good.
London: Houlston and Stoneman, 1848. [Moral Biography] FINELY BOUND SECOND EDITION. Octavo (17 x 11cm), pp.[2] viii; 366 [4]. Contemporary red full morocco, with gilt titles and decoration to spine, and very elaborate decoration in gilt and blind to boards. All edges gilt, with yellow-coated endpapers. Light general handling and..... More
A Dictionary of the English and Italian Languages. Improved and augmented with above Ten Thousand Words, omitted in the last Edition of Altieri. To which is added, and Italian and English Grammar.
London: Printed for W. Strahan [etc.], 1771. [English—Italian Dictionary] A NEW EDITION. Complete in two volumes. Quarto (17 x 22cm), pp.[10] xxxiv; [698]; pp.[4] xl; [672]. With an Italian introduction to volume I (Italian to English) and an English introduction to volume II (English to Italian). Main text printed over..... More
A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant, Embracing English, American, and Anglo-Indian Slang, Pidgin English, Tinkers' Jargon, and Other Irregular Phraseology.
Edinburgh: The Ballantyne Press, 1889-1890. [Dictionary] LIMITED EDITION. Complete in two volumes. Large octavo (22 x 19cm), pp.xxiv; 528; pp.[4] 428. With the subscribers' notice loose to preliminaries of volume II. Number 58 of 675 copies thus, printed on handmade paper. Publisher's brown quarter morocco, with gilt titles to spines..... More
Historic Memoirs of Ireland; comprising Secret Records of the National Convention, the Rebellion, and the Union; with Delineations of the Principal Characters connected with these transactions.
London: Henry Colburn, 1835. NEW EDITON. In two volumes. Large Quarto, pp.[2] xlii, 358 [2]; pp.[4] x, 464 [2]. With 38 copper engraved portraits, including a frontispiece of Barrington to vol. I, and two plates preceeding the title page in vol. II. Also with three facsimile letters and an index..... More
Charicles, or, Illustrations of the Private Life of the Ancient Greeks, with Notes and Excursuses.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899. [Domestic History] FINE PRIZE BINDING. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] xxii; 512 [2]. With occasional illustrations, and footnotes. Contemporary tan full calf for Forest School, with gilt titles to burgundy label and further gilt tooling to spine, as well as the school crest stamped..... More
A General History of Quadrupeds.
Newcastle Upon Tyne: T. Bewick and Son, 1824. [Zoological Engraving] ILLUSTRATED. The eighth edition. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.[2] x, 526 [2]. Illustrated throughout with Bewick's iconic wood engravings. Recent speckled half calf with raised bands, gilt titles to dark green labels on spine, and marbled paper over boards. All..... More
Church-of-Englandism and its Catechism examined: Preceded by Strictures on the Exclusionary System, as pursued in the National Society's Schools: Interspersed with Parallel Views of the English and Scottish Established and Non-Established Churches: and Concluding with Remedies Proposed for Abuses Indicated: and an Examination of the Parliamentary System of Church Reform lately pursued, and still pursuing: including the Proposed New Churches.
London: Effingham Wilson, Printed, 1817: Published, 1818. [Religion and Education] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.lvi; ix-xliv; 248; 456. Recently re-backed in brown calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to red morocco label on spine, and original speckled calf boards. All edges speckled brown. Pencil notes to margin of..... More
Sand and Canvas; a Narrative of Adventures in Egypt, with a Sojourn Among the Artists in Rome.
London: Charles Gilpin, 1849. [Travel Memoirs] FIRST EDITION, an association copy. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[4] xii; 370 [2]. With eight engraved plates, including a frontispiece, after drawings by the author, six being hand-coloured, each with a tissue guard. Pencil note to verso of fly-leaf stating: 'Wm. Bevan - my..... More
Testamenti Veteris Biblia Sacra, sive Libri Canonici Priscae Judaiorum Ecclesiae a Deo Traditi, Latini recens ex Hebreao facti, brevibusque Scholiis illustrati ab Immanuele Tremellio, et Francisco Junio. Accesserunt libri qui vulgo dicuntur Apocyphi, Latine redditi, et Notis quibusdam aucti a Francisco Junio. Multo omnes quam ante emendatus editi et aucti locis innumeris : quibus etiam adjunximus Novi Testamenti libros ex sermone syro ab eodem Tremellio, et ex Graeco a Theodoro Beza in Latinum verso, Notisque itidem illustratos. Tertia Cura Francisci Junii.
Hanoviae: Impensis Andreae Wecheli heredum, Claudii Marnii, et Ioannis Aubrii, 1596. [Latin Bible] THIRD THUS. Folio in sixes (35 x 23cm), pp.[12] 177 [1]; [6] 292 numbered leaves [2]; 74 numbered leaves [2]; [2] 448 [16]. In a nineteenth century full brown calf binding, recently re-backed with the original spine..... More
The Christian's Family Bible; or, Library of Divine Knowledge. Containing the Sacred Texts of the Old and New Testaments; with the Apocrypha, at Large. Illustrated with Short, but Suitable, Annotations, Historical, Chronological, Biographical, Geographical, Theological, Moral, and Practical. In which many difficult Passages are rendered clear, seeming Contradictions reconciled, and important Truths confirmed; calculated to dispel the Mists of Darkness, enlighten the Ignorant, encourage the Diffident, reclaim the Vicious, reconcile the Doubtful, lead the Wavering into the Paths of Truth, and implant in the Mind of every Reader that Divine Knowledge which is essentially necessary to Salvation. Being a Brief Explanation of the Various Books in the Old and New Testaments. And, as a Farther Illustration, will be given, a Chronological Index of Places mentioned in the Holy Scriptures; a Brief Account of the Apostles and their Successors, who propagated the Christian Religion, by presiding over the Apostolic Churches of Antioch, Jerusalem, etc. The Whole Forming a Body of Christian Divinity. Notes are selected from the most eminent and approved Authors, and are designed to assist plain Persons, who cannot purchase more expensive commentaries, in gaining Knowledge of Divine Truth. Embellished and Enriched with Engravings, illustrative of the various Transactions recorded in the Sacred Writings.
Liverpool: Caxton Press, printed by Nuttall, Fisher, and Dixon, no date [circa 1840]. [Bible] FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED. Folio (41 x 26cm), pp.[2] 960 [2]. With 45 engraved plates by various artists, including an engraved frontispiece and a decorated title page. Plates dated variously between 1815 and 1839. Contemporary tan..... More
The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated out of the Original Tongues: and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty's Command. Appointed to be Read in Churches.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, n.d. [c.1871]. FINELY BOUND FAMILY BIBLE. Quarto (30 x 24cm), unpaginated. In contemporary black full morocco with raised bands, gilt titles to spine and black endpapers. All edges gilt. Registers of Birth, Marriages and Deaths to prelims filled out in black ink by the Lamb family..... More