"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all. "
— Oscar Wilde
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
The Whole Duty of Man Laid down In a Plain and Familiar Way for the Use of All, but especially the Meanest Reader. Divided into XVII Chapters; One whereof being read every Lord's Day, the Whole may be Read over Thrice in the Year. Necessary for all Families. With Private Devotions For several Occasions.
London: Printed by R. Norton for E. Pawlet, 1712. [Anglican Spirituality] FINE CONTEMPORARY BINDING, a later edition. Duodecimo (16 x 10cm), pp.[30] 472 [10]. With an engraved frontispiece and decorated title page. In a fine contemporary binding of black full morocco, with slightly raised bands, gilt decoration to spine, and..... 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
The Light of Asia or The Great Renunciation. Being the Life and Teaching of Gautama, Prince of India and Founder of Buddhism.
London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co., 1908. Deluxe Edition. Octavo, pp.xv; 158. Illustrated with thirty two pictures of Indian scenery from photographs taken by Mabel Eardley-Wilmott. Bound in cream vegetable parchment boards with gilt titles to spine and upper board, and illustrated to the upper and lower boards. Top..... 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
The Essays, or Counsels Civil and Moral, and Wisdom of the Ancients.
London: William Pickering, 1845. [Philosophy and Mythology] FINELY BOUND. Small octavo (17 x 11cm), pp.[6] xxx; 355 [3]. With a decorated title page. Contemporary brown full calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to a light brown label on the spine, and blind decoration. All edges red; marbled endpapers. Black ink..... More
Cricket. With 52 Illustrations.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1920. FIRST APPEARANCE OF THIS TEXT. Octavo, pp.348. Includes a large number of illustrations. Publisher's original pictorial brown cloth blocked in gilt and colours, plain endpapers. A little edge-spotting, gift inscription to flyleaf; bing clean and fresh. A particularly sharp-looking copy. Stated as 'A New..... 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
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
The Naturalist on the River Amazons. A Record of Adventures, Habits of Animals, Sketches of Brazilian and Indian Life, and Aspects of Nature Under the Equator, during Eleven Years of Travel.
London: John Murray, 1873. [Amazon Travel and Natural History] FINELY BOUND THIRD EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.x; 394 [2]. With 40 engraved illustrations, including a frontispiece. Extra-illustrated with a folding map of South America, tipped onto rear fly-leaf. Contemporary tan half calf by MUDIE, with raised bands, gilt titles..... 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
Shirley. A Tale.
London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1849. [Social and Political Novel] FIRST EDITION. Complete in three volumes. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] iv; 303 [3]; pp.[2] iv; 308 [2]; pp.[2] iv; 320 [2]. Bound without half-titles, but including advertisements to rear of volume III. Recently bound in brown speckled half calf..... 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