Fine Bindings and Sets

Reftelius, Johannes Martinus; Carl Linnaeus

Reformatio Botanices. [Reformation of Botany].

Uppsala : Uppsala University, December 18, 1762.

First edition of this academic dissertation presented under the supervision of Carl Linnaeus at Uppsala University, Sweden. Square octavo, written in Latin, bound in three quarters morocco over speckled boards with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands. In near fine condition. Rare.

Apcar, Amy

Melodies of the Holy Apostolic Church of Armenia: The Liturgy as Sung in Ordinary, During Lent, and on Festivals.

Leipzig : Printed by Breitkopf & Haertel, 1920.

Second and enlarged edition of these rich chant traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Octavo, three volumes, written in English and Armenian, bound in three-quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine, gilt cross vignette to the front panels, musical stanzas throughout. Written down in modern notation by Amy Apcar. In very good condition.

Gibbon, Edward

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

London : Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1846.

Finely bound second edition set of Gibbon’s masterpiece. Octavo, 6 volumes bound in full calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, red and brown morocco spine labels, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, illustrated with numerous folding maps in each volume. In very good condition, antiquarianContinue reading "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

Tolstoi, Count Leon. [Leo Tolstoy]. Translated from the French by Clara Bell

War and Peace. A Historical Novel.

New York : William S. Gottsberger, Publisher, 1886.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s masterpiece, a pillar of world literature. Octavo, six volumes in the publisher’s original pictorial brown cloth stamped in gilt and black, brown coated endpapers, with the cursive imprint in each part. Translated by Clara Bell. In near fine condition. Housed in two custom marbled slipcases. An exceptional set of Tolstoy’sContinue reading "War and Peace. A Historical Novel."

[Armenian Bible]

Girkr Astuatsashunchʿi hin ew nor Ktakaranatsʿ. [The Books of the Old and New Testaments in Armenian].

Venice : Printed at the Mekhitarist Monastery of Saint Lazarus, 1860.

Later edition of the Bible in classical Armenian. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles to the spine, title page vignette. In good condition with rubbing to the spine and extremities. Translated from the original languages and carefully corrected.

Churchill, Winston S

The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy.

London : Cassell & Co. Ltd, 1948-1954.

First editions of each volume in Churchill’s World War II masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes, original black cloth with spines lettered in gilt, patterned endpapers, illustrated with in-line and folding maps and documents. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page of Vol. V, “Winston S. Churchill.” Each volume is near fine in a veryContinue reading "The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy."

Sheridan, Richard Brinsley

The Rivals; The Critic; The Duenna.

London : Printed for A. Millar, W. Law, and R. Cater, 1797.

Finely bound editions of three of Sheridan’s most well known and popular comic plays. Duodecimo, three volumes, bound in full red pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in three compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers.Continue reading "The Rivals; The Critic; The Duenna."

Davies, Valentine

Miracle On 34th. Street.

New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1947.

First edition of this modern Christmas classic. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. AnContinue reading "Miracle On 34th. Street."

Cain, Alfred E. [Martin Luther King Jr.] [Sammy Davis, Jr.]

The Winding Road to Freedom: A Documentary Survey of Negro Experiences in America.

Yonkers : Educational Heritage, Inc, 1965.

First edition of this comprehensive anthology that compiles historical documents, speeches, and firsthand accounts to trace the evolving struggle for African American freedom and equality. Quarto, original publisher’s orange cloth boards, with black and white illustrations. Association copy, inscribed by Martin Luther King Jr. to Sammy Davis Jr. on the front free endpaper, “To myContinue reading "The Winding Road to Freedom: A Documentary Survey of Negro Experiences in America."

Shirer, William L

The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany.

New York : Simon & Schuster, 1960.

First edition of “one of the most important works of history of our time” (Orville Prescott, New York Times). Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signedContinue reading "The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany."

Morris, Jan

Hong Kong.

Franklin Center, Pennsylvania : The Franklin Library, 1988.

Signed limited first edition of this incredibly vibrant history of Hong Kong, privately printed exclusively for members of The Signed First Edition Society. Octavo, Smyth-sewn and bound in full top-grain leather specially processed for fine books by the Cromwell Leather Company with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands,Continue reading "Hong Kong."

Churchill, Winston S

The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy.

London : Cassell & Co. Ltd, 1948-1954.

First editions of each volume in Churchill’s World War II masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes, original black cloth with spines lettered in gilt, patterned endpapers, illustrated with in-line and folding maps and documents. Boldly signed by the author on the half-title page of Vol. IV, “Winston S. Churchill.” Each volume is near fine in a veryContinue reading "The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy."

Dickens, Charles

The Works of Charles Dickens [Including: Bleak House; A Tale of Two Cities; David Copperfield; Great Expectations; Oliver Twist; A Christmas Carol; David Copperfield; Dombey & Son; The Old Curiosity Shop; Nicholas Nickleby].

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1894.

The New Library edition of the works of Charles Dickens. Octavo, 32 volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, top edges gilt, illustrated. Bookplate to each front pastedown. In near fine condition.

Corbin, Jacques. [George Washington]

Le Code Louis XIII. Roy De France Et De Navarre. [From the Library of George Washington].

A Paris : Chez Pierre Billaine, 1628.

First edition of Corbin’s legal compilation of ordinances and judgments issued during the reign of Louis XIII of France, from the library of General George Washington. Folio, bound in full mottled calf, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling andContinue reading "Le Code Louis XIII. Roy De France Et De Navarre. [From the Library of George Washington]."

Austen, Jane

Emma: A Novel.

London : Printed for John Murray, 1816.

First edition of the last of Austen‘s works to be published during her lifetime, with Cooper-Powys family provenance and in a fine contemporary binding. Duodecimo, three volumes bound in three quarter contemporary calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and Greek key ruling to the spines, rebacked with original spines laid down, half-titles. From the libraryContinue reading "Emma: A Novel."

Dickens, Charles

Great Expectations.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1861.

First edition, second impression of Dickens’ rarest book, one of only 750 copies. Octavo, three volumes bound in full polished calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt-ruled turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbledContinue reading "Great Expectations."

Linnaeus, Carl

Flora Zeylanica. [The Flora of Ceylon: Being a Description of the Indian plants of the Island of Ceylon].

Amsterdam : J. Wetstenium, 1748.

Early edition of this cornerstone in the history of early modern botany and colonial natural history. Octavo, written in Latin, bound in full speckled calf  with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments with raised bands, all edges speckled red, illustrated. In very good condition.

Linnaeus, Carl

Philosophia Botanica: In Qua Explicantur Fundamenta Botanica Cum Definitionibus Partium, Exemplis Terminorum, Observationibus Rariorum. [In Which Are Explained the Foundations of Botany, Together with Definitions of the Parts, Examples of Terms, and Rare Observations].

Vienna : Printed by Johann Thomas, Nobleman of Trattner, 1783.

Rare second edition of this foundational text of modern botany. Octavo, written in Latin, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within gilt bands, illustrated at the rear. In very good condition. Bookplate to the front pastedown and front free endpaper.

Armorial Binding.

[France] c. 1690.

Rare original armorial binding in gold and silver thread bearing a coat of arms reminiscent of the Durazzo family of Venice. Small octavo, empty, white silk with pink silk pastedowns, the outer border decorated with floral repeating motives in silver and green foil leaves, and the escutcheon crowned by a pink hat with six tasselsContinue reading "Armorial Binding."

Scopoli, Giovanni Antonio [Carl Linnaeus]

Flora Carniolica: Exhibens Plantas Carnioliae Indigenas et Distributas in Classes, Genera, Species, Varietates, Ordine Linnaeano. Volume I.

Vienna : Johann Paul Krauss, 1772.

Second edition, enlarged and revised, of one of the most important 18th-century botanical works documenting the flora of Carniola following Carl Linnaeus’s system of plant classification. Octavo, written in Latin, bound in three quarters calf over marbled boards, rebacked with cloth labels, marbled endpapers, all edges red, illustrated throughout. In good condition, bookplate to theContinue reading "Flora Carniolica: Exhibens Plantas Carnioliae Indigenas et Distributas in Classes, Genera, Species, Varietates, Ordine Linnaeano. Volume I."

Linnaeus, Carl

Oratio, qua Peregrinationum Intra Patriam Asseritur Necessitas. [An Oration on the Necessity of Travels within One’s Own Country].

Uppsala : Carolino Majori, 1741.

First edition of Linnaeus’s inaugural oration at Uppsala. Octavo, written in Latin, bound in half morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, top edge marbled, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. Rare with only a handful of copies appearing at auction since 1950.

Brothers Grimm

Household Stories from the Collection of the Brothers Grimm.

London : Macmillan and Co, 1882.

Finely bound edition of this collection of classic fairytales. Octavo, bound in full dark blue morocco by Kelliegram with gilt titles and floral tooling to the spine, floral ruling to the front and rear panels with pictorial inlays of Red Riding Hood, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, silk moire endpapers, all edges gilt, silk ribbonContinue reading "Household Stories from the Collection of the Brothers Grimm."

Jefferson, Joseph

Rip Van Winkle: As Played by Joseph Jefferson.

New York : Dodd, Mead and Company, 1899.

The Dodd, Mead and Company trade edition of Joseph Jefferson’s play adapted to text. Octavo, original green cloth over boards with gilt-stamped lettering and illustration of the Catskill Mountains, top edge gilt, frontispiece, title page vignette, with black and white illustrations throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Ms SadieContinue reading "Rip Van Winkle: As Played by Joseph Jefferson."

Linnaeus, Carl

System Naturae. Book I Part III: Amphibia.

: Caldwell, c. 1788.

Later edition of this influential work. Octavo, written in Latin, bound in three quarters morocco over green cloth boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands. In very good condition.