Fine Bindings and Sets

Baring-Gould, Sabine

The Book of Were-Wolves: Being an Account of a Terrible Superstition.

London : Smith, Elder, and Co., 1865.

First edition of this pioneering, scholarly study of lycanthropy. Duodecimo, bound in three-quarters leather over marble covered boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece. In very good condition.

Atkins, Robert. [Robert Atkyns]

Parliamentary and Political Tracts, Written by Sir Robert Atkins, Knight of the Bath, and late One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas.

London : Printed for R. Gosling, at the Crown and Mitre, against Fetter-Lane, in Fleet-street, 1734.

First edition of this exceptionally rare collection of Atkyn’s political tracts. Octavo, bound in full paneled calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins, all edges speckled red. In near fine condition. Scarce.

Petty, Sir William

The Political Anatomy of Ireland…To Which is Added Verbum Sapienti.

London : Printed for D. Brown and W. Rogers, 1691.

First edition of this seminal, early statistical survey that analyzes 17th-century Irish land, people, and government to propose improvements for efficiency, taxation, and union with England. Duodecimo, bound in full speckled calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within double ruled gilt bands, morocco spine label, and gilt turn-ins. In very goodContinue reading "The Political Anatomy of Ireland…To Which is Added Verbum Sapienti."

Kingsley, Charles

The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby.

London and Cambridge : Macmillan and Co., 1863.

First edition of this Victorian moral fantasy. Octavo, bound in three-quarter crushed levant over marbled boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, with two illustrations by J. Noel Paton. In near fine condition. BookplatesContinue reading "The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby."

Calvin, John. Translated from the French by Thomas Stocker

Two and twentie Sermons of Maister John Calvin. In which Sermons is most religiously handled, the hundredth and nineteenth Psalme of David, by eight verses aparte according to the Hebrewe alphabet.

London : [Printed by Thomas Dawson] For John Harison and Thomas Man, 1580.

Scarce first edition in English of this collection of John Calvin’s sermons. Octavo, bound in full levant morocco with gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling and central gilt arabesques to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, wide typographical borderContinue reading "Two and twentie Sermons of Maister John Calvin. In which Sermons is most religiously handled, the hundredth and nineteenth Psalme of David, by eight verses aparte according to the Hebrewe alphabet."

Kipling, Rudyard

The Day’s Work.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1914.

The Bombay edition of this collection of 13 Kipling short stories mainly written between 1893 and 1896 while Kipling was living in Vermont. Octavo, bound in three-quarters morocco over cloth covered boards by Morrell with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front andContinue reading "The Day’s Work."

Kipling, Rudyard

Many Inventions.

London : Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1913.

The Bombay edition of this collection of Kipling poems and tales. Octavo, bound in three-quarters morocco over cloth covered boards by Morrell with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition.

Sydenham, Thomas

Thomae Sydenham Med Doct Ac Practici Londinensis Celeberrimi, Opera Medica. [Medical Works of Thomas Sydenham].

Geneva : Printed by Gabriel de Tournes & Sons, 1723.

The collected medical works of Thomas Sydenham. Royal octavo, written in Latin, volume one only, bound in full calf with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine label, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges stained red, engraved frontispiece of Thomas Sydenham, illustrated.Continue reading "Thomae Sydenham Med Doct Ac Practici Londinensis Celeberrimi, Opera Medica. [Medical Works of Thomas Sydenham]."

Radcliffe, Anne

A Sicilian Romance.

Philadelphia : Printed For Henry and Patrick Rice, 1795.

First American edition of Radcliffe’s classic 18th century gothic novel. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine. In good condition. Chip to the spine label, G1 & 2 tear at head within text, with minor loss, Q1 torn and stained at foot, with loss ofContinue reading "A Sicilian Romance."

Locke, John

A Second Letter Concerning Toleration.

London : Printed for Awnsham and John Churchill, at the Black Swan in Ave-Mary Lane, 1690.

First edition of John Locke’s landmark second Letter of Toleration, a profound influence on Jefferson, Madison and the architecture of the American Constitution on freedom of religion. Octavo, bound in three quarter calf with gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers. In very good condition, paper repair to lower corner D1, faint early ink ownershipContinue reading "A Second Letter Concerning Toleration."

Lanfrey, Pierre [Napoleon]

The History of Napoleon the First.

London and New York : Macmillan and Co., 1871-1879.

First English edition of this critical biography that attempts to demythologize Napoleon Bonaparte. Octavo, four volumes, bound in early twentieth century three-quarters morocco over marble covered boards by Zaensdorf with gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers. In very good condition.

Kingsley, Charles

The Roman and the Teuton: A Series of Lectures Delivered Before the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge and London : Macmillan and Co., 1864.

First edition of this classic collection of Kingsley’s Cambridge lectures. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards by Tout & Sons with gilt titles and floral tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. In near fineContinue reading "The Roman and the Teuton: A Series of Lectures Delivered Before the University of Cambridge."

Smith, D. Murray

Arctic Expeditions from British and Foreign Shores from the Earliest Times to the Expedition of 1875-76.

Glasgow, Melbourne, and Sydney : Thomas Liddell, 1877.

Finely bound edition of this history of Arctic exploration. Quarto, bound in full contemporary black morocco with gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, elaborate pictorial front and rear panels stamped in blind and gilt, all edges gilt, rebacked with original spine laid down, tissue-guarded frontispiece. Illustrated withContinue reading "Arctic Expeditions from British and Foreign Shores from the Earliest Times to the Expedition of 1875-76."

Kingsley, Charles

Westward Ho!

Cambridge : Macmillan and Co., 1855.

First edition of Kingsley’s historical novel based on the Preston Somers Expedition of 1595. Small octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards by Tout & Sons with gilt titles and floral tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt,Continue reading "Westward Ho!"

Smeeton, George; Illustrated by George Cruikshank

Doings in London: or Day and Night Scenes of the Frauds, Frolics, Manners, and Depravities of the Metropolis.

London : Orlando Hodgson, c. 1830.

Finely bound example of this spirited survey of London life. Octavo, bound in three-quarters modern morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, frontispiece and title page vignette, illustrated with thirty-three black and white engravings. InContinue reading "Doings in London: or Day and Night Scenes of the Frauds, Frolics, Manners, and Depravities of the Metropolis."

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 & Company, 1948-54.

First editions of each volume in Churchill’s World War II masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes, finely bound in three-quarters navy morocco over cloth covered boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, illustrated with in-line and folding maps and documents. Each volume is in fine to nearContinue reading "The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy."

Boswell, James

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Comprehending an Account of his Studies and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order…

London : Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry, 1791.

First edition, first issue of both volumes of the most celebrated biography in the English language, which was published on May 16, 1791 in a print run of only 1,750 copies. First issue with “gve” for “give” at line 10 of p.135 in Vol. I, where MM4 and NN1 are cancels. Vol. I with Pottle’s misprints: upon repeatedContinue reading "The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Comprehending an Account of his Studies and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order…"

Kingsley, Charles

The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby.

London and Cambridge : Macmillan and Co., 1863.

First edition of this Victorian moral fantasy. Octavo, bound in three-quarter Turkey morocco over marbled boards by Tout & Sons with gilt titles and floral tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, with two illustrations by J. NoelContinue reading "The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby."

Kingsley, Charles

Andromeda and Other Poems.

London : John W. Parker and Son, 1858.

First edition of this collection centered on the Greek myth of Andromeda’s rescue from a sea monster by Perseus. Duodecimo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards by Tout & Sons with gilt titles and floral tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rearContinue reading "Andromeda and Other Poems."

The Whole Art of Fishing. Being a Collection and Improvement of All That Has Been Written Upon the Subject: With Many New Experiments. Shewing the Different Ways of Angling, and the Best Methods of Taking Fresh-water Fish. To Which is Added, the Laws of Angling.

London : E. Curll, 1714.

First edition of this comprehensive 18th-century manual on the art of angling. Duodecimo, bound in full contemporary sprinkled tan sheepskin with the front and rear panels ruled in gilt, gilt crest of Francis Ferrand Foljambe to the foot of the spine, all edges speckled red, turn-ins stamped in black, engraved frontispiece. In very good conditionContinue reading "The Whole Art of Fishing. Being a Collection and Improvement of All That Has Been Written Upon the Subject: With Many New Experiments. Shewing the Different Ways of Angling, and the Best Methods of Taking Fresh-water Fish. To Which is Added, the Laws of Angling."

The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1776.

London : Printed for J. Dodsley, 1777.

Rare first edition, first issue of the The Annual Register for the Year 1776, a long-established reference work, written and published each year beginning in 1758 under the editorship of Edmund Burke. Octavo, bound in full brown calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to theContinue reading "The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1776."

Buchan, John

Sir Walter Scott.

London : Cassell and Company Ltd, 1932.

First edition of this comprehensive and sympathetic biography of the renowned Scottish novelist, poet, and historian Sir Walter Scott. Octavo, bound in three quarters leather over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers, frontispiece portrait of Sir Walter Scott. In near fine condition.

Kane, Elisha Kent

Arctic Explorations: The Second Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin, In the Years 1853,’54,’55.

Philadelphia : Childs and Peterson, 1856.

First edition of this firsthand account to search for the lost British explorer Sir John Franklin. Octavo, two volumes, bound in contemporary three quarters close-grain green morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispieces, separate title page vignettes,Continue reading "Arctic Explorations: The Second Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin, In the Years 1853,’54,’55."

Rousmaniere, John

A Picture History of the America’s Cup.

Connecticut : Mystic Seaport Museum Stores, 1989.

First limited edition of this history of the America’s Cup yacht racing competition from 1851 through 1988. Quarto, bound in full brown leather with gilt titles to the spine, double gilt ruling to the front panel, title page vignette photograph of the Cup, illustrated profusely with photographs of the America’s Cup taken by the RosenfeldContinue reading "A Picture History of the America’s Cup."