Fine Bindings and Sets

Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible.

Ethiopia C. 18th Century.

Rare illustrated Ethiopian Coptic Ge’ez Bible. Small octavo, bound in full leather, parchment manuscript in black and red ink, illustrated with full-page hand-painted miniatures. Some writings and aged hand-stitched repairs throughout. Housed in the original leather chemise case with leather carrying handle,

Galilei, Galileo. Translated by Matthias Berneger

Systema Cosmicum, Authore Galilaeo Galilaei… in quo Quatuor Dialogis, de Duobus Maximus Mundi Systematibus, Ptolemaico & Copernicano. [Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems].

Strassburg : Impensis Elzeviriorum, Typis Davidis Hautti, 1635.

First Latin edition of the Dialogo, the summation of Galileo’s astronomical thought and the work which directly precipitated his 1663 trial and judgement for heresy. Preceded only by the first Italian edition, published in Florence in 1632. Quarto, bound in full red Jansenist morocco by Marius Michel with gilt titles and five raised bands toContinue reading "Systema Cosmicum, Authore Galilaeo Galilaei… in quo Quatuor Dialogis, de Duobus Maximus Mundi Systematibus, Ptolemaico & Copernicano. [Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems]."

Arendt, Hannah

The Works of Hannah Arendt. Including [The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Human Condition, Between Past and Future, On Revolution, Eichmann in Jerusalem, Men In Dark Times, On Revolution].

New York .

First editions of the works of Hannah Arendt. Octavo, 7 volumes, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.Continue reading "The Works of Hannah Arendt. Including [The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Human Condition, Between Past and Future, On Revolution, Eichmann in Jerusalem, Men In Dark Times, On Revolution]."

Edwards, Jonathan

Historisch Verhaal: An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend David Brainerd.

The Netherlands : T'Utrecht, 1756.

Early example of “one of America’s most important and original philosophical theologians” American theologian Jonathan Edwards’ biography of Reverend David Brainerd. Title reads in full: An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend Mr. David Brainerd, Missionary to the Indians, from the Honorable Society in Scotland, for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, and PastorContinue reading "Historisch Verhaal: An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend David Brainerd."

Dickens, Charles

Hard Times. For These Times.

London : Bradbury & Evans, 1854.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ attack on the living conditions of England’s mid-19th century industrial cities. Octavo, bound in full calf by Sangorski & Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge marbled, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. Original cloth covers boundContinue reading "Hard Times. For These Times."

Dickens, Charles

Our Mutual Friend.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1865.

First edition of this classic novel that explores effects of capitalism and the arbitrary nature of social hierarchy. Octavo, bound in full polished calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turnins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece, engraved vignette titles, illustrations done by MarcusContinue reading "Our Mutual Friend."

Kipling, Rudyard. Illustrated by J. Lockwood Kipling and W.H. Drake

The Jungle Books.

London : Macmillan, c. 1960.

Finely bound edition of both volumes of Kipling’s Jungle Books. Octavo, bound in full leather with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Illustrated by J. Lockwood Kipling, C.I.E., and W.H. Drake. In near fine condition. An exceptionalContinue reading "The Jungle Books."

Dickens, Charles

The Personal History of David Copperfield.

London : Bradbury and Evans, 1850.

First edition of “the most perfect of all the Dickens novels” (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, bound in full polished calf by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turnins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece, engraved vignette titles. Illustrated with 38Continue reading "The Personal History of David Copperfield."

Dickens, Charles

Oliver Twist.

London : Bradbury & Evans, Whitefriars, 1846.

First single volume edition of “the most perfect of all the Dickens novels” (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, bound in full polished calf by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. With black and white illustrationsContinue reading "Oliver Twist."

Twain, Mark. [Samuel L. Clemens]

The Writings of Mark Twain.

New York and London : Harper & Brothers, 1929.

The Stormfield limited edition of Twain’s writings. Including his autobiography, as well as a biography by Albert Bigelow Paine. Octavo, 37 volumes, bound in three-quarter morocco by Bayntun with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispieces, illustrated with black and whiteContinue reading "The Writings of Mark Twain."

MacKay, Charles

Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.

London : Richard Bentley, 1841.

First edition of this classic study of crowd psychology, a compilation of human folly throughout the ages. Octavo, three volumes, bound in three-quarters half crushed green morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within gilt raised bands, double gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, greenContinue reading "Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds."

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 full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within gilt raised bands, ruled borders to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, original red silk ribbon, top stain red, illustrated with in-line andContinue reading "The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy."

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

The Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, Flappers and Philosophers, Tales of the Jazz Age, The Beautiful and Damned, The Vegetable, The Great Gatsby, All the Sad Young Men, Taps at Reveille, Tender is the Night, The Last Tycoon.

New York : Charles Scribners, 1920-1941.

First edition, first printings of each of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works. Octavo, 10 volumes, bound by full green morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, twin rule to turn ins, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. F. Scott FitzgeraldContinue reading "The Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, Flappers and Philosophers, Tales of the Jazz Age, The Beautiful and Damned, The Vegetable, The Great Gatsby, All the Sad Young Men, Taps at Reveille, Tender is the Night, The Last Tycoon."

The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testament. Newly translated out of the originall tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties speciall Command.

London 1672.

Rare 1672 edition of the King James version of the Holy Bible with Geneva Bible notes. Folio, bound in early purple straight-grain morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within double raised gilt bands, gilt ruling and scrolling to the panels, gilt-ruled turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, textContinue reading "The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testament. Newly translated out of the originall tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his Majesties speciall Command."

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques

Principes Du Droit Politique. [Du Contrat Social].

Amsterdam : Marc Michel Rey, 1762.

Rare first edition, type B, of Rousseau‘s greatest work. Octavo, bound in full contemporary sheepskin, gilt tooling to the spine in eight compartments within raised bands, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, stamped turn-ins, marbled endpapers, engraved vignette of Liberty to the title page by Boily after Bolomey, all edges red, ribbon bound in.Continue reading "Principes Du Droit Politique. [Du Contrat Social]."

Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition, first issue in book form of one of Dickens’ most popular novels. Octavo, bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, with 39 engraved plates by Phiz, frontispiece portrait of Dickens. First issue withContinue reading "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby."

Carne, John

Syria, The Holy Land, Asia Minor, &c.

London, Paris, & New York : Fisher, Son, & Co, n.d.

Early printing of Carne’s collection of views of Syria, The Holy Land, Asia Minor. Quarto, bound in full elaborately blind-stamped morocco with gilt titles to the spine, gilt central vignette to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, illustrated with a series of views drawn from nature by W.H. Bartlett and William Purser. InContinue reading "Syria, The Holy Land, Asia Minor, &c."

Dickens, Charles

Sketches By Boz.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition of the new edition of one of Dickens’ collection of short pieces. Octavo, bound in full red calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, with forty illustrations by George Cruikshank. In near fine condition.Continue reading "Sketches By Boz."

Edwards, Jonathan

A History of the Work of Redemption.

Boston : Draper & Folsom, 1782.

First edition of this theological work. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands. In good condition with rubbing to the extremities and back panel, toning throughout. Ownership signature to the front pastedown.

Columbus, Christopher

The Spanish Letter of Columbus to Luis de Sant’ Angel: Escribano de Racion of the Kingdom of Aragon Dated 15 February 1493.

London : Bernard Quaritch, 1891.

First edition of the facsimile edition of Christopher Columbus’ letter to Luis de Santángel about his initial voyage to the Americas. Folio, half morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, folding facsimile of letters at center. In very good condition, rebacked. An exceptional example, rare in this condition.

Caro, Robert A

The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path To Power, Means of Ascent, Master of the Senate, The Passage of Power.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1982-2012.

First editions of each volume in Robert A Caro’s ground-breaking biography of President Lyndon Johnson, each signed or inscribed by Caro. Octavo, original publisher’s gilt-lettered cloth, illustrated with numerous photographs and maps. The Path To Power [1982] is a presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Joel – Precious friend. RobertContinue reading "The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path To Power, Means of Ascent, Master of the Senate, The Passage of Power."

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

F. Scott Fitzgerald Collector’s Edition Set. Including: The Great Gatsby, Beautiful and Damned, Babylon Revisited, Last Tycoon, Tales of the Jazz Age, This Side of Paradise, Tender is the Night

Norwalk, Connecticut : The Easton Press, 1991.

First collector’s edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works by The Easton Press. Royal octavo, seven volumes, elaborately bound in full leather with various colors and designs with gilt titles to the spine in 5-9 compartments within raised gilt bands, all edges gilt, watered silk moire endpapers, silk bookmarks, frontispieces. Illustrations by Frank Mayo, Mario Stasolla,Continue reading "F. Scott Fitzgerald Collector’s Edition Set. Including: The Great Gatsby, Beautiful and Damned, Babylon Revisited, Last Tycoon, Tales of the Jazz Age, This Side of Paradise, Tender is the Night"

le Carre, John

[The Karla Trilogy]: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy; Smiley’s People

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1974-1979.

First editions of each title in the author’s acclaimed Karla Trilogy. Octavo, three volumes, original cloth. From the library of English writer, editor, and broadcaster Edward Anthony Thompson, also known as Anthony Lejeune. Anthony Lejeune was known for his weekly radio talk London Letter that was broadcast in South Africa for nearly 30 years andContinue reading "[The Karla Trilogy]: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy; Smiley’s People"

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques

A Treatise on the Social Compact: or The Principles of Politic Law.

London : Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, in the Strand, 1764.

First edition in English of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s magnum opus; a seminal treatise on political philosophy and precursor of the French revolution. Twelvemo, bound in full contemporary calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, triple gilt ruling to the front andContinue reading "A Treatise on the Social Compact: or The Principles of Politic Law."