Fine Bindings and Sets

Fitzgerald, Edward. With illustrations by Edmund Dulac

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, c. 1910.

Exceptionally rare bound in jewelled binding, set with 37 jewels by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Quarto, reproduced from a manuscript illuminated by F. Sangorski  G. & Sutcliffe, with miniatures after E. Geddes, original red straight-grained morocco, upper cover with central sunken oval green morocco panel and a Peacock with light green, blue, white, and brown moroccoContinue reading "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam."

Joyce, James

Ulysses.

London : Published for the Egoist Press by John Rodker, 1922.

First English edition of Joyce’s masterpiece, limited to 2,000 copies. Thick quarto, bound in three quarters green morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine, printed from the original plates in Dijon. One of 2,000 numbered copies printed on handmade paper, this is number 1528. Of the 2,000 copies printed 500 were sentContinue reading "Ulysses."

Hopkins, Samuel [Jonathan Edwards]

The Life and Character of the Late Reverend, Learned, and Pious Mr. Jonathan Edwards, President of the College of New-Jersey. Together with Extracts From His Private Writings & Diary, and Also Seventeen Select Sermons on Various Important Subjects.

Northampton : Andrew Wright for S. & E. Butler, 1804.

Finely bound edition of this biographical account of Jonathan Edwards’ life, ministry, and theological contributions. Octodecimo, bound in full calf with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labels. In very good condition with light rubbing and toning, annotations from the previous owner in the margins toContinue reading "The Life and Character of the Late Reverend, Learned, and Pious Mr. Jonathan Edwards, President of the College of New-Jersey. Together with Extracts From His Private Writings & Diary, and Also Seventeen Select Sermons on Various Important Subjects."

Stadius, Joannes. [Edmond Halley]

Ephemeris Anno Christi 1554.

Cologne : Apud haeredes Arnoldi Birckmanni, 1570.

Edmond Halley’s sixteenth-century copy of Flemish mathematician Joannes Stadius’ widely consulted astronomical almanac, first published in 1554. Quarto, bound in full English calf with an elaborate gilt lozenge to the center of each panel, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, printer’s device to the title page. From theContinue reading "Ephemeris Anno Christi 1554."

Fleming, Ian; Angus Wilson; Edith Sitwell; Cyril Connolly; Patrick Leigh Fermor; Evelyn Waugh; Christopher Sykes; W.H. Auden [Larry Hughes]

The Seven Deadly Sins.

New York : William Morrow and Company, 1962.

First edition of this anthology introduced by Ian Fleming. Octavo, bound in three quarters green morocco over green cloth covered boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, title page vignette, illustrated decorations forContinue reading "The Seven Deadly Sins."

Kean, Thomas H. and Lee H. Hamilton [Alvin S. Felzenberg]

Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission.

Norwalk, Connecticut : The Easton Press, 2006.

Signed limited first edition of the Easton Press edition of this work by the co-chairmen of the 9/11 Commission. Octavo, original black leather with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, silk moiré endpapers, silk ribbon bound in,Continue reading "Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission."

Dickens, Charles

The Christmas Books: The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain.

London : Chapman and Hall/Bradbury & Evans, 1845-1848.

First editions of the four final novellas in Charles Dickens’ Christmas Book series. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panels, all edges gilt, frontispiece, title page vignettes. The set contains: First edition, second issue of The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old YearContinue reading "The Christmas Books: The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain."

Newton, Sir Isaac

The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended.

London : Printed for J. Tonson in the Strand, and J. Osborn and T. Longman in Pater-noster Row, 1728.

First edition of Newton’s ambitious attempt to reconstruct and rationalize the timelines of ancient history. Quarto, bound in full contemporary Cambridge calf, ruled and tooled in blind with speckled panels, gilt turn-ins, ordinary paper issue, illustrated with 3 folding engravings. From the library of Harvard University professor Owen Gingerich. Owen Gingerich (1930–2023) was an AmericanContinue reading "The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended."

The Holy Bible, Conteining the Old Testament and the New. Newly Translated out ot the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translation diligently compared and revised By his Majesties Special commandement. Appointed to be read in Churches.

Imprinted at London : Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie, 1613 [-1612].

Exceptionally rare 1613 printing of Robert Barker’s Geneva Bible. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf with elaborate gilt decorations to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling and panelling to the front and rear panels with flueron cornerpieces, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, ribbon bound in. Two title pages withinContinue reading "The Holy Bible, Conteining the Old Testament and the New. Newly Translated out ot the Originall Tongues: and with the former Translation diligently compared and revised By his Majesties Special commandement. Appointed to be read in Churches."

Halley, Edmond [Philip Schuyler]

Astronomical Tables with Precepts both in English and Latin for Computing the Places of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Comets.

London : Printed for William Innys in Pater-noster Row, 1752.

First edition in English of Halley’s classic work, from the library of American Revolutionary War General Philip Schuyler and subsequently Harvard University professor Owen Gingerich. Quarto, bound in full polished calf, rebacked, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, rebacked, gilt ruling to theContinue reading "Astronomical Tables with Precepts both in English and Latin for Computing the Places of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and Comets."

Greene, Graham

Brighton Rock.

London : William Heinemann LTD, 1938.

First British edition of Greene’s chilling expose of violence and gang warfare in the pre-war underworld is a classic of its kind. Octavo, bound in half goatskin over cloth boards with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels. In near fine condition.

de Balzac, Honoré [Czar Alexander II]

La Dernière Incarnation de Vautrin. [The Last Incarnation of Vautrin].

Paris : Chez Louis Chlendowski, 1848.

Finely bound edition of the final volume of ‘La Comédie Humaine’, from the library of Czar Alexander II of Russia. Octavo, three volumes bound in half crushed morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and ruling to the spines in five compartments. In very condition with some rubbing to the spines and bookplates to theContinue reading "La Dernière Incarnation de Vautrin. [The Last Incarnation of Vautrin]."

Disney, Walt; Ward Greene

Lady and the Tramp: The Story of Two Dogs.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1953.

First edition of this classic work, basis for the Walt Disney film. Octavo, 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 panels, gilt illustration to the front panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed byContinue reading "Lady and the Tramp: The Story of Two Dogs."

Dickens, Charles

Little Dorrit.

London : Bradbury and Evans, 1857.

First edition, first issue in book form of one of Dickens’ most outstanding novels with the three line errata on page xiv, “William” for “Frederick” on page 317 line 27, B2 instead of BB2 on pp. 371, lacking errata on page 467, and “Rigaud” for “Blandois” on pp. 469, 470, 472, and 473. Octavo, bound inContinue reading "Little Dorrit."

Smith, William

A Concise Dictionary of the Bible, For the Use of Families and Students.

London : John Murray, 1865.

First edition of Smith’s Concise Dictionary of the Bible. Octavo, bound in full dark green leather with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt inner dentelles, all edges gilt, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour on the front flyleaf, “John Hewy Havadine, with all goodContinue reading "A Concise Dictionary of the Bible, For the Use of Families and Students."

Schedel, Hartmann

Liber Chronicarum. [The Nuremberg Chronicle].

Nuremberg : Anton Koberger for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, 1493.

First edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle, the most extensively illustrated book of the 15th century, from the St. Petersburg library of William Tooke. Imperial folio, bound in three quarter calf over paper-covered boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, five gilt-tooled raised bands, rebacked, decorated with 1809 woodcut illustrationsContinue reading "Liber Chronicarum. [The Nuremberg Chronicle]."

[Burnet, Gilbert]; Collected out of Mezeray, Thuanus, and other approved Authors

A Relation of the Barbarous and Bloody Massacre of About an Hundred Thousand Protestants, Begun at Paris, and Carried on Over All France by the Papists, in the Year 1572.

London : Printed for Richard Chiswel, 1678.

First edition of this seventeenth-century Protestant account of the 1572 St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Small octavo, bound in full red morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, gilt turn-ins and innerContinue reading "A Relation of the Barbarous and Bloody Massacre of About an Hundred Thousand Protestants, Begun at Paris, and Carried on Over All France by the Papists, in the Year 1572."

Steinbeck, John

East of Eden.

New York : The Viking Press, 1952.

First edition of Steinbeck’s epic and moving story of a modern Cain and Abel. Octavo, 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 panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbledContinue reading "East of Eden."

Irving, Washington [William T. Sherman]

A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada: From the MSS. of Fray Antonio Agapida.

Paris : Baudry's European Library, 1842.

General William T. Sherman’s copy of this romanticized historical narrative. Octavo, bound in full dark green calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, all edges gilt, turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers. Full page autograph inscription in pencil by United States General William T. Sherman on the versoContinue reading "A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada: From the MSS. of Fray Antonio Agapida."

Translated by Rabbi Isidore Epstein

The Babylonian Talmud.

London : The Soncino Press, 1935-1952.

First complete English translation and first Soncino edition of the Babylonian Talmud, a revered and significant work of Jewish scholarship. Octavo, 52 volumes in the original publisher’s deluxe full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and raised bands to the spine, gilt Soncino Press insignia to each front panel, gilt-ruled turn-ins and inner dentelles, top edgeContinue reading "The Babylonian Talmud."