Fine Bindings and Sets

Alexander, William

Picturesque Representations and the Dress and Manners of the Chinese. Illustrated with Fifty Coloured Engravings, with Descriptions.

London : Printed for James Goodwin, c. 1829.

Finely bound example of Alexander’s profusely illustrated work on t19th century China. Octavo, original full straight-grain morocco richly decorated in gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, illustrated with fifty hand-colored engravings. In good condition. Rare.

Byron, Lord

The Works of the Right Hon. Lord Byron. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Printed for John Murray, 1815.

Finely bound collection of the works of Lord Byron. Octavo, bound in full straight grain morocco with gilt title and tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt. Decorated with a fore-edge painting of the Old Palace, Croydon. In good condition. HousedContinue reading "The Works of the Right Hon. Lord Byron. [Fore-edge Painting]."

Oliphant, Margaret

The Makers of Venice: Doges, Conquerors, Painters and Men of Letters. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Macmillan and Co, 1893.

Finely bound example of the Scottish historian’s classic work on the foundation of Venice. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles to the spine, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting, illustrated. In good condition.

Irving, Washington

Oliver Goldsmith: A Biography. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Henry G. Bohn, 1861.

Finely bound example of Goldsmith’s biography of the famed novelist. 16 mo, bound in full polished calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, decorated with a doubleContinue reading "Oliver Goldsmith: A Biography. [Fore-edge Painting]."

Sterne, Laurence

The Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy.

London : Williams and Norgate, 1910.

Finely bound example of Sterne’s popular travelogue which helped establish the genre of travel writing and Sterne as the “most eminent novelist of the period” (Baugh, 1022). Quarto, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards by Bayntun-Riviere, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in four compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt,Continue reading "The Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy."

Masson, Frederic

Josephine Repudiee.

Paris : Societe d'Editions Litteraires et Artistiques, 1901.

First edition of the third installment in Masson’s three volume biography of Empress Josephine. Imperial octavo, bound in full polished crushed levant morocco by S. David with gilt titles to the spine, gilt central emblem to the front panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top-edge gilt with others untrimmed, hand-colored frontispiece, likely extra-illustrated,Continue reading "Josephine Repudiee."

Gray, Henry

Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical. [Gray’s Anatomy].

Philadelphia : Blanchard and Lea, 1872.

Rare second edition of this influential work on Anatomy. Quarto, bound in contemporary wrappers, possibly original, illustrated with wood-engravings after the drawings by H. V. Carter. In good condition.

Paine, Thomas

The Life and Works of Thomas Paine.

New Rochelle, New York : Thomas Paine National Historical Association, 1925.

The Patriot’s edition of the Life and Works of Thomas Paine. Octavo, ten volumes bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. In good condition.

Gautier, Théophile

Mademoiselle de Maupin.

Paris : L. Conquet; G. Charpentier, 1883.

Finley bound example of Gautier’s retelling of the infamous legend of Mademoiselle de Maupin. Quarto, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Riviere & Son, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and innerContinue reading "Mademoiselle de Maupin."

Maugham, W. Somerset

Of Human Bondage.

London : William Heinemann, 1915.

First edition, first printing which includes list of other “Works” by Maugham facing half-title, plus publisher’s ad page for works by other authors on half-title verso, with the misprint on page 257, line 4 (“help”) of Maugham’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco chemise and clamshell box.Continue reading "Of Human Bondage."

Guerber, Hélène Adeline

Myths of the Norsemen From the Eddas and Sagas.

London : George G. Harrap & Company, 1909.

First edition of one of the author’s most enduring works. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant emerald green morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, frontispiece, illustrated. In good condition.

Griswold, Rufus Wilmot

The Republican Court of American Society in the Days of Washington.

New York : D. Appleton and Company, 1854.

First edition of Griswold’s account of the American Republican Court during the presidency of George Washington. Quarto, original publisher’s full morocco with gilt titles to the spine, elaborate stamping to the spine and panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated with twenty-one portraits of distinguished women including Mrs. George Washington and Mrs. Alexander Hamilton engravedContinue reading "The Republican Court of American Society in the Days of Washington."

Garcia Marquez, Gabriel

La Hojarasca.

Bogota : Ediciones- S.L.B., 1955.

First edition of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s first book. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers by artist Cecilia Porras. In very good condition. A very sharp example.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth

The Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : George Routledge & Sons, 1877.

Finely bound example of the collected poetical works of Longfellow. Octavo, bound in full contemporary crushed levant morocco with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine and panels, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting of a pastoral scene, illustrated. InContinue reading "The Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. [Fore-edge Painting]."

Macaulay, Thomas Babington

Critical and Historical Essays Contributed to the Edinburgh Review by Lord Macaulay.

London : Longmans, Green, and Co, 1878.

Finely bound new edition of the historical essays of Macaulay. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in full polished tree calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins, inner dentelles stamped in blind,Continue reading "Critical and Historical Essays Contributed to the Edinburgh Review by Lord Macaulay."

Twain, Mark. [Samuel Clemens]

The Writings of Mark Twain.

Hartford, Connecticut : The American Publishing Company, 1899-1907.

The Royal edition of the writings of Mark Twain. Octavo, 21 volumes of the original 25 bound in three quarter crushed levant morocco over marbled boards for Brentano’s  with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with many full-page illustrations, including etchings,Continue reading "The Writings of Mark Twain."

Goldsmith, Oliver

The Vicar of Wakefield.

London : J.M. Dent & Co, 1904.

First Series of English Idylls Deluxe vellum edition of one of the most popular and widely read novels among Victorians. Octavo, original publisher’s full cream vellum elaborately decorated in gilt, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, pictorial endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece and pictorial title page, illustrated with twenty-five color illustrations by C.E. Brock. In near fineContinue reading "The Vicar of Wakefield."

Goldsmith, Oliver; Edmund Burke; Sir H. Walpole; et al

A Collection of Poems, Mostly Original, by Several Hands.

Dublin : Printed for the Editor by M. Graisberry, 1789.

First edition of this rare collection of early English literature. Octavo, bound in full calf, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, ribbon bound in, illustrated with engraved vignettes, lists of subscribers. In near fine condition. An attractive binding.    

The New Whole Duty of Man, Containing the Faith as well as Practice of A Christian: Made Easy For the Practice of the Present Age, AS the Old Whole Duty of Man was design’d for those unhappy Times in which it was written: And Supplying the Articles of the Christian Faith, Which are Wanting in that Book. Though Essentially Necessary to Salvation. [Fore-Edge Painting].

London : Printed for W. Bent, 1823.

Finely bound example of this classic Protestant devotional work. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting of a maritime view, engraved frontispiece. In goodContinue reading "The New Whole Duty of Man, Containing the Faith as well as Practice of A Christian: Made Easy For the Practice of the Present Age, AS the Old Whole Duty of Man was design’d for those unhappy Times in which it was written: And Supplying the Articles of the Christian Faith, Which are Wanting in that Book. Though Essentially Necessary to Salvation. [Fore-Edge Painting]."

Goldsmith, Oliver

The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Bickers and Son, 1880.

Finely bound example of one of the most popular and widely read novels among Victorians. Octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, decorated with a fore-edge painting of Squire Thornhill visiting the Primrose family, illustrated. InContinue reading "The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale. [Fore-edge Painting]."

Burns, Robert

Poems and Songs of Robert Burns. [Fore-edge Painting]

London : George Routledge & Sons, 1867.

Finely bound example of the poetical works of Robert Burns decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt,Continue reading "Poems and Songs of Robert Burns. [Fore-edge Painting]"

Groom, Winston

Gump & Co.

Franklin Center, PA : The Franklin Library, 1995.

Signed limited first edition. Octavo, original leather, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Boldly signed by Winston Groom. In fine condition.

Browning, Robert

The Poetical Works of Robert Browning.

London : Smith, Elder. & Co, 1897.

Finely bound example of Browning’s collected poetical works. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in full polished calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait ofContinue reading "The Poetical Works of Robert Browning."

[Franklin, Benjamin]

Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America].

Paris : D. Pierres/Pissot, Pere & Fils, Libraries, 1783.

First French edition of the Constitution of the United States of America, inscribed by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin who had the translation published and personally distributed each of the 600 copies produced. Octavo, bound in one quarter calf with gilt ruling to the spine, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed byContinue reading "Constitutions des Treize Etats-Unis De L’Amerique. [Constitutions of the Thirteen United States of America]."