Fine Bindings and Sets

Holmes, Oliver Wendell

The Last Leaf. Poem. By Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Cambridge : Houghton Mifflin & Co. The Riverside Press, 1886.

First edition of Holmes’ classic poem. Folio, original publisher’s half vellum with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and panels, top edge gilt, illustrated by George Wharton Edwards and F. Hopkinson Smith. Presentation copy inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to Ulysses S. Grant’s daughter Nellie Grant, “Oliver Wendell Holmes forContinue reading "The Last Leaf. Poem. By Oliver Wendell Holmes."

Moore, Thomas

Lalla Rookh: An Oriental Romance. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Routledge, Warne, & Routledge, 1860.

Finely bound example of Moore’s famous romance. Octavo, bound in full contemporary morocco with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt ruling and gilt scroll borders to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting. In good condition. Ownership inscription.

The Book of Common Prayer and Administration to the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of The United Church of England and Ireland: Together with the Proper Lessons For Sundays and Other Holy-Days. [Double Fore-edge Painting].

Oxford : Printed at the Oxford University Press, 1863.

Finely bound Oxford University printing of the Book of Common Prayer and Administration to the Sacraments decorated with a double disappearing fore-edge painting. Small octavo, bound in full pebbled morocco with gilt titles to the spine, gilt inner dentelles, brass reinforced board edges and clasp, ribbons bound in, all edges gilt with a double disappearingContinue reading "The Book of Common Prayer and Administration to the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of The United Church of England and Ireland: Together with the Proper Lessons For Sundays and Other Holy-Days. [Double Fore-edge Painting]."

Amishah Umshei Torah, Im Haft Arot Le-Khol Ha-Shanah. [Hebrew Chumash/The Pentateuch].

Tel Aviv : Hotsa at Sinai, c. 1950.

Rare Hebrew Chumash containing the Five Books of Moses, blessings before and after the Haftarah, and accents according to the Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Italian rites. 32mo, five volumes, original cloth with gilt titles and decorations to the spine, text in Hebrew. The word chumash refers to one of the five books of the Torah, whichContinue reading "Amishah Umshei Torah, Im Haft Arot Le-Khol Ha-Shanah. [Hebrew Chumash/The Pentateuch]."

Stevenson, Robert Louis

Kidnapped: Being the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751.

London : Humphrey Milford/ Oxford University Press, 1930.

First edition of this wonderfully illustrated edition. Quarto, original cloth, slipcase, illustrated by Rowland Hilder. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. The slipcase is in near fine condition.

Shakespeare, William. Edited by John Payne Collier

The Works of William Shakespeare. The Text Formed from an Entirely New Collation of the Old Editions: with the Various Readings, Notes, A Life of the Poet, and a History of the Early English Stage.

London : Whittaker & Co, 1842-1844.

The large-type edition of Collier’s Shakespeare. Octavo, three of nine original volumes bound in three quarters morocco, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Shakespeare engraved from the Folio edition of 1623. Mixed editions. In good condition. Uncommon.

Holmes, Richard R. [Queen Victoria]

Queen Victoria.

London : Boussod, Valadon & Co, 1897.

First edition of this finely illustrated account of the life and reign of Queen Victoria compiled and edited by the librarian to the Queen, Richard Holmes. Quarto, bound in three quarter vellum over cloth-covered boards with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt tooling to the spine and panels, top edge gilt with others untrimmed,Continue reading "Queen Victoria."

Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit.

London : London: Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, bound in full calf by Root and Son, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 40 plates. In near fine condition, remnant of a bookplate to the front freeContinue reading "The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit."

Euripides; Translated by Robert Potter

The Tragedies of Euripides.

London : J. Dodsley, 1783.

First translation of Euripides into English, translated by Robert Potter, from his own library. Octavo, two volumes, bound in contemporary leather, engraved frontispiece to volume I, list of subscribers. The translator’s own copy with his inscription, “From the Library of the Rev Robert Potter, M.A., Rector of Lowestoft from 1789 to 1804” to volume one ofContinue reading "The Tragedies of Euripides."

Cambridge, Richard Owen [Benjamin Franklin]

An Account of the War in India, Between the English and French, on the Coast of Coromandel, From the Year 1760. Together with A Relation of the late Remarkable Events on the Malabar Coast, and the Expeditions to Golconda and Surat; with the Operations of the Fleet. Illustrated with Maps, Plans &c. The Whole Compiled from Original Papers.

London : Printed for T. Jefferys, 1761.

Benjamin Franklin’s first edition copy of Cambridge’s account of the progression of the Seven Years’ War in India, from Franklin’s private library. Quarto, bound in full contemporary calf, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 12 engraved maps and plans and 6 plates, mostly folding. From the private library of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s contributions to science and politicsContinue reading "An Account of the War in India, Between the English and French, on the Coast of Coromandel, From the Year 1760. Together with A Relation of the late Remarkable Events on the Malabar Coast, and the Expeditions to Golconda and Surat; with the Operations of the Fleet. Illustrated with Maps, Plans &c. The Whole Compiled from Original Papers."

Hayley, William

The Triumphs of Temper; A Poem: In Six Cantos.

London : Printed For T. Cadell, 1788.

Finely bound sixth edition of Hayley’s popular work. 16mo, bound in full contemporary calf, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt-ruled turn ins, marbled endpapers, illustrated with fine engraved plates by Stothard. Elegant period ownership inscriptions.

Guizot, M

L’Histoire De France Depuis Les Temps Les Recules Jusqu’en 1789 Racontee A Mes Petits-Enfants Par Ms. Guizot. [The History of France From The Earliest Times To The Year 1789. Related For The Rising Generation by M. Guizot].

Paris : Librairie Hachette, 1872-1876.

First edition of Guizot’s history of France, continued by Madame Guizot de Witt from her father’s notes. Quarto, 5 volumes bound in three quarter crushed red morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, ribbons bound in,Continue reading "L’Histoire De France Depuis Les Temps Les Recules Jusqu’en 1789 Racontee A Mes Petits-Enfants Par Ms. Guizot. [The History of France From The Earliest Times To The Year 1789. Related For The Rising Generation by M. Guizot]."

Gunther, John

Death Be Not Proud.

London : Hamish Hamilton, 1949.

First British edition of this deeply moving book, a father’s memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy, bound for the author. Octavo, bound by the author in full morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. InContinue reading "Death Be Not Proud."

Churchill, Winston S

Ian Hamilton’s March.

London : Longman's, Green, and Co, 1900.

First edition of Churchill’s fifth book, a continuation of his coverage of the Boer War which he began in London to Ladysmith via Pretoria. Octavo, original red cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, engraved frontispiece portrait of Ian Hamilton, folding map in color and 4 pages of advertisements for Churchill’s worksContinue reading "Ian Hamilton’s March."

Ellis, George Agar

The True History of the State Prisoner, Commonly Called The Iron Mask, Extracted from Documents in the French Archives.

London : John Murray, 1826.

First edition of this early account of the French legend, later retold by Alexandre Dumas in The Man in the Iron Mask. Octavo, bound in three quarter contemporary straight grain morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, all edges marbled. In very good condition. An attractive 19th century binding.

Dayout, Armand. [Napoleon Bonaparte]

Napoleon: Raconte Par L’Image D’Apres Les Sculpteurs, les Graveurs et Les Peintres.

Paris : Librairie Hachette, 1895.

First edition of one of the richest Napoleonic iconographies published. Folio, original publisher’s full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, large gilt central insignia to the front panel, all edges gilt, watered silk endleaves, ribbon bound in, illustrated with hundreds of tissue-guarded chromolithographs. In near fine condition.

Dickens, Charles

Dombey and Son.

London : Bradbury and Evans, 1848.

First edition in of Dickens’ novel of “Pride,” with 40 etchings by Hablôt Knight Browne (“Phiz”). Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. With 40 engraved plates including frontispiece and engraved title by H. K. Browne. In near fine condition.

Tarkington, Booth

Monsieur Beaucaire.

New York : McClure, Philips, 1900.

First edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s second novel, basis for the classic 1946 film starring Bob Hope. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author, “And live men are just names! said M. Beaucaire.” Booth Tarkington. For Miss Carmel Myers.” In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise box.

Bossut, John

A General History of Mathematics From the Earliest Times, to the Middle of the Eighteenth Century.

London : Printed for J. Johnson, 1803.

First edition in English of Bossut’s fundamental history of mathematics. Octavo, bound in full contemporary polished diced calf with gilt tooling to the spine, black morocco spine label lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, marbled endpapers and all edges marbled, ribbon bound in. Translated from the French by JohnContinue reading "A General History of Mathematics From the Earliest Times, to the Middle of the Eighteenth Century."

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Autograph Centenary Edition.

Cambridge : Printed at the Riverside Press, 1903.

The Autograph Centenary edition of Emerson’s complete works with an autograph manuscript in his hand and with his notations tipped in. One of six hundred copies additionally signed by the publisher, this is number 576. Octavo, 12 volumes bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments withinContinue reading "The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Autograph Centenary Edition."

Smith, Adam

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.

London : A. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1799.

Early edition of Adam Smith’s magnum opus and cornerstone of economic thought. Octavo, 3 volumes, bound in full calf, gilt titles to the spine, morocco spine labels. In near fine condition, rebacked. An exceptional set of this classic work.

Scott, John

The Poetical Works of John Scott Esq.

London : Printed for J. Buckland, 1782.

First edition of John Scott’s collected poems. Octavo, bound in full mottled calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with 14 engravings including 2 by William Blake, engraved frontispiece and pictorial title page, rebacked. In very goodContinue reading "The Poetical Works of John Scott Esq."

Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition of one of Dickens’ most popular novels. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling, raised bands, morocco spine labels, top edge gilt, with the steel-engraved frontispiece portrait of Dickens in the first state, first four plates in later state without imprint, page 123 with “sister” (2d state) & page 160Continue reading "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby."

Shakespeare, William; John Dryden; William Congreve; et al

Tragedies and Comedies of the Great English Playwrights.

London : Various Publishers, c.1730-1760.

Finely bound sammelband collection of comedies and tragedies by early English playwrights including William Shakespeare, John Dryden, and William Congreve. Octavo, 43 volumes bound into 7 in half contemporary calf over marbled boards with burgundy morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, numerous engraved frontispieces, headpieces, tailpieces and illustrations. In very good condition. A very uniqueContinue reading "Tragedies and Comedies of the Great English Playwrights."