Fine Bindings and Sets

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]."

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.