Fine Bindings and Sets

18th Century Catholic Antiphonal.

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Rare 18th Century Catholic antiphonal containing the Festa Februarii, Festa Martii, and Festa Aprilis. Quarto, bound in full leather, hand-written script of both music and lyrics in black and red, all edges red, ribbon bound in. In very good condition.

Smiles, Samuel

Self-Help. With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance.

London : John Murray, 1908.

Finely bound example of Smith’s best-selling work on the self-improvement; an embodiment of the ideologies of mid-Victorian liberalism. Octavo, bound in full contemporary tree calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Self-Help. With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance."

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. [Translated by Sir Richard Francis Burton]

The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus.

New York : Privately Printed for Subscribers Only, 1928.

Limited edition of The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus, translated by Sir Richard F. Burton and Leonard C. Smithers. Octavo, original boards, illustrated with eight full page plates, rebacked. One of seven hundred and fifty numbered copies, this is number 170. From the library of Oliver Craus Safir with his ownership signature and, subsequently hisContinue reading "The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus."

Homere, Veda-Vyasa, Marie de France, Burger, Hoffman, Ludwig Tieck, Ch. Dickens, Gavarni, H. Blaze

Le Pléiade. Ballads, Fabliaux, Nouvelles et Legends.

Paris : L. Curmer, 1842.

First edition of this collection which Carteret considers to be one of the most important illustrated books of the 19th century. Octavo, elaborately bound in full red morocco with elaborate gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling and stamping to the front and rear panels,Continue reading "Le Pléiade. Ballads, Fabliaux, Nouvelles et Legends."

Hemingway, Ernest

Death in the Afternoon.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1932.

First edition of early work on bullfighting. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, blind ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature of Ernest Hemingway to the front panel, frontispiece by Juan Gris, illustrated. In fine condition.

Wells, H.G

The Works of H.G. Wells Including [The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, Etc].

London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1924-27.

One of 20 sets for presentation from an overall edition of 620, this is letter e and Wells has written (Little e), signed by H.G. Wells in volume one, and additionally inscribed by Wells in volume one to his lover Elizabeth von Arnim, “To Little e H.G.” With her bookplate to all but two volumes.Continue reading "The Works of H.G. Wells Including [The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, Etc]."

Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection.

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Rare collection of illuminated paintings depicting the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Quarto, bound in full calf with gilt tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt ruling to the front and rear panels with fleuron cornerpieces surrounding a gilt-bordered morocco onlay displaying a coat of arms, patterned endpapers, twelve vellum leaves. The illuminated paintings include: theContinue reading "Illuminated Astrological Sign Symbol Painting Collection."

Hemingway, Ernest

The Torrents of Spring.

New York : Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1926.

First edition of Hemingway’s first novel, one of 1250 printed. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, double gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature of Hemingway to the front panel, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptionalContinue reading "The Torrents of Spring."

Hazlitt, William

Political Essays, with Sketches of Public Characters.

London : Printed for William Hone, 1819.

First edition of one of Hazlitt’s most interesting collections, including his estimates and reviews of Southey as Laureate, of Coleridge, Burke, and Malthus (at length). Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and ruling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers. From the library of William Safire with hisContinue reading "Political Essays, with Sketches of Public Characters."

Milton, John. Edited by Sir Egerton Brydges, Bart

The Poetical Works of John Milton.

London : Printed For Thomas Tegg, 1842.

Finely bound example of Sir Egerton Brydges’ compilation of Milton’s poetical works. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt vignettes to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, frontispiece portrait of Milton. In very goodContinue reading "The Poetical Works of John Milton."

Lodge, Edmund

Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain. Engraved From Authentic Pictures in the Galleries of the Nobility and the Public Collections of the Country. With Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Their Lives and Actions.

London : Printed for Harding and Lepard, 1835.

Finely bound set of Lodge’s Portraits of Illustrious Personages. Folio, six volumes, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, illustrated with 240 tissue-guardedContinue reading "Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain. Engraved From Authentic Pictures in the Galleries of the Nobility and the Public Collections of the Country. With Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Their Lives and Actions."

Rand, Ayn

The Fountainhead.

Indianapolis : Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1943.

First edition, first issue with first edition stated on the copyright page of the author’s first major novel, as well as her first best-seller. Octavo, original red cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “To Gertrude Lynneberg- – with my best wishes for long yearsContinue reading "The Fountainhead."

O. Henry [William Sydney Porter]

The Complete Works of O. Henry: The Manuscript Edition.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday, Page and Company, 1912.

The manuscript edition of the Works of O. Henry, limited to 125 examples. Octavo, 12 volumes, bound in original half vellum. In fine condition. The manuscript is bound into volume one. An exceptional set.

Dickens, Charles

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

London : Chapman and Hall, 1843-60.

Early printings of all five of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Books, finely bound. Octavo, 5 volumes, bound in full calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, black and green morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruled panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbledContinue reading "The Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Battle of Life; Cricket on the Hearth; The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain."

Scott, Sir Walter

Waverly Novels. [Waverley: or ‘Tis Sixty Years Since, Guy Mannering, The Antiquary, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, Kenilworth, The Pirate, The Fortunes of Nigel, Peveril of the Peak, Quentin Durward, St. Ronan’s Well, Redgauntlet, The Betrothed, Talisman, Woodstock, or, the Cavalier, Chronicles of the Canongate, The Fair Maid Of Perth, Anne of Geierstein.

Edinburgh : Adam & Charles Black, 1883.

The Centenary Edition of Sir Walter Scott’s Waverly Novels. Octavo, 12 volumes bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Robertson with burgundy morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Illustrated title page and tissue-guarded frontispiece toContinue reading "Waverly Novels. [Waverley: or ‘Tis Sixty Years Since, Guy Mannering, The Antiquary, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, Kenilworth, The Pirate, The Fortunes of Nigel, Peveril of the Peak, Quentin Durward, St. Ronan’s Well, Redgauntlet, The Betrothed, Talisman, Woodstock, or, the Cavalier, Chronicles of the Canongate, The Fair Maid Of Perth, Anne of Geierstein."

Jerrold, Douglas

A Man Made of Money.

London : Punch, 1848-49.

First edition of this work. Octavo, original, six volumes, illustrated wrappers. Illustrated with 12 engraved plates by John Leech. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Scarce in the original wrappers.

London, Jack

The Cruise of the Dazzler.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1906.

First English edition of London‘s scarcest work of fiction and his only “juvenile” novel. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with six plates.  From the library of William Safire, although not marked. William SafireContinue reading "The Cruise of the Dazzler."

Eliot, T.S

The Cocktail Party.

London : Faber & Faber, 1950.

First edition of Eliot’s most popular play published in his lifetime. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Asprey, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles. In fine condition.

Buchan, John

A History of the Great War.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1922.

Signed limited edition of Buchan’s classic work, one of 500 numbered examples. Octavo, 8 volumes. Signed by John Buchan. In near fine condition. Uncommon in this condition.

Boswell, James

The Life of Johnson.

London : Printed by Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, in The Poultry, 1791.

First edition, first issue of both volumes of the most celebrated biography in the English language, which was published on May 16, 1791 in a print run of only 1,750 copies. Quarto, bound in full morocco by Birdsall, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, inner dentelles, all edges gilt. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson, engravedContinue reading "The Life of Johnson."

a Kempis, Thomas

The Imitation of Christ.

London : Chatto & Windus, 1908.

Finely bound example of a Kempis’ classic work. Octavo, bound in morocco by Bayntun, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, gilt doublures, illustrated including color plates by Flint. Translated from the Latin by Richard Wbytford and then re-edited into modern English by Wilfrid Raynal. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Kipling, Rudyard

The Years Between.

London : Methuen and Co., Ltd., 1919.

First edition of this collection of 45 poems. Octavo, original half vellum over buckram boards with gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt with others uncut. One of only 30 copies printed on Japanese vellum. In fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise slipcase. Scarce, this title was printed in threeContinue reading "The Years Between."

Irving, Washington

The Life of George Washington.

New York : G. P. Putnam & Co., 1855-59.

First edition of Irving’s monumental biography of George Washington. Quarto, bound in half crushed red levant with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with 47 hand-colored plates including tissue-guarded frontispiece to each volume. One of one hundred and ten numbered copiesContinue reading "The Life of George Washington."

Kipling, Rudyard with Wolcott Balestier

The Naulahka: A Story of West and East.

London : William Heinemann, 1892.

First British edition of Kipling’s ambitious narrative. Octavo, original publisher’s decorative cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise slipcase.