Antique & Collectible Books

1780 1ed Electricity Experiments by Pierre Bertholon Lightning Benjamin Franklin

Pierre Bertholon was an 18th-century French physicist who is best remembered for his studies and experiments on electricity. These experiments were first published in 1780, most of which were directly related to human health and anatomy. Notably, Bertholon was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin with whom he collaborated on his experiments of the lightning rod!
Item number: #9874
Price: $599
BERTHOLON, Pierre
De l'électricité du corps humain dans l'état de santé et de maladie ; ouvrage couronné par l'Académie de Lyon, dans lequel on traite de l'électricité de l'atmosphere, de son influence & de ses effets sur l'économie animale. &c &c.
A Lyon : chez Bernuset, rue Merciere. M DCC LXXX. [1780]. First edition.

Details:
·
Collation: Complete with all pages
o [5], vi-xi, [2], 2-541, [3]
· Provenance: Armorial Bookplate – Château des Ormes
o The Château des Ormes, located on the banks… Read More

1611 1st ed Huguenot Mornay Mystery of Iniquity Pope Paul ANTICHRIST Hobbes RARE

Philippe de Mornay was a 16th-century French Protestant author who published anti-Catholic and anti-Papacy treatises. As a Huguenot apologist, Mornay wrote 'The Mystery of the Iniquity' which was an attack on the papacy highlighting the Pope's abuse of power within the Catholic Church. Mornay follows the progression of the abuse of papal powers beginning in the Middle Ages. Mornay draws comparisons between Pope Paul V and the Antichrist, calling him the 'Caligula' of the Catholic Church!
Following the release of this book, Mornay was immediately condemned by the Catholic Church and Cardinal Richelieu who called this work 'a detestable book'. By 1621, any known copies still found in Saumur were gathered and burned at Saumur Castle once Mornay finally left his post as governor.
This book was known to heavily influence Thomas Hobbes who borrowed historical details from Mornay. (Collins)

Item number: #11609
Price: $950… Read More

1810 Confucius Small Learning Classic Kanbun Philosophy Japanese Woodblock Print

An interesting Edo woodblock-print of 'Small Learning' being a piece of Confucian literature derived from one of China's Classics 'Great Learning' meant to teach children in primary school as preparation for university and becoming a leader in society. It pulls on the 'Great Learning' text to further teach the philosophical principles of the importance of knowledge, all things being connected to self, morality, relationships in the home and state, and the importance of respect and hard work, arguing that those who don't have knowledge were lazy instead of inept.
These 4 volumes are written in column handwritten format made in the traditional way, using folded rice-paper and in a fukuro-touji (string) binding with furigana usage for easier reading in Kanbun form.

Item number: #12854
Price: $550
GOTO Shibayama
Small Learning (shōgaku kutō) 小學句讀(しょうがくくとう)
[Edo:] 上町南革屋町(浪華) :… Read More

1873 Japanese Samurai Battle Hokusetsu Utagawa Color Illustrated Woodblock Print

An interesting Meiji woodblock-print of the classic novel 'Hokusetsu Bidan Jidai Kagami,' which was serialized from the Edo period for 30 years with 48 volumes written in Hiragana drawn by Utagawa Kunisada II and intended for a popular audience. The most dominant and influential movement of nineteenth century Japanese woodcut art was the Utagawa School. Throughout the century, Utagawa School artists were particularly adept at actor portrayals, genre depictions and scenes from mythology and folklore. The designs of Kunisada and Kunisada II influenced an entire generation of European artists including Toulouse-Lautrec, Whistler, Vuillard, Bonnard and many others.

This rare edition is written in a column handwritten format. This edition contains excellent illustrations throughout of different scenes from 'Hokusetsu' of samurai, battles, courtesans, demon and Tengu masks, and more!

Item number: #12883
Price: $499
TANEKAZU,… Read More

1872 Great Industries of US Gold Rush Railroad Industrial Revolution Illustrated

Horace Greeley was the founder and editor of the New York Tribune in the 19th century. Robert William's goes so far as to say that Greeley was "probably the best-known American public figure of his day." Greeley in tandem with several authors wrote the book "Great Industries of the United States" as a compendium of illustrated history of the industries in the US including steam engines, sewing and textiles, organ making, arms making, Gold washing in California, railroads, telegraphs, and much more!
This 1872 1st edition published by Burr & Hyde includes over 500 black and white illustrations!
Item number: #13346
Price: $399
GREELEY, Horace, etc…
The great industries of the United States: being an historical summary of the origin, growth, and perfection of the chief industrial arts of this country
Hartford: J.B. Burr & Hyde.: Chicago and Cincinnati: J.B. Burr, Hyde & Co., 1872. First Edition.
Details:

·… Read More

1873 1ed David Livingstone Lost & Found AFRICA Missionary Voyages Tyler Stanley

"If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."
― David Livingstone

David Livingstone was a Scottish medical missionary with the London Missionary Society, an explorer in Africa, and one of the most popular British heroes of the late-19th-century in the Victorian era. Author Josiah Tyler published an important account of Livingstone and Henry Stanley in Africa entitled "Livingstone Lost and Found". In this book, Tyler provides a complete account of Africa, the local tribes and people, local customs, missionary voyages, diamond and gold mining, and much more.
Item number: #16105
Price: $499
TYLER, Josiah
Livingstone lost and found; or, Africa and its explorers ... With a comprehensive biographical sketch of Dr. David Livingstone ... and a most interesting account of his discovery by the American expedition, in command of… Read More

1862 Japanese Woodblock Print Shaka Hasso Demon Boar Samurai Color Illustrated

A rare, 19th-century Japanese woodblock print of 'Shaka Hassou Yamato Bunko." "Shaka Hassou Yamato Bunko" is a biography of Buddha written by Mantei Oga and illustrated by Ichiyousai Toyokuni. Buddhism originated in Northern India, or present-day Nepal where the historical Buddha (Prince Siddhartha, Gautama Buddha), was born and lived. When Buddhism arrived in Japan, Siddhartha became known in Japan as Shaka or Shakamuni. Stories of Shaka's life were commonly told through selecting eight events to represent his life. This 'Shaka Hassou,' was aimed at the general populace, using the "eight phases" as a device to teach the important points of Shaka's life as well as a means of entertainment.
This rare 1862 edition is written in the typical handwritten column format with illustrations of animals, battles, samurai, courtesans, demon boar, and more!
Item number: #16879
Price: $499
Mantei Oga
(Story of the Eight Phases of Shaka)… Read More

1843 INDIANS 1ed History of Backwoods Ohio Shawnee French Indian War Frontier
"One of the best compilations of frontier narratives!" (Howes)
A.W. Patterson's "History of the Backwoods" is a rare, 19th-century account of frontier life in the American west. This book covers some of the earliest settlements in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Though, perhaps the best resource this book offers is the numerous accounts of interactions with Native American Indian tribes – tribes including the Massawomees, the Allegawe, Delawares, and Shawnees. Patterson also covers major battles in the French and Indian War.
Thomson says of this work:
"a rare book of Western History…a perfectly reliable narrative of events in the West arranged chronologically from the earliest discoveries of the French to Wayne's victory."
Item number: #17854
Price: $950
PATTERSON, A.W.
History of the backwoods, or, The region of the Ohio : authentic, from the earliest accounts, embracing many events, notices of prominent pioneers,… Read More

1881 Jesse James 1ed Frank Younger Gang Missouri Outlaw Bank Robbers Illustrated

Jesse James was one of the most infamous American outlaws of the 19th-century. A native of Missouri, James was a member of the James-Younger Gang, a mob known for their bank and train robberies. 'The Border Outlaws' is a late 19th-century book covering the history of the James-Younger crimes by James Buel, published 'instantly' after the death of Jesse James. It combines two volumes "Border Outlaws" and the "Border Bandits" to tell the infamous story of America's most infamous outlaws. It features 23 engraved illustrations in the first volume and 13 in the second, some of which are in color.
Item number: #18827
Price: $550
BUEL, James W
The Border Outlaws. An authentic and thrilling history of the most noted bandits of ancient or modern times, The Younger Brothers, Jesse and Frank James, and their comrades in crime. Compiled from reliable sources only and containing the latest facts in regard to these celebrated… Read More

1677 PURITAN 1ed Bramhall Hobbes Scottish Schism Papacy Sabbath Dublin Ireland
John Bramhall was a 17th-century Anglican theologian who, curiously, defended the Church of England from Protestants and Catholics alike and vehemently attacked those who were opposed to the Church, regardless of their religious views.
This 1677 Tooke edition of the works of Bramhall was published in Dublin and includes his Discourses – treatises on Scottish disciplines, responses to use of military, defense of freedoms and liberty, and controversies surrounding the Sabbath.

Item number: #19774
Price: $950
BRAMHALL, John
The works of the Most Reverend Father in God, John Bramhall
Dublin : Printed by Benjamin Tooke, 1677. First Tooke edition.

Details:

· Collation: Complete with all pages
o [60], 1050 (i.e. 1048), [4]
· Provenance: Armorial bookplate – Charles Long
o
Charles Long, 1st Baron Farnborough (1760–1838) was an English politician and connoisseur of the arts. Long was a friend of William… Read More

1824 1ed Arctic Exploration Private Journal of Lyon Eskimos Illustrated + MAP

George Francis Lyon was a 19th-century British naval officer who made his name keeping journals on his African and Arctic voyages. His private journals, particularly of his Arctic exploration with William Parry, became highly influential to later expeditions to those seeking the Northwest Passage encountering Eskimo Indians.
According to Field,
"Almost the entire volume is devoted to the narration of the peculiarities of the Aborigines of the Arctic regions. Captain Lyon's curiosity led him to observe with great attention, the habits of life, and traits of character of the different tribes of Esquimaux, which his humanity, and good management attracted to his winter quarters. They built their villages near his ships, and permitted a closer familiarity, than any other of the Arctic voyagers was able to attain. His narrative, therefore, abounds with incidents of their intercourse, and curious anecdotes of Esquimaux life."… Read More

Author: Unknown.Title: Réglement de la Confrerie de l'Adoration Perpétuelle du S. Sacrement et de la Bonne Mort. Erigée dans l'Eglise Paroissiale de Ville-Marie, en l'Isle de Montréal, en Canada. Nouvelle Edition...Language: Text in French.Publisher: Montréal, F. Mesplet & C. Berger, 1776. Casey, Catalogue of Pamphlets 1536; Dionne 18; Lande, Rare Canadiana 153 ("considered the first Canadian imprint in Montreal"); Tremaine 231. An earlier edition of this work is believed to have been prepared by Mesplet in Philadelphia. He had emigrated to America on the advice of Franklin, and had moved from Philadelphia to Montreal in 1776 when commissioned by the Continental Congress to accompany Franklin, Chase and Carroll for the purpose of establishing a French press.Size: 5.5 "X 4 ".Pages: 40 pages.Binding: Attractive and good original boards, covered in figured wallpaper (spine worn but hinges still tight, overall worn and scuffed - as shown) in a quarter morocco leather cover with a nice ex-libris of… Read More

Thomas D. Cutler, 1920. Hardcover. Good. 12 bound issues of The Ice cream Journal, January - December, 1920. The official organ of many ice cream trade associations. Includes numerous technical articles, equipment reviews, formulae, processes, machinery reviews, photos, illustrated ads and more. Sample articles include: Interior Finish of Ice Storages, The Examination of Gelatine, Increasing Solids Other Than Fats in Ice Cream, Proportioning Ice Cream Batches, Sugar as a Stimulant, The Manufacture of Pure Food Gelatine, Ice Storage House Construction and Operation, Corn Sugar and Corn Syrup for Better Ice Cream, The Manufacture of Butter, Standards for Sweetened Condensed Milk, The Laboratory in the Ice Cream Plant, Ice Cream Formulas for the Factory, The Layout of an Ice Cream Plant, An Epidemic of Ropy Milk, Honey in Ice Cream, Formulas Using Sweetened Condensed Milk, Formula Using Butterfat Milk Powder, New Sealright Can Filler, What We Have Learned in Ten Years About Hardening Rooms and… Read More

1891 1ed Schliemann Excavations Archaeology Greek Mycenae Agamemnon Hissarlik

A rare first edition printing of the biographical and historical treatise, 'Schliemann's Excavations' by Carl Schuchhardt. Heinrich Schliemann was a famous German archaeologist with numerous monumental discoveries across his vast body of work, primarily related to the Bronze Age of Greece. Notably his excavational work at the Mycenae where the famous Shaft Graves were discovered along with the burial "Mask of Agamemnon." Further, he and Dr. Wilhelm Dorpfeld excavated Hissarlik, the location of ancient Troy.

Schliemann would pass away during the translation of this work thus additional biographical notes would be included prior to the formal English publishing in 1891.

Item number: #21639
Price: $499

SCHUCHHARDT, Carl

Schliemann's Excavations: An Archaeological and Historical Study…with an Appendix on the Recent Discoveries at Hissarlik by Dr. Schliemann and Dr. Dorpfeld

London; New York: MacMillan and Co., 1891.… Read More

"The Dramatic Works of Moliere Translated into English Prose with Short Introductions and Explanatory Notes by Charles Heron Wall." Three Volumes, Complete Set! Published by George Bell and Sons in 1883.
A fine, three-volume set of the works of Moliere published in the late 19th-century. This 1883 English edition was published in London and features introductory and notes by Charles Wall of Brighton College. Like other complete works of Moliere, this example includes his most famous works such as The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, the Impostor, and Don Juan.
First volume has a B&W illustration of Moliere at the title page.
Books are in Fine/Great condition! Just slight wear/staining on the covers. Corners are bumped a bit. Interiors are in Great condition! Really a lovely set and in Fantastic condition for being over 130 years old!