18th Century and Earlier Books

AUTHOR: MILTON, John. TITLE: A Defence of the People of England, by John Milton: in Answer to Salmasius's Defence of the King. PUBLISHER: n.p., n.p., 1692. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDI...

AUTHOR: COTTON, Robert. TITLE: An Answer to such Motives As were offer'd by certain Military-Men to Prince Henry, Inciting him to Affect Arms more than Peace . . . With a short Vie...

18th century rare Dutch mother of pearl pin booklet with a silver back and lock A mother of pearl pin booklet with a silver back and lock. On ...

Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca). Thomas Twyne, translator. Phisicke against Fortune, as well prosperous, as adverse, contained in two Bookes [History of Gain and Fortune] London: Ric...

This is Gilpin's third in his series of works tracing picturesque beauty in British natural landscapes. In it he portrays the landscapes of Scottish Highlands, and describes them lyrically in his text. Prefacing the list of Prints at the end of the second volume, the author says "With regards to the prints, which adorn these volumes, I can only say..... that few of them pretend to be 'exact portraits.' They in general 'only characterize the countries,' through which the reader is carried." The illustrations, based on Gilpin's sketches, were etched by his nephew William Sawrey Gilpin using the newly invented aquatint process. This volume also includes a technical discourse about drawing and the mixing of colors, including a chart (vol. 1, p. 131-134) William Gilpin (1724 – 1804) was an English artist, Church of England cleric, schoolmaster and author. He is best known as a travel writer and as one of those who originated the idea of the picturesque. Gilpin's tour journals circulated in manuscript to friends such as the poet William Mason and a wider circle including Thomas Gray...

RARE: John Evelyn the Younger's first book, rare first issue with title date 1672. Rapin, René (1621-1687) and Evelyn, John (the Younger 1655 -1699), translator Of Gardens; Four Boo...

Published London, 1788, John Bell. Nicely leather bound in brown with fine tan, brown and gilt spines. Watery green inside the boards. 5 3/4" H x 3 7/8" W x 1" D Condition: the spi...

The most complete compendium on the technical sciences of the era. Leupold, Jacob Theatrum Machinarum Generale. Schau-Platz des Grundes Mechanischer Wissenschaften, das ist: Deutlich...

A New System of Modern Geography; or, a Geographical, Historical, and Commercial Grammar; and Present State of the Kingdoms of the World. Maps engraved by Mr. Kitchin, C. Dilly and G...

AUTHOR: BLOUNT, Thomas. TITLE: Boscobel: or the Compleat History Of the Most Miraculous Preservation of King Charles II. After the Battle of Worcester, 3 Sept. 1651. To which is ad...

An early illustrated edition of Jerusalem Delivered by Torquato Tasso (1544 – 1595) "La Gerusalemme Liberata; Di Torquato Tasso – Figurata da Bernardo Castello – con le annotationi ...

Guarini, Giovanni Battista Il pastor fido; Tragicomedia pastorale Tours: Giametto Metaieri, 1592 12mo5 1/2 x 3 inches (140 x 76 mm); 146 pp. including a sonnet in French by R. Briss...

FREDERICK CHAPMAN: ‘Naval Architecture War Vessels’, circa 1770, , 50 engraved plates of various sizes depicting naval diagrams (numbered I-XXVI), four signed ‘F. Ringheim’and one ea...

AUTHOR: SHAKESPEARE, William. TITLE: The Works of William Shakespeare. (The London Prodigal) - page 219-220. PUBLISHER: London: Printed for H. Herringman, E. Brewster and R. Bentl...

Bloemaert, Abraham and Rosweyde, Héribert 't Bosch der Eremyten ende Eremytinnen van Aegypten ende Palestinen (...) [The Forest of Hermits of Egypt and Palestine... Hantvverpen (Antwerp): Hieronymus Verdussen, 1619. Illustrated by Abraham Bloemart. First Edition in book form. 4to, 8 7/8 x 6 3/4 inches (251 x 171 mm). ix pp, 51 sheets on cream laid paper, text in Dutch (gothic letters). 50 numbered full page copperplate engravings of Christian hermit saints (25 male, 25 female), printed recto with text pages on verso. Full-page frontispiece for the work and with an additional full-page frontispiece for each of the two sections. Full contemporary vellum, untitled, with some handling discoloration but the vellum remains supple and the binding is tight. Pages clean and bright with a couple of foxing spots and a small brown stain on the 2nd frontis titled "Sacra Eremus ascetarum"; toned page edges. Previous owner's name and date in ink on front flyleaf and small pencil and ink notations inside back cover; bookplate of Buijnsters Smets pasted inside front cover. [De Backer...

Estienne, Charles De re hortensi libellus (A small book on gardening); . . . vulgaria herborum, florum ac fruticum qui in hortis conseri solent nomina latinis vocibus efferre docens ...

Carracci's frescoes at Palazzo Farnese in Rome Rome: Venantius Monaldinus, 1753. First Edition. Oversized folio, 17 1/4 x 12 inches (438 x 304 mm); half title, engraved portrait o...

DISTINGUISHED PEDIGREE: from the libraries of Robert Hoe and John Barrymore. Elegantly illustrated and bound copy with a famed pedigree that spans from Robert Hoe—the businessman, collector, and founding member of the Grolier Club in 1884— to "The Lamberts" (probably purchased in the epic Hoe library auction of 1911-1912), who gifted it to the colorful and famous actor John Barrymore. Their bookplates adorn the inside covers, will your bookplate be next? Giarda, Cristoforo Bibliothecæ Alexandrinæ icones symbolicæ … elogiis illustratæ Milan: Giovanni Battista Bidelli, 1628. 4to, 9 5/8 x 7 inches (244 x 178 mm); (xii) + 140 pp, not including plates and inscriptions. Engraved architectural title with Saints Peter and Alexander by Francesco Bassano, 16 copperplates of female figures; woodcut dropcaps and tailpieces throughout. Later (circa 1890) red levant morocco binding by R. Petit (signed in gilt on front turn-in) with triple gilt frames on boards, raised bands, gilt title and decorative motifs in compartments; inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, professionally rebacked preserving original richly gilt backstrip in compartments; title and preliminaries stained, occasional spotting or light soiling and a few small light ink stains to covers. [Praz p.349] Provenance: Robert Hoe (blue morocco book label...

THE MOST COMPLETE COMPENDIUM ON THE TECHNICAL SCIENCES OF THE ERA Leupold, Jacob Theatri statici universalis, sive Theatrum staticum, Das ist: Schau-Platz der Gewicht-Kunst und Waag...

Author: Ariosto (Lodovico). Title: Orlando Furioso In English Heroical Verse. By Sir John Harington of Bathe, Knight. Now thirdly revised and amend...

Paris: Prault, 1768 2 vols, 12mo, 5 3/8 x 3 1/8 inches (136 x 80 mm). Vol. 1: front. title, 2nd frontispiece, iii, 326; Vol. 2: title, 333 pp. Text in Italian. Frontispiece by Godefr...

AUTHOR: MACHIAVELLI, Nicolas TITLE: The Works of the Famous Nicolas Machiavel, Citizen and Secretary of Florence. Written originaIly [sic] in Italian, and from thence newly and fait...

Set of Three 18th Century Vellum Sunday Sermon Books. 1.) Sermoni Per Tutte Le Domeniche Dell' Anno (Sermons for all the Sundays in a Year) by Monsignore Alfonso Maria De Liguori. Na...

Skelton, John The Tunning of Elinor Rumming, a Poem London: Printed for Isaac Dalton, and sold by W. Boreham at the Angel in Pater-Noster-Row, 1718. Second Edition. Octavo, 7 5/8 x 4 5/8 in. (194 x 117 mm). pp. [8], 31, [1]. From the title page: by Skelton Laureat. Original unbound, rebound in modern pink paper over boards, leather spine label with gilt title. Some toning to last few leaves.boards All text is legible, some spot tanning throughout. In near fine condition. Rare. [ESTC N46064 ] ESTC shows two U.S. copies only: Henry E. Huntington Library and Yale University Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library; and two British Isles copies only: Oxford University Bodleian Library (both copies). This poem was printed multiple times in the 16th century, including by William Caxton's successor, Wynken de Worde. Rare as a separate volume. John Skelton (c.1463 - 1529) was a remarkable, unusual poet and priest, who had been the tutor of the Tudors, Prince Arthur...

A wonderful collection of antique tattered French books discovered in France, representing The Encyclopédie méthodique par ordre des matières ("Methodical Encyclopedia by Order of Su...

London: Printed for the Company of Stationers, 1782. 64mo, 1 1/4 x 1 3/8 in. (57 x 33 mm), 24pp. Original cream morocco elaborately gilt and with decorative morocco inlays in red, w...

A RARE EARLY EDITION OF AESOPIC LITERATURE, BEAUTIFULLY ILLLUSTRATED. Les Fables d'Esope Phrigien avec celles de Philelphe; traduction nouvelle, Enrichie de Discours Moraux et Histor...

This is a RARE first limited edition of Watson's poems, printed on deluxe japon and bound in vellum. Unwin's Cameo series of poetry was a distinctively packaged sequence of books tha...

Set of 2 Books Laques Venitiennes du Dix-Huitieme Siecle" by Saul Levy. This is a scholarly and lavishly illustrated account of Venetian 18th century lacquer furniture published in 1968 in two volumes, with 496 color illustrations - text is in French. Both volumes have their original dust jackets. Volume 1 includes an introduction of 26 pages and plates showing: armchairs, sofas, seats and benches...

The art of decorative stone work - known as Pietre Dure, or polychrome hardstone inlay resurfaced in Rome in the sixteenth century with the flowering of the Italian Renaissance. Tabl...

The History of Russia in 2 volumes published 1797, in French. A lovely 2 volume first edition titled "Histoire de Russie" by Blin de Sainmore, French poet, playwright and historian (...

FIRST and ONLY EDITION Doni, Anton Francesco Disegno del Doni; Partito in più ragionamenti, ne quali si tratta della scoltura et pittura .... Venice: Gabriel Giolito Di Ferrari, 15...

A very good copy of Bleyswijck famous description of the history, topography, institutions, and commercial life of Delft in the 17th Century. The plates are exquisite depiction's of ...

AUTHOR: MARKHAM, Gervase. TITLE: Markhams Farewell to Husbandry: or, The enriching of all sorts of barren and sterile grounds in our nation, to be as fruitfull in all manner of gra...

Secreet-Boeck, by Abraham Canin, Dordrecht, 1601 Titel: Secreet-Boeck, Waer in vele diversche secreten ende heerlicke consten in veelderleye verscheyden materien, seker Latijnsche,...

Author:: Balbus, Johannes. Title: Catholicon. (An original leaf). Publisher: Mainz: [Peter Schoeffer], 1469. Description: An Original Catholicon Leaf Printed By Peter Schoeffer. 36.5 cm x 28.5 cm, printed in double columns with 66 lines to the page, rubricated 15 on recto and 38 on verso, printed on Galliziani paper, the half of the sheet without the watermark, but with the characteristic shadows at wire-line intervals of ca. 5 mm.. Condition: Mild toning to edges of leaf, otherwise invery good condition Additional Information.: The first nonreligious book ever printed by the first printer. Below is an interesting translation mentioning Africa from Verso: column 2: 11th item: line 34 - "Heliotrope: A green colored stone having blood red veins. If placed in a silver dish filled with water and exposed to the rays of the sun, the water will turn blood red, and the sun will go dark. It is most brilliant when at the rising and setting of the sun it changes color. It is found in Africa." Aside from a leaf from the Gutenberg bible this is one of the earliest possible obtainable pieces of printing associated with Johann Gutenberg. Provenance: 1) Sir Hans Sloane...

Defoe, Daniel. The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner: Who lived eight & twenty years all alone in an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself. With An Account how he was at last as strangely deliver’d by Pyrates. Written by himself. Vol I. [With:] The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; being The Second and Last Part of his Life, And of the Strange Surprizing Account of his Travels Round three parts of the Globe. Written by Himself. Vol II. [With:] George Chalmer's "Life of Daniel Defoe". London: John Stockdale, 1790. First (Thus) Edition. Two Volumes, Octavo. Illustrated with engraved frontispieces, vignette title pages, and full-page illustrations by Thomas Stothard, engraved by Meland. Rebound in full calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, blind embossing to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, and a new archival slipcase. Presented is the first (thus) edition of John Stockdale’s 1790 edition of Daniel Defoe’s classic tale of adventure. This two volume edition is beautifully illustrated with engraved frontispieces, vignette title pages, and twelve full-page illustrations by Thomas Stothard and engraved by Meland. It is presented here rebound in full brown and tan calf, with intricate blind embossing to the front and back panels, raised bands, gilt tooling and gilt titles to the spine. Defoe’s first long work of fiction, The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe introduced two of the most-enduring characters in English literature, Robinson Crusoe and Friday. Defoe based part of Robinson Crusoe on the real-life experiences of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor...

"inhuman Cannibals of Florida" AUTHOR: DICKENSON, Jonathan. TITLE: God's Protecting Providence, Man's Surest Help and Defence, in Times of Greatest Difficulty, and most eminent Danger, evidenced in the remarkable Deliverance of Robert Barrow,.. & the cruel devouring Jaws of the inhuman Cannibals of Florida. PUBLISHER: London: by James Phillips, 1790. DESCRIPTION: SEVENTH EDITION. 1 vol., 136pp., 12mo., 6-3/8" x 4-3/16", bound in 1/2 brown morocco, gilt decorated spine, blind stamp to front blank endleaf of "D Hicks & Co. Book Binders...

AUTHOR: KIDGELL (John) TITLE: The Card. PUBLISHER: London: for the Maker & sold by J. Newberry, 1755. DESCRIPTION: FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 2 vols., 6-5/8" x 4-1/4", hand col...

A beautifully produced book by Franco Maria Ricci, one of a limited edition of 3,000 numbered copies, this being 388. 175 pages with tipped in color plates with additional drawings and sketches, the text is in English. Arcimboldo has become best known for his portraits of human heads made up from vegetables, plants, fruits, sea creatures and tree roots, which were greatly admired by his contemporaries and remain of great fascination to this day. each was carefully constructed and as can be seen with the main image, the Librarian...

This is a complete folio with 34 loose plates in colour and black and white showing elegant 18th century decorative wall panels, wall hangings and arabesques. An excellent design res...

“Les Misères Et Les Malheurs De La Guerre” (“The misfortunes of war”) more commonly called “the great miseries of war” (“The great miseries of war”) is a major work by the 17th centu...

AUTHOR: COTTON, Charles. TITLE: The Wonders of The Peake. PUBLISHER: London: for Joanna Brome, 1681. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION. 1 vol., 6-7/8" x 4-1/2", [ii]86pp., complete, bound in contemporary full speckled calf, covers ruled in blind. CONDITION: Internally clean and bright, inner and outer hinges fine, head and foot of spine rubbed with some minor loss, overall VERY GOOD. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The dedicatee is Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire. Written in heroic couplets, this work by Cotton was one of the first landscape poems of a movement which only became significant under Queen Anne. Charles Cotton published this satirical poem just five years after Thomas Hobbes' own "Wonders of the Peak" poem was translated into English. Cotton's poem recalls a visit to the 'Devil's Arse', nowadays known as Peak Cavern, in Castleton. Cotton is also known for contributing a treatise on fly fishing for trout in the second edition of Izaak Walton's famous book, "The Compleat Angler".

Decorate a library or office with this set of large antique books. Dated from 1727 to 1748, and printed in Paris during the reign of King Louis XV, these important leather bound books features the following: French book titled Remarques Critiques sur le Dictionnaire de Bayle, "Première Partie: A-F," published in 1748. The book was printed in Paris by Hyppolite-Louis Guerin and in Dijon by Hermil-Andrea. It includes decorative typography and a royal privilege. 1- Oeuvres Diverses de Mr. Pierre Bayle, published in 1727 in The Hague (La Haye). The book is the third volume of Bayle’s works, focused on historical and critical topics. It was printed by multiple publishers, including P. Husson, T. Johnson, P. Gosse, and others, with a decorative vignette illustration. It bears the privilege of the States of Holland and West-Friesland. 2- Oeuvres Diverses de Mr. Pierre Bayle, the fourth volume (Tome Quatrième), published in 1731. The book includes a collection of Bayle’s works on theology, philosophy, criticism, history, and literature. It was printed in The Hague (La Haye) by multiple publishers, including P. Husson, J. Swart, H. Scheurleer, and others. A vignette featuring the figure of Minerva, symbolizing wisdom, adorns the page. The publication bears the privilege of the States of Holland and West-Friesland. 3- Oeuvres Diverses de Mr. Pierre Bayle, the fourth volume (Tome Troisieme), published in 1727. The book includes a collection of Bayle’s works on theology, philosophy, criticism, history, and literature. It was printed in The Hague (La Haye) by multiple publishers, including P. Husson, J. Swart, H. Scheurleer, and others. A vignette featuring the figure of Minerva, symbolizing wisdom, adorns the page. The publication bears the privilege of the States of Holland and West-Friesland. 4- Oeuvres Diverses de Mr. Pierre Bayle, the second volume (Tome Second), published in 1727. The page highlights Bayle's work on theology, philosophy, criticism, history, and literature. Printed in The Hague (La Haye) by several publishers including P. Husson, T. Johnson, P. Gosse, and others, it features a detailed vignette of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, along with scholarly and architectural motifs. The publication is authorized by the States of Holland and West-Friesland. 5- Dictionaire Historique et Critique by Pierre Bayle, fifth edition, published in 1734 in Amsterdam by the Compagnie des Libraires. It is the fifth volume (Tome Cinquième), covering entries S-Z. The edition is revised, corrected, and expanded with critical remarks, and includes the biography of the author by Mr. Des Maizeaux. The page features an illustrative vignette depicting a classical figure, possibly representing history or wisdom, teaching young students. 6- Dictionaire Historique et Critique by Pierre Bayle, fifth edition, published in 1734 by the Compagnie des Libraires in Amsterdam. It is the third volume (Tome Troisième), covering entries G-L. The edition is revised, corrected, and expanded with critical remarks and includes Bayle's biography by Mr. Des Maizeaux. The page also features an illustration of a classical figure seated with children, symbolizing education or wisdom, surrounded by books. The publication includes the privilege of the publisher. 7- Dictionaire Historique et Critique by Pierre Bayle, fifth edition, published in 1734 by the Compagnie des Libraires in Amsterdam. It is the second volume (Tome Second), covering entries B-F. The edition has been revised, corrected, and expanded with critical remarks, and includes Bayle's biography by Mr. Des Maizeaux. The page also features an engraved vignette of a seated classical figure, symbolizing knowledge or wisdom, teaching children with books...

2 Volumes. Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe. Bound by Morrell in full marbled calf. The covers and raised band spines display gilt-tooling with brown morocco labels. All the edges are g...

A beautiful and scarce 'Bell's Edition of Shakespeare', the vanishingly scarce large paper variant, illustrated with engraved plates. The very scarce complete twenty volume set. A large paper edition, uniformly bound in full morocco. In 1785, John Bell began to issue the 36 separate plays of Shakespeare individually, collecting them here in twenty volumes in 1788 as the 'Dramatick writings of Will. Shakspere'. The set is scarcely found complete. The first two volumes here are a remarkably comprehensive and broad 'Prolegomena' to Shakespeare's works, and offer interesting analysis of Shakespeare from an era where many of his plays were often interpreted differently, both in their production and in their critical reception. The subsequent eighteen volumes consist of the plays themselves, along with notes from Samuel Johnson and George Stevens, a highlight of this particular edition. Volumes I & II: Prolegomena To The Dramatick Writings of Will. Shakespeare. Nine plates to volume I, and eight to volume II. Volume III: The Tempest and Two Gentlemen of Verona. Four plates. Volume IV: The Merry Wives of Windsor and Much Ado About Nothing. Four plates. Volume V: Measure for Measure and A Comedy of Errors. Four plates. Volume VI: Love's Labour's Lost and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Four plates. Volume VII: The Merchant of Venice and As You Like It. Four plates. Volume VIII: The Taming of The Shrew and All's Well That End's Well. Four plates. Volume IX: Twelfth Night and Winter's Tale. Four plates. Volume X: Macbeth and King John. Four plates. Volume XI: King Richard The Second...

Three-part plainchant polyphonic manuscript of the Nicene Creed probably originating in Spain in the late 16th or early 17th century. This large format manuscript written on paper wa...

Presenting a very rare and ‘old’ antiquarian book, C Plinii Caecilii Secundi Epistolae et Panegyricus dated 1712. Published by Johannus Minellii in 1712. Covered and bound in v...

Bound in Vellum, here is a beautiful and oversized book by R.P. Vincentii Houdry entitled E Societate Jesu Bibliotheca Concionatoria Complectens Panegyricas Orationes Sanctorum. Roug...

A beautiful Baskerville edition of John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' and 'Paradise Regain'd', both epic poems bound here in one volume. A Baskerville edition. Complete as two volumes b...

Quesnot de La Chênée, Jean-Jacques La femme démasquée ou l'amour peint selon l'usage nouveau la Haye (The Hague): Jacob van Ellinckhuysen, 1698. First Edition. 12mo, 5 x 2 3/4 inc...

Mémoires et Observations Géographiques et Critiques sur la Situation des Pays Septentrionaux de l’Asie et del'Amérique d'après les relations les plus récentes; Auxquelles on a joint ...

18th First Edition of "New Art of Cooking" in Spanish with skin flap. Traditional recipes of Spanish gastronomy

This antique book titled "A Voyage to the South Atlantic and Round Cape Horn into the Pacific Ocean", and authored by W. Bennett, on the work of James Colnet...

Found in Spain, this set of five large 18th Century Books were crafted from Vellum by spanish artisans in the late 1700's. Each book exhibits a creamy cover and binding from animal s...

We present you three volumes in Spanish which describe the life of Leopold I Hapsburg. Published in Milan in 1696. All the volumes are decorated with various graphics by Pieter Bal...

Recueil amusant De Voyages, 1787. Recueil amusant De Voyages, en vers et en prose: Faits par differents Auteurs, auquel on a joint un choix des Epitres, Contes & Fables morales qu...

A scarce first edition of John Smith's study of the prehistorical monument Stonehenge, a early work on the subject, illustrated with three folding plates. The scarce first edition o...

A handsome collection of 6 Austrian vellum bound books from the late 17th century. This antique set of six books from Austria, which retain their original vellum bindings, have Latin...

An extremely rare first edition: William Somner, The antiquities of Canterbury. Or a survey of that ancient citie, with the suburbs, and cathedrall. Containing principally matters of...