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  • An eighteenth century Dr. Doolittle
    Amusement Philosophique sur le Langage des Bestes. by BOUGEANT, Guillaume-Hyacinthe S.J. (1690-1743)
    BOUGEANT, Guillaume-Hyacinthe S.J. (1690-1743)
    Amusement Philosophique sur le Langage des Bestes.

    Paris : Chez Gissey, Bordelet & Ganeau... 1739. First Edition.
    12mo, [-]2, A-N8.4., 2f, 157, [3] pp, cont. mottled calf, gilt spine, corners worn, hinges neatly repaired.
    One of the more interesting of a number of 18th century ‘philosophical’ works advocating the then radical idea that animals, far from being driven purely by instinct, could communicate with one another in their own language. A fact of which the work of Konrad Lorenz and many other modern naturalists has left us in no doubt. At the time of its publication however it caused considerable moral outrage and the author was exiled to La Fleche.

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  • The Father of British Myrmecology
    An Account of English Ants; Which Contains 1. Their different Species and Mechanism. 11. Their manner of Government, and a Description of their several Queens. 111. The Production of their Eggs, and Process of the Young. 1V. The incessant Labours of the Workers or common Ants. With Many other Curiosities observable in these surprising Insects. by GOULD, Rev. William (1715?- 1799)
    GOULD, Rev. William (1715?- 1799)
    An Account of English Ants; Which Contains 1. Their different Species and Mechanism. 11. Their manner of Government, and a Description of their several Queens. 111. The Production of their Eggs, and Process of the Young. 1V. The incessant Labours of the Workers or common Ants. With Many other Curiosities observable in these surprising Insects.

    London : Printed for A. Millar, opposite Katharine Street in the Strand. 1747. Cr. 8vo, A-H8 (lacking H8, adverts?), uncut, (170x110mm), old paper bds, rebacked, new paper label, sound.
    The pioneering study of what was to become the most studied of all classes of insects. Gould, whose observations and extrapolations have, for the most part, remained valid to this day, got into some trouble with his contemporaries for his perceived denial of the Bible, specifically Proverbs 6: 6-8 where it says "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provideth her bread in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."
    He maintained, correctly, that…

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    London : Printed for A. Millar, opposite Katharine Street in the Strand. 1747. Cr. 8vo, A-H8 (lacking H8, adverts?), uncut, (170x110mm), old paper bds, rebacked, new paper label, sound.
    The pioneering study of what was to become the most studied of all classes of insects. Gould, whose observations and extrapolations have, for the most part, remained valid to this day, got into some trouble with his contemporaries for his perceived denial of the Bible, specifically Proverbs 6: 6-8 where it says "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provideth her bread in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."
    He maintained, correctly, that there was no evidence to suggest that ants stored grain for the winter. Gould is lauded in W.H.Hudson’s Hampshire Days as ‘- the first man in England to observe the habits of insects”. Horace Donithorpe (1870-1951) describes him as The Father of British Myrmecology

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  • Pacific shipwreck
    An Account of the Pelew Islands... Composed from the Journals and Communications of Captain Henry Wilson and some of his officers, who, in August 1783, were there shipwrecked, in the Antelope, a Packet belonging to the Honourable East India Company... The Second Edition. by KEATE, George (1729 97)
    KEATE, George (1729 97)
    An Account of the Pelew Islands... Composed from the Journals and Communications of Captain Henry Wilson and some of his officers, who, in August 1783, were there shipwrecked, in the Antelope, a Packet belonging to the Honourable East India Company... The Second Edition.

    London : Printed for Captain Wilson; and sold by G. Nicol, Bookseller to His Majesty, Pall Mall. 1788. 4to, [-]4, a-b4, c2, B-Z, Aa-Zz, 3A-3B4, 3C1, engr. port, folding map and 15 engr. plates, waterstain to lower part of most plates (but not the text), uncut in original boards, worn.
    This gripping tale of shipwreck on a Pacific island, friendly natives, and eventual salvation by means of a small boat built from the wreckage, was deservedly popular throughout the nineteenth century. It is a true narrative but with all the romantic appeal of ‘desert island’ classics such as Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson. The King of Pelew’s son, Prince Lee Boo, arrived in London with the…

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    London : Printed for Captain Wilson; and sold by G. Nicol, Bookseller to His Majesty, Pall Mall. 1788. 4to, [-]4, a-b4, c2, B-Z, Aa-Zz, 3A-3B4, 3C1, engr. port, folding map and 15 engr. plates, waterstain to lower part of most plates (but not the text), uncut in original boards, worn.
    This gripping tale of shipwreck on a Pacific island, friendly natives, and eventual salvation by means of a small boat built from the wreckage, was deservedly popular throughout the nineteenth century. It is a true narrative but with all the romantic appeal of ‘desert island’ classics such as Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson. The King of Pelew’s son, Prince Lee Boo, arrived in London with the returning party and was lionised by society, contributing significantly to the contemporary idea of ‘the noble savage’.
    Reference: Cox II. 302

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  • An English Ballad: In Answer to Mr. Despreaux’s Pindarique Ode On the Taking of Namure. by [PRIOR, Matthew (1664-1721)]
    [PRIOR, Matthew (1664-1721)]
    An English Ballad: In Answer to Mr. Despreaux’s Pindarique Ode On the Taking of Namure.

    London : Printed for Jacob Tonson, at the Judge’s Head near the Inner Temple Gate in Fleetstreet, 1695. First Edition, folio, [A] - D2, text in French and English on facing pages, the French beginning on the verso of the title-page, title a little foxed in the lower margin, disbound.
    Prior, as well as being a poet, was a well respected diplomat in the service of King William III. His knowledge of French was recognised by his being sent to Paris in 1698 in attendance on the English Ambassador. He was undoubtedly well equipped to satirise Boileau’s poem.
    Wing P3509

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  • [AKENSIDE, Mark] (1721-1770)
    An Epistle to Curio.

    London: Printed for R. Dodsley... sold by M. Cooper... 1744. First Edition
    4to, 27 pps, engr. title vignette by Grignion after Hayman, short tears in 1/2-title expertly mended, modern marbled boards.

    “Curio” was William Pulteney and the Epistle written on the occasion of his becoming Earl of Bath.
    Reference: Foxon A 136 Rothschild 19 Williams p.90

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  • 3 works in one vol.
    FOSTER, John
    An Essay on the Different Nature of Accent and Quality, with their Use and Application In the Pronunciation of the English, Latin, and Greek languages...

    Eton : Printed by J. Pote; Sold also by T. Pote in Fleetstreet; and T. Payne, next the Mews-Gate near St. Martin’s Lane, London. 1762. 8vo, xxiii, [1], 231, [7], 27, [1] pp, 19th century diced calf, gilt spine, marbled edges and endpapers, sound.
    Bound at the end are :-
    Thiersch, Bernardus : Commentatio de Accentus Graeci Natura. Halberstadt 1824. 26pp
    Lindemann, Fridericus : De Latinae Linguae Accentibus... Leipsig 1816 38 pp.

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  • Mathematics
    PRICE, Bartholomew
    An Essay on the Relation of the Several Parts of a Mathematical Science to the Fundamental Idea Therein Contained; the substance of which was read before the Ashmolean Society... May 14, 1849.

    Oxford : Printed by Thomas Combe... for the Ashmolean Society. 1849. 8vo, 23, [1] pp, disbound.

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  • CLARKE, John (1687-1734)
    An examination of the sketch, or plan, of an answer to the book, entitled, Christianity as old as the creation. Laid down in a letter to Dr. Waterland. Wherein the tendency thereof, to the subversion of Christianity, and all religion, is exposed.

    London: Printed for A Bettesworth and C. Hitch, at the Red Lion in Pater-Noster-Row. 1733. Sm. 8vo, 31, [1] pp, disbound.
    An answer to Matthew Tindal’s work of 1730 “Christianity as Old as the Creation”
    Reference: ESTC T100266

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  • [EARBERY, Mathias (1690-1740)]
    An Historical Account of the Advantages That have Accru’d to England, by the Succession in the Illustrious House of Hanover.

    London: Printed in the Year, 1722. Cr. 8vo, B4, B-D4, [-]1, A-D4, E2. disbound.
    Reference: Kress 3466

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  • Seventeenth century satire as a mediaeval chivalric romance
    An Historical Romance of the Wars, Between the Mighty Giant Gallieno, And the Great Knight Nasonius, And His Associates. by [SERGEANT, John (1622-1707)]
    [SERGEANT, John (1622-1707)]
    An Historical Romance of the Wars, Between the Mighty Giant Gallieno, And the Great Knight Nasonius, And His Associates.

    Doublin(sic): Printed in the Year 1694. First Edition
    Sm. 4to, A-L4, [ii], 88pp, contemporary sprinkled calf, front joint split but cords firm, wear at head and foot of spine, a clean and sound copy.
    The attribution to Sergeant is given by Wing, and followed by ESTC, but we have found no indication of Wing’s source. John Sergeant is described in DNB as a Roman Catholic controversialist and philosopher who became the fiercest opponent of such as Dr. Hammond, Bp. Jeremy Taylor and Bp. Stillingfleet. His publications as listed by Wing are all concerned with theological or philosophical controversy, whereas the present work is a satirical commentary on the wars between Louis XIV of France and William III…

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    Doublin(sic): Printed in the Year 1694. First Edition
    Sm. 4to, A-L4, [ii], 88pp, contemporary sprinkled calf, front joint split but cords firm, wear at head and foot of spine, a clean and sound copy.
    The attribution to Sergeant is given by Wing, and followed by ESTC, but we have found no indication of Wing’s source. John Sergeant is described in DNB as a Roman Catholic controversialist and philosopher who became the fiercest opponent of such as Dr. Hammond, Bp. Jeremy Taylor and Bp. Stillingfleet. His publications as listed by Wing are all concerned with theological or philosophical controversy, whereas the present work is a satirical commentary on the wars between Louis XIV of France and William III of England, (The War of the Grand Alliance, 1688-97), disguised and written in the style of a mediaeval romance of chivalry.
    Reference: ESTC R19614 Wing S2570

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  • Ancient money and measures
    [HOOPER, George (1640-1727) Bishop of Bath and Wells]
    An Inquiry into the State of the Ancient Measures, the Attick, the Roman, And especially the Jewish. With an Appendix, Concerning our old English Money, and Measures of Content.

    London : Printed for R. Knaplock, at the Bishop’s-Head in St. Paul’s Chuch-yard. 1721. First Edition 8vo, [-]4, a8, B-Z8, Aa-Gg8, Hh6, cont. panelled calf, gilt fillet borders, panel in blind, spine gilt, label missing, hinges partly split, cords sound, a good copy, stamped “BOND” on front fly
    Reference: ESTC T89084 Goldsmith’s Library 6000 Kress 3386

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  • Anacreontis Teii Odae et Fragmenta, Graece et Latine, cum notis Joannis Cornelii de Pauw. by [ANACREON] PAUW, Jan Cornelis de (d.1749)
    [ANACREON] PAUW, Jan Cornelis de (d.1749)
    Anacreontis Teii Odae et Fragmenta, Graece et Latine, cum notis Joannis Cornelii de Pauw.

    Utrecht : Apud Guilielmum Kroon, Bibliop. 1732. 4to, [xxxvi], 315, [1] pp, * - ****4, *****2, A-Z, AaQq4, Rr2, text in greek and latin on facing paces, with copious foot notes, cont. calf, morocco label, head and foot of spine worn, joints tender but cords strong, 18c armorial book-plate of “The Reverend Jonathan Boucher A.M.” on front pastedown.
    The “Anacreontea” is a collection of Greek poems on wine, beauty and erotic love variously dated between 1st century BC and 6th century AD.

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  • Polish Patriot
    [HAGEN, Lorentz]
    Anecdotes Concerning the Famous John Reinhold Patkul: Or, an Authentic Relation Of what passed Betwixt Him and his Confessor, The Night before and at his Execution. translated from the Original Manuscript, never yet printed.

    London : Printed for A. Millar, 1761. 8vo, xvi, 17-48 pp, uncut, half-title soiled, a little foxing throughout, disbound.
    Count Johann Reinhold von Patkul (1660-1707) was a Livonian Polish patriot, born in Stockholm, and executed for treason by Charles XII of Sweden.
    The British Library ascribes the work to Lorentz Hagen with a note that “the author’s name occurs at p. 46” (Here it appears as Lorens Hager)

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  • A large, clean copy.
    Angling in All Its Branches, Reduced to a Complete Science : Being the result of more than forty years real practice and strict observation throughout the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland.... by TAYLOR, Samuel
    TAYLOR, Samuel
    Angling in All Its Branches, Reduced to a Complete Science : Being the result of more than forty years real practice and strict observation throughout the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland....

    London : For Longman and Rees... 1800. First Edition
    8vo, xv, 298 pp + [6] pp adverts., later half green morocco, marbled bds, spine fully gilt with fishing emblems, t.e.g. others uncut, a large, clean copy.
    Reference: Westwood & Satchell pp. 205-6

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  • RUDDIMAN, Thomas (1674-1757)
    Animadversions On a late Pamphlet, intituled, A Vindication of Mr. George Buchanan, &c. Wherein The Arguments brought by its Author, for clearing Buchanan from the two great Faults he is charged with, Are impartially examined and confuted.

    Edinburgh : Printed by T and W. Ruddiman, and to be sold at their Printing-house, and by the Booksellers in Town. 1749. 8vo, [-]2, 110 pp, disbound.
    George Buchanan (1506-1582), historian and scholar.
    “The edition of Opera omnia (1715) by Thomas Ruddiman, later principal keeper of the Advocates' Library, was a great achievement but did not meet with universal approval. Particularly in editing the History, Ruddiman was criticized for his treatment of earlier editions and for the intrusion of his own political views. The outcome was a series of controversies which kept Buchanan at the centre of attention.” - DNB During the course of these controversies Ruddiman became less sympathetic to Buchanan and the present pamphlet is a bitter reply to John Love’s “Vindication...”

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  • Palmistry; one of the seven “forbidden arts”
    Antonii Piccioli seu Rapiti Renovati Cenetensis Iurisconsulti, Ad illustrissimum Lotharium de Comitibus, De Manus Inspectione Libri Tres. by PICCIOLUS, Antonius, the elder (d. 1632) aka Antonio Piccioli
    PICCIOLUS, Antonius, the elder (d. 1632) aka Antonio Piccioli
    Antonii Piccioli seu Rapiti Renovati Cenetensis Iurisconsulti, Ad illustrissimum Lotharium de Comitibus, De Manus Inspectione Libri Tres.

    Bergomi [i.e. Bergamo]: Expensis Joannis Batistae Ciotti Senensis 1587. Small 8vo, †4, A-N8, O4, lacking O2-4, O2-3 (Index) supplied in facsimile, O4 blank, folding plate with mended tear with slight loss, uniformly browned throughout on account of the paper quality, bound in 18c. Italian paper boards, spine worn but sound.
    During the Middle Ages the art of palmistry was actively suppressed by the Catholic Church as pagan superstition. In Renaissance magic, palmistry (known as "chiromancy") was classified as one of the seven "forbidden arts." Therefore in Catholic Italy the present work would have been a surreptitious publication, frowned upon, possibly even banned, by the Church, which is probably the reason for its poor quality paper. It is uncommon in the market.

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  • Aston Martin 1914 to 1940. a pictorial review by INMAN HUNTER, Edward (1914-1986)
    INMAN HUNTER, Edward (1914-1986)
    Aston Martin 1914 to 1940. a pictorial review

    London : Transport Bookman Publications [1976]. First Edition
    8vo, 192pp, profusely illustrated, original cloth, dust wrapper, as new.
    “169 photographs, many of them never published before, depict the full range of Aston Martin models from ‘Coal Scuttle’, the very first Aston, through ‘Bunny’, ‘Strasbourg’ ‘Internationals’ , ‘Ulsters’, up to and including the ‘Atom’, a brilliantly conceived project sadly aborted by the outbreak of World War II.” - [from the blurb]

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  • The earliest French work on anonymous books
    Auteurs Deguisez sous des Noms Etrangers; Empruntez, Supposez, Feints à plaisir, Chiffrez, Renversez, Retournez, ou Changez d’une Langue en une autre. by [BAILLET, Adrian (1649-1706)]
    [BAILLET, Adrian (1649-1706)]
    Auteurs Deguisez sous des Noms Etrangers; Empruntez, Supposez, Feints à plaisir, Chiffrez, Renversez, Retournez, ou Changez d’une Langue en une autre.

    Paris : Chez Antoine Dezallier... 1690. First Edition.
    12mo, xxv, [2], 615, [1] pp, eighteenth century French mottled calf, fully gilt spine, joints cracked, cords firm.
    The earliest French work on anonymous books. Baillet was, from 1680 to his death, librarian to M. de Lamoignon, advocat-general to the parlement of Paris, of whose library he produced a manuscript catalogue raisonné in 35 folio volumes.
    It seems ironic that one should need to consult Barbier to discover the author of this pioneering work, but the effort is rewarding, for there we read that - “Cet ouvrage [etait] le premier publié en France sur ce genre de recherches bibliographiques”. This was a preliminary treatise, which should have been…

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    Paris : Chez Antoine Dezallier... 1690. First Edition.
    12mo, xxv, [2], 615, [1] pp, eighteenth century French mottled calf, fully gilt spine, joints cracked, cords firm.
    The earliest French work on anonymous books. Baillet was, from 1680 to his death, librarian to M. de Lamoignon, advocat-general to the parlement of Paris, of whose library he produced a manuscript catalogue raisonné in 35 folio volumes.
    It seems ironic that one should need to consult Barbier to discover the author of this pioneering work, but the effort is rewarding, for there we read that - “Cet ouvrage [etait] le premier publié en France sur ce genre de recherches bibliographiques”. This was a preliminary treatise, which should have been followed by a “Recueil des Auteurs Déguisés” but unfortunately the author died in 1706 leaving his work unfinished, and it was not for another 100 years, with the publication of Barbier’s Dictionnaire des Ouvrages Anonymes in 1806, that the project was finally completed. In his preface Barbier pays eloquent tribute to the erudition of his predecessor.

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  • PINCKNEY, Charles C , John MARSHALL, and Elbridge GERRY
    Authentic Copies of the Correspondence of..... as Presented to Both Houses of Congress, April 3, 1798 by His Excellency John Adams...

    London : For J. Debrett... 1798. 8vo, 78 pp, disbound, sugar paper wrappers.

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  • A stunning binding to compliment Picasso’s erotic gravures
    Avant Garde 8 Picasso’s Erotic Gravures. by JOHNSON, Arthur (binder) Pablo PICASSO, artist, Ralph GINSBURG, editor
    JOHNSON, Arthur (binder) Pablo PICASSO, artist, Ralph GINSBURG, editor
    Avant Garde 8 Picasso’s Erotic Gravures.

    [New York : Avant Garde Media Inc. September 1969]. Large 4to, (290x280mm), 60 unnumbered pages, original paper wrappers bound at the end, finely bound in dark orange goatskin with coloured onlays, signed on lower turn-in of back board “A.J. 1975”, preserved in a cloth drop-back box. the box somewhat faded but the binding immaculate.
    Avant Garde was a magazine notable for graphic and logogram design by Herb Lubalin. Published in New York, it ran to 14 numbers between January 1968 and July 1971 [See Wikipedia]

    Renowned designer bookbinder Arthur William Johnson (1920-2004) after studying art at Hornsey, Hammersmith and Camberwell colleges, started teaching bookbinding at Hammersmith and in 1950 was a founder member of the Hampstead Guild of…

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    [New York : Avant Garde Media Inc. September 1969]. Large 4to, (290x280mm), 60 unnumbered pages, original paper wrappers bound at the end, finely bound in dark orange goatskin with coloured onlays, signed on lower turn-in of back board “A.J. 1975”, preserved in a cloth drop-back box. the box somewhat faded but the binding immaculate.
    Avant Garde was a magazine notable for graphic and logogram design by Herb Lubalin. Published in New York, it ran to 14 numbers between January 1968 and July 1971 [See Wikipedia]

    Renowned designer bookbinder Arthur William Johnson (1920-2004) after studying art at Hornsey, Hammersmith and Camberwell colleges, started teaching bookbinding at Hammersmith and in 1950 was a founder member of the Hampstead Guild of Scribes and Bookbinders, which later became the Guild of Contemporary Bookbinders and then Designer Bookbinders. The present binding, one of several that he made for this work, is a highly stylized abstract erotic scene complimenting Picasso’s engravings.

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