18th Century Literature

Paris: A. Maestricht and J. P. Roux & Compagnie. Very Good with no dust jacket; Boards rubbed, light foxing and toning to . text block.. 1791. Hardcover. An 18th century biography of the French aristocrat born in the 17th century, rebound in a 19th century binding. Text in French. Uniformly rebound in three-quarter dark green cloth with black and white marbled sides. Black leather spine labels with titles stamped in gilt and floral flourish stamped in gilt in center spines. xvi, 316 pp; 342 pp; 314 pp. Silk ribbon markers. A set as dashingly handsome as its subject, Louis-Francois-Armand du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu (1696-1788) , who was (often) a member of King Louis XV’s court, a soldier, diplomat, and celebrated womanizer. It is thought that the notorious character of Valmont in the 1782 classic novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses is based on Richelieu. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .

1791. 1st Edition, Limited Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. Complete in 2 volumes. Illustrated with frontispiece portrait of Johnson by J. Heath after Sir Joshua Reynolds, and 2 additional engraved plates. All 3 plates with imprints dated April 10, 1791. Frontispiece with the original tissue-guard intact. 4to. Bound in contemporary (circa 1800) speckled calf with gilt armorial supralibros on all 4 covers, spines with raised bands; red morocco gilt-lettered labels; small black morocco circular volume-number labels. Printed by Henry Baldwin for Charles Dilly, London, 1791. First Edition. Limited to 1750 copies. Printed on light blue paper. Vol. I has the correct give reading on page 135, line 10, generally considered the second state (although, as Pottle notes, booksellers have given this rather uninteresting point more attention than it deserves.) The copies printed on light blue paper were presumably reserved for members of the nobility: When Boswell published his The Life of Samuel Johnson, the King… Read More

London: London: printed for the author; and sold by G. Hawkins, at the Middle Temple-Gate, in Fleet-Street, 1759. 1st Edition . Full leather. Good. First edition; two volumes, quarto; xxvii, 452; (iv), 350, (xxxviii), 71, (xxix)pp; with 7 copper-engraved maps and plans (5 of them folding), folding table, and frontispiece portrait. Full contemporary leather (worn, hinges weak, boards held by cords, spine label missing from vol.2), five raised spine bands, some browning and spotting particularly to opening and closing leaves, early ink inscription to vol.1 front free endpaper. Good complete working copy of this uncommon first edition. Harte's work, Ian Campbell Ross suggests [in The Shandean v.20, November 2009, p.9 et seq] was the source of several Shandean elements - from his early reflections on the difficulty of writing his book and his use of digression through to his reference to the Abbess of Quedlingberg - and though debate continues as to the precise influence Harte's work may have had, the… Read More

1766 Japanese Chinese Dictionary Wakan Onshake Shogenjiko Setsuyoshu JAPAN
A rare, 18th century woodblock print dictionary bound in the "fukurotoji (variously translated as "bound-pocket," or "pouch" binding)" style (Keio). Setsuyoshu was a true Japanese language dictionary and entered vocabulary current during its prime in the muromachi period. Each entry gives the kanji (Chinese characters), Japanese pronunciation in katakana on the right, and occasionally adds etymologies and comments on the bottom.

This rare, 1766 dictionary is an early inui (乾) edition which are usually printed in movable type and have more entries and corrections and is comprised of 10 volumes!

Item number: #7229
Price: $499
Unknown
和漢音釋書言字考節用集 /
Wakan onshaku shogenjikō setsuyōshū.
Japan: Meiwa 3 [1766]

Details:
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Collation: Complete with all pages; 10 volumes
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References: Keio University, Japanese culture through rare books.
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Language: Japanese
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Binding:… Read More

1744 RAREST George Anson Voyage to South-Seas South America Brazil Peru Chile

George Anson was an 18th-century British Navy admiral who is noted for his important world voyage in which he circumnavigated the globe. This voyage, beginning in 1740, was initiated in order to disrupt Spain and their acquisitions from the Pacific – even though the squadron saw certain danger.
"Anson's voyage is remembered as a classic tale of endurance and leadership in the face of fearful disasters" (Rodger, 239)
He saw substantial victory by capturing Spanish ships carrying pieces of eight, silver, and other treasure; thus, allowing Anson to return home a very rich sailor. This voyage took Anson and company into South America and home by way of China – a true world voyage!

Authorship of this work is held with some ambiguity. According to the DNB and Sabin,
"A claim was made that the work was written, not by Mr. Walter, but by Mr. Benjamin Robins. This has never been substantiated except by mere assertion; and… Read More

1721 Jacques Robbe Geography Nicolas de Fer MAPS Atlas China France Persia 2v

Jacques Robbe was a 17th-century French geographer who was notable for his impressive collection of maps. Published under the title 'Method for Easily Learning Geography', this atlas contains 16 highly popular, detailed maps. This two-volume edition was published in 1721 with the maps of Nicolas de Fer. Some of the maps included:
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France
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German empire
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The Netherlands
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Poland
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Scandinavia
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Denmark
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British Isles
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Spain and Portugal
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Italy
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Greece and Turkey
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Tartary
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Middle East and Holy Land
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Persia
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India and Mughal Empire
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China
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Africa

Item number: #8510
Price: $950
ROBBE, Jacques
Methode pour apprendre facilment la geographie, dediée a monseigneur le duc du Maine
A Paris : Chez Michel-Estienne David, quay des Augustins, à la Providence. & Christophe David, rue S. Jacques,… Read More

A Comic Romance. To which is prefixed The Life of the Author. xiv+578 pp. 12,8x7 cm. London, 1808.
--- Half leather. Covers are detached. Text in english. Engraved frontispiece. Pages bright and clean. Unmarked. No foxing.

Boston: I. Thomas (Isaiah Thomas) and E. T. Andrews, 1792. First Edition First Printing . Hardcover. Fair. 12mo. 216 pages. Hardcover bound in original paper-covered wooden boards. The binding is very worn, and the spine has perished, exposing the gatherings and stitching. The wooden boards are chipped, especially at the fore edges and along the bottom of the front cover. Much of the paper on the rear board is peeled or chipped off. The binding is still holding. Untrimmed. Complete with the copperplate engraved frontis and the footnote at page 77. Some foxing to the text. The title page and frontis are especially foxed and soiled. Early signature at the top edge of the front flyleaf appears to read "N. Pike," but there is some chipping right along the top edge at the signature. Rare.

1723 FANFARE BINDING Holy Week Breviary Missal Catholic Church Illustrated ART

A rare Catholic breviary, "Office for Holy Week", filled with liturgical prayers, scripture passages for confessions and communion, and devotionals on the mysteries of the Catholic Church and faith. This fine 1723 edition features impressive full-page engravings, charming vignettes, and a beautiful gold-embossed binding.
Item number: #9665
Price: $1500
Catholic Church
L'Office de la Semaine Sainte…
A Paris: Jacques Collombat, 1723.

Details:
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Collation: Complete with all pages
o [4], 653, [1]
o 4 engraved plates
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Language: French
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Binding: Leather; tight & secure
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Size: ~8.5in X 5.5in (21.5cm x 14cm)
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Exceedingly rare and valuable 18th century binding likely done for royalty
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9665Photos… Read More

Used. Stevenson, Robert Louis: A Child's Garden of Verses, illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith. 1905, Charles Scribner's Sons impression BB2C-1.58[H] Used. VG/Good price-clipped original purple dust jacket. RARE THUS. a gift presentation copy. Has a purple cloth ribbon laid in. This ribbon may be original to the edition, but I don't have that information. Condition: Other than a gift label pasted to front free endpaper and the ribbon, this item appears to be in near fine, unread condition. The purple dust jacket shows wear. Yellow topstain. Please see our photos.CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATED CLASSIC SERIES.

Worcester: Worcester: printed by J. Butler for S. Gamidge, at Prior's Head, 1764. 1st Edition . Half leather. Very Good. First edition; octavo; [4],vii,[1],252pp, with full complement of 16 plates, and list of subscribers on p.[iv]-vii. Recent period-style half calf over marbled boards with five raised spine bands between glt single fillets and gilt-lettered red morocco title label in second compartment, plate of King Edgar's Tower laid down on matching paper preserving decent margins around printed image,very occasional unobtrusive spots and stains, otherwise a very clean complete copy in attractive period binding of this early Worcester imprint and first dedicated account of the city as it stood in the eighteenth century. ESTC T146687.

1755 CHINA Travel Guide Illustrated Atlas Japan Tombs Philippines ASIA Salmon

Thomas Salmon was an English historian known for his extensive reviews, reports, and guides to European travel. He was thorough in his descriptions on various countries, particularly England and Italy. In his 'Universal Traveler', an enormous collection of travel guides, Salmon provides a report on the current situation within the country, designed for those visiting the country, as well as historical context for the illustrations.
This volume focuses on the history of China, descriptions of Japan and the Philippines, as well as other South Asian islands. Like many Salmon tomes, this example includes impressive full-page engravings of Asian worship practices, costumes, music, architecture, and even maps.

Item number: #10649
Price: $1500
SALMON, Thomas
The universal traveller: or, A compleat description of the several nations of the world
London: Printed for Richard Baldwin ..., 1755.

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Collation:… Read More

1799 Bogatzky Golden Treasury ENGLISH Bible Daily Devotional Hymns Prayers RARE

Carl Heinrich von Bogatzky was an 18th-century German theologian and hymn writer who is known for his collection of devotional books. These books, including 'A Golden Treasuring for Children of God', present a daily Bible passage, prayer, and hymn for each day of the year.
Item number: #10708
Price: $499
BOGATZKY, Carl Heinrich von
A golden treasury for the children of God: ...consisting of select texts of the Bible, with practical observations in prose and verse for every day in the year.
York: Printed by and for Wilson, Spence, & Mawman ; And for Danton & Harvey, London. Anno, 1799.

Details:
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Collation: Complete with all pages
o xiv, 390
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Provenance: Handwritten – Sarah Stamper
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Language: English
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Binding: Leather; secure
o Visible repair at front inner hinge
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Size: ~4.25in X 5in (10.5cm x 13cm)
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Customer… Read More

London: [s.n.], 1769. Hardcover. Octavos, 5 volumes. In Very Good condition. Bound in contemporary calf, rebacked with paneled spines and two labels with gilt. Some wear and rubbing to binding. Name in ink to front free endpaper of volumes 2-4 (volume 5 lacking front free endpaper). Signs of removed bookplate from front pastedown of volume 1. Library pencil numbers to versos of half-titles and rectos of title pages. Volume 5 R1-5 with scraps of paper attached via adhesive to top edge of rectos. Shelved above Science. Volumes 1 and 2 are a reissue of "The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, .. The third edition..." Volumes 3 and 4, of "The sermons of Mr. Yorick..." and volume 5, of "A sentimental journey ..", "Yorick's sentimental journey continued ... By Engenius, i.e. John Hall Stevenson," and "A political romance...". Volumes 2-5 are numbered 2-5 on their half-titles, but the titlepages bear the volume numbers of the original editions, i.e. V, I, II, and I respectively. This edition was… Read More

London: J. Johnson, 1782. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. A first edition of William Cowper's Poems bound in a modern quarter binding with marbelled boards and new endpapers. Collated complete and conforms to Russell 68 with cancels. Occasional foxing with a lightly toned title page and fore-edges of text block. Newton's Preface, which is found in some copies, is not present in this copy. A first edition of William Cowper's Poems.