• Three 8vo volumes, 20.8 x 13.8 cm each, uniformly bound in brown cloth with gilt lettering and embossed design to front and spine; v. 1: [1-4] 5-537 [3], total 540 pages plus frontispiece, two-colour woodcut portrait, by Ivan Nikolaevtsev; v. 2: [1-6] 7-537 [3], total 540 pages; v. 3: [1-6] 7-620 [4], total 624 pages. Waterstain throughout the third volume. Title-page (red and black): Марко Вовчок | СОБРАНИЕ СОЧИНЕНИЙ | ТОМ ПЕРВЫЙ (ВТОРОЙ, ТРЕТИЙ) | {fleuron} | ИЗДАТЕЛЬСТВО «ИЗВЕСТИЯ» | Москва | 1957 || Opposite t.p. (red and black): Марко Вовчок | СОБРАНИЕ СОЧИНЕНИЙ | В ТРЕХ | ТОМАХ | {fleuron} | ИЗДАТЕЛЬСТВО «ИЗВЕСТИЯ» | Москва | 1957 || Half-title (red and black): БИБЛИОТЕКА КЛАССИКОВ | ЛИТЕРАТУР | НАРОДОВ СССР | | {fleuron} || Imprint: Вступительная статья А. Белецкого. Подготовка текста и примечания С. Машинского. Print run: 30,000 copies. Contributors: Марко Вовчок [Marko Vovchok; Марія Олександрівна Вілінська] (Ukrainian, 1833 – 1907) – author. Other variants: Markowovzok and Marko Vovtchok. Олександр Іванович Білецький  [Александр Иванович Белецкий] (Ukrainian, 1884 – 1961) – author/preface. Семен Иосифович Машинский (Ukrainian, 1914-1978) – author/editing and comments. Иван Григорьевич Николаевцев (Ukrainian, 1902–1960) – artist.  
  • Hand-coloured woodcut on wove paper, 282 x 392 mm; black ink stamp “5051 2” to reverse. Top: "Armée française. Garde–mobile. Artillerie." — (gothic font) "Französische Armee. Mobil–Garde. Artillerie." — "№103". Below left: "Lith F. C. Wentzel édit. à Wissembourg. (Alsacé); center: Déposé; right: Druck u. Verlag v. F. C. Wentzel in Weissemburg. (Elsass)."; Bottom: "Trompette" — "Capitaine" — "Porte-Drapeau". — "Soldat" — "Cantinière." Jean Frédéric Wentzel (French, 1807 – 1869) – publisher/printer.
  • Hardcover, 23 x 17 x 4.7 cm, burgundy buckram, bevelled boards, blind geometrical design with a gilt medallion at the centre, gilt lettering and blind design elements to spine, text in frame, all edges red; pp.: [i-v] vi-xvi, [1] 2-494, [2 advert.], [1] 2-32 advert.], collation 4to: a-b4, B-3R4, a16. Title-page (red and black, in red frame): A HISTORY | OF | CARICATURE & GROTESQUE | {gothic letters} In Literature and Art. | By THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., | Hon. M.R.S.L., &c.; | Corresponding Member of the Imperial Institute of France | (Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres). |{double rules} | WITH | ILLUSTRATIONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, | DRAWN AND ENGRAVED BY | F. W. FAIRHOLT, Esq., F.S.A. | {double rules} | {gothic letters} London : | VIRTUE BROTHERS & CO., 1, AMEN CORNER, | PATERNOSTER ROW. | 1865. Contributors : Thomas Wright (British, 1792 – 1849) – author. Frederick William Fairholt (British, 1814 – 1866) – artist/engraver. Virtue Brothers & Co. (London) – publisher/printer.
  • Hardcover volume 20.7 x 13.4 cm, bound in black buckram with blind and grey lettering to front and grey lettering to spine, in a pictorial dust jacket, yellow pictorial endpapers, pp.: [2] 3-287 [1], collated in 16mo, 1-916, 144 leaves, 288 pages. Title-page: ПИСЬМА АЗЕФА | — | 1893 – 1917 | — | [blank] | {publisher’s device} | МОСКВА | «ТЕРРА» — «TERRA» | 1994 || Print run: 10,000 copies. Азеф, Евгений Филиппович [Евно Фишелевич], [Azef, Yevno] (Jewish-Russian-German, 1869 – 1918) Павлов, Дмитрий Борисович (Russian, b. 1954) Перегудова, Зинаида Ивановна (Russian, b. 1934)

    ISBN: 5-85255-395-6. Azef Letters (Rus).

  • Utagawa Kunisada [歌川 国貞] a.k.a. Utagawa Toyokuni III [三代歌川豊国] (Japanese, 1786 – 1865).

    Uncut fan print (uchiwa-e), 295 x 230 mm, depicting kabuki actor Bandō Shūka I as Shirai Gonpachi (白井権八) reading a scroll by the light of a lantern. From the series A Parody of the Five Chivalrous Commoners; a Cup of Sake From Their Fans (Mitate gonin otoko, go-hiiki no omoizashi).  According to Paul Griffith, the term omoizashi refers to the act of pouring a cup of sake for one's chosen partner, here giving an impression of intimacy and affection between famous actors and their patrons.

    Actor: Bandō Shūka I [初代坂東しうか] (Japanese, 1813-1855); other names: Bandō Tamasaburō I, Bandō Mitsugorō V (posthumously). The print was probably published by some unknown Yama-Ta (Marks U421b). Double nanushi censor seals and date seal: Muramatsu and Fuku, Kaei 5, 2nd month (2/1852). As Kabuki Encyclopedia put it: "Gonpachi. A parasite. From the character named Shirai Gonpachi who lives at the home of Banzui Chōbei and sponges off him" (An English-Langauge Adaptation of Kabuki Jiten. Samuel L. Leiter. Greenwood Press, 1979, pp. 26, 98-9). There were many kabuki plays based on the story of the lovers Miura-ya Komurasaki and Shirai Gonpachi. (See: [LIB-2226.2019] Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford. Tales of Old Japan. — London: Macmillan and Co., 1883). Ref.: Art shop Ezoshi Ukiyoe new collection news, vol. 66, 2023.1 (Jan) # 31, p.8.  
  • Title: FABLES | DE | M. DE FLORIAN , | de l’académie françoise, de celles de Madrid , | Florence, etc. | — | Je tâche d'y tourner le vice ridicule , | Ne pouvant l'attaquer avec des bras d'Hercule. | La Font. Fables , liv. V , I. — | [publisher's device ] | A PARIS, | DE L'IMPRIMERIE DE P. DIDOT L'AINÉ, | 1792. Pagination: ffl, [2 - h.t. / Imp.] [2 - blank / frontis.] [2 - tp. / blank] [5] 6-224 [2 - advert. / blank], bfl. Collation: numbered 1(5), 2-18(6), 19(3); engarved frontispiece portrait of Florian after François Hüet-Villiers, 5 engraved plates by Longueil, Delignon, and Gaucher after Flouest. Binding: Contemporary full mottled calf, all margins red, gilt floral ornaments to flat spine, red label with gilt lettering. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen, de Ricci 1912: p. 398-9.
  • Title: GIACOMO CASANOVA | Chevalier de Seingalt | HISTORY OF MY LIFE | FIRST TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH IN ACCORDANCE | WITH THE ORIGINAL FRENCH MANUSCRIPT | By Willard R. Trask | With an Introduction by the Translator | VOLUMES 1 AND 2 | A Helen and Kurt Wolff book • Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966 | NEW YORK || Stated 1st edition. Pagination: [2 blank] [i-iv] v-viii, [1, 2] 3-330 [8 blanks] + 32 ills. Two volumes in one.
  • Title: GEORGE CRUIKSHANK'S FAIRY LIBRARY. | HOP-O'-MY THUMB. | JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. | CINDERELLA. | PUSS IN BOOTS. | [DEVICE] | LONDON: | GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. Pagination: [2] – blanks, [2] – first half-title with blank verso, [i-ii] – second half-title with blank verso, [2] – blank / frontispiece, [iii-viii] title, colophon, editor's note, list of illustrations, [2] –  title with blank verso, [1] 2-101 [3] – blank; 24 plates with protective tissue. Colophon: This edition is limited to 500 copies, with India paper impressions. The former editions have been from lithographic transfers. The plates were retouched under Mr. Cruikshank's direction shortly before his death, and have not been used since until now. Binding: 4to, 22.2 x 17.5 cm, hardcover; 3/4 black calf ruled in gilt, brown calf spine with raised bands decorated in gilt, with gilt title lettering. Green marbled boards and end-papers. Abel E. Berland's bookplate pasted to front pastedown. Professionally rebound, re-backed with the original spine laid down, corners bumped. Catalogue Raisonné: Not in Alan M. Cohen's. As writes the British Library: "George Cruikshank’s [...]  illustrations for the first English translation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales were praised widely, but his own rewriting of fairytales was criticised, most prominently by Charles Dickens. This was not due to the quality of the illustrations, but because, in line with his temperance beliefs, Cruikshank rewrote aspects of the fairytales to warn the reader against the evils of alcohol. Thus, for instance, the preparations for Cinderella’s marriage include the court throwing all alcohol in the palace on a bonfire; and in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, the giant is an alcoholic. Dickens, a friend of Cruikshank, was outraged at what he considered to be a betrayal of the essence of fairytales and, in protest, he published an essay in his weekly magazine Household Words entitled ‘Frauds on the Fairies’ in protest (1853)."
  • Title: THE NEW LIFE | OF DANTE ALIGHIERI | TRANSLATED BY | DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI | {Publisher's device} | Portland, Maine | THOMAS B. MOSHER | Mdccccv Pagination: Ffl [i-viii] ix-xii [xiii] [xiv blank], [1, 2] 3-97 [98] bfl; frontis. w/guard; Note: “This fourth edition on Van Gelder paper consists of 925 copies”. Binding: Hardcover, 18.2 x 10.2 cm, full brown morocco possibly by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, with embossed design elements, raised bands, gilt lettering to spine, TMG, other untrimmed; printed on laid paper with watermark.  
  • Title: FLATLAND | A Romance of Many Dimensions | With Illustrations | by the Author, A SQUARE | “fie, fie, how franticly I square may talk!” | NEW AND REVISED EDITION | LONDON | SEELEY & Co., 46, 47 & 48, ESSEX STREET, STRAND | (Late of 54 Fleet Street) | 1884 || Pagination: 2 blank leaves, [2] – h.t. / blank, [2] – t.p. / imprint., [2] – dedication / blank, [ix] x-xvi, [1, 2] f.t. / blank, [3] 4-102, 2 blank leaves; in-text woodcuts. Collation: [A]8 B-H8. Binding: original wrappers in pictorial parchment jacket, printed on laid paper, lower and lateral margins untrimmed. Note: This is the 2nd edition published the same year as the 1st, revised, as stated. I did not compare the two, neither I am planning to acquire the first 1st edition in a foreseeable future. This is a lifetime edition, handled by the Author himself, and that's enough for me to be quite happy.
  • Cover:  (black and red in red frame) PARIS POLICE | par | Ch. Virmaitre | PARIS | E. DENTU, ÉDITEUR | LIBRAIRE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES GENTES DE LETTRES | Palais-Royal, 15-17-19, Galerie d’Orléans | 1886 || Title page: CH. VIRMAITRE | PARIS–POLICE | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | E. DENTU, ÉDITEUR | LIBRAIRE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES GENTES DE LETTRES | PALAIS-ROYAL, 15-17-19, GALERIE D’ORLEANS | 1886 | Tous droits réservés. || Pagination : 3 blank leaves, original pictorial wrapper, [4], [1] 2-359 [360 blank], original back wrapper with publisher's advertisement, 3 blank leaves. Collation: 12mo; π2, 1-1912 206. Binding: owner's hardcover, quarter burgundy percaline, marbled boards, brown title label with gilt lettering, gilt double tail ruler, year, and fleuron to spine; original paper wrappers preserved.
  • Title: OVID'S | METAMORPHOSES | IN | FIFTEEN BOOKS. | Translated by the most Eminent Hands. | Adorn’d with Sculptures | London: | Printed for Jacob Tonson at Shakespeare’s–Head | over-against Katharine-Street in the Strand. | M DCC XVII. || Physical description: Folio, laid paper, engraved title as frontispiece, letterpress title-page, portrait of the dedicatee, the Princess of Wales, engraved by George Vertue (British, 1684 – 1756) after Sir Godfrey Kneller (German, 1646 – 1723), [4] – dedication with headpiece vignette engraved by Elisha Kirkall (British, 1682 – 1742) after Peter Berchet (French, 1659 – 1720 London), [i]-xx – preface, [4] – contents, 1-548; collation: π3 a-f2, B-Zzzzzz2, +15 full-paged engravings, one heading each book; bound in full contemporary tan English calf blind-tooled with a darker panel, raised bands, crimson label with gilt lettering, sprinkled compartments with blind tooling, rebacked, later endpapers, 15 1/4 x 9 1/2 in (39.5 x 26 x 5 cm). Contributors: Author: Ovid (Roman, 43 B.C. – A.D. 17) Translator: Sir Samuel Garth (British, 1661 – 1719) Translator: John Dryden (British, 1631 – 1700) Translator: Joseph Addison (British, 1672 – 1719) Translator: John Gay (British, 1685 – 1732) Dedicatee / Sitter: Caroline Wilhelmina of Brandenburg-Ansbach, Princess of Wales, Queen of England (German-British, 1683 – 1737) Engraver: Elisha Kirkall (British, 1682 – 1742) Artist: Peter Berchet (French-British, 1659 – 1720) Artist:  Sir Godfrey Kneller (German, 1646 – 1723) Engraver: George Vertue (British, 1684 – 1756) Engraver: Louis Du Guernier, the younger (French, 1677 – 1716) Engraver: Michael Vandergucht (Flemish, 1660 – 1725) Engraver: Elisha Kirkall (British, 1682 – 1742) Engraver: R. Smith (British, fl. early 18th century) Engraver: Matthys Pool (Dutch, 1670 – c. 1732) Publisher: Jacob Tonson, the Elder (British, 1655 – 1736)  
  • Front wrapper and title page : AVRIL – JUIN 1961 […] Numéro 35 |LE MOUVEMENT SOCIAL | Bulletin trimestriel de l'Institut français d'Histoire sociale | (Association reconnue d’utilité publique) | Le mouvement des Universités Populaires | par L. Dintzer, F. Robin et L. Grelaud | La vie de Blanqui sous le second empire | par M. Dommanget | Aperçu des fonds de l'Institut | par C. Chambelland | LES ÉDITIONS OUVRIÈRES | 12 avenue Sœur-Rosalie, Paris (13e) || Pagination : [1, 2] 3-48. Publisher’s wrappers, 24 x 16 cm. The paper by Maurice Dommanget (French, 1888 – 1976) La vie de Blanqui sous le Second Empire : de la sortie de Belle-ile à la sortie de Sainte-Pélagie (1er décembre 1857 – 12 mars 1864), pp. 30–41.
  • Two volumes uniformly bound by Riviere & Son in full red marbled calf, triple fillet border stamped in gilt, elaborate gilt ornament and brown morocco labels with gilt lettering to spine, all edge gilt, gilt dentelles. Vol. 1: Title page: THE | LIFE AND EXPLOITS | Of the ingenious gentleman | DON QUIXOTE | DE LA MANCHA. | Translated from the Original Spanish of | Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra. | By CHARLES JARVIS, Esq; | IN TWO VOLUMES. | {single rule} | VOLUME the FIRST. | {double rule} | LONDON: | Printed for J. and R. Tonson in the Strand, and | R. Dodsley in Pall-Mall. | {single rule} | M DCC XLII || Pagination: [i-iii] iv-xxxii, [i-iii] iv-vi, [2], [1] 2-90, [14], [1] 2-355 [356]; 500 pages total + ils. Collation: 4to; 250 leaves; A4 a-b4 c-d2, A4, a-l4 m2 n4 o2, B-Z4, Aa-Yy4 Z2, ils. Illustrations: 27 full-page copperplate engravings, incl. frontispiece (skillfully repaired), portrait of Cervantes by George Vertue After G. Kent and a fictional portrait of Don Quixote by George Vertue after John Vanderbank. Vol. 2: Title page: THE | LIFE AND EXPLOITS | Of the ingenious gentleman | DON QUIXOTE | DE LA MANCHA. | Translated from the Original Spanish of | Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra. | By CHARLES JARVIS, Esq; | {single rule} | VOLUME the SECOND. | {double rule} | LONDON: | Printed for J. and R. Tonson in the Strand, and | R. Dodsley in Pall-Mall. | {single rule} | M DCC XLII || Pagination: [i-iii] iv-xii, [1] 2-388; 400 pages total + ils. Collation: 4to; 200 leaves; A4 a2 B-Z4 Aa-Zz4 Aaa-Ccc4 Ddd2, ils. Illustrations:41 full-page copperplate engravings, pl. 29 (as frontispieces) precedes pl. 28. Contributors: Author: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (Spanish, 1547 – 1616) Translator: Charles Jervas (British, 1675 – 1739) Author: Cervantes biography by Gregorio Mayans y Siscar (Spanish, 1699 – 1781) Translator: Cervantes biography by John Ozell (British, d. 1743) Illustrator: John Vanderbank, the younger (British, 1694 – 1739) Artist: (Cervantes portrait): G. Kent (British, fl. 1738 – 1742) Engravers: Gerard Vandergucht (British, 1696 – 1776); George Vertue (British, 1684 – 1756); Bernard Baron (French, 1696 – 1762); Claude Du Bosc (French, 1682 – 1746 or later) Publishers: J. and R. Tonson (London); Robert Dodsley (British, 1703 – 1764) Catalogue raisonné: Lewine p. 102 Reference: Metropolitan Museum (New York)
  • Cover: John Milton | A Catalogue of Works by or Relating to | John Milton | {vignette portrait} | Catalogue 620 | Issued by | MAGGS BROS. Ltd. | 34 & 35 Conduit Street, New Bond Street | LONDON, W.I. | and at Paris | 1936 || Title page: top left: Catalogue 620; top right: 1936, middle: JOHN MILTON | A CATALOGUE OF WORKS BY OR | RELATING TO JOHN MILTON | Largely comprising the Library of the well-known Milton Scholar, the late | prof. Hugh C. H. Candy, B.A., B Sc. | {coat of arms: by appointment to his majesty King George V} | MAGGS BROS. Ltd. | BOOKSELLERS BY APPOINTMENT TO HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V | AND H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES | 34 & 35 CONDUIT STREET, LONDON, W.I. | TELEGRAPHIC & CABLE ADDRESS: “BIBLIOLITE, LONDON.” […] TEL.: REGENT 1337 | At Paris: Maggs Bros., 93 & 95 Rue La Boëtie. || Printed: Courier Press Leamington SPA and London. Pagination: [1-4] 5-56 [6], wrappers incl. in pagination, the total number of leaves is 31. Binding: 24 x 18.5 cm, publisher’s tan wrappers, front wrapper detached, browned.
  • Engraved title-page 1, as per British Museum: An architectural setting with, at upper centre, a portrait of Carlo Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy, in an ornate cartouche lettered “"Spectandus Certamine Martio"; a central title “LA | GERUSALEMME | DI | TORQUATO | TASSO | FUGURATA A | DA BERNARDO CASTELLO | A | CARLO EMANUELLO | DVCA DI SAVOIA” flanked by Tuscan columns and crests with mottos and imprese showing compasses lettered "Dvm Premor Amplior", at left, and a crossed sword and sceptre with a crown lettered "Illaesa Super Sunt", at right; in the lower register, male and female figures in armour, perhaps representing Tancredi and Clorinda, with a central crest showing an impresa of armour”. Central title: Below, within frame: "In Genova, Appresso Giuseppe Pavoni. […] Con licenza de' Superiori. MDCXVII." Engraved title-page 2, as per British Museum: Portrait of Torquato Tasso, bust, facing front, wearing a laurel crown; within an oval pendant, lettered “TOROVATO […] TASSO EF”, suspended from a pediment, beneath which a view of Genoa is flanked by two columns, and above is a tablet, lettered: “LA GERUSALEMME | LIBERATA | DI TORQUATO | TASSO. | Con le annotazioni | di Scipion | Gentili, e di Givlio | Guastauini , | Et li argomenti di Oratio Ariosti , | STAMPATA | Per Giuseppe Pauoni ad instanza di | Bernardo Castello,in Genova | L’Anno MDCXVII." Collation: 8vo; 2 leaves of engraved title-pages, 1 leaf signed †2, 1 leaf unsigned, 2 leaves signed †† and ††2, respectively, 1 leaf unsigned, 1 leaf with engraving to verso (frontispiece to Canto Primo) —> 8 prelims (besides FEP or a blank leaf before 1st t.p.); π8 A-Q8 (pp. 1-255 [256 blank], plated within collation), G1, I1, K1, O1, and P1 (recto to plates without text) unsigned, L3 signed as second L2; A-D8 E4 (pp. 1-71 [72]; A-B8 C4 χ1 (pp. [1] 2-36 [37-40] [2]),  in the 4-leaf quires E and C only two first leaves signed, in the 8-leaf quires four first leaves signed. Illustrations: woodcut head- and tail-pieces, woodcut initials, some historiated, and 20 plates within collation and pagination engraved by Camillo Cungio after Bernardo Castello. Binding: 30.5 x 21.4 cm overall, 30 x 20.5 cm leaves; contemporary vellum, rebacked with modern brown morocco, crimson morocco label with gilt lettering and double-fillet outline. Two bookplates to front pastedown: (1) Chippendale armorial bookplate (8.3 x 7.6 cm): Thos. Brand Esqr. Signed: W Austin — Fecit; (2) The Robin Collection bookplate. Bookseller’s ticket to back pastedown: “J. POOLE. | British & foreign | BOOKSELLER, | 39 BOOKSELLERS ROW, | STRAND |〰️| Books Bought.” All edges green. Provenance: The Robin Collection; Thomas Brand Hollis (British, 1719 – 1804). Contributors: Torquato Tasso (Italian, 1544 –1595) – author. Scipione Gentili [Scipio Gentilis] (Italian, 1563 – 1616) – author. Giulio Guastavini (Italian, fl. 16th century) – author. Bernardo Castello [Castelli] (Italian, 1557 – 1629) – artist. Camillo Cungi (Italian, fl. 1597 – 1649) – engraver. Giuseppe Pavoni (Italian, 1551 – c. 1641) – printer, publisher. Carlo Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy (Italian, 1562 – 1630) – dedicatee.
  • Hardbound, 25.3 x 22 cm, blue cloth, pictorial dust jacket lettered: HIROSHIGE | FAN PRINTS | RUPERT FAULKNER | {image} | VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM • FAR EASTERN SERIES ||; silver lettering to spine, green endpapers, description of 136 items with colour illustrations; pagination: [1-6] 7-160, ils. Utagawa Hiroshige [歌川 広重] a.k.a. Andō Hiroshige [安藤 広重] (Japanese, 1797 – 1858).
  • Softcover, in pictorial flapped wrappers, 28 x 21.8 cm, 26 entries, with colour illustrations, some folding. Catalogue # 7 of the sales exhibition on March 25 - April 1, 2003 in NY; pagination: [1-3] 4-90 [2], ils., some folding. Contributor: Sebastian Izzard