///Illustrated books
  • Title page [in black and blue]: ЭРАЗМ | РОТТЕРДАМСКИЙ | ПОХВАЛЬНОЕ СЛОВО | ГЛУПОСТИ | ПЕРЕВОД И КОММЕНТАРИИ | П. К. ГУБЕРА | ВСТУПИТЕЛЬНАЯ СТАТЬЯ | И. СМИЛГИ | {vignette} | ACADEMIA | МОСКВА ~ ЛЕНИНГРАД | 1932 ||

    Pagination: [1-7] 8-236 [4], in-text illustrations after Hans Holbein the Younger, title page, DJ, cloth by Л. С. Хижинский, photo reproduction of the portrait of Erasmus by Hans Holbein the Younger from The Louvre museum w/guard paper.

    Collation: 8vo; [1]8 2-158, + 1 plate extraneous to collation (portrait).

    Binding: 18 x 13 cm; Pictorial stamped cloth, pictorial DJ, pictorial endpapers, back board blind-stamped.

    Print run: 5,300 copies.

    Catalogue raisonné: Крылов-Кичатова (2004), №477, p. 221. (in 1930 section). Contributors: Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (Dutch, c. 1469 – 1536) – author of the original text in Latin. Hans Holbein the Younger (German, 1497/8 – 1543) – artist. Губер, Пётр Константинович (Russian, 1886 – 1941) – translator from Latin into Russian (died in GULAG) Смилга, Ивар Тенисович (Latvian-Russian, 1892 – 1937) – author, foreword (shot by a firing squad). Хижинский, Леонид Семёнович (Russian, 1896 – 1972) – artist (title page, DJ, cloth).    
  • The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain Engraven By Mr. Houbraken And Mr. Vertue. With Their Lives And Characters by Thomas Birch, A.M.F.R.S. Two Volumes in One. Published for John and Paul Knapton, London, 1747. 108 engraved portraits.

  • L'incendie de Hôtel de Ville (24 mai 1871). A woodcut by Provost; printed by Imp. Charaire et fils; F. Roy, éditier.
  • A two-volume set, published in Paris by P.-J. Hetzel in 1845 and 1846.

    Vol. 1:

    Title: LE | DIABLE A PARIS | — PARIS ET LES PARISIENS — | MŒURS ET COUTUMES, CARACTERES ET PORTRAITS DES HABITANTS DE PARIS, | TABLEAU COMPLET DE LEUR VIE PRIVEE, PUBLIQUE, POLITIQUE, | ARTISTIQUE, LITTERAIRE, INDUSTRIELLE, ETC., ETC. | TEXTE PAR MM. | GEORGE SAND — P.-J. STAHL — LEON GOZLAN — P. PASCAL — FREDERIC SOULIE — CHARLES NODIER | EUGENE BRIFFAULT — S. LAVALETTE — DE BALZAC — TAXILE DELORD — ALPHONSE KARR | MÉRY — A. JUNCETIS — GERARD DE NERVAL — ARSÈNE HOUSSAYE — ALBERT AUBERT — THÉOPHILE GAUTIER | OCTAVE FEUILLET — ALFRED DE MUSSET — FRÉDÉRIC BÉRAT | précédé d’une | HISTOIRE DE PARIS PAR THEOPHILE LAVALLÉE | ILLUSTRATIONS | LES GENS DE PARIS — SERIES DE GRAVURES AVEC LEGENDES | PAR GAVARNI | PARIS COMIQUE — VIGNETTES DE BERTALL | VUES, MONUMENTS, EDIFICES PARTICULIERS, LIEUX CÉLÈBRES ET PRINCIPAUX ASPECTS DE PARIS | PAR CHAMPIN, BERTRAND, D’AUBIGNY, FRANÇAIS. | [DEVICE] | PARIS | PUBLIÉ PAR J. HETZEL, | RUE RICHELIEU, 76 – RUE DE MÉNARS, 10. | 1845 ||

    Pagination: ffl, [2 – h.t. / Paris: Typographie Lacrampe et Comp., Rue Damiette, 2 ; Papeir de la fabrique de sainte-marie] [2 – blank / frontis. ‘Diable’ with lantern standing on map of Paris] [2 – t.p. /blank] [I] II-XXXII, [1] 2-380, bfl. Sheet size: 27.5 x 17.5 cm.

    Collation: 4to; A(4) – D(4), [1(4)] 2(4) – 47(4), 48(2); illustrations: frontispiece, vignette title-page, numerous text engravings and 99 plates.

    Vol. 2: Title: LE | DIABLE A PARIS | — PARIS ET LES PARISIENS — | MŒURS ET COUTUMES, CARACTERES ET PORTRAITS DES HABITANTS DE PARIS, | TABLEAU COMPLET DE LEUR VIE PRIVEE, PUBLIQUE, POLITIQUE, | ARTISTIQUE, LITTERAIRE, INDUSTRIELLE, ETC., ETC. | TEXTE PAR MM. | DE BALZAC — EUGÈNE SUE — GEORGE SAND — P.-J. STAHL — ALPHONSE KARR | HENRY MONNIER — OCTAVE FEUILLET — DE STENDAHL — LEON GOZLAN — S. LAVALETTE — ARMAND MARRAST | LAURENT-JAN —ÉDOUARD OURLIAC — CHARLES DE BOIGNE — ALTAROCHE — EUG. GUINOT | JULES JANIN — EUGENE BRIFFAULT — AUGUSTE BARBIER — MERQUIS DE VARENNES — ALFRED DE MUSSET | CHARLES NODIER — FRÉDÉRIC BÉRAT — A. LEGOYT| précédé d’une | GÉOGRAPHIE DE PARIS PAR THEOPHILE LAVALLÉE | ILLUSTRATIONS | LES GENS DE PARIS — SERIES DE GRAVURES AVEC LEGENDES | PAR GAVARNI | PARIS COMIQUE — PANTHÉON DU DIABLE A PARIS PAR BERTALL | VUES, MONUMENTS, EDIFICES PARTICULIERS, LIEUX CÉLÈBRES ET PRINCIPAUX ASPECTS DE PARIS | PAR CHAMPIN, BERTRAND, D’AUBIGNY, FRANÇAIS. | [DEVICE] | PARIS | PUBLIÉ PAR J. HETZEL, | RUE RICHELIEU, 76 – RUE DE MÉNARS, 10. | 1846 || Pp. : ffl, [2 – h.t. / Paris: Typographie Lacrampe et Comp., Rue Damiette, 2 ; Papeir de la fabrique de sainte-marie] [2 – t.p. /blank] [I] II-LXXX, [1] 2-364, bfl. Sheet size: 27.5 x 17.5 cm. Collation: 4to; A(4) – I(4) – J(4), 1(4), 2(4) – 45(4), 46(2); illustrations: vignette title-page, numerous text engravings and 112 plates.

    Binding: [allegedly Roger de Coverly (British, 1831 — 1914)], 28.2 x 19 cm, ¾ brown calf ruled in gilt, brown marbled boards, nonpareil marbled endpapers, raised and ruled in gilt bands, floral devices and title lettering to spine. AEG. Foxing to flyleaves, tips of corners just a very little rubbed as are the glazed marbled paper boards; endpapers foxed; very occasional light scattered foxing of text.

    Provenance: (1) Armorial bookplate (Ex Libris Sir John Whittaker Ellis, 1st Baronet (1829 – 1912), Lord Mayor of London 1881; (2) Bookplate Ex Libris Robert Frederick Green) dated 1909.

    Reference: L. Carteret (1927) pp. 203-207: the first edition, lacking the publisher's white pictorial wrappers.
  • Voyage ou Il vous plaira by Alfred de Musset and P.-J. Stahl (Hetzel); Tony Johannot (illustrations). [Les chefs d'oeuvres de la litterature et de l'illustration] // Marescq et Cie, éditeurs, - Paris, 1856.

    Contes de Charles Nodier by Jean Charles Emmanuel Nodier (1780 – 1844) illustrated by H. Émy.

    Owner's binding in red half Morocco, A4 (297 x 219 mm). "Voyage ou Il vous plaira" (60 pages) and fairy tales by Charles Nodier with illustrations by H. Émy (Armand-Louis-Henri Telory, born in Strasbourg in 1820 and died in 1874): "La Fée aux miettes" ; "Le songe d'or (fable levantine)"; "La légende de la Soeur Béatrix"; "Trilby"; Inès de las Sierras"; "Baptiste Montauban"; "Smarra ou les démons de la nuit"; "La neuvaine de la Chandeleur"; "La combe de l’homme mort". Extensive foxing, owner's pencil drawings on some pages, otherwise good condition.

  • С. Маршак. Почта военная. Детиздат : Ленинград, 1947.

    Hard-bound Quatro (304 x 246 mm) printed in lithography with hand-colored details on cover.

    The name of artist hardly legible on a stamp on frontispiece: скворцов.

    The text repeats itself on multiple pages. Most probably the book is a pilot run, never went to mass printing and distribution.
  • Engraved title page: ILLUSTRATION | OF | TIME. | GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. | "THERE IS A TIME FOR ALL THINGS". | TEMPUS EDAX RERUM. | LONDON | Published May 1st 1827 by the Artist - 22 Myddelton Terrace Pentonville. - Sold by Js. Robins & Co. Ivy Lane Paternoster Row.

    Oblong folio, 33.5 x 44 cm. Engraved vignette title page and six not-coloured engraved plates with multiple images showing thirty-five humorous scenes.

    First edition, first issue. Uncoloured. Pristine condition.

    Half-leather bound in marbled cardboard and red morocco and gild lettering and arabesque. Frontispiece and 6 plates with protective tissues.

    Content:

    1. Time-Called & Time-Come (five sketches)

    2. Behind Time (seven sketches)

    3. Time Thrown Away (six sketches)

    4. Hard Times [&] Term Time (five sketches)

    5. Time Badly Employed (five sketches)

    6. Christmas Time (seven sketches)

    British Museum № 1978,U.3026.1. BM description: "Frontispiece, the title on a background of symmetrical but dilapidated and grass-grown masonry. On the summit stands a little laughing gnome, with a wide hat and a body formed of an hour-glass; Inset is an oval bordered by a serpent with its tail in its mouth (emblem of eternity), in which is an aged and all-devouring Time (bald except for a forelock), seated behind a table whose surface is the base of the design. He puts to his mouth a fork on which is speared an elephant with a castle on its back containing tiny figures with spears. In his r. hand is a spoon containing a country church. His table is covered with dishes, and at his r. hand is a sickle. The central and biggest dish is heaped with a jumble of tiny objects: crown, table, chair, wheelbarrow, picture; round the room sit little figures: a soldier, parson, lady and child, &c. The ten other dishes contain: an antique glass coach with horses and footmen; an overladen camel beside a palm-tree; ruins of a castle; a farmhouse; a shepherd and sheep; a dismantled cannon and balls, cattle, a man-of-war in full sail; a ruinous Gothic cathedral; a clump of trees (the last two are dominated by a large decanter). Below Time are two (Egyptian) pyramids. Above: 'There Is A Time For All Things'; below: 'Tempus Edax Rerum'. 1 May 1827. Etching."
    Bibliography:
    • Reid, G W, A descriptive catalogue of the works of George Cruikshank, London, 1871.
    • Stephens, Frederic George; George, Mary Dorothy, Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, 11 vols, London, BMP, 1870.
    • Cohn, A M, George Cruikshank, catalogue raisonné, London, 1924.
  • Title: PETER SCHLEMIHL: | FROM THE GERMAN | OF LAMOTTE FOUQUÉ | WITH PLATES BY GEORGE CRUICKSHANK. | "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, | "Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." | SHAKESPEARE. | — | LONDON: | G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER, | AVE MARIA LANE. | 1824.|| Pagination: xii, 165 p. : ill. No Adelbert von Chamisso (German, 1781 – 1838) name on the title page. George Cruikshank's name printed with a typo 'Cruickshank'. The attribution on the title-page to Friedrich de La Motte-Fouqué (German, 1777 – 1843) is erroneous. The original German was edited by La Motte Fouqué. The translation was performed by Sir John Bowring (British, 1792 – 1872) First edition in English, third issue with no hyphen between "Ave" and 'Maria" in publisher's imprint.

    In a cover box of red cloth over cardboard. Box: 21 x 13 x 2.3 cm; book: 19.3 x 11.8 x 1.7 cm; Crown 8vo. Red cardboard binding. Printed spine labels mounted on spine of the box and the book. Untrimmed edges.

    Reference: Cohn 475.
  • Шамиссо, Адальбертъ фонъ. Петеръ Шлемиль. Чудесная исторiя. Пер. П.Потемкина. Рис., виньетки и перепет Эмиля Преторiуса по 1-му нѣм. изд. 1814 г. — СПб.: Книгоиздательство "Пантеонъ", 1910. — 107 стр. Отпечатано в типографии акц. о-ва типографск. дела в СПБ (Герольд), 7 рота, 26.

    Cardboard binding, 8vo, 20 x 15 cm. Russian translation of Adelbert von Chamisso book Peter Schlemihl, from the German by Peter Potemkine. With illustrations from 1814 original German first edition by Emil Preetorius. [SV: the latest statement seems strange as Emil Preetorius lived from 1883 to 1973].
  • Title: ACADEMIE | DES | SCIENCES | ET DES | ARTS, | Contenant les Vies & les Eloges Historiques des | Hommes Illustres, | Qui ont excellé en ces Professions depuis environ quatre Siécles | parmy diverses Nations de l’Europe : |Avec leurs Pourtraits tirez sur des Originaux au Naturel, & plusieurs Inscriptions | funebres, exactement recueïlies de leurs Tombeaux | Par Isaac Bullart , Chevalier de l’Ordre de Saint Michel. | TOME PREMIER | {allegorical vignette, signed Abr. A Diepenbeke delineavit – Pet. Clouwet sculp.} | Imprimé par les soins de l’Autheur. | A AMSTERDAM, | Se vendent chez les Heritiers de Daniel Elzevier, 1682. || Pagination : [2] – h.t. / blank ; [2] – 1st vol. t.p. in black and red with vignette engraved by Pet. Clouwet after Abr. Diepenbeke / blank; [7] – dedication to Jacques Theodore de Brias {Jacques-Théodore de Bryas (Dutch, 1630 – 1694)}, [9] – preface, [2] – table demonstrative / stanza by Guilielmus Riverius, [2] vinette “Tardius sed grandius” with an elephant in ornamental frame / text; [2] – Advis au lecteur; [1, 2] – f.t. livre premiere, illustres politiques / blank; [2] – noms politiques / blank (A1, after f.t.), 3(A2)-421, [422-424] – table eloges. Collation: [*]6, **8, A6 B-Ggg4. (14 prelim. leaves, as in LIB-2675.2021; the LIB-2676.2021 copy has 12) Binding: 34.5 x 22 x 4.3 cm.34.5 x 22 x 4.3 cm, hardbound; full calf, raised bands. The title is drawn by Abraham van Diepenbeeck (Dutch, 1596 - 1675) and engraved by Peeter Clouwet (Flemish, 1629–1670). The first volume of a two-volume set contains 119 copperplate burin-engraved portraits of selected politicians, historians, jurists, writers, and Italian artists.  26 portraits engraved by Esme de Boulonois (French,1645 – 1681), 3 unsigned, and the rest engraved by Nicolas de Larmessin I (French, 1632 – 1694)Lavinia Vecellio, (Italian, 1530 – 1575), Titian' daughter, engraved by Lamerssin after Titian, Portrait of Jacques Auguste de Thou engraved by de Boulonois after Daniel Dumonstier. Politicians: Antoine Perrenot, Cardinal de Granvelle; Arnaud d'Ossat, Cardinal; Auger Busbeque; Bessarion, Cardinal; François Ximenes, Cardinal; George d'Amboise, Cardinal; Gille Albornoz, Cardinal; Guillaume de Croy; Guy du Faur de Pybrac; Jacques Auguste de Thou; Jean de Selve; Jean Zamoski; Jean de Barnevelt; Jean Armand du Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu; Jule Mazarin, Cardinal; Michel de l'Hospital; Renaud Pole, Cardinal; Stanislas Hosius, Cardinal; Thomas Morus; Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal. Historians: Bertrand d'Argentré; Cæsar Baronius, Cardinal; Emanuel de Meteren; Enguerand de Monstrelet; Florimond de Remond; François Guicciardin; Fulve Ursin; Guillaume Camden; Henry Catherine d'Avila; Hubert Goltzius; Jacques Amiot; Jean Aventin; Jean Baptiste Platina; Jean Barclay; Jean Froissard; Jean Papirius Masson; Nicolas le Febure; Olivier de la Marche; Onuphre Panuinius; Pandolphe Collenuce; Paul Jove; Philippe de Commines; Pontus Heuterus; Regino Abbé de Prumy; Robert Gaguin; Wolfgang Lazius. Jurists: Alexandre de Tartagnis; André Alciat; André Tiraqueau; Antoine Augustin; Antoine le Febvre; Boece Epo; Charles du Moulin; François Bauduin; Gabriel Mudée; Jacques Cuias; Jason Mainus; Jean Wamese; Mathieu Wesenbec; Philippe Dece; Pierre Peckius; Pierre Pithou; Tibere Decian; Viglius de Zuichem. Writers/Linguists: Ange Politian; Demetrius Chalcondyles; Emanuel Chrysoloras; François PhilelpheFrançois Raphelenge; Guillaume Postel; Jean Argyropilus; Jean Bocace; Jean Lascaris; Jean Passerat; Jean Pierius Valerianus; Jeanne Gray; Nicolas Clenard; Pierre Nannius; Rudolphe Agricola; Theodore Gaza. Italian painters, architects, and sculptors: André Mantegna; André Organa; André del Sarto; André Tafi; André Verrochio; Antoine de Correge; Antoine de Messine; Arnoud di Lappo; Baccio Bandinel; Balthazar Perusi; Bramante d'Urbin; Daniel Ricciarelli; Dominique Beccafumi; Donato; François MazzuoliFrançois Primatici; Frere Philippe Lippi; Giorgion; Giotto; Jacques Barozzi de Vignole; Jean Antoine Licinio de Pordenone; Jean Cimabue; Jean d'Udine; Jean François Rustici; Jule Romain; Le Rosso; Leonard de Vinci; Masaccio; Michel-Ange Buonarotti; Perin del Vaga; Philippe Bruneleschi; Philippe Lippi; Polidore de Caravage; Propertia de Rossi; Raphael Sanzio d'Urbin; Sandro Boticelli; Simon Memmi; Taddée Gaddi; Titian Uccello.  
  • Phaedri, Aug. Liberti Fabularum Aesopiarum libri V / notis illustravit in usum serenissimi principis Nassavii David Hoogstratanus. Accedunt ejusdem opera duo indices, quorum prior est omnium verborum, multo quam antehac locupletior, posterior eorum, quae observatu digna in notis occurunt. — Amstelaedami : Ex Typographia Francisci Halmae, MDCCI [1701]. — pp.: [1] title, [1] (portr.), [32] 160, [84], 18 leaves of plates. Vita Phaedri is written by Johannes Schefferus (February 2, 1621 – March 26, 1679). Appendix fabularum is written by Marquard Gude (Gudius) (1 February 1635 – 26 November 1689). Gaius Julius Phaedrus was a 1st-century CE Roman fabulist and the first versifier of a collection of Aesop's fables into Latin. David van Hoogstraten (Rotterdam, March 14, 1658 - Amsterdam, November 21, 1724), a physician, poet and linguist, annotated the fables and dedicated them to Johan Willem Friso van Oranje-Nassau (14 August 1687 – 14 July 1711). The book was published in Amsterdam by François Halma (Langerak, January 3, 1653 - Leeuwarden, January 13, 1722), a Dutch printer, publisher and bookseller, with a portrait of Prince of Orange-Nassau, engraved by Pieter van Gunst (Dutch, Amsterdam 1659–1724) after Bernard Vaillant (Dutch, Lille 1632–1698 Leyden). The title page was engraved by P. Boutats after Jan Goeree (Dutch, Middelburg 1670–1731 Amsterdam). The edition is adorned throughout with 18 plates, each with 8 médaillons, designed and engraved by Jan van Vianen (Dutch, 1660–1726), and with vignettes, head- and tailpieces, inhabited initials, etc. Contemporary vellum over boards, title in red and back, red edges, 4to, 26 x 20 cm. Seller's description:
    4to, engraved general title, letterpress red & black title page with allegorical engraved vignette. 18 full-page copper-engraved plates by Jan van Vianen, each featuring six circular images, and 38 in-text reproductions, engraved decorative initials, and head- and tailpieces. Phaedrus (15 BC - 50 AD, Italy), was a "Roman fabulist, the first writer to Latinize whole books of fables, producing free versions in the iambic metre of Greek prose fables then circulating under the name of Aesop." (Ency. Brit.). This deluxe edition was specially created for the Prince of Nassau, profusely illustrated with fine engravings. Dibdin spoke highly of it in his Greek and Latin Classics (4th edition): "I have always considered this as a correct and very sumptuous edition. It is ornamented with a great number of small plates, or medallions, in which the subject of the fable is very ably and spiritedly executed.
    Ref.: Metropolitan Museum; Musée Médard      
  • Amoris Divini Emblemata, Studio Et Aere Othonis Vaeni Concinata. — Antverpiae: Ex Officina Plantiniana Balthasaris Moreti, MDCLX [1660]. — pp.: [1] (Van Veen port.), [1] title, [2] (Isabella port.), 3-127 [1], 60 illustr. — 2nd impression. Octavius Vaenius, a.k.a. Otto Vaenius or Otto Van Veen (c. 1556-1629) was Rubens's last and most influential teacher. The Amoris divini emblemata was first published in 1615 by Nutius & Meursius in Antwerp. Vaenius’s book was to influence Herman Hugo's Pia desideria (LIB-1657.2018). Book structure: On frontispiece, trimmed and mounted portrait of Octavius Vaenius painted by his daughter Gertruida van Veen (signed Gertrudis filia) and engraved by Nicolas de Larmessin. Trimmed portrait of the Infanta Isabella Clara of Austria (1566 – 1633) pained by Peter Paul Rubens and engraved by Jan de Leeuw mounted to title verso.  60 engraved plates with emblems are on recto pages with facing texts: Latin quotations from Bible and Fathers, Spanish verses by Alphonso de Ledesma, Dutch by Vaenius and French by Carolus Philippus Hattron (d. 1632). Rebound in the mid-19th century in brown quarter Morocco with blind marbled boards and gilt lettering to spine. Inscription in ink on verso to van Veen portrait: "I bought this volume with the portraits inserted at the sale of the library of my uncle Samuel Rogers, Esq." Signed: "Frederick Sharpe, 1856". Frederick Sharpe (born was a son of Samuel Sharpe (1799–1881), the nephew of Samuel Rogers (1763–1855), a celebrated English poet. Size: 23.3 x 17.9 cm. Ref.: Emblem Project Utrecht (with an explanation of all the emblems); PETER BOOTHUYGENS: Similar or Dissimilar Loves?    
  • The edition consists of two albums:

    1) Skizzenbuch: Hundert Federzeichnungen von Heinrich Kley. — München: Albert Langen, [1909]. — pp.: [1-4] 5-63 [64], illustr. Printed by Hesse & Becker in Leipzig. Bound in the original brown moire covered boards, with a paste-down drawing on the front, gilt cover titles, original patterned endpapers.

    2) Skizzenbuch II. Hundert Federzeichnungen von Heinrich Kley. — München: Albert Langen, [1910]. — pp.: [1-4] 5-64, illustr. Printed by Hesse & Becker in Leipzig; paper by Bohnenberger & Cie.; binding by E. A. Enders, Leipzig. Bound in the original bluish-gray moire covered boards, with a paste-down drawing on the front, gilt cover titles, original patterned endpapers.

    The number of printed copies unknown. Reproduction of ink drawings by Heinrich Kley, 1st edition.

    Dimensions of each album: 32 x 24.5 cm; Quarto. Heinrich Kley (April 15, 1863 in Karlsruhe – 1945? in Munich) was a German illustrator, editorial illustrator and painter.
  • Quinze poèmes d'Emile Verhaeren. Illustrés de 57 gravures sur bois dessinées et gravées par Frans Masereel et suivis d'un 'Souvenir à Verhaeren' par Octave Uzanne. — Paris: Éditions Georges Crès, 1917. Authors: Emile Verhaeren (text), Frans Masereel (illustrations), Octave Uzanne (text). Publisher: Éditions Georges Crès. [Georges-Célestin Crès (1875 - 1935) was a French publisher and bookseller. Address: 116 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris]. Printer: Sonor S.A. - Geneve, under the direction of Auguste Jordanis. The number of copies printed: 1555 of which 15 (1-15) on Japan paper, 190 (16-205) on Fabriano paper, and 1350 (206-1555) on English paper (1506-1555 not for trade). This copy № 1312. Pagination: [i] - front cover, [ii] - half-title, [iii] - title, [iv] - printrun justification, [v] - table of contents, [vi] - blank, [i-vii] viii-ciii, [civ] - printer statement, [cv] - back cover; one-side (recto) printing and pagination. Owner's contemporary red half-Morocco with marbled boards; spine with four raised bands, gilt lettering and design elements. Original printed paper wrappers preserved. Marbled endpapers. Trimmed unevenly.  
  • [Jean de LA FONTAINE]. Contes et nouvelles en vers. De Monsieur de La Fontaine. Nouvelle édition enrichie de tailles-douces. À Amsterdam | Chez Henry Desbordes, MDCLXXXV [1685]. — 2 vol. in 1. Pagination: [1] - frontispiece with pasted illustr., [*1] - title p. with blank verso, *2-*5 (only recto numbered) - advertisement, [1] - preface vol. 1, [2] table, 1-236; [6] - preface vol. 2, 1-216, illustr. (in text). Etched frontispiece plate and 58 half-page etchings at the head of each chapter as well as endpiece vignettes, all by R. de Hooge (Romeyn de Hooghe, 1645 – 1708, a Dutch painter, sculptor, engraver and caricaturist. First illustrated edition. "Publication of the scandalous fables was forbidden in France from 1674. According to Van Eeghen, this edition was published without the knowledge of La Fontaine. ...This is the edition with ‘Le Juge de Nêle’ (instead of Mesle) in the contents of the first volume, as well as page 211 for 'Dissertation sur la Joconde'; 16 lines of text on page 211; and 19 lines of text on the first page of the preface of volume 2" [1]. Pott 8vo (15.4 x 10 cm), hardcover; owner's later tan polished half-calf, marbled boards, marbled pastedowns and flyleaves, 5 raised bands, dark brown labels with gilt lettering and gilt roll patterns on spine, tail of the spine slightly damaged. Corners bumped, spotted stains on leather. Henri Desbordes (d. ca. 1722) was a Huguenot printer who was exiled from his business in France and set up as a publisher in Amsterdam in the 17th century.
  • [Michael Hoyer]. Vita B. Ioannis Chisii a Maciaretto, ord. ermit. s. p. Augustini. — Antverpiæ, Apud Henricum Aertssens, Anno MDCXLI [1641]. Pagination: [2] *3+recto unpag. *4+recto unpag., [10], 5-135 [3]. Illustrations: Frontispiece missing, 4 copperplate engravings (pp. 22, 64, 90, and 120) by Pieter de Jode the Younger (1606–1674, Flemish printmaker, draughtsman, painter and art dealer) after Erasmus Quellinus the Younger (1607–1678, Flemish painter, engraver, draughtsman and tapestry designer). Size: Pott 8vo (15.5 x 10 cm), vellum binding. Expanded title: Vita Beati Ioannis Chisii, a Maciaretto, Ordinis Eremitarum Sancti Patris Augustini. [Translation: Life of Blessed Giovanni Chigi from Maciaretto, Order of Hermits of St. Augustine]. Blessed Giovanni Chigi (1300 - 1363) [1] was a lay brother of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine. The Chigi family is a Roman princely family of Sienese extraction descended from the counts of Ardenghesca. The earliest authentic mention of them is in the 13th century, with one Alemanno, counsellor of the Republic of Siena. The Wikipedia article does not mention Giovanni Chigi, however, it states that one of the Chigi, Cardinal Fabio Chigi, was elected pope as Alexander VII at the Conclave of 1655. The book was published in 1641 with a dedication to the said Cardinal Fabio Chigi before he was elected pope. The town, Maciaretto, where Giovanni Chigi was from, is unclear because there is no such place in modern Italy, and there are two places called Macereto: (1) Macereto Alta/Basso in Perugia province and (2) Macereto in the municipality of Visso, in the province of Macerata, region Marche. I assume that our Giovanni Chigi was from the one that is closer to Siena, i.e. Macereto in Perugia province. Regarding the author. There is no author's name in the book. However, in various sources, the book is mentioned as written by Michel Hoyer, who was born in Hesdin, Flanders in 1593 and died in 1650. He pursued an ecclesiastical career and professed rhetoric at the College of Saint Pierre in Lille. He later joined the Order of Saint Augustine, in the convent of Ypres, and settled in various schools in the Netherlands. His reputation attracted many students, among them Albert Rubens (1614–1657), the eldest son of Peter Paul Rubens and Isabella Brant. Michel Hoyer wrote several books, the most known is Flammulae amoris, S.P. Augustini versibus et iconibus exornatae: Surprisingly, there is only limited information about Michel Hoyer in Spanish Wikipedia; other language versions of his biography do not exist. Another author mentioned in the book is some anonymous Augustinian from Cologne. Regarding the illustrations. In our copy, the frontispiece is missing. It was probably ripped off by some unscrupulous seller of antique prints. The image on the missing frontispiece is this: The names of the artists engraved in the bottom of the stone: E. Quellinus, delin. to the left and P. de Jode, fecit. to the right. We can infer that the other illustrations in that book are produced by the same duo. The image represents three cherubs: one with Athena's serpent in his left hand and a cardinal's hat in his right hand; another in Athen's helmet on his head and her owl beside his feet, with the staff of Mercurius (serpent-twined staff adorned with a winged hat) in his left hand, and the House of Chigi - Della Rovere coat of arms in his right hand; the third cherub depicted with the Hercules attributes - lion pelt and a  club. Regarding the publisher. Henricum Aertssens or Hendrik Aertssen, 1586-1658. Besides the other books, he published PIA DESIDERIA by Herman Hugo in 1636 [1621 french edition by Jean Cnobbartin in Antwerp in his collection LIB-1657.2018]. According to Nina Lamal [2], nothing is known about career of this publisher, besides what's said in Adresboek van zeventiende-eeuwse drukkers, uitgevers en boekverkopers in Vlaanderen / Directory of seventeenth-century Printers, Publishers and Booksellers in Flanders / Vlieger-De Wilde, Koen De (editor). The list of his publications can be seen here. Other artists who turned to the figure of Blessed Giovanni Chigi were Abraham van Diepenbeeck (painter) and Conrad Lauwers (engraver). The print is in Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam. Here we see a more complex composition but with a clear reference to the work of Quellinus and de Jode: The cherub in Athena's helmet takes away the old coat of arms of the Chigi, and the other cherub points out to the new one, with papal symbols of St. Peter's keys, another cherub carries the papal tiara. Rijksmuseum dates the image as 1642 - 1685; most probably it is ca. 1655, when Fabio Chigi became Pope Alexander VII, and propaganda was focused on promoting his outstanding ancestor Giovanni, who died 300 years before. Giovanni Chigi is depicted here resurrected, accompanied by the archangel, and receiving the blessing from Jesus on the cross. 1 - Michael J. Walsh. A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West, p. 308. 2 - Nina Lamal. Publishing military books in the Low Countries and in Italy in the early seventeenth century in 'Specialist Markets in the Early Modern Book World', ed. Richard Kirwan, Sophia Mullins, Leiden: Koninklijke Brill, 2015, pp. 232-233.
     
  • An annual publication of Kokusai Tosogu Kai / 16th International Convention & Exhibition in Hamburg, Germany: Museum Für Kunst Und Gewerbe / Museum of Arts and Crafts, September 11-12, 2020 and Berlin, Germany: Samurai Art Museum, September 13-14, 2020. Publisher: Tokyo: Kokusai Tosogu Kai, 2020. Pagination: [1-3] 4-103 [1]. Size: Medium 4to (30.3 x 21.6 cm), hardcover, original illustrated paper boards, in a slipcase. Tsuba from this collection depicted on the title page and pp. 59-60: TSU-0342.2017, TSU 0376.2018, and TSU 0379.2018. See also here.
  • L'Imitation de Jésus-Christ / Traduite et paraphrasée en Vers François Par P. Corneille. — A Paris, Chez Pierre Rocolet, Imprimeur & Libraire ordinaire du Roy, au Palais, en la Gallerie des Prisonniers, aux Armes du Roy & de la Ville. M. DC. LVI. Avec Approbation des Docteurs, et Privelege de sa Majesté. Paris: Pierre Rocolet, 1656. Half-title: Les Quatre Livres de L'Imitation de Iesus-Christ. Traduites et paraphrasez en vers françois Par P. Corneille. — pp.: ff [2 pictorial ht, verso blank] [2 title, blank] [10 epistre] [2 av lecteur] [2 approbation, frontis.] 1-551 [552-60 table, privilege] bf. 8vo, 24.7 x 18.7 cm, hardcover; full speckled brown calf, gilt double-ruled boards, spine with raised bands, gilt double-ruled compartments with lozenges, sprayed margins; pages darkened. Purple ink stamp of Diocèse de Valencia to half-title. Nut ink ex libris handwriting on front paste-down. Plates: Half-title: unsigned copper engraving with the coat of arms of Pope Alexander VII (r. 1655 – 1667) which contains an oak tree in the top left and bottom right quarters (from Della Rovere family, Dukes of Urbino), the top right and bottom left quarters feature a mountain of six coupeaux in base with three stars above (from Chigi family). Four copper engravings inbound at the beginning of each book signed 'F. Chauueau in et fe.': Page 1: Jesus teaches His disciple. Page 113: Annunciation. Page 183: Jesus meets Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. Page 459: Last Supper. François Chauveau (10 May 1613, Paris – 3 February 1676, Paris), a French painter and engraver. Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380 – 25 July 1471), a German-Dutch canon regular. Pierre Corneille (1606 – 1684), a French poet and playwright. Pierre Rocolet (1610 – 1662, active circa 1638 à 1662), a French publisher and printer.