Remarkable Occurrences in the Life of Jonas Hanway, Esq. by Pugh, John - 1787

1785 Buffon Natural History SCIENCE Color Illustrated Evolution Microbiology 5v

"Virtually all the well-known writers of the Enlightenment were 'Buffonians'"
― Ernst Mayer

The monumental work by Comte de Buffon, "Histoire Naturelle," was fascinating 18th-century collection of articles and encyclopedia entries on material sciences, physics, chemistry, technology, as well as the history of animals. Buffon wrote the volumes with the intent of addressing all-natural history, but after realizing the grandeur of the work, he focused on the individual orders of living things. The DSB mentions that
"Buffon's order is formed by a philosophical bias rather than by science."
This beautiful five-volume German example features 17 impressive hand-colored engravings depicting the development of humankind and the human form!
Item number: #11178
Price: $795
BUFFON, Georges Louis Lecrec
Herrn von Buffons allgemeine Naturgeschichte
Troppau : Joseph Georg Trassler, 1785.

Details:
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Collation: Complete with… Read More

1742 History of PERSIA Revolutions Nader Shah Kouli Khan Iran MAP Middle East 2v

Jean-Antoine du Cerceau was a 17th-century French Jesuit poet whose works were quite popular amongst noble courts. He is best known for his poems, plays, and short stories, but he also wrote an important work on the history of the Persian revolutions and the reign of Qoli Khan, the Nader Shah. This work, which is also sometimes attributed to Andre Claustre, covers the history of Iran, Afghanistan, and Persia, religious and cultural customs, and Middle Eastern geography.
This book also discusses the reign of Qoli Khan himself, his corrupt power, and the revolts and assassination against him. Note the impressive folding map.
Item number: #12308
Price: $599
CERCEAU, Jean-Antoine du [attributed]
Histoire des révolutions de Perse depuis le commencement de ce siècle jusqu'à la fin du règne de l'usurpateur Aszraff.
Paris : Briasson, 1742.

Details:
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Collation: Complete with all pages; 2 volumes
o
Vol. 1 –… Read More

1760 Clairac FORTIFICATIONS 1ed Field Engineer STAR FORTS Illustrated MAPS War

Louis Andre Mamie de Clairac was an 18th-century French military engineer who is primarily remembered for his famous book on the engineering of fortifications. This book, 'The Field Engineer', became a highly sought after book by military construction designers as well as military enthusiasts all over the western world. In this work, Clairac describes not only how to build, but also the purposes of forts and the various shapes used in fort design. The early chapters are especially noteworthy covering topics such as:
· Star fort design
· General field forts
· Triangular and square shaped forts
· Bridges
· Durable construction material
· Army flanking against forts
· Uses of armed boats against forts
Of course, the most desirable aspect of this book is the copious amount of folding illustrations throughout – stunning views of forts, fort design, maps, city views,… Read More

1769 BRITISH Peerage Scotland IRELAND Illustrated Coat-of-ARMS Scottish Heraldry
'The Peerage of Scotland' is a rare, 18th-century reference of Scottish and British genealogy and heraldry. This 1769 edition of Edward Kimber's "Peerage" contains hundreds of engraved figures of Scottish, English, Irish, and British coats-of-arms – arms of earls, dukes, barons, and viscounts. Each of the fine engravings contains a thorough description of the peerage and nobility.
Item number: #24983
Price: $599
KIMBER, Edward
The pocket herald : or, a complete view of the peerage of England, Scotland and Ireland. With all the arms engraved and blazoned. In two volumes
London: Printed for J. Almon, 1769.
Details:
· Collation: Complete; 3 volumes in 1
o Peerage of England – 303, [5]
56 plates with 2-12 figures on each page!
o Peerage of Scotland – 101, [1]
o Peerage of Ireland – [2], 5-145, [1]
· Provenance: Handwritten – Joseph Steevens, 1771
· Language: English
· Binding: Leather; tight and secure
· Size:… Read More

1748 ENGLISH Vauban FORTS Military Engineering Fortifications Illustrated War

Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban was a 17th-century French engineer who, after serving as the Marshal of France, became known as the greatest engineer of his time. It was from his surveys and developments in fortifications that propelled him to engineering fame. In fact, his fortification philosophies were used for nearly a century after his life. Vauban understood that at some point, all forts would fall, no matter how powerful. From this, Vauban sought to improve fort designs to absorb as much of the attack force as possible, even including house and structures to support fortification walls.

This 1748 English edition of Vauban's famous "Method of Fortification" contains each of the highly desirable 32 engravings – views of forts, walls, and common attack strategies.

Item number: #24981
Price: $750

VAUBAN, Sebastien Le Prestre de

The new method of fortification

London: Printed for S. and E. Ballard, 1748… Read More

Basil [Basel]: J J Tourneisen / J L Legrand, 1790. Reprint . Speckled Calf / Boards. Very Good +. 8 1/2" Tall. (Viii), 414; (Vi), 367; (Viii), 340, + Long Index To All Volumes At End. Published 1790. Original Or Very Early Spotted Calf, 6 Spine Compartments With Two Morocco Labels On Each Volume, Gilt Decorations And Borders On Spine, Over Marbled Paper Covered Boards, Spotted Calf Tips, Light Blue Endpapers. Lightly Used, Single 1/8" Deep X 3/16" Long Chip At Top Of Spines Of Vols 2 And 3, Hinges Solid. Bookplates Of Lady Frances Compton; She Is Noted By Jane Austen's Father As A Visitor To Their Household In The Early 1790'S, Which Makes For An Interesting Association As There Is Speculation That Jane Austen Used Shaftesbury As A Source For Her Ideas Of Morality. Although There Is No Evidence That Austen Had Access To A Copy Of Shaftesbury, It Is Possible That She Discussed The Ideas With Lady Compton, Or Even That This Particular Set Was Read By Jane Austen

Dublin: Printed By and for Geo. Faulkner, 1744., 1744. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 12mo. Volume 3 only (of 4). Full calf, spine titled in gilt. Engraved frontispiece and six inserted plates (two are folding maps). In this copy the Contents pages (Signature 'A', 4 leaves) are bound at the rear between pages 300 / 301 (Leaves O4 / O5), and the final signature (headed: 'A Letter From Captain Gulliver To His Cousin Sympson' and terminating in a page of publisher's ads) is repeated; there are two copies of the signature bound in, one after the other. This final signature, signed "***" , was at the front of the volume in the 1735 edition, sans ads, and was placed immediately after the Contents pages; It is entirely re-set in this 1744 edition. One leaf (C4, mis-signed D4) has a small piece torn from the lower corner, not affecting text; three leaves bear notes in pen in the bottom margins, and there are five pages of description and analysis of the work written in pen in a… Read More

J. Newbery. London. 1764. Second edition, corrected. Published two years after the first edition. 8vo. (6.9 x 4.4 inches). Engraved frontis showing two men viewing Millenium Hall through several trees, engraved by A. Walker. , iv, 264pp, 2pp of publishers adverts. Some light spotting to several pages but overall a very good copy in a recent period style binding of half tan calf. Spine with raised bands. Compartments ruled, lettered and decorated in gilt. Red and green labels, gilt. Marbled paper on boards. Two neat previous owner names on front blank endpaper; 'Mary (Fl ?)avel her book. : 1769. and Maria Gresley, August 18th 1840'. An important early feminist utopian novel. The most famous work of Sarah Scott (1720-1795), 'Millenium Hall' describes a female utopia, free from male violence, where property is held in common and a community of women conduct lives devoted to artistic pursuits and education, Christian virtues, and philanthropy. Through its focus on female equality, education and… Read More

1702 Tavernier VOYAGES Tonkin Funeral Vietnam JAPAN MAP Arabic Harems Ottoman
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was an important 17th-century voyager known for his six voyages to Persia and India in which he bought, sold, and traded rare gems and precious metals. The events of these journeys were recorded in his "Les Six Voyages". This highly desirable book has become one of the most important references for gemologists and gem historians. Tavernier introduces his findings and arrivals at Japan, Persia, India, East Indies, Tonkin Kingdom (Vietnam), and reports on the Dutch excursions in Asia.
This 1702 volume contains 9 folding illustrations and maps including voyages in Southeastern Asia
· Chariots and convoy of the king of Tonkin
· Tonkin funeral procession
· Japan – map!
o Japanese customs, architecture
Item number: #24998
Price: $750
TAVERNIER, Jean-Baptiste
Recueil de plusieurs relations et traitez singuliers et curieux…
A Paris: Suivant la Copie, 1702.
Details:
· Collation: Complete
o "Japon" –… Read More

1760 Paradise Lost John Milton Poetry English Illustrated ART Newton RARE Marvell

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."
― John Milton, Paradise Lost

'Paradise Lost' follows the biblical story of the Fall of Man and the temptation of Adam and Eve. Milton himself states that purpose for this book was to "Justify the ways of God to Men". It covers the characters Adam, Eve, and Satan and the roles each played in the development of religious culture and idolatry.

It was critically acclaimed and well-received by many famed personalities, including Samuel Johnson who states.
"[Paradise Lost shows] Milton's peculiar power to astonish…and he seems to have been well acquainted with his own genius, and to know what it was the Nature had bestowed upon him more bountifully than upon others: the power of displaying the vast, illuminating the splendid, enforcing the awful, darkening the gloomy, and aggravating the dreadful.

This 1760 London edition includes… Read More