Aesthetics from Rare Illustrated Books

London: James Carpenter, 1843. Fifth edition of this beautifully produced but practical guide to colour in painting, which uses works by old masters such as Titian, Van Dyck and Rubens as a guide. The author, John Burnet (1784 - 1868) was a Scottish engraver and painter who exhibited with the Royal Academy and was awarded a fellowship with the… Read more about this item

Paris, 1910. An elegant Edwardian catalogue of hand-printed silk shirts, of oriental and Persian design, organic and of the most beautiful quality. "No more corsets, bustles and shoulder pads; they will wear soft, supple, fluid draperies, in soft and melted colours. Finally, the garment adapts to the body... shaped according to the silhouette." -Arthur Liberty … Read more about this item

Boca Raton, FL: The artist, 2006. First Edition. From the outer reaches of artists' books: the late photographer and conceptual artist's magnum opus and sequel to his earlier How to Become a Famous Contemporary Artist. The textbook for the author's Online School of Fine Arts containing course outline, fee schedule, FAQs, student orientation lesson, course requirements, details of graduate… Read more about this item

Sydney: Kemp & Fairfax, 1842. First Edition. Rare, and very fine: a presentation copy (inscribed on the front endpaper to Walter Wrottersley "from the translator") of an unusual publication for this period in Australia, a translation of an obscure commentary on Aristotle. Almost nothing of a philosophical bent was published in Australia before the 1850s and the creation of… Read more about this item

Sydney: Ure Smith, 1943. First Edition. Includes an article on wood engraving by Frank Medworth, extracts from Donald Friend's war dairy, and letters on the role of art in social reconstruction after the war. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers, black & white plates, a fine copy, one small chip to spine.

1850. Remarkable album of original watercolours celebrating the life- world of the literati. The album forms an intriguing catalogue of traditional Chinese scholarly objects including Buddhist statues, vases, wrist-rests, musical instruments, scholar-stones, hand scrolls, miniature ornamental trees and tray landscapes. While similar albums of watercolours illustrating costumes, punishments, trades, and natural beauties are sometimes… Read more about this item

Paris: Charles Moreau, 1920. A series of illustrations of provincial interiors. Folio, loose plates in the original portfolio.

Melbourne: Thomas Nelson, 1970. Many of the plates in this book originally featured in Wilson's "Old Colonial Architecture in New South Wales and Tasmania", a legendary work in Australian architectural history, now a rare and desirable volume. Folio, 47 full-page plates; cream boards, previous owner's inscription on front endpaper and dust-jacket thumbed, else a fine copy in the original… Read more about this item

(Geneva): Skira, 1946. Hoppenot, Helene (photographer). First edition, printed in Geneva, on the press of master printer, Albert Kundig. Ten page introduction by Claudel followed by 80 full page photographic plates, heliograves "par roto-sadag". Beautiful French photobook. Rare. Folio; ivory stiff wrappers, mildly chipped, a near fine copy.