Search Results: Authors starting with M from E C Books

London: John Masters, 1848 A good copy in cloth binding with gilt titles to spine, with 2 full page and 6 text illustrations. The binding is sound and clean with a couple of lighter patches to the back board; light bumping and wear to corners and light pulling to spine ends. Contents: half title; title; preface 2pp; contents list 1 p; text pp 1-118 with errata to the bottom of 118; publisher's ads 2pp. The endpapers have light spotting but the contents are very clean with just the occasional spot or mark. There is some loss at the top gutter of the half title and title where the book has been poorly opened. Signature to half title page. Leaves to p 26 have had the top corner tip cut, possibly a fault on binding.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1913 A very good copy in the original decorative cloth binding with 22 tipped-in colour plates and numerous black and white illustrations and designs by Hugh Thomson. Undated but 1913 1st trade edition. Quality Street was one of a series of works commissioned for the high quality Christmas present market. Hugh Thomson was mainly known for his black and white illustrations, for example for Pride and Prejudice, but his colour-tinted works proved very popular, and Quality Street followed Merry Wives of Windsor, School for Scandal, and She Stoops to Conquer. They featured beautiful decorative bindings, colour plates and delicate designs. This copy has a near fine binding, with clear bright gilt design to the front board. The spine is duller, but only slightly pulled, and the back board is clean with 2 very light pale marks at the top. The textured decorative endpapers are unmarked. With frontispiece, decorative title page, and 21 further plates. Each plate has a decorative… Read More

Kirkwall: William Peace & Son, 1892 A very good copy of the 1st edition in contemporary cloth binding with black and white frontispiece and 24 further illustrations, some full page and some in-text. The binding has a title label to the spine and the boards have blind-stamped decoration. There is general rubbing to spine joints and spine ends, and some corner wear. The original black endpapers are present with some small white spots to the top of the fep, where there is a small split, and a stain to fep verso at the top edge. The rear free endpaper has a similar small split and stain to verso. Contents with frontispiece; title with vignette; note 2pp; dedication 1p; contents and illustration lists with errata 4pp; lecture I pp 1-27; lecture 2 pp 29-71. Text with decorative head and tailpieces and initial capitals. Very clean internally with light toning to paper. Slight stain to top of p 29 and crease at the corner of the rear free endpaper.

Stromness: Printed by Wm Rendall for Orkney Natural History Society, 1903 The introduction states that this Account was first read to the Orkney Natural History Society in February 1902 and was printed and published at their request. It has been bound in blue buckram with gilt titles to spine and front board. The binding is in very good clean condition. There is the bookplate of John Davie Manson Robertson, a noted collector of Orcadian works, to the front pastedown. Contents with new endpapers, original blanks, title, introduction and text pp 1-18 with 4 full page illustrations. Contents in very good to near fine clean condition.

Heidelberg: In Officina Sanctandreana, 1590 A fair copy of the unauthorised 2nd edition of Manili's Astronomicon with Scaligeri's commentary. This edition was completed with an additional section of notes by Francisco Ivni Biturigis and was issued without Scaligeri's approval (he issued his own 2nd edition shortly afterwards). The work is in 3 parts: the original Astronomicon in 5 books; Scaligeri's commentary; and the additional Biturigis notes bound at the end. This copy is bound in an old card binding with an added spine of some tape-like material and a largely unreadable paper label. The binding is sound but very worn. The front endpaper has some old ink scribbling, a crossed out signature and some numbers. The stitching is splitting between the front endpaper and the title page, which a couple of pasted over areas and some old writing. Contents: title with decorative printer's device; dedication 3pp; poems 4pp (all present but some loose); blank; index 4pp; text pp 1-136 in 5 books; finis;… Read More

London : James Nisbet and Co.,, 1885 A good to very good copy in full-leather prize binding with black and white frontispiece and 4 further black and white plates. Eleventh thousand. The binding has 'Burslem Endowed School Prize 1886' in gilt on the front board and there is a prize bookplate on the front pastedown. The spine has elaborate gilt compartments and a title label. All page edges are marbled as are the endpapers. There is some wear to the top and bottom of the spine and the spine joints (particularly at the front), and there is the odd scuff mark to the boards but the binding is very bright and clean. Contents in very good condition.

London : T Becket and P A De Hondt, 1764 A very good copy in contemporary full leather binding with fold out map of St Kilda. An interesting account by the Rev Mr Kenneth Macaulay, who was Minister of Ardnamurchan and was sent to St Kilda as a missionary by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. The binding has gilt ruled lines to the board edges and has been rebacked providing a newer spine with title and gilt lined raised bands. The binding is in very good clean condition with wear to edges and corners (some loss to the rear bottom corner) and a little scuffing. Internally there is a decorative bookplate of Ralph Stewart-Wilson to the front pastedown. Contents: initial blank; half title; folding map; title; contents 3pp; introduction pp i-iv; text pp 5-278; and publisher's list at the rear. There is some creasing to the initial leaves where the map fold lies. The map has some marks to towards the bottom edge. Contents in very good clean condition with some occasional staining in the… Read More

London, Edinburgh, and Dublin: A Fullarton and Co. , 1853 A good copy of the 7th corrected and enlarged edition in the original brown cloth binding, with 21 hand coloured plates. The binding has some chipping with loss to the top of the spine, and the cloth is splitting and fraying at the top half of the front hinge. It is otherwise clean and in good order with just light wear at corners and edges. Internally the original endpapers are present and the contents are complete. The plates are tissue-guarded and very clean. The text (and endpapers) have light spotting. The Glossary and Index have been bound slightly out of order, with some Glossary pages in the Index and vice versa - but they are complete.

Edinburgh: Laing and Forbes, 1836 A good copy of the first reprint of James Mackenzie's work, first published in 1750 in a limited and anonymous format. The Notice of the Work at p V states that the original orthography of the work has been maintained and the author verified. The reprint was ordered by 11 people and it was funded initially through subscription. James Mackenzie was the Agent for the lawsuit started by a number of Orkney heritors against the Earl of Morton regarding the County Weights which set the amount of duty that was to paid. The case was known as the Pundlar Process. This copy is contemporary full leather binding with raised bands and gilt titles to spine and decorative border to boards. There is some splitting at the spine joints and the corners are worn. Contents: title; contents; notice of the work; list of subscribers; memoir; notes (xxxix); original 1750 title; contents; text pp 1-112; appendix with half title (vi). The contents are in very good clean condition.

LONDON : J Pemberton, D Browne, 1732 A VG copy of this rare and interesting work by John Macky (published anonymously). John Macky (d 1726) was a Scotsman and a government agent or spy. According to sources he informed the British of James II's intention to invade England in 1792, and his network of spies was vital to the discovery in February and March 1708 of Jacobite plans for the invasion of Scotland. This book, in the form of a series of letters, is written with considerable knowledge and authority. He travelled extensively in the region, dying finally in Rotterdam in 1726. This copy is newly rebound in half leather and marbled boards with raised bands to spine, gilt tooling and gilt title label. Internally, the contents comprise: half title; advertisement for 'A Journey through England', title page, Introduction with decorative headpiece, initial capitals, and decorative tailpiece (pp V-XXX), publisher's advert (2pp), errata (1 pge), letters with decorative head and tailpieces… Read More

Bishops-Head in St Pauls Church-yard. London: Printed by John Matthews; and Sold by Robert Knaplock, 1711 A very good copy of the first edition in contemporary full-leather panelled calf binding. Thomas Madox, 1666-1727, was a historian and legal antiquary. He held the position of Historiographer Royal from 1708 until his death and was known for his discussion and publication of medieval legal documents. This work is in English but with 2 sections in Latin with separate title pages at the rear: 'Antiquus Dialogus de Scaccario' 1711, and 'Disceptatio Epistolaris de Magno Rotulo Scaccarij..'1711. These sections are credited to Richard FitzNeal (or Fitz-Nigell), 1130-1198. He was Henry II's Treasurer, and wrote the 'Dialogus' at Henry's request - setting out what was involved in Treasury work - an early manual.
The binding has raised bands to spine and a handwritten title label in red and black. There is some splitting of the leather at the spine joints - at the top of… Read More

London : Orr and Smith , 1835 A nice copy of this rare work. It originated as an article for the British Cyclopaedia of Natural History, and was enlarged for separate publication to give readers a systematic introduction to the science of Botany. In original pebbled brown cloth with gilt title on spine, and gilt edges to pages. Profusely illustrated with line drawings and with hand coloured plates. The binding is in good condition - the spine has been relaid at some point and corners and spine edges have been repaired so the book is tight and firm. With marbled endpapers and signature of Miss Wilson and the number 14 to one of the preliminaries. Internally the book is very clean and bright. The index of illustrations is difficult to interpret as it does not distinguish between text illustrations and plates and appears to randomly list some text illustrations and not others - however, I think the book is lacking a colour plate frontispiece and 2 other plates giving 24 plates present of a possible 27.… Read More

London : Walker and Edwards, A Richardson et al, 1816 A very good copy of the rare 2 volume 1816 edition of Malory's work. This copy has the 2 volumes bound in one in contemporary full calf, which has had a professional reback preserving the original spine. The work was first printed in 1485 by Caxton, with editions in 1498, 1529, 1557 and 1634. 2 editions were published in 1816 of which this is said to be the first. The binding, with gilt compartments and titles to spine, has some scuffing and wear to board edges and corners. There is small hole in the leather near the spine on the back board. The page edges are marbled with matching marbling to endpapers. Contents: initial blank; frontispiece; decorative title; letterpress title (with small stamped E to top); preliminary remarks, preface, prologue and contents pp v-xvi; text vol I pp 1-468; frontispiece; decorative title; letterpress title Vol II; contents i-xvi; text 1-488; final blank. The contents are in very good clean condition. The endpaper… Read More

London : William Heinemann, 1919 A good copy of the 1st edition with colour frontispiece, 7 further colour illustrations and numerous full page and in-text black and white illustrations by Pamela Bianco. Bianco was known as a child prodigy and an exhibition of her work at the Leicester Galleries in spring 1919 (when she was 12) inspired Walter de la Mare to write a series of poems. This book is a selection of her artwork accompanying the poems. It is undated but 1919/20. This copy is lacking the wrapper and is in the original decorative card binding, which is rubbed and lacking around 4 cm at the top of the spine. It is a little grubby and with bumped corners. The contents are complete and have occasional light marks. The tissue guard to the frontispiece is very browned, creased and is lacking the bottom corner. There is a long pencil note to the front pastedown endpaper about the book's purchase and stating that this book contains the full version of the final poem, as opposed to other volumes… Read More

PARIS : L Hachette, 1837 A VG copy in 2 volumes. In half leather binding with gilt compartments, title labels and gilt numerals to spine, and marbled boards. Boards, endpapers and page edges marbled. Vol I 368pp plus errata; Vol II 366pp plus errata. Bindings have a little wear to edges, including the top and bottom of the spine, and corners. Contents clean with light foxing and browning at the beginning and end of both volumes and occasional light spotting elsewhere.

London: Printed for Dan. Browne, and Lockyer Davis, 1753 A good copy of the 4th edition of Martin Martin's account of his visit to St Kilda in 1697 (first published in 1698). Martin Martin lived on Skye and was a gaelic speaker. He decided to visit and study the western isles of Scotland to record both the land and its culture and natural history. Although Martin's account was mocked by some, particularly because he was considered too believing of local tales, it was much read and reprinted. This copy is in a probably later 1800's half leather binding with marbled boards. The spine has blind stamped decoration and gilt compartments with leather title label to spine. It sound and clean with some rubbing at joints, edges and corners and a little scuffing. There is the armorial bookplate of Edward Herbert, Earl of Powis to the front pastedown, and some marking to the endpapers suggesting that a cover was stuck down over the book at some point. Contents: initial blank; folding plate of 2 birds… Read More

London: Thomas Martyn At his Academy for Illustrating and Painting Natural History, 1793 A good to very good copy of the first edition of this extremely scarce work. With hand coloured frontispiece, 28 hand coloured plates, and 2 plates of medals. Thomas Martyn is principally known as a draughtsman of natural history works. This publication is drawn from Charles Clerck's study dated 1757 and Eleazor Albin's Natural History of Spiders from 1736. The binding has a newer black morocco leather spine with decorative gilt bands and gilt titles. The boards are probably as issued by the publisher. There is rubbing and wear to the spine joints - particularly the top of the front joint - and rubbing to spine ends. The boards have a lot of wear to the marbled paper and the corners - which look to have been leather-covered at some point - are very worn. The endpapers are newer and with a small label of E W Classey to the front pastedown. Contents: hand coloured frontispiece; engraved title; advertisement 2pp;… Read More

LONDON : John White, 1807 A very good copy of Rousseau's Letters translated and explained by Professor Thomas Martyn, 7th corrected and improved edition bound with Thirty-Eight plates, also by Thomas Martyn, 1794. In newer half leather binding with title label to spine and marbled boards. Page edges marbled. Letters is 503 pp plus index sections, with folding table outlining Linnaeus' system. The Thiry-Eight plates, a complete work in itself with separate title page, but prepared to link with the Letters, is 72 pp with 38 beautiful hand coloured plates by Nodder. The binding is in very good condition with a little scuffing to the spine. The contents are generally in very good condition with nice clean text pages. The plates are clean and brightly coloured. There is a small stain which affects the bottom left hand corner of plates 36-8, not affecting images.

London: Printed for J Harding A very good complete copy, bound as a single volume with 144 hand coloured plates - plate 11 serving as the frontispiece. Undated but is the scarce edition from circa 1810, which has a new title page and additional sections at the beginning of the work. This copy has been recently rebound in quarter calf with marbled boards. The spine has gilt ruled lines and title label. Contents: frontispiece; title (undated); advert 6pp; dedication 2 pp; preface 2pp; authors quoted 4 pp; explanation of terms 6 pp; text with 144 plates; and index 6 pp. The contents are clean and in very good condition with the occasional spot or mark. The pages slightly differ in length, with some bottom edges being untrimmed, and there is occasional spotting at the margins. Plate 92 has a small mark in the gutter not affecting the image. There is a small repaired bottom edge tear to a text page associated with Rhinanthus. The paper is quite thin and dark colours show through to the other side of the… Read More

Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1909 A very good copy of the first edition in original dark blue cloth binding. The binding has gilt titles to spine and is very clean and sound, with slight pulling to spine ends and a little corner wear. Contents are complete and very clean.