Search Results: Titles starting with G from Ursus Books

1887. WIRGMAN, Charles and Minekichi YAMASHITA. Gagaku Kihan. 12 volumes, each with 12 lithographic plates by Yamashita. Small Oblong 8vo, illustrated wrappers as issued in a contemporary chitsu case and modern wooden box. Tokyo: Bunseido, 1887-1888. This extremely attractive set of books constitutes one of the very first works whose objective was to teach the Western way of painting to a Japanese audience. It was written by Charles Wirgman, an Englishman who lived in Japan and who had gone into business with the celebrated photographer Felice Beato. Wirgman became a mentor to some of the leading names in Western-style art in late nineteenth and early twentieth century Japan. Of the greatest rarity. OCLC lists only 7 of the 12 numbers in the National Diet Library.

1880. IEHARA, Masanori and Kan'ichiro SHIOZU. Gakko hitsuyo irozu mondo. [2], 40, [2] pp. on 22 double folded leaves, illustrated with two hand-coloured charts and small hand-coloured squares throughout the text. 8vo, 210 x 150 mm., bound in publisher's wrappers with title label preserved in a new purple cloth folding box. Kyoto: Wakabayashi Kisuke, 1876 [Meiji 9]. This is most probably the first textbook of Western colour theory printed in Japan for Japanese students. It is almost surely based on European models, but since it is a nineteenth century Japanese book, it possesses a rather unique charm. OCLC lists only the Huntington Library in the US.

1905. GYOKKO, Shimomura. Genroku furyu Meiji-buri. 2 volumes, each with 16 double page plates. Folio, 328 x 225 mm., original boards in a new chitsu case. Kyoto: Honda Ichijiro, 1905. A stunningly beautiful collection of plates depicting artfully displayed kimonos. OCLC lists FIT, Stanford, Philadelphia Museum of Art.

1952. VIRGIL. The Georgics. 174 pp. Translated by John Dryden; Introduction by George F. Whicher. Illustrated and signed by Bruno Bramanti and the designer, Giovanni Mardersteig. 8vo., bound in deluxe half brown morocco. New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1952. Virgil's passionate message to care for the land and for the crops and animals that it sustains, could hardly be more topical two millenia after he wrote it. One of 1500 copies, printed and bound by the Officina Bodoni. Set in monotype Bembo, printed on Maslianico special paper in a handsome new binding. LEC 229.

1852. GOLD RUSH TALE. The German Emigrants or Frederick Wohlgemuth's Voyage to California. Translated by Leopold Wray (pseud. for Clara de Chatelain). [2], 39, [1] pp. Hand-coloured frontispiece and 7 hand-coloured lithographs. 12mo., 170 x 110 mm, quarter red morocco over marbled boards. Guben: F. Fechner, [ca. 1852]. Rare First Edition of this poignant German literary travel account of a Prussian boy, Fred Wolgemuth, his family, and their emigration to California during the Gold Rush era, illustrated with eight hand-coloured lithographs. The harrowing scenes and episodes recounted in the text include a gruesome wreckage of a Portuguese slave ship and an unsuccessful attempt to free a group of blacks in Havana. Arriving in San Francisco, Fred and the ship's captain join the hordes searching for gold in the mountains. Overcoming encounters with robbers, they finally strike it rich at the book's happy ending. References to Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, at the height… Read More

1958. HAASS, Terry. Germinal. By Michel Ferrand. With 6 etchings printed in color by Haass. 8vo, 213 x 160 mm., bound in the original brown paper boards. New York: George Wittenborn, [1958]. The exquisite jewel-like etchings illustrating the poetry of Ferrand were etched and printed by Haass, who studied with Hayter. Small in scale, the color etched plates show a notable refinement of technique. Edition limited to 75 copies, all printed on Arches. Signed by the artist on the colophon. The Artist and the Book 130.

1934. USHAKOV, G.A. Geroicheskiy poked Chlyuskina. [The heroic crusade of Chelyuskin]. 24 photographs measuring 225 x 285 mm., numbered 1-23, plus one of map that is unnumbered, laid in the publisher's red chemise with title printed in white on the cover. Moscow: 1934. A celebration of one of the legendary events of the interwar years, the survival and rescue of the crew of the Chelushkin. This is definitely one of the more interesting of the dozens of examples of Stalinist propaganda "with the photomontages patently part of the Heroic Realism genre that Stalin was so keen to promote" (Parr and Badger), as opposed to industrial output. No copies are listed in OCLC. Chemise with some wear, contents in fine condition. Badger and Parr, The Photobook, Vol.1, p.164 for a different book on the same event.

1828. PATTEN, Edmund. Gibraltar. Drawn on Stone by Hullmandel from the Original by Edmund Patten. Contemporary hand colouring. Oblong folio, 450 x 315mm, mounted on heavy grey paper. London, [1828]. The full title of this print is: "Gibraltar As seen from the Spanish Western Beech, a Mile and a half distant; the Rock's northern Front full in view, with the Embrasures for the Cannon marking the line of Excavations; side view of the Town on the N.W.slope; Devil's Tongue and King's Bastion Batteries; Coast of Africa in the distance, a Fleet passing through the Straights and a part at anchor in the Bay and different rigged vessels belonging to Gibraltar, and the Neutral Ground and sheds and tents on the Garrison side. Sketched 15th, Sep,1828." This is one of at least two views of Gilbraltar drawn by Patten, and they do not seem to have come from a book, but rather to have been issued as prints.

1931. RODCHENKO, A.M. Govorit Moskva [Moscow Speaks]. No. 36 (104), 1931. 18 pp., illustrated throughout. Folio, 314 x 225 mm., bound in publisher's colour peek-a-boo Constructivist die-cut wrappers designed by Rodchenko. Moscow: Vsesoiuznyi kom-t po radioveshchaniiu, 1931. One of the rare issues of Moscow Speaks with the stunning lithographed decorative spirals on the cover by Rodchenko. It includes the poem "Devyasot pyatyi god" [The Nine Hundred and Fifth Year] by Pasternak, its fragility has added to the other conditions that have made it extremely scarce. OCLC lists only a set at the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace. Stanford University. A fine copy. Rowell & Wy, No. 953 for 1931 no. 11.

1816. PARIS. Graphic Illustrations of the Most Prominent Features of the French Capital; with Characteristic Figures in the Foregrounds comprised in Twelve Stroke Engravings, From Accurate Designs Taken in Paris during the Imperial Reign of Buonaparte. With Descriptive Notices and Interesting Anecdotes. [26] pp., illustrated with 12 double-page engravings. Folio, 430 x 380 mm., bound in contemporary French three-quarter black morocco over marbled boards, gilt title and floral vignettes on spine, paper label with ms. number "20" on front cover and spine. London: Harper and Co., 1816. A fine copy of this extremely rare collection of views of Paris consisting of twelve artistically conceived views of Paris engraved by English artists. The large double-page engravings incorporate local Parisians participating in daily routines within the setting of each view. Panoramic views include: the Military School and the Church of the Invalides; View of Paris from the South Boulevard; View of Paris… Read More

1945. ABERCROMBIE, Patrick. Greater London Plan 1944. A Report prepared on behalf of the Standing Committee on London Regional Planning at the Request of the Minister of Town and Country Planning. X, 220, [1] pp. Illustrated with 89 photographs & 33 illustrations from drawings, diagrams, & maps (some in colour, 9 folding) plus a large folding master plan in 2 sheets inserted in envelope at rear. Folio, bound in publisher's cloth and dustwrapper. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1945. "Following World War II, London was presented with an opportunity to amend the perceived failings of unplanned and haphazard development that had occurred as a result of rapid industrialization in the nineteenth century. During the Second World War, the blitz had destroyed large urban areas throughout the entire county of London, but particularly the central core. Over 50,000 inner London homes were completely destroyed, while more than 2 million dwellings experienced some form… Read More

1927. HILBERSHEIMER, Ludwig. Groszstadt Architektur. 108 pp., illustrated with 229 illustrations. 8vo, recent cloth with the original wrappers bound in. Stuttgart: J. Hoffmann, 1927. A landmark work by Hilbersheimer, a German Bauhaus architect famed for his work in urban planning. Forced to emigrate to the United States, he later became head of urban planning at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he worked on several projects with Mies van der Rohe. Wear to wrappers and spine. PROVENANCE: Stamo Papadaki, with his stamp on the front free endpaper.

1925. HEARTFIELD, John. Gruben, Graeber, Dividenden. By Leo Lania. 121 pp. 8vo., bound in original cloth-backed boards designed by John Heartfield. Berlin: Malik Verlag, 1925. A scarce Malik Verlag title bearing the work of the prolific left-wing Austrian writer Leo Lania. This is a fine copy of this striking example of Heartfield's imagination as a book designer. Slight wear to the corners. Siepmann. Montage: John Heartfield vom Club Dada zur Arbeiter-Illustrierter Zeitung A58.

1932. MIKHAILOV, Aleksey. Gruppirovki Sovetskoy Arkhitektury [Groups of Soviet Architecture]. 134 pp., illustrated with photographs. 8vo, bound in publishers illustrated wrappers in a new black cloth folding box. Moscow-Leningrad: OGIZ, 1932. Soviet architecture at the height of the revolutionary period. Wear to the edges of the wrappers and spine, but otherwise sound.

1855. DE BOFARULL, Antonio, ed. Guia-Cicerone de Barcelona. 282, [2] pp. 8vo, 186 x 125 mm., bound in quarter green morocco over marbled boards, gilt spine, marbled endpapers. Barcelona: Imp. Hispana de V. Castanos, 1855. "Cicerone" refers to a tour guide who leads visitors, especially tourists, through historic sites. The term derives from the name Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman politician and orator, whose style the tour guide imitates. This guidebook, first published in 1847, describes the artistic monuments, historical events, and popular traditions of Barcelona, with a directory of streets and plazas at the end. Antonio De Bofarull (1821-1892) studied at the University of Barcelona. He was an archivist at the Archivo General de la Corona de Aragón, and author of various works in both Spanish and Catalán. Binding a little rubbed, minor foxing, over all very good. Palau 31299 (first edition).

1897. MOSCOW. Guide du voyageur a Moscou. By A. and F. Tastevin. [4], 194; 29, [1], XIII, [1] pp., illustrated with 30 photographic views in text and two large folding maps of Moscow. 8vo, 153 x 105 mm., bound in publisher's green cloth, title gilt on front cover. Moscow: Imprimerie Th. I. Hagen, 1897. Second revised edition of Tastevin's well known travel guide to Moscow in French, with notes on religion, government, climate, literature, and, mostly, city monuments. There is practical advice offered, including a listing of restaurants, hotels, stores, tramways, etc. Then, as expected, are guides to libraries, churches, theaters, clubs, circuses, universities, etc., followed by a short history of Moscow. The second part of Tastevin's Guide offers more in-depth descriptions of the major sites to be visited and is followed by a vocabulary and conversation manual. Erratum slip on one page (31). A near fine copy.