Rare books from Ironwood Hills Books

Volume 1 of Burney's 5 volume history of the exploration of the Pacific Ocean. 1803. Volume is ex-library copy with library stamps of University of California dated 1870 and found on title page, p.57 and p.131. Soundly bound in modern blue buckram. Collation: Title page, xii, [8], 391 with 5 maps and modern end blanks. Overall condition is good with some condition issues. All repairs described are professionally done. Title page rehinged. Frontis map and map opposite p. 277 are original. Frontis map is rehinged. 3 maps bound at end are professional full size reproductions (image of California map is provided). Appendix (pgs. 385-391) is also professional reproduction. Page 20 has closed tear repaired with rice paper. Water stain at head of spine waxes and wanes on pages 121-146, and 193-249; occasionally encroaching on text. Ink stain margin of p.220-21. Stain of indeterminate origin penetrating margins of p.273-78. On the plus side: binding is sound, volume is (now) complete, pages are wide margined… Read More

Scarce 19th century reprint of Hakluyt's very rare 16th century work. 1889-1890 four volume set, published in Edinburgh by Edmund Goldsmid is complete with quarter leather spines and with original matching marbled boards. Volumes have two title pages and a half title. The first title page is dated 1891 and notes this set is a portion of a larger work "Hakluyt's Complete Collection of Voyages" published by Goldsmid in 1891. On inspection one can see that these are the 1889-1890 volumes with the 1891 promotional title page added later. This set began life at the Public Library of New London with the only evidence being the bookplate. Later this set arrived at Ambassador College Library of Pasadena, California with only evidence being stamps on the title pages and paper edges. No pockets ever. When I acquired this set the spines of volumes 1 & 2 were perished and were replaced with black leather with gilt titles. Original matching psychedelic cobalt marbled boards remain. Pagination: Volume 1: [2], 383,… Read More

Ten (of 12) volumes: Haustellata volumes 1-4, Mandibulata 1-6, lacking volume 7 and supplement. First editions by Baldwin and Cradock, London. 1828-1835. Overall good condition. Complete with all plates and pages. Bindings are mixed. Seven volumes light tan full leather (goat?) with Yapp style bindings. Marbled endpapers and edges. Two half leather, marbled board bindings and one museum library rebind (~75 years old). The interiors are excellent except for vol. 6 Mandibulata which has water toning upper outer corner affecting last quarter of volume and final two plates. Haustellata volume 4 has museum library stamp on title page and plates are in a back pocket; has interesting old scientific marginalia. The value here is in the matching 7 volumes (Haustellata 1-3; Mandibulata 1-4). First appearance of Darwin's work in print. See Freeman pages 19-20. A note on the Yapp bindings: These are clearly 19th century bindings. I find no clues to identify the binder. The leather is limp. When I got this set all… Read More

A very nice copy of Sitgreaves Report. 1853. Senate Exec. Doc. 59. All 79 plates are present and the map is professionally reproduced in full size (27 x 47 inches) and placed in rear pocket. Howes S528; Wagner-Camp 230:1; Graff 3809. A note on collation: it is difficult. It helps to have reference materials and more than one copy. I have both and can guarantee this collates complete. Only condition issue is moderate to heavy foxing in places. That is a common problem with this volume. No prior ownership markings, stamps, or vandalism. In a beautiful modern quarter leather and marbled boards fine binding by Starr Bookworks. A very nice example of this work in fine binding and high quality full size facsimile map to complete the work. Please see scans of the book you will receive.

1780 softcover pamphlet in very good condition. Paginates: (iii)-viii, [2], (9)-101, blank, lacking the half-title (if it ever existed). Second edition. Pencil notes of prior book seller on title page, no other markings, creases or interior problems. Bound in quality laid paper wraps. A very nice copy. The paper is wonderful example of the paper making trade in 1780's London. Content is scathing satire and complaints about, among other things, the loss of the colonies. A nice copy. Please see scans of the item you will receive. Notes: This title may be found in the libraries of Thomas Jefferson & Benjamin Franklin. More Notes: This is how most books came from the printer and it was up to the buyer to decide on further binding. This appears to have never been bound.

First edition, London, 1719. xviii, 196, [2]. Rebound (about 150 years ago) in red half leather with marbled boards and endpapers. Bookplate of Library of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Massachusetts. No other library indicia. Quality of the paper is just amazing - very supple, minimal foxing. One ancient marginal spelling correction. Binding is sound. Please see scans of the book you will receive. Notes: An accounting by the parishes of how the Queen's money is being spent.

A married set in very good condition. Second edition, 1758, London. Original full leather boards. Volume 1 has a new spine (sometime in last 50 years) by Edward F. Gruver, Washington, DC. V.1 has bookplate and pencil notations of prior owner and booksellers, no other markings. The first four leaves after the map are loose at the bottom and remain attached at the top. Volume 2 has the original binding, no interior markings of any kind. Paginates: Volume 1: new blank, old blank, map, 4 leaves, 324, 5 leaves, old blank, new blank; Volume 2: blank, map, 6 leaves, 308, 1 blank (all original). See Howes B968; Hill 218/219; Field 206. Please see images of the books you will receive. Notes: The beautiful laid paper of 18th century London is gorgeous; supple, readable, amazing. Check out the map of North America from 1747 by Emanuel Bowen - upper midwest labeled New France; Louisiana extends west to New Mexico. More images are available. Feel free to inquire. [Amerind]

First edition, four volumes, 1909-1920, Washington. Overall very good condition in original bindings. Notable for the complete absence of library or ownership markings. The only marking I can find is an old pencil note on the front blank of volume 3. Includes bound in errata slips and a promotional leaf for the series laid in. The boards have some dings to the corners. Volume 3 has the most condition issues: shows the most outer wear with some stains on the edges and wear on spine and boards (see scans). Bindings are all sound, which I expect can be an issue with this heavy set. A quite decent usable set. Please see scans of the books you will receive.

First edition of Volume 1, 1737, London. Volume 1 of 2. Modern fine binding of quarter leather and marbled boards by Starr Bookworks. Interior is good. Library stamp on title page, some notations on preface, occasional pencil notes in text. Title page is backed with rice paper. Some edges chipped not affecting text. Last page is high quality facsimile. Paginates: [12], 420. Modern blanks. Extremely rare. OCLC locates 10 physical copies. Auction records do not find any sold at auction. Please see scans of the book you will receive. Feel free to inquire.

First House edition of this famous report. 1845. Complete in original binding except for the gigantic map which is available in full size color thick glossy paper professional reproduction ($25 extra if desired). Pagination: 583 pages, 22 plates, 4 maps, all blanks present. Includes fascinating pencil diagram of oil rig on back of map. Oil rig drawing titled "Sheffield Oil Company. Warren(?), Co., Pa." That pencil drawing is the only interior writing or ownership marking anywhere in the book. Condition is a mixed bag. Original half leather marbled boards show heavy wear and looks like they were professionally rehinged in the distant past. Binding is sound. Pages show moderate to heavy toning and foxing. Some plates have weird 'dot' foxing I have never seen elsewhere (see scan). Marbled endpapers. A nice well maintained copy suitable for reading and research with a cool drawing. Howes F372; Wagner-Camp 115:2; Graff 1436. House Doc. No. 166. Feel free to inquire. Please see scans of the book you will… Read More

First UK edition, first printing, hardcover with dust jacket in archival cover. London, 1936. Volume is Near Fine: trace wear to edges, no interior markings of any kind, binding is tight, pages are bright. Dust jacket is Poor: has some large chips and shows considerable wear but it is present. Hammond B19 and Currey p.521. Please see images of the book you will receive. Notes: This is the film treatment of his short story of the same name.

1883 edition. Original full leather. Condition is Good: Front board professionally reattached, back board hinge reinforced. Spine leather shows loss and old repairs distant past. Text block is sound, boards stablized. Interior is very good: No interior writing, folds, smudges or other evidence of use. There is rare foxing. Rough on the outside excellent on the inside. Full leather binding is uncommon. Paginates: blank, frontis, title, (9)-548, blank. 16 color plates including the frontis. Complete as issued. See Howes B927; Rader 532; Adams Six-Guns 314; Graff 467. Feel free to inquire. Please see images of the book you will receive. Notes: book is packed with illustrations which is best feature. Adams notes there is more myth than history here (which you can pretty much tell from the pictures). True first is 1881.

First edition pamphlet, circa 1892. Condition is Very Good: Some toning around edges of wraps. Small chips, small closed edge tears and minor corner wear on some pages. Staples with some rust. No interior writing or vandalism. Pages are bright. Wraps are attached but delicate especially in front. Paginates: wraps, (1)-32. Somewhat uncommon pamphlet. WorldCat locates approximately 20 physical copies. See OCLC: 166586224 and 2599901. See McDade (Annals of Murder) 6. This pamphlet has two laid in adverts for another pamphlet "Life, trial, and confession of Sawtell" (AKA: Trial of Isaac Sawtell; AKA: History of the Murder of Hiram Sawtell by his brother Isaac Sawtell. McDade 852.) The laid in ads are the most ephemeral of ephemera. A collectible item in like condition. Please see images of the book you will receive. Notes: Although author and date are not present one may make an educated guess. Murder was committed November, 1891 with trial shortly thereafter. These pamphlets would have been published at… Read More

First edition, hardcover, Syracuse, 1854. Green blindstamped cloth, gilt spine titles. Overall condition is Good: boards show moderate general wear, most at spine tips. Binding is sound. Spine is sun faded. Interior has ancient owner's name on front blank, a few stray pencil marks. Foxing is present is intermittent with most at front and back. Paginates: frontis, vi, 375 Field 324. A collectible book in like condition. Please see images of the book you will receive. Notes: Author is known for his scholarly writing on the Onondaga. This volume is his collection of stories from the native American peoples and early settlers of the Northeast. These reside at the intersection of history and myth. A talented writer and story teller. Recommended.

Pamphlet, 1825, Andover, Mass. Early edition. Condition is Fair: wraps show significant general wear, top outer corner of blank and last wrap missing causing loss of part a letter. Interior has ownership inscription on front blank with date of 1827, old prior seller's price on blank. No other writing or markings. Spine reinforced with paper in distant past. Paginates: wraps, blanks, 48. Illustrations included in pagination. Complete as issued. This edition is uncommon. WorldCat locates ~15 copies. See OCLC: 34635134 & 22449258; Rosenbach 681. Harlan Page is the engraver, author is unknown. Please see images of the book you will receive. Notes: identification of edition priority is a challenge. The undated New-York Religious Tract Society is generally considered the true first. The sources on this make conclusory statements and there is reason to doubt them. I put together a summary of my research for those who are interested.[Indigenous, South Pacific, theology]