Rare books from Resource Books, LLC

New York: John Low (later, E. Low), 1805. First American edition. Attractive early American encyclopedia, begun in 1805 by John Low and completed after his death by E. Low, with volumes dated 1805 through 1811. The title page states that the set was to have contained 170 plates, but it is unlikely that that number of plates was included in any extant copy (the Library of Congress has a set of the plates for this encylopedia that numbers 149, but does not have the text). This copy contains 122 plates, including 34 maps, ten of which are folding, with a folding plate. There is inconsistent pagination and two pages of volume VI which are not present and were probably never bound in. Full original polished calf with black spine labels and gilt volume numbers. Vol. I: 666p. + 27 plates incl. 6 maps (2 folding) and 2 celestial maps. Vol. II: 646p. + 21 plates incl. 5 maps (2 folding). Vol. III: 654p. + 29 plates incl. 4 maps (2 folding). Vol. IV: 634p. + 14 plates incl. 4 maps (1 folding).… Read More

Various: Various, 1755. Bound volume containing six sermons dated from 1755 to 1788: I. Lyman, Joseph. A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency James Bowdoin, Esq., Governour; His Honour Thomas Cushing, Esq., Lieutenant-Governour...of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 30, 1787, Being the Day of General Election. Boston: Adams and Nourse, 1787, 61 pages, front cover used as pastedown for the volume, with some old insect damage to pastedown and margins of first two leaves. II. Cumings, Henry. A Sermon Preached in Billerica, on the 23rd of November, 1775, Being the Day appointed by Civil Authority, for a Public Thanksgiving Throughout the Province of Massachusetts-Bay. Worcester, Massachusetts-Bay: I. Thomas, 1775. 29 pages. Final two leaves dampstained but very readable, next-to-last leaf has margin chip. III. Morrill, Isaac. The Soldier exhorted to Courage in the Service of his King and Country, from a Sense of God and Religion: in a Sermon Preach'd at Wilmington, April 3, 1755,… Read More

Printed for J. Neilson, for James Gillies, Glasgow: Paisley, 1795. Published 1795. Vividly written and energetic sermon describing how difficult it is to redeem onself after sinning; and how one is much better off not to have sinned in the first place. Full calf with black spine label, xvi, (17)-272p. Covers worn and a bit dried around the edges, spine label chipped, front joint cracked but cover still well attached, quite clean pages with some age-toning and light scattered foxing, a couple of brief areas with fairly faint dampstaining, mainly confined to the margins, no noted chips or tears. Gift inscription dated 1867 on front free endpaper, old round sticker with "no. 451" on front pastedown. A sound copy, internally very good.. Hard Cover. Good. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

London: Macmillan and Co., 1901. First edition, 1901. Scarce travel guide to the Western Mediterranean, including both southewestern Europe and northwestern Africa. Includes maps and/or plans of: The Western Mediterranean; Lisbon; Andalucia; Seville; Cordoba; The Alhambra; Gibraltar; Morocco; Tangier; Algiers; Malta; Port of Valetta; Sicily; Palermo; Syracuse; Messina; Straits of Messina; Naples; Environs of Naples; Genoa; Marseilles. Includes yachting notes, hotel recommendations, historical notes and other usual travel information. Bright red cloth over flexible boards, gilt lettering, 238 pages plus 22 pages of advertising. Some light cover wear, mainly rubbing to the corners and spine ends, inner hinges lightly cracked (cosmetic rather than structural), pages clean and free from names or other markings. A well-kept copy.. First Edition. Soft Cover. Very Good. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Cambridge: Printed by Roger Daniel, for Thomas Buck, 1640. 6th edition, 1640. Also includes Gerards Prayers: or, A Daily Practice of Piete, seventh edition. Full calf with spine label, gilt ruled spine with decorated compartments, [22], 321, [14], 155 pages. Title page has decorative elements surrounding the text, no additional engraved title, no evidence that one was ever bound in. Covers worn and rubbed, front cover detached, spine ends lightly chipped, text block sound, pages age-toned and foxed but generally clean with a few old underlines in the first meditation. . Sixth Edition. Hard Cover. Fair. 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall.

Boston: D. Lothrop & Co., 1885. Scarce collection of children's stories and poems including the story of Jumbo and how he was sent to America from England, illustrated throughout with engravings. Illustrated paper covered boards with a metallic sheen printed in shades of red, blue and green, unpaginated, eighty pages. Some cover wear, mainly heavy rubbing to the extremities and some surface chipping to the corners and along the spine edges, good hinges (front hinge just starting from the bottom, still very secure), good text block with no loosened pages, pages clean with a very few instances of finger soil to the margins, short gift inscription in pencil on the front free endpaper, dampstains along the upper portions of the hinges, not affecting the interior of the book, pages free from chips, tears or markings. Includes: Jumbo; More About Jumbo; Chirp and Hop; Foxy; Polly's School; Little Bird; The Mower and the Bird's Nest; When the Night Comes; A Song for Summer; Our Visitor;… Read More

London: Printed for Jacob Tonson at Gray's-Inn-Gate; and Robert Gibson, 1702. Published 1702. Revised, and with a preface by Jeremy Collier; and with an Apology for the Philosophical Writings of Cicero by Henry Dodwell. Includes the frequently-missing frontis portrait of Cicero and the four pages of publisher's advertisements at the back. Contemporary or similar period binding in paneled calf with gilt-stamped spine lettering, five raised spine bands, tooled floral designs at outer corners of both cover panels, outer edges speckled in red, [78], 368, [4] pages. Rubbed at the extremities with chips to spine ends and vertical crease to spine, joints a little tender but covers well attached, name on front free endpaper, title handwritten on front pastedown, margin chip to page 149/150, pages age-toned (some quite browned) but clean and unmarked.. Hard Cover. Good/No. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Iunta [Junta]: Florence, Italy, 1522. In Latin. Thick volume in eighteenth century binding, quarter green calf ;eatjer over marbled boards, gilt spine lettering and decoration, 16 cm tall, (16), 776, (1) pages (388 numbered pages, with only the right-hand pages numbered), some inconsistent page numbers, but complete. Woodcut surrounds to title page, decorative initials on pages 130, 223 and 244, woodcut vignette on final page. Covers worn and scuffed, with some chipping to the extremities, old paper labels on spine with hand numbering, hinges internally cracked but covers well attached, text block sound, front free endpaper and first leaf detached but present, occasional light foxing, a few spots and minor insect damage to the first four leaves, minor dampstaining to the top margins of several pages near the end of the book, more extensive dampstaining to final leaf. Name of Charles O'Connor, Rome 1900, and one additional note on front pastedown.. Hard Cover. Good. 12mo - over 6¾" -… Read More

Leipzig: Johann Friedrich Branns Seel Erben, 1734. In German. Published 1734. Two titles by this Lutheran theologian, the second title actually being the fourth book of the first title, but with a separate title page and pagination. Entire title reads: Vier uralte Geistreiche Buchlein, Deren I. Die Teutsche Theologia, Das ist: Adam in uns sterben: Christus aber in uns seben musse. II. Von der Holdseligen liebe Gottes. III. Von unserm H. Christl. Glauben, D. John. von Staupitz, IV. Die Nachfolge Christi, wie man alle Eitelkeiten deiser Welt verschmahlen solle D. Thomae a Kempis vorlangst geschrieben. Illustrated with six engraved plates, title pages in red and black. Full contemporary sheep with three slightly raised spine bands, edges tinted red, 178, 252 pages. Covers worn and rubbed, front hinge cracked with cover holding by one cord, text block generally sound, pages age-toned but clean, name of G. W. Fischer near bottom of title page, remains of old red wax seal on front free endpaper..… Read More

Utrecht [?]: N.P., 1695. Published 1695. Title Continues: "...solidly confirmed, & learnedly vindicated from the various Objections of its Adversaries. Whereunto are subjoined some Arguments against Universal Redemption". A methodical and supported explanation and defense of the doctrine of justification - that Christians are justified in God's eyes through their faith. Includes a preface by Melchior Leydecker. Full contemporary sheep with four raised spine bands, paper spine label, [12], 563, [1], with the final leaf of the index, and free endpapers, absent. Covers rubbed with chips to the spine head and corners, some craquelure-type surface cracks to the spine covering, joints good, text block sound, pages evenly age-toned and lightly foxed, name and 1743 date at head of title page. . Hard Cover. Fair. Small 4to (20cm x 15cm).

New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1875. First edition of this three volume set bound in publisher's three quarter green morocco leather over green pebbled cloth, gilt decorative cover lettering, slightly raised spine bands with gilt lettering, compartments ruled in gilt and black, all edges gilt, brick red endpapers, 488 + 460 + 491 pages. With around three hundred engravings per volume, plus accompanying text, this Victorian era set provided those at home to view sights they had never seen before, or perhaps provided a preview to a European trip in the Grand Tour tradition. Covers a little rubbed and scuffed with some minor mottling, a little roughness to one spine end but no chips, spines faded to a warm olive green (covers are a brighter green), spines have some minor and shallow vertical waviness near the center but are not dried, good hinges, sound text blocks with no loosened pages, engraved titles, adjacent tissues and frontis plates a little foxed, small inner margin tear to frontis… Read More

Cincinnati, Ohio: H. M. Rulison, 1853. First edition (1853, copyright 1852) of this scarce mid nineteenth century American book on etiquette for ladies and gentlemen, including politeness and pleasing; dress; dignity; breeding; introductions; visits; conversation; dinner table etiquette; parties, balls and soirees; moral character, etc. Brown cloth lettered in gilt and decorated in gilt and blind, five inches tall, all edges gilt, yellow endpapers with publisher's ads, 64 pages. Very light external wear, good hinges, sound text block, some old and persistent blue pencil scribbles on front endpapers, pages clean with a scattering of light foxing, no names or other markings.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good. 24mo - 5" - 5¾" Tall.

Philadelphia and Baltimore: H. & P. Rice, and James Rice; Printed By Joseph Charless, 1801. First US edition, 1801, preceding the 1807 purported first American edition listed in Sabin 16915. Rough copy without covers and without the probable frontis portrait that was included in the 1807 edition. Calf spine, about 17cm tall, 204, [3], 1p. publisher's ad. Begins with title page (detached) with attached blank at end. Spine chipped, text block holding together, title page and blank age-toned and lightly chipped at the edges, remaining contents very good with light to moderate foxing, name of J. G. Whitehorne at top of title page.. First Edition. Disbound. Poor/No. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Hungary: N.P., 1807. In Latin. Laws passed by the Hungarian Assembly of 1807, a tumultous time in this region, with the Imperial Seal of Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire, later Francis I of Austria. Although the transition was made in 1806, this is still signed as Franciscus II. There is an additional signature below the seal, Comes Josephus Erdody [?]. Title page includes an additional inscription by Reverendo Petro Klobuviczky. Full brown leather with decorative borders, 13.5 inches tall, [2], 32 pages. Covers worn with some worming to the covers, hinges good but lower of the two binder's cords has separated, endpapers age-toned with a modern note about the identity of Franz II neatly written at the bottom of the rear endpaper, pages very clean. . Hard Cover. Good. Folio - 12" - 15" Tall.

London: William Pickering, 1825. Complete set of sixteen volumes bound into seventeen books, the final volume being divided into two separate bindings. Full British tan calf leather with dual spine labels in brown, slighlty raised spine bands decorated in gilt, all edges speckled red, frontis engraving in volumes I, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII, folding facimile document in volume IX, books about 8.75 inches tall. Very well kept set with only light wear to extremities, some crackles to spine labels (stabilized) and a tiny chip to one label, good hinges, firm text blocks, folding plate, frontis engravings and adjacent title pages foxed, pages clean, small name stamp to upper corner inside each cover, no other names or markings.. Hard Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.