ABA Featured Books

Smith, Elder & Co. London.,1913. SECOND EDITION. Two large 8vo volumes. Fully illustrated with photogravure frontispieces, 6 original sketches in photogravure by Dr. Wilson,18 coloured plates (16 from drawings by Dr. Wilson), 260 full page and smaller illustrations,from photographs taken by Herbert G. Ponting, and other members of the expedition, panoramas and maps. A very good copy. Publishers blue cloth with gilt lettered to front boards and spines. Top edges gilt. A few faint streaks to the spine of volume one and couple of small abrasions to outer edges of the front board on volume two but overall a very good bright set.:

London : for Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orme, 1808. First edition. Lamb's hugely influential rediscovery of the Elizabethans and Jacobeans, many of the specimens of their work culled from "plays which are to be found only in the British Museum and in some scarce private libraries" - Francis Beaumont, George Chapman, Thomas Decker, John Fletcher, John Ford, Fulke Greville, Ben Jonson, Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, John Marston, Philip Massinger, Thomas Middleton, George Peele, Cyril Tourneur, John Webster, and many more - "the most striking anthology perhaps ever made from English literature" (Edmund Blunden). Crown 8vo (185 x 113mm). xii,484pp. Bound, without half-title, in a very handsome later (early twentieth-century) full blue crushed morocco, banded and richly gilt, by Robert Riviere & Son; all edges gilt; inner gilt dentelles; marbled endleaves; some very minor rubbing and a hint of bruising, but a very good copy.

Harvey Miller Publishers, London, first editions,1978-1996. 6 vols in 9, cloth, folio,. illustrations, some colour and tipped in. The set comprises: I Alexander, J.J.G. : Insular Manuscripts 6th-9th Century, 1978; II Temple, E. : AngloSaxon Manuscripts 900-1066, 1976; III Kauffmann, C.M. : Romanesque Manuscripts 1066-1190; IV Morgan, N.J. : Early Gothic Manuscripts, 1190-1285, 2 vols, 1982-88; V Sandler, L.F. : Gothic Manuscripts 1285-1385, 2 vols, 1986; Scott, K.L. : Later Gothic Manuscripts 1390-1490, 2 vols, 1996. A few pencil ticks to one volume, otherwise a Very Good set in in dustwrapper with minor wear and some skewing of the two-tone colour to that of Volume I.

Nuremberg: Johann Montanus & Ulrich Neuber, 1551.Folio ( 320 x 200mm) , 3 Parts in one volume, Early Citron Morocco Gilt, Gilt Crest of the Duke of Devonshire on Upper and Lower Covers, title printed in red and black, woodcut ornament on title-page, portrait of the author, preface by Philipp Melanchthon, numerous woodcut illustrations throughout concerning geographical, navigational and astronomical subjects, astronomical instruments and Schoner's celebrated celestial and terrestrial globes, with 11 woodcut volvelles and 10 leaves with 34 printed discs for use on the volvelles.
A Splendid complete copy of this extremely scarce work.
The First Edition of Shoner's most important work, his collected Astronomical works published after his death in 1547. This includes the Aequatorium Astronomicum of 1521 the earliest works to contain moveable discs. This original edition, of which there is only one surviving copy, published on his own press at Bamberg, was the inspiration for Peter Apian's extraordinary… Read More

Stockholm: Konstförlaget Grafia, 1916. 10 fabulous original lithographs, in illustrated card folder held together with cord. This album contains portraits of Swedish and international stage artists who were active in Stockholm during the WW1. Portrait sheets: 330 x 240 mm (13 x 9½ inches). Folder: 350 by 260 mm (13¾ by 10¼ inches). The spine is starting to split and has a small water stain. There is a gift inscription 'poem' (dated 1962) to someone at Calle Flygare Teaterskola on the inside cover of the folder. The first lithograph has a small water stain to the spine edge in line with what appears on the spine edge. Someone has written (possibly same hand as inscription) 'Kalle Flygare' to the back cover. John Jon-And was a Swedish illustrator, set designer and artist. During WW1 he was employed as a cartoonist at Svenska Dagbladet in Stockholm. 10 fabuleuses lithographies originales, dans une chemise cartonnée illustrée maintenue par une cordelette. Cet album contient des portraits… Read More

NP. ND. Circa 1890. FINELY BOUND BLANK BOOK. (6.1 x 4.6 inches). Circa 150 blank leaves of laid paper. First five pages have neat hand written poems and there is a neat four line inscription, dated 1892, to the front blank endpaper, otherwise clean and unmarked throughout. Full dark green crushed morocco binding by (or possibly for, although the British Library lists one of the bindings in its collection as being bound by Dreyfous) Dreyfous of London, and with their paper label to one of the blank endpapers. Spine with raised bands, the compartments ruled and decorated in gilt. Both boards with decorative gilt borders and elaborate gilt design within. Double gilt ruled lines to the board edges. Gilt inner dentelles around red silk endpapers. All edges gilt. Spine faded and a little rubbed and there is one small hole to one hinge but still a very attractive binding, housed in a morocco slip case with marbled inner papers. Both side panels of the slip-case have the same gilt tooled design as the book… Read More

R. and J. Dodsley, London. - No date. 1760. FIRST EDITION. Two volumes. 8vo. (6.2 x 4 inches). Portrait frontis in volume one. Previous owner name neatly written on blank free endpapers and a name clipped from the top of the title pages, otherwise very good, bright and clean copies throughout. Early full tan calf bindings with raised bands to the spines. Compartments double gilt ruled. Red title labels, gilt. Some minor wear to the extremities but overall very good and attractive bindings. ---- Complete as published, these first two volumes of Stern's Sermons of Mr. Yorrick, published anonymously in 1760, were added to at a later date with another five volumes issued between 1766 and 1769.

The First UK printing published by MacGibbon & Kee, London in 1957. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Slight pushing at the spine ends. A little toning to the text-block with light spotting to the prelims. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ condition with just light edge-wear. A little toning and marking to the rear panel. A few age related markings to the front panel. Light toning to the spine and flap edges. No fading to the spine. The wrapper presents very well in the removable Brodart archival cover. The book has been inscribed in the year of publication by the author to the front bank end-paper : 'To Ozzie, An old and wise friend. I'll make the next one thicker!, Bill Hopkins, Nov 1957'. Underneath in another hand is a pencilled name 'Oswald ?'. This right wing Nietzschean debut novel is noteworthy in that the publisher voluntarily recalled all known copies, and had them destroyed, as a result of critical allegations of fascist themes. Surviving copies of the publisher's… Read More

The First UK printing of this illustrated edition published by Gay and Bird, London in 1901. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with the original publisher's grey boards, black impressed cover titles, and vellum spine with gilt lettering. Top edge gilt with others uncut. Some offsetting to the blank end-papers. Neat contemporary penned gift inscription to the upper front blank end-paper. Light age related markings to the boards with a hint of pushing to the spine tips. Elaborately illustrated and decorated by the artist 'T. R. R. P.' with a striking font printed within intricate woodcut border designs. The Initial letters of each verse presented in relief within bright red squares. Full-page woodcut illustration in B/W at the beginning and at the final verse. Each verse is printed on a single side of each page and on the verso of each is the verse number with a vignette decoration. No wrapper as issued. The books is covered in a removable plastic protector. A very scarce and handsome production of… Read More

Anno Regni GEORGII II REGIS Magnae Britaniiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae, DECIMO OCTAVO. At the Parliament Begun and holden at Westminster, the First Day of December, Anno Domini 1741, in the Fifteenth Year of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.... FIRST EDITION, [2], 483-486, woodcut coat of arms on title, woodcut floriated initial, text in black letter, folio (320 x 200mm), London, Thomas Baskett, 1745The third Act to be published on the Northwest Passage, the act of 1745 offered the enormous sum of £20,000 for the discovery of a north-west passage, providing that they were a British subject. The preamble to the Act stated the expected economic benefits of the discovery of the passage, and that it would be "a great encouragement to adventurers" to offer a prize. The allocated sum was £20,000, to be paid to the owners of the first ships to successfully make such a passage.
The Board of Longitude existed from 1714… Read More

Second edition, title in red and black, engraved device to title, 1 double page copper plate, numerous text illustrations, [4], b-c4, d2, A-3P4, 3Q2, [1], dedication to King Charles II, old ownership notes to pastedown, lacking front free endpapers, contemporary calf, strapwork with blindstamped floral decorative border, blind stamped monogrammed device "IHS", 4to, Amsterdam, Sumptibus Societatis, 1714
"Following Galileo's pioneering investigations of motion and its mathematical analysis, and the important contributions of Descartes and Huygens, the seventeenth century scientific revolution culminated in Newton's massive achievements in gravitational dynamics and astronomy" (PMM).
The Principia Mathematica is Newton's magnum opus, where he collects his discoveries in mechanics and mathematical calculus and where he exposes his theory of motion and gravitation. This work marked a turning point in the history of science and is considered, by many, as the most important scientific work in history. It is… Read More

1865. Twelve manuscript maps with dated inscription: "A.M. Tatham from her afft. Bro Sherman Dec. 1865". Rebound from a broken binding as a folding leporello series of maps in cloth covered boards "Bible Atlas S.R.T." on original label to the front. Binding is new and without flaws. Slight scratch to blank (back) of first map, otherwise the maps are in excellent condition. The maps comprise: The Nations of the Ancient World, Assyria and the Adjacent Lands, Canaan in Patriarchal Ages, Canaan as Divided among The Tribes, Dominions of David and Solomon, Armenia, Egypt and Sinai Peninsula Illustrating the Journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land, Jerusalem and its Environs, The Kingdoms of Judah & Israel, Palestine in the time of Our Saviour, Modern Palestine, and The Eastern Mediterranean Illustrating the Travels of St. Paul. Each map folds out to approx. 165 x 133 mm. The maps still retain their original bright colouring. Sherman Ralph Tatham was born in Hampstead in 1850. Educated at… Read More

Ten Proof Engravings published by Douglas Cleverdon in 1929. Headpiece, tailpiece and eight full pages, each signed and dated (1929) by David Jones. Sheet size 26.5 x 21.5, plate size (full page) 17.5 x 13.5cm. Housed in a custom board folder with a hand painted paper label. Ernest Percival Pearce's bookplate to the inner board and inscribed in pencil in an unknown hand below and numbered 16.X.72 DJ . Further inscribed in pencil inside the paper folder by an unknown hand DJ 19-11-60 . Very early bowing of the boards. Loosely laid in is H/W correspondence (a one sided letter and a postcard) from David Jones to Mr Pearce dated '29 Sept. 1971' and 'Feb 25th 1956' respectively. The engravings are all in near Fine condition. Illust. 4 with a very tiny rust spot near bottom left corner of blank margin. Illust. 7 with a tiny unobtrusive spot below the signature. Otherwise the plates are all in excellent condition. Only one such set has appeared at auction at Sotherbys in 1982 where they refer to the '8… Read More

Oxford at the Clarenden Press. 1924. Reprint. 8vo. (6.8 x 4.5 inches). Finely bound in attractive full limp vellum binding. Spine lettered in gilt. School arms for St. Paul's School, London, stamped in gilt on front board. Gilt stamped statue bust on the rear board. Marbled endpapers with a blank school prize label on the front pastedown endpaper. All edges gilt Two wide green silk ties to both boards. A fine copy in a fine binding. The binding is unsigned but certainly by a master Binder.

Wells Gardner, Darton and Co Ltd. London. 1907. FIRST EDITION. Square 8vo. Illustrated with decorative title page and 28 illustrations by Browne, all in colour. Fine copy in publishers pink cloth boards with brown and orange lettering and decoration to front board. Rear board with publishers logo in brown. Spine lettered in orange with brown outline. A lovely copy in the rare original dustwrapper which reproduces the front board in brown on front and rear panels. Spine lettered in brown. Loss to bottom of spine, edging onto rear panel (1.2 x .8 inches). Top of spine with half inch loss. Front hinge split but held together by loosely covered brodart protector. Chips to rear outer hinge. A fine of the book in a very good example of the wrapper. Rare in dustwrapper.