Incunabula

Folio [31.5 x 21 cm], (254) ff., including initial and final blanks, 96 woodcuts, of which 18 are full-page. Bound in late 17th-century vellum over boards, spine with raised bands, title neatly stenciled in gothic letters on spine. Housed in modern book box. Chapter headings neatly calligraphed in a contemporary hand in margins (chiefly in early signatures). A few cracks and some trivial soiling to covers. Portions of some blank margins of a handful of leaves unobtrusively renewed, with absolutely no loss to printed surface. A broad-margined, fresh, very appealing copy with excellent cuts of the woodblocks.Scarce second Latin edition (first 1472) of this treatise on the art of war, containing THE EARLIEST TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATIONS IN A PRINTED BOOK. According to Sander, this edition contains an original set of woodblocks which appear here for the first time; they are very slight reductions of the blocks of the original 1472 edition and are augmented by a single woodcut (f. r1 recto, two men sitting… Read More

Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 30 July, 1477. Very Early Printing of the Bible and only the second Latin Bible printed by Koberger, 51 lines and headline, double column, canon marginalia in the Gospels. With manuscript headlines in red, a beautiful opening initial of 10 lines with elaborate flourishes that flow from the very top to very bottom of the page in red, blue and green, numerous 6 line initials in red and blue, some with much longer extensions or flourishes, a profusion of 3 line initials in red or blue, red paragraph marks and additional rubricating throughout primarily in red. Royal folio (375 x 265mm approx), in contemporary German blind-stamped pigskin over thick wood boards, (probably a Nuremberg binding), the boards center-paneled and decorated in blind with a central tool within multiple borders, remnants of brass catches on the fore-edge. Manuscript lettering to the spine with wide tall bands. 468 leaves, complete. An unusually fine copy, especially well preserved and very handsome… Read More

[Venice: Aldus Manutius, 1495. First Aldine edition, and the first complete edition of Theocritus (printing 12 of the 30 Idylls here for the first time); the first edition of HESIOD'S THEOGONY; second edition of his WORKS AND DAYS; and first editions of most of the other minor works (enumerated below); and first setting of quires £I °E F and £K °E G.. Title in Greek and Roman, introduction by Aldus in Latin;, text entirely in Greek. Woodcut decorated initials and floral or strapwork headpieces, ILLUMINATED THROUGHOUT IN COLORS AND GOLD IN A CONTEMPORARY HAND. [140] leaves. 1 vols. Folio, (315 x 210 mm.). Bound in early 18th-century mottled calf, spine in 7 compartments with citron morocco lettering piece in one and ornamental tooling in the rest; title soiled and shaved along fore-edge, extensive neatly penned marginalia in Greek and Latin, in two different hands; gilt edges, gauffered to all-over pattern of intersecting diagonal fillets and fleurons. Bookplate of St. Benedict's Abbey, Fort… Read More

Istanbul: Ibrahim Muteferrika, 1786 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. THE FIRST BOOK TO BE PRINTED IN IBRAHIM MUTEFERRIKA PRINTING HOUSE AFTER IT'S SECOND ESTABLISHMENT , AND BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MUHENDISHANE PRINTING HOUSE IN USKUDAR . THIS EDITION CONTAINS THE IMPERIAL PERMISSION ( FERMAN ) OF THE SULTAN ABDUL HAMID I IN 1200 H. , 7 PP OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BOOKS PRINTING ART, 748 PP OF ARABIC SCRIPT, CONTEMPORARY FULL LEATHER BINDING. IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. COMMENTARY ON AL KAFIYA MAINLY WRITTEN BY IBN AL HAJIB. SCARCE..

Istanbul: Ibrahim Muteferrika, 1741 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. Ibrahim Muteferrika press, 1153 AH., 1741 AD. Three parts in tow volumes: (Vol. 1), 15 lv. + 277 lv. (Vol. 2 prt 1), 1 lv. + 194 lv. (Vol. 2 prt 2), 2 lv. + 114 lv. VG. in contemporary full leather bindings. Limited to 500 copies covering the Ottoman period from 1071 to 1134 AH. (1660 - 1722 AD.). The author held the post official court historian (Vakanuvis) between 1714 and 1721, appointed as the Cadi (judge) of Aleppo, Mecca and Istanbul then as the military judge (Kazasker) which wher the most important juridical position in the Ottoman state. approx. 30 cm. tall..

Istanbul: Ibrahim Muteferrika, 1733 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. the 12th book to be printed by Ibrahim Muteferrika in 1146 (1733). 6, 3, 247 p. in Modern fine Ottoman style binding ornamented in gilt. .

Venice: Gabriel Giolito de Ferrari, 1557. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/No Jacket. 8vo. Vellum. Title in gilt on green calf label on spine. [32] 740 p.p. Slightly bumped spine and edges. Some soiling to boards and extremities. Light foxing, some yellow staining to pages. Ex Libris Neathman Mill Library stamp on rear fly leaf. Tight boards, pages otherwise clean and crisp with decorated black and white initials. A near fine copy. A Dominican friar and writer, Remigio Nannini produced religious as well as secular works, and poetry. Nannini published "two collections of orations drawn by historians (the first, Military Orations collected by all the ancient and modern historians, Venice, 1557)" [Cantimori, Delio. Italian Encyclopedia, 1934]. Nannini also went on to publish the works of St. Thomas Aquinas (1570) at the request of Pope Pius the V.

Rome: [Andreas Freitag],15 October 1492, 1492. Later black roan & gray boards, spine letters gilt.Binding slightly worn, first leaf lightly soiled. Ex-libris Walter Goldwater. Oration such as this are usually rare and short this one is both it is a tribute from the City of Lucca to the election of Pope Alexander VI. This is one of three almost simultaneously published prints of this on October 25, 1492 before the newly elected Borgia Pope Alexander VI. held this speech. - "This was the typical 'Oratio' - in the style of the times, both florid and unctous - which extolled the virtues of the Pope, traits which subsequent events failed to confirm!" (Bühler) According to Bühler's study, The Freitag printing was preceded by the editions of Stephan Planck (in Roman type) , whose corrections Freitag employed in his edition." CF Bühler, The Earliest Editions of the "Oratio" (1492) by Nicolaus Tygrinus (in: Gutenberg JB 1975, pp. 97-99)" Goff T563; HC 15751*; Pell Ms 10972; CIBN T-51; Nice 209; IGI… Read More

Augsburg: Hagenau(Augsburg): Heinrich Gran, for Johannes Rynman, 30 September, 1501. [imp[re]ssi ... p[er] industriu[m] Henricu[m] Gran i[, 1501. Folio π6 [chi]6 a-b8 c6 d-e8 f6 g-h8 i6 k-l8 m6 n-o8 p6 q-s8 t6 v-x8 y6 z8 A8 B6 C-D8 E6 F-G8H6 I-K8 L6 M-N8 O6 P-Q8 R6 S-T8 U6 X-Y8 Z6 [&]8 l[eaves 12 and 358 blank ]. ( 13, 357 ff. ). This copy is bound contemporary blind-stamped leather over wooden boards from an Augsburg workshop operating between 1482 and 15. ISTC ip00252500, citing holdings at 15 locations globally with none in the US or UK; ISTC No.ip00252500; Hain 12557*; VD16 P1165; Sajó-Soltész p. 767; Günt(L) p.65; Wilhelmi 479a; GW M30525. Hagenau(Augsburg): Heinrich Gran, for Johannes Rynman, 30 September, 1501. [imp[re]ssi ... p[er] industriu[m] Henricu[m] Gran i[n] imp[eri]ali oppido Hagenaw: expe[n]sis ac su[m]ptib[us] p[ro]uidi Joha[n]nis Rynman Finiu[n]t feliciter: Anno ... millesimoq[ui]nge[n]tesimoprimo. vltimo die Septe[m]bris] , (1430-1504). ¶ There is Early monastic ink title… Read More

McMinnville, Oregon: Phillip J. Pirages, 2019. ONE OF 84 COPIES in floral-patterned cloth from a total edition of 165 COPIES. Text: 244 x 154 mm. (9 1/8 x 6 1/8"); Case: 502 x 372 mm. (19 3/4 x 14 5/8"). ii, 75 pp. Bound in floral-patterned cloth after a Morris design by Amy Borezo, who also constructed the case holding the volume and leaves. The book printed letterpress on Zerkall Book Laid Vellum paper by Arthur Larson at Horton Tank Graphics. Book layout by Jill Mann. EACH COPY WITH FIVE LEAVES: ONE FROM THE KELMSCOTT CHAUCER with one or more 10-line initials, multiple six- and/or three-line initials, AND ONE EACH FROM THE PRESSES OF FOUR GERMAN PRINTERS FROM THE 1470s--PETER SCHOEFFER, JOHANN MENTELIN, GÜNTHER ZAINER, AND ANTON KOBERGER. ◆The incunabular leaves consistently excellent, with only minor defects, and the Kelmscott leaves (which were never part of a bound volume) in entirely fine condition. This is a unique leaf book in the way that it combines three elements: a significant… Read More

Augsburg, 1470-1523. All leaves in archival mats, housed in a (slightly scuffed) linen clamshell box measuring 520 x 365 mm. (20 3/8 x 14 1/2"). 13 LEAVES WITH WOODCUTS, THE MAJORITY OF THESE COLORED BY A CONTEMPORARY HAND. ◆A couple of leaves a little browned, two others trimmed a bit close, one with loss of headline, trivial marginal stains or smudges, but the leaves generally fine and fresh. The collection includes: DURANTI, GUILLELMUS. RATIONALE DIVINORUM OFFICIORUM. (Augsburg: Günther Zainer, 22 January 1470) 395 x 290 mm. (15 1/2 x 11 1/2"). Rubricated in red, two two-line initials in red. Goff D-404; BMC II, 315; ISTC id00404000. JACOBUS DE VORAGINE. LEGENDA AUREA: LEBEN DER HEILIGEN. (Augsburg: Günther Zainer, 1471-72) 325 x 240 mm. (12 7/8 x 9 1/2"). First Edition in German. Goff J-156; BMC II, 317; ISTC ij00156000. NIDER, JOHANNES. DIE VIERUNDZWANZIG GOLDENEN HARFEN. (Augsburg: Johannes Bämler, 18 December 1472) 265 x 185 mm. (10 1/2 x 7 14"). Goff N-223; BMC II, 331; ISTC… Read More

Strasbourg: Argentinae: Ex officina Martini Flach junioris, 1501. Half leather. Fine. Folio, printed in Strassburg by Martin Flach, 7 February 1501; 161 unnumbered leaves. BINDING: new Gothic hand-sewn oak binding by Arthur Green of Malvern; tawed quarter leather over quarter-sawn oak boards, quires hand-sewn on four double-cords creating four raised spine bands, board leather blind-tooled with period style rosettes and fleurs-de-lys within panel of diagonal blind triple fillets, hand-sewn Gothic double headbands of alternate hand-dyed indigo and undyed linen thread, hand-made brass hasps and clasps ornamented in period style; an exceptionally attractive recreation of a Gothic hand-sewn binding employing medieval techniques contemporaneous with the date the book was printed. COLLATION: [pi]6, a2-8, b-y6, z8, zeta6, antisigma8; leaf a1 excised and subsequent first few lines of a2[recto] redacted in black ink in the sixteenth century by the inquisitor for its heretical content (see below). TEXT: Double… Read More

Paris: Jacobeo, sub signo Pellicani ab Engleberto Marnefio, 1522. Second edition. Signatures: a-g8, h6(h5-6 both blank, half of h5 missing and lacking h6) LXII f. Bound in original vellum limp binding with hand lettering on spine "Cleree sermones/aVerdu DNI/1522": name on first page "Thomas Stevenson/Edinburgh/183. very good copy of a rare sermon. John Clérée dominican friar, preacher of the Late Middle Ages, is a little and unjustly forgotten nowadays. He was however very well known in the time of the kings Charles VIII and Louis XII, whose he has been the confessor. This study is based on the Quadragesimale said of Valenciennes. Clérée, using always of the rules of the scolastic Ars Praedicamdi, is nevertheless able to innovate by introducing in his sermons some dramatic dialogues. He is an accurate witness of the difficulties and problems of the french society about 1500 : the increasing inegalities between rich and poor ; the heaviness of the royal fiscality and of all kinds of taxes ; the… Read More

Augsburg: Johann Bämler, 1480. 255 x 180 mm. (10 x 7"). Single column, 31 lines in bâtarde type. Attractively matted. WITH A HAND-COLORED WOODCUT (68 x 80 mm.) SHOWING A SCENE FROM THE LIFE OF ST. HENRY II. Goff J-158; ISTC ij00158000; not in BMC. ◆A couple of small, faint brown spots, otherwise a fine leaf, clean and fresh with comfortable margins. .

[Auguste Vindelicorum, Ant. Sorg], 1475.
Gothic folio [301 x 212 mm] of (1) bl. l., 484 leaves with 40 lines per page, thus complete, handwritten inscription at the bottom of the title, a few minor waterstains, annotations in the margins, contemporary bookmarks. Monastic binding in blind-stamped brown calf on wooden boards, rebound, richly ornamented covers, corner spandrels and central metal cabochon, title of the work handwritten in monastic hand on the upper cover. Binding made around 1475.
Rare princeps edition printed by Anton Sorg in November 1475.
ISTC ic00292000; BMC II 342; BSB-Ink D-189; Goff C292; GW 6277; HC 4711; IGI 2601.
"Rare edition described by Panzer, vol. 1. p. 106, and by Hain; it was sold for 9 pounds 19 sh. 6 d. Alchorne Library, in 1813; 20 and 48 flor. Butsch"
(Brunet I-1666).
This princeps edition reached considerable prices reported by Brunet: 9 pounds 19 sh or 200 F gold in 1813, a higher price than the first edition of Les Précieuses ridicules.
"First edition, very rare;… Read More