Rare Books And Their Story

John Mill - Novum Testamentum Graecum

Our catalogues

Americas - Homann, Johann Baptist. (1664 – 1724).

Americae Mappa generalis.

Show details

Steuart, Sir James.

An Inquiry into the Principles of Political Economy: Being an Essay on the Science of Domestic Policy in Free Nations. In which are particularly considered Population, Agriculture, Trade, Industry, Money, Coin, Interest, Circulation, Banks, Exchange, Public Credit and Taxes.

Show details

Arbuthnot, John.

Tables of Antient Coins, Weights and Measures - Explained And Exemplified in Several Dissertations [A Dissertation concerning the Doses of Medicines given by Ancient Physicians]. The Second Edition - To which is added, An Appendix, containing Observations on Dr.Arbuthnot's Dissertations on Coins, Weights and Measures by Benjamin Langwith [not included].

Show details

Mill, John [Michael Burghers].

H KAINH DIAQHKH. Novum Testamentum Græcum, cum lectionibus variantibus MSS. Exemplarium, Versionum, Editionum, SS. Patrum et Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum, & in easdem Notis. Accedunt Loca Scripturae Parallela, aliaque [...] & Appendix ad Variantes Lectiones. [The Greek New Testament, with the various readings of Manuscript Copies, Versions, Editions, Holy Fathers and Writers of the Church, and in the notes of same]. Studio et labore Joannis Millii, S.T.P.

First Edition. Oxonii, E Theatro Sheldoniano, 1707. Folio (27 cm x 39.5 cm). Lacking the engraved Frontispiece but otherwise the collation is complete: Halftitle, Titlepage with Titlevignette of Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre, 4 unnumbered pages (Epistola), CLXVIII pages (Prolegomena), 14 unnumbered pages (Index), 809 pages of text, (1), 64 pages (Appendix Ad Notas Superiores). Several, beautifully engraved headpieces and initials throughout the text, signed in the plate by dutch artist, illustrator and engraver Michael Burghers – [MBurg. delin et sculp.]. Modern Hardcover / Stunning, recent half – leather with gilt lettering on spine and cloth-covered boards in a stunning cardinal-purple fabric. From the library of Daniel Conner, with his bookplate to the pastedown and name on the titlepage. This extremely scarce publication is of great scholarly importance but it is also a typographical masterpiece. All vignettes in wonderful condition. Minor abrasion to halftitle. Otherwise in unusually excellent condition. The stunningly clean interior makes up for the lack of the frontispiece.

Show details

Nugent, Thomas.

Travels through Germany. Containing observations on Customs, Manners, Religion, Government, Commerce, Arts, and Antiquities. With a particular account of the courts of Mecklenburg. Embellished with elegant Cuts of the Palaces and Gardens of the Dukes of Mecklenburg.

First Edition. Two Volumes (complete set). London, Printed for Edward and Charles Dilly, 1768. Octavo. Collation complete. Volume I: Frontispice: “View of the Palace of Strelitz”, (8), 391 pages with View of the “City of Hamburg”, “A Map of the Duchy of Mecklenburg – including the Island of Rugen” / Volume II: Frontispice: “View of the Palace of Ludwigslust”, (2), 395, (1) pages with “The Grand Cascade & Water Clock before the Palace Ludwigslust”, “The Cascade in the Wood, near the Summer House of Ludwigslust”, “The Two Cascades in the Wood near the little Summer House of Ludewigslust”, “The 2 Cascades with the Jet d’Eau at the Entrance of the Grand Avenue in the Gardens of Ludwigslust” , “The Caesar Grove”, “The Circle Cascade in the Gardens of Ludwigslust”, “Prospect of a Sluice in the Gardens of Ludwigslust which by the weight of the stream opens itself, lets off the water & shuts again”. With the Directions for the Binder and Errata to the rear of Volume II. Hardcover / Original 18th century half leather with gilt lettering and ornament on spine-labels. Front board of Volume one starting to separate. Otherwise in very good condition with all the illustrations and the often missing map in excellent condition. Rare and early work on Garden Architecture, Lustgarten, Wasserspiele (Water Games) etc. Armorial bookplate of Daniel Conner to pastedown of each Volume.

Show details

Fulton, Robert.

A Treatise on the Improvement of Canal Navigation; Exhibiting the Numerous Advantages to be Derived from Small Canals. And Boats of Two to Five Feet Wide, containing from Two to Five Tons Burthen. With a Description of the Machinery for Facilitating Conveyance by Water through the most Mountainous Countries, independent Locks and Aqueducts: Including Observations on the great Importance of Water Communications, with Thoughts on, and Designs for, Aqueducts and Bridges of Iron and Wood. Illustrated with Seventeen Plates.

London, Published by I. and J.Taylor at the Architectural Library in High Holborn, 1796. Quarto (23 cm x 29 cm). XVI, 144 pages plus all 17 Plates with their original tissue-guards (!), 1 page of Advertising. Hardcover / The publication comes in its extremely desirable publisher’s interim-binding, pure and pristine plates, opened, but uncut pages with deckled edges and the plates near pristine with their original tissue-guards. Plates in Fine condition, Binding very good+ with only minor signs of external wear. Name of preowner on titlepage. Very rare in this pure state !

Show details

[Daniele, Francesco / Johann Josef von Wilczek / Thomasius, Christian].

Le Forche Caudine - Illustrate con due Appendici. [Compreso "Prospetto Della Valle Caudina Dalla Parte Della Campania"]. Second edition, augmented and, according to Brunet, preferable to the original first edition, which was printed in Caserta in 1778.

Seconda Edizione. Napoli, Appresso Angelo Trani, 1811. Folio (44.5 cm x29 cm). XIII, (3), 102 pages plus (6) pages advertising and Index (Indice). With 22 (twentytwo) illustrations overall. Including a large fold-out-plan (97 x 43 cm) of the Valle Caudine, several Vignettes, Allegorical/Historical Illustrations and four beautiful landscape engravings of the Valle Caudine by Alessandro d’Anna / XIII, (3), 102 pagine più (6) pagine pubblicitarie e Index (Indice). Con 22 (ventidue) illustrazioni in totale. Tra cui una grande illustrazione (97 x 43 cm) della Valle Caudine, diverse vignette, illustrazioni allegoriche / storiche e quattro bellissime incisioni paesaggistiche della Valle Caudine di Alessandro d’Anna. Hardcover / Fantastic modern, Nigerian goatskin with gilt lettering on spine and fine quality late 19th-century cloth over boards. New endpapers and all bound in style by english master-binders. Excellent condition of the binding. The stunning and most wonderful interior with only very occasional signs of an old dampstain to the outer margins and the beautiful, large fold-out-plan with some mild browning to one part of the center-fold. A typographical masterpiece of italian printmaking.

Show details

[Newbery & Carnan].

A Description of England and Wales Containing a particular Account of each County, with its Antiquities, Curiosities, Situation, Figure, Extent, Climate, Rivers, Lakes, Mineral Waters, Soils, Fossils, Caverns, Plants and Minerals, Agriculture, Civil and Ecclesiastical Divisions, Cities, Towns, Palaces, Seats, Corporations, Markets, Fairs, Manufactures, Trade, Sieges, Battles and the Lives of illustrious Men each County has produced, Embellished with two hundred and forty Copper Plates of Palaces, Castles, Cathedrals; The Ruins of Roman and Saxon Buildings; And of Abbeys, Monasteries, and other Religious Houses. Besides a Variety of Cuts of Urns, Inscriptions, and other Antiquities.

Ten Volumes (complete set). London, Newbery and Carnan, 1769. Small Octavo. Volume I: XII, 299 pages / Volume II: 286 pages / Volume III: 288 pages / Volume IV: 288 pages / Volume V: 288 pages / Volume VI: 288 pages / Volume VII: 287 pages / Volume VIII: 288 pages / Volume IX: 288 pages / Volume X: 288 pages // Hardcover / Nine Volumes in their original 18th-century full leather with gilt lettering and ornament on spine. Volume One recently bound to style by english master-binders. Faded dampstain to Volume III. Otherwise in very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Two spine-labels slightly damaged. Bookplate of Daniel Conner to pastedowns of Volumes 2 – 9.

Show details

Cervantes De Saavedra, Miguel [Jarvis Edition with an excellent provenance, being from the library of John Fane, (Lord Burgersh) the Earl of Westmoreland].

The Life and Exploits of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha. Translated from the Original Spanish by Charles Jarvis, Esq. [Bound with: "The Life of Michael de Cervantes Saavedra" and an "Advertisement concerning the Plates"].

Show details

Egypt - Lotter, Tobie Conrad. (1717 - 1777).

Le Cours Entier du Grand et Fameux Nil.

Augsburg, Lotter, [c.1740]. Original hand coloured engraving. Plate Size: 59.8 cm x 48.4 cm. Sheet Size: 65.4 cm x 53.6 cm. Original map. In very good condition. Partially coloured. Repaired tear to left edge of sheet. Minor tear to foot of sheet outside border. Central vertical fold as issued. Map is orientated to the north.

Show details

Wight, Thomas.

Colophon Woodcut: "Welcom The Wight That Bringeth Such Light" - Titled in a tablet: 'Imprinted at London by T. East for Iohn Wight [In lilac ink below this line is also the name 'W. Shawe']. Wight's effigy holds 'Scientia' and flanking him are 'Rhetorica' and 'Gramatica'.

London, T.East for Iohn Wight, 1584. 17 cm x 11.8 cm. 1 sheet. Mounted on 19th century paper. Very good condition with only minor signs of a faded dampstain.

Show details

Hooke, Nathaniel.

The Roman History, From the Building of Rome to the Ruin of the Commonwealth [with the printed Dedication to Alexander Pope]. Illustrated with 17 folding Maps, 4 Fontispieces and 11 other Plates [32 copper-engravings in total].

The Fourth Edition. Four Volumes (complete set with all maps and plates). London, Printed for J. and R. Tonson; Hawkins and T.Longman, 1766 – 1771. Quarto (27 cm x 22 cm). Collation: Volume I: Frontispiece, XLVI, XLVI, 634 pages with 10 plates and 3 maps / Volume II: Frontispiece, XXXII, XXXII, 668 pages with 8 maps / Volume III: Frontispiece, VI, 694 pages with 5 maps / Volume IV: Frontispiece, VII, 464 pages plus 76 unnumbered pages of a General Index and 1 plate and 1 map. Hardcover / Original 18th-century leather with gilt lettering and labels on spine. Interior of this set with all maps and illustrations in excellent, very clean condition. The boards of the bindings with abrasions and some bumping but overall very firm. Some stronger peeling of the leather on board of Volume I, Only three pages with minor tears. The large map of Northern Africa (Palestine, Egypt and Libya) with a minor tear. Bookplate of Daniel Conner and his manuscript ownership notation on pastedown. The stunning maps and plates in timeless beauty. Highly underestimated work, in the shadow of Gibbon but with meticulous detail in presenting the geographical impact of the Roman Conquest.

Show details

[Chester Beatty, Sir Alfred] Holme, Charles (Charles Rennie Mackintosh / Charles Voysey and others).

The Studio: an illustrated magazine of fine and applied art. Alfred Chester Beatty's personal set of The Studio; 97 volumes bound in 69 books with the Register for Vols 1-29 [Lacking Volume 61]. With original artwork by James McNeill Whistler and othe rimportant artists of the Belle Époque and Art Nouveau Movement.

97 Volumes (bound in 69 Volumes). London, Offices of The Studio, 1893 – 1929. Quarto. c. 20000 pages with illustrations, photographs, original lithographs, engravings. Contemporary private Hardcover (Uniform deep blue buckram with gilt lettering on spinelabels). Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Only a few of the Volumes a little shaky. With the handwritten entry “A. Chester Beatty – 24 Kensington Palace Gardens – W. 8”.

Show details

Hastings, Percy / Burne-Jones, Sir Edward / Morris, William / Whistler, L. McNeill and many others.

The Architectural Review : For the Artist & Craftsman. Volumes 1 - 30 (uninterrupted set of the first 30 Volumes published : Volume I (November - May - 1897 ) - Volume XXX (July - December 1911). The complete 15 years from 1897 to 1911 of the Art Nouveau period is resembled in these beautiful first 30 Volumes. With hundreds of illustrations on architecture and design and including several original lithographs by famous designers and artists of the time (Burne-Jones, Whistler etc.).

First Edition. 30 Volumes. London, Effingham House / Caxton House, 1897 – 1911. 23.5 cm x 32.5 cm. More than 8000 pages with hundreds of illustrations and original artwork. Original Hardcover (Green Publisher’s cloth with beautiful gilted ornament and lettering on spine). Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. All the Volumes firm and only very few Volumes with minor signs of external wear and some darkening to the spines. Important Source for the Arts and Crafts Movement //.

Show details