1. Dante Alighieri / Cockerell, Douglas / North, John William / Ashendene Press Circle /

Original Devotional Manuscript to Dante [La Divina Commedia / The Divine Comedy – Manoscritto dell’inizio del XX secolo della Divina Commedia di Dante – con strofe manoscritte da “L’Inferno / Inferno” – “Purgatorio” – “Il Paradiso / Paradiso”] – The Manuscript is titled: “Pictures Illustrating The Pilgrimage of the Divine Poet Through The Realms of Punishment of Penance and Peace” – Illuminated Devotional Manuscript of section of “L’Inferno / Inferno” – “Purgatorio” – “Il Paradiso / Paradiso” – with excerpts of Dante’s Divina Comedia, in the style of medieval illuminated manuscripts. The manuscript is a strictly themed Dante Devotion and is of magical quality if one considers the fantastic, original calligraphy artwork, the composition of the manuscript and the coded meaning to the composer of this manuscript. The Folio – size manuscript is massive and has 216 pages, of which 109 pages are with illuminated, original watercolour-paintings in the style of the medieval masters, sometimes collages with watercolour and original etchings, engravings etc. The miniature paintings are juxtaposed with 105 vintage 19th century photographs of famous Italian Art – pieces that are somehow related to Dante’s world or have an allegorical assoziation. Besides the early photographs other juxtaposed artwork or integrated artwork to the illuminations are: an original watercolour depicting the dying Dante, a sensational copper-engraving, depicting an allegorical Dante-scenario, possibly referring to the Divine Comedy, a small photograph of the famous Michelino Fresco encapsulated in one of the illuminations, an artprint attributed “Burne-Jones”, two lithographs, a large steel-engraving, a smaller steel-engraving. Most of the photographs show allegorical sculpture or art by famous italian artists like Giotto, Carpaccio, Andrea Castagna, Luca delkla Robbia, Bellini, Titian, Dosso Dossi, Orgagna, Andrea del Sarto, Fra Angelico, Paul Veronese, Botticelli, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bonifazio, Neri dei Bicci, Francesco Traini, Benozo Gozzoli, etc. etc. and other juxtaposed refer in code to Dante’s Divina Comedia or even depict himself in artform. The photographs also include some breathtaking 19th century Albumen prints of Verona, Lake Garda, Mantua and other Italian landscapes.

England, [Douglas Cockerell / John William North], no year [c.1910]. Folio (34 cm wide x 42.5 cm high). 216 pages. Hardcover / Binding in full green morocco with lettering and Dante’s head as bronze sculpture per inlet to front cover. Binding by Douglas Cockerell, signed “WHS”, during his directorship of W.H.Smith & Son (1905 – 1914). The manuscript is on excellent paper, watermarked O.W.P. & A.C.L. [O.W. Paper & Arts Co. Ltd., established by English painter John William North (1842-1924) in 1895]. The binding rubbed and with some small damages, in need of some minor restoration but overall still very good. The interior, the paper and the artwork all in excellent condition besides one of the juxtaposed photographs (Filippina Lippo) removed from the manuscript with some residue of the photograph remaining and some of the photographs with some dogears and minimal discoloration. All the original artwork in spectacular and fresh condition. The manuscript is a spectacular find and the quality of its execution is of utmost interest for any lover of rare books, manuscripts and special bindings. The circle of Douglas Cockerell, his involvement in one of the most beautiful books ever printed: the Ashendene Press Dante, as well as Cockerell being the binder of this unique manuscript, the fantastic paper used for the manuscript by one of the idyllist movement’s central figures, John William North, and the wonderful Dante – theme of the manuscript with illuminated poetry from the Divine Comedy and the unique style of collage art, lets us rightfully dream that the anonymous composer of the manuscript was an important or at least peripheral member to either the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Ashendene Press or it was someone who worked in the style of the calligraphy schools that were inspired by William Morris or even earlier epigones like Owen Jones.

2. [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 other important 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”.

3. Rollin, Mr. [Charles].

The History of the Arts and Sciences of Antients [with all 52 plates complete] – Under the following Heads : In Three Volumes. Volume I: Agriculture, Commerce, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Music, the Art Military / Volume II: Art Military, Grammar, Philology, Rhetoric, Poetry / Volume III: Poetry, History, Eloquence, Philosophy, Civil Law, Metaphysics and Physics, Physic, Botany, Chymistry [Chemistry], Anatomy, Mathematics, Geometry, Astronomy, Arithmetic, Geography and Navigation. By Mr. Rollin, Late Principal of the University of Paris, Professor of Eloquence in the Royal College and Member of the Royal Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres. Translated from the French. The Second Edition. Illustrated with Fifty-two [52] Copper Plates, representing the Civil and Military Architecture of the Antients, their Temples, Machines, Engines of War, Painting, &c.

3 Volumes (complete set). London, Printed for J. and F. Rivington, 1768. Octavo. Volume I: [12], 374 pages with 12 plates (as called for) / Volume II: [4], 360 pages with 40 plates (as called for) [pages 71 – 74 and the two plates these two pages are holding, loosely inserted], [Plate on page 104 loosely inserted] / Volume III: [4], 516 pages including a thorough Index. Hardcover / Original 18th century full leather with gilt lettering and ornament to spines of all three Volumes. All Volumes in very good condition with only minor signs of wear. All Volumes firm and all plates complete and in really excellent condition and strong imprints. All plates folded beautifully without tears ! From the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with his Exlibris / Bookplate to pastedown. Rare in this complete and excellent condition. It is common to find this work with plates missing which makes this complete set extremely scarce.

4. Preißler, Johann Daniel / Preißler, Georg Martin.

Die durch Theorie erfundene Practic, Oder Gründlich-verfasste Reguln deren man sich als einer Anleitung zu berühmter Künstlere (sic) Zeichen-Wercken bestens bedienen kan (sic). [Drei Werke in sechs Teilen auf zwei Bände verteilt !] Vier Theile inclusive dem vierten “Fortsetzungsband”. Zwei Anhänge angebunden – Anhang I: L’Anatomia Deipittori del Signore Carlo Cesio, das ist: deutliche Anweisung und gründliche Vorstellung von der Anatomie der Mahler (sic), wie in den Gliedern des menschlichen Leibs die vornehmste Gebeine und Musculn, nach ihren Namen, Stellen, Anfängen und Enden, auch fordersten Verrichtungen, bey ihren unterschiedlichen Bewegungen und Handlungen zu erkennen, anzusehen und vorzustellen seyn; anfänglich von dem Kunst=berühmten Meister Carlo Cesio in netten und deutlichen Tabellen, auch kurtzen, doch gründlichen in Italiänischer Sprache beygefügten Erklärungen an das Licht gegeben: Nun aber zu mehrern Aufnahm der Mahler= und Zeichen=Kunst in das Teutsche getreulich übersetzet mitgetheilet von Johann Daniel Preißlern, der Nürnbergischen Kunstmahler=Academie Directore bey welchem sie auch zu finden. / Anhang II: Gründliche Anleitung welcher man sich im Nachzeichnen schöner Landschafften oder Prospecten bedienen kan (sic), den Liebhabern der Zeichen-Kunst mitgetheilet und eigenhändig in Kupfer gebracht, von Johann Daniel Preißler. Mit 104 Kupfertafeln von Georg Martin Preißler.

Mischauflage (vierte bis siebente Auflage). 5 Teile in 2 Bänden (vollständig). Nürnberg, Kunst-Mahler-Academie, 1747-1780. Folio. Band I enthält die Teile 1-3 mit der Vorrede und dem “Nöthigen Vorbericht” aufgeteilt auf die ersten zwei Teile. Paginierung: Teil I: (2 Bll.), 19 ganzseitige Kupfertafeln / Teil II: (5 Bll.), 18 ganzseitige Kupfertafeln / Teil III: (4 Bll.), 17 ganzseitige Kupfertafeln, (3 Bll.). Eine Kupfer in einer Ecke minimal beschmutzt. Band II enthält den vierten “Fortsetzungs” – Band und im Anhang das Werk von Carlo Cesio. Paginierung: Teil IV: (4 Bll.), 18 ganzseitige Kupfertafeln / ANHANG I: L’Anatomia Deipittori / Anatomie der Mahler – Paginierung: (2 Bll.), 16 ganzseitige Kupfer (im Stile Vesalius’ und Eustachius’) / Anhang II: Nachzeichnen schöner Landschaften – Paginierung: (2), 16 ganzseitige Kupfertafeln // Wunderschöne Halblederbände des späten 18.Jahrhunderts oder frühen 19.Jahrhunderts. Das Halbleder auf fünf unechten Bünden mit zweifarbigen Rückenschildchen und reicher Rückenvergoldung. Exzellenter Erhaltungszustand mit nur einem der Kupferstiche mit minimaler Verschmutzung. Eine der schönsten Ausgabe einer Malerschule die wir je gesehen haben.

5. [Pissarro, Lucien] Thorold, Anne.

A Catalogue of the Oil Paintings of Lucien Pissarro / Catalogue Raisonné. Compiled by Anne Thorold with a Preface by Christopher Lloyd and an Introduction by John Bensusan-Butt.

Numbered Limited Edition (One of only 400 printed !) London, Athelney Books / Printed by “The Curwen Press”, 1983. Folio. XIX, 251 pages with 554 paintings listed and illustrated. Including the tipped-in colour-illustration of “La Frette et Sartrouville”. Original Hardcover in original slipcase. The Volume itself in absolutely excellen, near mint condition. The slipcase with some staining and rubbing. Extremely scarce !

6. [Chiari, Giovanni] Vascellini, Gaetano.

Statue di Firenze [incluso: “Catalogo delle Statue del R. Giardino di Boboli colla Notizia dei Loro Autori”, “Catalogo delle Statue nel R. Palazzo de Pitti”, Catalogo delle Statue colla Notizia dei Loro Autori ec.” ec.]

Tres Parti (complete) [Tutto dichiarato come prima parte]. Firenze, Presso Giuseppe Volpini Cartolaro, no year [c. 1765]. Octavo. Collation complete. Pagination: Part I (Primo): Frontispiece copper-engraving with Florence in the background, 8 pages of text with introduction by Giovanni Chiari and the catalogue of statues in Boboli Garden, 25 plates each with 4 copper-engravings of Statues in Boboli Garden. Part II (Seconda): Frontispiece copper-engraving with Florence in the background, 8 pages of text with catalogue of Statues in Palazzo Pitti, 41 plates each with 4 copper-engravings of Statues in Pitti Palace. Part III (Terza): Frontispiece copper-engraving with Florence in the background, 8 pages of text with catalogue of Statues [″Catalogo delle Statue colla Notizia del Loro Autori ec. (incl. Michelangelo Buonarotti, Donatello etc.). Hardcover / Original bookblock rebound by Bayntun in Bath in a subtle and charming modern cloth with gilt lettering on new spine-label. Original endpapers preserved. Exceptional condition of this rare 18th century publication with only very faint signs of foxing. Provenance: Richard Meade, Ballymartle (with the Meade Family – crest as library stamp).

7. [Mary, Queen of Scots] Foster, J.J.

Concerning the True Portraiture of Mary Queen of Scots. With a Chapter by L. Dimier on the French Court Painters of the XVI. Century. Illustrated by numerous examples selected from famous Collections.

London, Dickinsons, 1904. Large-Folio. Frontispiece, XVII, 125 (1) pages with 57 Illustrations (36 plates of which 4 are in color plus several text-illustrations). Original, very decorative red half-morocco with gilt lettering and ornament on spine / Coat of Arms of “Maria Regina″on front board. / Hardcover. Some signs of stronger external wear to upper hinge. Binding rubbed but firm. Only occasional foxing, also to some of the illustrations. Edition de Luxe: No.65 of 175 copies. Signed by J.J.Foster.

8. [Masereel, Frans] Verhaeren, Émile / Uzanne, Octave.

Quinze Poèmes d’Émile Verhaeren. Illustrés de 57 Gravures sur Bois, Dessinees et Gravées par Frans Masereel et suivis d’un Souvenir a Verhaeren par Octave Uzanne.

Paris, Edtions Georges Cres & Cie, 1917. 4°. CIII pages. Hardcover / Full leather with gilt lettering to spine and gilt decorated boards. Boards with some stronger signs of wear. One of 1350 exemplaires sur papier anglais.

9. [Raphael] Williams, Mary E[lizabeth].

The Hours of Raphael in Outline – Together with the Ceiling of the Hall Where They Were Originally Painted.

Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1891. Large Folio (36.5 cm x 44 cm). 19 pages of text plus 16 plates. Illustrated Hardcover (green cloth with gilt lettering and ornament). The binding only slightly rubbed. Otherwise in excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear.

10. Canaletto, Giovanni Antonio.

Sämtliche Radierungen. Mit einer Einleitung von Alfons Uhl.

Nördlingen, Uhl, 1981. 2°. 2 nn. Blatt, 30 Reproduktionen von Radierungen auf 19 Tafeln / 30 Reproductions in original size. Alle Blatt lose in Originalmappe. Sehr guter Zustand. 2 nn. Blatt, 30 Reproduktionen von Radierungen auf 19 Tafeln. Alle Blatt lose in Originalmappe. Sehr guter Zustand. Großfolio.