1. Gardiner, Richard / [Richard Gardiner of Hereford].

[Specimen Oratorium] Richardi Gardiner Herefordensis, Aedis Christi Oxon. haud ita Canonici, Sub-Decani, Specimen Oratorium. Recusum & Declamationibus quorundam tunc temporis ibidem Art. Bac. Necnon Additamentis Studentium Heterogeniis adornatum.

[Second Edition]. Oxoniae [Oxford], Excudebat H.Hall Academiae Typographus, Impensis Richardi Davis, 1657. Duodecimo (9 cm x 15 cm). [4], 174 pages with three further titlepages after page33 (″Aede Christi”), after page 135 (″Epistolae Nonnullae”), after page 151 (″Alumnorum Versiculi”) and after page 161 (″Lector Candide Coronidis”). Hardcover / Modern half-leather with gilt lettering and spinelable. Bound to style of the 17th century by an english masterbindery, which made sure to preserve the original endpapers and pastedowns. An excellent restoration with preserved patina of this scarce work. The titlepage with a professional repair. Although no sign of it, this book came from the library of Daniel Conner (Manch House). Name of another former owner to pastedown: “Thomas Davis – his book , October 21, 1790”. Extremely rare !

2. Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery / Lane, John Henry H.V.

19th century original british Passport for “Mr.John Henry H. V. Lane (British Subject) travelling on the continent”, signed in July of 1886 by later prime minister Archibald Philip, Earl of Roseberry, then Foreign Secretary under Gladstone during his brief third ministry.

London, Given at the Foreign Office, 1886. 27.7 cm x 38.2 cm. 1 sheet. Original Softcover. Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. Signed by Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. Fantastic and important document of british foreign office history.

3. Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles.

A Complete Guide to Heraldry. [With a chapter: “The Status and the Meaning of a Coat of Arms in Great Britain”]. Illustrated by Nearly 800 Designs, Mainly from Drawings by Graham Johnston, Herald Painter to the Lyon Court.

Revised Edition. London and Edinburgh, T. Nelson & Sons, Ltd. / T.C. & E.C. Jack, Ltd., no year [c.1925]. 18 cm x 24 cm. Frontispiece, XII, 647 pages. With 779 illustrations and 9 plates including frontispiece. Hardcover [publisher’s original tanned cloth] with lettering on spine and front board. Large heraldic device on front board. With rare illustrated dustjacket in protective mylar. Deckled fore and tail-edges. Gilt top edges. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Dustjacket chipped and torn. Some minor foxing to endpapers and edges. Some untrimmed pages. Unmarked interior.

4. [Newbery & Carnan].

A Description of England and Wales [with 240 Plates] – 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.

5. Heraldic Illustration of the 18th century – Guillim, John / [ Edward Le Davis ] / [ Michael van der Gucht].

A Display of Heraldry. By John Guillim, pursuivant at Arms. The Sixth Edition [on fine paper]. Improv’d with large Additions of many hundred Coats of Arms, under their respective Bearings, with good Authorities from the Ashmolean Library, Sir George Mackenzie, &c. With his Tract of Precedency, containing all his Rules, Observations, Arguments, and chief Instances. To which is added, “A Treatise of Honour Military and Civil”, According to the Laws and Customs of England, By Capt. John Logan. Illustrated With the Arms, Crests, Supporters, and Motto’s of the Royal Familly, and Nobility: The Arms of the Sees of the English Bishops, and several of the Gentry. Together With the proper Habits of the different Degrees of the Nobility of England, and the Emblems of the chief Orders of Knighthood in Europe; all fairly engraven on Copper Plates. Also An Exact List of the Baronets, from their first Creation to this present Time; and most of their Arms Blazon’d. With an Account of the Customs, Government, and Privileges of the City of London, the other Cities of England, and Shire-Towns of each County, and their Arms. Likewise A Supplement of Scarce tracts relating to the Office of Arms, taken from Authentick Copies. And A Dictionary, explaining the several Terms used by Heralds, in English, Latin and French. With proper Tables to the Whole. [With 17 full-page, original portraits, engraved by Edward Le Davis and flemish engraver Michael van der Gucht / With 295 engraved crests / coat of arms, displayed on 47 pages].

London, R. and J. Bonwicke and R. Wilkin in St.Paul’s Church-Yard / And J. Walthoe and Tho. Ward, in the Temple, 1724. Folio (26 cm x 39 cm). Frontispiece, [5], 20 pp. [″The Introduction”], [1], 460 pp. [″A Display of Heraldry”], [2], 275 pp. [″Observations upon the Laws and Customs of Nations”], 58 pp. [″Honour Civil of the City of London”], 24 pp. [″Dictionary used by Heralds”], [11] pp. [″Alphabetical Table of the Names of the Nobility and Gentry”]. Illustrated and complete with 17 portraits of courtyard and apparatus and 47 plates, engraved on wood, reproducing a total of hundreds of coats of arms with coats, crests, lambrequins, helmets and coins. Very many coats of arms in the 2-columned text. Hardcover / Original 18th-century binding with modern restauration (rebacked) to the highest standards. Superior example of this publication ! Unusually excellent condition with only very minor signs of external wear. Frontispiece and last page of the work with minor crease. Two corners torn (two pages following the title), corner of page 185 torn and page 92 of the second part of the book with longer lesion within text (no loss of text). Endpapers and pastedown with some minor spotting. All these descriptions of faults sound worse than they are. Interior text, plates and portraits overall in unbelievably clean and excellent condition. Name of pre-owner in ink on title and verso frontispiece (″J.Stilwell”).

6. Cambridge – Sparrow, S.

A Guide Through the University of Cambridge [Collection of Six Engravings of Cambridge Colleges and Buildings].

Original copper engraving. Cambridge, J. Deighton & Sons, 1814. Plate Size: 7.2 cm x 13.7 cm. Sheet Size: 18.5 cm x 11.2 cm. Original engravings. In very good condition. Some very minor traces of browning and slight paper imperfections only.

7. Lathbury, Rev. Thomas.

A History of the English Episcopacy; From the Period of the Long Parliament to the Act of Uniformity; With Notices of the Religious Parties of the Time, And a Review of Ecclesiastical Affairs in England from the Reformation.

London, John W. Parker, 1836. Large Octavo. XV, [1], 363, 4 pages. Hardcover / Original full cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Spine worn and binding slightly stained but overall firm. Interior in excellent condition. Overall in very good condition with only minor signs of external wear.

8. Chalmers, Alexander.

A History of the University of Oxford, including the Lives of the Founders, by Alex Chalmers, with a Series of Illustrated Engravings by J.Storey & J.Greig. / A History of the College Halls. And Public Buildings, attached to the University of Oxford. [With 31 plates / steel engravings (including frontispiece)].

First Edition. Two Volumes (complete set). Oxford, Printed by Collingwood and Co., 1810. Octavo (14.4 cm wide x 21.7 cm high). Pagination: VolumeI: Frontispiece-Engraving of Oxford, engraved title-page, another title-page with a more explicit title, XVI, 260 pages / Volume II continues the pagination: Halftitle, Title, Pages 261 – 486 plus an Index (13 pages). plus 1 page (List of Plates). Original, very decorative, early 19th century full leather with gilt ornament to boards and masterfully rebacked spine with spine-labels. A superior copy of this often deranged and broken publication. A stunning example of british bindery-craftsmanship and with only minor signs of browning and foxing. The best example of this work we have ever seen. Firm, possible to be handled without fear of breaking, the leather smooth. A perfect gift !

9. [English History Collection] – Blome, Richard (1635 – 1705)

A Mapp Of Ye County Palatine Of Lancaster [Lancashire with Liverpool and the Mersey to the South, showing the boundaries of Cheshire and all the way up to Overton and Parts of Westmoreland to the North].

Vintage, handcoloured map (copper engraving). [Richard Blome / Britannia], 1673 Framed: 30 cm x 37 cm. Map itself: 28 cm x 35 cm. Excellent condition in beautiful 19th century framing.

10. [English History Collection] – Hardman, Sir William.

A Mid-Victorian Pepys – The Letters and Memoirs of Sir William Hardman. Annotated and Edited by S.M. Ellis.

First Edition. London, Cecil Palmer, 1923. 22.7cm x 14.5cm. XI, 316 pages. With 13 historic illustrations. Hardcover. Original green cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Good condition with external signs of wear.

11. Nance, R. Morton.

A New Cornish Dictionary: Gerlyver Noweth Kernewek.

Redruth, Agan Tavas, 1999. 14.5cm x 22.5cm. 200 pages. Original Hardcover with dustjacket and protective Mylar covering. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear.

12. [Foster, Sir Michael] / [Sarah Cotter – Dublin Printing History].

A Report of Some Proceedings on the Commission of Oyer and Terminer and Goal Delivery for the Trial of the Rebels in the Year 1746 in the County of Surry, and of other Crown Cases. To which are added Discourses upon a Few Branches of the Crown Law.

First Dublin Edition. Dublin, Printed for Sarah Cotter, in Skinner-Row, 1763. Octavo. XI, 412 pages plus 16 pages of Index and “Table of the Principal Matters”. Original Hardcover / Full 18th century calf with new spine-label. The binding firm and in excellent condition. Important: Several strong puncture – wounds to the first 54 and last 60 pages (without loss of text). Some occasional staining but text overall clean. A very rare Sarah Cotter print from 18th century Dublin. Although no sign of it, the book came from the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House).

13. [Green, Alice Stopford] Green, John Richard.

A Short History of the English People. To some extent re-written by Alice Stopford Green. With Maps and Tables.

London, Macmillan and Co., 1911. 19 cm. XXXIX, 847 pages. Illustrations, including maps, in colour and black and white. Original hardcover. Very good condition with only very minor signs of external wear. Some slight fading to frontcover and rubbing to spine. From the reference library of Hans Christian Andersen – Translator Erik Haugaard.

14. [English History Collection] – Fokke, Simon (1714 – 1784) / [Jan de Baen (1667 – 1700)].

Aftekening der Schilderye, op ‘t Stadhuis te Dordrecht geplaatst, ter gedagtenisse van de Overwinning by Chattam, in ‘t Jaar 1667, onder ‘t beleid van KORNELIS DE WIT. Rurwaard van Putten / [The Apotheosis of Cornelis de Witt, with the Dutch Raid on the Medway in the background – after Jan de Baen (1667 – 1700)].

Original copper-engraving from Jan Wagenaar’s “Vaderlandsche Historie”, published in Amsterdam between 1749-1759, in 21 volumes. Signed lower right corner: “S.Fokke fec”; on the left corner: “A. Schoumann del, naar ‘t Originele Model”. Amsterdam, 1759. Framed Picture size: 27 cm wide x 20 cm high. Size of the original engraving: 29 cm wide x 22 cm high. Framed. Excellent condition besides signs of a fold.

15. Deluxe Illustrated Children’s Book – Kipling, Rudyard.

All the Puck Stories. With Illustrations by H.R.Millar and Charles E.Brock.

First Deluxe Edition (Published simultaneously with the trade edition). London, MacMillan and Co., 1935. Octavo. Frontispiece-Illustration, X, 670, [2] pages. Illustrated throughout. Original Hardcover / Decorative full red leather with gilt lettering and gilt illustration of Puck on the front board. In its original, rare dustjacket. The dustjacket frayed with some loss. The Volume itself in excellent condition with some minor signs of wear to upper and lower hinge only.

16. Foster, Vere [Henry Louis / Lewis] / [Emily Albinia “Alba” Foster] / [Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire].

Amazing Vere Foster-Collection including Educational Materials and as a centerpiece the “Presentation Copy of “The Two Duchesses” with Autograph / Manuscript – Letter by Vere Foster to his niece, Emily Albinia “Alba” Foster. With a stunning, unpublished, two-page-letter, revealing several important details about the immediately favorable reviews and reception of the book [″in the Daily Telegraph”] and Vere Foster’s disdain about some criticism from one J.Donohue [which led to an alteration in the second edition of the book]. Vere Foster is also expecting a review to appear in the “Athenaeum” but reports “the Athenaeum has nothing yet”. Vere Foster apologizes to his niece for the delay in sending the book and explains that he had left 12 “parcels″£ with Blackie’s agent and gave instructions to send them but a few days later found they had been “untouched”. / The Two Duchesses – Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire – Family Correspondence of and Relating to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire, Earl of Bristol (Bishop of Derby), The Countess of Bristol, Lord and Lady Byron, The Earl of Aberdeen, Sir Augustus Foster Bart, and Others, 1777-1859. [See Full list of items which are part of this collection, on our website under the topic “Libraries & Collections”].

First Edition. London / Glasgow and Dublin, Blackie & Son Limited, 1898. Octavo (15 cm x 22 cm). Pagination: Frontispiece, IX, [3], 497 pages with 18 Illustrations (including frontispiece and one Vignette of the two Duchesses opposite page 1). Hardcover / Original, publisher’s green cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with some minor signs of wear only. This is an astonishing find for the Vere Foster Research Community and the letter gives significant insight into the importance the publication had for him, its reception as seen by Vere Foster and it solves the riddle why an altertaion was necessary for the second edition [which Vere Foster explains in a brief note to the reader at the beginning of the second edition]. The heartfelt inscription to his niece Albinia Foster is also of great importance and to our knowledge the only presentation-copy of this book on the international market for the several decades we can look back at auction records.

17. Buchanan, R. Ogilvie.

An Economic Geography of the British Empire. With Forty-Nine Diagrams and Maps and Sixteen Numbered Plates in Half-Tone Printed in the Text.

London, University of London Press, 1935. 15 cm x 21.5 cm. X, 346 pages. Hardcover [publisher’s original turquoise cloth] with lettering on spine and bordered front board. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear and soiling. Binding firm and strong but slightly cocked. Textblock solid with sharp corners. Interior bright and clean. Bookseller’s label on front pastedown.

18. Skeat, Rev. Walter W.

An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language.

A New Edition, Revised and Enlarged [Fourth Edition]. Oxford, At The Clarendon Press, 1924. Quarto. XLIV, 780 pages. Hardcover / Original publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with signs of wear to the binding. A wonderful example of this beautifully typeset publication with spacious margins and a delight to use. From the personal library of William Spark (20 Blades Street, Lancaster), with his name and address in ink to endpaper.

19. [Henry, David / Power, Francis / Carnan, Thomas / Sir Christopher Wren] Anonymous.

An Historical account of the Curiosities of London and Westminster, In Three Parts. Part I. Contains a full description of the Tower of London, and every thing curious in and belonging to it. Part II. Contains The History of Westminster-Abbey, from its foundation to the present time ; with its Antiquities, Tombs, and Inscriptions. Part III. Treats of the Old Cathedral of St. Paul’s and the new ; together with a full account of the Monument, London-Stone, the City-wall, Gates, and other Antique [Roman] remains.

With three separate titlepages. London, Printed for Francis Power and Thomas Carnan, 1785 – 1789. Small Octavo (11,5 cm x 17 cm). Part I: IV, 64 pages / Part II: IV, 139 pages plus 5 pages of a thorough Index / Part III: IV, 56 pages. Hardcover / Original half-vellum with marbled paper-covered boards. Binding with some minor signs of wear. Binding and spine firm. Overall in very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Name of preowner Mary Gray written in ink on titlepages.

20. [Selden, John] / Bacon, Nathaniel.

An Historical and Political Discourse of the Laws and Government of England – From the First Times to the End of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. [With a special chapter, prefixed to the second part of the publication: “A Vindication of the Antient Way of Parliaments in England”]. With a Vindication of the Antient Way of Parliaments in England. Collected from some Manuscript Notes of John Selden, Esq. The Fifth Edition: Corrected and Improved by a Gentleman of the Middle-Temple.

Two Parts in One Volume (complete). London, Printed for D.Browne and A.Millar, in the Strand, 1760. Large – Quarto (24,5 cm x 29,5 cm). Part One: XIX, (1), 203 pages / Part Two: XII, 178, (plus 8 unnumbered pages Index). Hardcover / Stunning, recent masterbinding with quarter – leather over buckram-covered-boards; original spine-label applied. Excellent condition with text being especially clean and in wonderful condition. Rare and important publication on british law and parliamentary history. From the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with his Exlibris / Bookplate to pastedown.