Art – Rare (259 items)

Percy A. Wells / May Morris - Manuscript Archive Material on Furniture Design with Letters, Drawings, Photographs and Books

213. Wells, Percy A. (1867-1956) / [Letter by Morris, Mary ‘May’ (Designer)] / [Letter by Allom, Sir Charles Carrick (english decorator)] / [Letter by Garnett, Prof. William (Experimental Physics)] / [Letter by Henry, Jacob Solomon (Furniture Maker)] / Letter by Hems, Harry (English architectural and ecclesiastical sculptor)] / [Letter: Image, Selwyn (British Artist & Designer of the Arts & Crafts Movement)] / [Letter: Russell, Sir Sydney Gordon (English Designer & Craftsman) / [Letter: Quennell, Marjorie (Courtney) (British historian, illustrator and Museum Curator at The Geffrye Museum) //

Small Archive / Manuscript Material, Letters, Designs, Books and Pamphlets as well as vintage photographs of Furniture like Chairs (Percy A. Wells Chair), Wardrobe, Advertising of Exhibitions [chaired for example by Christopher Hussey], etc. etc. This material all originates from Percy A. Wells’ personal collection and sensationally also includes a manuscript notebook / sketchbook with his drawings, designs and a detailed, typescript with autobiographical memories in which Wells details his decades of being involved in Furniture Design. Loosely inserted in the manuscript notebook / sketchbook, is a signed manuscript letter on stationery of Kelmscott Manor by Mary ‘May’ Morris, daughter of the Pre-Raphaelite artist and designer William Morris and his wife and artists’ model, Jane Morris [included is ephemeral material which for example informs about a pair of Episcopal Gloves, designed by William Morris’s daughter [May Morris] and the clipping continues: “Those who remember Morris’s attitude towards the Church will smile and reflect upon time’s revenges”]. The collection includes an abundance of information which easily can lead to a monograph on the life of Percy A. Wells. Detailed description of the Archive and all materials contained below (more details will be listed constantly).

Dulwich / Shoreditch / London a.o., Percy A.Wells Private Library, c.1900-c.1920. Octavo / Quarto / Folio. Hardcover Folder with loosely inserted material like letters and photographs, envelopes, signed and inscribed books and rare pamphlets with designs etc. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Fantstic Archive and lots of unpublished material of one of the more eminent Cabinet, Furniture and Chair – Designers which resulted from inspiration by William Morris’ Kelmscott – School. Percy A. Wells Chairs are still in regular demand today and sell for stunning prices (3000 £ etc.).

EUR 7.800,-- 

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Charles Rollin, The History of the Arts and Sciences of Antients (Illustrated Edition of 1768)

217. 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.

EUR 1.480,-- 

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Archive of Naval Captain, Lieutenant commander [LCDR] William Hamilton Porter Jr.'s Love Letters / Lucky BAg with American Football - Baseball Images and artwork by Howard Chandler Christy

219. Porter Jr., LCDR William Hamilton / [Howard Chandler Christy].

Archive of Naval Captain, Lieutenant commander [LCDR] William Hamilton Porter Jr.‘s Love Letters to his wife Amy Manning Porter and letters to his mother Barbara Hamilton Porter, from his service during and after graduating from United States Naval Academy Annapolis MD, 1914. The Collection includes not only the Yearbook of the Brigade of Midshipmen, called “Lucky Bag”, signed with nearly all Graduates and with numerous amazing photographic illustrations of sports like American Football, Lacrosse, early photographs of Basketball and Baseball – Teams, images of visits to Ireland etc., but the collection includes nearly 50 manuscript letters by LCDR Porter from the USS Alden, USS Columbia, writing back home to his wife Amy between 1916 and 1920, reflecting his first tour of duty and sending letters from Constantinople, Smyrna, Venice, Dalmatia, Split, Naples, Samsoun, etc. The collection is full of reports of life on ship and upcoming tours to Naples, Genoa and Villefranche, relationship to the captain, Porter’s view on politics etc. Telegram about “USS Alden and two Destroyers of the 26th Division to be designated by USADRA proceed to Manila”. / Fantastic archive of an Annapolis Graduate with amazing artwork by Howard Chandler Christy in the “Lucky Bag” and a collection of letters in all its complete scarcity of completeness. The collection also includes the original letter of “Washington Granite Monumental” to Porter’s wife upon Porter’s burial at Arlington National Cemetery (he died in 1937).

Baltimore (Maryland) / Annapolis / USS Alden etc., 1916-1920. Octavo. Lucky Bag [Vol. XXI [Volume 21] of the Annual of the Brigade of Midshipmen at Annapolis / Two Ringfolders with original letters, telegrams and some photographs. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. Check out a large collection of high quality photographs on our website, depicting Baseball, Crew Rwoing, Handball, Basketball and Baseball at the Academy in Annapolis. Rare collection with the wonderful original signatures of nearly all Graduates who served with LCDR Porter.

EUR 2.400,-- 

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Bartoli, Colonna Traiana

221. One of the most beautiful works of 18th century Illustrated Italian History – Bartoli, Pietro Santi / Giacomo de Rossi / [Trajan – Caesar Nerva Trajanus].

Colonna Traiana [The rare 18th-century Folio-Edition on Trajan’s Column, in which, atypically, all Oblong-Folio-Planches have a centerfold and which includes the often missing, large 1,1 meter – foldout-plan of Trajan’s Column] – Colonna Traiana Eretta Dal Senato, E Popolo Romano All’Imperatore Traiano Augusto Nel Suo Foro In Roma. Scolpita Con L’Historie Della Guerra Dacica La Prima E La Seconda Espeditione, E Vittoria Contro Il Re Decebalo. Nuovamente Disegnata, Et Intagliata Da Pietro Santi Bartoli. Con L’Espositione Latina D’Alfonso Ciaccone, Compendiata Nella Vulgare Lingua Sotto Ciascuna Immagine, Accresciuta Di Medaglie, Inscrittioni, E Trofei, Da Gio. Pietro Bellori. Con diligente cura, e spesa ridotta à perfettione, e data in luce da Gio. Giacomo de Rossi dalle sue stampe, in Roma, alla Pace con Privilegio del S. Pontefice.

Roma, [Giacomo de Rossi] alla Pace con Privilegio del S. Pontefice, [1751]. Folio: (26.5 cm wide x 37 cm high). All planches usually in Oblong-Folio are center-folded in this version, allowing it to be bound in Folio. Pagination: 9 unnumbered plates, [including titlepage, engraved dedication to Louis XIV, and also the large Trajan-Foldout, measuring 110 cm x 36 cm)], followed by 119 plates folded into 238 plates, [while our copy is lacking the 14 pages with Alphonso Ciacono’s “Historia Utriusque Belli Dacici A Trajano Cæsare” and Index and Colophon at the end of the Volume, this flaw is rather unimportant because this Volume is all about the masterful art of over 125 engravings and the powerful Homage by Pietro Santi Bartoli to Trajan, Rome’s “Optimus Princeps”]. Fully restored Folio in dark green Morocco, bound to 18th century – style by an english master-bindery. Unusually excellent condition with the tiniest of wormhole-damage to the Dedication pages. The plates all in exceptional condition. The large Column-Plate spellbinding.

EUR 6.800,-- 

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Sammelband: Bishop John Milner - History and and Antiquities of Winchester / Charles Heath - The Excursion Down the Wye from Ross to Monmouth / Henry Marten - Monmouthshire

222. Milner, Rev. [Bishop John Milner] / [Charles Heath] / [Henry Marten].

Sammelband with several publications bound in one Volume: 1. Rev. Milner – An Historical and Critical Account of Winchester Cathedral with an Engraved View and Ichnographical Plan of that Fabric. Extracted from the Rev. Mr.Milner’s History and and Antiquities of Winchester to which is added “A Review of its Modern Monuments” (Winchester, 1801 / 148 pages) / 2. Heath, Charles – The Excursion Down the Wye from Ross to Monmouth; Comprehending Historical and Descriptive Accounts of Wilton and Goodrich Castles; Also of Court Field, The Nursery of King Henry The Fifth; New Wear, with Every other Object in the Voyage. The Celebrated Family of Swift, who resided at Goodrich, are not overlooked: and, throughout the whole are Interspersed, A Variety of Amusing and Interesting Circumstances, Never Before collected: Particularly Memoirs and Anecdotes of the Life of John Kyrle, Esq. Rendered Immortal by the Muse of Pope, under the Character of “The Man of Ross”. By Charles Heath, Printer, Monmouth. Being Part the First of this Work, – which will include the Whole of the Voyage from Ross to Chepstow. Part II will contain Monmouth. Part III from thence to the Junction of the Wye with Severn. Pointing out every interesting Object in the Course of this much-admired Excursion. (London, 1799 / 246 unnumbered pages with mentioning on the last page of this section: “End of First Part” [This information seems to be the same in all versions of this book in international libraries and it is possible that Parts II and III were not published as advertised on the titlepage but in a different way]) / 3. Henry Marten – Monmouthshire [has its own titlepage but can very well be Part II and III of the previous Volume] – “Monmouthire – Historical and Descriptive Accounts of the Ancient and Present State of Chepstow Castle – Including Persfield, with the various Views in those pleasurable Regions – Also, Notices of Caerwent, An Ancient Roman Station; Moyne’s Court, Matherne, and St. Pierre – The Old and New Passages, on both sides of the Water – The Roads to Bristol and Gloucester; and a Variety of other interesting particulars deserving the Stranger’s Notice. Interspersed with curious Biographical Anecdotes relating to the Life of Henry Marten, one of the Judges of King Charles I. confined twenty years in this Castle. Collected from original Papers and unquestionable Authorities by Charles Heath, Printer, Monmouth (c.1802) //

Winchester / London, Ja. Robbins, Charles Heath, 1801 – 1802. Octavo. Pagination of the Sammelband: First Book: Rev.John Milner – Account of Winchester Cathedral Part: Frontispiece of “North West View of the Cathedral), [2], Fold-out-plan of “Ichnography of the Cathedral Church”, 148 pages / Second Book: Charles Heath: “The Excursion Down the Wye…etc.” – First Part: 246 unnumbered pages / Second / [and possibly Third] Part: 188 unnumbered pages. Hardcover / Original, decorative half-leather of the early 19th century with original spinelabel, restored and with new endpapers and new marbled paper-covers on original boards. In protective Mylar. One page with a minor cut (without text-loss). Otherwise in very good condition with some signs of external wear. This very rare work originates from the wonderful Meade – Collection in Ballymartle (near Kinsale, West Cork), with the name of one of the Meade – family-members written on the titlepage and the bookplate / Exlibris of Richard Meade to the original endpaper.

EUR 1.280,-- 

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[Chiari, Giovanni] Vascellini, Gaetano - Statute di Firenze [Richard Meade - Ballymartle]

230. [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).

EUR 880,-- 

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Small Collection / Small Archive of two very rich and personal, handwritten & signed letters on cards by Sendak, together with a wonderful collection of fourteen (14) loose gicleé prints

237. Sendak, Maurice (1928 – 2012).

Collection / Archive of two very rich and personal, handwritten & signed letters on cards by Sendak, plus a rare, multi-folded, advertising-leporello of Maurice Sendak’s publications, together with a wonderful collection of fourteen (14) loose gicleé prints of original drawings by Maurice Sendak in colour or black and white: ‘A Kiss for Little Bear’ x 2 (26.5 cm x 34.5 cm) / ‘Zlateh the Goat’ x 2 (24 cm x 30 cm and 37.5 cm x 30 cm) / ‘Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present’ x 1 (33.4 cm x 41.5 cm) / Lullabies and Night Songs’ x 2 (35 cm x 26.5 cm and 44.5 cm x 33.5 cm) / ‘Hector Protector’ x 1 (46 cm x 26 cm) / ‘In the Night Kitchen’ x 4 (50 cm x 36 cm) / Higglety Pigglety Pop x 2 (28 cm x 35.5 cm). The two cards are addressed to “Minnie” [that is “Minnie Kate”] and were written at Christmas 1986 and Christmas 1987. According to a colleague in the trade, who helped us to identify the recipient “Minnie”, Minnie Kate, together with her mother, maintained a long friendship with Maurice Sendak by sending him colored stones or rocks that they sourced from local beaches in the northwest of the United States (Washington Statel). Most of Maurice Sendak’s correspondence with Minnie Kate and her mother, is preserved at the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Philadelphia. Both cards are similar in content. One of the cards featuring Sendak’s art from the cover of Nutcracker and addressed to Minnie, reading in part “I worked all year on a picture-book – a Grimm tale (my first book in 8 years !!). I am in love with it and it gets published next year….my wild things celebrate their 25th anniversary. I hope i enjoy it all. Am hoping for a quiet year ahead illustrating a Grimm tale and staying put – I am tired of travelling and theatre projects. And look forward to creeping back into my old role as book illustrator” / “The rocks arrived while I was away working in England. They are wonderful, of course, and very much appreciated. Thank you again and again. My animals. I have but one. My darling Golden Retriever, Io, had to be put to sleep 2 weeks ago. She was 15 1/2 and I held her and stayed with her to the end. It is so sad, naturally, but the memory fills me with a kind of joy. I have a 3 1/2 year old German Shepherd named Runge after a German painter (19th century). It was anything but a lazy year – too full! This coming year will be lazy-ish”.

Letters: 4 pages on two cards / Gicleé prints: 15 sheets (unsigned). [New York], 1986 – 1987. Very good condition.

EUR 1.280,-- 

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