A Midsummer's List
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A note on OCLC
As is now the norm, OCLC counts are tentative, at best, as we recognize that searches using different qualifiers will often turn up different results. Searches are now further complicated by the vast numbers of digital, microfilm, and even print-on-demand copies, which have polluted the database considerably, making it difficult, without numerous phone calls or emails, to determine the actual number of tangible copies. Hence, even though the counts herein have been recently checked, most all should be taken as a measure of approximation.
1. [Aesop.] Phaedri Augusti liberti Fabularum Aesopiarum libri quinque, ad optimas quasque editiones emendati. Paris: apud Coustelier, 1742.
$425
Small 12mo, pp. [22], 132; engraved frontispiece after Antoine Coypel; engraved headpiece repeated 4 times, sectional title for Aesop (Flavii Aviani Fabularum Aesopiarum liber unicus, 1742), Elseviers' device on both title pages (Coustelier's preface pays homage to the House of Elsevier).
Upper joint rubbed with tiny cracks, else a nice copy in contemporary full green straight-grain morocco, smooth gilt decorated spine, red morocco label, triple gilt border on covers, a.e.g.
Graesse V, 253; Ebert 16603.
2. Tarantula. [New York: 1971].
$275
8¼" x 5¾" staple-bound pamphlet; printed from typescript; 8vo, pp. 7-78 (i.e., 70 pages); original pink and black pictorial wrappers with an image of a tarantula on the upper cover, and one of Bob on the back; near fine. This was also issued in brown and cream pictorial wrappers.
A.J. Weberman produced this "bootleg" edition with cover by underground cartoonist S. Clay Wilson. Weberman issued the first of the bootlegs in New York City in early 1970. (See Derek Barker's article in Isis 173, pp. 42-45).
aretha/ crystal jukebox queen of hymn & him ... aretha with no goals, eternally single & one step soft of heaven/ let it be understood that she owns this melody along with her emotional diplomats & her earth & her musical secrets
3. An elementary treatise on mechanics, comprehending the doctrine of equilibrium and motion, as applied to solids and fluids, chiefly compiled, and designed for the use of the students of the university at Cambridge, New England. Cambridge, N. E.: printed by Hillard and Metcalf, at the University Press. Sold by W. Hilliard, Cambridge, and by Cummings, Hilliard, & Co., No. 134 Washington Street, Boston, 1825.
$250
First edition, 8vo, pp. vii, [1], 440; 10 folding engraved composite plates; full original sheep, red morocco label on spine, blue sprinkled edges; scuffed and worn, but the textblock is clean and the binding sound. Ownership signature on title page of Edmund Lincoln, Gardiner Lyceum.
The Gardiner Lyceum was incorporated by an act of the legislature of Maine in 1822 to provide an education to mechanics and farmers to enable them to become skillful in their professions. It was the forerunner of land-grant colleges and was founded in 1823 by Robert Hallowell Gardiner, trustee and chief benefactor of the Lyceum. Ostensibly, it is the first trade school in the United States.
Text book for Harvard students by the then professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, John Farrar (1779-1853), an amateur meteorologist, Greek scholar, and Harvard professor 1807-1836.
4. [Fore-Edge Painting.] Hymns to the Supreme Being. In imitation the Eastern songs ... A new edition. London: printed by T. Bensley for J. White, 1808.
$1,250
8vo, pp. viii, 256; contemporary red straight-grain paneled morocco, gilt-lettered direct on smooth gilt-decorated spine, floral gilt border on covers enclosing an inner blindstamped border and a central lozenge, a.e.g.; a little wear at the extremities, but in all a nice copy with a painting on the fore-edge of Cookham-on-Thames, showing the river on which are four boats, with a church and a bridge in the distance. A nice, early fore-edge painting. Contained in a quarter blue morocco slipcase which is a bit rubbed.
5. La Chine d'Athanase Kirchere de la Compagnie de Jesus, illustrée de plusieurs monuments tant sacrés que profanes, et de quantité de recherchés de la nature et de l'art a quoy on à adjousté de nouveau les questions curieuses que le serenissime grand duc de Toscane a fait dépuis peu au P. Jean Grubere touchant ce grand empire avec un dictionaire [sic] chinois & françois, lequel est tres-rare, & qui n'a pas encores paru au jour. Amsterdam: chez Jean Jansson à Waesberge & les heritiers d'Elizée Weyeratraet, 1670.
$5,000
First edition in French of Kircher's popular China Illustrata (first published in Latin in Rome, 1667; folio, pp. [16], 367, [13]; added engraved title page has imprint: Amstelodami, Apud Johannem Janssonium à Waesberge et Elizeum Weyerstraet, 1667; printer's woodcut device on title page, 24 engraved plates including 2 double-page maps, numerous engraved illustrations in the text, plus miscellaneous woodcuts, woodcut ornaments, etc. throughout; lacking the portrait of Kircher, as often for this edition; full contemporary calf, gilt decorated spine in 7 compartments, morocco label in 1, sprinkled edges; the prelims and terminals a bit foxed, but the text on the whole very clean.
"China Illustrata is a compilation of missionaries' notes and journals. Kircher readily acknowledges in the preface his debt to his colleagues in China and India for their information, but the book is liberally sprinkled with Kircher's own philosophy. Kircher compiled a detailed and considerably accurate account of Chinese geography, history, culture, and language, and, as his readers had learned to expect, the book is filled with delightful engravings illustrating the curious habits of the Chinese" (Merrill).
Brunet III, 666-67; Cordier, Sinica 26-27; Lust, Western Books on China, 38 citing the French quarto edition of the same year; Merrill 20 (for the first edition of 1667).
6. Poems ... with illustrations by D. Huntington. Philadelphia: Carey and Hart, 1845.
$250
First collected edition of Longfellow's poetry, with 12 poems appearing here for the first time. 8vo, pp. 387, [1]; engraved frontispiece, engraved title page, portrait of the author, and 8 engraved plates inserted; half green morocco by Stikemen, gilt-lettered direct on spine, t.e.g. A fine copy.
BAL 12079
7. Le grand dictionaire historique, ou le melange curieux de l'histoire sacree et profane.... Paris & Venice: Francois Pitteri, 1743-49.
$2,750
8 volumes, folio, engraved title page in volume I, title printed in red and black; text in triple column, woodcut initials; contemporary full parchment, brown morocco labels on spines, sprinkled edges; a very good, sound, and impressive set.
Ebert 14387: "A work esteemed notwithstanding its faults. The first edition appeared, Lyons, 1674. fol. in 1 vol. The work was gradually augmented by Parayre, the Abbe de St. Ussan, J. Le Clerc, Vaultier, Dupin, Jac. Bernard, L. Fr. Jos. de la Barre, Pt. Rogues and Cl. Pt. Goujet. Concerning the different editions, see Marchand, Dictionn. II. 289."
Circle of Knowledge #13: "The title does not convey the full import of Moreri's work, which contains also much geographical and biographical material. His book is arranged alphabetically, with articles on places, people, books, and general subjects intermixed. Encyclopaedias modeled on Moreri, and containing much material translated from him, were published in Germany, Switzerland, and England; Peter the Great is supposed to have commanded a Russian translation, and an Italian translation was projected." And a Spanish edition appeared in Paris in the mid-18th century in 5 volumes.
8. Slavery and marriage. A dialogue. [Oneida, N.Y.]: 1850.
$450
First edition, small 8vo, pp. 14, [2]; printed self-wrappers; unopened and untrimmed, fine.
Generally attributed to Noyes and likely printed at his press in Oneida. The text is presented as a dialog between three people, Judge North, Major South, and Mr. Free Church. Judge North makes the case against slavery vs Major South, and Mr. Free Church jumps in to illustrate the same arguments can be made against marriage, encouraging the conclusion that both institutions might be due to be abolished. Noyes was the founder of utopian communist community in the US, of which a major principle was the abolition of marriage and the practice of free love.
Afro-Americana, 2nd ed. Supplement, 1607.
9. [Drop title]: New Publication. The Executive Committee of the American Home Missionary Society proposes to commence ... a periodical work on an original plan, to be entitled The Home Missionary, and American Pastor's Journal. To be edited by Rev. Abasalom Peters. New York: Office of the A.H.M.S., 144 Nassau-street,, Feb. 10, 1828.
$325
Bifoliate prospectus approx. 9¾" x 8", printed text on verso of first leaf and recto of the integral leaf, with a 75-word autograph letter signed on the blank recto, to the lawyer Jacob Settle, Jr. in Berne, New York, dated March 4, 1828, encouraging him to solicit subscribers.
"I encourage you to patronize the within proposed work. I am induced to pledge you a copy of the work gratis, for one year if you will procure five subscribers who will pay in advance ... If this is not convenient will you have the goodness to hand this to the Clergyman of your place, or to one of the Elders of the Church..."
Peters, the Corresponding Secretary of the American Home Missionary Society sends this prospectus for the new periodical that has been proposed, in part, by the Rev. Austin Dickinson (Emily's uncle). The Home Missionary, and American Pastor's Journal began publication in May of 1828 and continued to 1844. The prospectus contains a detailed listing of the proposed format and contents, conditions for subscription, and a nearly full-page section of "Remarks" by the Executive Committee of the A.H.M.S. regarding the objects and mission.
Previous folds, Settle's name and address on verso of integral leaf, with a postal round stamp, wax seal and corresponding hole.
10. Voyage à travers la Mongolie et la Chine traduit du russe ... par A. Kuscinski et contenant 90 gravures d'après les croques de l'auteur et une carte. Paris: Librairie Hachette et cie., 1883.
$500
First complete French edition and first edition in a western language; excerpts from the book had previously appeared under the title "Voyage en Chine (1874-1875)" in Le Tour du Monde in 1882.
Large 8vo (approx. 11¼" x 8"), pp. [6], 563, [1]; title page printed in red and black, wood-engraved frontispiece portrait, full-page map, 89 engravings on wood, many full-page; contemporary three-quarter blue crushed levant over decorative marbled boards, gilt-decorated spine in 6 compartments, gilt-lettered direct in 1, t.e.g.; title a bit spotted else near fine throughout.
In 1874, the Russian government sent a mission to China composed of Pavel Piasetskii (1843-1919), staff officer Sossnovskii and the topographer Matoussovskii. The main purpose of this mission was to study the economic situation of the Chinese empire and especially its trade with Russia. Piasetskiĭ was the artist on the expedition which traversed Siberia to Lake Baikal and Mongolia in 1874-75. This was one of the first expeditions to traverse the entire Gobi Desert.
Cordier, Sinica, 2453.
11. [Prospectus.] The American Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Established October 17, 1836. Prospectus. New York: published by the Committee, no. 650 Broadway, 1837.
$125
8vo, pp. [2], 38, 15 (appendix), [1]; original printed blue wrappers; inelegantly rebacked with duct tape, signature excised from top of the front wrapper, one page loose, but present; old literary society rubberstamp at base of title page, some edge curls; but for the rebacking, very good.
At the top of the front wrapper: "No. 1, April 1837." Includes a list of Officers, a Constitution, "Brief sketches of European literary and scientific societies" on pp. [13]-36, plus an appendix, "The circular. The following is a copy of the circular letter addressed to gentlemen in different parts of the country, by the committee appointed to draw up a constitution for an American Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge." Also includes replies to the circular.
American Imprints 42798; Sabin 66083.
12. Les comedies de Terence, avec la traduction et les remarques, de Madame Dacier. Rotterdam: aux depens de Gaspar Fritsch, 1717.
$650
3 volumes, small 8vo, engraved frontispiece in volume I, vignette title page printed in red and black, and 45 engraved plates by B. Picart; 20th-century full red morocco, gilt decorated spines; spines very lightly sunned, else near fine throughout.
Brunet V, 721: "Edition la plus recherchée de cette traduction." Cohen de Ricci 983
13. General view of the agriculture of the county of Suffolk; drawn up for the the consideration of the board of agriculture and internal improvement. By the secretary to the board. London: printed by B. Macmillan, Printer to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; for G. Nicoll, Pall-Mall, bookseller to His Majesty, and the Board of Agriculture; and sold by G. G. and J. Johnson, Paternoster-Row; J. Sewell, Cornhill; Cadell and Davies, Strand; W. Creech, Edinburgh; and John Archer, Dublin, 1797.
$350
First edition, 8vo, pp. x, [11]-314; largely unopened; folding hand-colored frontispiece map of the soil of Suffolk and 2 folding engraved plates; original blue paper wrappers, cream paper shelfback, manuscript title on spine; waste imprint showing through the upper wrapper, spine chipped at the extremities, front hinge starting, and some curling at the edges, but in all a good to very good copy. In ink on the front wrapper: "W 655."
"Young's accounts of his travels are deservedly among the most famous that the century produced. He made three trips to the continent, the first to the Pyrennees in 1787, the second to France in 1788, and the third, which included Italy, in 1789. He is unexcelled in relating personal adventures, in observations of the agricultural situation, and in descriptions of the many friends he met. He was near enough to the outbreak of the French Revolution to perceive that something unusual was astir, and ever experienced some personal contacts with the disordered state of affairs. He was known in England and France as the chief authority on agriculture, yet, as has often been pointed out, his own farming was a failure ... Especially pathetic is the story of his distressful mental aberration which darkened the close of his days" (Cox).
14. Solitude; or, the effects of occasional retirement on the mind, the heart, general society, in exile, in old age, and on the bed of death. In which the question is considered, whether it is easier to live virtuously in society, or in solitude. Written originally by J. G. Zimmerman. To which are added, the life of the author; notes historical and explanatory by the translator; six beautiful engravings of particular passages in the work; and a copious index of the whole contents. London: printed for the Associate Booksellers, Vernor and Hood, J. Cuthell, J. Walker, Lackington, Allen, and Co. J Nunn, Barton and Harvey., 1797.
$375
First edition, 12mo, pp. lii, 309, [1], [20] index, [2] Vernor and Hood ads; inserted engraved frontispiece and vignette title page, 5 engraved plates, engraved by William Ridley, E.W. Thomson, Isaac Taylor, Samuel Springsguth, and Thomas Bewick; after Kirk and John Thurston; original marbled paper-covered boards, cream paper shelfback, printed orange paper label on spine; paper along the joints cracked, spine soiled, extremities rubbed and worn; still, a good, sound copy.
With an inscription on the front pastedown: "Sarah Jane House / the gift of her father / Read slowly, Pause frequently, Think seriously, / Keep cleanly, Return duly, With the corners of the / Leaves not turned down. / — / Worcester May 28, 1832." Also, with Miss House's ownership signature at the top of the Table of Contents page.
Zimmermann's famous work on the cultural history and philosophy of loneliness. Zimmerman (1728-1795) was a Swiss naturalist, physician, and philosopher, and the private physician of George III and Frederick the Great. "In Zimmermann's character there was a strange combination of sentimentalism, melancholy and enthusiasm; and it was by the free and eccentric expression of these qualities that he excited the interest of his contemporaries" (EB-11).