2 p.l., 153, [1] pp. Small 8vo, self-bound (title & verso of final leaf a little dusty). Nuremberg: J.L. Schmidmer, 1829.

A very rare sale catalogue. Hoffmann (1739-1828), was rector of the famous Latin school that was part of the Holy Spirit Hospital in Nuremberg, founded in 1339. His library consisted of 2632 volumes and included some early incunabula, many 16th-century books, and works of philology, history, etc.

Very nice copy. WorldCat locates only one copy, in Germany. More

23 leaves. Small 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. N.p.: 1601.

Third edition; there were editions of 1594, 1596, our edition of 1601, and 1611. All are very rare, and there is no copy of any of these editions in North America. “Ritterorden des Podagrischen Fluss (Order of the Gouty Humor) is an allegorical poem which was composed in German by Georg Fleissner, a captain from Schoenberg, then residing in Schlackenwerth. These are two small Bohemian towns near Carlsbad. Its 1088 lines make this by far the longest poem about the gout. The... More

Each title within the same architectural woodcut border, two folding woodcut plates in the second part (the 2nd plate is numbered p. 33), & numerous woodcuts in the text of geometrical & surveying problems. 8 p.l., 88 pp.; 2 p.l., 33 pp. Two parts in two vols. Small 4to, modern vellum-backed paste-paper boards. Nuremberg: S. Halbmayer, colophon dated “1626.”

First edition, and complete with both parts, of this posthumously published work. Galgemair (1564-1619), who had been a student of both Apian and Mästlin at Tübingen, wrote a series of books on scientific instruments.

The first part of this book describes the precursor to the sector and proportional compass that is today known as the reduction compass; a full-page woodcut of the instrument appears on A2r. There are 100 examples of the uses of the instrument, most with illustrations. The first examples provide geometric solutions to problems of a more abstract nature, while the latter address practical problems, such as how much gold foil a goldsmith needs to cover a round roof at the top of a tower, heights and distances of buildings, etc. The uses for the architect and cartographer are obvious. More

One folding engraved plate. iv, 245 pp. (lacking the errata leaf & leaf of ads). 8vo, cont. grey paste-paper boards (lower joint with short split at head & foot). Berlin: T.H. Riemann, 1827.

First edition, and a splendid association copy, of this pioneering work which contains one of the most important discoveries in electrical science — “Ohm’s law” — the basis of the present system of electrical measurement. Ohm discovered the unit of resistance in an electrical current. This copy belonged to the “Prince of Mathematicians” — Carl Friedrich Gauss — and has the “Gauss-Bibliothek” stamp on the title. It is quite exciting... More

Woodcut printer’s device on title. [18] leaves. Small 4to, attractive antique calf-backed marbled boards. Frankfurt am Main: J. Kollitz, [1597].

The autumn 1597 catalogue of the Frankfurt Book Fair issued by Portenbach; WorldCat locates no copy in North America. These fair catalogues created a revolution for the book trade. They were the best and, indeed, only source from which scholars and booksellers could discover when and by whom any particular book had been published.

The “catalogues represent the first international bibliographies of a periodic character, attempting to list every six months all new publications issued in Europe, and they can be considered... More

Woodcut arms of the city of Frankfurt on title. [16] leaves. Small 4to, attractive antique calf-backed marbled boards. Frankfurt am Main: J. Saur, [1594].

The spring 1594 catalogue of the Frankfurt Book Fair issued by Portenbach; WorldCat locates two copies in North America. These fair catalogues created a revolution for the book trade. They were the best and, indeed, only source from which scholars and booksellers could discover when and by whom any particular book had been published.

The “catalogues represent the first international bibliographies of a periodic character, attempting to list every six months all new publications issued in Europe, and they... More

Title with finely engraved architectural border (image slightly cropped at outer margin, minor staining) & many woodcut diagrams in the text. Some printing in red. 10 p.l. (incl. the engraved title), 85 (i.e., 86) pp., 1 leaf, 86-104 pp.; 140 pp.; 1 p.l., 341 pp., 1 leaf; 121, [1] pp.; 554 pp., one blank leaf; 181 pp. (many mis-paginations). Six parts in one vol. Large thick folio, cont. blindstamped pigskin over wooden boards (extremities somewhat worn, relatively minor worming to first 40 leaves, occasional staining), two (of four) catches. [Neustadt: M. Harnisch], 1596.

First edition of an extremely rare and important book; we sold this copy 25 years ago and now it... More

One large folding printed table. 9 p.l., 764 pp.; 20 p.l., 552 pp. Two vols. 8vo, cont. half-sheep & paste-paper boards, contrasting vellum lettering pieces on spines. Ulm: Stettin, 1808-10.

First edition and very rare; OCLC locates no copy in the U.S. Seutter (1769-1833), forester and financier, served a chief of forests in various parts of Germany where he was well-known for initiating numerous organizational changes and reforms. This is his most comprehensive work on forest management. Vol. I provides very detailed instructions on regulating and valuing forests. The second part is devoted to a discussion of the species of wood and their... More

Engraved allegorical frontis. by Daniel Chodowiecki. Woodcut illus. & printed music in the text, including several folding leaves of printed music in the pagination. xii, 568 pp.; 2 p.l., [569]-1287, [8] pp. Two vols. Large 4to, fine cont. marbled polished sheep (minor browning), flat spines richly gilt, red & green morocco lettering pieces on spines. Leipzig: Heirs of M.G. Weidemann & Reich, 1771-74.

First edition, and a lovely set, of this encyclopedia of the fine arts, “one of the most widely consulted and frequently cited works on aesthetics of the German Enlightenment…Aimed at a popular market of art-loving amateurs (Leibhaber) who lacked specialist knowledge... More

[20] leaves. Small 4to, attractive antique calf-backed marbled boards. Frankfurt am Main: N. Bassée, 1594.

The autumn 1594 catalogue of the Frankfurt Book Fair; WorldCat locates one copy in North America. The Frankfurt catalogues, issued twice a year by Georg Willer starting in the autumn of 1564, created a revolution for the book trade. “Before that date printers visiting the fair must have had to write out by hand countless lists of new books to send to their customers: thereafter they could send copies of the fair catalogue to the local booksellers all over Europe, who in turn passed them on... More

[16] leaves. Small 4to, attractive antique calf-backed marbled boards. Frankfurt am Main: N. Bassée, 1597.

The spring 1597 catalogue of the Frankfurt Book Fair; WorldCat locates no copy in North America. The Frankfurt catalogues, issued twice a year by Georg Willer starting in the autumn of 1564, created a revolution for the book trade. “Before that date printers visiting the fair must have had to write out by hand countless lists of new books to send to their customers: thereafter they could send copies of the fair catalogue to the local booksellers all over Europe, who in turn passed them on... More