One engraved title & 19 engraved plates (of which 17 are in magnificent mezzotint). Text: 16 pp.; 1 p.l., 9 pp.; iv, 14 pp. Three parts in one vol. Oblong folio, modern half-cloth & boards. [Part I]: Vienna: J.P. Sollinger, 1830; [Parts II & III]: Laibach (today Ljubljana in Slovenia): I.A. Edlen v. Kleinmayr, 1832-32.

First edition of this beautifully illustrated monograph on the famous karst caves in Slovenia. They were first described and studied by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor in the late 17th century. The fine plates, most of which are in splendid mezzotint, have been drawn by Alois... More

2 p.l., [v]-xxiv, 1 leaf, 390, [13] pp. 8vo, cont. polished half-calf & boards (two corners a bit worn, some foxing), flat spine gilt, red & green leather lettering pieces on spine. Berlin: J.F. Unger, 1794.

The very rare second edition (rarer than the first edition of 1784), enlarged; this celebrated collection became the nucleus of the Spencer library. The catalogue has been printed on fine wove paper with the beautiful types of Germany’s foremost type founder-printer of the period, J.F. Unger.

“In 1790 [Earl Spencer] succeeded in purchasing from the aged owner the extremely choice collection of first editions... More