52 parts in 33 vols., plus three vols. of woodcuts, one vol. of Prefaces & “Grand Index,” and one vol. of “Addenda,” for a total of 38 volumes. Large 8vo, orig. wrappers (some rubbing & minor wear), new stitching. [Japan: ca. 1640-53].

Second edition to be published in Japan of “The Great Pharmacopoeia” [in Chinese: Ben cao gang mu [or] Pen Tshao Kang Mu], the largest and most complete work on materia medica of its time, by the father of Chinese pharmacy and one of the greatest of all physicians of China. All of traditional Chinese herbal medicine is based on this work.

Li Shih-Chen (1518-93), “was probably the greatest naturalist in Chinese history, and worthy of comparison with the best of the scientific men contemporary with him in Renaissance Europe. His scholarly approach to the wealth of previous literature makes him also the greatest Chinese historian of science before modern times, for his works are an unparalleled source of information on the development of biological and chemical knowledge in East Asia… More about Jutei Honzo komoku [Compendium of Materia Medica [or] The Great Pharmacopoeia].

Title printed in red & black. Woodcut coat-of-arms on verso of title of the Duke of Hanau. 56 unnumbered leaves (the last two blank). Small 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Strasbourg: B. Jobin, 1583.

First edition of this very rare collection of texts on the plague by Paracelsus, gathered here for the first time by the Hanau physician and editor Johann Jacob Nietheimer (or Niedheimer or Neithammer). He studied medicine in Strasbourg and was a disciple of Paracelsus.

Sudhoff describes this work as a skillful compilation of various writings on the origins, nature, and... More about Kurtzer und warhaffter Bericht, Von der jetz regierenden gfärlichen Kranckheyt der...

Title printed in red & black and within typographical border. 48 leaves (final leaf blank). Small 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards (minor foxing), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Konstanz: N. Kalt, 1598.

Second edition, corrected and improved (the first edition appeared in the same city in 1589). In the 16th century, it was widely believed that “marvelous stones” (bezoars or small stony concretions that form in the stomach of certain animals) had considerable medical virtues, especially against poisons.

In this work, Hyeble describes the remarkable mystical and medicinal powers of the bezoar, drawn from his own travels in Portuguese India... More about Tractat von der aller fürtrefflichsten und kräftigsten Artzney wider allerley Gifft: welches...

Paris: ca. 1730-33.

Two unpublished manuscript laboratory record books detailing one of the great hoaxes in the history of medicine. These handsome manuscripts list the secret ingredients and each step in the fabrication of the “Gouttes du Général La Motte,” which took place in the chemical laboratory of Louis XV, as well as notes on deliveries to those who trusted in its restorative powers.

The original creator of this elixir was Alexis Bestoujev-Rioumine, imperial chancellor to Elizabeth I of Russia, who first formulated it in 1728. This tincture was sold at exorbitant prices in Russia and neighboring countries... More about Two manuscripts on paper, both written in several legible hands, containing recipes for the...

Title printed in red & black. [16] leaves. Small 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards (minor foxing). N.p.: 1601.

First edition in German of Pirckheimer’s ironical and humorous eulogy on gout, from which he suffered in old age, fashioned in the manner of Erasmus’s Moria. Pirckheimer (1470-1530), humanist, collector, and patron, was a frequent correspondent with Erasmus; they shared scholarly interests as well as a similar outlook on contemporary issues. Both Pirckheimer and Erasmus considered immoderate scholarliness as the cause of gout. Pirckheimer’s encomium to the gout proved to be the most influential of all encomia addressed to medical topics... More about Action oder Anklag der armen Podagrischen Rott: uber die Tyranney und unbarmhertzigkeit ihrer...

Woodcut vignette on title, printed in red & black. 96 unnumbered leaves (final two leaves blank, signature F bound after G), 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Strasbourg: T. Jobin, 1604.

Fourth edition, enlarged. The first edition appeared in 1577, a second in 1591, a third in 1597, and a fifth edition in 1623. Fischart (1546-90), was a German satirist and the principal German literary opponent of the Counter-Reformation. Indefatigable with his pen, he attacked all perversities in the public and private life of his time: astrological superstition, scholastic pedantry, ancestral pride, but especially the... More about Podagrammisch Trostbücklein. Innhaltend zwo artlicher Schutz Reden von herzlicher ankunfft,...

Title within architectural woodcut border incorporating the date “1534.” Largely printed in black letter. 67 leaves, [8] pp. Small 8vo, antique calf by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, spine gilt, red leather lettering pieces on spine. [London: Printed by H. Wykes?], 1567.

An early edition of the first text on surveying printed in English. The first edition was printed by Richard Pynson in 1523; all early editions are rare, as copies were used to death. Our copy is most unusual as it is fine and large with a number of lower edges uncut.

Fitzherbert’s book is concerned primarily with giving instruction to land stewards and overseers of the... More about Surveyinge. Anno Domini, 1567.

[Japan: mid-Edo].

This handsome scroll depicts in great detail two Japanese hand looms used to create complex patterns of silk brocade and birodo (velvet). The greatly enlarged illustrations are inspired by images in the first volume of Akisato’s Miyako meisho zue (1786), a famous guide to Kyoto. Nishijin, a district of Kyoto, was famous for its traditional textile production, employing highly specialized weaving techniques to obtain spectacular designs and effects.

As we unroll the scroll, the first loom we encounter is the sorahikibata, an overhead draw loom, which was used to produced high-quality silks with complicated designs. This loom, invented... More about An uncommonly large and fine scroll (1760 x 475 mm.), depicting two Japanese hand looms, with...

1 p.l., ten numbered leaves. Folio (285 x 190 mm.), attractive antique marbled boards. [Valencia: ca. 1750].

An interesting document that describes the founding of an association to support Valencia’s principal silk production facility. Beginning in the 15th century, Valencia built a robust silk industry thanks to close ties with Genoa, which exported silk to the eastern Mediterranean. Within a century, silk had become one of Valencia’s most important exports and by the 17th century the city had consolidated control over the harvesting and manufacture of silk fiber. The mass-production of woven silk helped revitalize the Valencian economy in the 18th century after... More about Mid-18th-century Spanish manuscript regarding the establishment of a “Union de Caudales,” to...

Nine numbered leaves. Small folio (300 x 195 mm.), attractive antique marbled boards. [Spain: ca. 1738].

An unpublished manuscript, written in a single legible hand, in which the author advocates Spanish mercantilism to protect the domestic silk trade from foreign competition. Carlon, an expert on silk manufacturing, thoroughly describes each step in the making of silk. He concludes with reasons why Spain and this industry would benefit from mercantilism.

In fine condition. More about Manuscript on paper entitled: “Discurso practico politico, paraque se guarden las Rs....

Added engraved title with an additional title avant lettre printed in sepia, title-page in black & red, and many full-page & text illus. (all engraved by “Henriot”). 233, [4] pp., 1 leaf of limitation, 10 pp. of publisher’s ads. 8vo, orig. printed vellum wrappers bound in cont. citron morocco, signed “Chambolle-Duru,” triple gilt fillet round sides, spine richly gilt, dentelles gilt, a.e.g. Paris: E. Rouveyre & G. Blond, 1883.

First edition, a splendid extra-illustrated copy; one of two printed entirely on vellum (from a total edition of 502). The original printed vellum wrappers, bound-in, have been heightened in gold and are preserved in a fine... More about Les Après-Soupers, par L’auteur de Trois Dizains de Contes Gaulois, Illustrations de Henriot.

Engraved allegorical frontis. 160 pp. 24mo (95 x 65 mm.), cont. red morocco, triple gilt fillet round sides, green morocco lettering-piece on flat spine, gilt Phrygian cap & sword on spine, blue silk endpapers, a.e.g. Paris: Didot jeune, 1791.

A finely bound copy of the small-format edition of the first French Constitution. Printed by Didot le jeune, this portable work presents France’s founding documents including the Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen, the Lettre du Roi à l’Assemblée Nationale, le 13 septembre 1791, and the Serment du Roi pour l’acceptation de la Constitution, à la séance de l’Assemblée National, du 14... More about La Constitution française, décrétée par l’Assemblée Nationale Constituante, aux années...