30; 32; 38; 40 folding leaves. Four vols. Large 8vo, orig. dark green patterned wrappers (some worming touching but not obscuring text), orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers, new stitching. Kyoto: Fushimiya Toemon, colophon dated “1683.”

First edition to be published in Japan of this important encyclopedic work, printed in Chinese with Japanese reading marks. One of the first encyclopedias compiled in China, it was written by Hua Zhang (232-300), statesman, book collector, scholar, writer, and protoscientist, who also wrote, with Xu Xun, the famous catalogue of the imperial library known as Zhongjing bu [Catalogue of the Palace Texts].

Bo wu zhi was first printed in China in 1505. “The Bowu zhi is a collection of 322 items divided into 37 subject headings. Most of the material consists of short anecdotes that are more descriptive than narrative. The first juan of the Song edition gives an account of the geography of the realm, including mountains, oceans, rivers, lakes, and unusual phenomena, ending with a rhymed zan (appraisal). The Bowu zhi is attested as early as the sixth century.”–Knechtges & Chang, Ancient and Early Medieval Chinese Literature, I, pp. 50-51 & see III, pp. 2156-63 for a biographical account of Zhang. More

Seven full-page illus. 31 folding leaves. Large 8vo, orig. blue wrappers (rubbed), orig. block-printed title label on upper cover (label partly rubbed away), new stitching. Kyoto: Hishiya & Katsumura, 1796.

First edition of this very rare book on the pulse; it is a revision of the book — known as “the pulse classic” — written by Wang Shuhe in the third century. Composed of ten volumes and 98 chapters, it is the first work entirely devoted to pulse study in ancient China. It categorized all the pulse conditions into 24 types and described each in detail.

“The pulse lore of Chinese medicine is famous. Among the many treatises on this subject, which found its application in so much of Oriental medicine, was the well-known work entitled Muo-ching, on the theory of the pulse, by Wang Shu-Ho who lived in the Tsin era (265-317 A.D.) compiled from earlier writings, principally those in the Nei Ching, the Nan Ching, the Shang-han-lun and the Chia-i-ching. Wang pretty well summed things up when he said, ‘The different kinds of pulse are easy to understand for the intellect but not so for the finger’…The Muo ching was revised several times by later authors, and was even translated into German by Franz Hubotter.”–Mestler, A Galaxy of Old Japanese Medical Books, Part II, p. 469, note 3. More

Many black & white illus. Ca. [106] pp. 8vo, orig. printed wrappers, perfect-bound, title on spine. Frankfurt: 1981.

A rare exhibition catalogue of artists’ books. It contains a country by country survey of artists’ books and their creators. This is an extremely useful resource for the early popularization of the genre. With contributions from Guy Schraenen, Tim Guest, Simon Cutts, Maurizio Nannucci, Leif Eriksson, John Armleder, Jiri Valoch, Jennifer Phipps, Printed Matter, and Marijan Susovski.

In fine condition; WorldCat records no copy in North America. More

42 photographic plates pasted-on & poster laid-in. Unpaginated. Large 8vo, orig. boards & orig. printed dust-jacket, perfect-bound. London: The British Council, 2001.

Scarce catalogue for the British Council’s exhibition of artists’ multiples. It begins with an insightful survey of the medium by Bury, then Head of the Modern English division at the British Library. Many of the items exhibited are illustrated, and there is a check-list at the end of the catalogue. The contents of the exhibition were selected by Diana Eccles, Brett Rogers, and Sarah Staton.

A handsomely designed and important catalogue, in fine condition (slightly warped due to the plates). More

42; 26; 31; 38 folding leaves. Four vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, new stitching. [China]: on title-page & at end of Preface: “1717.”

First edition of this well-regarded standard history, finished in 1717, which “narrates the history of Prince Fu (reigned 1644-1645) in Nanjing, as the successor of the Chongzhen Emperor (reigned 1628-1644), and the short reigns of Prince Tang (reigned 1645-1646) and Prince Gui (reigned 1646-1661) that tried to resist the conquest of China by the Manchus. It ends in 1683 with the submission of Zheng Keshuang (1670-1707), the last supporter of the Ming (1368-1644), to the Manchus. The Sanfan jishi benmo is a very concise... More

Six vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, orig. block-printed title labels on upper covers removed, orig. stitching. [China]: Fu ku she, from back of title & from colophon: “1910.”

First edition of this controversial history of the southern Ming governments, a group of scattered rump states, which, following the collapse of the Ming dynasty in 1644, continued until 1661, all resisting the Qing. Ling has provided biographies of the men who were enthroned as emperors and pretenders as well as the leading players in the politics of the time.

The publication of this book was frowned upon by the Qing government due to its discussion of... More

Imperial coat-of-arms vignette on title. xii, 28 pp. 8vo (215 x 132 mm.), late 19th-century blue sheep backed-marbled boards (upper & lower joints split but holding), title on spine. Paris: L’Auteur, 1809.

The large-paper version of this unusually finely printed auction catalogue detailing the personal collection of a history painter who was reçu by the Académie Royale in 1761. Belle (1722-1806), a pupil of François Lemoyne, worked at the Gobelins manufactory from 1755, where he adapted pictures by his contemporaries as well as his own designs into painted tapestry cartoons. His lengthy career saw him commissioned by the Comte d’Angiviller to design a tapestry... More

85 (lacking title); 74; 70; 76 folding leaves. 8vo, orig. wrappers (with some paper flaws, carefully repaired, mostly with text supplied in manuscript), manuscript title label on upper cover of Vol. I. [Jingdu: Ying hua tang Xu shi shu fang, 1746].

First edition of this rare and well-known book, a manual of the Manchu language compiled as talks on different subjects. It is a bilingual handbook of words and phrases, expatiating on each entry in the imperial Qing wen jian in question- and answer- form.

“As one Manchu scholar noted in 1746 [in the present work], ‘the twelve heads have always been the key entryway... More

Three engraved plates. viii, 53 pp., [3] pages of schedule of sale. 8vo (201 x 125 mm.), gray modern cloth-backed marbled boards, title on spine. Paris: Delaroche, Billaudel & Balbastre, 1813.

A scarce example of an illustrated sale catalogue from the period, it contains three nicely engraved plates of works by Murillo, de Morales, and Rubens (most copies lack the plates). Lugt erroneously records the seller as “Billaudet.” The RKD copy has an inscription on the title-page linking the contents of the sale to Billaudel, whose name, curiously, is also found in the imprint. Billaudel concurrently operated as a dealer and painter, and it seems that... More

Text illus. [17] pp. (incl. inside of lower wrapper). 4to, orig. printed wrappers, staple-bound. New York: [1979 or 1980].

An important and rare document of Printed Matter’s early efforts to champion the relevance and accessibility of artists’ books. The store’s staff, Nancy Linn (director), Nan Becker, and Mike Glier, compiled this starter collection of 200 books, which they describe on the upper wrapper. The books could be purchased en bloc for $1300, in a 10-book sample for $50, or individually.

From the upper wrapper: “As we prepare for the 80’s, it is time to review the first years of artists’ book publishing. Artists’ books... More

Many text & full-page illus. [20] pp. 8vo, pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. Docking, Norfolk: 1992.

An uncommon Coracle catalogue, with many illustrations of the publications offered. It lists multiples, books, prints, and exhibition catalogues by Marie Bourget, Bill Culbert, Simon Cutts, Stephen Duncalf, Paul Lincoln, Colin Sackett, Yoko Terauchi, Erica van Horn, Richard Tuttle, etc. Most of the items are thoroughly described.

This catalogue was likely distributed through Coracle’s London bookstore, workfortheeyetodo, which is described on the inside of the lower wrapper as “an accumulative book space, index and agency: a location referencing the purpose of publication as a model of self-organisation and availability.” More

[15] pp. (incl. inside wrappers). 8vo, pictorial wrappers, staple-bound. London: 1990.

A very rare Coracle catalogue; WorldCat notes only one copy, in Italy. With priced listings for books, prints, and pamphlets by Tony Cragg, Alan Charlton, Cutts, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Colin Sackett, Richard Tuttle, Erica van Horn, Jonathan Williams, Yoko Terauchi, Stephen Willats, Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Long, etc.

Fine copy. Cover illustration (“Rubber Coracle”) by Sackett. More