Five thick vols, each printed on heavy laid paper. 8vo (230 by 150 mm), uniformly bound ca. 1847 by the atelier of the Imprimerie Royale for the Prince Royal, Louis-Charles-Philippe-Raphaël d’Orléans, Duc de Nemours (1814-1896) in crimson straight-grained morocco (minor & skillful repairs to several joints), sides and smooth spines richly gilt in the style of the “Rocaille Louis-Philippe,” the solid tools on covers connected with curved triple fillets, in centers the initials “LO” surrounded by a laurel wreath and surmounted by the royal crown (OHDR fer 2), inside gilt roll borders, light-blue watered-silk liners and endleaves, a.e.g. Paris: Imprimerie... 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... More

Manuscript on paper. Eight fine brush & color-wash full-page illus. & nine smaller illus. in the text. 35 folding leaves. 8vo, orig. semi-stiff wrappers with the orig. title-slip, orig. stitching. [Japan]: 1853.

A manuscript copy of a rare work, never published, on the Russian expedition, led by Vice-Admiral Evfimi Vasilevich Putiatin (1803-83), to Japan in 1853. We find no copy of a work with this title in WorldCat, and only two copies in Japan.

The paintings of individual members of the Russian delegation are uncommonly finely rendered with very skillful gradations of color and tone.

Around the same... More

68 single-page illus., 25 double-page illus., & several other illus. which continue for three or four pages, all finely handcolored. 16 vols. Large 8vo (280 x 187 mm.), orig. gold speckled blue wrappers (occasional minor worming), stitched as issued, orig. block printed title label on each upper cover. N.p.: ca. 1818.

An early copy of this famous and sensational text, which circulated in manuscript in Japan throughout the 19th century. Its account of travels outside of Japan remained effectively a “clandestine” work until it was ultimately published in 1899. The earliest surviving manuscript is dated 1807.

This beautiful and richly... More

Numerous fine woodcut diagrams & tables in the text. 68 unnumbered leaves. Small folio, attractive antique calf (title a little dusty), panelled in gilt & blind. [Nuremberg: J. Stuchs, 1514].

First edition of a very scarce and little-known book (because of its rarity, I think), which is of great importance in the history of cartography, navigation, and astronomy. It contains, amongst much else, the first published direct translation of any part of Ptolemy’s Geography from the original Greek. It also includes the first publication of Johannes Werner’s map projection, a development and correction of the two projections used by Ptolemy... More

Engraved calligraphic title, xii, 199 pp. 8vo, orig. cloth-backed printed slick orange boards (a little worn). Berlin: September 1805.

This is apparently the first catalogue of globes, maps, and printed geographical works issued by Schropp (1751-1817), the leading publisher and bookseller in cartographical materials in Berlin of his time. Approximately 2500 items are listed, all priced. Due to Schropp’s successes, the manufacture of globes shifted from Nuremberg to Berlin.

Very good copy. WorldCat lists no copy outside of Germany. More

Folding color-printed woodblock map. 49 folding leaves. Oblong 8vo, orig. blue wrappers, block-printed title label on upper cover (label partly defective), new stitching. Edo: Izumiya Shinpachi, [1821].

First edition and rare; WorldCat locates only one copy, in Japan. Danrin is a temple that served as a college and institute to instruct Buddhist priests. In the early 17th century, the Tokugawa shogunate recognized 18 temples of the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land School) as danrin:

–Musashi Province (today it incorporates Tokyo metropolis, most of Saitama Prefecture & part of Kanagawa Prefecture): Zojo-ji (Minato, Tokyo); Denzuin (Bunkyo, Tokyo); Reigan-ji (Koto, Tokyo);... More

Manuscript on pre-printed paper. Three manuscript maps (one on six pages, another on two pages, and one on a single page) & six full-page paintings, all finely colored. 78 folding leaves with pre-printed borders. 8vo (276 x 194 mm.), orig. wrappers (some repairs), new stitching. [Japan]: late Edo.

An attractive and fascinating manuscript of a text that apparently remains unpublished. It is beautifully illustrated with a series of paintings using brush, ink, and color washes, along with ample gold pigment, executed by a very accomplished artist.

This anonymous Japanese work is a serious study of China, its history, geography, customs... More