One folding engraved plate. 12 p.l., 577, [27] pp. 8vo, cont. half-vellum & paste-paper boards. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck, 1787.

Third edition, greatly enlarged and improved (1st ed.: 1777) of the first textbook of technology, a term created by its author. Beckmann (1739-1811), taught at the University of Göttingen, where an ordinary professorship of economic sciences was established for him in 1770. He lectured on mineralogy, agriculture, technology, materials science, commerce, and general public administration.

The present book “is noteworthy for its systematic approach to the various vocations and for its descriptions of a number of trades.”–D.S.B., I, p. 554. Beckmann describes... More

Large engraved vignette on title. Title in red & black. 8 p.l., 626, [69] pp. Folio, cont. blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, arms on covers effaced. Lyon: J. & P. Prost, 1636.

First edition, Schuh’s issue B (no stated priority) with the dedication to Charles de Neufville. “Very scarce. Compendium of all the author ever discovered or read about the subject of mineralogy. It was published posthumously from notes he left by his Order at Lyon six years after his death. Printed in a double column format in a relatively small type-size, the work is a vast storehouse of all... More

Seven engraved plates (one double-page). 1 p.l., xvii, [1], 448, 1 leaf, 6 leaves of explanatory text; 1 p.l., iv, [1], 498 pp. Two vols. 8vo, cont. tree calf (short crack at top of one joint, minor foxing), flat spines gilt with red & green morocco labels. London: T. Cadell & W. Davies, 1800.

First edition in English of Gren’s Grundriss der Chemie with additions and notes by the translator (Dr. Gruber...). Although the author had his own eclectic theory of chemistry he has followed the antiphlogistic system in this work.”–Cole 554. The text also describes glass- and ceramic-making techniques... More

Four vols. & two related vols. Large 8vo (275 190 mm.), orig. patterned wrappers, manuscript labels on upper covers, stitched. Japan: ca. 1911.

A fine archive of notes and drawings by Ishimoto, a notable interior decorator and fashion historian in Tokyo. The first volume is devoted to women’s court attire and contains 17 highly detailed and fine drawing and paintings, 14 of which are richly colored, of traditional costumes of women of different ranks at court. The artist has included front and back views. These drawings are all executed on graph paper with mica and contain manuscript notes regarding the... More

Engraved frontis. port. & 8 engraved plates. Four vols. 8vo, cont. sheep-backed marbled boards (some foxing, upper joint of Vol. IV cracked & head of spine worn, very slight chips to heads of two other spines). Paris: Klostermann fils, 1810-10-11-11.

First edition in French of the first German chemical dictionary, originally published in Berlin in 1807–10. “Klaproth was the foremost supporter of Lavoisier’s antiphlogistic theory in Germany, and in addition to his classic researches in analytical chemistry, he wrote an excellent chemical dictionary…The translators added valuable notes and state in their preface that all the important advances in chemistry since... More

40 samples (nine might be missing, but see below) of decorated leathers of various animals, with annotations. Seven folding leaves. Oblong 8vo (128 x 224 mm.), orig. wrappers (many leaves somewhat wormed but not touching any of the swatches), stitched. [Japan]: late Edo.

Japan has always had a rich tradition of decorative leather work, employing the skins of deer, cows, monkeys, and horses. The leather products were used in trimming on military costumes, decorative clothing, and accessories (arrow quivers, gloves, shoes, saddles, jackets, religious decorations for temples, etc.).

The swatches in this manuscript are categorized by technique and complexity and... More

Vol. I: Engraved frontis. printed in bistre, four hand-colored engraved plates of alternative materials used in making paper. Separate atlas with printed drop-title & 15 leaves of specimens. 6 p.l., 54 pp. Vol. II: Separate atlas with printed drop-title, 19 leaves of specimens, & one hand-colored engraved plate. 6 p.l., 28 pp. Two vols. Small 4to (195x 150 mm.), all vols. uniformly bound in richly gilt contemporary red morocco, covers with large gilt decoration in Rococo style, flat spines gilt, each text and respective atlas in fitted, richly gilt & tooled cont. red morocco slipcases. Regensburg: 1765.

[with]... More

Finely engraved frontis., an attractive engraved vignette on title, & three folding engraved plates. 8 p.l. (incl. frontis.), 157, [3], 120, [8] pp. Two parts in one vol. Large 4to, cont. half-sheep & speckled boards, spine gilt, contrasting leather lettering piece on spine. Halle: Buchhandlung des Waysenhauses, 1752.

First edition of this extremely comprehensive work. “The 1st edition of an extensive 18th-century German treatise on the cultivation, processing, commerce, and use of woad (Isastis tinctoria L.) in Thuringia. The aim of the writer was to promote the production of woad in Thuringia for the economic benefit of the region. The... More