46 pp. Large 4to (270 x 210 mm.), orig. printed wrappers, staple-bound. [Toronto: 1979].

A very rare and early catalogue published by Art Metropole; unrecorded on WorldCat. On the inside of the upper wrapper, Art Metropole’s archivist Tim Guest lays out a definition of the artist’s book: “Since the early 1960‘ [sic] artists have been producing bookworks as a completely autonomous artform. Different in that they exist outside the traditions of either the ‘literary text’ or the ‘illustrated book’, they are instead books as works of art in themselves. They belong to that movement in art history which seeks to de-emphasize form and aesthetics... More

xvi, 246, [4], 4 pp. 8vo, cont. attractive antique half-calf & marbled boards. Paris: G. de Bure, 1780.

An important sale of 1604 lots; this copy has been priced throughout in a contemporary hand. Gouttard's collection was rich in first editions of classical literature and history and many of the books were on large paper or vellum and in the finest possible condition. There is a biographical sketch of Gouttard serving as the Preface in which it is noted that Gouttard edited texts of Horace and Virgil. All the great collectors and dealers of the period purchased at this sale, including Comte d'Artois; d'Hangard; Le... More

dont la vente se fera le jeudi 24 mars 1825 et jours suivants. 2 p.l., xviii, 558 pp.; 31 pp.; 1 p.l., lxxxix pp. 8vo, half-calf & marbled boards, flat spine gilt. Paris: J.S. Merlin, 1825.

The scarce auction catalogue of the large library (4364 lots) formed by Louis Mathieu Langlès (1763-1824), one of the leading orientalists of his time and conservator of the oriental manuscripts at the then Bibliothèque du Roi. Archer Taylor points out (in his Book Catalogues, p. 138) that a specialized catalogue such as this one has great bibliographical value.

"Ce catalogue, rédigé avec beaucoup de soin...Très-riche en voyages et en livres de linguistique, il offre une sorte de bibliographie orientale."-Brunet, Dictionnaire de Bibliologie Catholique, col. 479. More

Two folding engraved facsimiles (one in red & black). xxviii, 583 pp.; 2 p.l., 473 pp. Two vols. 8vo, orig. blue wrappers, printed paper labels on spines, uncut. Paris: De Bure, 1815.

De Ricci described the Mac-Carthy-Reagh library as "extravagantly rich in books printed on vellum" and the Duke of Devonshire was inspired to put in a bid of 20,000 pounds for the collection which in fact brought only some 16,000 pounds when it came up for auction in 1817. The mysterious Mac-Carthy-Reagh had been a collector on a grand scale, purchasing Girardot de Préfond's collection en bloc in 1769 and leaving a library... More

5 p.l., 219, [1] pp. 8vo, cont. boards, black leather lettering piece on spine. Paris: Silvestre, 1824.

An important sale. "Ce catalogue renferme une réunion très-nombreuse de livres imprimés par les Elzeviers; il en est de très-rares et qui étaient jusqu'alors restés inconnus aux bibliographes."­Brunet, Dictionnaire de Bibliologie Catholique, col. 498. A large number of Motteley's books come from the libraries of de Thou and the Comte d'Hoym.

We learn from the same source that Motteley (d. 1850), lived as a hermit, alone and isolated in a rundown apartment. He was afraid to make home repairs because of... More

xxii, 330 pp.; 1 p.l., 344, [4] pp. Two vols. Large 8vo, cont. marbled boards (a bit worn), uncut. Leyden: Haak & Socios; Amsterdam: P. den Hengst et Son, 1806.

This was a very significant collection; this copy has been priced throughout in a contemporary hand. Röver (1719-1803), bought at the most important sales on the Continent during the 18th century and his library was rich in illuminated and classical MSS. as well as the most important 15th-century editions of classical texts.

"A very excellent catalogue...it is not of very frequent occurrence in this country. The bibliographical notes, which accompany it, though short, are... More

xvi, 312 pp. 8vo, 19th cent. half-calf (head of upper joint a bit worn, some browning), spine gilt, contrasting leather lettering piece on spine. Paris: De Bure, 1780.

[bound with]:

(--). Catalogue des Livres rares et précieux de la Bibliothéque de M. Mel de Saint Ceran. xii, 290 (i.e. 300), 42 pp. 8vo (some browning). Paris: De Bure, 1791. More

Frontis. depicting the facade of Bohn’s bookshop, title within decorative border (foxed). 1 p.l., iv, 1948 pp.; 148, [4] pp. Two vols. Thick 8vo, cont. half-morocco & cloth sides (minor foxing), spines nicely gilt. London: 1841.

A very pretty copy, sensibly bound in two volumes, of the “celebrated ‘guinea catalogue’ which listed no less than 23,208 articles (a figure unsurpassed in the annals of bookselling so far as my knowledge goes).”–Munby, Phillipps Studies, Vol. III, p. 93. The catalogue made Bohn famous and secured him an unrivalled position in the booktrade.

Bookplate of Sir Francis Hopkins, Bart. More

Mezzotint frontis. port. of George III (a little foxed), arms on each title, & two engraved views of the library serving as head- & tailpieces. Five vols. Large folio, cont. red straight-grained morocco (minor scuffing), panelled & tooled in gilt with centerpiece stamped monogram "GR" surmounted by a crown on covers, spines gilt, dentelles gilt, a.e.g. London: W. Bulmer & W. Nicol, 1820-29.

The catalogue, "sumptuously printed" by Bulmer, of the magnificent library of King George III (1738-1820), donated to the nation by his son, George IV. This is a royal copy, having belonged to Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and the... More

Many black & white illus. 124 pp. Laser-printed single sheets, rectos only (280 x 215 mm.), semi-stiff printed pictorial wrappers, plastic-spiral bound. San Francisco: April 2002.

Leiber’s rare 40th catalogue, offering ca. 331 items, many of which were duplicates from the Ruth & Marvin Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry (now at the University of Iowa). Also included were artists’ books, periodicals, recordings, exhibition catalogues, and ephemera. Approximately 100 copies of this catalogue were produced and sent to clients.

Nice copy and rare. We know of only three American institutions with copies. Small faint stain to title-page and head of upper cover a bit worn. More

Many black & white illus., four original artist’s “pageworks” by Albrecht D., and photograph pasted to lower cover. 8vo (280 x 108 mm.) & 4to (210 x 220 mm.), orig. printed green wrappers, staple-bound. San Francisco: S. Leiber, April 1998.

Leiber’s 33rd catalogue; like the others issued by him, it is rare. The leaves, printed in two sizes, are bound in alternating format, and correspond to the materials they describe. This catalogue imitates a work created by the German artist and publisher Albrecht D. (b. 1944), the German artist and founder of the Reflection Press. Leiber provides a concise history of the press and a biography... More

16 pp. 8vo, attractive modern marbled wrappers, printed paper label on upper cover. [Boston: 1840].

Little, Brown, one of the greatest names in American publishing, started in 1837 as booksellers, specializing in “publishing, importing, and selling of books.” This is one of their earliest lists.

Fine copy. More