12 pp. 8vo, early half-calf & marbled boards, spine lettered in gilt. [London: 1779].

John Gerard was active as an auctioneer of books, coins, medals, and other antiquities from 1772 until his death in 1794. This is an attractive example of the sort of catalogue he issued every couple of months, interleaved and neatly priced with buyers’ names for all but the last thirty lots. The sale consisted of about 300 lots, mostly coins and miscellaneous antiquities, but with a section of 21 lots of books and manuscripts at the end of the first day. Most intriguing is lot 90: “Sebastian Munster’s brief... More

Numerous woodcut illus. of coins, block printed in colors. 50; 37; 29: 29; 53; 31; 18; 48 folding leaves. Seven vols. 8vo, orig. pale blue paper wrappers (some rubbing), title labels on upper covers, new stitching. N.p.: [from the author’s private press], 1810.

First edition of this finely illustrated work; it is a catalogue of Japanese gold and silver coins. Our copy is notable for having the illustrations of the silver coins delicately heightened with mica [kira zuri]; not all copies have this special feature.

Morishige (1771-1829), chief librarian for the Tokugawa clan and high ranking government official, is most famous for his expedition to Hokkaido. More

16 p.l., 398 pp.; 27 pp. Two parts in one vol. 8vo, cont. calf (extremities a little rubbed), contrasting leather lettering piece on spine. Rouen: A. Maurry for L. Billaine, 1678.

Third edition (1st ed.: 1664) “of the earliest extant bibliography of bibliographies. It is basically an alphabetical list, arranged by authors’ first names, followed by eight intricate subject indices, among them one of publishers’ and booksellers’ catalogues. Appended is a very useful numismatic bibliography. The work enjoyed three later editions during the seventeenth century and provided the basis for Teissier. Labbé (1607-67), one of the most learned polymaths of his time, was... More

Five head-pieces, one tail-piece, two folding maps, three folding plates (all engraved), & three folding printed tables. 4 p.l., xix, 302 pp., one leaf of errata. 8vo, cont. marbled sheep (head of lower joint a little split), flat spine richly gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Bossange, 1806.

First edition of an important book on the Crimea; it also contains descriptions of previously unrecorded coins and medals from the area. Reuilly (1780-1810), man of letters and diplomat, traveled extensively in eastern Europe. In 1803, Reuilly joined the staff of the Duc de Richelieu, the recently named governor of Odessa. Befriended by... More