4 p.l., 219, [1] pp., one leaf with schedule of the sale. 8vo, attractive antique blue calf-backed boards, spine gilt, uncut. 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 (1778-1850), lived as a hermit, alone and isolated in a rundown apartment... More

Many fine plates (several in color). Folio, orig. vellum-backed cloth, spine gilt, blue morocco lettering piece on spine (rubbed), t.e.g. London: Maggs Brothers, 1956.

Limited to 300 copies, printed at the Cambridge University Press. This is one of the best surveys of the history of bookbinding, ranging from a 12th century Romanesque binding to work by Roger Powell.

Fine copy. With an offprint, inscribed by A.N.L. Munby, of his review which appeared in The Library. More

Five engraved plates, two finely engraved headpieces, & several engravings in the text (some full-page). 12 p.l., 810 pp. Folio, cont. polished speckled calf, spine richly gilt. Paris: Guerin & Robustel, 1715.

First edition of this monumental catalogue, compiled by Montfaucon, the eminent historian and founder of Greek paleography, of the magnificent collection of Greek MSS. owned by Coislin (1664-1732), French prelate. A very scarce book, this is only the second copy I have had in thirty years.

Most of the manuscripts come from the library of Pierre Séguier (1588-1682), the celebrated Chancellor of France and Coislin’s grandfather. “The manuscripts were given to the... More

Colored frontis. and over 150 tipped-in illus., facsimiles of paper specimens and ream wrappers, & photographic illus. Large folio, orig. cloth-backed decorated paper boards, printed paper label on spine. Chillicothe: Mountain House Press, 1950.

Limited to 210 (?, see below) numbered copies, signed by Hunter who, for this book, made his own paper, type, and ink, and set all the type himself. “The most authoritative history of early American papermaking is Dard Hunter’s sumptuous, large folio Papermaking by Hand in America, a tour de force on one-man bookmaking, set by the author in a handcut type and hand-printed on handmade paper manufactured at... More

14 leaves of differing color gampi paper treated with gofun, bound in two “quires” & sewn together. Small 4to (238 x 179 mm.), orig. semi-stiff pale gray wrappers with mica woodblock-printed designs of wisteria in a garland pattern (upper cover with a small stain), orig. printed label on upper cover. [Saga, near Kyoto: about 1607].

One of the series of 100 Noh plays produced at the famous private press in Saga, just north of Kyoto. These sumptuous luxury editions were printed for the wealthy and enlightened merchant Suminokura Soan (1571-1632), in collaboration with his calligraphy teacher Koetsu, a leading cultural figure of his day, famous... More

2 p.l., 164, 5 pp. 12mo, early 19th-cent. half-calf & marbled boards (short crack at foot of upper joint), flat spine nicely gilt. Paris: de l’Imprimerie de Didot l’Ainé, 1783.

Limited to 25 copies only, finely printed by Didot on Annonay paper; this is one of the rarest and oddest of all private library catalogues.

Mérard (1749-1812), man of letters, was born into a family of great wealth and, for a number of years, was in charge of the residence of the future Louis XIII. After retiring from his public duties in 1782, he concentrated on his growing collection of books and on... More

Finely engraved coat-of-arms on title. Title printed in red & black. 4 p.l., xliii, dxix (i.e. dxvii), [1], cccxlviii (i.e. ccclii), [3] pp. Thick large 4to, orig. publisher’s vellum over boards, fleuron in gilt in center of covers with gilt fleurons in each corner, double gilt fillet round sides, spine gilt, brown morocco lettering piece on spine, a.e.g. Venice: Typis J.B. Pasquali, 1755.

Third edition and the first complete edition of the catalogue of Smith’s magnificent collection of incunabula and a few early manuscripts. Smith (1682-1770), was British Consul at Venice and, in 1765, sold his superb library... More