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

Engraved frontis. (dampstained in outer upper corner with blank corner renewed). 2 p.l. (incl. the frontis.), 4, 345, [1], 2 pp. 8vo, later 18th cent. half-sheep & marbled boards, flat spine gilt. London: J. Tonson & J. Watts, 1725.

The very uncommon inventory catalogue of the library of John Bridges (1666-1724), historian of Northamptonshire, who left his library to his two brothers. They prepared this catalogue for sale but their efforts were fruitless as the books were sent to auction before the year was out. This is one of the earliest of all English inventory catalogues.

Dibdin called Bridges “a notorious book-collector” and the library contained over 4000 books and MSS. It was notably rich in the history and antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland. More

Thirty engraved plates (many folding). xxxv, [1], 571 pp.; vi, 656 pp.; vi, 290 pp., 3 p.l., 286, [1] pp. Three vols. 8vo, cont. mottled calf (foot of spine of Vol. III with a bit of wear), triple gilt fillet round sides, spines gilt, a.e.g., red morocco lettering pieces on spines. Paris: Briasson, 1767.

First edition, and a very handsome set, of this lavish and detailed catalogue. “In 1767 Romé was employed, on Sage’s recommendation, to draw up a catalogue of the curiosities that had been collected by Pedro Francisco Davila, who wished to sell his cabinet of natural history before returning to Peru. The... More

[Compiled by Giusto Fontanini]. Large engraved vignette on title & woodcut initials throughout the text. 1 p.l., v, [1], 738 pp. Folio, cont. calf (neatly rebacked by Aquarius with the orig. spine laid-down, corners repaired), spine richly gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Rome: F. Gonzaga, 1711.

First edition of the catalogue of Cardinal Imperiali’s large (ca. 20,000 titles) and magnificent library bequeathed to the public upon his death in 1737. This rich and varied catalogue of rare and early books is arranged alphabetically by author in the first part (pp. 1-582), which was a fairly advanced technique for the time. Pages 583-738... 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

Woodcut arms on title. 119, [1], 48, 36, 45 pp. Four parts in one vol. 12mo, 19th-cent. red morocco by R. Petit, triple gilt fillet round sides, spine richly gilt, a.e.g. Paris: F. Le Cointe & D. Horthemels, 1686.

The extremely rare inventory catalogue of the manuscripts in the large and famous library of Pierre Séguier (1588-1672), chancellor of France and a man of deep learning. Séguier was a true bibliophile and an omnivorous one: Sauval, in his catalogue of the great Parisian libraries prepared in 1653-60, estimated at that time only the libraries of the King and Mazarin were larger; Séguier then owned about... More

Title printed in red & black. 1 p.l., 70 pp., 1 leaf. 8vo, cont. vellum over boards, black morocco lettering piece on spine (label abraded). [Venice: J.B. Pasquali, 1737].

The very rare second edition, enlarged by 21 additional incunabula (the first edition of ca. 1735 lists 227 titles and was printed in an edition of only fifty copies) of Consul Smith’s privately printed catalogue of his magnificent collection of incunabula. Only a few copies of this edition were printed (an early note on the title-page of this copy states only 25 copies were printed).

Smith (1682-1770), was British Consul at Venice and, in 1765, sold his superb library to George III for 10,000 pounds. It thus became the nucleus of the “King’s Library” and of the British Museum (now Library). Horace Walpole sneered at Smith as “the merchant of Venice” who knew nothing of his books save their title-pages, but the censure is quite undeserved. More