1 p.l., 89 pp. 8vo, orig. printed wrappers, uncut. [London]: Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, 20-25 July 1865.
A lovely copy in original state. 1778 lots including many of the great folio architectural works. We have been unable to determine the architect whose library is being sold here.
❧ Not in BM English Book Sales. More
24 pp. 8vo (198 x 125 mm.), modern aubergine cloth, title on upper cover. Paris: Félix & Regnault-Delalande, 1819.
A very scarce auction catalogue marking the dissolution of Pierre Blaizot’s inventory; WorldCat records no copy in North America. Despite the lengthy interval between his death and this sale, we can identify the seller as Pierre Blaizot (1740-1808) due to the offerings in the present catalogue — prints, maps, and luxury paper — that match the description of his business on the BnF Data site. Blaizot’s page on the site notes that he was orphaned at age 9, but managed to set up an office... More
99 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: Joullain, 1778.
The uncommon sale catalogue, fully priced throughout, of a noteworthy collection, devoted primarily to Italian art and sculpture. Bourlat de Montredon (?-1777), was an influential amateur and collector who resided in Constantinople for forty years.
The catalogue thoroughly describes 695 lots, many of which are composed of numerous items. Lots 579-671 are Bourlat de Montredon’s impressive group of books of prints, mostly focused on the architecture and decorative arts of Italy, including a number of works by Piranesi. The descriptions offer occasional notes on... More
99 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: Joullain, 1778.
The uncommon sale catalogue, fully priced throughout and with buyers’ names, of a noteworthy collection devoted primarily to Italian art and sculpture. Bourlat de Montredon (d. 1777), was an influential amateur and collector who resided in Constantinople for forty years.
The catalogue thoroughly describes 695 lots, many of which are composed of numerous items. Lots 579-671 are Bourlat de Montredon’s impressive group of books of prints, mostly focused on the architecture and decorative arts of Italy, including a number of works by Piranesi. The descriptions... More
Lithograph frontis. port. of the collector. 2 p.l., 14, [2], 166 pp. 8vo, attractive antique half-calf paste-paper boards, red morocco lettering-piece on spine, spine gilt. Paris: J.S. Merlin, 1824.
The uncommon sale catalogue of Hurtault (1765-1824), Architecte du roi, member of the Institut, and inspector general of public works, who conducted significant restorations of the Tuileries and Fontainebleau. He was especially interested in English architecture — demonstrated by the numerous British books in his collection — and designed several gardens in the English style, including one at Fontainebleau.
This was one of the finest professional libraries of architecture of the early 19th century and its... More
40 pp. 8vo, late 19th-century calf-backed marbled boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece. Paris: J.B. Coignard, 1742.
An extremely rare catalogue of “one of the most important and renowned collections of antiquities assembled in the 18th century.”–Astrid Dostert, “La description historique des antiques du cardinal de Polignac par Moreau de Mautour…”, Journal des savants, 2001, Vol. I, pp. 93-152–(an extremely informative article).
Cardinal Polignac (1661-1742), an influential diplomat and art connoisseur, played an important role in the negotiation of the Treaty of Utrecht as well as maintaining close ties between France and the Vatican. Pope Alexander VIII is believed... More
38 pp. 8vo (190 x 125 mm.), early 20th-cent. cloth-backed marbled boards, title on spine. Paris: Dumanoir & Paillet, 1826. $1750.00 An uncommon auction catalogue describing the collection of Thibault (1757-1826), an artist and architect well-known for his vivid architectural drawings. He served as architect of the palaces at Neuilly and the Elysée, and was appointed professor of perspective at the Ecole des beaux-arts in 1819. Paillet has contributed a short biographical sketch for Thibault at the beginning of this volume. This catalogue describes 367 lots, the majority of which consist of paintings, preparatory and finished drawings, and prints... More
1 p.l., 288 pp. Large 8vo, orig. printed wrappers bound-in cont. dark green half-morocco, cloth sides, spine gilt, t.e.g. London: 1874.
A handsome copy, ruled in red with prices in a contemporary hand. Tite was a noted architect whose principal work was the remodeling of the Royal Stock Exchange (1844). He was a strenuous opponent of the Neo-Gothic style as practiced by Sir George Gilbert Scott (see D.N.B.). “Among the contemporaries of Henry Huth was a notable bibliophile, the enthusiastic architect Sir William Tite (1798-1873), whose fine and valuable library brought nearly 20,000 pounds, a large sum for the early... More
Woodcut vignette on title. 26 pp. 8vo (182 x 126 mm.), late 19th-cent. citron morocco backed-marbled boards, title on spine. Paris: Basan, 1773.
A very scarce auction catalogue dispersing Vassé’s collection and the contents of his studio; WorldCat and the Getty Provenance Index record no copy in North America. The sculptor Vassé (1716-72), a favorite pupil of Bouchardon and later professor at the Académie Royale, “was ambitious, and he was aided in his desire for a prestigious career by the collector and antiquary the Comte de Caylus, who in turn hoped through Vassé to bring about a return to Classical ideals in French sculpture…Contemporaries... More
62 pp. 8vo, blue sheep-backed marbled boards (extremities rubbed), flat spine gilt. Paris: Bachelin-Deflorenne, 1864.
[bound with]:
(COMBETTE). Catalogue de Livres rares et précieux…provenant de la Bibliothèque de M. de C....tte. xii, 100 pp. 8vo. Paris: Bachelin-Deflorenne, 1864.
[bound with]:
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Engraved frontis., numerous engravings in the text, & 58 mostly folding engraved plates. 2 p.l., xxxviii, [10], 408, [40] pp. Large thick 4to, cont. cat’s paw polished calf, spine nicely gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: P.J. Mariette, 1750.
First published in 1691 and revised by Le Blond in the early 18th century, the Cours d’Architecture was totally revised and enlarged with new designs of buildings and ornaments by Mariette in 1738. Our edition of 1750 was the one most familiar to architects of the mid-18th century; it “was the standard work for architects…This book included a life of Vignola, a description... More
Engraved allegorical frontis. 1 p.l., vi, 93 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed marbled boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. N.p.: 1751.
First edition. Bachaumont (1690-1771) was an influential noble who grew up at the court of Versailles during the height of its significance as the political and cultural nucleus of France. He frequented the salons of Paris and was entangled in several controversies, one in particular regarding a journal filled with gossip ascertained at the salon of Madame Doublet de Persan, for which he may have been partially responsible. By the end of his life, he was known... More
Engraved royal coat-of-arms on title. 16 pp. 8vo (170 x 111 mm.), 18th-cent. paste-paper semi-stiff boards (lower edges of covers a bit worn). Paris: Pierre de Bats, 1683.
A very scarce early edition of this guide to the church of St. Denis, a place of pilgrimage that holds the remains of most of the French kings who reigned between the 10th and 18th centuries. The earliest edition we locate was published in 1656 (14 pp.), and is exceedingly rare. The present work is considerably augmented from previous versions and presents updated descriptions of the interior of the royal basilica at St. Denis, just north... More
Woodcut royal coat-of-arms on title & three woodcut floor plans. 51, [1] pp. Small 8vo (155 x 102 mm.), 18th-cent. paste-paper boards (spine a little rubbed), red calf lettering-piece on spine, spine gilt, shelf mark at tail of spine. Paris: J. Chardon, 1715.
[bound with]:
(AMSTERDAM). [Drop-title]: Description de l’Hotel de ville d’Amsterdam, avec les Explications de tous les Emblemes, Figures, Tableaux, Statues &c. qui se trouvent au-dehors, & au-dedans de ce Batiment. Four finely engraved folding plates. 108 pp. Small 8vo. N.p.: n.d.
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2 p.l., 124 pp. Large 8vo, cont. red cloth-backed marbled boards, spine gilt. [Paris]: Rapilly, [1891].
[with]:
(—). Catalogue de Dessins anciens, Architecture, Décoration, Ameublement, Orfèvrerie…Dont la Vente aura lieu…les samedi 21, lundi 23, mardi 24, mercredi 25 février 1891… 4 p.l., 104 pp. 8vo, orig. printed wrappers (spine slightly defective). [Paris]: M. Delestre & S. Mayer, [1891].
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99, [1] p. Small 8vo (160 x 107), cont. calf (joints a little worn), red morocco lettering-piece on spine, spine gilt. Paris: C.A. Jombert, 1754.
First edition of this uncommon book, which contains an essential lecture given by Blondel at the opening session of the fifth Cours Publique in his independent Ecole des Arts. This school was founded in 1743, and was able to provide an exhaustive curriculum to a larger and more diverse audience than the Académie. Leading figures of the neo-classical such as Chambers, Patte, Wailly, Desprez, Boullée, and Ledoux all took classes at the school.
This work represents the first appearance of Blondel’s famous lecture in print. To replicate the experience of an actual lecture, the text is supplemented with footnotes, some of which take up several pages. An extensive and most interesting list of important architectural works recommended by Blondel is found on pages 83-89.
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[Klein-Schwechat: 1881].
An elaborate album of photographs of drawings of the celebrated brewery at Klein-Schwechat, founded in 1632, and today one of the leading breweries of Austria, producing a lager, a light smooth premium beer called Hopfenperle, and a super-premium called Steffl. The album was prepared for the renowned Viennese brewer August Deiglmayer (1827-83), who was at that time, managing director of the brewery and one of the great innovators of 19th century brewing. Deiglmayer spent much of his professional career at the Klein-Schwechat brewery.
The drawings were executed at the request of Georg Wieninger (1832-87), scion of the Schärding family of... More
Numerous woodcuts in the text. 35 parts in 16 vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, new stitching. [China]: Xue ku shan fang, 1890.
Second edition (1st ed.: 1880) of the compiler Gu’s collection of writings by Zewei Bu and Bingzhong Liu (both Tang dynasty, 618-907) on feng shui, divination, geomancy, and Chinese astrology. Both the 1880 edition and our edition are very rare. The texts, which first appeared in the 17th century, have remained very popular, and there is also a 1970 (quite wretched) reprint.
Our edition was edited by Zhimo Xu, who lived in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The texts include Bu’s Xue xin fu, which... More
Ten folding engraved plates. viii, 368 pp. Large 4to, orig. paste-paper wrappers (a bit frayed), printed paper label on spine, uncut. Paris: Bachelier, 1821.
First collected edition and quite scarce on the market. “Coulomb’s collected memoirs on mechanics. The first of these deals with simple machines and won the Academy prize of 1779. The second is a study of friction at pivots, and the third deals with torsion and the elasticity of metal wire. In the fourth memoir Coulomb discusses man’s ability to perform work, quoting Daniel Bernoulli and d’Alembert. The fifth memoir is devoted to windmills and the force of their... More
Woodcut printer’s vignette on title, two engraved head-pieces, one folding engraved plate with two images (sometimes divided making two plates), & numerous engravings in the text. 4 p.l., 198, [12] pp. 12mo, cont. red polished morocco, triple gilt fillet round sides, gilt fleurons in each corner, spine nicely gilt, arms in gilt of Sébastian Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban on each cover (Olivier, pl. 343), a.e.g. Paris: the Widow of J.B. Coignard & the Son of Coignard, 1693.
Second edition (1st ed.: 1689), revised, with considerable additions. This is one of the best contemporary explications of Vauban’s “first system” of fortification... More
83 engraved plates. xxvii, 100 pp.; 175 pp.; 61, [2] pp. Three parts in one vol. Large 4to, cont. sheep-backed marbled boards (headcap & one corner a little worn), flat spine gilt, red leather lettering piece on spine. [Paris]: l’Auteur, la Veuve Hérissant, & T. Barrois, 1782.
Final and best edition of one of the standard introductory textbooks of architecture of the time; it went through four earlier editions (with different titles) in 1762, 1766, 1768, and 1773. Dupuis (1733-92), was a practicing architect who wrote several other works on various aspects of the subject. He served as architect to the Elector of Cologne for many years.
Very nice copy. More
Numerous fine brush-and-wash drawings in rich colors of about 149 castles, their fortifications, floor plans, & approaches. 64; 50; 49; 62; 67 folding leaves. Ten parts in five vols. 8vo (277 x 200 mm.), orig. patterned wrappers, new stitching. [Japan]: on the final leaf of the final vol. (in trans.): “9 April 1737 copied by Tadataka Sakai [and] Minamoto.”
The third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu (reigned 1623-51), the first born to the rule, spent much of his reign centralizing power in Edo, with the bakufu growing in importance as administrators and setters of policy. In 1645, the bakufu ordered all fiefdom lords who owned castles to make a shiro ezu, a detailed... More
Two double-page plates & 80 engravings in the text. 8 p.l., 196, [16] pp. Folio, orig. carta rustica (covers a little soiled & spotted, first few leaves a little dampstained in outer lower corner). Rome: G.F. Buagni, 1696.
First edition and a fine fresh copy of this finely illustrated work on baroque hydraulics. Fontana (1638-1714), was the most important Roman architect of his generation.
This book “emerges from an actual design problem. The practical source for this theoretical work was the project for the raising of the water level of Lake Bracciano, necessary since the second fountain in Saint Peter’s square, built by Bernini under... More
Lithographed frontis., 45 black & white plates, and two printed tables. 420, ii pp. Large 4to, orig. cloth (extremities with very minor wear, some foxing due to the quality of the paper). New York: D. Appleton, 1852.
“Third edition” of the first great American book on naval architecture (1st ed.: 1849). Griffiths (1809-82), was one of the earliest outstanding naval architects in America and, during the early 1850s, his steamships were the fastest and finest in the world.
“Through his writings Griffiths did more than any one else to put shipbuilding in America on a scientific basis, in place of the ‘rule of thumb’ methods... More