Engraved frontis. port. x, 512 pp.; 1 p.l., 403, [45] pp. Two vols. 8vo, fine cont. speckled sheep (short tear, without loss, to pp. 99-100 of Vol. I), green & red morocco lettering pieces on spines. London: T. Davies, 1771.

First edition in English of Cellini’s autobiography, “a production of the utmost energy, directness, and racy animation, setting forth one of the most singular careers in all the annals of fine art. His amours and hatreds, his passions and delights, his love of the sumptuous and the exquisite in art, his self-applause and self-assertion, make this one of the most singular and fascinating books in... More

Engraved frontis. port. of the author in Vol. I & one large engraved vignette. Titles printed in red & black. Four vols. Large thick 4to, cont. vellum over boards, spines lettered in gilt. Leipzig: J.F. Gleditsch, 1750-50-51-51.

First edition of the still essential bio-bibliographical dictionary; there are about 50,000 entries. Jöcher (1694-1758), was professor of philosophy and librarian at the University of Leipzig. The present book is his greatest work and continues to be of considerable use; it remains the only convenient place to find accounts of many obscure authors and their writings.

Fine set from the Bibliotheca Bibliographica Breslaueriana. More

Engraved title with a bust of Anne of Autriche & 20 full-page engravings in the text of portraits of famous women. Woodcut printer’s device on printed title. [72], 452, [24] pp. (lacking the two final blanks) 18mo, later 18th-cent. French red morocco, sides richly panelled in gilt, flat spine richly gilt, a.e.g. Leyden: J. Elsevier; Paris: C. Angot, 1660.

A handsomely bound copy of the attractive Elsevier edition of Le Moyne’s highly popular collection of biographical accounts of famous women. Twenty women are featured in the book and in each case a biographical portrait is followed by a eulogy and a discussion of... More

Engraved vignette on title & divisional title, an engraved head-piece, & 22 engraved plates (one double-page). 5 p.l., 172, [2], 185-328 pp. Large 4to, fine cont. red straight-grained morocco, gilt fillets round sides, turn-ins gilt, spine finely gilt, contrasting green morocco labels on spine, a.e.g. [London]: B. & J. White, 1796.

[bound with]:

—. The Literary Life of the late Thomas Pennant, Esq. By Himself. Engraved frontis. port. of the author, two engraved plates, and one engraved double-page & folding hand-colored plate. 3 p.l., 144 pp. Large 4to. London: B. & J. White & R. Faulder, 1793. More

Engraved vignette on title. xvi, 416 pp. 8vo, orig. grey boards, red leather lettering piece on spine. Nuremberg: Raspe, 1797.

First edition of an extremely rare book; WorldCat locates no copy in the U.S. The present work contains a series of biographical accounts of twenty-one authors including Jacques Barrellier, Linnaeus, Nathanael Gottfried Leske, Fredrik Hasselquist, Simon Pelloutier, and other notable natural historians, scientists, and scholars. Schrank has also provided detailed bibliographies of the writings of each author.

Fine copy from the Wittelsbach library of the dukes and kings of Bavaria. With a one-page A.L.s dated 2 May 1797 from Schrank presenting... More

Numerous illus. & plates (several double-page) by Albert Tissandier; one folding table printed on both sides & one folding map. viii, 344 pp. Large 8vo, fine orig. red sheep (a few tiny defects), panelled in gilt, with the initials of Albert Tissandier on upper cover (“A.T.”), spine nicely gilt, a.e.g. Paris: M. Dreyfous, 1878.

First edition, the copy of Albert Tissandier, the illustrator of this book and brother of the author. Gaston Tissandier (1843-99), chemist, meteorologist, author, and aviator, with his brother Albert, were the most famous balloonists of their time, making a number of ascensions. They were the first to... More