2 p.l., 112 pp. 8vo (220 x 140 mm.), cont. green paper wrappers bound in late 19th-cent. red sheep-backed marbled boards, spine gilt, t.e.g. Paris: Lebrun & Balbastre; London: Christi [sic]; Brussels: de Roy; Amsterdam: Coquelers, 1806.

The uncommon catalogue of this momentous liquidation sale marking the “autumn” of the preeminent Parisian art dealer of the time. It provides invaluable insight into the stock of one of the most important dealers in Europe. A contemporary annotator has added the names of buyers and the prices throughout. Due to the escalation of the Napoleonic Wars, Lebrun (1748-1813) found it increasingly onerous to conduct an... More about Catalogue d’Objets rares et curieux, Provenant du Cabinet & Fond de Marchandises de M....

8 pp. 8vo, 19th-cent. marbled boards (joints restored), spine gilt. Paris: Poultier & Constantin, 1807.

The rare sale catalogue, fully priced in a contemporary hand, of Louis François Prault (1734-1806), ancien Imprimeur du Roi and son of the great publisher and bookseller Laurent François (1712-80). Prault’s firm printed many auction catalogues in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Because of the Constantins relationship with the Prault family, who printed almost all of their sale catalogues, either Guillaume Jean Constantin or his son, Amédée, was the expert for this sale.

The present catalogue describes Prault’s choice collection of paintings (by Greuze, Lancret, Teniers, Wijnants, van Goyen, etc.), drawings (by Titian, Caravaggio, Panini, Le Sueur, Cochin, etc.), as well as sculpture and ceramics. There is a total of 63 lots, all priced. More about Catalogue des Tableaux, Dessins, Marbres, Bronzes, et Porcelaines du Cabinet de feu M. Prault...

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 about The Life of Benvenuto Cellini: a Florentine Artist. Containing a Variety of Curious and...

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 about Allgemeines gelehrten-Lexicon

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 about La Gallerie des Femmes fortes

Large Habsburg woodcut coat-of-arms on title; portrait of Archduke Ferdinand II on verso & Habsburg family tree with small portraits on verso of fifth preliminary leaf, both finely engraved & full-page; & 48 woodcut coat-of-arms on preliminary leaves 11-16. 16 p.l., 477, [1], 28 pp. Small folio, fine cont. limp vellum, covers panelled in gilt with gilt fleurons in corners, gilt coats-of-arms in center of covers, yapp edges, ties gone, a.e.g. Innsbruck: J. Agricola, 1592.

First edition and a lovely copy of this essential official history of the Habsburg princes written by the librarian and keeper of art to Ferdinand II; complete with the finely executed... More about Annales rerum Belli domique ab Austriacis Habspurgicae gentis principibus, à Rudolpho primo,...

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 about Histoire de mes Ascensions. Récit de Vingt-Quatre Voyages aëriens (1868-1877) précédé de...