Many black & gray ink drawings and maps (mostly double-page). 16 leaves. 8vo (250 x 170 mm.), orig. wrappers (slightly soiled), later stitching. Japan: from the text: “1853.”

An extensively illustrated contemporary manuscript recording Japan’s immediate responses to the recent foreign incursions, following Perry’s first mission to Japan. This document contains plans for Japan’s defense, presented with elaborate maps of Uraga Channel and the area around the capital, Edo. It also includes sections where the anonymous author has compiled information on potential invaders: China, Korea, Russia, and the United States. A map displays the limited scope of Japanese understanding of the outside world in 1853... More about Illustrated manuscript on paper, containing an internal review of Japanese national defense in...

Large woodcut on title of an astronomer studying an armillary sphere in front of a starry sky by Hans Burgkmair & nine woodcuts in the text. 40 unnumbered leaves. Small 4to, cont. limp vellum, title written in a contemporary hand on upper cover, with the orig. nine-link chain attached to the lower cover with the orig. chain swivel & ring at other end, orig. deerskin ties. Augsburg: V. Otmar, 1548.

A fine copy of the “first German encyclopedia” of general knowledge, here bound in a very remarkable chained binding. Most surviving chained bindings are substantial folios; our example is a smaller format book with... More about M. Elucidarius von allerhand geschöpffen Gottes, den Engeln, den Himeln, Gestirns, Planeten, und...

Title printed in red & black. 18 p.l., 679 pp.; [24], [92] leaves. Two parts in one vol. Large folio, cont. blind-stamped panelled pigskin over boards (light browning). [From title-page of second part]: Lyon [but really Geneva]: P. Santandreanus, 1582.

An excellent edition of Pliny’s Natural History, the greatest general scientific and encyclopedic work of antiquity, a storehouse of physical, geographical, and historical knowledge which profoundly affected the Western world’s thought for more than 1500 years. It deals with mathematics, physics, geography, astronomy, medicine, physiology, zoology, botany, geology, mineralogy, mining, metallurgy, pharmacology, anthropology, philosophy, history, agriculture, the arts and letters, etc.

This edition contains the valuable Castigationes of Sigismund Gelenius (1497-1554), the eminent Greek scholar and humanist, who used two ancient manuscripts in the preparation. Adrianus Turnebus (1512-65), professor of Greek at the College Royal, Joseph Justus Scaliger (1540-1609), Justus Lipsius (1547-1606), and others have provided notes and variant readings. More about Historiae Mundi Libri XXXVII…accesserunt ad Marginem Variae Lectiones ac Notae Fer. Pintiani,...