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Catalogue
72
Books
from the Past
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88. RITIUS, MICHAEL (1445-1515). Michaelis Ritii Neapolitani
De regibus Francoru[m] lib. III. De regibus Hispaniae lib. III.
De regibus Hierosolymorum lib. I. De regibus Neapolis & Siciliae
lib. IIII. De regibus Vngariae lib. II. Apud Inclytam Basileam.
Basileae, Apvd Ioannem Frobenivm, Mense Ivlio Anno M.D.XVII (1517).
$2,850
4to; ff. 85, [5]; signatures: a-x4, y6. Contemporary full vellum;
manuscript title and decorative design on spine; dark blue edges;
title within historiated woodcut border; historiated and foliated
initials; elaborate printer's device on last leaf. Date in ink on
title; little contemporary marginalia on four leaves; faint water
stain in lower margin of few leaves; small tear on front fly-leaf
and paste-down. Edition statement from colophon; dedication by A[ulus]
Ianus Parrhasius. A very good copy of a scarce work.
Adams R587; Brunet IV, 1314; Graesse VI, 109; Renouard III, 211.
Michele Riccio was an Italian humanist and historian who was a counsellor
to Louis XII at Naples. These historical essays on the rulers of
France, Spain, Jerusalem, Naples, Sicily and Hungary were previously
published separately in Rome and Milan in 1505 and 1506, respectively.
They were also collected by Josse Badius (1462-1535) under the title
Compendiosi & veridicis de regibus Christianis fere libelli
(Paris, 1507) - Brunet. The humanist Aulus Janus Parrhasius (1470-1522),
who wrote the dedication, was well-known for his extensive library
of early manuscripts and books. Noted humanist printer, Johann Froben
(d. 1527), was active in Basel from 1491-1527. His friendship with
Erasmus (c.1469-1536) extended to the latter's work as proofreader
for Froben's classical publications, not the least of which was
Erasmus' own influential Novum Testamentum, printed in Greek and
Latin in 1519. Froben's device of two snakes intertwined with a
bird, surrounded by putti, was designed by Hans Holbein the Younger
(1497-1543). Holbein later left Basel for London during the Reformation
to become court portraitist to Henry VIII.
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With an Interesting Provenance
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89. ROBISON, JOHN (1739-1805). Proofs of a Conspiracy Against
all the Religions and Governments of Europe, Carried on in the Secret
Meetings of Free Masons, Illuminati, and Reading Societies. Collected
from Good Authorities, by John Robison ... The Second Edition, corrected;
To which is added a Postscript. London, Printed for T. Cadell jun.
and W. Davies, Strand; and W. Creech, Edinburgh, 1797. $925
8vo; pp. [4], 531, [1]. Contemporary paper boards; paper spine worn;
signature on front fly-leaf of Samuel Bosanquet; edges uncut; light
age-browning on few leaves; ink stain in margin of one leaf, no
loss of text.
ESTC T100161; five locations in COPAC. John Robison was described
by Scottish intellectual Sir James Mackintosh as "one of the
greatest mathematical philosophers of his age." He was born
and educated in Scotland, and became tutor to the son of Admiral
Knowles, who accompanied General Wolfe to Quebec in 1759. He was
later appointed by the Board of Longitude to test John Harrison's
chronometer on a voyage to Jamaica. Robison settled in Glasgow,
was a student of James Watt, and taught science and mathematics
at Glasgow University. He published articles on many aspects of
science, but was particularly influencial in the field of physics.
This curious work is an early "conspiracy theory" on freemasonry,
all the more interesting as Robison himself was a freemason. (DNB).
Samuel Bosanquet (1800-1882) of Monmouthshire, a writer, was known
for championing the rights of the poor. He was a frequent contributor
to The British Critic, a conservative theological and political
periodical.
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90.
ROLAND [DE LA PLATIÈRE, MARIE-JEANNE], MME. (1754-1793).
Appel a l'Impartiale Postérité, Par la Citoyenne Roland,
Femme du Ministre de l'Intérieur, ou Recueil des Ecrits qu'elle
a rédigés, pendant sa détention, aux prisons
de l'Abbaye et de Sainte-Pélagie; Imprimé au profit
de sa Fille Unique, privée de la fortune de ses pères
et mères, dont les biens sont toujours séquestrés.
A Paris Chez Louvet, Libraire, maison Egalité, galerie neuve,
derrière le théâtre de la République,
no. 24, [1795]. Parts I & II. $200
8vo; pp. viii, 128; iv, 102. Original mottled blue paper wrappers;
spine perished, remains of manuscript paper label; light foxing
throughout, mainly in margins; edges dusty; most leaves uncut; one
leaf torn in bottom margin. Preface signed Paris 26 germinal, an
3e de la Republique. Parts I & II have individual title pages;
wanting parts III & IV.
Tourneux 25113; BNF; Oxford; National Library of Scotland. Upon
her arrest for treason, Mme Roland described herself as merely a
helpmate to her husband, Jean-Marie Roland. In fact, Mme Roland
was an astute intellectual who ran a powerful salon during the French
Revolution, with political collaborators such as Marat, Danton and
Robespierre frequenting her home. Under the influence of the Girondins,
Jean-Marie Roland became Ministre of the Interior in Louis XVI's
cabinet. After the King's execution, the Rolands had a falling-out
out with revolutionary extremists, and while her husband fled Paris,
Mme Roland was imprisoned. While awaiting trial, Mme Roland wrote
Appel a l'Impartiale Postérité, as well as her memoires,
which were later edited by her friend, French naturalist Louis Augustin
Guillaume Bosc (1759-1828). Mme Roland's last words as she was led
to the guillotine have echoed through the two centuries since: "O
Liberty! What crimes are committed in your name!"
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91.
SALMON, THOMAS (1679-1767) Hedendaagsche Historie, of Tegenwoordige
Staat van Alle Volkeren; IX. Deel. Behelzende 't Vervolg van den
Tegenwoordigen Staat des Duitschen Keizerryks: En wel in byzonder
van de Opper-Rhynsche, Frankische, Zwabische, Beyersche en Oostenryksche
Kreitzen. Als mede van het Koninkryk Bohemen, Moravien, Silesien,
Hungaryen, Zevenbergen en de Frontierlanden des Keizerryks. Eerst
in 't Engelsch beschreven door Th. Salmon. Nu-vertaald en merkalyk
vermeerderd door M. van Goch ... Te Amsterdam, By Isaak Tirion,
Boekverkooper op den Nieuwendyk by den Dam, in Hugo Grotius, 1737.
First edition in Dutch. $900
8vo; pp. [6] (including extra engraved title), 673, [15]; 5 engraved
maps and 3 engraved plates, all folding; leaves erratically signed.
Full vellum, little dusty; manuscript title on spine; title vignette;
tail-pieces; small tear in gutters of two maps, not affecting images;
small spots on two leaves affecting two letters; staining on lower
margin of one plate and 2 leaves; foxing on three leaves. Otherwise,
a clean copy with maps in very good condition.
BL; Harvard; Sabin 75826 (London ed.). The original London edition
of Thomas Salmon's Modern History, or the present State of All Nations
was published from 1725-39 in 32 volumes (Sabin). This is volume
nine of the Dutch edition, translated by Matthias van Goch, and
eventually published in 44 parts from 1729 to 1820. It includes
descriptions of Germany, Bavaria, Austria, Moravia, Bohemia, Silesie,
Hungary and the Brabant States. Thomas was a prolific author of
geographical and historical works, and he travelled a great deal
throughout Europe. In 1739-40, he accompanied Anson on his voyage
around the world (DNB).
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92.
[SCOTT, WALTER, SIR, 1771-1832] The Common-Place Book of
Literary Curiosities, Remarkable Customs, Historical and Domestic
Anecdotes, and Etymological Scraps. By the Rev. Dr. Dryasdust, of
York, Somewhile Preface-Writer to the Great Unknown. London, John
Bumpus, MDCCCXXV (1825). $150
16mo; pp. [6], 423; 4 (of 6) coloured engravings, including frontispiece,
by William Heath (1795-1840); quarter bound publisher's printed
paper over boards, quite worn; printed design on front, advert on
back, both faded and rubbed; poorly rebacked with cloth tape; manuscript
title on spine; uncut edges; occasional brown spotting; title has
faint pencilled note in margin.
Copies of this edition located at BL, NLS, LC, Harvard. Sir Walter
Scott was well known for his Scottish historical novels and poems,
but he also produced numerous biographies and other non-fiction
works. This is a compendium of anecdotes on almost every subject,
including Advice to Young Ladies, and General Directions for November.
The Rev. Dr. Dryasdust appears as a character in Scott's novels,
and in the Introduction to Ivanhoe. Artist William Heath specialized
in satirical cartoons and caricatures; he also published as Paul
Pry. The printer, Thomas Bumpus, was active in London from c.1790-1832.
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93.
[SHIPWRECK]. A Narrative of The Loss of the Kent , by Fire,
in the Bay of Biscay, on the first of March, 1825. In a Letter to
a Friend, By a Passenger [Sir D. McGregor]. New-York, Saxton &
Miles, 1842. Later (and scarce) American edition. $175
12mo; pp. 65, [1], [2]; original cloth binding worn; faint dampstain
to title.
Huntress 227c. The Kent was sailing from the Downs for Bengal and
China, carrying officers, soldiers, crewmen, women and children,
and other private passengers. It caught fire during a storm in the
Bay of Biscay; eighty-one of those on board perished; the others
were rescued by other ships in the area. The author was a member
of the Thirty-first Regiment, which was aboard ship.
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