Search Results: Ancient World from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

N.p.: Jerry N. Wallace, 1999. Hardcover. 4to. Brown buckram with gilt spine lettering. 403pp, 79pp. Fine. Superb, tight facsimile reprint of the 1758 Edinburgh edition of the epic poem commonly known as "The Wallace," by the poet known as "Blind Harry" (circa 1440-92), who composed it around 1477 but the title page badly misdates this as 1361. It is a historical fiction that tells the life of 13th century Scottish independence leader William Wallace and, although considered inaccurate in many respects, is the basis for the 1995 Mel Gibson Oscar-winning film "Braveheart" -- and this unique copy bears two fine autograph additions from that film: Tipped to the front flyleaf are matching heavy stock 5" X 3" cards signed boldly by two Scottish cast members. At top is IAN BANNEN (1929-99, portrays Robert the Bruce's father), who signs boldly in black fineline and dates it 23 December 1977 at upper right; below him is BRIAN COX (born 1946, portrays Argyle Wallace), who signs in blue fineline and dates it 16… Read More

New York: Thames and Hudson, 1995. Hardcover. Small 4to. Grey cloth with gilt lettering and decoration, pictorial dust jacket. 320pp. Extensive illustrations and line drawings. Fine/fine. Circular blind-embossed ownership imprint on front/ rear flyleaves. Beautiful, bright and tight first edition of this heft, intensely scholarly examination of writing systems throughout history.

Athens: Dim. Papadimas Reg't Co, 2008. Hardcover. Wide small 4to. Glossy pictorial paper over boards with metal spiral binding. 108pp. Map, extensive small color illustrations, numerous full-page color plates with clear/pictorial overlays. Fine. Superb first edition of this guided tour through Greece's major ancient cities, with major surviving structures pictured as they appear today ("now") with overlays showing how they may have appeared back in the day ("then"). Tipped to front pastedown is a clear sleeve housing a DVD. Unlike typical plastic comb bindings that chip with age, this heavy-duty metal binding is pristine.

New York: Crown Publishers, 1976. Hardcover. Translation by Rachel Kendall Gordon. Small 4to. Yellow cloth spine with copper lettering and black paper over boards, pictorial dust jacket. 314pp. Illustrations, map endpapers. Near fine/very good. Mild jacket edgewear; circular blind-embossed ownership imprint on title page. A tight and handsome first edition of this chronicle of Engel's 12 years and 30,000 miles spent excavating and analyzing numerous pre-Columbian cities.

New York: Longmans, Green and Co, 1931. Hardcover. 12mo. Dark blue blind-ruled cloth with gilt spine lettering. 188pp, (6pp). Top edge gilt. Near fine. Front pastedown ownership signature. Superb, tight first edition of this Greek-focused survey -- and the last work by the noted Latin scholar and Harvard professor (1866-1931).

New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1968. Hardcover. Small 4to. Terra cotta cloth with gilt spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. 312pp. Illustrations, pictorial endpapers. Near fine/very good. Jacket a tad age toned, with single edge chip at upper left of front panel. Handsome and tight first edition of this survey.

New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Publishers, 1953. Hardcover. Small 4to. Red cloth with gilt spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. Color frontispiece, map, line drawings, numerous illustrations, 3 color plates. Fine/very good. Mildest jacket edgewear, with small chips at spine head/tail. Superb, tight first edition of this seminal study, addressing the archaeological angle alongside the objects themselves.

Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1999. Paperback. Small 4to. Glossy wrappers. xv, 806pp. Figures, tables. Near fine. Tight, near pristine copy of this American Council of Learned Societies production.

New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc, 1967. Hardcover. Translation by John Ross. 4to. Blue cloth with gilt spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. 441pp. Extensive illustrations, with many tipped-in color plates. Near fine/near fine. Touch of spotting to outer page edges; two small stars inkstamped on front pastedown. Lovely and tight first edition of this massive, outstandingly illustrated, six-plus pound lap-crusher.

New York: Greystone Press, 1967. Hardcover. Small 4to. Brown textured paper over boards with silver spine lettering and gilt front board titling. 257pp. Numerous color illustrations and line drawings, map, color pictorial endpapers. Very good. Lacks dust jacket. Tight and nice revised edition of this thorough, superbly-illustrated study of Etruscan art, a volume in this publisher's "Art of the World" series. Front flyleaf neatly tipped to inner flyleaf. Other than a mild abrasion near foot of spine, this discreet ex-library copy bears almost no other markings.

New York: The Heritage Press, 1971. Hardcover. Translation by B.P. Moore. Illustrations by Eric Fraser. 8vo. Textured faux parchment with gilt spine lettering and decoration, slipcase. xii, 116pp. Numerous illustrations (some partly color), decorative endpapers. Near fine/near fine. A tight and attractive trade edition of the lavish Limited Editions Club edition. Publius Ovidius Naso's instructional elegy "Ars Amatoria" was written in 2 A.D.

New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc, 1969. Hardcover. Small 4to. Brown cloth with gilt spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. 264pp. Extensive illustrations (many color), pictorial endpapers. Fine/fine. Ownership signature on inner flyleaf. Superbly tight and handsome first edition of this thick study by the noted German art historian and archaeologist (1908-2011).

London / New York: Routledge, 1998. Hardcover. 8vo. Black buckram with silver spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. xix, 342pp. Fine/fine. Faint circular blind-embossed ownership imprint on front flyleaf. Superbly, tight and bright first edition.

New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Paperback. Small 4to. Stiff glossy pictorial wrappers. iv, 162pp. Fine. Bright and tight later printing of the second edition of this popular, hands-on how-to, the first of two workbooks accompanying this language guide.

New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1975. Hardcover. 4to. Green cloth with gilt spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. 272pp. Extensive maps and floor plans, line drawings. Fine/near fine. Tight, handsome second U.S. printing of this exceptionally useful reference, first published 1974.

London: Routledge, 1997. Hardcover. Small 4to. Black cloth with silver spine lettering, pictorial dust jacket. ix, 271pp. Extensive maps, decorative endpapers. Fine/fine.Circular blind-embossed ownership imprint on half-title page. Pristine first edition of this important and fascinating reference "filled with over 140 maps and commentaries" -- to cite front flap copy -- "detailing the whole of the medieval period from the latter days of Rome through to the beginnings of the early modern world." Concludes with an outstanding bibliography.

New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1974. Hardcover. 4to. Green cloth, dust jacket. 272pp. Extensive maps and floor plans, line drawings. Very good/very good. Mild jacket edgewear. Tight and attractive first U.S. edition.

Birmingham, AL: Gryphon Editions, 1987. Hardcover. 8vo. Full gurgundy calf with gilt lettering and decorations, raised bands. xviii, (3pp), 424pp. All edges gilt. Marbled endpapers, sewn-in red satin page marker. Fine. A pristine and tight copy of this volume in "The Legal Classics Library" series, a facsimile of the 1904 first edition (Edinburgh: T.& T. Clark). Special bookplate on front pastedown notes this as copy #11131.

London: The Folio Society, 1999. Hardcover. Small 4to. Green cloth with gilt lettering and extensive gilt decorations and pictorial stamping, slipcase. xxxvi, 444pp. Illustrations (some color), map endpapers. Fine/near fine. Handsome, tight reprint of the 1988 revised edition of this study originally published in 1962.

Norwalk, CT: The Heritage Press, n.y.. Hardcover. Birds" introduction by Dudley Fitts and illustrations by Marian Parry. "Frogs" translation by William James Hickie, introduction by Gilbert Seldes and wood engravings by John Austen. 4to. Blue cloth with spine gilt lettering and front board pictorial giltstamping, slipcase. xii, 52pp; xviii, 62pp. Illustrations. Fine/fine. Handsome, pristine later printing (ca. 1980s) of these plays by the ancient Greek playwright (c. 446-386 B.C.), reprinted from the lovely 1959 Limited Editions Club edition. This copy bears choice autograph addition: Tipped to front flyleaf is a Typed Note Signed from Gilbert Seldes, 1p, 7¼" X 10½", New York, NY, 24 January 1939. Addressed to Arnold F. Gates (1914-93, noted Lincoln/Civil War scholar). Near fine. Faint original folds. On "Columbia Broadcasting System" letterhead (he was first television director for CBS News), the polymath author/editor/cultural critic/director/dramatist (1893-1970) thanks an admirer for birthday… Read More