Search Results: New arrivals May 2021 from Reginald C. Williams Rare Books

Octavo, red cloth. First Edition, one of 1500 copies printed. "The American Cinema" introduced auteur theory to America when it was published in 1968, and sparked a long and famous debate between Sarris and Pauline Kael. Auteur theory sees a film director (rather than the producer, studio, screenwriters, or actors) as the author of a film, and was one of the founding principles used by the directors in the French New Wave (Truffaut, Godard, Chabrol, Rohmer, et al). Using the new thinking in this book, Sarris re-evaluated the pantheon of important American directors who had made films between 1929 and 1968. A Fine mostly unopened copy in a near-fine unclipped dust jacket. A touch of offsetting to the front endpapers, and only the most minute wear to the top of the jacket spine and small chip on rear cover. Extremely uncommon in this condition.

Octavo, original blue cloth, original unclipped dustwrapper, previous owner signature, some minor wear and chips on the corners and the back cover. FIRST EDITION of Chomsky's elusive first book, "the first concerted approach to investigating the human mind through a systematic study of how people produce and understand sentences… equated with Darwin's theory of evolution and Freud's theory of the unconscious in terms of its importance in the history of ideas" a nice copy in the original unclipped ($7.50) dust jacket. Noam Chomsky is "the father of modern linguistics and remains the field's most influential practitioner… Mr. Chomsky's introduction of his theory of language in 1957 [in his monograph "Syntactic Structures," which he developed into the present book, his first], often called the Chomsky revolution, has been equated with Darwin's theory of evolution and Freud's theory of the unconscious in terms of its importance in the history of ideas: it was the first concerted approach to… Read More

[1], lxi, [2], 619 pp. With etched frontispiece and 7 full-page etched plates. 4to., 230 x 260 mm, bound in contemporary calf, five raised bands, spine elaborately gilt, red morocco spine label. FIRST EDITION of this acclaimed translation of The Comedies of Terence by George Colman, the well known English dramatist and author of the comedy, The Jealous Wife. Included are a valuable collection of notes and criticism, and fine etched plates of Roman masks of the characters preceding each play. Rebacked, with original spine laid down, some light foxing, but still a pleasant attractive copy.

FIRST EDITION OF WALLACE S ESSAYS ON NATURAL SELECTION, INCLUSIVE OF HIS FIRST WRITING ON THE TOPIC OF NATURAL SELECTION WITH RESPECT TO MAN. Wallace s thesis argues that natural selection alone is unable to account for human intellect and consciousness and therefore cannot fully explain the evolution of man. Prior to this work, Wallace s independently proposed theory of natural selection prompted Darwin to publish his own earlier than intended. Still the scientific friendship between Wallace and Darwin has become one of the most famous relationships in the history of science (Browne, Wallace and Darwin, Current Biology 23, 2013). A near-fine copy in publisher's cloth, with just minor rubbing to the edges of the binding. Name clipped from the front end paper, with a previous owner's stamp on the title page and also on its verso. The contents is clean and unmarked and very lightly if at all consulted. 42pp catalogue dated Jan 1870. Housed in a green cloth slipcase with chemise and leather label.

The very scarce complete REVIEW COPY of Watson s controversial personal account of the DNA discovery. There is some light foxing at the top edge of the original dust-wrapper over wrappers with the review slip stapled by the publisher to the front wrapper. The dust-wrapper has some creases and is the same one used for the hardback first edition with the price intact on the front flap ($5.95). 8vo. xvi, 226, (6). Includes the rare 4x7 glossy photograph of the author laid in. With Francis crick, Watson described and elaborated on the structure of DNA in 1953. They together with Maurice Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel prize in Medicine or Physiology for their work. This discovery is probably the most important in the biological sciences in the twentieth century. A most desirable format for this seminal work. Housed in a red clamshell box constructed by the Heritage Bindery with a black morocco label.

Octavo (222 x 138 mm). A an overall very good copy which exhibits some wear at the top and bottom hinge (still firm). In contemporary full brown calf with a refreshed red morocco label to style. First edition of the first substantial book published by Robert Foulis. The work was issued on three sizes of paper without priority, this being in demy octavo. Cicero was a mainstay of the Foulis brothers, with their press publishing a total of 24 editions of the author, partly to feed the demand from students at Glasgow University.

Large Quarto. A FINE copy in a bright price-clipped very good dust wrapper. SIGNED AND DATED BY LILLIAN GISH TO THE OWNER OF THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL IN THE 1970s, WHO WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND OF GISH. The book is a lavish exploration of the careers of Lillian and Dorothy Gish told in pictures. This work came just four years after Lillian Gish published her official biography in 1969. A nice copy which includes a lovely vintage unreleased double weight semi-glossy 8x10 photo of Lillian Gish from the 1940s tipped in. The photographer, John Engstead, is credited on the rear reading "Engstead" and "not released" is written below the name. The photo is gorgeous and looks like the photo was taken around the time of Dual in the Sun (1946).

224,[3];iv,338,[6]pp. Two volumes. Half calf and marbled boards, spines rebacked in antique style calf with gilt-lettered spines. Edges lightly word, boards rubbed. Text tanned, corners rounded. Very good. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION of James Beattie's overarching treatise on various philosophical subjects, originally printed in Edinburgh. Beattie was a professor of philosophy at Aberdeen University, and a member of the Scottish Enlightenment who promoted Common Sense philosophy. A handbook of practical ethics for Beattie's students, with a lengthy and vociferous condemnation of the institution of slavery. A very important and very difficult set to get as both volumes were published two years apart and rarely turn up together. Beattie's thoughts on slavery abolition undoubtedly resonated with American abolitionists of the time. EVANS 24081, 2663

FIRST EDITION of one of the most influential early books on what was to become the discipline of psychiatry, probably the most widely read and influential English language book on the subject in the 18th century. George Cheyne (1671-1743) was a scientist, mathematician and physician with a wide range of interests. He has particular interest in nervous diseases and this is his major work on the subject. pp xvii-xxxii; title page Part I; text pp 1-107; Title Part II; text 111-255; Title Part III; 259-370; Finis with one line erratum; Ads 6pp; final blank. Decorative head and tailpieces and initial capitals. The contents are clean and sound with some toning which varies in depth through the work. Some slight but firm splitting of the outer hinges but an attractive unsophisticated copy in a full contemporary calf binding.

ppxvi, 334; [vi], 358, [2, publishers' adverts dated 1828]. Drawings on wood and copper-plate etchings by W. H. Brooke. Sm. 8vos, contemporary quarter morocco over watered silk boards, sl. rubbed and bumped at corners. Scattered foxing, else an attractive very good set. Sometimes referred to as the second issue with a different publisher than the 1828 edition, Keightley has expanded his important work on the fairy legends of Ireland to include discussion of lore in Europe, Britain, and Africa. Keightley was as an important pioneer in the study of folklore by modern scholars in the field. He was a "comparativist" folklore collector, drawing parallels between tales and traditions across cultures. A circumspect scholar, he did not automatically assume similar tales indicated transmission, allowing for that similar tales to arise independently. (Wikipedia ). He is notable for sharing with the Grimm brothers a comparative approach to the national mythologies, coming to the eventual conclusion that to… Read More

FIRST EDITION Large quarto, 506pp. (6), Publisher's decorative green cloth with gilt stamped covers and spine. A clean partly unopened near-fine copy with lots of illustrations. Coffin (1823-96) was one of the best-known newspaper correspondents of the American Civil War. He has been called "the Ernie Pyle of his era," and a biographer, W.E. Griffis, referred to him as "a soldier of the pen and knight of the truth. Charles Carleton Coffin was not only well-known to many U.S. political and military leaders, but to many noted U.S. writers and to a large number of foreign dignitaries. (Wikipedia). These series of books about exploits in the civil war, written two decades after the war, was Coffin's attempt to refine and consolidate his impressions of the early days of the war and was third in the series. The volumes which preceded this one were: Marching to Victory (1888) and Redeeming the Republic (1889). This final volume was published in 1891.

Octavo (212 x 137 mm). XXXIII, 627 pp. Contemporary half leather. Small private institutional stamps, moderately browning throughout the text due to paper quality of the period, otherwise a very good copy. Front fly with foxing, small handwritten name on title. Now housed in a 1/4 morocco slipcase with chemise. FIRST EDITION in Russian of the Critique of Pure Reason, translated by the Russian professor of philosophy M. I. Vladislavlev. Genuinely scarce, WorldCat locating just six copies in institutional holdings worldwide (3 in the US, 2 in Canada, 1 in Poland), and appearing just twice in auction records across the past 25 years. "Unquestionably one of, if not the most significant event facilitating the study in Russia of Kant's philosophy during the reign of Tsar Alexander II was the publication in 1867 of a translation of the Critique of Pure Reason made by an upcoming young scholar Mickhail I. Vladislavlev (1840-90), who had spent over 2 years at the universities of Heidelberg, Göttingen, and… Read More

Octavo 7 ¼ x 4 ¾ inches, full period calf. First work THE LADIES CALLING engraved title, printed title with vignette, preface, 271 pages. Second work THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE- (xiv), 224 pages. Third work THE ART OF CONTENTMENT- engraved frontispiece, (viii), 218 pages, printed title torn at the bottom corner with slight loss. Fourth work THE LIVELY ORACLES GIVEN TO US- engraved title, 228 pages (numeration faulty but complete). A very attractive and very good contemporary binding. Ownership inscriptions from the 17th-19th century on the endpapers. Richard Allestree or Allestry was an English Royalist churchman and provost of Eton College from 1665.Early (fifth) edition of this classic instructional book for women, with engraved frontispiece, in beautiful contemporary calf-gilt. It s been bound with three other major works of the period.

Publisher's original olive cloth. 12mo. 338 pages A near-fine copy with no bookplates or previous ownership inscriptions. Some ink stains on the margins of the first several pages (and a little splash on the rear board) and moderate foxing on the rear endpaper and across the last several pages. Housed in a custom green custom cloth clamshell box by the Heritage Bindery. A beautiful copy with virtually no wear. Mann was the first great American advocate of public education, who believed that in a democratic society education should be free and universal, nonsectarian, democratic in method, and reliant on well-trained professional teachers.

Octavo, contemporary calf boards. Half-title in vol-II, Gilt decorated spines with red and black leather labels. An attractive set. First edition of Hester Thrale Piozzi s significant selection of Dr. Johnson s erudite and entertaining letters the first publication and canonization of a large body of his correspondence uncut in original boards. Samuel Johnson once hailed Hester Thrale, later Piozzi, as "if not the wisest woman in the world… undoubtedly one of the wisest" (Allibone, 1601). She met him in 1765; he became a frequent houseguest, and she "was flattered by the attentions of this literary lion who took her sufficiently seriously as a poet not only to praise and criticize her efforts but also to suggest collaboration. With Johnson she was soon translating Boethius's Consolations of Philosophy… She assisted him in the preparation of his Journey to the Western Islands, and Johnson acknowledged that several of the lives in his Lives of the Poets… owed as much to her conversation as to her… Read More

Orig. tan calf. Slim 12mo. Raised bands, Contrasting red panel to compartment, small portion missing, gilt. Gilt dentelles. 1cm split at head of fold of spine/u.bd. Beautifully clean copy with some worm damage to second pamphlet, probably prior to binding. Dublin Quaker physician John Rutty wrote many medical and religious books (Campbell, 145), including Liberty of the Spirit, which he authored to bring into view the degeneracy from the simplicity of their forefathers which was then spreading amongst the Friends (The Friend Vol. XI: 46). It would be printed in America three years later by the firm of Benjamin Franklin and David Hall when, in 1759 the Society of Friends in Philadelphia ordered the publication of this piece in an edition of 4000 copies, and… directed that the treatise be distributed in the same proportion as the 1759 Yearly Epistle, i.e., 1000 to stay in Philadelphia, 2000 to be divided among the quarterly meetings in the Provinces of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and most of the… Read More

8vo, two volumes, Publisher s original embossed purple cloth with gilt-lettered spines, 16 plates., pages untuned. Some light bumping to a couple of corners, Spines are sun-faded (though gilt remains bright) but a handsome near-fine copy of a set now seldom seen in the original cloth or in collectible condition. First edition in English of this sarcastic and slanderous portrayal of Napoleon, with 16 full-page engraved portraits, most by William Read. Madame Laure Junot, wife of French general and diplomat Jean-Andoche Junot, was a firsthand witness to many of the intrigues of the consulate. She immediately entered into the gay life of Paris, and became "noted for her beauty, her caustic wit, and her extravagance. Napoleon nicknamed her petite peste, but treated her and Junot with the utmost generosity, a fact which did not restrain her sarcasms and slanders in her portrayal of him in her Memoirs" (Robert Ouvrard). The Memoirs of Napoleon, originally published in Paris in 1831-35, were among the most… Read More

Two volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter brown morocco, gilt-stamped spines, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt. Some rubbing to the boards, but a very good attractive set now housed in a maroon cloth slipcase. FIRST EDITION of this revealing portrait of Napoleon by his surgeon and close confidant O'Meara, with engraved frontispiece portrait. O'Meara was surgeon on board the Bellerophon when it received Napoleon in 1815. Bonaparte was attracted by the doctor's ability to speak Italian, and when his own surgeon declined to follow him into exile, he asked that O'Meara accompany him to St. Helena as his medical attendant. The admiralty readily permitted O'Meara to join the emperor, hoping that he would serve as a sort of spy, but O'Meara alienated himself from the admiralty and became partisan on behalf of Napoleon and was eventually dismissed from his post. His account of Napoleon in exile was tremendously popular and quickly went through five editions and two editions of… Read More

FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes, octavo (210 x 135 mm). Contemporary half tan morocco, marbled sides, raised bands, titles and decorations to compartments gilt, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. No previous bookplates or inscriptions. Spines slightly sunned, scuff marks and some minor wear to boards, occasional spotting and foxing to text blocks; short closed tear to stub of the map of Mesopotamia. A bright very good set. Tinted lithographic frontispieces to each and 20 other plates in all, one double folding, one double-page, 5 folding maps and plans, numerous illustrations to the text. An attractive set. Sir Austen Henry Layard GCB PC (/lɛərd/; 5 March 1817 – 5 July 1894) was an English traveler, archaeologist, cuneiformist, art historian, draughtsman, collector, politician and diplomat. He is best known as the excavator of Nimrud and of Nineveh, where he uncovered a large proportion of the Assyrian palace reliefs known, and in 1851 the library of Ashurbanipal (Wikipedia).

Slim 4to, pp 70, text diagrams, 4 chromolithograph plates at the end by Day and son, Publisher's original blind stamped cloth, a little rubbed and faded to the spine, but quite sound and clean. Very scarce.