Search Results: Authors starting with D from 19th Century Rare Book and Photograph Shop

One page. Original folds. Very good condition. Nicely framed.
Darwin discusses the hereditary transmission of behavior and a vivid example of the phenomenon from the opening chapter of The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.
In this letter Darwin thanks Fanny Kellogg for "communicating the curious case of an habitual gesture, like that which I have described as inherited. I may add that since I wrote, the action has been transmitted to another generation. Your case shall be sent to Mr. Galton, who gave me the information."
In The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872), Darwin had discussed the heritability of habitual gestures. There he cited at length a remarkable case related to him by his cousin Francis Galton. Galton, a distinguished scientist in his own right, was keenly interested in the inheritance in humans, and the two men often shared findings and theories. Darwin quoted Galton in The Expression of the Emotions on page 33:
"A gentleman of considerable… Read More

81 albumen prints on carte de visite mounts, inserted two per page in the original calf CDV album, brass clasps. Rubbed. Excellent condition overall.
This is likely the most important extant Charles Darwin family photograph album. The scientist's wife Emma Darwin evidently assembled this well-preserved album of cartes de visite and has identified almost all of the sitters with initials or names on the album mounts.
The dazzling array of sitters includes Charles Darwin, his wife Emma, all seven of their children who reached maturity, a grandchild, and other relations from both family lines, the Darwins and the Wedgwoods. The families of some of Darwin's principal scientific peers are also represented including Huxley, Galton, Lyell, Hooker, Haeckel, Henslow, and more.
This album also collects important photographs known from Darwin's correspondence to have been sent to the naturalist. Their whereabouts or survival has been unknown until now. For example, the photographs of German scientist Ernst… Read More

Albumen print from a collodion negative (11 1⁄4 x 9 1⁄2 in.), mounted on original gilt-ruled card (14 1⁄2 x 12 1⁄2 in.). Signed, dated, and inscribed by Cameron: "From life. Registered photograph. Copyright." and "Julia Margaret Cameron Freshwater 1868." Blindstamp of "Messrs Colnaghi, 14 Pall Mall, London" on separated card with printed facsimile signature and inscription: "I like this Photograph very much better than any other which has been taken of me. Ch. Darwin."

Full calf gilt, ca. 1900, edges marbled. Upper joint slightly tender. A very handsome copy.
FIRST EDITION. This volume contains introductory "Observations on the Language and Literature of China" followed by "The Shadow in the Water," "The Twin Sisters," "The Three Dedicated Chambers," and a selection of Chinese proverbs.
In 1813, Davis was appointed writer at the East India Company's factory in Canton (now Guangzhou). His knowledge of the Chinese language, demonstrated with his translation of "The Three Dedicated Chambers" ("San-Yu-Low") led to his appointment to accompany Lord Amherst on his embassy to Peking in 1816. On the mission's return Davis returned to his duties at the Canton factory, and was promoted to president in 1832. Davis served as governor and commander-in-chief of Hong Kong from 1844 to 1848.
Provenance: Sir Edward Strachey, with bookplate.

7pp; 8 pp. Mimeographs, staples removed.This rare fanzine was printed in tiny numbers. We have found traces of the 1946 number on the Internet, but the 1947 number appears to be even more rare. Each number publishes the result of the author's survey of science fiction writers, editors, and aficionados concerning the likelihood of space travel for humans.
Very rare: not in WorldCat.

More than 50 items. Good condition, organized in plastic sheets in an old red vinyl three-ring binder.
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of 1968, held in Chicago, was a landmark event in American political history. John M. Bailey of Connecticut, who had helped to orchestrate Johnson's landslide victory in 1964, oversaw the contentious presidential campaign of 1968, in which Robert Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, and others sought the Democratic nomination. This collection of papers to and by longtime Democratic National Committee Chairman John M. Bailey includes:
• Eugene McCarthy, 3-page telegram requesting an opportunity appear before the Committee to present his argument that "the administration's course in Vietnam is dangerous and wrong."
• Various papers by the McCarthy campaign concerning its goals and requesting information concerning officers, seating, and other logistical matters at the convention. In the end the party was less than helpful to the… Read More

Original red cloth (first binding). Joints very slightly tender, light soiling. A very handsome copy in original, unrestored condition. Half morocco case.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST BINDING, FIRST PRINTING (with page 213 mis-numbered 113 and sig. b present on the list of illustrations, points that were corrected in later copies of this edition).
A Tale of Two Cities is one of Dickens's greatest and most-quoted novels. "The force of the novel springs from its exploration of darkness and death but its beauty derives from Dickens's real sense of transcendence, from his ability to see the sweep of destiny . . . this is what emerges most clearly from one of his shortest and most powerful novels" (Ackroyd).
Dickens was emotionally vested in this great novel. He wrote, "It has had complete possession of me; I have so far verified what is done and suffered in these pages as that I have certainly done and suffered it all myself." The quality and strength of the prose is some of the finest he was ever… Read More

30 volumes. Reddish-brown 3/4 morocco, spines gilt. Some foxing. Minor spotting to a few spines, minor wear. An excellent set. A handsome set of the famous "Illustrated Library Edition," here in an early printing. The dedication at the front of the first volume (Pickwick Papers) states, "This the best edition of my books is, of right, inscribed to my dear friend John Forster, biographer of Oliver Goldsmith, in affectionate acknowledgment of his counsel, sympathy, and faithful friendship during my whole literary life." "The Library Edition came about largely because of the suggestion of Forster that while Dickens's works were available in volumes in the Cheap Edition and in reprints of the serial parts, there was no high-quality edition that would appeal to the wealthy. Dickens eventually came round to the idea that an elegant edition could raise the stature of his writings. He faced a complication, in that the rights to the works were divided between Chapman and Hall and Bradbury and Evans.… Read More

In this rare manuscript poem by Emily Dickinson, the speaker solicits a "shopkeeper's" smile:
I came to buy a smile—today—But just a single smile—The smallest one upon your faceWill suit me just as well–The one that no one else would missIt shone so very small—I'm pleading at the "counter"—sir—Could you afford to sell—I've Diamonds—on my fingers—You know what Diamonds are?I've Rubies—like the Evening Blood—And Topaz—like the Star!'Twould be "a Bargain" for a Jew!Say–may I have it–Sir?
The poem showcases the poet's signature use of ballad verse as well as jewel imagery representative of her "interest in the natural world and aesthetic presentation" (Kelly et al., The Networked Recluse: The Connected World of Emily Dickinson).
Dickinson famously published only a handful of poems in her lifetime. Instead she shared her work in letters to mentors, friends, and a few others. She evidently sent this poem to family friend Samuel Bowles, the publisher of the Springfield… Read More

Albumen print (sheet size 17 ½ x 14 ¼ in.). Vignetted portrait. Soiling. A rare large-format portrait.This is a rare large format portrait of the famed general Abner Doubleday. Doubleday played a prominent role in the Union Army from the war's outset. He was was second in command at Fort Sumter when the war started. He later commanded a division at Antietam, Gettysburg and other major battles.
Years later Doubleday was credited with inventing the game of baseball, leading to the establishment of the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, where the first game was said to have been played.
We have never seen another portrait of Doubleday of this size.

8vo. Six volumes. Contemporary calf, nicely rebacked at an early date, spines gilt. Some wear, browning. An attractive set.Contains the following: Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus and Lust's Dominion; John Lyly, Mother Bombie, Endymion, and Midas; Middleton, Women Beware Women, A Trick to Catch the Old One, The Spanish Gypsy, The Changeling, More Dissemblers Besides Women; Dekker, Wonder of a Kingdom, Old Fortunatus; Rowley, A New Wonder, a Woman Never Vext; Webster, Appius and Virginia; Chapman, May Day, Monsieur D'Olive, Bussy D'Ambois; Webster and Rowley, Thracian Wonder; Marston's Antonio and Mellida, What you Will, and Parasitaster: or, the Fawn; Heywood, The English Traveller, The Royal King and Loyal Subject, A Challenge for Beauty.
This very scarce set was conceived as a continuation of Dodsley's famous Select Collection of Old Plays (1744).