Search Results: Authors starting with R from De Simone Company, Booksellers

Firenze: Per Francesco Cardinali, 1830. 12mo. 165 x 95 mm. (6 ½ x 3 ½ inches).  viii, 167 pp.  Later blue paper wrappers; some minor wear to the wrappers, first signature with stain to upper right corner of each leaf.  Good copy. An early collection catalogue of the prints of Marc'Antonio Raimondi, formed by the little know 19th century artist, Gianantonio Armano.  In the introduction to his catalogue Armano outlines its purpose and method of purchasing the collection over time.  It includes over 900 prints, 600 of which are original, the remainder were reengraved or copied from the original.  The catalogue is organized in six chapters and each of the prints described include details about the content and some commentary on importance.  A note on the verso of the title-page suggests that those interested in purchasing the collection should contact Ulisse Giudi in Bologna or Francesco Cardinali in Florence. Before putting together this collection of Raimondi's prints, Armano collected the… Read More

Eu Clair, Wis: Free Press, Print, 1875. 8vo. 220 x 145 mm., [8 ½ x 5 ¾ inches]. 207, plus 4 pp. ads. Terra-cotta colored publisher's cloth, title in gilt on upper board; minor wear to tips and head of spine. Bookplate of Frank and Ella Crover. First edition, published and expanded from articles published in the Free Press of Eau Claire. "The immediate presence of powerful and sometimes turbulent and hostile bands of Indians on the north and west; the reckless and abandoned character of some of the immigrants; the total absence of legal and social restraint; all conspired to make every event of this early period full of interest to those who, coming at a later day, know nothing of those vicissitudes and experiences." Howes R51.

Firenze: Grazioli, 1791. Small 4to. 175 x 125 mm (7 x 4 ¾ inches). 99 pp. Illustrated with a hand colored engraving designed by Giuseppe Piattoli and engraved by Vascellini. Later decorated paste paper boards. Very good copy. Rare first edition. Very attractive copy of Rastrelli's poem that satirizes a century's old festival originally organized in Florence by Cosimo I after the restitution of his power in 1537. The poem, followed by historical notes on Cosimo's victory, focuses on the losers in that battle, who were made to ride through the city on the backs of donkeys, and receive the wrath of the population and the humiliation that comes with defeat. The engraving is designed by the noted Florentine painter, Giuseppe Piattoli and is characteristic of his playful manner. This copy from the library of Giannalisa Feltrinelli and like so many Florentine illustrated books is very rare. OCLC lists only one copy in London, NUC adds copies at NYPL, Harvard, and Newberry. In addition to the first… Read More

Stitched sheets.  155 x 100 mm., [6 x 4 inches].  [12] pp., in a neat, minute hand. Place and date in manuscript at head of the first leaf. Solomon Reed (1719-1785), graduated from Harvard in 1739. He served as minister of the North Congregational Church of North Middleborough from 1757 until his death.  He was the successor of Rev. Isaac Backus who served the Church from 1748 to 1756. This sermon offers Reed's views on election and predestination, recognizing the influence of the First Great Awakening on the Congregationalist churches of the time. He speaks to the more liberal ideas that man could be eligible for salvation and forgiveness of sins.  See: S. Hopkins Emery's "History of the Church of North Middleborough, Massachusetts, in Six Discourses," (Middleborough: 1876, pp.27-31).  The Pilgrim Society in Plymouth has some of Reed's manuscript sermons in their collection, along with a journal he kept from October 1743 to January 1745. Item #67579  JT/DSC     .

Torino: Stamperia della Gazzetta del Popolo, 1884. 8vo. 215 x 155 mm., [8 ½ x 6 inches].  64 pp.  Original yellow printed wrappers, unopened.  Very nice copy. First and only edition.  Rare little pamphlet on the cultivation grapes, the vinification of vine, and the property, methods, and tools required for successful wine making. Not cited in any of the standard bibliographies on the subject.

Broadside, 14" x 8," double column, signed in type by three selectmen with attestation by town clerk at end. Folded in quarters with several tiny holes (no loss), a number of creases, minor stains, one short marginal tear, etc., but overall quite sound.
Comprised of 19 Articles proscribing certain types of behavior, the unique broadside specifies fines or other punishments for lawbreakers. Most interesting is Article 4: "No boy or other person shall be allowed to play at the game of bat and ball in the public streets of the village. Any person offending against this article shall forfeit and pay fifty cents for each offence."
In addition to the obvious (like public drunkenness) these include: riding horses at a gallop in town (or more than a walk on the covered bridge); "any boy, or other person" who hangs onto a sleigh or carriage; anyone "causing dogs or any other animals to fight" in the streets; "Any person wantonly exposing himself [sic] naked in sight of any dwelling house"; a person injuring an… Read More

Firenze ; Roma: Presso Pietro Ducci; Tipografia degli Ajani, 1848. Together two pamphlets. 8vo. 31 pp.; 43 pp. Original wrappers; disbound. Two rare pamphlets on the regulation of printing in Florence and Rome during the critical period of popular unrest that was sweeping across Europe during the 1840's. The first pamphlet by Giuseppe Silvestri examines two recent articles of law that have an impact on the publication of religious information by the ecclesiastical authorities of Florence. The second deals more directly with the limitations placed on local printers in Rome and the restrictions and fines that accompany newly passed legislation. Although these two titles are cited in ICCU (9 and 6 copies only), there are not copies cited in either NUC or OCLC. (116).

Union County, Pennsylvania, 1823. Tall folio. 320 x 200 mm., [13 x 8 inches].  Manuscript in ink.  278 pp. Includes 13 loose notes, filled forms, some anchored with common pins. Contemporary calf backed boards, well worn, spine separating, slight fading; paper stock browning and a bit stained by sound and the handwriting is highly legible. Dated and numbered 1-629 docket entries for Union County, Pennsylvania, which contain about three entries per page, many of which involve Pennsylvania Germans. The plaintiffs and defendant are named, and the judgments and payments entered. Often, the entry contains the signature of one of the parties acknowledging receipt of monies. Many cases concern debts owed. A typical entry: "No. 47 1821. Daniel Stetler vs Andrew Hendrix. Summons debt not exceeding 100 dollars Book amount for Mending a Plough for defendan." The entry further gives the amounts owed, court costs, the execution dates, etc. Some entries are quite detailed, such as a (contemporarily familiar)… Read More

Venice: Appresso Paolo Colombani, 1792. 8vo. 180 x 110 mm., (7 x 4 1/4 inches). viii, 156 pp. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece and title. Bound in contemporary Venetian brown calf, decorated in gilt floral rococo patterned borders on both boards; a few bumps and rubbing to binding, and some light spotting and soiling to text block but overall a very a good copy.    Attractive copy of this Venetian almanack for the year 1792. It was prepared by Paolo Abis, who name appears at the end of the dedication leaf. La Termi Veneta was published from 1761 until the fall of the Republic of Venice to the French in 1797. Each issue offers a complete calendar of feast days, postal information from various cities around Europe, a list of active cardinals, patriarchs, and Venetian bishops who manage the numerous churches and religious houses throughout the city. There is also a great deal of information on the local officials who control the bureaucracy of city and keep the wheels of government moving. La… Read More

Roma: Da' Torchi di Mariano de Romanis e Figli, 1810.  8vo. 210 x 130 mm.  (7 ¾ x 5 inches).  (2), 106 pp.  Contemporary vellum; vellum uniformily soiled, title in ink on the spine.   Only edition.  Interesting work which discusses the development of hand formed letters during the Medieval period and hypothesizes that many manuscripts from that time were actually printed long before Gutenberg's invention of the black art.  Requeno examines the uniformity of letter forms designed that appear in early manuscripts and tries to demonstrate  that as early as the 10th century letter forms were engraved and pressed by hand onto sheets of vellum and paper by scribes work in the various monasteries in Germany and Italy.  A new edition  of his Chirotipografia was published in 2020, with an introductory essay by Antonio Castronuovo.  In his essay Castronuovo suggests that Requeno's devotion to the classical world, blurred his understanding of the great strides in art and printing that had taken… Read More

Roma: Da' Torchi di Mariano de Romanis e Figli, 1810. 8vo. 210 x 130 mm. (7 ¾ x 5 inches). (2), 106 pp. Contemporary vellum. Only edition. Interesting work which discusses the use of hand formed letters as the designs for type at the time of the invention of printing. Requeno examines the various historical sources that make reference to this subject and discusses example from the book printed in the first one-hundred years of printing. Bigmore and Wyman, p. 253. Not in Besterman.

Roma - Italia: Marabu Press, 1963. 8vo.  215 x 140 mm., [8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches].  20 pp.  Original printed wrappers.  Inscribed from the author to Dr. Donald C. Yelton and dated Rome 15-6-'69. Rare eulogy of President Kennedy  written by a Greek American who resided in Rome and published works on international subjects.  Con.

New York: J. Sabin & Sons, 1870. 8vo.  237 x 155 mm., [9 ¼ x 6 ¼ inches].  xvi, 556 pp.,  2667 lots, including printed price list.  Late 19th century brown cloth, original wrappers bound-in. Binding cloth soiled, and showing wear on spine and boards, one signature sprung.  First 100 lots priced in pencil.  John Rice built his collection following the example of his English counterparts who formed gentlemen libraries of rare books.  Rice focused on finely bound books, extra-illustrated copies, natural history, English and American literature and a strong collection of English history and Americana.  Joseph Sabin who catalogued the library prepared an extensive introduction that is a useful guide to the high spots in the collection.  Sabin considers Rice's illustrated books as the most interesting group in the collection.  According to Cannon, the Rice collection brough $ 42,000 and was one of the highest grossing sales of the period. Cannon, American Book Collectors and Collecting, p.… Read More

Boston: Higgins, Bradley & Dayton, 1858. 8vo. 200 x 120 mm. (8 x 5 inches). xxv, 9-345 pp., plus 17 pp. directory of leather companies; (same collation as Sabin and the copy at the University of Delaware). Original brown cloth, title in gilt on spine; cloth boards discolored otherwise a sound and attractive copy. First and only edition. Encyclopedic work on the leather and shoe trade that includes detailed historical information of the manufacture of boots and shoes. Richardson text also acts as a guide or manual to techniques of the trade and offer opinions on the machinery required for fine finished products. He includes information on both English and French styles of shoes and provides patterns for manufacture. Reviewed at the time by G. S. Hillard and called "an interesting and instructive book." Sabin 71096. Allibone, Critical Dictionary of English Literature, II p. 1801. (302).

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1815. Tall folio. 320 x 195 mm. [13 x 8 inches].  Manuscript in ink.  215 pp.  Alphabetical index of cases,  plus some official printed forms and 15 loose notes and receipts.  Contemporary calf backed boards, spine separated, front board detached; text block brown with age; deep stain to first 20 pages of the index, some other light staining, but still highly legible.  With faults a highly readable and information manuscript document. Dated docket entries for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, which contain about two cases per page, many of which involve Pennsylvania Germans. The plaintiffs and defendant are named, and the judgments and payments entered. Often, the entry contains the signature of one of the parties acknowledging receipt of monies. Many cases concern debts owed. A typical entry:  "Feb 12, 1810. Michael Bartman vs. Frederick Buck. Book debts £ 2.18.7 1½2. Justice fees £ 2.3, Judgment by confession in favor of the pltf for the above debts and… Read More

Dover, Kent, England: W. J. George, 1897. 4to. 285 x 225 mm., [11 x 8 ¾ inches]. 24 pp. Illustrated throughout with lithographic images of sporting rifles and equipment. Original green coated paper wrappers, title information and images I gold ink on front cover; wrapper edges rubbed with minor tears, paper spine rubbed away, wrappers nearly detached. Attractively produced gun catalogue issued by one of Great Britain's most storied rifle manufacturers and gunsmith to the Queen. The illustration are highly detailed, especially for the various shot guns offered for sale. Jonathan Ulhman. Bibliography of Books on Cartridges or Ammunition, International Ammunition Association, Inc., p.1. https://cartridgecollectors.org/.

Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2001. Small 8vo.  200 x 130 mm., [7 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches].  [x], 209 pp.  Publisher's yellow boards, title on spine; dust jacket. First edition.  An account of a travel to Sutri, an ancient Etruscan village, by an attorney escaping the high pressure of a white-shoe law firm in Manhattan.  Rips, a native of Nebraska, records his impressions of small town life in Italy and demonstrates his affinity to the eccentricities he encounters.  "Wonderfully fanciful, philosophical, and moving Pasquale's Nose is a journey, a memoir, and a story about finding home in the weirdest place imaginable." .

Firenze: Dalla Tipografia di Luigi Pezzati, 1836. 8vo. 230 x 150 mm. (9 1/2 x 6 inches). Portrait of Rivani by Niccolò Palmerini. vi, 159 pp. Disbound and covered in modern wrappers; first signature loose from text blick.  Portrait lightly foxed with offset to title-page.  First edition. Interesting private library of printed books, maps and manuscripts donated to the Società Colombaria, founded in 1735. The catalogue is a good example of a collection that reflects the mission of the institution. The Colombaria was formed to encourage scholarship that revived the old methods of research that reflected empirical observation in both the sciences and history.  He left his collection and his book cases to the Società Colombaria at his death and this catalogue was prepared by the Società to commemorate his gift.   Alessandro Rivani's (d. 1823) library is focused on philology, literary criticism, mathematics and natural history, philosophy, history, law, economics, and the social sciences. … Read More

(Rome), 1744. 4to.  280 x 200 mm., (11 x 8 inches).  [2] ff. title & introduction, [11] pp. index, 176 ff.  Manuscript letters in secretarial hand, on ruled paper.  Bound in contemporary red calf, with the coat-of-arms of the Riviera family in gilt on upper board.  Very good copy.   Series of 217 manuscript letters written by Cardinal Domenico Riviera (1671-1752), from the years of 1711 - 1716, while he was Secretary for the Consistorial Congregation of the College of Cardinals and the Congregation of the Sacred See, under the Pontificate of Clement XI.  The letter were  copied from the originals in 1744 by Fillippo Antonio Ronconi, Head of the Vatican Secret Archive during the decade of the 1740's.  This copy was given to Riviera by Ronconi.   Cardinal Domenico Riviera (1671-1752) of Aquila, studied at Bologna and took a Doctorate in Theology at Urbino.  In the first decade of the 18th century he moved to Rome and began his career as a diplomat for the Vatican, which is reflected in… Read More

Chicago: (ICRR, 1855. Broadside sheet. 280 x 195 mm., [11 x 8 /12 inches].  Printed on blue paper, folded, brown stain in center portion of the sheet, otherwise quite a good, sound copy. Rare ICRR broadside containing instructions to their agents regarding freight, accounts and passenger business, with emphasis on recording and submitting Monthly Reports on all activities at their stations.  It is signed by R. B. Mason, General Sup't and though undated, is from the early 1850's. Col. Roswell B. Mason was associated with the Illinois Central Rail Road from its inception, overseeing construction of the line from 1852 to 1856,  until he resigned in 1869 to become Mayor of Chicago.  He was mayor during the fire of 1871 and used his power to declare martial law in its immediate aftermath.  It is known that Abraham Lincoln served as counsel for Illinois Central in the early 1850s, earning a fee of $5,000, that occasion a law suit for nonpayment.  Rare: this broadside in not among the Illinois… Read More