Search Results: Authors starting with S from Michael Laird Rare Books LLC

Barcelona: Imprenta-Escuela de la Casa Provincial de Caridad, 1945. First Edition. Very good. Small 4to. vi, 130 pp., illustrated. Original printed wrappers (a little worn, some dust-soiling). One of 500 numered copies from a total edition of 1000, this one being No. 160. NOT ex-library! Essential catalogue of 724 incunables, the Catalonian imprints particularly well described, with extensive bibliographic references for each entry, and with numerous illustrations in the text. There is no digital surrogate for this catalogue (or the 1967 Supplement), nor has it been superceeded as we learn from the Bibl. Univ. de Barcelona's own website: "Currently, a large portion of the incunabula collection awaits recataloguing. While this effort will give us definitive figures, we can estimate at present that the collection houses some 830 editions and nearly 1,240 copies.    "Of all the libraries in Spain, the collection of fifteenth-century editions in the Rare Book and Manuscript CRAI Library ranks third… Read More

Mexico City: Tip. de la Secretaria de Fomento, 1890. First Edition. Good. Small 4to. 31 pp. + 1 full-page illustration. Original printed wrappers (detached, spine worn, paper stock a trifle browned and brittle). PRINTED ON PAPER MANUFACTURED FROM 25% "JOLOCIN" (MEXICAN TABASCO TREE) PAPER AND 75% RAGS. This is an early Mexican report on making paper using the cortex of the "Jolocin" Tabasco tree. It is divided into three parts: cultivating the plant, transforming the fibers into paper, and other considerations. The present report preceded by seven years the U.S. Government Office for Fiber Investigations, which identified Jolocin (Heliocarpus arborescens) as being a source of paper fibers, rating it "about 75 points out of 100, for strength, color, care in preparation, and utility. The uses of the fibers were not learned, though, doubtless, they are only valuable for rough native cordage and mats, and as PAPER STOCK" [emphasis ours]. (SOURCE: C.R. Dodge, "Descriptive Catalogue of Useful Fiber Plants… Read More

Leiden: H.W. Hazenberg Jr., 1816. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. 8vo. Title (1 f.), iv, 189, [1] pp. containing altogether 3780 lots (with several sequences of lot numbering). Bound in contemporary blue boards, new spine and corner tips, edges completely untrimmed, first and last leaf dust-soiled. ¶ Little known library sale catalogue of a well-known Leiden professor of anatomy who made very significant contributions to Dutch paleopathology. Sandifort (1742-1814) was trained by world-famous Bernard Seigfried Albinus, and became devoted to applied and clinical anatomy. From 1777 to 1781 he published "Observationes anatomico-pathologicae," later followed by the famous series of atlases on the contents of the Leiden Anatomical Museum ("Museum Anatomicum Lugdunuo-Batavae," 1793-1835) which was subsequently completed by his son equally famous son Gerard. "This monumental work is still valued today for its beautiful engravings and descriptions of a great variety of paleopathological conditions"… Read More

Paris and Mecca, 1799. Hardcover. Very good. Large 8vo. Together 6 volumes (collations below). Contemporary French red morocco, smooth spines lettered direct, all edges gilt (some wear to binding extremities, spines a little darkened). ¶ These volumes include all of Savary's accounts of his travels to Egypt and Greece, plus his very important translation of the Koran from the Arabic into French, with a biography of Mohamed; the present set was beautifully bound in the late 18th- or very early 19th-century. ¶ Claude-Etienne Savary (1750-1788) was an orientalist, pioneer of Egyptology and translator of Koran. In 1776 he departed for Egypt, and after having remained successively in Alexandria and Cairo, he explored (for nearly two years) several islands of Greece and the Archipelago, in particular those of Rhodes. Savary provided many details concerning the daily life of the population. A fluent speaker of Arabic, Savary's sensitive and vibrant account is a contrast striking with the austere… Read More

Leningrad: Academia, 1927. FIRST EDITION. Softcover. Very good. Small 8vo (150 x 110 mm). [2], 218, [6] pp. With a portrait of the author. Original Constructivist styled wrapper designed by Valentina Khodasevich (small tears of the overlapped wrappers, Soviet bookshops' stamps on the recto of the back cover, a few spots on the back cover and extremities of the pages, few pages slightly loose, shadow on the first and last pages). Overall a very good copy, preserved in a fine fitted protective case. TOGETHER WITH: "Zaslužennaja artistka Imperatorskoj russkoj dramatičeskoj Gruppy M.G. Savina: 9 aprělja 1874-9 aprělja 1909" (i.e. Meritorious Artist of the Imperial Russian Drama Group M.G. Savina, April 9, 1874 - April 9, 1909), n.d. (ca. 1910). Oblong folio (160 x 250 mm). Unpaginated. With title-page portrait vignette and 47 plates reproducing more than 100 photographs of Maria Savina, interleaved with original tissue guards (some creased). Original wrappers. TOGETHER THESE TWO VOLUMES FORM THE… Read More

New-London [CT]: Printed by Timothy Green, 1760. 16mo. [2], 118 pp. Collation: A-P4. With the Articles for the Administration of Church Discipline bound in with its own title page and the Timothy Green 1760 imprint, but the pagination and signatures continuous. Bound in contemporary American calf over thin wooden "scaleboard." Spine chipped at the head and the foot; upper corner of the front board broken, some chipping to the other corners; a bit toned and lightly foxed; in good condition. There can be no doubt that this scaleboard binding was made in Connecticut ca. 1760-1763: not only was the book printed in New-London for the exclusive use of Connecticut congregationalists, but the first blank leaf is inscribed: "From the Colony of Connecticut to the Church att Somars [sic] 1763" (i.e. at Somers, CT). It is a remarkable fact that our binding is older than all the Connecticut examples in the Papantonio "Early American Bindings" Collection by more 20 years (the earliest one obtained by him was bound… Read More

Charterhouse School, 1871. Hardcover. Very good. Dates: 1871-1877 and 1910. Small 4to. 37 ff., mostly with newspaper clippings neatly pasted in on both sides + 4 ff. in manuscript ("Summary of Scores" from 1871-1877 and 1910). Several leaves excised; it is possible that the present album had been re-purposed. On a few of the stubs appear fragmentary MS notations suggesting that the notebook may have once been divided alphabetically. We find on certain stubs "Ai" followed immediately by "Ao" and then several leaves later: "Her. - Hes" followed by "Io." Binding rebacked with smooth calf. In very good condition. Highly interesting homemade album of Cricket Scores, available nowhere else, specifically documenting the triumphs of three young members of the Blomfield family, namely: E.G. (Edward George), C.J. (Charles James), and R.T. (Reginald Theodore). One wonders if the present album was created in order to promote friendly competition between the brothers, two of whom went to Haileybury School, and… Read More

Paris: Hourdel, 1744. Hardcover. Very good. Three volumes, octavo (170 x 90 mm). Decorative head- and tailpieces throughout. (4), 455; vii, 444; (2), 408 pp., collated and complete (pages iii-vi of Preface of Volume II bound in error at end of Volume III). Slight wear to head and tail of spines and corners, 4 very small scrapes to covers on Volume I, tiny crack at top of hinges on Volume III, a few small indentations to lower cover on Volume III, manuscript notes on second blank endpaper in Volume I, small pale water-stain and very small closed tear to second blank endpaper in Volume III, tiny red mark to page edges in Volume III, just showing in margin of 5 pages, occasional brown spot, otherwise pages clean and bright. Tiny red mark to page edges in Volume III, just showing in margin of 5 pages, otherwise pages clean and bright. Bound in contemporary French red morocco, triple gilt ruled border to covers, gilt decorated raised bands to spine, gilt decoration in compartments, all edges gilt over… Read More

Paris: J.J. Blaise, 1818. Very good. 8vo. 20 ff. + 20 full-page engravings. Contemporary French emerald-green glazed boards, red morocco spine label (trifle rubbed). PRINTED BY PIERRE DIDOT L'AINE (1761-1853). "Pierre published acclaimed editions of Virgil, Horace, La Fontaine, and Racine. Firmin designed the Didot typeface. He also invented stereotypes (plates cast from printing surfaces) and was thus able to publish low-priced editions of French, Italian, and English books. Napoleon appointed him director of the imperial foundry, a position he held until his death." (E-B). Multiple artists were entrusted to create the twenty extremely delicate engravings; some were executed by Claude Marie Francois Dien (1787-1865); others are signed "S.D. fecit," "C.A." and other engravers who have not yet been identified. There are portraits by Marie Therese of Austria, Marie de Savoie, Louis "Dauphin," the Duc de Montmorency, Comte de Grignan, and other notables of the day. Each portrait is accompanied by a… Read More

Faenza: Archi, 1726. First Edition. 8vo (227-172 mm). 185, [1] pp. Collation: A-Y4 Z6. With a printer's mark on title-page and p. 76 (Apollo with lyre) plus a large woodcut of Hercules and the Nemean Lion on final page. Contemporary "carta rustica" covered with brocade paper (somewhat chipped along the joints along with a few short tears, spine somewhat discolored). Completely unsophisticated and suitable for exhibition and study. Preserved in a linen cloth protective case. First Edition of Conti's "Il Cesare," a play which Gamba pronounces as "One of the best Italian tragedies," and which is further distinguished by containing THE FIRST ITALIAN REFERENCE TO SHAKESPEARE, and is at the same time "THE FIRST OPINION ON SHAKESPEARE EVER TO BE PRINTED OUTSIDE ENGLAND" (Petrone Fresco). Included also is a fascinating discussion of the Bard's "unruly genius" and the nature of the tragic drama itself. This Italian imprint was likely in Germany at a very early date: covering the original boards is an Augsburg… Read More

New York: S. Hand and H. Garson, 1796. Softcover. Very good. 12mo. 23, [1] pp. Crude title-page woodcut vignette, with caption: "I'll shave 'em like a punish'd soldier, DRY. No killing Swine shall make a sweeter cry." Collation: [A]6 B6. Complete. Modern sympathetic wrappers. Lightly toned, but the paper stock strong. Evidence of tape stain in two gutter margins. Early American imprint of a fake "Sermon for the Fast" which ridicules clerical, legal, political, and military "shavers." The text was attributed by Evans to John Macgowan, author of several works issued under the pseudonyms of "The Shaver" and "Pasquin Shaveblock." But Macgowan could not have written the present work as he had died in 1780, and the pamphlet first appeared in London in 1795. Furthermore, on the verso of the title-page are two "Testimonies in Favor of this Sermon," both of which were published fifteen years after Magowan's death. The one from the "Monthly Review" (1795, vol. XVI, no. 7, p. 357) reads in part: "This… Read More

[Edinburgh], 1703. First Edition. Softcover. Very good. Together two volumes, small quarto. 12 pp., COMPLETE. Stitched in old blue paper wrappers at a recent date. Contemporary (or near-contemporary) author attributions in ink on title-pages, faint blind-stamps on first and final leaves of both pamphlets. BOTH editions of Sinclair's pamphlet recommending Scottish parliamentary reform, such as a triennial act, as well as toleration for dissent. The pamphlet demonstrates a royalist thread in Country discourse that can be linked to Episcopalian interests. ¶ Two editions appeared in 1703, both sina loca (but Edinburgh). The first edition is ESTC T57077. The second edition is distinguished by the title: 'Some thoughts *upon* the present state of affairs' (ESTC T155643). Priority is here established for the first time, afforded by careful examination of both editions side-by-side; it seems probable that ESTC T155643 was printed from ESTC T57077: compare the catchword on p. 2: in ESTC T155643 this… Read More

London: Printed for Richard Chiswel, 1669. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. 8vo. 1 f., 219 pp. COLLATION: 1 leaf unsigned, B-E8, F-Z4, Aa4, Bb2 (E2, I2 incorrectly signed D2, I3, respectively), COMPLETE, blind-stamps of the Theological Institute of Connecticut (now known as the Hartford Seminary) on first and last leaves. NB: in 1976 a collection of more than 200,000 books from the Hartford Seminary Library were sold to Emory University, including this one --> deaccessioned from Pitts Theology Library. Contemporary panelled English calf (expertly rebacked), gilt floral ornaments at the corners. ¶ FIRST EDITION. Skinner's Case, the name usually given to the celebrated dispute between the House of Lords and the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom over the question of the original jurisdiction of the former house in civil suits. In 1668, a London merchant named Thomas Skinner presented a petition to Charles II asserting that he could not obtain any redress against the East… Read More

New York: The Grolier Club, 2004. First Edition. Softcover. Very good. 8vo. 52 pp. with illustrations. Original printed wrappers. Checklist of an important Grolier Club exhibition held November 17, 2004 - January 14, 2005.

Washington DC, 1850. First Edition. Good. Text: 8vo (224 x 140 mm). 14, [2] pp. (including final blank leaf), some foxing. COMPLETE WITH LARGE FOLDING LITHOGRAPH MAP OF MEXICO, with U.S. Army routes in red (659 x 500 mm). Folds and short repairs where attached to text, light browning. Recent sympathetic drab wrappers, front cover lettered in manuscript. First edition of this excellent map illustrative of both the Mexican-American War and the cartography of Mexico, prepared by members of the U.S. Army Topographical Engineers. Our map is accompanied by the essential text which is not always present. Herein "cartographer M.L. Smith (Lieutenant of the Topographical Engineers) writes to J.J. Abert (Colonel Corps Topographical Engineers) paying homage to the accuracy of Baron Humboldt's map of the Valley of Mexico and stating that it was the only one in which they placed confidence for moving troops in to capture the city. He remarks, however, that he believes that the present map is the first survey of… Read More

Washington DC: War Department, 1945. First Edition. Good. 4to (7.5" x 10"). Unpaginated [98 ff.], lithoprinted. Lacking paper wrappers, textblock backed with white and marbled spine (first and last leaves a trifle worn, usual blemishes). Ex-library U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory with standard markings (see below); on the title-page is the word "copy" (reproduced from another copy?) possibly cancelled. With faults, correctly priced. Preserved in a cloth protective case. THE MOST HORRIFIC WEAPON DEVISED BY MANKIND: THE FIRST PUBLISHED ACCOUNT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATOMIC BOMB. THIS HARROWING U.S. GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT MUST BE SEEN TO BE FULLY APPRECIATED. Issued by the GPO on Aug. 12th, 1945 -- just six days after Hiroshima and three days after Nagasaki -- the "Smyth Report" (as it is familiarly known) describes, with alarming candidness, the development of the Manhattan Project and their discoveries. Then, as now, readers have found the text frightening. The thirteen chapters herein include the… Read More

Madrid: Antonio de Sancha, 1784. Near Fine. 2 vols., quarto (255 x 200 mm). L (i.e. 50) pp. + [8] pp. (Subscribers), 489 pp.; [4], viii, 460 pp. Illustrated with 2 engraved portraits (one of Cortes, the other of the author) + 24 full-page engraved plates after designs by Titian (sic), Josef Ximeno, Ildefonso Vergaz, and Juan Moreno Tejada y Arnal, many of which were engraved by Ferdin Selma. With 2 folding maps (one in each volume): "Mapa geográfico de una parte de Nueva España" and "Mapa de las lagunas, ríos y lugares que circundan a México." Fine engraved head- and tailpiece vignettes. Both half-titles present. Our copy is lacking the 3-page list of Subscribers in vol. II that was bound at the end of some, but certainly not all, copies. Near contemporary Madrid binding by Santiago Martin Sanz: smooth calf treated to resemble blue marbling, Neo-Classical palmette boarder gilt around sides, smooth spine decorated with multiple impressions of a single gilt roll, two red morocco labels on each… Read More

Coimbra; Lisbon: Real Imprensa da Universidade; Impressao Regia, 1805. Very Good. 4to. 210 x 145 mm. 3 parts in 1 vol. + additional work. Parts 1-2: [3], xiv, 202 pp. Part 3: [4], xvi, 202. Observacoes: [10], 91 pp. Engraved portrait frontispiece of the dedicatee, Joao VI. Bound in contemporary red morocco with the arms of Joao VI of Portugal in gilt in the center of both covers, covers double-bordered in gilt roll of flowers and vines with smaller outer border of a rhombus and star patterned roll, the same rhombus and star patterned roll along either side of spine, gilt urn ornaments at corners, gilt "sun" roll along edges of covers, gilt floral roll of similar design divides each spinal compartment with single thin gilt roll above and below, flat spine with morocco lettering piece in second compartment, gilt urn ornament with garland in each compartment, with highly unusual gilt edges; cream colored endpapers with offsetting of the leather turns-ins below. Corners slightly bumped, binding… Read More

Harrisonburg, Virginia: Ananias Davisson, 1818. Second edition, Revised and Improved. Good. 12mo. vi, 5-240, [2] pp. (final endleaf excised). Contemporary full calf, brown leather label, gilt lettering. A little discoloration to the fore-edges of the text block; slightly worn; a little foxed throughout. ¶ CONTAINS STERN WARNINGS CONCERNING BORROWED BOOKS. ¶ "Take special care, I pray you, of a borrowed book.-I know that much use of a book, even in the most careful manner, must gradually wear it out. This is allowed for, of course. But a man of any taste hates to see his book soiled by dirty fingers, blank pages or margins scribbled by foolish hands, the leaves broken by being folded at the corners, or the binding shattered by negligent throws or fall. These are sore evils." Essays on literary, political, and moral subjects (including a firsthand account of witnessing "the Eloquence of Patrick Henry") from the Presbyterian minister and teacher Speece, first published in Isaac Collett's Staunton… Read More

Dumbarton, Scotland, 1790. Good. Folio half-sheet, 1 p. (20 lines), name of the recipient on verso, 2 vertical and 4 horizontal folds, evidence of wax seal on verso, old tape repair at top margin (not affecting text), ink gall corrosion on outer margin, affecting one word. Preserved in mylar sleeve. An extremely curious provincial Scottish letter, dated 1790, which incorporates misspellings based on non-standard sociolects of the Scottish dialect. While "worthless" relics such as this were almost invariably discarded, they remain of the great interest in Ortheopy (the study of pronunciation). Indeed, much of what is known about Vulgar Latin pronunciation is preserved in graffiti in the ruins of Pompei. Concerning the content of the letter: William Steuart (or Stewart) writes to John Adam, Esq. describing water damage to four rooms in Dumbarton Castle: two were newly painted, the other two newly wall-papered. An associate suggested that he procure a carpenter in Inversnaid (to the amount of GBP… Read More