Rare books from Abbey Antiquarian Books

Basel: Adam Petri de Langendorff. Second Latin edition, 1517. Hardcover. Good. Fine border of cherubs riding dragons, nudes, men in armour, foliage, columns etc. signed Urs Graf (U.G.) and with date 1516.. Folio bevelled wooden covers with wide rolled pigskin spine handsomely blind stamped with rampant lions in lozenges between parallel strands of vines & flowers. TP is printed in red & black. Spines with three raised bands and diamond shaped alternating with stylized flower tools (lacks clasps/some worm holes to wood and vellum) Fore-edge lettered Simon de Cassea (14)+469 leaves + colophon with large printer's mark for Alantsee of 2 griffons suporting a shield with cipher ALT and supporting an oak tree above (total fatness of book just under 11cm) TP with three ownerships (2 on top margin one with a single line through it the 3rd to side of text) Fore-edge of TP slightly rough & tanned. Some large foliated initial capitals and fine double column typography of this near incunabulum. Some worm holes… Read More

Zurich: Christoffel Froschouer 1st edition, 1556. Hardcover. Good. Woodcuts (104), many first used in the Schweizer-Chronik of 1548 with scenes of battles, sieges of cities, convocations, portraits &c. . Small folio (29.4 x 19.5mm) in sixes, 19th century half-calf with marbled boards, spine labels with gilt title in French and date 1556 (edges worn, labels chipped). Titlepage with woodcut printer's mark, 2 leaves (A2-A3) dedication & argument + CXXXVII leaves of German text, illustrated with woodcuts throughout. Lacks 7 preliminary leaves (Sources A4, Register B-B6) and one final blank leaf, otherwise collated complete. Title and the 2 preliminary leaves have small edge-tears and are re-hinged on newer paper stubs, text pages mostly clean and crisp with occasional small marks and light browning. Bookplates: "ex Libris Ludovic Blondin" and armorial "Friedemann Graf und Herr von Werthern". *Rare early Protestant treatise intended to show the harmful effects of Papacy, partly based on sources collected… Read More

Berne, Basle & Lausanne: J.P. Lamy, 1816 approx (no date given). Hardcover. Good. Hand-coloured aquatints (12) of children by Geofroi Mind engr. by [Ernst] Rauch mounted on printed titled brown art paper all but one with diamond or oval embossed blindstamp L.(Lamy) or JPL.. Oblong quarto red roan with green diamond shaped onlay gilt, titled JEUX D'ENFANTS DE MIND, later red cloth slip case (spine, corners & some parts of rear board repaired with leather & near matching gilt edge tooling) recased with new endpapers & large engraved label of Lamy laid down on older Free EP. Titlepage with stipple engraved vignette of Mind and his cat at work +[2]pp Foreword +[6]pp Life of Mind +12 plates mounted within rules with "Jeu d'Enfants Bernois, Mind del. & Rauch sc." on each and owner of the original picture on most. *This collection of 12 aquatints is the most charming of four published by Lamy and identical to the 3rd MIND-3 in the Helvetic Archives Gugelmann collection. They are: 1) Two boys and sled, no… Read More

Nurnberg: Johann Andreas Endter & heirs of Wolfgang, 1668. Hardcover. Good. Fine full-page engraved plates (65) numbered 1-63 with 2 bis plates (45 & 47) + 1 text illustration +full page elaborate copperplate coat of arms of Leopold I by C.N. Schurtz.. Folio old vellum (spine split repaired, front cover nearly detached). Bookplate of Bibliotheca Prieseriana (showing books on shelves) and small library stamp on pastedown. Titlepage in red and black with printer's mark of 2 female supporters with sun shining on clasped book with monogram AEW. Titlepage +36pp including full page copperplate coat of arms of Leopold I by C.N.Schurtz +1762pp + 34pp indices + [2]pp errata with a few part-lines of loss to lower outer corner & tatty edges. Double column Gothic type with shoulder notes throughout. Two marginal tears with loss hardly touching print & first page of dedication with cropping to outer edge, some corner creases, else clean and no worming/no foxing/no ink marks. Despite its huge bulk the book block… Read More

Franckfort am Mayn (ie Frankfurt): Sigmund Feyrabend Buchhandler, 1580. Hardcover. Very Good-. Large scene of knight in armour on titlepage + full-page allegorical plate of three graces and flying Mercury signed I A [Jost Amman] & MF +156 full-page woodcuts of men in armour with their shield coats of arms.. Folio in morocco spined boards (tips bit worn). Title in red & black + 2pp (preface and intro) + captioned full page plate as half title (numbered p3) +4-162pp +[2]pp (colophon with large printer's emblem and blank verso), but seems to lack a final blank leaf. At page 55 is a full-page half title with over 30 figures while at page 103 and 145 are divisional titles with large decorative tailpieces. This divides the men in armour into 4 parts and the last plate in each section has a monogram CW for Christoph Weiditz. Generally a very clean crisp copy, except for light browning of titlepage, final blank and a few other leaves, small brown marks on last page not affecting colophon, and light marks of… Read More

London: Adam Islip (2nd Speght edition)., 1602. Hardcover. Very Good. Title surrounded by elaborate woodcut border, copperplate portrait of Chaucer surrounded by arms of his Progenie, woodcut arms under 2nd Title & heading Knight's tale at Fol.I, woodcut initials throughout. Portrait signed "IS" (John Speed (1552?-1629).. Folio 320x210mm early 19th century calf, edge panels & inner fleurons gilt, marbled end-papers (re-backed with original label & 3 gilt spine compartments laid on, tips worn, leather rubbed & marked), All Edges Gilt. Collated complete except for initial blank: [23 of 24]leaves, Chaucer portrait surrounded by arms of his progenie (supplied from another copy), 376 +[14] leaves (explanatory indexes, final errata leaf 3U8). Black Letter English text throughout. Coat of arms bookplate Edward Micholls Henriques [1837-1901], first 4 leaves slightly foxed at edges, else beautifully clean and crisp with good margins throughout. *Second Speght edition, much revised from his 1598 first, with… Read More

London: T. Spilsbury for W. Herbert 2nd edition., 1768. Hardcover. Very Good. Double-page copper-plate bird's eye views (61 complete) of estates in Gloucestershire by J. Kip + double-page map of the county, plan & view of Gloucester City, and cathedral view + 8 single page plates with 320 small coats of arms.. Folio half brown calf and cloth sides with spine gilt titled (tips leather worn, spine rubbed & bottom edge shelf wear). Titlepage with decorative woodcut + [6]pp Preface & Advertisement +[16]pp coats of arms printed one side only + [2]pp author's epitaph and plate list + double-page Map of Glostershire +452pp + [6]pp Index. Ex-library with bookplate of Cheltenham Library Reference Department to pastedown + partially legible stamp of "Glos. Withd** for sale" to free endpaper. Light stain to top margin of title and 3/4-inch circular library stamp at foot, neat manuscript shelf mark & date on blank verso. The same small round purple stamp neatly placed on top corner margin & blank verso of each… Read More

London: Daniel Frere to be sold at his shop at the Red Bull in Little Brittaine 1st edition first printing., 1643. Hardcover. Very Good-. Frontispiece of Charles Prince of Wales by Cor(nelius) van Dalen + fine engraved titlepage by W. Marshall with views of London, York, Lincoln & Kings etc.. Folio contemporary brown marbled calf on five raised bands with gilt directly lettered to spine (tips worn/hinges split to top & bottom compartent of front hinge but hinges still well attached & sound). Frontis portrait + engraved title + dedication leaf to Charles Prince of Wales + To reader +[5]pp of Authors used as sources + 181pp +163pp +108pp +163pp collated complete. The To Reader & Author list are Misbound at the end (signed from A2 where they should follow the dedication). The last leaves of text are correctly signed XXXX (pp161-3) last is a quarter page of text ending in FINIS. The frontis has a longitudinal crease and a corner torn away not touching either the printed area nor even the plate mark,… Read More

London printed L. Harrison & J.C. Leigh.: R. Ackermann, 1814. Hardcover. Very Good-. Hand-coloured plates (81) + uncoloured portrait of the dedicatee by Westall, Pugin, Nash, Mackenzie, Turner & Sir J. Reynolds costume plates by Unwins.. Large quarto (36x28.5cm page size/binding height 38cm) contemporary sugar paper covered boards rebacked with printed labels (tips worn & lower edge somewhat shelf worn/corners a bit bumped). Half title + coloured frontisplate + title + uncoloured Grenville portrait + dedication leaf + [vi]-xiv (subscribers & plate list) +1-xxv (the city) +275pp +[6]p index; Vol.II half title + colour frontisplate + title +262pp +[6]pp index. Without the Founders' portraits which are not called for in the plate list and which Tooley notes were 'not issued till a later date' so the book is complete without these. Some off-setting of plates to adjacent text leaves but not affecting legibility. More than a dozen plates carry the watermark of WHATMAN 1812 and most plates are uncut (ie… Read More

London: William Du-Gard, by the appointment of the Council of State: and are to be sold at the Sign of the Ship at the New-Exchange., 1652. Hardcover. Very Good. Frontis copperplate of Britannia ruling the waves by S. Cline, Jnr. engraved at London by Lombart + fine copperplate device of Commonwealth Arms on Title + 6 large text illustrations and maps at pp 85, 185, 222, 245, 366 & 394 (a gold Rose-noble of Edward. Large quarto contemporary sheepskin, spine on 6 cords (original covers bare at tips and foot of spine but underlaid with small matching leather repairs), [48]pp (inc. frontis & facing page of verses "Neptune to the Common-wealth of England", Titlepage in red & black, Dedication to "The Supreme Autoritie of The Nation, The Parliament of the Common-wealth of England" signed by Marchamont Nedham, November 19, 1652, Author's Preface dated 4 November 1635 and Contents) +176pp, 179-274, 279-472, [471-2 & 477-8 repeated in place of 473-6 omitted in binding], 477-500 + [2] blank + [10]pp (inc.… Read More

London: W.& J.Innys & J.Osborn & T.Longman 1st edition thus., 1725. Hardcover. Very Good-. folding plates/pullouts[1 +19 +1] . 3 VOLUMES quarto blind tooled panelled calf on 5 raised bands [not quite matching/lacking 2 title labels of vol II and III, Volume I has been rebacked with a new spine label & corners underlaid.] Vol. I title page +[2p=dedication and inscritpion] +xxxi [=Preface & preliminaries] +[1p=blank] +xxxiii -xliii [=content] + 730pp vol.II xx[=title +dedication +content] +726pp Vol.III titlepage + xv [=content] +[1p=blank] +756pp [includes index] There are several misnumbering but catchword and signatures are correct however there are 5 leaves in Facimile. The endpapers of vol.I have pencil notes and computation,and ink name, Thomas (possibly contemporary), the pastedown of Vol. II & III have a coat of arm bookplate of Revd. John Rocke. Dedication in Vol 1 from Shaw to Lord Burlington (1694-1753), who helped construct numerous grand houses across the UK including Northwick Park.… Read More

London & Venice: Johannis Martyn, Regiae Societatis Typographi, 1st ed; 2nd work A. Poleti, 3rd edition., 1675, 1698. Hardcover. Very Good. Engraved title vignettes to both Works, 61 + 19 copperplates of plants (1st Work frontispiece lacking), + portrait of Malpighi in 2nd Work with final plate of sleeping leopards in landscape by Italian nun Suor Isabella Piccini (1644-1734).. Folio (36x22cm), 2 Works bound together in 1 volume, contemporary full leather, spine on 6 cords with elaborate gilt tooling & leather title label, floral gilt edges (small loss at head of spine, tips bumped). First Work [4], 15, [5], 82, [2], 20pp + LIV, VII leaves of plates + text illustrations & diagrams. TP in red & black with coat-of-arms, small hole & loss of text (repaired from back), occasional water staining, including the plates. 2nd Work (OPERA POSTHUMA) with engraved portrait of Malpighi, TP in red & black, [24], 334, [2]pp., XIX, [1] leaves of plates, illustrated frontis bound at end. 1st Work LACKS leaf 1… Read More

Leyden: Christopher Plantyn, 1586. Hardcover. Good. Woodcut illustrations in frames, some printed from woodblocks previously used by Plantin in other emblem books. . Small Quarto (20x15cm) half-calf (rebacked, sunned) LACKING all before A-3 (pg.5) half-title for Part II used as Titlepage; also LACKING all after c-3 (pg.222). The first English Emblem Book, although printed at Leyden: Very Rare. Dedicated to Robt. Dudley Earl of Leicester + p203 has an emblem praising Sir Francis Drake. Various pages repaired, some with manuscript notes cropped. Partial colouring on some pages most notable p30, 33, 40, 64, 65, 68, 83, 90-100, 166, 167, 168, 173. LACKING pages 71-82. Holes / tears in pages 37, 67, 93, 103, 107, 109. *Imperfect copy, but the missing 1st titlepage and some text supplied in manuscript by a former English owner. Referenced by: ESTC S119929, STC (2nd ed.) 25438, Luborsky & Ingram. Engl. illustrated books, 1536-1603 25438.

Paris: Gillet Hardouyn for Germain Hardouyn., 1509 approx.. Hardcover. Good. Hand-coloured illuminations to EACH PAGE with 18 full page illustrations hand coloured and many smaller cuts in addition to the floral borders. . Octavo (205x132mm) in 18th century brown calf with gilt title HEURES ANTIQUE and decorated edges (corners & spine tips very worn), printed on parchment (gothic letter 33 lines on each text page with illuminated borders), 18 pages with full-page brilliantly hand-coloured and gilt-bordered illuminations. Leaves start with un-numbered blank, then Ai recto Title without ornament, anatomical man & 4 smaller figures on verso, Aii-4 (A4 Almanack & verso full page illuminated plate of female saint with chalice raising 2 dead men watched by crowd. Three Small (40x22mm) evangelists to next pages [first two smudged] B1 Judas kissing Christ as he is apprehended by soldiers while Peter draws his sword. B3v & B4r Elizabeth meeting Mary facing Annunciation. C2r King, Queen & attendants seeing… Read More

London: Printed [by Eliot's Court Press and George Eld] for Edward Blount (1623) & Robert Allott (2nd part 1633)., 1623 and 1633. Hardcover. Very Good. Woodcut device on title-page, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces. . Folio (29x20cm) bound in near contemporary leather, neatly re-backed with gilt spine title, tips bumped. Two Parts in 1 Volume, [24], 267, [17], 357pp. Second part has separate pagination and title page dated 1633 with "Printed by R.B. for Robert Allott". Cuttings from 3 old catalogue entries with armorial bookplate "Nicholas Dobree of Guernsey" on front pastedown, old parchment with early MS script used in binding showing at front and back of book, endpapers heavily browned, ownership "J Smith" at top of title, pages throughout crisp & clean but foxed at edges, ownership signatures of Henry Hatcher dated 1637 on back of 2nd titlepage. *Identification of Eliot's Court Press from STC (2nd ed.), 288. The translator James Mabbe (1571/2-1642?) spent years in Spain from 1611 as… Read More