Rare books from James Cummins Bookseller

Ulm: Johann Zainer, 1480. [293 of 296 leaves; lacking first 2 leaves of the Calendar, and final blank. [•6 ••8 a-x8 y12 z8 A-L8 M3]. 1 vols. 8vo; 111 x 90 mm. Bound in 18th-century paper boards, with remnant of morocco spine label, edges stained red. Spine defective and covers rubbed, but binding is sound; several leaves bear stubs at outer edge from former index tabs; first leaf of Psalter extended at inner margin; final two leaves slightly waterstained; some browning and occasional stains; text block seriously trimmed but never into text. Notes on front endpapers, and a presentation inscription in 1826 from a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church U.S. In a custom half-morocco slipcase and chemise. [293 of 296 leaves; lacking first 2 leaves of the Calendar, and final blank. [•6 ••8 a-x8 y12 z8 A-L8 M3]. 1 vols. 8vo; 111 x 90 mm. An Incunable of the Utmost Rarity. Johann Zainer the Elder (fl. 1472-93) established the first printing press at Ulm, where his first book is dated… Read More

[Paris: Fume, 1847. Forty watercolors (39 portraits, 1 device with liberty cap), signed by the artist in lower right or left of each. 1 vols. 4to. Red janseniste morocco, with green morocco doublures with wide gilt dentelle borders, marbled flyleaves, a.e.g., by Capé. Finely rebacked, one lower flyleaf replaced, covers with some traces of staining, light foxing to a few watercolors. Raffet, Auguste. Forty watercolors (39 portraits, 1 device with liberty cap), signed by the artist in lower right or left of each. 1 vols. 4to. Though not generally appreciated in his own time, Auguste Raffet (1804-1860) was later thought to be one of France's great illustrators. "Beraldi made the startling assertion that Raffet's was 'the greatest name of the century in original prints,' adding that this still isn't enough to say. One of the greatest names of French art.'" - Ray, p. 183 The fine watercolors here form a veritable gallery of the French Revolution, and include portraits of Mirabeau; Danton; Charlotte… Read More

Charleston: James S. Burges, 1827. First and only edition. 18, [2, blank] pp. 1 vols. 12mo. Modern pale yellow wrappers. Custom chemise and quarter morocco slipcase. Some pale foxing to title, otherwise clean. First and only edition. 18, [2, blank] pp. 1 vols. 12mo. Rarity of American Judaica. A rare pamphlet issued by the first Jewish Reform movement in the United States, the Sephardic Reformed Society of Israelites in Charleston, South Carolina, recording an address by one of the movement's leaders. The Reformed Society of Israelites formed in 1824 when it split off from the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) synagogue in Charleston, seeking to implement a number of reforms it deemed crucial to engaging the rising generation. In the process, the Society posited a distinctly American form of practice. Led by Isaac Harby, Abraham Moise and David Nunes Carvalho the Reformed Society of Israelites reflected the fact that, as Jonathan Sarna has phrased it: "Jews who did not feel at home in synagogue no… Read More

New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1845. First editions of both titles. Raven with half title, "Wiley and Putnam's Library of American Books", name of stereotyper T. B. Smith on the title verso; Tales, third printing with three-line copyright. Raven: [i-viii] [1]-91 [92, blank] [93-96, ads]. Tales: [i-v] [1]-228 [229-232, ads]. 1 vols. 8vo. Three quarter blue morocco gilt, t.e.g., by Riviere & Son. Binder's endsheets with foxing, text with slight toning and a few stray traces of foxing. First editions of both titles. Raven with half title, "Wiley and Putnam's Library of American Books", name of stereotyper T. B. Smith on the title verso; Tales, third printing with three-line copyright. Raven: [i-viii] [1]-91 [92, blank] [93-96, ads]. Tales: [i-v] [1]-228 [229-232, ads]. 1 vols. 8vo. Students all over the world know of the title poem, and many know others as well: "The Conqueror Worm", "Eulalie", "Leonore" "To Helen", etc. "The most important volume of poetry that had been issued up to that time in… Read More

New York: D. Appleton, 1872. First edition, second issue of Adventures; first edition of Looking-Glass, first issue with "wabe" misspelled. Illustrations by John Tenniel. 2 vols. 8vo. Original red cloth gilt. Adventures expertly rebacked with original spine laid down, Looking Glass lightly rubbed, lower inner hinge tender. Very good plus overall. Housed together in half morocco clamshell box. First edition, second issue of Adventures; first edition of Looking-Glass, first issue with "wabe" misspelled. Illustrations by John Tenniel. 2 vols. 8vo. The Immortal Alice. An attractive set of the Alice books, with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in the first printing, second issue, comprising the sheets of the original London printing of 1865 sent to America with new title pages bearing the Appleton imprint. This printing had been rejected by Dodgson because illustrator John Tenniel strongly disliked the way the illustrations were printed, but it is the earliest obtainable edition (only about 15 copies are… Read More

London: William Miller, 1822. First edition, later issue. Hand-colored aquatint dedication/title, and 24 hand colored aquatint plates by D. Havell, J. Hill and J. Bluck, supervised by Robert Havell, after Henry Salt, on thick Whatman paper watermarked 1822. Interleaved throughout with blanks. Without the separately-issued octavo text, as usual. Elephant folio. Contemporary half calf and marbled paper boards, large morocco label on the upper cover, spine gilt. Foxing to a few plates. First edition, later issue. Hand-colored aquatint dedication/title, and 24 hand colored aquatint plates by D. Havell, J. Hill and J. Bluck, supervised by Robert Havell, after Henry Salt, on thick Whatman paper watermarked 1822. Interleaved throughout with blanks. Without the separately-issued octavo text, as usual. Elephant folio. One of the Largest and Most Beautiful Hand Colored Plate Books. A very fine set of views after drawings by Henry Salt. Salt left London in 1802 for an eastern tour with Lord Valentia, visiting… Read More

Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1787. First Worcester editions. Illustrated. 4 vols. 32mo. Original green gilt Dutch paper wrappers. Fine (small paper flaw in frontispiece of Little Pretty Pocket-Book). Full morocco pull off case. First Worcester editions. Illustrated. 4 vols. 32mo. Isaiah Thomas' edition of History of Little Goody Two Shoes, the famed nursery classic and "the most celebrated of all the books in John Newbery's Lilliputian library" (Rosenbach), together with A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, "one of the most influential and important books in the history of juvenile literature", as well as The Juvenile Biographer and The Picture Exhibition. With duplicate stamps from the Lenox Library and the small labels of Marshall C. Lefferts (1848-1928), "one of the old fashioned collectors of the eighties and nineties", who formed collections of Americana and English literature, sold in 1902 (Cannon, American Book Collectors, pp. 152-4). An outstanding set of the Isaiah Thomas juveniles, with notable… Read More

1930. 27 photos mounted on board, approx. 14 x 18 inches. Prints range from approx. 5 x 6-1/2 inches to 13 x 10 inches. 8 Kodak color prints mounted on board, 3 of them signed on the mount; 18 silver gelatin prints mounted on 15 boards; 1 Kodachrome slide; 1 black and white negative transparency. Some soiling to the 2 sets of nude photos on board, otherwise general slight toning, overall very good. With Portfolio case labeled I-A. 27 photos mounted on board, approx. 14 x 18 inches. Prints range from approx. 5 x 6-1/2 inches to 13 x 10 inches. Subjects include: Portraits of Yves Tanguy (two, different), Mabel Dodge Luhan, and Robinson Jeffers; six color and black and white portraits; three surrealist photo collages (one with a severed head and two others incorporating Pueblo art); a group of nudes; three commercial images; and a group of surrealist-photographs of everyday items. David Hare (1917-1992) was born into modern art. His mother, Elizabeth Sage Goodwin, was a collector, friends with… Read More

Chicago: Jevne & Almini, 1867. First Edition. 52 two-, three- or four-color tinted lithographed views after Louis Kurz. 52 text leaves describing each view (with a duplicate of one text leaf and the missing text leaf supplied in early manuscript facsimile). With a later typed list of plates inserted. Without title page, as issued. Early manuscript annotations to the plates. [With:] Letterpress broadside prospectus for the work, tipped in at the front. Oblong folio. Nineteenth century half morocco and cloth, spine with raised bands lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, minior wear at extremitites. A few short edge tears repaired to endpapers and text leaves, old tear to Trinity Church plate repaired. Original front and rear wrapper to part 6 bound in, upper wrapper creased. Provenance: Chicago Historical Society (inked stamp to the first text leaf and ink inscriptions on two plates); Wright Howes (pencil annotation); Francis J. Gerty (signature on front endpaper). First Edition. 52 two-, three- or… Read More

London: R. H. Porter, 1902. First edition. Text: 2 volumes, comprised of Vols 1-4 in 1, plus the Appendix edited by J.T. Goodman in 1. Photogravure and other illustrations. 69; 47; 50; 38pp., plus the separately-bound Appendix (i.e. part viii). Ten original parts front wrappers bound in. Uncut. The Appendix largely unopened. Plates: 4 volumes in 2. 392 plates, including autotypes and lithographs, a few folding or double-page, a few in color. 4 vols. 4to (text) and oblong folio (plates). Early half green morocco and cloth covered boards, spines lettered in gilt. First edition. Text: 2 volumes, comprised of Vols 1-4 in 1, plus the Appendix edited by J.T. Goodman in 1. Photogravure and other illustrations. 69; 47; 50; 38pp., plus the separately-bound Appendix (i.e. part viii). Ten original parts front wrappers bound in. Uncut. The Appendix largely unopened. Plates: 4 volumes in 2. 392 plates, including autotypes and lithographs, a few folding or double-page, a few in color. 4 vols. 4to (text) and… Read More

Great Britain, 1872. Comprised of: 1) a disbound set of the first edition sheets which have been heavily-corrected throughout in manuscript by Salvin, with 9 additional pages of manuscript tipped in (i.e., 1-94, 101-105, 111-147 [without the title, table of contents and a portion of Chapter 8 lacking]), with a manuscript note in the upper margin of the first page: "Revise & Proof returned to Printers Nov. 25th 1872"; 2) a complete unbound set of proof sheets, being reset intermediate(?) sheets between the first and second editions, with a few minor manuscript pencil corrections, and with lithographed proofs of plates I-III and V-XXIV (12 hand colored presumably by Brodrick), and with plate IV from the first edition (Female Peregrine Adult) present an an original watercolor by Brodrick; 3) 3 sets of tall galleys of the 2-page Glossary of Terms from the first edition, each with manuscript corrections by Salvin for the second edition; and 4) folded 8vo sheet with three original watercolors attributed to… Read More

[New York], 1960. 98 individual works, 2 sketchbooks. Various sizes. Works on paper stored in a portfolio, some with minor damage but overall very good. 98 individual works, 2 sketchbooks. Various sizes. Richie Havens' art portfolio from the 1960s. Richie Havens (1941-2013) was an American musician made famous by his opening set at Woodstock in 1969. Born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Havens became a regular fixture in the Greenwich Village scene of the 1950s and '60s. Primarily a poet and artist before he began to play music, he signed a music deal with Bob Dylan's manager, Albert Grossman, that led to a meteoric rise to fame cemented by his spot at Woodstock. Opportunities for his music came regularly and commercial success ultimately led to his working on commercials; most notably for Folger's Coffee, Bud Light, and from performing "The Fabric of Our Lives" theme used in cotton commercials of the early 1990s. He was a champion of humanitarian causes and was featured performer for… Read More

1946. 5 8-1/2 x 11 inch leaves, folded, 16 pp. plus wrappers. 8-1/2 x 6-3/4 inches. Side-stiched, fine, with custom green half-morocco slipcase and matching chemise. 5 8-1/2 x 11 inch leaves, folded, 16 pp. plus wrappers. 8-1/2 x 6-3/4 inches. Impeccable fair copies of 8 poems that would be published in Steeple Bush (1947). 1) "To an Ancient" 2) "Something to Hope For": variant title ["Something for Hope" in published book]; line 12 starts "And in" (as in E38), rather than "And with" in book; line 15 has "noxious weed", rather than "wasteful weed" in book; line 17 stars "A cycle of say" (as in E38), rather than "A cycle we'll say" in book; line 21 ends in an exclamation point ("!"), but in a comma (",") in the book 3) "One Step Backward Taken" 4) "Why Wait for Science" 5) "But He Meant It": variant title, first published as such in the Atlantic Monthly (April, 1947) ["The Broken Drought" in book] 6) "The Courage to Be New": has a quatrain, listed here as a postscript, that is cut in the published… Read More

[N.p., 1959. Approx. 250 pages in total, the autograph draft heavily revised and corrected throughout, the typescript setting copy with revisions and editorial markings. 2 vols. 4to. Two red half morocco slipcases with gilt titles on spine; 250 pages total. (1) the original working draft, approx. 150 single-sided pages plus typescript title-page, including both autograph and typed sections, heavily revised in blue and black ink, with possibly a few pages of the printed text not represented. In the second case, (2) the setting copy, approximately 85 pages, double-spaced, paginated 11-95 (complete), with some light autograph authorial revisions and extensive editorial corrections and directions to the printer in blue pencil; and (3) a group of 21 pages containing text not used in the book, approx. 20 autograph and typed pages with heavy autograph revisions. Approx. 250 pages in total, the autograph draft heavily revised and corrected throughout, the typescript setting copy with revisions and editorial… Read More

Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854. First edition. Illustrated with a title vignette of Thoreau's cabin in the woods and an engraved plan of Walden Pond. 357, [1, blank] pp. 8 pp. April ads at back. 1 vols. 8vo. Original brown vertical-ribbed cloth with covers decoratively stamped in blind and spine ruled in blind and lettered in gilt, pale yellow coated endpapers. Fine copy (two tiny scuffs at at foot of spine). First edition. Illustrated with a title vignette of Thoreau's cabin in the woods and an engraved plan of Walden Pond. 357, [1, blank] pp. 8 pp. April ads at back. 1 vols. 8vo. SUPERB, FRESH COPY. A beautiful, unsophisticated copy of this landmark of American literature, "an inspiration to nature lovers, to philosophers, to sociologists ... and to persons who love to read the English language written with clarity ..." (Grolier 100, in 1947). Allen, pp. 8-10; Borst A2.1.a; BAL 20106; Grolier, American 63