Rare books from Schilb Antiquarian Rare Books

1664 1st ed NEW YORK George Downing Discourse on DUTCH Settlements Indians 2v
Two exceedingly rare first editions of George Downing's defense of New York!
George Downing was an Irish preacher and political apologist known for his service under Oliver Cromwell in Scotland. In 1664 he wrote a short political letter describing the details of his arrangement of the acquisition of New York from the Dutch. 'A Discourse', as it is called, was written to clear his own name from any misconduct in the exchange. One of the most notable discussions in this work is a report on the miserable interactions of the Dutch settlers with local Indian tribes, as well as business and trade in New York. It should be noted that this work is considered one of the earliest works relating to New York in English! (Stevens).
A year after his first letter was written, he wrote his own reply – a work, which according to 'Rare Americana', was
"privately printed, and relates principally to the affairs of the English and Dutch West… Read More

1588 HUGE FOLIOS Pope Gregory Catholic Church Sacraments Miracles Vatican Sixtus

"There are some so restless that when they are free from labour they labour all the more, because the leisure they have for thought, the worse interior turmoil they have to bear."
― Gregory the Great

Pope Gregory I was one of the most important figures of the establishment and growth of the Catholic Church. He wrote several important works on his views of the church, sacraments, purgatory and heaven, antichrist, miracles, heresies, and much more. His book 'Regula Pastoralis' or 'Pastoral Care', is a work clearly explaining and describing the responsibilities of the clergy. It is often considered the most influential and important work written on the topic of the role of preachers and ecclesiastical fathers.

This impressive 16th-century edition of the works of Pope Gregory was published at the Vatican in 1588 during the papacy of Sixtus V.

Item number: #8788
Price: $3500
GREGORY I, Pope
Sancti Gregorii Magni Papae… Read More

1589 ENORMOUS LAW Corpus Juris Civilis Justinian Codex Digest Godefroy 6v SET

"Freedom is the natural ability of everyone to do what he likes, unless it is prohibited by law or by force."
― Justinian I
Justinian's 'Corpus Juris Civilis' is unquestionably the fundamental work on law and jurisprudence! Parts of this work were originally intended to be used by law students, but they were not solely used as a textbook – they carried legal weight …as law! It includes four distinct parts – Codex, Digest, Institutes, and Novellae – each written with a different purpose.
'Digest' or 'Pandectae' is a collection of juristic treatises taken from various legal writings of Ulpian and Paulus. 'Codex'
was the Justinian's attempt at organizing the laws in a systematic manner – each of these works is included in this enormous 16th-century six-volume edition.
The Godefroy editions of this iconic work were influential in the law field well into the 20th-century. While Godefroy was known as a jurist, his… Read More

1785 ENORMOUS Works of VOLTAIRE French Science Physics Newton Kehl ed 60vols
"Let us read and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world."
― Voltaire
Voltaire was a versatile and prolific writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works. He wrote thousands of books and letter and frequently made use of his works to criticize intolerance, religious dogma, and the French institutions of his day.
This enormous set of 60 volumes was published in Kehl and contains many of Voltaire's most famous works. It also contains his physics studies and correspondence, much of which had never been published.
Item number: #17869
Price: $3500
VOLTAIRE
Oeuvres completes de Voltaire
[Kehl]: De l'imprimerie de la société littéraire-typographique, 1785-89.

Details:
· Collation: complete with 60 volumes (of 70)
o Wanting volumes 52-61
o 15 engravings + 3 portraits of Voltaire
· Language:… Read More

1585 DUTCH History Chronicle Divisiekroniek Netherlands Holland Zealand Woodcuts
"The keystone [work] of Middle Dutch historiography!"
The "Divisiekroniek" was the first and most important 16th-century Dutch national chronicle. It was notable for containing some of the most famous descriptions of Dutch history, providing insight into the Renaissance in Northern Netherlands – Holland, Zealand, and Friesland – first printed in 1517. According to Blok, the 'Divisiekroniek'
"was the usual reading-book in the 16th- and 17th-centuries for the ancient history of the countship of Holland, and may be reckoned as the keystone of Middle Dutch historiography."
While the contents of this work are indisputably important, the in-text woodcuts of kings and Dutch royals with their coats-of-arms are highly desirable and make this already famous work highly coveted.
Item number: #20907
Price: $4950
anonymous
Die cronycke van Hollant, Zeelant ende Vrieslant. Noch is hier byghevoecht een cort verhael vande regeringe… Read More

1551 RARE Peter Apian Cosmographia Astronomy Navigation AMERICA Map Mathematics

Peter Apian was a 16th-century humanist who is remembered for his studies in astronomy and mathematics. His best and most-known work was his book on cosmography which was extremely influential into the 17th-century. In this work, Apian discusses navigation by use of astronomy, utilizing woodcut illustrations to depict aspects of astronomy and navigation. Other illustrations include zodiac characters, planets, maps, and navigational instruments.

Perhaps the most important aspect of this book is that it is one of the earliest works relating to America. In 1507, Martin Waldseemuler printed a map which included the word 'America' for the first time. 'Cosmographiae Introductio' was published as an accompaniment to that map.

This 1551 edition was collected and annotated by Gemma Frisius, a famed Dutch cartographer. The illustrations found in this work are utterly impressive – it even includes interactive engravings… Read More

1741 FAMOUS Colmenar Annals of SPAIN & Portugal CUBA Haiti MAPS Barcelona 4in2
Juan Alvarez de Colmenar's "Annals of Spain and Portugal" is a rare 18th-century history of the Iberian Peninsula and the political and military struggles between Portugal and Spain. Colmenar describes the current state of affairs, the influences of Spain and Portugal on the rest of Europe, and a chronological history beginning in the earliest tribes and Roman occupation. This work also served as a travel guide to 18th-century travelers in Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Burgos, Toledo, Seville, and many other cities.
This impressive 1741 edition is profusely illustrated with more than 160 engravings, plus 3 large folding maps. The maps display a city view of Barcelona, a map of Haiti and the Island of Hispaniola, and view of Cuba and the West Indies.
Item number: #24401
Price: $3500
COLMENAR, Juan Alvarez de
Annales d'Espagne et de Portugal, contenant tout ce qui s'est passé de plus important dans ces deux royaumes & dans les… Read More

1640 BEST English HERBAL 1ed Theatrum Botanicum John Parkinson 2500+ Engravings
John Parkinson is considered to be one of the most important 17th-century botanists and was a foundational English herbalist. His discoveries and herbal treatises propelled him to Royal Botanist of King Charles I, and while his royal position certainly contributed to his lasting fame, his most prestigious contribution was his book 'Theatrum Botanicum'.
This monumental work is considered to be the most complete and thorough English herbal, much in part to the more than 2,500 illustrated figures throughout. first published in 1640, this book contained descriptions of more than 3800 different plants many of which had never been included in a botanical anthology before.
Item number: #24716
Price: $4,950
PARKINSON, John
Theatrum botanicum: the theater of plants. Or, an herball of large extent: containing therein a more ample and exact history and declaration of the physicall herbs and plants that are in other authours
London:… Read More

1754 Charlevoix JAPAN 1ed Jesuit Voyages TOKYO Maps Ships FAMOUS Korea China 6v
Pierre Charlevoix was an 18th-century French Jesuit writer known for his informational surveys of Jesuit missionary voyages around the world. He published reports on voyages in Paraguay, Brazil and other South American countries, as well as voyages in Asia even though he himself never visited these locations. One of his best works was his "History of Japan". This work provides a comprehensive overview of Japanese history which proved to be a catalyst for the western world understanding Japanese culture.
This highly desirable and incredibly valuable 1754 edition of Charlevoix's "Japan" consist of 56 engravings many of which are exquisite folding maps of Japan, Korea, and China! Other engravings depict Japanese costume and manners, ships and weaponry, customs, language, and city plans of Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo (Edo).
Item number: #25054
Price: $3500
CHARLEVOIX, Pierre
Histoire du Japon
Paris: Chez Didot, 1754. First… Read More

1591 Confessions of WITCHES & WARLOCKS Demons TORTURE Trier Witch Trial Binsfeld

Peter Binsfeld was a 16th-century German bishop who is best remembered for being one of the most active witch hunters of his time. While living in Trier, Germany, Binsfeld worked tirelessly on driving out witches, devil-worshipers, and magic-users from the area. The Trier Witch Trials proved to be one of the largest witch trials in all of Europe in terms of executions, much in part to Binsfeld. In fact, in addition to witch torture, Binsfeld and the other hunters arrested, tortured, and burned any who opposed the witch trials, effectively stopping anyone who tried to stand up against the massacres.

The trials inspired Binsfeld to write a treatise on witchcraft and sorcery entitled 'Confessions of Warlocks and Witches'. This book collected many of the confessions of witches taken by Binsfeld, recounting their witchcraft and devil worship. However, many of the 'confessions' were obtained through torture, and the… Read More

1757 Ben FRANKLIN printed 1ed QUAKER Barclay Ranters Pike Philadelphia Americana

Incredibly rare first edition of Benjamin Franklin support of Quakers in Pennsylvania!

Robert Barclay was a 17th-century Scottish Quaker and considered one of the most important Quaker authors. One of his best works was "Anarchy of the Ranters" in which Barclay attacks Ranters and other dissenters that threatened Quaker values while, at the same time, defending Quaker morals.

While the contents of this book are important to Quaker history, they pale in comparison to the real draw of this book. This work was published by Benjamin Franklin in 1757 Philadelphia! Franklin published works are notoriously rare and valuable and this first Franklin edition should be treated the same way. Franklin maintained close relationships with Quakers in Pennsylvania which is evident, here, with the publication of Barclay's "Ranters". It was published concurrently with Joseph Pike's "Epistle to the National Meeting of Friends".

Item… Read More

1479 Rolevinck Chronicle Fasciculus Temporum COMPLETE Incunable BIBLE Woodcuts
A complete 1479 chronicle which was known to inspire Koberger and the 'Nuremberg Chronicle!"
Werner Rolevinck was a 15th-century monk who is primarily remembered for his history of the world, 'Fasciculus Temporum'. First published in 1474, this work presents a general history of world chronologically, focusing heavily on important biblical events such as the Flood and Noah's Ark, the Tower of Babel, the cities of Rome and Nineveh (i.e. Metropolis Assyrian), and the birth and ministry of Jesus. Each of these is illustrated by hand-colored, woodcut engravings in the 1479 edition.
Commonly known as the "Little Bundle of Time", this work went through numerous editions during Rolevinck's lifetime. It was quite popular. So popular that it would be one of the primary influences for what would become the most famous world chronicle, Schedel's 1493 "Nuremberg Chronicle" by Anton Koberger, i.e. 'The Koberger'.
Rolvinck, along with… Read More

1555 FAMED Gessner BIRDS 200+ Woodcuts DUCK Quail Ornithology Zoology RARE Avium

Conrad Gessner was an iconic 16th-century scholar who is best remembered for his early treatises on animal science. While other 16th-century works of natural science existed in this era, few were written to expose the reality and existence of monsters! Gessner's 'Historia Animalium', is one of the earliest and certainly the best 16th-century works describing mammals, birds, and four-legged reptiles.

This 1555 folio volume of Gessner's 'Birds' is truly remarkable. It is utterly filled with countless illustrations of animals including quail, garganeys, shoebill storks, cranes, parakeets, buntings, and so many more!

Gessner volumes from the 16th-century are considered some of the most valuable of all works of zoology and animal sciences, much in part to the exquisite woodcut engravings – see photos for views of the engravings in this tome.

Item number: #26348
Price: $5500

GESSNER, Conrad

Icones avium omnium, quae in… Read More

1492 COMPLETE Virgil Incunable Aeneid pre Nuremberg Chronicle FAMED Koberger

Complete 1492 Koberger printing of Virgil!

"If I cannot move heaven, I will raise hell."
― Virgil, The Aeneid

Virgil is regularly considered one of the greatest Roman poets. His epic poems, 'Eclogues,' 'Georgics,' and 'Aeneid' are some of the most important works of western literature.

This 1492 incunable edition was published by the famed Nuremberg printer Anton Koberger. Koberger printings are some of the most desirable of all early printed books, much in part to the success of the Nuremberg Chronicle, which would premier a year after this edition of Virgil. Virgil printings from this era and scarce and truly difficult to acquire; however, examples that are complete such as this, are even more of a challenge to find.

Koberger used the commentary and annotations of Florentine humanist Cristoforo Landino.

Item number: #26586
Price: $9,950

VIRGIL

[opera]… Christophori landini florentini in. P. Vergi[lii]… Read More

1597 English Herbal 1st John Gerarde Herball Plants Illustrated Stirpium Botany
John Gerard was a 16th-century English herbalist known for his massive study into the history of plants known simply as 'The Herball'. This enormous folio provides some of the most desirable and accurate illustrations of plants from that era – views of plants that were well-known throughout Europe.
First published in 1597, this book was based heavily on the findings of a Robert Priest, though, Gerard claimed the work to be his own. Nevertheless, 'Herball' rests as one of the great 16th-century herbals as it contains descriptions of more than 1,000 separate plants many of which were considered to be rare and rather difficult to find.
Auction records of this work indicate up to $40,000 at Sothebys!
Item number: #26582
Price: $9500
John Gerarde
The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes
London : John Norton, 1597 1st edition
Details:
· Collation:
o [16], 1392, [36]
Title page, 3 leaves of prelims, p. 15-16, 983-984, and… Read More