Rare books from Thomas Dorn ABAA

NY: Dick & Fitzgerald (1865). 1st ed., 1865. 8vo. 186 pp. + [2] pp. ads. Original printed orange wrappers, with ads front verso and rear recto and verso. Seminal in the development of modern American detective fiction, John Brampton Williams' Leaves from the Note Book of a New York Detective is considered to be the first instance of American detective fiction. This collection of 29 short stories opens with the title piece which recounts the meeting between a medical doctor, John Babbington Williams (the actual author of the stories), and detective James Brampton. They become acquaintances, and after Brampton has retired after twenty years of service, he sends his case notebooks to Dr. Williams to be edited and published. In each of the stories private investigator Brampton uses his superior powers of deduction and penetrating observation to solve the crimes and anticipates by twenty years 19th century's most famous sleuth, Sherlock Holmes. The stories include: "The Silver Pin,"… Read More

NP [Nashville, TN] 1923., 1923. 1-200 copies numbered and SIGNED by Wills and Tate, this being No. 115. 8vo. 32 pp. Original stiff tan stapled wrappers with black letterpress title embossed on front cover. This book, now of noted rarity, was self-published by the authors in Nashville. It is Allen Tate's first book. Both authors were active members of the Southern or Fugitive Agrarians and contributed to I'll Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition. The Golden Mean was written as a parody of T. S. Eliot's The Wasteland. The cover of the book has some toning around the extremities, a very small 1/2" tear top of spinal fold and very light edge wear. Contents bright. Overall a very good plus to near fine example of a fragile production. Seldom coming on the market, this is a rare book.. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Soft cover. Near Fine.

(NY) The Century Co. (1889)., 1889. First printing. BAL 7117. Tall 4to. 145 pp. 19 B & W illustrations by Edward. W. Kemble. Original pictorial yellow paper over boards (illustrated front and rear covers and spine), printed in red and black. One of Harris' southern masterpieces. The book has some light spinal darkening, but is completely readable, with light wear at the extremities; the hinges are tight. A very good plus book. In the very RARE original fragile dust jacket. The jacket has been archivally backed, with some edge restoration, and is visually quite stunning. Housed in period custom slipcase. A true rarity in jacket.. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Dust Jacket Included.

London: No imprint, 1778.. Tall 8vo. [2] 73 pp. [1] pp. Printed rectos only. Original marbled wrappers. This is the second, greatly enlarged edition by Ducarel after the original 1777 list printed by William Bowyer and compiled by Joseph Ames. This book was Andrew Ducarel's personal copy and bears his signature dated 1778 on the top corner of the front cover verso. In addition it has his bookplate affixed to the verso's center. The book has at least 9 corrections to the text in Ducarel's hand, several of which are substantial. It is additionally INSCRIBED by Ducarel on the half-title page "Presented by Andrew Ducarel to W. Teggel(?)meyre | July 28th 1781." Ducarel (1713-1785) was a noted English librarian, lawyer, antiquary and archivist. He was keeper of the Lambeth Palace Library from 1757 until his death. Ducarel's numerous publications range from travel to history to law. The book's original marbled wrappers have some chipping at the extremities but the book remains… Read More

New Delhi: Printed by the Manager Government of India Press, 1935., 1935. First printing. Tall 4to. Profusely illustrated with tables (mainly tribal genealogy). There is a very large color fold-out map (aprox. 38" x 26 1/2") in the rear pocket: "Sketch Map Showing Routes Used During Migration By Ghilzais and Other Tribes." Original two-tone brown cloth binding decorated, and stamped in black. Stamped "Confidential" top of cover. The book's cover serves as the title page. From the Introduction by Robinson: " The Notes on Nomad Tribes of Eastern Afghanistan were written during two periods of special duty under the Government of the North West Frontier Province in the winters of 1932-33 and 1933-34. . . The greatest care has been taken in preparing tribal tables and notes on sections of the various tribes, and it is hoped that these will be found in the main free from error. . . Considerable attention has been paid to the habits and mode of life of the Powindahs,… Read More

London: Self-published, 1891., 1891. First printing. Very heavy folio. Unpaginated (41 stiff card leaves). Illustrated with 154 mounted photographs, all half-plate in size, with 5 panoramas consisting of two plates mounted side-by-side; all photographs have a brief printed caption beneath. Bound in 3/4 black leather with green cloth; gilt stamped. All edges gilt. Although the exact number of the printing is not known, it is generally believed that fewer than 20 copies were published. The photographs were taken by Lieutenant W. Ellerton Fry, who was the official photographer of the Pioneer Column which served as security for the occupation of Mashonaland (now part of Zimbabwe) in 1891 by the British South Africa Company (BSAC). The BSAC was formed by Cecil Rhodes for the purpose of exploiting the mineral wealth (primarily gold) of Mashonaland, and then its colonization. Although Fry considered himself to be an amateur photographer, he was recruited by the famous African big game hunter, F. C. Selous,… Read More

(Munich: Bremer Press, 1934)., 1934. 1-50 unnumbered folios of 40 loose woodcut impressions. Large Folio (22 3/8 x 16 3/4 ). 40 sheets (21 3/4 x 16 1/4 ) printed on handmade, watermarked paper with deckle edges (plus 1 unprinted sheet). Presented in a light brown coarse-linen covered folio folder with beveled edges, cloth ties, and gilt-stamped titles front. The history and story of the Vesalius blocks which were cut using Vesalius original drawings and used in the printing of his monumental De humani corporis fabrica and his Epitome in 1543, is a story of epic proportions. The woodcuts were so massive and done with such precision and creativity, that for several hundred years they were widely attributed to the master Titian. Lost, refound, sold, lost again many times and finally rediscovered, for the final time, in 1932 by Samuel Lambert with the help of the renowned printer from the Bremer Press, Willy Wiegand, in the attic of the LMU Munich Library in a crate containing 230 blocks. Perhaps the most… Read More

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, Patrernoster-Row, and E. Cox & Son, 1822., 1822. First printing. Large, heavy 4to. 30 engraved plates. Contemporary diced calf with gilt ruled edges, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers. Inscribed on the title page: "A.C. to D.W.C." and "D. W. Crompton 1823" written below in a second hand. This book, by probably the best known surgeon of his time, was the principal reference book on the subject not only in Great Britain but to continental & American surgeons as well; with subsequent editions continued to be issued for 30 yrs. Many later clinical modifications were developed from Coopers original methods. When it was realized that these fracture studies were accomplished long before the invention of roentgenograms it appears quite prodigious. Very beautifully illustrated and printed. Shallow chipping and wear at the spinal extremities and rubbing along the spinal joints. The interior is especially bright with all of the… Read More

Paris, la vievue Alix, 1741., 1741. First French edition. 2 Volumes (complete). 12mos. Frontispiece engraving. xcviii, 346 pp. + [2] pp. Approbation + 47 pp. Avis.; vi, 365 pp. + [5] pp. Approbation + 119 pp. Suite de L'Orthopedie ou Observations de M. Andry. Engraved frontispiece and 14 engraved copperplates. Contemporary mottled calf, raised spinal bands, printed spinal morocco labels. Presented in a quarter leather and cloth clamshell case. Text in French. This is the work that founded and named the specialty of orthopedics. The Andry tree (illustrated on page 282, Volume 1) became the emblem for the specialty. Andry (1658-1742) coined the term orthopaedie. The book was written when he was 83 and deals with anatomy, prevention and correction of deformities non-operatively, especially in children. Andry was Professor of Medicine in the University of Paris. Some wear at the tips and light rubbing, else this is a tight set. One engraved page in Volume 2 has a ragged fore edge and a 3/4"… Read More

Paris: Gabon, 1828., 1828. Two Volumes + folio atlas. 8vos. ix, 382 pp.; 402 pp.; 114 pp. The two text volumes are sumptuously bound in contemporary russia, richly gilt, blind tooled and stamped, with raised spinal labels, gilt gauffered edges, inner gilt denetelles, and silk doublures. The atlas is bound in contemporary green cloth covered boards with a modern calf spine and tips, gilt in matching style; marbled edges and modern white moire silk endpapers. Illustrated with 77 plates, some fold-out. The atlas is INSCRIBED by Delpech on the top of the half-title page: "A Monsieur le Docteur Fouget [slightly cropped] a Bordeaux/de la part de l auteur." Delpech (1772-1832) did more than any other man towards the development of orthopaedics in France. Professor of Surgery in Montpelier. He is known for many major achievements including: first to establish the tuberculous nature of Pott's disease; anticipated Stromeyer in subcutaneous tenotomy for club foot; established an institute for… Read More

Self, 1936., 1936. Three volumes. 4tos. Pages unnunmbered (Approx. 150, 200, 200 pp.). Each case is illustrated with B & W photographs with tissue guards. Bound in textured oatmeal-colored cloth, raised spinal bands, gilt-stamped black leather spinal labels. This incredible work comprises the meticulous records of approximately 92 surgical cases from Dr. Goff s practice, compiled for his application for Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons (original letter laid in). As noted he prepared the histories on typewritten paper, the photos on special thick stock, and had the collection beautifully bound in 3 volumes. Each case includes the history and physical, photos, operative note, follow-up notes, and critical discussion. The sheer breadth of the cases is amazing to those physicians used to the sub-specialization of modern surgeons. Goff s cases include a wide range of abdominal surgeries, fractures, spine fusions, thoracic surgery, breast & other oncologic surgery, rhinoplasty,… Read More

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1910., 1910. 1-500 numbered copies SIGNED by Roosevelt, this being #195. Two volumes. Large 8vos. Frontispiece photograph of Roosevelt with printed tissue guard. xvi, 268 pp; frontispiece illustration with printed tissue guard, viii, 269-529 pp. 50 illustrations (photographs, photogravures, and drawings)with printed tissue guards, and including a map. Rebound in modern 3/4 tan pigskin with gray paper over boards, new endpapers. Both volumes have a light damp stain top edge which extends down from 1/2" to 1" and from the center out approx. 3" and not affecting text or images. The books are very tight, very good (other than the aforementioned damp stains). Uncommon.. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good.

London: [Probably printed by William Boyer for Cheselden], 1733., 1733. Folio. [29] ff. Engraved frontispiece and title with camera obscure vignette, engraved dedication leaves, comparative plates and head and tail-pieces. Illustrated with a double set of human osteology plates: 56 lettered plates with verso text (the last plate having deer on verso). In addition there are 56 plates without letters or text (the last plate showing broken column on verso). Bound in modern half antique calf with a richly gilt spine with beautiful, bright marbled boards. William Cheselden (1688-1752) was a British general surgeon and anatomist. He was the leading surgeon in England in the first half of the 18th century. He is probably best known for his operations for bladder stone, though he as said to have been pre-eminent also in orthopedics and ophthalmology. Alexander Pope was among his famous patients. G-M: This splendidly designed and illustrated work contained the full and accurate descriptions of all the human… Read More

NY: Wilson and Company, 1849., 1849. First printing thus. Oblong 8vo. 8 5/8" x 5 5/8. 80 pages, sewn in signatures. Front and back covers illustrated. Illustrated throughout in B & W. From the front cover: "Done with Drawings by Timothy Crayon, Gypsographer. 188 Comic Etchings on Antimony." This is the first printing of the "book" version published in the year 1849 (date stated on title page); the 1842 first edition was a newspaper supplement. Written and illustrated by the Swiss caricaturist Rodolphe Töpffer, it was created in 1827 and published first in Geneva, Switzerland in 1837 as Histoire de Mr. Vieux Bois, then in London in 1841 by the English translation published by Tilt and Bogue as The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck, and then in New York, in a newspaper supplement titled Brother Jonathan Extra No. IX (September 14, 1842), followed by an 1849 publication in book form titled The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck, by Wilson and Company in New York. It is… Read More

London: Printed for Robert Boulter at the Turks-Head, 1681., 1681. First edition without the suppressed Cromwellian poems as usual (pp.117-130). Folio. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Marvell, [iv] 1-116, 131-139. Contemporary full-leather binding. The front cover is detached (but present), there is a 1" chip bottom of spine. The frontispiece portrait is quite bright; there is a 3/4" x 3/4" chip top fore edge of "To the Reader" page not affecting the type. In general the text pages are bright and devoid of foxing. Internally the book is very good or better but given the detached cover, it is overall good.. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Good.