Rare books from William Matthews, Bookseller / The Haunted Bookshop

Paris: chez Chereanau, [1719].. Oblong small 4to. Full vellum with ties. Wear at edges, chip from fore-edge of lower front cover,blank end leaves are heavily annotated and written-upon in 18th & 19th century hands. Old stains to margins and a few maps, old paper-tape repairs to the verso of the Asia map, but generally very good. Engraved allegorical title page, 3 plates (two of globes), and 24 maps opposite explanatory text in French. 23 maps have contemporary hand-colouring in outline; a couple have attractively coloured cartouches. The Globe Terrestre map, of two hemispheres, is holed, slightly affecting the title. The map of North America shows California as an island. This is the second or third edition of this atlas, originally by Antoine Menard, first published by Chiquet in [1711 & 1713], with most of the maps dated 1709-1711. In this 1719 edition Chiquet has removed Menard's name entirely; on many of the maps (such as L'Amerique Septentrionale) he has changed it to his own name and altered… Read More

Paris, 1684. . Large double-hemisphere map, 36 x 25 inches (framed: 38 x 26.5 inches). Attractively coloured, decorative cartouche and embellishments. Modest wear at fold, some light marginal stains, an attractive copy. This map has been mounted on cardboard via an unknown process, but there is no evidence of damage. This looks to be Shirley's state 4 of the first plate, with Cordier's name beneath the left hemisphere (Cordier Sculp.) and a date of 1684. The first plate exists in four states, dated 1674, 1679, 1681, and 1684 (this one). An enlarged version of a previous map by Nicolas Sanson, beautiful and striking. Wheat 65, citing the 1684 edition.

Paris: Combette, 1856. [issued 1859?]. . 4to. Quarter-calf & red patterned boards, the front cover designed and lettered in gilt, the spine lettered in gilt on a black panel. Marbled end papers. Decorative engraved double-page title, statistics table, and 92 numbered double-page maps. At the rear are an additional 6 double-page maps of the continents, and two large folding maps of France and the two-hemisphere Mappemonde. Bound at the rear is a final map, a single-page Carte Speciale, of the war in Italy, dated 1859. Almost all maps have contemporary colouring in outline. Some chipping at lower spine, a bit of wear along upper hinge, inner front hinge cracking, an attractive very good copy in general. A complete copy, 101 Maps in all, plus the decorative title.

London: Printed for the Proprietor, 1797-1808.. 16 Volumes. 8vo (actually a small 4to.), the volumes measure just under 5 x 8 inches. 19th century tree-calf, spines designed in gilt, lettered in gilt on panels of black. A few slightly cracked hinges and modest shelf wear, a very nice clean set. This is a uniform binding of two separate sets; the first set, of ten volumes, has the legend "Barr's Buffon" at the head of the title page. The second set, of six volumes, is issued anonymously. In all, 136 plates, most coloured by hand. Internally very fresh, almost no foxing to be seen. Typically, the plates are not in the exact order given in the individual volumes. In this case, the final (supplement) volume contains several plates which are listed in earlier volumes, but not present there. One plate from Volume 11 (a Parrot?) appears never to have been bound-in. In all a clean and attractive set of Buffon, quite handsome.

NP: c.1737.. A group of four manuscript maps on laid paper, expertly executed in ink & watercolour. The maps bear captions and text in German; two bear the legend: "Project der Linie welche unversaumt vor der Stadt Otzakoff in der weite eines Canonenschusses gemacht werden soll worhinter beij Somers Zeit die Regimenter Campiren könen". They are basically two versions each of two different maps, one a larger overview and one a close-in view. They are variously captioned and bear different cartouches with Explications and text in German. Two versions of the overview map have similar, but not identical Explications, within different cartouches at different locations on the sheet; they also differ in several respects from a copy held in the Military Archives of Sweden. This overview map is notably similar in layout to that produced by Matthaus Seutter in c.1737. The close-in map is titled: Plan der Vestung Otzakoff (One uses "Testung" in the title). This map likewise has different cartouches, and… Read More

London: Laurie, 2nd August, 1819. . A large copper engraved "blueback" map on paper, backed with the usual blue manila paper. Large coloured circular-bordered title in upper left, lettered in script. Entire map with contemporary colouring in outline. Thirteen small inset maps. Imprint at bottom: Published 2nd August, 1819, by Richard Holmes Laurie, Chart Seller to the Admiralty, &c.&c. No. 53, Fleet Street, London. Image size is 173cm x 76cm, on a sheet measuring 175cm x 78cm. The map is in five sections, four the same size and one smaller. Some splitting at folds, fraying to upper edge but very little loss, very good condition generally. Beneath the title is a note on the map: "Accompanied with an enlarged Book of Sailing Directions". WorldCat lists an edition of Laurie's book of directions [not present here]: "Laurie and Whittle's New Sailing Directions for the Mediterranean Sea ... Written to accompany the New Chart of the Mediterranean Sea, and compiled from the best Authorities, aided by several… Read More

Amsterdam: Joannes Brouwer and Jacob van Meurs, 1660. First Dutch edition.. Two volumes, 4to., full armorial vellum. Title pages printed in red & black; extra fully-engraved title pages. Vellum splitting along the front hinge of Volume 1, some old stains to the first couple of leaves of Volume 1; in general a clean and very good copy, the velllum bindings a bit sprung as usual. This book, a chronology of world history up to 1660, was first published in German, issued in eight volumes between 1629 and 1634; the first folio edition appeared in 1642. This Dutch edition of 1660 contains Illustrated title pages, full-page plates, and many fine engravings within the text. Although the decorative title pages indicate that the illustrations are by Jacob van Meurs [Met Schloone Koopere Plaaten verciert door Jacob Van Meurs], they are clearly copied from those by Merian which appeared in the original German edition. A handsome set. The engravings are dark and attractive, and are notable for their depiction of… Read More

NY: Croscup & Sterling Company / London: Macmillan, (1898). . Fourteen volumes. Three-quarter wine morocco & marbled boards, raised bands, spines gilt. The original owner's monogram (EVB) is in gilt on the spines and front covers. Marbled end papers. Top edges gilt, other edges trimmed. This is a limited issue of the "Biographical Edition", copy #5 of 25 copies made for America, with a numbered limitation leaf in each volume. Each volume has a frontispiece in colour, and several illustrations; the frontispieces of Volumes IV and XIV are signed in pencil by the Photographers, Walker & Boutall. The frontispiece of Volume XIV is from a photograph by Julia Margaret Cameron. One volume (V8) has two scratches across the front board, but this is a remarkably fine set, in lovely condition. This is a heavy multi-volume set which will incur additional postage costs.

Philadelphia: George Barrie, 1896-1900.. 53 volumes, complete. Three-quarters brown morocco & marbled boards, spine designed and lettered in gilt. Marbled end papers. Frontispiece and several plates in each volume, all of which have captioned tissue-guards. Title pages printed in black & red. Top edge gilt, other edges trimmed. Limited to One Thousand Complete Copies, this is copy #457; the colophon in the first volume is personalized for the original owner, E.V. Bodwell. Uneven fading to the spines of a few volumes, a few scuffs, otherwise this is a clean and presentable set of Balzac, in English, the complete Human Comedy. This is a heavy multi-volume set which will incur additional postage costs.

London: Printed for Abel Swall and Tim. Child, 1695. First edition. . 4to. Full contemporary calf, the covers panelled and with floral motifs; upper cover detached, wear and chipping to the spine and corners. Upper margin cut from the title leaf, ownership signature at the upper margin of the second leaf. Foxing and yellowing to early and late leaves, quite heavy in some places, minor worming to margins of early and late leaves, a few old marginal stains, generally very good. Complete with two inserted plates, and 56 maps & plans within the text. Of two recorded variants, this is of the variety with the description of the index on the title page reading: "With an Alphabetical Table of all the Towns Names". The other (earlier, we believe) variant reads: "With an Alphabetical Table of the Names of Places". In the copy offered here, the Index following Page 506 is titled: "The Index." However, the catchword on page 506 is "AN", which is the first word on the Index page of the copy described by EEBO, the… Read More

Amsterdam: Halmam, 1701 [1702]. . Folio. Full vellum, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt. Extra engraved title dated 1702. Portrait of the author, and 59 copper engravings in the text. The second edition; first published in three separate parts (1625 - 1637). An extensive work on the preparation and use of oils and unguents (perfumed ointments) in Biblical times. Armorial bookplate of Carlo Archinto [Feu M. Le Comte Archinto] on the front fixed end paper. Dust-soiling of end papers, some minor marginal stains to a few late leaves, but a clean and excellent copy. This Amsterdam edition was reprinted in 1710, and again in The Hague, 1725, under another title: "Thesaurus antiquitatum sacro-profanarum in quo ex antiquis Græcis ac Latinis Scriptoribus, quidquid ad Nomina, Usum, & Abusum Oleorum., & Unguentorum ....".

NY: Appleton, 1896 - 1898. . Fifteen volumes. Half-morocco & marbled boards, top edges gilt. Illustrated. A very clean and attractive set, no ownership marks of any kind, most volumes appear unread. There is some very slight chipping to the tops of the spines on a couple of volumes, and a dark smudge on one spine. The first authorized, collected edition of Darwin, edited by his son Francis. This set contains twelve titles in fifteen volumes (three works are in two volumes). Difficult to find in such nice condition. This is a heavy multi-volume set which will incur additional postage costs. Titles included: The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. The Origin of Species (2 volumes). Journals of Researches. Geological Observations. Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Animals and Plants Under Domestication (2 volumes). Insectivorous Plants. The Formation of Vegetable Mould. Forms of Flowers. Coral Reefs. The Power of Movement in Plants. The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin (2 Volumes).

Oil on board. Image size is 6 x 6 inches, in an antique gilt frame measuring 10 x 10 inches. Small plaque on the front reads: "The Old Shepherd / F.M. Bell-Smith". The image is of an old, white-haired shepherd wearing a cap, holding a stick. Very good condition. A small label on the rear is from Roberts & Son, Artistic Framing, Toronto. Bell-Smith emigrated to Canada from England in 1867. He was a well-known painter, living in Montreal, Hamilton, Toronto, and London, Ontario. He was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1886. He was the first Canadian to be granted a personal sitting by Queen Victoria. This painting is undated, but is likely ca.1900. [This is an oversize item, and normal postage rates do not apply. Large framed artworks are sometimes available for pickup only.]

London, NY & Toronto: John Lane/Bell and Cockburn, 1912. First Canadian edition.. Dark red cloth lettered in gilt. Frontispiece in colour. Short tears at top and base of spine, some wear to tips, a very good copy. Small ownership stamp on inner front cover. Inscribed by Leacock on the front fly leaf, dated September 20, 1912. "With the writer's / very best wishes / Sep 20 1912". This is the Canadian issue of the first edition, with "Bell & Cockburn" at the base of the spine. 4500 copies were printed. Spadoni A11a.2. This copy was inscribed by Leacock on the day of publication, September 20, 1912. A classic of Canadian Literature, rarely found signed.

NY: Dial Press, 1929. First edition.. Dark blue cloth lettered in yellow, publisher's device in blind on front cover. Previous owner's name on the front end paper, faint edge wear, a very clean and attractive copy in the pictorial dust jacket. The dust jacket has a small piece from the base of the spine, some wear to the top of the spine, and a couple of closed tears at folds; the jacket has had some archival tape repairs to the reverse. Really quite a nice copy. The basis of the 1929 gangster film of the same title.