Americana

Amsterdam: printed for John Covens and Cornelius Mortier, 1742. Copper-engraved map on four sheets, key map, sheet of harbor maps all hand-coloured in outline; 4 engraved views of Quebec, New York, Niagara Falls. Seven sheets, each 26 x 21 1/2 inches. An important association copy of the Covens and Mortier edition of the famous Popple map, annotated by Peter Wraxall: a man intimately associated with the establishment and setting of boundaries in colonial America. Henry Popple produced this map under the auspices of the Lord Commissioners of Trade and Plantations to help settle disputes arising from the rival expansions of English, Spanish and French colonies. "France claimed not only Canada, but also territories drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries - in practical terms, an area of half a continent" (Goss The Mapping of North America p.122.) The thrust of British mapmaking after 1718 was to establish her presence cartographically on the French. Hence the title "The British Empire in… Read More

Philadelphia: H.S. Tanner, 1825. Folio. (23 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches). Letterpress half-title, 1p. index and 18pp. text. Engraved title with vignette of the "First Landing of Columbus in the New World, 21 fine hand-coloured engraved map sheets (16 maps on 16 double-page sheets; 1 map on one folding sheet; and 1 map on 4 double-page sheets), some expert restoration to corners. Expertly bound to style in half brown straight-grained morocco over contemporary marbled paper-covered boards, the flat spine divided into six compartments by double gilt rules, lettered in the second compartment, the others with repeat decoration in gilt, contained within a modern red morocco-backed cloth box, the spine in seven compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second, the others with repeat tooling in gilt A fine copy of the improved second edition of "one the most magnificent atlases ever published in the United States" (Ristow). Tanner's New American Atlas contained the most accomplished series of maps of America… Read More

Philadelphia: H. S. Tanner, 1823. Folio. (24 x 16 3/4 inches). Letterpress half-title, 1 p. index and 18pp. text. Engraved title with vignette of the "First Landing of Columbus in the New World," 18 fine hand-colored engraved maps (16 double-page, 2 folding). Expertly bound to style in half-calf over contemporary marbled paper-covered boards, the flat spine gilt and divided into seven compartments by fillets and roll tools, lettered in the second compartment, the others with repeat decoration in gilt, marbled endpapers A fine copy of the first collected edition of "the most distinguished atlas published in the United States during the engraving period." [Ristow] Tanner's New American Atlas contained the most accomplished series of maps of America that had yet appeared in an atlas. Of the greatest importance were his maps of American states. These maps were drawn up using a careful combination of original surveys and the best existing published sources. The evident high cost of production meant that… Read More

Philadelphia: T.K. & P.G. Collins for D. Rice & A. N. Hart, 1855. 3 volumes, 8vo. (10 1/4 x 6 3/4 inches). 120 hand-colored lithographic plates by J.T. Bowen, most after Charles Bird King. Publisher's brown blind-stamped morocco, spine in six compartments with five raised bands, lettered in gilt in two, the others with repeat decoration in blind. The third octavo edition of McKenney and Hall's classic work, after the first octavo edition of 1848-50, reduced from the folio format produced in 1836-44. The plates for the first four octavo editions were all produced by the same lithographer, J.T. Bowen, and the same high quality of printing and colouring of the plates is found throughout. McKenney and Hall's Indian Tribes of North America has long been renowned for its faithful portraits of Native Americans. The portrait plates are based on paintings by the artist Charles Bird King, who was employed by the War Department to paint the Indian delegates visiting Washington D.C., forming the basis of the… Read More

Frankfurt: Typis Johannis Wecheli, Sumtibus vero Johannis-Theodori de Bry, 1608. Folio. (13 1/4 x 9 inches). Collation: a4, b6, c4, d6, *2, A6, B-C8, D6, E8, F5. Title page to text with two pasted on paper panels bearing the title and publishing details in Latin, all within an engraved surround (as issued), letterpress title to plates, engraved arms on dedication leaf, blank D6. 1 double-page engraved map of Virginia [Burden 76, state 2], 1 engraved plate of Adam and Eve (first state with inscription "Iodocus a Winghe in / / Theodore de Bry fe", 27 engraved plates after John White (including 5 plates of Picts), with blank D6 but without the final blank F6 (as in Church), various small neat expert repairs, three leaves misbound. Expertly bound to style in 18th-century blue/green morocco, covers with gilt roll tool border, the flat spine divided into six compartments with gilt roll tools and fillets, lettered in the second compartment, the others tooled with alternating neo-classical tools,… Read More

London: Printed for H.Bonwicke, T.Goodwin, M.Wotton, B.Tooke, and S.Manship, 1703. First Edition of the English Translation. Lahontan was only sixteen years of age when he first arrived in New France in 1683, as an officer in the colonial regular troops. During the next ten years he saw active service in the sieur de La Barre’s expedition against the Iroquois in 1684, in the Marquis de Denonville’s campaign against the Senecas in 1687, and in numerous skirmishes with the English. In 1693 he was appointed King’s lieutenant in Plaisance (Placentia), Newfoundland. His career, however, came to an abrupt end when he was accused of insubordination by the governor of Newfoundland, Jacques François de Brouillan. Lahontan fled to Portugal and spent the rest of his life in wandering exile, chiefly in Holland and Germany. The daily journals Lahontan faithfully kept during his stay in New France for the basis of this work, which gained such immense popularity that it went through no less… Read More

First edition of Thoreau's first book – 1000 copies published at his own expense of which only 550 were bound - less than 300 were sold or given away by the publisher and Thoreau, and in 1853 the remainder was returned to him whereupon he hauled it up to his attic and sarcastically bemoaned the dismal sales. Top edge uncut. Minor wear to spine ends, minor sporadic foxing, lettering at spine foot rubbed off(a common occurrence with the wispy spine cloth), else a Fine, crisp copy with bright gilt. Scarce in this condition, even 100 years ago when this copy sold at auction.
Ex-Jacob Chester Chamberlain, famed turn of the century collector with three lines of text dropped by the publisher penciled in his hand on page 396, along with his acquisition slip from another noted collector, Beverly Chew of the Grolier Club in New York City. Housed in an amazing contemporary custom pull off case with elaborate tooling, commissioned by Chamberlain, as was his custom for many of his most fantastic books. Sold at… Read More

1777. London, Robert Sayer & Jean Bennett, 1777. [Engraved title: London, Sayer & Bennett, 1775]. Folio. Recently bound in a magnificent pastiche-binding of brown half calf with six raised bands and gilt red leather title-label to elaborately gilt spine. Vellum corners and lovely marbled paper over boards. The binding is made over the original one, preserving the original sewn spine underneath as well as the original end-papers. An excellent, beautiful copy. Very clean and fresh. Only minor, light browning to a few maps, and last map with a bit more staining. One map with a small tear to lower margin, far from effecting engraving. Previously in the possession the Danish medieval estate Ravnholt, since the 18th century owned by the noble family of Sehestedt Juul, with discreet stamps from this ownership to title-page: "Sehestedt Juel" and "Rauenholdts Bibliothek". Title-page (French) + 6 pp. of preface (French) + (2) pp. of index (French) + double-page engraved, illustrated title (English) + 36… Read More

Approximately 3200 booking records (approximately 20 of which have been contemporaneously blotted-out) numbered 37888 to 41109 accompanied by individual 2 x 3 inches photographs and description of the person and their alleged crime. Full brown cloth. Front board separated at hinge (see image). Marbled endpapers. Index of names in alphabetical order. Lacking page 289/290. Heavy shelf wear given the size, weight and regular usage; moisture mark to lower edge. [52], 358 pp. 16.5 x 19.65 in.; 24 pounds (10.8 Kilo)

México (Varios lugares), 1685. 317x219mm. (12½x8½").. [Manuscrito]. México, varios lugares de la frontera norte, 1685-1686. En folio (317 x 219)mm. (1), 23 folios, 1 bl. En total 97 Autos redactados, algunos con tinta azul, en papel timbrado. Firmas autógrafas de Gabriel de Istúriz y Jacinto de Fuensaldaña en todos los autos. Sin encuadernar, cosido con hilo, dentro de carpetilla. posiblemente la fuente historiografica original mas importante para el conocimiento de los primeros años de la colonizacion en la frontera norte de mexico. Importantísima colección de los autos del visitador general Gabriel de Istúriz a los pueblos y haciendas que consigna, todos firmados de su mano, que sin duda complementan el manuscrito de la crónica del viaje a la provincia de Sonora que se conserva en los Archivos del Parral (México). Los pueblos, misiones y haciendas que visita durante su viaje entre 1685 y 1686 son: Mátape, Real de Minas de San Miguel Arcángel, pueblo de Guepaca, pueblo de Aconche… Read More

First edition. Quarto, full limp cowhide. One of the finest and rarest of Texas imprints, and one that has been referred to as the 'black tulip' of western fine printing. Of legendary rarity and highlighted in Al Lowman's The Printing Arts in Texas, this copy is accompanied by a letter from the author to Dudley Dobie concerning the book's origins and the great expense required to print it. The book and letter were owned by W. Thomas Taylor, author of Texfake, a book which exposed the theft and forgery of early Texas documents in the 1970s; the publisher of Bookways, a quarterly devoted to book arts; and the designer/printer of over fifty books. Printed recto only, the book was written, designed and the type set by Ed W. Bateman, a one time newspaper reporter (hence the title) and a wildcatter of great success and failure. This book was created during one of his periods of great success. The text and illustrations are printed in two colors and the subject matter ranges from a father's implacable… Read More

American Colonies, 1775. Original engraved boxwood block, 3 x 4 inches, three-quarters-inch deep, together with a uniformly framed modern impression. A few hair-line surface clefts and two larger clefts, one along the flag's edge and the other at flag center. Exceptionally rare and well-preserved Revolutionary War artifact depicting one of the most famous and enduring symbols and mottos of the colonial fight for independence.. Remarkable eighteenth-century engraved woodblock depicting an uncoiled rattlesnake against the thirteen-stripe flag emblazoned with the motto "Don't Tread on Me" set diagonally below. This original woodblock would have been used during the Revolutionary War to reproduce this defiant cartoon in colonial pamphlets, newspapers, and broadsides during the fight for independence. The cartoon's thirteen stripes represented the thirteen colonies, and the threatening serpent posed a striking warning to those who would dare tread upon their freedom. The rattlesnake was a well-known… Read More

Madrid, Nicolas Rodriguez Franco, 1723Folio. Three volumes. Vol I: engraved title page, 1t leaves, folding map, 768 pp., 36 leaves. Vol II: engraved title page, 6 leaves, 623 pp., 28 leaves. Vol III: engraved title page, 5 leaves, 4pp., 634pp, 21 leaves. Contemporary vellum with coat of arms at the front of each volume.First volume contains the history of New Spain, second volume the religious believes and practices of the indians in Mexico and third volume the development of the Catholic church in New Spain.Written by the Franciscan provincial superior of Mexico, this edition was corrected and updated by Barcia Carballido y Zúñiga. The text makes particular use of the unpublished manuscript of Gerónimo Mendieta, who reached Mexico in 1554 and spent his life among the Indians.The second and best edition of this "key work on the early history of Spanish North America"Palau: 335033

Poitiers, Enguibert de Marnef, 1560.
- Histoire et considération de l'origine, loy, et coustumes des Tartares, Persiens, Arabes, Turcs, & tous autres Ismaelites ou Muhamediques, dits par nous Mahometains, ou Sarrazins.
Poitiers, Enguibert de Marnef, 1560.
- La tierce partie des orientales histoires, ou est exposée la condition, Puissance, & revenu de l'Empire Turquesque : avec toutes les provinces & païs generalement depuis 950 ans en çà par tous Ismaelites conquis...
Poitiers, Enguibert de Marnef, 1560.
3 parts in 1 small 4to volume [205 x 146 mm] of: I/ (1) bl.l., (4) ll., 127 pp., (1) bl.p. ; II/ 57 pp., (3) bl. pp ; III/ (4) ll., 90 pp., (1) bl.l., suite of 56 full-page numbered engravings (out of 57) bound together, (1) bl.l. Bound in full contemporary brown granite-like calf, triple gilt fillet on the covers, spine ribbed and finely decorated, red edges. Binding from the 18th century.
Rare first edition of these three books known under the general title of "La République des Turcs",… Read More

Bayliss Rare Books is delighted to present The Beckham Collection, one of the most unique, unprecedented and complete D-Day collections to ever come to market. This is the most complete set of D-Day assault documents that have ever been offered for sale.
The highlight of this never-before-seen collection is one of the first flags flown on D-Day; an original, battle-scarred, 48 state US flag from the minesweeper USS YMS-381, one of the first boats to start Operation Neptune. Flags flown on D-Day are Incredibly rare with only a handful having ever come to the market and they always command significant sums. Unlike other flags, the provenance of this flag is unequalled and features the original customs documentation placing it back to the Normandy Beaches from where the ship's captain, William Beckham mailed it from in September 1944.
The launch of this D-Day collection by Bayliss Rare Books marks the first time the flag and indeed the full collection has emerged in public and is the first time it has… Read More