History of Ideas & Science

Presentation copy to the first Earl of Salisbury of the rare first English edition of a famous illustrated military manual, magnificently coloured by a contemporary hand

Splendid copy of this very rare English edition of De Gheyn's illustrated major military manual, with the plates in their first state, before they were numbered and with some details added during the colouring stage instead of being engraved (several puffs of smoke in the illustrations). The present copy is one of the three "presentation copies" of the first English edition (New Hollstein, The De Gheyn family, II, p. 159, 1b).

“Gothic architecture is the most completely organic form of the art which the world has seen,” one of 45 copies printed on vellum

First edition, one of only 45 copies printed on vellum, of Morris’s important statement on Gothic architecture and its relationship to art, labour, and society. A further 1,500 copies were printed on paper, in three impressions of 500 copies each. Gothic Architecture was the first Kelmscott Press book printed in sextodecimo and the first to employ the four-line initials subsequently used by the Press. Peterson A18.

One of the earliest works on hawking written in Spanish

Extraordinarily rare first edition of the most important 16th century Spanish work on Falconry: “perhaps the rarest of all Spanish books which relate exclusively to Falconry” (Harting).

"The first printed book intended to be read by the blind" (Norman)

The first printed book for the blind, printed in a large raised italic type for finger-tracing. "Valentin Haüy invented the first system of printing for the blind, consisting of a special large type, slightly different in shape from ordinary italic, which was embossed on heavy paper to be traced by the fingers"; his 'Essai sur l’education des aveugles' "showcased his system of printing for the blind while at the same time proving its efficacy, since the book was printed by Haüy’s blind students under the direction of the royal printer Clousier" (Norman).

Sammelband of works on the trials of two renowned women: Mary Blandy and Elizabeth Jeffries, for murder in mid 18th century Britain

A fascinating collection of works on the famous trials of Mary Blandy for the murder of her father and Elizabeth Jeffries for that of her uncle by her lover, John Swann. Both trials generated a great amount of public interest in mid-18th century Britain and sensationalised accounts such as these provide a valuable insight into the manner in which women who committed crimes were perceived. Moreover, the collection includes the testimony of the women themselves and detailed descriptions of their trials.

One of the most famous of all Spanish hunting books, and certainly amongst the best illustrated ones

First edition, arguably the most famous Spanish book on hunting, and certainly one of the most beautifully illustrated ones, by Juan de Noort. A “rare classic on Spanish hunting which was written at the period when the crossbow was giving way to the musket. The work is of interest to falconers and the last of the three books into which it is divided contains fifteen chapters on falcons” (Schwerdt).

Nostradamus’ Propheties, one of the earliest obtainable editions

The exceedingly rare complete edition of the Prophéties bearing the Benoist Rigaud imprint, this is the second complete edition of Nostradamus's Prophéties, of the utmost rarity, here in a fine copy in a contemporary binding.

An extremely rare set of official pro-treaty journals from the Irish Civil War

Extremely rare journal from the Irish Civil War, probably the only complete set in existence, covering the conflict from shortly after its outbreak in the summer of 1922 through the beginning of October, by which time the pro-treaty forces had established territorial dominance over most of Ireland. Representing the official standpoints of the Provisional Government, these volumes offer a rare and unique insight into the period leading up to the establishment of the Irish Free State, which remains relevant for politics on the island of Ireland to this day.

Durer’s three major theoretical works on art, measurement, proportion and fortification

Exceptional sammelband in a near contemporary German binding of Durer’s most important theoretical works on art, ground-breaking studies on measurement, proportion, and fortification, including the Underweysung, a very fine copy containing all the plates and in wonderful condition. These works introduced to Northern Europeans techniques of perspective and mathematical proportion in drawing, painting and architecture.

One of the earliest, if not the earliest, treatises composed in Spanish about dogs

First edition, an extremely rare Spanish Renaissance treatise devoted to the dog and the horse, among the earliest substantial vernacular Spanish works dedicated to these subjects and frequently described as the first work in Spanish devoted specifically to dogs. Both horse and dog are presented as faithful companions and indispensable collaborators in hunting, agriculture, travel, and war. Signed by the author on title.