Notable Sales

THE RUGBY MISSAL, CIRCA 1450-1475: AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF ENGLISH MEDIEVAL ILLUMINATION, HOUSED IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CONTEMPORARY CHEMISE BINDINGS IN EXISTENCE, WITH IMPECCABLE PROVENANCE

The Rugby Missal—a magnificent 15th century English missal for the use of Sarum—is an extraordinary example of English medieval illumination preserved in one of the largest contemporary English medieval chemise bindings in existence. Being an elegantly illuminated service book in remarkably fine condition and one of only two English Missals to retain its chemise binding (the other conserved at Exeter Cathedral indefinitely), the missal presents a unique opportunity on the market which is unlikely to be seen again in the next few generations.

Impressive set in contemporary color

First editions of Commelin’s biographies of the princes of Orange, rare with hand-coloring and gilt, containing many maps and views including of America and the Arctic—an oft overlooked Americanum. Maurice of Nassau, later prince of Orange, was a major player in the Dutch Revolt against Spain, which had fronts around the world. His rule corresponded with the flowering of the Dutch Golden Age and the founding of both the East and West India companies, and this biography includes finely colored engravings depicting not only military conquests and maps, but Willem Barentsz's search for the Northeast passage in the Siberian Arctic, an expedition supported by Maurice, as well a dodo bird on the island of Mauritius, named for him (the island, not the bird).

CAOURSIN'S ACCOUNT OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE'S SIEGE OF RHODES, 1496 FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION, WITH 36 BEAUTIFUL AND DRAMATIC FULL-PAGE WOODCUTS

First illustrated edition of this famous incunable on the 1480 Siege of Rhodes by the Ottoman Empire, defended by the Knights Hospitallers; the 36 large and beautiful woodcuts were prepared specifically for this book. This is the first and only collected edition of Caoursin's works, and includes the first appearance in print of seven of the nine tracts gathered in this volume. A fine copy of this rare incunable, handsomely bound in full morocco by "Capé. Masson-Debonnelle Srs" of Paris.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

First edition, the most popular of Jane Austen's novels, enduringly popular. Pride and Prejudice, began in 1796 as First impressions, which Jane Austen completed in 1797 and was subsequently rejected by publisher Cadell without asking to see it. The work underwent major revisions in 1811-12 and, following the publication in 1800 of a novel by Margaret Holford entitled First impressions​​​​​​, the title was changed into the title it is known under.

Remarkable copy with 178 original hand-coloured and illuminated plates and an original manuscript.

An extraordinary extra-illustrated Bible in a Restoration binding, ‘adorned with historicall Pictures’ and embellished with original additions and ornamentation in the year of the Restoration as a tribute to God and King by a royalist London merchant, Thomas Batt.

Fine illustrate fete-book printed in Guatemala, one of the most beautiful printed books up to the early 19th century in the country

The first edition, one of the rarest and most beautiful books printed in Guatemala in the 19th century, and one of the best publications made in the country from the beginning of the printing press up to that point; this copy is a superb example, with all the plates in pristine condition and preserved in the original binding. The reason for the making and publication of this work was none less than the accession to the throne of Spain of Ferdinand VII, following his father’s abdication, in a moment of political unrest in most of the Spanish colonies, and following the liberation of Spain from the French Napoleonic troops. It is a political statement by the subjects loyal to the Spanish King: a commission of one of the most impressive works to have been printed so far in Guatemala, truly a magnum opus of the colonial Guatemaltecan printing houses.