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Asia / Natural History

Fauna of the Indian Sea, with 98 illustrations

ALCOCK, Alfred William. A naturalist in Indian seas or, four years with the Royal Indian marine survey ship "Investigator".
London, John Murray (colophon: printed by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh), 1902. 8vo. With a photogravure frontispiece depicting the Investigator, a folding map and 98 illustrations on 58 plates. Contemporary black-blocked cloth; rebacked with brown board, modern endpapers. XXIV, 328 pp. Full description
€ 450
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First Latin edition, printed by Plantin, of Belon's illutrated oriental travel account, with 43 woodcuts

BELON, Pierre. Plurimarum singularium & memorabilium rerum in Graecia, Asia, Aegypto, Judaea, Arabia, aliisq. exteris provinciis ab ipso conspectarum observationes, tribus libris expressae.
(2) BELON, Pierre. De neglecta stirpium cultura, atque earum cognitione libellus: edocens qua ratione silvestres arbores cicurari & mitescere queant. Antwerp, Christoffel Plantin, 1589. 2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With Plantins woodcut compasses device on each title-page, 43 woodcuts in text (6 full-page), woodcut decorated initials. With an unrecorded 2-page corrigenda leaf. Contemporary overlapping limp vellum. [16], 495, [1 blank]; "78" [= 87], [1 blank], [2] pp. Full description
€ 4,750
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Detailed description of the genus Tarsius, with 7 lithographed plates

BURMEISTER, Hermann. Beiträge zur näheren Kenntniss der Gattung Tarsius, ... Nebst einem helminthologischen Anhange von Dr. Creplin.
Berlin, Georg Reimer, 1846. Large 4to (31 x 24.5 cm). With 7 lithographed plates (including 1 coloured by hand). Original publisher's printed green boards. X, 140 pp. Full description
€ 250
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Interesting account of an exploration journey to India and Southeast Asia

DELESSERT, Adolphe. Souvenirs dun voyage dans lInde execute de 1834 a 1839. Ouvrage enrichi de trente-cinq planches.
Paris, Fortin, Masson et Cie & Langlois et Leclercq (facing title-page: printed by Béthune et Plon), 1843. 2 parts in 1 volume. Large 8vo. With engraved title-vignette signed by A. Vien, 8 lithographed plates in the first part by V. Dolet showing Ile Bourbon, Pondichéry, Malacca, Chase au tigre, Madras, a bivouac and Chûte de la Rivière de Gutpurba; 27 numbered full-page engraved plates in the natural history part by Forget, Annedouche, Sebin, Mme. Douliot, Bourgeois, Giraud, Davesne and Dumesnil after Jean Gabriel Prêtre, Delahaye, Mme Bury and Vaillant of mammals, birds, insects and butterflies, 24 of which are exquisitely coloured by hand by "Gérard". Also with one folded map (43 x 44 cm) of the world (except for the Americas) with Delessets journey marked, coloured in outline and printed by Kaeppelin, Paris. Half calf, decorated paper sides. [6], III, 134; [4], 107 pp. Full description
€ 4,950
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The natural history, politics and medicine of India and Persia, with a section on Muscat

FRYER (FREYER), John. Negenjaarige reyse door Oostindien en Persien, ... Begonnen met den jaare 1672 en geeyndigt met den jaare 1681.
The Hague, Abraham de Hondt, Jacobus van Ellinkhuysen and Meyndert Uytwerf, 1700. 4to. With engraved frontispiece, engraved author's portrait, 3 folding engraved maps, 7 folding engraved views and other plates, and several woodcut illustrations in text. Contemporary vellum. [8], 566, [26] pp. Full description
€ 3,750
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The official printed record of the most important 19th-century exploratory expedition into Indochina

GARNIER, Francis. Voyage d'exploration en Indo-Chine effectué pendant les années 1866, 1867 et 1868 par une commission Française présidiée par M. le capitaine de frégate Doudart de Lagrée et publié dans les ordres du ministre de la marine sous la direction de M. le lieutenant de vaisseau Francis Garnier avec le concours de M. Delaporte, lieutenant de vaisseau et de MM. Joubert et Thorel, médécins de la marine, membres de la commission.
Paris, Librairie Hachette et Cie, 1873. 2 text volumes and 1 atlas volume in 2 parts. Large 4to text volumes, and folio atlas. With a lithographed portrait of Doudart de Lagrée, 53 full-page maps and views, and 157 illustrations in the text. The atlas with 69 lithographed maps, plans and views. Contemporary gold- and blind-tooled quarter red morocco, with the title lettered in gold on the spine, red cloth sides with blind tooled borders on the front and back, gilt edges, watered silk end papers. V, [3], 580, [4]; [6], 523, [5]; [6], XII pp. Full description
€ 50,000
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The gastropods of Anatolia, with 17 plates

GERMAIN, Louis. Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles d'Asie-Mineure.
Paris, Paul Lechevalier (colophon: Rouen, Lecerf), 1936. 8vo. With 17 plates with photographic reproductions and many illustrations in text. Modern brown half morocco, gold-tooled spine; with the original publisher's printed paper wrappers bound in. 492 pp. Full description
€ 375
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Important work on the natural history of Palastine

HASSELQUIST, Friedrich and Carl LINNAEUS. Reise nach Palästina in den Jahren von 1749 bis 1752. auf Befehl ihro Majestät der Königinn von Schweden herausgegeben vond Carl Linnäus aus em Schwedischen.
Rostock, Johann Christian Koppe, 1762 (colophon: Leipzig, Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, 1761). 8vo. With woodcut tailpieces. Contemporary half vellum. [18], 606 pp. Full description
€ 1,800
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Javanese fruits & flowers, with 40 large chromolithographs

HOOLA VAN NOOTEN, Berthe. Fleurs fruits et feuillages choisis de l'ile de Java ... Troisième édition.
Brussels, Leipzig, Librairie Européenne C. Muquardt (printed by Weissenbruch, Brussels), [1880]. 1mo (56.5 x 42 cm). With 40 chromolithographed plates by P. Depannemaeker in Ghent after Hoola van Nooten's original paintings, each accompanied by a page of letterpress text (English and French), giving a description as well as information on the plant's culinary, medical, religious and other uses. Contemporary red half goatskin; rebacked with modern endpapers. [44] ll. Full description
€ 12,500
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24 Japanese colour drawings of lilies, with their romanized Japanese names, and prices of the bulbs

[NURSERY CATALOGUE - JAPAN]. Yuri hana shashin [= Drawings of lily flowers, from life].
[Yokohama?, ca. 1875?]. Very large 4to (39.5 x 27.5 cm). 24 Japanese flower drawings in black and grey ink with watercolour and gouaches, on Japanese (kozo/paper mulberry?) paper, with the romanized Japanese name, and the price of the bulbs (in francs and centimes) and sometimes colours or other information in French. Contemporary brown Japanese paste-paper wrappers with a bird and flower motif, stab-sewn at the head. [24] ll. Full description
€ 4,950
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The most extensive, precise and complete descriptions of Java ca. 1850, beautifully illustrated

JUNGHUHN, Franz Wilhelm. Java, zijne gedaante, zijn plantentooi en inwendige bouw. ... Tweede verbeterde uitgave.
Including: JUNGHUHN, Franz Wilhelm. Atlas van platen, bevattende elf pittoreske gezigten. − Behoorende tot het werk Java, zijne gedaante, zijn plantentooi en inwendige bouw.
Den Haag, C.W. Mieling, 1853-1854. 4 text volumes and 1 plates volume. Large 8vo (26 x 17.5 cm: text volumes 1-4) and large folio (44 x 31.5 cm: plates volume). Each text volume with a lithographic title-page, vol. 1 with the text blue on white and vols. 2-4 with the text white on buff; the plates volume with a double-page letterpress title-page. Further with 12 double-page chromolithographed or double-tinted lithographed views: 1 as frontispiece to vol. 1 and 11 (43 x 58 cm; image 31 x 43 cm to 38 x 54 cm, 5 numbered VII, VIII, X, XI & XV) in the atlas volume; most in black, buff and blue and at least most drawn by Junghuhn and lithographed by Mieling (all but the frontispiece signed by the latter), and 51 black and white lithographic plates (45 folding) with topographic maps, views, cross-sections, etc. Contemporary half red sheepskin(?), (text vols.) and goatskin morocco (atlas vol.), gold-tooled spines. Bound by Hendrik Willem Ywema (1828-1905) in Utrecht. 16, VIII, 17-671; XII, 538; 539-1432; VIII, 498 pp. plus title-pages & plates. Full description
€ 32,500
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Beautiful, detailed and accurate Japanese colour drawings, mostly botanical, on 85 double-page spreads

KEIEN. Kengyu-ka shasei [= Morning glory sketches].
Japan, Meiji 31?, 34-36 [=1898?, 1901-1903]. Very large 8vo? (28 x 20.5 cm). With 85 double-page (mostly botanical) drawings in black ink on Japanese paper, each showing 1, 2 or 3 figures, sometimes with additional detail drawings, nearly all coloured in watercolour and/or gouache and most with captions identifying the subject and/or giving the date. Front wrapper with the title in Japanese in black ink. Wrapper-title plus [85] double-page spreads. Full description
€ 6,500
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First western book on bonsai trees

LIEGELSTEINER, George. Wohlgezogener Zwerg-Baum oder Gründlicher Unterricht wie die Frantz-Bäume gewartet werden müssen, ...
Leipzig, Wolffgang Deer, 1747. 8vo. With woodcut frontispiece, 8 engraved figures on 1 folding plate, and about 30 woodcut figures in the text. Contemporary half tanned sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. [1 blank], [11], 143, [9] pp. Full description
€ 3,500
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The first comprehensive work on Japanese marine shells, with 37 chromo-lithographed plates

LISCHKE, Carl Emil. Japanische Meeres-Conchylien.
Kassel, for Theodor Fischer (colophon: Elberfeld, by R.L. Friderichs & Comp.), 1869-1874. 3 volumes. 4to. With 37 chromo-lithographed plates. Contemporary blind- and gold-blocked cloth. [4], 192; [4], 184; 123, [1 blank] pp. Full description
€ 4,500
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Short manuscript descriptions of various birds, animals, plants and trees found in the forests of Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

[MANUSCRIPT - CEYLON - NATURAL HISTORY]. Schets van eenige zoorten van dieren welke in de bosschen omstreeks Cijlon gevonden worden.
[Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Netherlands?], [18th or 19th century?]. 8vo (16.5 x 10.5 cm). Written in a late 18th-century or early 19th-century cursive in French and Dutch.
With: (2) [MANUSCRIPT - FRENCH & DUTCH POEMS AND SONGS]. [Quelques Chansons]. Contemporary decorated paper wrappers. [28] pp. Full description
€ 1,750
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The first European botanical work describing Indian herbs and diseases,
copy from the Cornelius J. Hauck collection

ORTA, Garcia de, Carolus CLUSIUS and Nicolás MONARDES. Due libri dell'historia de i semplici aromati..
Venice, Francesco Ziletti, 1582. 8vo. With a woodcut printer's device on the title-page, 17 woodcut illustratons in text and numerous woodcut decorated initials (at least 4 series).
18th-century limp parchment, sewn on 2 leather supports, laced through the joints. [24], 347, [5] pp. Full description
€ 4,750
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One of the few known copies of one of the most remarkable ichthyological works ever, containing 100 extraordinary and brightly hand-coloured plates of tropical and fantastic fishes in the Indo-Pacific

RENARD, Louis. Poissons ecrevisses et crabes, de diverses couleurs et figures extraordinaires, que l'on trouve autour des Isles Moluques et sur les côtes des Terres Australes.
Amsterdam, Reinier & Josua Ottens, 1754. 2 volumes bound as 1. Folio. Title-page in red and black, a divisional-title for each volume and 100 engraved plates, vividly hand-coloured as published, showing 460 fishes and other marine animals. Contemporary calf, richly-gold tooled spine and bords, green morocco spine label with title in gold, decorated edges, marbled endpapers. Preserved in a professionally made black cloth box. [7] ll., 43 plates; [1] leaf, LVII plates, [4] ll. Full description
€ 125,000
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60 splendid plates of East Indian shellfish, crustaceans and other marine specimens

RUMPHIUS, Georg Everhard. d'Amboinsche rariteitkamer, behelzende eene beschryvinge van aleerhande zoo weeke als harde schaalvisschen, te weete raare krabben, kreeften, en diergelyke zeedieren, als mede allerhande hoorntjes en schulpen, die men in d'Amboinsche zee vindt: daar benevens zommigen mineraalen, gesteenten, en soorten van aarde, die in d'Amboinsche, en zommige omleggende eilanden gevonden worden.
Amsterdam, Jan Roman de jonge, 1741. Royal folio (44 x 27.5 cm). With engraved title-page, engraved author's portrait, 60 engraved plates and 5 engraved vignettes. Contemporary red half roan (sheepskin). [24], 340, [43], [1 blank] pp. Full description
€ 8,500
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Enlarged 2nd edition (with 3 extra plates) of an eye-witness account of Aleppo in the 1740s and 1750s

RUSSELL, Alexander. The natural history of Aleppo.
London, printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, 1794. 4to With an engraved frontispiece and 20 numbered engraved plates (including 5 folding) on 19 sheets. Contemporary calf with gold-tooled spine labels, red edges. XXIV, 446, XXIII, [3]; VII, [1], 430, XXXIV, [26] pp. Full description
€ 6,500
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Descriptions of 5 exotic animals from the cabinet of Schlosser, with striking coloured plates

SCHLOSSER, Johan Albert. Epistola ad ... Ferdinandum Dejean, ... de Lacerta Amboinensi. | Brief ... aan ... Ferdinand Dejean, ... Behelzende eene naauwkeurige beschrijving der Amboinsche haagdis.
Amsterdam, for the author, 1768. With a folding engraved plate of the Amboinese lizard in two copies, one coloured by a contemporary hand.
With:
(2) BODDAERT, Petrus. Epistola ad ... Johannem Burmannum, ... De Chaetodonte argo. | Brief ... aan Johannes Burmannus, ... Behelzende eene naauwkeurige beschrijving van den gevlakten klipvisch.
Amsterdam, Cornelius van Tongerlo, 1770. With a folding engraved plate, coloured by a contemporary hand.
(3) BODDAERT, Petrus. Epistola ad ... W. Roëll, ... De Testudine cartilaginea. | Brief ... aan ... W. Roëll, ... Behelzende eene naaukeurige beschrijving van de kraakbeenige schildpad.
Amsterdam, Cornelius van Tongerlo, 1770. With a folding engraved plate, coloured by a contemporary hand.
(4) BODDAERT, Petrus. Epistola ad ... Johannem Oosterdyk Schacht, ... De Rana bicolore. | Brief ... aan .. Johannes Oosterdyk Schacht, behelzende eene naaukeurige beschrijving van den twee-koleurige kikvorsch.
Amsterdam, M. Magerum, 1772. With 3 folding engraved plates, coloured by a contemporary hand.
(5) BODDAERT, Petrus. Epistola ad ... Hier. Dav. Gaubium, ... De Chaetodonte diacantho. | Brief ... aan ... Hieronimus David Gaubius, ... behelzende eene naauwkeurige beschrijving van den tweedoornigen klipvisch.
Amsterdam, M. Magerum, 1772. With a folding engraved plate, coloured by a contemporary hand.
5 works in 1 volume. Large 4to (31 x 25.5 cm). Contemporary half calf. [2], 18 ll.; [4], 43, [1]; [4], 39, [1]; 48; 43, [1] pp. Full description
€ 7,500
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Newly discovered shells from the Arabian Gulf, Taiwan, China and Japan, with a chromolithographed plate

SMITH, Edgar. Descriptions of five new shells from the Island of Formosa and the Persian Gulf, and notes upon a few known species.Including: BOCK, Carl. Descriptions of two new species of shells from China and Japan.
[London], 18 June 1878. With a chromolithographed plate depicting 14 shells. Modern paper wrappers. 727-732 pp. Full description
€ 850
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Much enlarged edition of a classic of natural history and discoveries in the Far East

SONNERAT, Pierre. Voyage aux Indes Orientales et à la Chine, fait par ordre de Louis XVI, depuis 1774 jusqu'en 1781; dans lequel on traite des moers, de la religion, des sciences et des arts des Indiens, des Chinois, des Pégouins et des Madégasses; suivi d'observations sur le Cap de Bonne-Espérance, les îles de France et de Bourbon, les Maldives, Ceylan, Malacca, les Philippines et les Moluques, et de rechereches sur l'histoire naturelle de ces pays, etc, etc. ... Nouvelle édition.
Paris, Dentu, 1806. 4 text volumes (8vo) and 1 atlas (4to). With 140 numbered engraved plates: a double-page plan of the city of Pondichéry, India, 19 double- and 120 single-page views and plates. Contemporary red half sheepskin (text) and modern red half cloth (atlas). Text volumes: XXVIII, 372; [4], 445; [4], 412, [2]; [4], 488, [1] pp. Full description
€ 4,500
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From a series of "the finest engravings of flowers ever made" by the teacher of Redouté

SPAENDONCK, Gerard van. Neflier cultivé. Mespilus germanica. L. [From: Fleurs dessinées d'après nature,... Recueil utile aux amateurs, aux jeunes artistes, aux élèves des écoles centrales et aux dessinateurs des manufactures].
[Paris, 1799-1801]. Stipple engraving on unwatermarked wove paper (56.5 x 42 cm), printed in colour à la poupée and finished by hand, of a Mespilus germanica, showing a branch with five medlars in various sizes, signed "P.F. Le Grand sculp." In passepartout. Full description
€ 2,750
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From a series of "the finest engravings of flowers ever made" by the teacher of Redouté

SPAENDONCK, Gerard van. Reine-marguerite. Aster chinensis L. [From: Fleurs dessinées d'après nature,... Recueil utile aux amateurs, aux jeunes artistes, aux élèves des écoles centrales et aux dessinateurs des manufactures].
[Paris, 1799-1801]. Stipple engraving on unwatermarked wove paper (56 x 37.5 cm), printed in colour à la poupée and finished by hand, of a Callistephus chinensis showing three fully opened and two half opened flowers, signed "P.F. Le Grand sculp."In passepartout. Full description
€ 2,750
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The first scientific work on Hemiptera, with 70 hand-coloured, detailed plates of insects

STOLL, Caspar. Natuurlyke en naar 't leeven naauwkeurig gekleurde afbeeldingen en beschryvingen der cicaden en wantzen, in alle vier waerelds deelen Europa, Asia, Africa en America huishoudende.
Amsterdam, J.C. Sepp, [1780-]1788. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to (ca. 28.5 x 23 cm). With 40 handcoloured plates of insects and a handcoloured floral frontispiece at the start of each volume. Comprising:
(1) STOLL, Caspar. Natuurlyke en naar 't leeven naauwkeurig gekleurde afbeeldingen en beschryvingen der cicaden.
Amsterdam, J. C. Sepp, 1788.
(2) STOLL, Caspar. Natuurlyke en naar 't leeven naauwkeurig gekleurde afbeeldingen en beschryvingen der wantzen.
Amsterdam, J. C. Sepp, 1788. Contemporary gold-tooled brown calf. 124; 172 pp. Full description
€ 4,950
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14 Chinese colour drawings on pith paper, showing 72 fish and seashells, some in metallic colours

[SUNQUA?]. [Chinese fish and seashells].
[Guangzhen (Canton)?, Sunqua?, ca. 1845/55?]. Oblong folio album (26.5 x 34.5 cm). 14 drawings depicting 72 fish and seashells in coloured gouaches, the fish with gold and silver speckles to give a metallic effect to the scales, executed on pith paper (18 x 29 cm), framed with 4 strips of blue silk, and with a loose tissue leaf inserted before each drawing. Contemporary boards, covered with yellow-green silk. [14] ll. Full description
€ 18,000
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One of the theses defended under the professorship of Thunberg in Uppsala

THUNBERG, Carl Peter (praeses) and Petruus Magnus ACKSELL. Fauna Chinensis. Quam venis. exp. Facult. Med. Upsal. Praeside C.P. Thunberg ... P.P. Petrus Magnus Acksell a Sacris Med. Theolog. Gestricio Helsingus. In Audit. Botanico die XII Junii MDCCCXXIII.
Uppsala, Palmblad et C, [1823]. 4to. Unbound. [4], 8 pp. Full description
€ 1,850
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Chinese botany and agriculture, North America, Linnaeus and Benjamin Franklin

TORÉN, Olof. Voyage de Mons. Olof Torée[,] Aumonier de la Compagnie Suedoise des Indes Orientales, fait à Surate, à la Chine &c.
Milan, Reycends brothers, 1771.
With:
(2) ECKEBERG, Carl Gustaf. Précis historique de l'économie rurale des Chinois.
Milan, Reycends brothers, 1771.
(3) BLACKFORD, Dominique de. Précis de l'état actuel des colonies Angloises dans l'Amérique Septentrionale.
Milan, Reycends brothers, 1771. 3 works in 1 volume. 12mo. Contemporary French mottled calf, gold-tooled spine. 92; [4], 47, [1 blank]; 99, [1] pp. Full description
€ 3,250
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First edition of Johan van Twist's description of India

TWIST, Johan van. Generale beschrijvinghe van Indien. Ende in 't besonder van 't Coninckrijck van Guseratten, staende onder de beheersinge van den groot machtighen coninck Chaiahan: anders genaemt den grooten Mogor. ...
Including:
- Corte beschrijvinghe van het coninckrijcke Cuncam, ofte Decam, staende onder de beheersinge, van den grootmachtigen Sultan, Mamedh, Idelxa, Coninck van Visiapour.
- Aenwijsinge van meest alle custen, drooghten ende reden, om door gansch Indien te seylen.
Batavia, Druckerye vande Gansen Pen, 1638 [= Amsterdam, J. Jansonius 1645]. 3 parts in 1 volume. Oblong 4to. Later half vellum. [12], 112 pp. Full description
€ 1,750
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Lovely rare Japanese sale catalogue of lilies with 40 chromolithographs plus another on the front wrapper

[YOKOHAMA NURSERY CO. - YOKOHAMA UEKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA]. Lilies of Japan.
Yokohama, Japan, The Yokohama Nursery Company, November 1907. 4to (26 x 18.5 cm). With XXXX numbered magnificent chromolithographed plates of lilies. Chromolithographed wrappers with an arrangement of lilies and the title "Lilies of Japan" on the front, side-stitched in Japanese manner with black yarn through 2 pair of holes. [3], XXXX [=40], [1] pp. Full description
€ 3,750
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33 books books found / Show pages