Forum Rare Books

An intellectual snapshot of pre-Revolutionary France

[MANUSCRIPT - FRENCH]. [18th-century manuscript in French, concerning King Louis XVI and a dictionary of old French].
[France?, second half of the 18th century]. Folio (ca. 36.5 x 23 cm). French manuscript on paper, written in a neat 18th-century hand in brown and black ink, 26-28 lines to the page. Repurposed vellum from a 17th-century manuscript, with the manuscript title "Miscellanea" on the front board and the spine, and 2 pairs of cloth ties. 267, [2], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias France History / 18th Century Language & Linguistics Law & Politics Literature Manuscripts & Documents Religion (18th Century) Science

Early 18th-century Dutch student's manuscript on navigation and mathematics

[MANUSCRIPT - NAVIGATION - DUTCH]. De schat kamer ofte de konst der stuurlieden.
[The Netherlands], [ca. 1702/13?]. Folio (33.5 x 21.5 cm). With more than 300 mathematical figures and illustrations, mainly full-, half- and quarter-circle diagrams. The Dutch text is written in a clearly legible, 18th-century cursive hand in brown ink. Contemporary flexible paperboards. [213], [4 blank], [1] pp. Full description

€ 3,850

Manuscripts & Documents Mathematics Navigation

Attractively bound and beautifully calligraphed late-18th-century German prayer book

[MANUSCRIPT - PRAYER BOOK - GERMAN]. Andachts Eyfer Worinnen enthalten Fruh- Abend- Meess Beicht und Kommunion dann andere heilige Gebether. Geschrieben in Jaht Christi 1791 von Johann Karl Erbes.
[Germany], 1791. 8vo (18.5 x 11 cm). Written in a clear Roman script by Johann Karl Erbes, title in a structured floral frame, all text is written in 15 to 18 lines per page, all within a manuscript floral frame. Contemporary gold-tooled black morocco. The work is kept in a mottled leather and floral paste paper slipcase. [1 blank], [2], [1 blank], 206, [2], [6] pp. Full description

€ 850

Book of Hours, Missals & Prayerbooks Calligraphy Germany Manuscripts & Documents

Contemporary manuscript from Córdoba on the life of Juan de Santiago,
with an extra paragraph not present in the printed editions of the work

[MANUSCRIPT - SPANISH - Vincent MORALES]. Compendio de la exemplar vida, y santa muerte, [d]el p[adre] Juan de S[an]tiago...
[Córdoba?], ca. 1770. 8vo. With a large engraving of Juan de Santiago on the second leaf and a pen drawing on page 102. Contemporary limp parchment. [4], "159" [= 162] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Bibliography & Biography Catholicism & Eastern Orthodox Church Manuscripts & Documents Spain

Recommending a rising star for the chair of Arabic at Algiers

MARCEL, Jean-Joseph. [Autograph letter, signed, of recommendation for Louis Bresnier].
Paris, 9 September 1836. Folio (36 x 23 cm). Letter in brown ink on wove paper. [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Arabic Printing & Calligraphy Autographs & Letters Egypt Literature North Africa

A notable narrative with detailed information on Northwest America, in splendid bindings

MARCHAND, Étienne and Charles Pierre Claret de FLEURIEU. Voyage autour du monde, pendant les anneés 1790, 1791 et 1792, par Étienne Marchand, précédé d'une introduction historique; auquel on a joint des recerches sur les terres Australes de Drake, et un examen critique du voyage de Roggeween.
Paris, De l'imprimerie de la République, [1798-1800]. 6 volumes: 5 text volumes and 1 atlas. Large 8vo (23 x 15 cm) and 4to atlas. With 3 folding tables with vocabulary in 3rd volume and 15 engraved maps and 1 engraved plate in atlas volume. Contemporary light brown calf, gold-tooled spine gilt with star and flower pattern and 2 red morocco title labels, gold-tooled ornamental borders on the boards, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins, gilt edges (COURTEVAL). [4], VIII, CCI, [3], 294, [2]; VII, [1], 529, [1]; [2], VIII, 474, [2]; VIII, 494, [2]; XII, 559, [5]; [2], VIII, 158, [2] pp. Full description

€ 27,500

Alaska Anthropology & Ethnography Bindings Canada & Greenland Charts & Maps Hawaii Navigation North America Pacific Islands Travel & Voyages North America Travel & Voyages Pacific

Important early bio-bibliographical dictionary, bound for the Dutch minister Jacques Renaud Bouillier

MARCHAND, Prosper. Dictionaire historique, ou Memoires critiques et litteraires, concernant la vie et les ouvrages de divers personnages distingués, particulierement dans la republique des lettres.
The Hague, Pierre de Hondt, 1758-1759. 2 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With an engraved plate. Contemporary half calf, richly gold-tooled spine with floral ornaments. [10], 330, [6]; [2], 328, [28], [10] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Bibliography & Biography Bindings Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Highly detailed and brightly coloured botanical emblematic fore-edge painting
taken from Camerarius's Symbolorum et emblematum

MARCHESE, Duca Annibale. Tragedie Cristiane.
Naples, Felice Mosca, 1729. 2 volumes in 1. Large 8vo. With two title-pages in red and black, an engraved frontispiece by Jeremias Jakob Sedelmayr after Francesco Solimena, an engraved author's portrait by Antonio Baldi and 11 engraved plates by Sedelmayr and Baldi after Solimena, accompanying the 10 tragedies and the dedication. Also with some engraved initials, woodcut tailpieces and 40 pages of engraved polyphonic music for the choruses. Contemporary gold-tooled brown goatskin morocco, gilt and gauffered edges with an intricate fore-edge painting, incorporating both a closed and fanned design for the fore-edge. The head and foot edges are painted with floral and botanical designs. [4], [16], 502; [4], 504, [2]; pp. plus 40 pp. of engraved music. Full description

€ 8,500

Bindings Drawings & Watercolours Italian Literature Italy Literature

19th-century geological reference book
from the bibliographical library of the book collector William P. Wreden

MARGERIE, Emmanuel de. Catalogue des bibliographies géologiques. Rédigé, avec le concours des membres de la commission bibliographique du congrès.
Paris, Gauthier-Villars et fils, 1896. 4to. Later cloth over wooden boards, gilt-lettered title on spine, with the original grey publisher's wrappers bound at the end of the book. XX, 733, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 350

Bibliography & Biography Earth Sciences Geology

Key historical text on the Tonga Islands, from the library of the fallen Empress Marie-Louise

MARINER, William and John MARTIN (editor). Histoire des naturels des Iles Tonga ou des Amis, situées dans l'Océan Pacifique depuis leur découverte par le Capitaine Cook; rédigée par John Martin, sur les détails fournis par William Mariner, qui y a passé plusieurs années; ...
Paris, Gide and Nicolle (back of half-title: Imprimerie de J. Smith), 1817. 2 volumes. 8vo. Contemporary red half morocco, gold-tooled spine, paper sides with the crowned monogram of Empress Marie-Louise in gold on both sides of each volume. XXII, [23]-398, [2]; 398 pp. Full description