Highlights

VIRGILIUS MARO, Publius. Codex antiquissimus a Rufio Turcio Aproniano V.C. distinctus et emendatus qui nunc Florentiae in Bibliotheca Mediceo-Laurentiana adservatur bono publico typis descriptus anno MDCCXLI.
Florence, Typis Mannianis (the printer Joseph and his son Domenico Maria Manni), [1741]. 4to (25.5 x 18 cm). With an engraved dedication by the editor Pietro Francesco Fogginio to the members of the prestigious Académie Royale des inscriptions et beaux-arts as a frontispiece, an engraved vignette on the title page (a portrait of Virgil holding a mask) engraved by "Sarder ex Mus. Medic.". An engraved illustration of Virgil as a headpiece at the start of the text, engraved after the portrait in one of the two other late antique Virgil manuscripts: the Virgilius Romanus in the Vatican library (Cod. Vat. 3867). Further with a beautiful engraved historiated initial on the same page; engraved specimen of three lines of the manuscript (13 x 3 cm) on p. XV; and two tailpieces (on pp. XVI and 459). The text is printed in red and black (the title page, the first lines and corrections in the text). Contemporary gold-tooled red morocco. [4], XXXVI, 459 pp. Full description

VIRGILIUS MARO, Publius. Opera. Vol. I.
London, John Pine, 1755 [= actually some years later]. 8vo. With 2 different vignettes on the otherwise identical engraved title pages, an engraved frontispiece with a figure of the muse Euterpe, 2 engraved dedication leaves with vignettes, 1 folding and 49 full-page engraved plates on 39 leaves (11 of the leaves with a plate on each side), 31 engraved half-page plates and historiated head- and tailpieces, engraved historiated and decorated initials. Some of the images are derived from the illustrations in the Codex Vaticanus, a 5th-century codex containing the works of Virgil. Late-19th-century gold-tooled crushed red morocco, bound by the famous partnership of René Chambolle (1834-1898) and Hippolyte Duru (1803-1898) (with their names gold-stamped in the bottom front turn-in). The boards show a double fillet frame with detailed, ornate flowers and vines along the inside of the frame, with the author, title, and imprint lettered in gold on the gold-tooled spine, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins, gilt top edge, marbled endpapers. The binding can be dated between 1861 and ca. 1870, the heyday of the Chambolle-Duru partnership representing the high level of the Golden Age of French bibliophile binding. [8], XV, [2], 144, [6] pp. Full description

VOSMAER, Arnout. [Natuurkundige beschryving eener uitmuntende verzameling van zeldsaame gedierten, bestaande in Oost- en Westindische viervoetige dieren, vogelen en slangen, weleer leevend voorhanden geweest zynde, buiten Den Haag, op het Kleine Loo van Z.D.H. den prins van Oranje-Nassau].
Amsterdam, P. Meijer (parts 1- 14 and 29-31) and heirs of P. Meijer and G. Warnars (parts 15-20), 1766-1787. 31 parts in 1 volume. 4to (26.5 x 20.5 cm). With 33 hand-coloured engraved plates and 1 uncoloured folding engraved plate. 19th-century black half morocco, gold-tooled spine. 15; 8; 8; 12; 22; 8; 9; 6; 7; 7; 7; 10; 8; 20; 12; 6; 6; 6; 10; 10; 6; 6; 8; 8; 23; 15; 12; 14; 14; 44; 12 pp. Full description

[WICQUEFORT, Abraham de]. Advis fidelle aux veritables Hollandois. Touchant ce qui s'est passé dans les villages de Bodegrave & Swammerdam, & les cruautés inoüies, que les François y ont exercées. Avec un memoire de la derniere marche de l'armée du Roy de France en Brabant & en Flandre.
[The Hague, Jan and Daniel Steucker], 1673. 4to. With 10 scenes on the horrors of war on 8 folding engraved plates (ca. 31 x 20 cm) by Romeyn de Hooghe. Contemporary vellum, with the gold-stamped and crowned initials "E.F.V.D" on the front board. [1, 1 blank], 202 pp. Full description

WILKES, Benjamin. One hundred and twenty copper-plates of English moths and butterflies, representing their changes into the caterpillar, chrysalis, and fly-states, and the plants, flowers, and fruits, whereon they feed. Coloured with great exactness from the subjects themselves. With a natural history of the moths and butterflies, describing the method of managing, preserving, and feeding them.
London, R. N. Rose (printed by G. Verrall, Worthing), 1824. 4to. With 120 engraved plates (mainly 27.5 x 22.5 cm) hand-coloured for the author. Mid-19th-century half gold-tooled dark green morocco. VIII, [22], 63, [5] pp. Full description

WINSEMIUS, Pierius. Chronique ofte historische geschiedenisse van Vrieslant. Beginnende vanden jaere nae des Werelts scheppinghe 3635. ende loopende tot den jaere nae de gheboorte Christi.
Franeker, Jan Lamrinck, 1622. Folio. With an engraved allegorical title page, a large engraved coat of arms of the province of Friesland, a large folding engraved map of Friesland, 3 folding engraved plans. Further with (in the text) 49 half-page, full-length engraved portraits, 2 engraved costume plates, 2 plans of sieges, 1 view 6 seals and coats of arms of Friesland at the end. Also with many woodcut decorated initials and woodcut head- and tailpieces. All engraved and woodcut illustrations are beautifully coloured by a contemporary hand. Contemporary gold-tooled sprinkled calf. [10], 913, [61] pp. Full description

WOLLASTON, Francis. Fasciculus astronomicus, containing observations of the northern circumpolar region; together with some account of the instrument with which they were made: and a new set of tables, by which they were reduced to the mean position for the beginning of January 1800. To which are added a few other papers and precepts, which it was imagined might be acceptable to the practical astronomer.
London, printed by Luke Hansard, sold by G. Wilkie and D. Bremner, 1800. 4to (27 x ca. 21 cm). With a divisional title page for part 2. Contemporary gold-tooled marbled calf, re-backed with the original backstrip laid down. [3], [1 blank], 256; 87, [1] pp. Full description