Machiavel, Nicolas [Niccolò Machiavelli].

[The Works of Nicholas Machiavel]. Containing the following Works: The History of Florence / The Prince, Together with the Original of Guelf and Ghibilin, Life of Castruccio Castracani, Murther of Vitelli, &c. by Duke Valentino, State of France, State of Germany. / The Discourses of Nicholas Machiavel, upon the First Decade of Titus Livius. / The Art of War. / The Marriage of Belphegor. Also The Publisher to the Reader, concerning the following Letter & The Author’s Introduction.

London, Printed for A. Churchill, R. Bonwick, T. Goodwin et al, 1720. C. 32 x 20 cm. TP [History of Florence], (2) [Epistle to Clement VII], (10) [TOC], 180 pages (Florence], (4) [TP & Dedication: The Prince], pages 199-267 [The Prince], (4) [TP & Dedication: Discourses], pages 267-431 [Discourses], (4) [TP &c. The Art of War], pages 433-523 [The Art of War], pages 524-529 [The Marriage of Belphegor], pages 530-532 [Preface to the Reader], (1) [Epistle to Clement VII], (3) [The Author’s Introduction]. Numerous pages misnumbered: 169-170, 175-179, 235, 265. New (2024) half leather over marbled boards. New end papers. Spine labels. Text block in good condition. Missing overall title page [Works of Machiavel]. Heavy edge wear, particularly to first and last pages, with paper losses, but not affecting text. Large section (c. 50%) of page 26/26 missing. Closed tear to page 509/510. Paper darkened with some damp staining and occasional foxing.

Polano, Pietro Soaue (author) / Brent, Nathanael (translator).

The Historie of the Councel of Trent [History of the Council of Trent]. Containing eight Bookes. In which (besides the ordinarie Actes of the Councell) are declared many notable occurances, which happened in Christendome, during the space of fourtie yeeres and more. And, particularly, the practises of the Court of Rome, to hinder the reformation of their errors, and to maintaine their greatnesse. Written in Italian by Pietro Soaue Polano, and faithfully translated into English by Nathanel Brent.

First Edition in English. London, Printed by Robert Barker, and Iohn Bill, Printers to the King’s most Excellent Maiestie, 1620. 32 x 20 cm. Titel page with Vignette, (8) [Dedication & To The Reader], 825 pages, (16) [Index]. Collation: TP, q3-q6, A1-Z6, Aa1-Zz6, Aaa1-Aaa6, Aaaa1-Bbbb3. Old calf. Later spine label and end papers. Speckled edges. Six Raised bands. Very good condition. Some shelf wear, rubbing and bumping. Ex Library (Dominican Convent Cabra) with two small library stamps on ffep. Internally a bright and clean copy. Some minor damp localised damp damage to the fore edge, not affecting text. Overall a very nice copy in a sturdy leather binding. See images.

Mackay, Charles.

Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions.

First Edition. Volumes 1 & 2 bound together in one volume. London, Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, 1841. 21 x 13 cm. Vol.1: vi, (2) [TOC], 400 pages . Vol. 2: (2) [TOC], 406 pages. Each volume with a tissue guarded Frontispiece. Polished dark calf with elaborate gilt and blind decorations to boards and spine. All edges gilt. Marbled end papers. See images. Very good condition. Binding mildly rubbed and bumped. Spine label appears to be missing. Ex Libris of previous owner on front paste down. Small bookbinder label (‘C.C. Wetton, Bookbinder, Egham’) on front paste down. Name of a previous owner in ink on top of Frontispiece of volume 1. Occasional mild foxing, mainly to first and last few pages. Internally bright and clean. A very nice copy, in an attractive leather binding. See images.

[Macfarquhar, Colin & Gleig, George – Chief Editors]

Encyclopaedia Britannica. Three Plates Volumes with 460 Plates. Volumes 1, 3 & 4 (including the Plates issued as a Supplement in 1801-03.

Third Edition & Supplement to 3rd Edition. Three volumes of four. [Edinburgh], [Privately published by Andrew Bell, Archibald Constable & Colin Macfarquhar], [1788 – 1803]. c. 26 x 20 cm. Vol.1: Plates 1 – 161 / Vol. 3: Plates 292 – 446 / Vol. 4: Plates 447 – 542 and 1 – 50. See comments below for noted ‘anomalies’. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. Red spine labels with gilt title. Gilt decorations and volume numbers in gilt. Very good condition. Bindings rubbed and bumped with wear to spine and ends and corners (see images). Edges age darkened. Joints cracked, but bindings remain sound. Spine leather dried and cracked. Internally dust dulled, but generally clean. A few closed tears and some edge wear to some plates. Overall a very nice collection of more than 450 plates. See images.

Nelson, E. Charles (text) / Brown, Patrick (text) / Walsh, Wendy (illustrations).

Flowers of Mayo. Dr Patrick Browne’s Fasciculus Plantarum Hiberniae 1788. Introduced, Transcribed & Edited by E. Charles Nelson F.L.S. Original Watercolours & Vignettes by Wendy Walsh.

First and Limited Edition. No. 3 / 150. Dublin, Eamonn De Burca for Edmund Burke Publisher, 1995. Folio. (10), 275 pages, (4). With 15 tipped in colour Plates and other Illustrations. Quarter goatskin on handmade paper, title inset on printed label on upper cover and in gilt on spine; red and maroon endbands. Bevelled boards. Decorated end papers. Please see images. Fine. Inside original green and brown slip case. A very nice copy. Numbered by hand (No. 3) and signed by the Editor, Artist and Publisher.

By A Graduate of Oxford (Vol. 1 and 2) / Ruskin, John.

Modern Painters. Volume I. Containing Parts I and II. / Volume II. Containing Part III. Sections 1. and 2. Of the Imaginative and Theoretic Faculties. / Volume III. Containing Part IV. Of Many Things. / Volume IV. Containing Part V. Of Mountain Beauty. / Volume V. Completing the Work, and Containing Parts VI. Of Leaf Beauty. VII. Of Cloud Beauty. VIII. Of Ideas of Relation. 1. Of Invention Formal. IX. Of Ideas of Relation. 2. Of Invention Spiritual.

Vol. 1: Third Edition – Revised by the Author. Volumes 2-5 First Editions. Five Volumes – Complete Set. London, Smith, Elder and Co. 1846, 1846, 1856, 1856, 1860. 26 x 18 cm. Vol.1: lxiii, 422 pages plus 32 pages publishers list / Vol.2: xvi, 217 pages plus 3 pages publishers list / Vol.3: xix, 348 pages plus 16 pages publishers list and 18 Plates / Vol. 4: xii, 411 pages. With 35 Plates / Vol.5: xvi, 384 pages plus 32 pages publishers list and 34 Plates. Also small illustrations in text. Green cloth with elaborate blind decorations to boards. Gilt titles and decorations on spine. Small binder label in volume 1: ‘Westleys & Clark, London’. Very good condition. All bindings are rubbed, bumped and some are stained. Various degrees of fraying to spine ends. Spines age darkened / browned. Edges and end papers age darkened. Internally dust dulled and occasionally mildly foxed. All Plates are present, a few are lose. Bindings sound. A nice complete set of this important publication.

Shakespeare, William.

The Plays of Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s Poems. From the Text of Dr. Johnson. With the Prefaces, Notes &c. of Rowe, Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, Johnson, and select Notes from many other Critics. Also, the Introduction of the last Editor Mr. Capell; and a Table showing his Various Readings.

13 Volumes – Complete. Dublin, Thomas Ewing, 1771. 14.5 x 9.5 cm. Vol.1: engraved FP and TP / Vol.2-10: engraved TP, some small engravings in text / Vol.13: no engravings. Contemporary calf. Very good condition. Rubbed and bumped with some abrasions to bindings. Edges dust dulled. Volumes 2, 6, 9-12 lacking front free end papers. Some material losses / abrasion to bindings (see images). Some spine labels missing. Occasional damp staining / age darkening. Name of a previous owner on front paste downs. Overall a very nice complete set.

Thornton, Robert John.

Practical Botany. Being a New Illustration of the Genera of Plants, containing … The Whole arranged after the Reformed Sexual System.

First Edition. Volume 1 only. It appears that no other volumes were published. London, H.D. Symonds, J. White and J. Stockdale, 1807. 24 x 15 cm. Engraved Frontispiece, Title Page, Engraved Portrait of James Edward Smith, xviii, 85 text pages (see comments below), eight folding Tables and 102 engraved Plates. New (2022) half Buckram over marbled paper boards. Black morroco label with gilt title and author’s name. New plain end papers. Very good condition. New binding. Internally mildly age darkened / dust dulled, otherwise clean. Edge of one folding Table age darkened and frayed. Some Plates appear to be trimmed (actual page size is 23.8 cm x 15 cm). A very nice copy of this scarce Thornton publication. See images.

Dugdale, William.

Monasticon Anglicanum. Or the History of the Ancient Abbies, Monasteries, Hospitals, Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with their Dependencies, in England and Wales: Also of all such Scotch, Irish, and French Monasteries, as did in any manner relate to those in England. Containing a full Collection of all that is necessary to be known concerning the Abby-Lands, and their Revenues, with a particular Account of their Foundations, Grants and Donations; collected from original MSS. the Records in the Tower of London, at York, and in the Court of Exchequer, and Augmentation Office: As also the Famous Libraries of Bodley, King’s-College, Camb. the Benedictine College at Dowey, Arundel, Cotton, Selden, Hatton, &c. Illustrated with original Cuts of the Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, and the Habits of the Religious and Military Orders. First publish’d in Latin by Sir William Dugdale, Kt. Late Garter Principal King at Arms. To which is added, Exact Catalogues of the Bishops of the several Dioceses, to the Year 1717. The whole corrected, and supplied with many Useful Additions, by an Eminent Hand.

Three volumes in One. London, Printed by R. Harbin; for D. Brown and J. Smith et al., 1718. 34.5 x 21 cm. New blank, engraved frontispiece, TP, xvi [Preface], 124 [Volume the First], 125-244 [Volume the Second], 241-375 [Volume the Third], (8) [Index], (1) [Publishers List), blank. With 104 Plates (1-103 with two Plates numbered 101), of which 16 Plates are folding. New (2025) brown half leather over marbled boards. Black spine labels with gilt titles. Gilt decorations. Marbled end papers. Please see images. Very good condition. New binding and end papers. Edges dust dulled. Very few small library stamps. Ocassional mild foxing / darkening. Otherwise internally very clean. A very nice copy.

Smith, Charles Hamilton.

Selections of the Ancient Costume of Great Britain & Ireland. From the Seventh to the Sixteenth Century, out of the Collection in the Possession of the Author.

First Edition. London, William Bulmer and Co. Shakespeare Press. For Messrs. Colnaghi and Co., 1814. 36.5 x 26.5 cm. Frontispiece, Decorated Title Page, Title Page, Engraved Dedication Page, viii [Preface], (4) [subscribers & List of Plates]. 60 unpaginated coloured Plates with text description pages. Complete. Conteporary full red morocco with elaborate gilt and blind decorations. All edges gilt. Very good condition. Some shelf wear, rubbing and bumping. Tiny loss to top of spine (see images). Armorial Ex Libris of previous owner (‘Deburgh, Earl of Clanricarde’) on front paste down. Mild age darkening throughout. Small stain affecting the top of one plate (see images). Otherwise very clean, with beautiful colour. A great copy. Please review all the images on our web site.