Asher Rare Books

Rare treatise on the perspective of shadows

ADHÉMAR, Joseph Alphonse. Traité des ombres. Théorie des teintes, des points brillants et de la perspective cavalière. Troisième édition. [Plates volume:] Cours de mathématiques à l'usage des architectes, ingénieurs civils, etc. Applications de géométrie descriptive. Ombres. Quatrième édition.
Paris, Armand Colin, etc.; Berlin; Madrid (plates volume: Paris, Armand Colin), 1870-1874. Text volume and atlas volume. 8vo (text) and folio (atlas). Atlas volume with letterpress title-page and numerous illustrations on 42 numbered engraved plates after the author, including 2 folding double-page plates (one of these numbered 12 bis) and 10 double-page plates. Contemporary uniform red half shagreen, gold-stamped spine, marbled boards. Text volume: X, [1], [1 blank], 388 pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Magnificent illustrated rococo book with Italian poetry, printed in Venice/Belluno

[ALPAGO, Cesare et al.]. Per le nozze del Sig.r. Marchese Guglielmo de' Fulcis, cavalier di Malta, maggiore attuale al servizio delle LL. MM. II. RR. con la Sig'.ra. Contessa Francesca de' Migazzi de Vaal e Sonnenthurn.
[Venice], (colophon: nella stamperia Albrizzi con privilegio dell' Ecc.mo Senato per tutti li rami che adornano le di lui stampe, 1776). Folio (35 x 25 cm). Engraved frontispiece with a decorative rococo border, engraved title in a rococo border incorporating the coat-of-arms of Guglielmo de' Fulcis, engraved full-page colophon on the last leaf; 7 pp. with additional engraved allegorical vignettes, one on C3 signed ''Piazzetta inv.''. Contemporary light green paper wrappers with gold rococo ornamental borders and a gold centre piece with allegorical seated figure on the front and back side of the wrappers, probably made for presentation to the bride, groom or an important person who attended the wedding. [57], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 5,500

Important illustrated study of emblems, with a lengthy treatment of women's emblems

BARGAGLI, Scipione. Dell' imprese die Scipion Bargagli ... Alla prima parte, la seconda, e la terza nucoamente aggiunte.
Venice, Francesco de Franceschi, 1594. Small 4to (20.5 x 15 cm). With oval engraved device on title-page, full-page engraved portrait of Rudolf II, full-page engraved dedicatory emblem, and 138 engraved oval emblems in text. 19th-century half sheepskin parchment. [24], “573” [=604], [15], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Dutch artists and art collectors united against the rebellious Belgians

[BELGIAN REVOLUTION; ART EXHIBITION]. Lyst van kunstwerken, door beoefenaars en verzamelaars bijeengebragt, om verloot te worden te behoeve van het Vaderland; tentoongesteld te Amsterdam, in het Nationale Geregtshof.
Amsterdam, Christiaan Andersen Spin, 1831. 8vo. With a lithographed frontispiece. Slightly later neoclassical gold- and richly blind-tooled long-grained red morocco, gilt edges. [2], 76, 8 pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Pre-fabricated ornamentation

BEUNAT, Joseph. Recueil des dessins dornaments darchitecture de la manufacture de Joseph Beunat. A Sarrebourg, et a Paris, Rue St. Avoye, no. 63. Contenant tout ce qui rapport a la decoration des apartments ...
Sarrebourg and Paris, [ca. 1814]. Large 4to (32.5 x 25 cm). Engraved series of 86 prints (including the decorative title-page) with many hundreds of different designs. Contemporary German tree calf, flat spine with contemporary manuscript paper label in ink. With the original publishers grey printed wrappers bound in, with the title in German. Full description

€ 6,500

Artistic and cultural life in Munich and Dresden in 1763

[BIANCONI, Giovanni Lodovico]. Lettere al marchese Filippo Hercolani ... sopra alcune particolarita della Baveria, ed altri paesi della Germania.
Lucca, Giovanni Riccomini, 1763. 8vo. Contemporary Italian marbled paper over flexible paperboards. XVI, 272 pp. Full description

€ 950

By the founder of the famous dynasty of scenographic designers

GALLI BIBIENA, Ferdinando. Direzioni a' giovani studenti nel desegno dell' architettura civile, nell' Academia Clementina dell' Instituto delle Scienze.- Direzioni della prospettiva teorica, correspondenti a quelle dell' architettura instruzione a' giovani studenti di pittura, e architettura nell' Academia Clementina dell' Instututo delle Scienze.
Bologna, Lelio dalla Volpe, 1745 & 1732. 2 volumes. Small 8vo. With numerous geometrical figures and architectural plans and designs on 74 full-page engraved plates in the first volume, and numerous perspective projections and perspective architectural plans and designs on 58 full-page engraved plates in the second volume, of which 18 folding. Contemporary vellum, red marbled edges. (12), 143, (1); 159, (1) pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Four orations on the importance of art

BILDERDIJK, Willem. Redevoering, over de voortreffelykheid der schilderkunst, in derzelver voorwerp beschouwd. ...1794.
[The Hague, B. Scheurleer junior], 1794.
(2). KASTEELE, Reinier Pieter van de. Redevoering tot lof der vaderlandsche schilders en aanspraak.... 1809.
The Hague, P.F. Gosse, [1809]. With an engraved plate with seals of the Academie engraved by C. Lotter.
(3). KASTEELE, Reinier Pieter van de. Redevoering over het aangename en nuttige van de beoefening der teekenkunde. Uitgesproken in de akademiezaal van Pictura. Op den 3 van Bloeimaand 1810.
The Hague, B. Scheurleer junior, 1810. With an engraved plate with seals of the Academie engraved by C. Lotter.
(4). LIMBURG, T. van. Redevoering over het vermogen der schilderkunst ter gelegenheid van het uitdeelen der prijzen... 1811.
The Hague, B. Scheurleer junior, 1811. 8vo. 4 works in 4 volumes. Contemporary decorated paper wrappers. [24], 22, [2]; [16], 43, [3]; [20], 46; [20], 30 pp. Full description

€ 950

Rare edition of a classic drawing book whose 140 sample plates influenced baroque art

BLOEMAERT, Abraham. Eerste beginselen der teken-kunst, vervattende in haar veelerlei oogen, neusen, monden, ooren, als meede natuurlyke beweegingen van hoofden, troniën, handen, voeten, armen, beenen, enz.
Amsterdam, Reinier & Joachim II Ottens, [ca. 1730]. Folio. With engraved frontispiece self-portrait of Bloemaert engraved by Joachim Ottens, here serving as no. [1] of 140 engraved plates with drawn models of parts of the human body, and human figures and characters in various postures, movements and scenes. Mottled half sheepskin (ca. 1840?). [1] leaf plus plates. Full description

€ 18,000

Salviatis great Counter-Reformation redaction of Boccaccios Decameron,
with the first illustrations made for his text

BOCCACCIO, Giovanni. Il Decameron ... di nuovo ristampato, e riscontrato in Firenze con testi antichi, & alla sua vera lettione ridotto. dal cavalier Lionardo Salviati ... Et ... adornato di bellissime figure ...
Venice, Alessandro Vecchi, 1602. 4to. With Vecchi's on the title-page, a woodcut oval portrait of Boccaccio and 110 woodcut illustrations (mostly about 6.5 x 10 cm). Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [20], “400” [= 488] pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Strikingly hand-coloured humoristic lithographs of anthropomorphic fruits, nuts, and vegetables

BODENHEIM, Nelly (illustrator) en Lizzy ANSINGH. Een vruchtenmandje. Teekeningen van Nelly Bodenheim bij versjes van Lizzy Ansingh.
Amsterdam, De Spiegel, 1927. Folio (ca. 30 x 21.5 cm). All illustrations, including the illustrated front board, are lithographs designed by the illustrator herself on stone and coloured by hand by her as well. The verses by Lizzy Ansingh are written, in colour, by hand in a decorative, ornamental script (varying in style). Contemporary half green cloth portfolio with the original lithographed illustration on the front board, the back board contains the following verse: "Let op de pitten, die binnen in zitten". [1 blank], [24] ll. Full description

€ 5,000

Strikingly hand-coloured lithographs illustrating the humoristic tale of Aunt Beetle's birthday together with 2 original drawings of scenes in the book by Bodenheim

BODENHEIM, Nelly (illustrator), Lizzy ANSINGH and Jean-Paul VROOM (lithographer). Tante Tor is jarig.
Utrecht, Stichting De Roos (printed in Amsterdam by Dieperink & Co.), 1950.
With: (2) [ORIGINAL DRAWINGS - BODENHEIM, Nelly]. [2 drawings: one featuring beetles, a maybeetle, and (Spanish) flies and another showing "Aunt Beetle" in bed being congratulated by her mosquito maid]. [ca. 1950].
4to (ca. 27 x 19.5 cm). All text and illustrations, including the illustrated front board, are lithographs by the famous Dutch artist Jean-Paul Vroom in facsimile after the text and illustrations by Lizzy Ansingh and Nelly Bodenheim. The lithographs are hand-coloured under supervision of Vroom. The work is printed on Simili Japon paper. Together with two original drawings by Bodenheim, hand-coloured and signed in her initials, mounted on a grey passepartout folder highlighting the scene with the beetles, maybeetle, and fly. The illustration of "Aunt Beetle" and her mosquito maid can be found on the back. Original hand-coloured lithographed paper over boards with the title stamped in decorative letters on the spine. [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [25], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,250

Beautiful contemporary hand-coloured copy of the very rare first edition of the first Spanish emblem book

BORJA, Juan de. Empresas morales ...
Prague, Georg Nigrin, 1581. 4to (17.8 x 13.6 cm). With a hand-coloured engraved title-page, incorporating the coat of arms of the dedicatee King Philip II of Spain, 100 hand-coloured engraved emblems, 2 hand-coloured woodcut decorated initials, and numerous woodcut ornamental tail-pieces throughout, all text and illustrations are set within a frame of double red lines. Contemporary overlapping limp vellum with the manuscript title on the spine and remnants of ties. [2], 101, [3] ll. Full description

€ 49,500

Influential iconographical dictionary of allegorical emblems, based on Ripa

BOUDARD, Jean-Baptiste. Iconologie tirée de divers auteurs. Ouvrage utile aux gens de lettres, aux pöetes, aux artistes, & généralement à tous les amateurs des beaux-arts.
Vienna, Johan Thomas von Trattner, 1766.
3 volumes. 8vo. With Trattners engraved device on the 3 title-pages. Contemporary half calf. [16], 203, [8]; [2], 219, [8]; [2], 208, [12] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Drawings by a member of the CoBrA movement

[DRAWING]. BRANDS, Eugène. [Two manuscript invitations for an exhibition opening, each including an original drawing in colour].
[Amsterdam, 1948]. Each 14.7 x 11 cm. Pen-and-ink drawings; one with blue watercolour and the other with blue and yellow watercolour. 2 pp. Full description

€ 1,000

Rare first edition of the leading Dutch translation of the Ship of fools

BRANT, Sebastian. Navis stultorum: oft, Der sotten schip.
Antwerp, Jan II van Ghelen, 1584. Small 4to. With a woodcut of the Ship of Fools on the title-page, woodcut Dutch title-panel, Van Ghelen's large woodcut greyhounds and goat device on the last page, 118 full-page and 2 smaller woodcut illustrations in text, each page (after the title and its verso) in a border built up from arabesque cast fleurons. 18th-century sprinkled calf, gold-tooled spine and board edges, mottled edges. [2], "234" [= 236], [10] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

The first childrens pop-up book (1831), in the original publishers binding the engraved title-page and all 12 plates with moving parts and beautifully hand-coloured for the publisher

BRÈS, Jean-Pierre. Le livre-joujou.
Paris, Louis Janet, [24 December 1831]. Large 16mo in 8s (14.5 x 11 cm). With a letterpress title-page, an engraved title-page and 12 engraved plates, the engraved title-page and all plates with movable parts (moved with tabs), all 13 engravings and their movable parts hand-coloured for the publisher. Further with a wide variety of decorated types. Publishers original gold-tooled black half sheepskin, original publishers blue paper sides, printed letterpress, the front and back with the same cover-title, with a wood-engraved vignette, marbled edges. [2 blank], “11” [= 6], vii, [1], 157, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 22,500

Collection of signed drawings by the leading Dutch book illustrator

BUIJS, Jacobus. [Set of 22 drawings and 1 engraving].
[Ca. 1781]. Various sizes. 22 washed pen and ink drawings and 1 engraving on paper. Mostly loose, nos. 8, 10, 20-23 pasted on paper support. Full description

€ 7,500

Luxurious manual for understanding paintings, with coloured plates

BURNET, John. A practical treatise on painting. In three parts. Consisting of hints on composition, chiaroscuro, and colouring. The whole illustrated by examples from the Italian, Venetian, Flemish, and Dutch schools.
London, James Carpenter, 1826-1827. 3 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With 25 full-page partly handcoloured etched and aquatint plates with 105 reproductions by Burnet of famous paintings. Contemporary calf, covers blind-tooled in a checkered pattern, marbled edges. [4], 31, [1 blank]; VI, 45; V-IX, [3], 64 pp. Full description

€ 2,950

120 prints, nearly all 1601-1725, including at least 4 complete series, most brought together ca. 1745

[CALLOT, Jacques, Carel ALLARD & others]. [Collection of 120 engravings by French, Dutch, Italian and German artists].
Venice, Paris, [Amsterdam], etc., 1601-1725 (album ca. 1745?), with additions [1788] & [ca. 1790]. 8vo, 4to, etc. (19 x 13 cm). 120 engraved prints, namely 44 from 4 complete print series (1 with a title-print), 57 (including 3 title-prints) from 10 or 11 other series and 19 prints apparently not from any series, by Jacques Callot (1 complete series), Odoardo Fialetti, Herman Weyen, Balthasar Moncornet, Henri Bonnart, Carel Allard (3 complete series), P. Landry and others (see contents, below). Mottled sheepskin (ca. 1745?). 95 ll. Full description

€ 9,500

The architectural features and sculpture showing the Amsterdam City Hall in full glory. With the magnificent engraving of the 1661 mosaic floor map of the world in 2 hemispheres, incorporating Tasman's discoveries not otherwise published for decades

[CAMPEN, Jacob van, Hubert QUELLINUS and Jacob VENNEKOOL]. Bouw schilder en beeldhouwkonst, van het stadhuis te Amsteldam, vertoont in CIX figuuren: ...
Amsterdam, Johannes Covens, Cornelis Mortier and Johannes Covens junior, [ca. 1758?, ca. 1767? or possibly 1772/83]. Large folio (49.5 x 30 cm). With the title-page printed in red and black with J. Covens & C. Mortiers engraved device by Bernard Picart ("JCCM" cypher monogram in a laurel wreath carried by 6 putti, dated 1730); 2 preliminary plates containing portraits of Jacob van Campen [by Lutma] and Arthus Quellinus by Henricus Quellinus; CIX (109) numbered engraved and etched architectural plates. All plates have French captions, some with laudatory verses below, and are described in Dutch in the letterpress text (pp. 3-15). Contemporary half red roan (sheepskin), brown sprinkled paper sides. 15 pp. Full description

€ 5,500

10 etched plates after drawings by a pupil of Rembrandt

CAYLUS, Anne Claude Philippe Comte de. Histoire de Joseph, accompagnée de dix figures, rélatives aux principaux evenemens de la fils de ce fils du patriarche Jacob, et gravées sur les modèles du fameux Reimbrandt.
Amsterdam, Jean Neaulme, 1757. Folio. With title-page printed in red and black, and 10 full-page etched plates. Contemporary boards. [26] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Secrets of the goldsmith and sculptor; with an important passage on Michelangelo's sculptural techniques

CELLINI, Benvenuto. Due trattati, uno intorno alle otto principali arti dell' oreficeria. L'altro in materia dell'arte della scultura; dove si veggono infiniti segreti nel lavorar le figure di marmo, & nel gettarle di bronzo.
Florence, Valente Panizzi, Marco Peri, 1568. 4to. With the woodcut coat of arms of the Medici on the title-page, a woodcut printer's device at the end, 1 small and 36 large architectural historiated initials. 19th-century marbled-paper boards. [5], 61, [7] ll. Full description

€ 5,950

A history of painting in Italian verse

CHIUSOLE di Roveredo, Adamo. Dell'arte pittorica libri VIII. Coll'aggiunta di componimenti diversi.
Venice, Caroboli & Pompeati Comp., 1768. 8vo (20 x 14 cm). With engraved portait of Cicero on the title-page and several interesting engraved head- and tailpieces (some signed "AF"), including scenes related to the subject of painting. In its first binding, though possibly a few decades after publication: stiff paper wrappers. 296 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

72 plates with remarkably intricate Islamic-inspired decoration, printed with coloured inks

CLERGET, Charles Ernest. Mélanges d'ornements de tous les styles Persan - Mauresque - Arabe - Grec - Gothique [-] Renaissance principalement des XVIe et XVIIe siècles ...
Paris, Ducher & Cie (colophon: printed by Eugène Heutte & Cie), [ca. 1880 (engraved 1837-1838)]. Royal folio (45 x 31 cm). With 2 elaborately ornamented part-titles, 70 numbered ornament plates (all 72 plates "engraved" on litho stones, image area mostly 26.5 x 17 cm) and a letterpress list of the plates. With each plate printed in blue, green, violet, ochre, red, black or brown (several shades) and 9 printed in 2 colours. Contemporary half red cloth, rebacked and with new corners in red goatskin morocco. [2] ll. plus [1], 37, [1], 38-70 plates. Full description

€ 6,500

Chromolithographed Art Nouveau prayer book in a high relief hallmarked silver binding

CONDIO, Luigi. Preghiere. Miniature di Vittorio Vulten.
Torino, Carlo de Martini (printed by Stab. Litografico Giovanni Fraschini & C., Milan), 1902. 18mo (13.5 x 7.5 x 1.5 cm). A wholly chromolithographed Art Nouveau prayer book, printed in numerous pastel colours plus gold, with (mostly floral) decoration on every page and numerous additional illustrations. In a silver binding (hallmarked "800" at the foot of the otherwise blank back cover), with "Our Lady of the Rosary" from the shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary in Pompei depicted on the front cover in high relief (madonna and child presenting rosaries to Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine) flanked by two irises, above "Ave Maria" and a panel with "SS. Vergine di Pompei", endpapers lithographed in pastel colours plus gold, in a repeating pattern of abstracted flowers, crosses, anchors, hearts and initials "VD" or "DV", gilt edges. [104] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

One of the most important manuals for painting the human body

COUSIN, Jean. La vraye science de la pourtraicture descrite et demontrée ... Representant par une facile instruction plusieurs plans & figures de toutes les parties separées du corps humain: ensemble les figures entieres, tant d'hommes que femmes & de petits enfans, veuës de front, de fil, & de dos, avec les proportions, mesures & dimensions dícelles: et certaines regles pour racourcir par art toutes lesdites figures.
Paris, Guillaume Le Bé III, 1676. Oblong 4to. With a woodcut border on half-title and 36 full-page woodcut illustrations. Later limp vellum. 40 ll. Full description

€ 2,500

Plants and dyes

DE BEUNIE, Joannes Baptista. Antwoord op de vraege welk zyn de profytelykste planten van dit land, ende welk is hun gebruyk zoo in de medicynen als in andere konsten.
With:
(2) DU RONDEAU, François. Mémoires sur la question: quelles sont les plantes les plus utiles des Pays-Bas, & que lest leur usage dans la medicine & dans les arts.
(3) DE BEUNIE, Joannes Baptista. Antwoord op de vraege welk is de beste ende onkostbaerste maniere van vlasse gaeren ende andere vegitabile stoffen swert te verwen, ...
Brussels, Antonius dOurs, 1772. 3 works in 1 volume. 4to. Modern blue paper wrappers. 70; 18; 30 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Archaeological sites in the Middle East, with 143 reproductions of photographs

DJEMAL PASCHA, Ahmed and Theodore WIEGAND. Alte Denkmaler aus Syrien, Palastina und Westarabien. 100 Tafeln mit beschreibendem Text.
Berlin, Georg Reimer, 1918. Folio (34.5 x 24 cm). WIth 100 plates with 143 reproductions of photographs. Original red publisher's cloth, with the title in Arabic and German on the front board. 10 pp., 100 ll. Full description

€ 4,500

Discussing whether Venetian art is better than Tuscan

DOLCE, Lodovico. Dialogo della pittura. Nel quale si ragiona della dignità di essa pittura, e di tutte le parti necessarie, che a perfetto pittore si acconuengono: con esempi di pittori antichi, & moderni: e nel fine si fa mentione delle virtù e delle opere del divin Titiano.
Venice, Gabriel Giolito de Ferrari, 1557. Woodcut vignette on title-page. Later half vellum, title in ink on spine. 60 ll. Full description

€ 9,500

First and only edition of six essays on painting and sculpture

DONI, Anton Francesco. Disegno ..., partito in piu ragionamenti, ne quali si tratta della scoltura et pittura; de colori, de getti, de modegli, con molte cose appartenenti a quest' arti: & si termina la nobiltà dell' una et dell' altra professione. ...
Venice, Gabriele Giolito de Ferrari, (colophon: February) 1549. Small 8vo (16 x 10 cm). With the imprint in the base of an elaborate woodcut on the title-page, with Ferrari's motto, initials and phoenix device, a different woodcut phoenix device on last page, and 21 woodcut pictorial initials (3 series) plus 1 repeat. Italian sheepskin parchment (ca. 1700?). 63, [1] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Unique 1724 auction catalogue of Dutch fabrics

[DREESING, Harmanus]. [Drop-title:] Notitie van een groote party curieuse kanten, stokgronden en spiegeltralies...
Amsterdam, Marten Smets, [1724]. 4to (16.5 x 21 cm). Formerly sewn through 3 holes but never bound. [8] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Unpublished calendar of historical events, especially the birth and death dates of Dutch artists,
in richly gold-tooled morocco by the so-called Rocaille-and-flower bindery

[MANUSCRIPT]. DYLIUS, Joannes, compiler. Dagwyzer der geschiedenissen, kortelyk behelzende, een' aanteekening van verscheidene gedenkwaardige zaaken, op elken dag van 't jaar, door de geheele waereld; bijzonder in de Nederlanden voorgevallen. Benevens de geboorte, en sterfdagen, van hooge, en laage stands persoonen, zo geestelijke als waereldlijke: beroemde helden, geleerde mannen, en kunstenaaren.
[Amsterdam], [frontispiece: 1778]. Narrow 8vo (16.5 x 9.5 cm). Manuscript in brown ink on laid paper, written in Dutch in a neat and clear but minute Latin hand, forming a calendar of historical events from 17 CE to 28 November 1777, with a grey ink and ink-wash allegorical frontispiece title, dated 1778 but signed by the artist "A:C. 1777.", and a title-page in 8 styles of plain and decorated Latin and gothic lettering (signed "Dr. Waller.|scripsit."). Contemporary richly gold-tooled red goatskin morocco, each board with a centrepiece and frame, both built up from separate (mostly floral) stamps, the whole surrounded by a sawtooth roll, the spine with a green morocco label in the 2nd of 6 compartments and each of the others with a central floral stamp and 4 cornerpieces (further with some fillets and rolls), gold-tooled turn-ins and board edges (with a floral roll), altogether 83 or 87 impressions of 7 or 8 stamps, plus 3 rolls and the fillets. It appears to come from what Storm van Leeuwen calls the "Rocaille-and-flower bindery", active ca. 1775-ca. 1812. [8 blank], [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [187], [9 blank] pp. including frontispiece. Full description

€ 4,950

Comprehensive Luyken bibliography

EEGHEN, P. van and J. Ph van der KELLEN. Het werk van Jan en Caspar Luyken ... met 56 platen. Deel I[-II].
Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., 1905. 2 volumes. With 56 plates. Contemporary half morocco, gold-tooled spine. Full description

€ 300

Basics of miniature drawing and painting

EELKEMA, Eelke Jelles and André Léon LARUE (MANSION). Grondig onderrigt in de teeken- en schilderkunst, inzonderheid in miniatuur, ten nutte van jonge kunstoefenaren. Naar het Fransch van Mansion.
Leeuwarden, Lambertus Schierbeek, 1830. 12mo (15.5 x 9 cm). With folding lithographed frontispiece, coloured by hand, showing a palette of colours. Contemporay purple half morocco, gold- and blind-tooled spine. XII (incl. frontispiece), 131, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 500

Confessions of a libertine: an extremely rare Dutch erotic novel, with 4 engraved plates

[EROTICA]. De belydenis van een lichtmis. Bevattende een aantal voorvallen in de galante wereld zo in Nederland als elders; wonderlyke ontmoetingen met vrouwen van allerlei soort; veele potsen meest voorgevallen in de nacht, en achter de gordynen; zeldzaame karakters van beiderlei sexe, enz. enz. enz. Alles beschreeven ten vermaake van de kinderen dezer wereld door den belyder zelve.
[The Netherlands, ca. 1770]. 8vo. With 4 engraved plates. Contemporary red half roan, gold-tooled spine. [2], 184 pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Exquisitely produced work on falconry and horse riding, with many coloured illustrations

ES, N.J.A.P.H. van. De hippische sport en het korps rijdende artillerie 1793-1908 ... 1e gedeelte [valkerij]. 2e gedeelte [hippische sport].
Arnhem, Coers & Roest and G.J. Thieme, [1913]. 2 volumes. Large 4to (37.5 x 31 cm). With ca. 80 lithographed plates and numerous illustrations and decorations in text, many beautifully coloured by hand and some highlighted with silver and/or gold. Original publisher's gold-blocked blue cloth, with a coloured hooded hawk on front boards, upper edges gilt, other edges untrimmed. [16], 172, [18], [2 blank]; [14], 221, [1 blank], [17], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

1st Antwerp edition of Seyssel's French Eusebius, the contemporary binding with an unusual Flemish panel stamp

EUSEBIUS. L[']histoire ecclesiastique ..., translatee de Latin en Fra[n]coys, par Messire Claude de Seyssel, Evesque lors de Marseille, & depuis Archevesque de Thurin.
Antwerp, Maarten de Keyser, 1533 (colophon: 17 April). 8vo. With a woodcut border on the title-page, assembled from 4 blocks (that at the foot with De Keyser's printer's device), about 10 woodcut decorated initials plus about 10 repeats (2 gothic series and 2 roman series). Set in three sizes of bastarda type with textura initials. Contemporary Flemish blind panel-stamped calf, each board with the same panel and double and single fillets, a triple fillet in the panel stamp separating the inner and outer panel. The inner is an acorn cresting panel with 4 1/2 acorns on each side and the flowers not attached to the acorns, remnants of leather ties. [12], "297" [= 299], [1] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Rare document of National Socialist industrial imperialism in Eastern Europe

[FABRICS - NATIONAL SOCIALISM - KRONE]. Anilinovi boi za vulna, poluvulna, pamuku i izk[ustvena] koprina. [Aniline dyes for wool, blended wool fabric and cotton].
Sofia & Cherven Bryag, Alexander & Stoyan P. Darakchiev, [1938?]. With 256 well-preserved wool yarn and fabric samples showing a wide range of colours of aniline dyes, solidly mounted on thick cardboard. Original publishers gold-stamped black cloth with the "Krone" logo on the front board and title and publisher on the front board and spine. 26 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Erotic artefacts from the secret cabinet of the King of Naples, with 60 coloured plates

[FAMIN, Cesar]. Musée Royal de Naples, peintures, bronzes et statues érotiques du Cabinet Secret.
Paris, Abel Ledoux (back of half-title: printed by Everat), 1836. 4to. With engraved frontispiece and 60 numbered engraved plates by A. Delvaux, all coloured by a contemporary hand and some printed in colour a la poupée. Contemporary green half sheepskin. [4], XXX, [2], 159, [1 blank], [3], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Rare first edition of a work of great importance to the history and development of colour printing
and one of the earliest examples of Didots fine printing in his revolutionary types

FOSSÉ, Charles-Louis François. Idées dun militaire pour la disposition des troupes confiées aux jeunes officiers dans la defense et lattaque des petits postes. Dédié à M. Le Duc du Chatelet.
Paris, François Ambroise Didot l'ainé, 1783. 2 parts in 1 volume. Large 4to. With 11 colour-printed crayon-manner plates (10 folding) by Louis-Marie Bonnet, 1 similar armorial headpiece for the dedication to the army general and diplomat Louis Marie Florent, Duc du Châtelet (1727-1793), Didots woodcut device on title-page ("FAD" in clouds with putti and garlands, "[Pierre Charles] Jombert inv. Milliere sculp. 1782"). Contemporary boards covered with blue paper, untrimmed and with some bolts unopened. [14], 116, 60, [24] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Textbook on architecture and perspective, by a well-known Italian architect and stage designer

GALLI BIBIENA, Ferdinando. Direzioni a' giovani studenti nel disegno dell' architettura civile, nell' accademia clementina dell' instituto delle scienze, ...With: Direzioni della prospettiva teorica corrispondenti a quelle dell' architettura instruzione a' giovani studenti di pitture; e architettura ...
Bologna, Lelio dalla Volpa, 1731-1732. 2 volumes. 12mo. With 75 engraved plates (including several folding) in the first volume and 58 engraved plates (including several folding) in the second volume. Contemporary vellum. [12], 168, [1], [1 blank]; 159, [1] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Very popular manual for colouring books, prints and maps

BRUGGE, Geerard ter, and Willem GOEREE. Verligterie-kunde, of, regt gebruik der water-verwen. In welke desselfs kennis, en gebruik tot de schilderkunde, en de illuminatie of verligterie noodig zijnde, kortelijk geleerd word. Eertijds uytgegeven door den voortreflijken verligter Mr. Geerard ter Brugge. Ende nu tot nut der liefhebbers, doorgaans met noodige aanmerkingen vermeerderd, om neffens het illumineeren of afzetten, insonderheid het schilderen met water-verwen te oeffenen, ... Den derden druk.
Amsterdam, Daniel van den Dalen, 1697. 8vo. With an engraved title. Modern half sheepskin parchment, marbled paper sides. 92 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

200 Etruscan antiquities collected in Gori's conceptual museum

GORI, Antonio Francesco. Museum Etruscum exhibens insignia veterum Etruscorum monumenta aereis tabulis CC. nunc privum edita et illustratum.
Florence, Gaetano Albizzini, 1737. Volume 1 and 2. Folio (27.5 x 37.5 cm). With engraved plates (12 folding), and 1 folding plate with Etruscan script. Contemporary vellum. LXVIII; [2], XLII, 471, [1] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

First French edition of 1788 English handbook of the art of caricature, with 29 plates, all newly engraved and 9 showing 10 new heads plus 28 new scenes

GROSE, Francis. Principes de caricature, suivis d'un essai sur la peinture comique.
Leipzig, Industrie Komptoir, Baumgärtner; Vienna, Mollo & Comp., [1800]. Small 4to (18 x 13 cm). With engraved frontispiece caricature portrait of an antiquarian mastiff and XXVIII numbered engraved plates of caricatures (6 folding), many with several figures, all on grey-brown paper. Contemporary half mottled sheepskin. [1], [1 blank], 42 pp. plus frontispiece and XXVIII plates. Full description

€ 4,500

Carpets and rugs from Turkey and Persia, with 120 colour-printed plates

GROTE-HASENBALG, Werner. Der Orientteppich[:] seine Geschichte und seine Kultur.
Berlin, Scarabaeus (colophon: Dr. Selle & Co.), 1922. 3 volumes (26 x 26 cm). The text volume with colour-printed frontispiece, 28 plates numbered I-XXII (13 colour-printed), 139 numbered and 14 unnumbered illustrations in text, and a folding map; the two plate volumes with a total of 120 colour-printed plates mounted on grey-black paper.Original publishers cloth. XVI, [2 blank], 228, [8] pp. plus plates(text). Full description

€ 950

Over forty plates of East Africa based on daguerrotypes

GULLAIN, Charles. Documents sur l'histoire, la geographie et le commerce de l'Afrique orientale.
Paris, Arthus Bertrand, [1856-1857]. 3 text volumes and 1 atlas volume. Text volumes: 8vo; atlas volume: folio. With 55 tinted plates. Contemporary leather-backed marbled boards. XXXI, [1], 628; XXIII, [1], 556; [4], 527, [1 blank] pp. Atlas volume: [4] pp. and 55 plates. Full description

€ 35,000

Preparing black, coloured and metallic inks, etching marble and metal, etc., 2nd copy located of 1660 edition

HELMREICH, Andreas. Kunstbüchlein. Wie man auff Marmelstein, Kupffer, Messing, Zihn, Stahl, Eisen, Harnisch und Waffen, &c. etzen, und künstlich vergülden soll. Mit vorgehendem Bericht, wie man Dinten, Dintenpulver, Prisilgen, und alle Metallfarben zum schreiben. Mancherley Farben, Pergament, Federn zu färben. Alle Metallen aus der Federn zu schreiben, Gold und Silber, Fundamentlein und Goldwasser auff allerley Ballerey, und dergleichen mehr, machen und temperieren soll. Zu Dienst und Ehren allen Schreibern, auch den unerfahrnen der Etzkunst, zusammen gebracht. ... Von neuen übersehen, gemehret, und corrigirt, und in Druck gebracht.
[Leipzig?], 1660. Small 8vo (14.5 x 8.5 cm). Title-page printed in red and black. Later marbled wrappers. [92], [4 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,950

Magnificent contemporary portraits of the most important artists
of the sixteenth and early seventeenth-century Low Countries

HONDIUS, Hendrik (& Simon FRISIUS, Andries STOCK and Robert de BAUDOUS). Pictorum aliquot celebrium praecipué Germaniae Inferioris, effigies. Pars I.
The Hague, Henricus Hondius, [ca. 1610]. Folio. An engraved print series with an architectural title-page with allegorical figures, 41 engraved portraits (20 x 12 cm) by Hendrik Hondius (9), Robert de Baudous (4), Simon Frisius (23) and Andries Stock (5); and an allegorical closing print (a skeleton holding an hour glass and an arrow, not in the copy on Google Books). The three plates outside the portraits are all by Hendrick Hondius. With an extra added portrait of Hendrick Hondius, engraved by Fredericus Boultats after a drawing by Hondius himself (16.5 x 11 cm; mounted on a blank leaf). Contemporary half calf, brown sprinkled paper sides. [44] engraved ll. plus [1] letterpress leaf. Full description

€ 4,500

Two illustrated standard works on Dutch painters,
annotated by the Belgian art connoisseur Francois-Jean-Joseph Mols

HOUBRAKEN, Arnold. De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen. ... Den tweeden druk.
The Hague, Johannes Swart, Cornelis Bouquet, Mattheus Gaillard, 1753. With engraved frontispiece, engraved author's portrait and 47 engraved plates bound in a separate plates volume.
With: (2) GOOL, Johan van. De nieuwe schouburg der Nederlantsche kunstschilders en schilderessen: ...
The Hague, for the author, 1750-1751. With engraved author's portrait and 22 engraved plates (1 folding). Lacking engraved frontispiece. 2 works (in 3 and 2 parts), bound in 11 text volumes (8vo interleaved with 4to, 25.5 x 20 cm) and 2 plate volumes (8vo interleaved with small folio, 28 x 20.5 cm). Uniform late 18th-century half sheepskin parchment (ad 1) and half vellum (ad 2). Full description

€ 12,500

Beautiful watercolour of an Inuit hunting seals.

[INUIT - WATERCOLOUR]. [Watercolour of an Inuit hunting seals in a kayak].
[ca. 1839?]. Watercolour on laid paper (18.5 x 19.3 cm), in a passe-partout (44 x 43.5 cm). Full description

€ 5,000

Sights of Nagasaki, including Japanese views of the Dutch: the famed arts of Edo find a new market

ISONO BUNSAI (BUNSAI MADAKI). Nagasaki miyage [= Souvenir of Nagasaki].
Nagasaki, Yamato-ya Yoshihei juo, Koka 4 [= 1847]. 23 x 15.5 cm. Text and illustrations printed from 42 woodblocks, probably on kozo (mulberry bark) paper (vertical chainlines about 34 mm apart), with an astrological figure and constellation on the title-page (the Mao Xiu lunar mansion?), 12 double-page and 6 full-page illustrations (a few with Dutch titles as well as Japanese) including a map of Nagasaki harbour (showing the Dutch and Chinese trading factories and three ships), two Chinese merchants at a table in the factory library while their servant unpacks a chest of books, a bedroom with a VOC captain(?) and merchant(?), the latter with his pocket watch and Indonesian servant, a cluster of Japanese ships making a dense forest of masts, a landscape with dozens of kites, another with many people on a bridge over a river, a Dutch VOC ship in great detail, a VOC merchant at dinner with an Indonesian servant and two Japanese geishas, a Dutch woman, an elephant, festivals (one with a dragon and drums), and other landscapes, city views, etc. The texts show a wide variety of writing styles (kaisho, gysho and sosho) with the blocks for many texts (and one illustration) including seals of authors or artists, mostly in tensho (seal characters). Original publishers blue paper wrappers in the traditional Japanese fukurotoji manner, publishers manuscript title-label on front wrapper. [1], 40, [1] double ll. Full description

€ 3,250

Journal of accounts of a Flemish cloth-dyeing factory 1734-1759

[MANUSCRIPT]. JOFFROY, Joannes Baptista (Jean-Baptiste). Daegelyksche aenteekening van alle de goederen te verwen komende bij Joannes Baptista Joffroy begonst 1734.
[Mechelen (Malines, Belgium), 1 April 1734-31 August 1759]. Folio (32.5 x 21 cm). Manuscript journal of accounts in dark brown ink on paper, written in Dutch in an upright gothic hand, with each page ruled in double and single lines to make 4 or 5 columns and up to 22 rows, decorated with hundreds of pen flourishes, three forming pictures of birds as tailpieces and with a decorative cross to begin 1750 (some other years with a simpler cross), a couple headings with additions in red. Contemporary vellum. [268] pp. Full description

€ 3,750

Observations made during a visit to the Art academy

JOST, W. Ein Besuch in der Rijks-Normaalschool voor teekenonderwijzers. (Reichsnormalschule für Zeichenlehrer) zu Amsterdam.
(No pl., no publ., ca. 1891). 8vo. With 4 photolithographs by Roeloffzen & Hübner, Amsterdam. Contemporary three quarter red morocco. 36 pp. Full description

€ 500

Sumptuously bound for the author for presentation to G.P. Oliva, Superior General of the Jesuit Society, on Royal paper.

KIRCHER, Athanasius. Ars magna sciendi, in XII libros digesta, qua nova & universali methodo ... [vol. 2 half-title:] Artis magnae seu combinatoriae sciendi, ... [titles on the frontispieces:] Ars magna sciendi sive combinatoria [vol. 1] Artis magnae combinatoriae [vol. 2].
Amsterdam, Johannes Janssonius van Waesberge and the widow of Elizaeus Weyerstraten, 1669. 2 volumes bound as 1. Royal folio (46 x 30 x 5.5 cm). With 2 richly engraved allegorical frontispieces, an engraved plate with a full-page portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, an engraved plate showing all knowledge of the universe organised as a tree, 2 engraved volvelles (with 4 rotating dials), 20 further engravings on integral leaves and a couple dozen woodcut figures in the text. Contemporary richly gold-tooled red goatskin morocco decorated a petit fers, gold-tooled turn-ins, board edges and raised bands, giving a total of more than 1500 impressions of about 14 stamps and 3 rolls, edges gilt over red and blue squiggles. Janssonius van Waesberge, who published Kircher's books in Amsterdam from 1664/65 to 1682, arranged to have copies of several luxuriously bound for Kircher to present to leading figures and this is almost certainly one of them, presented to Giovanni Paolo Oliva, Superior General of the Jesuit Society. [18], 482, [10] pp. (including 2 integral frontispieces), plus 4 inserted tables & 2 plates. Full description

€ 50,000

300 models for weaving cloth in various patterns and colours, printed from the plates of the 1771 first edition

KIRSCHBAUM, Johann Michael. Neues Weberbild- und Musterbuch, ... zur Beförderung der edlen Leinen- und Bildweberkunst, und zum Nutzen und Vergnügen angehender Meister und Gesellen, auch anderer Liebhaber der Weberkunst, auf 74 Kupfertafeln ... Fünfte Original-Ausgabe.
Heilbronn, Classische Buchhandlung, 1836. Oblong folio (21 x 32 cm). With 74 numbered engraved plates showing about 300 patterns for weaving. Contemporary half tanned sheepskin, tiger marbled sides. 6 pp. plus plates. Full description

€ 3,500

From the libraries of King Louis-Philippe and Baron James de Rothschild

LABORDE, Léon [Emmanuel Simon Joseph] de. Voyage de l'Arabie Pétrée.
Paris, Giard, 1830. Imperial folio (42 x 59.6 cm). With a large lithographed title vignette and the coat of arms of Wilhelm II on the dedication leaf. 69 lithographed plates, maps, and plans after Laborde and Linant de Bellefonds, mostly mounted on India paper (including 3 folding and 2 coloured). Simier binding in gold-tooled half green morocco and marbled paper over boards, elaborately gold-tooled spine (and stamped in gold: "Simier R. du Roi"), marbled endpapers. [8], 87, [1] pp. Full description

€ 40,000

Arabic inscriptions in Granada

LAFUENTE Y ALCANTARA, Emilio. Inscripciones Arabes de Granada, precedidas de una reseña histórica y de la genealogía detallada de los reyes Alahmares.
Madrid, Imprenta Nacional, 1859 (issued 1860). 4to. With a folding family tree.
Near contemporary gold-tooled vellum with spine title, endpapers with a floral pattern. With the original publishers 1860 front wrapper bound in. XIII, [1], 15-242, [2] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

De Lairesse's Opus Elegantissimum, containing his remarkable engravings in their first state

LAIRESSE, Gerard de. Gerardi de Lairesse, Leodiensis pictoris, opus elegantissimum, Amstelaedami ipsa manu tam aeri incisum, quam inventum.
Including: [LAIRESSE, Gerard de, and Nicolaas VISSCHER II]. Appendix. Diversae de signationes, Lairessaea quidem manu inventae et pictae, at aliorum sculptorum manibus artificiosissime aeri incisae et sumptibus Nicolai Visscher editae.
[Amsterdam], [Nicolaas Visscher II], [ca. 1690?]. 1mo (52 x 39 cm). With a double-page engraved title-page, an engraved title-page of the appendix and more than 100 engraved illustrations on 56 large double leaves, including 31 double-page engravings. 18th-century half gold-tooled, sprinkled calf, decorated paper over boards, with a gold-tooled red morocco title-label on the spine. [50]; [8] double ll. Full description

€ 27,500

The paintings by Gerard de Lairesse in the Court of Justice at The Hague

LAIRESSE, Gerard de. Tafereelen, geschilderd door Gerard de Lairesse, in de Raadkamer van den Hove van Justitie van Holland, Zeeland, en Westvriesland; ... Les tableaux qui se trouvent a la Haye, dans la Chambre du Conseil de Justice de la Cour d'Holande, de Zelande, & de Westvrise.
Amsterdam, printed for Nikolaas Verkolje, 1737. Large folio. With 7 engraved plates illustrating 7 paintings by Larisse at the old provincial Court of Justice in the Binnenhof at The Hague, engraved by Pierre Tamjé and Claude Duflos after drawings by Verkolje. 19th-century half roan, marbled boards. [4 = title, privilege, explanation] ll. Full description

€ 3,250

Famous French fable book: a milestone in French book illustration

LA MOTTE, Antoine Houdar de. Fables nouvelles, dédiées au Roy. Avec un discours sur la fable.
Paris, Gregoire Dupuis, 1719. 4to. With engraved allegorical frontispiece by N. Tardieu after Charles Coypel, engraved vignette on title-page by C. Simeneau after N. Vleughels and 100 engraved illustrations to the fables by and after Claude Gillot, Charles Antoine Coypel, Jean Ranc, Bernard Picart, Jean Baptiste Massé, etc. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine. XLII, [4], 358, [2] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Archaeological account and artefacts from the Turfan area, China, with numerous plates

LE COQ, Albert von. Die buddhistische Spätantike in Mittelasien. Ergebnisse der Kgl. Preussischen Turfan-Expeditionen.
Berlin, Dietrich Reimer, 1922-1933 [facsimile: Graz, Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt, 1973-1975]. 6 text volumes and 1 atlas. 35,5 x 26 cm; atlas 54 x 36,5 cm. With a total of 185 plates in the text volumes, 22 plates in the atlas volume, mostly in black and white, some in colour, and numerous illustrations in text. Uniform decorated brown cloth. 29; 62; 53; 29; 32; 89; 80 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Examples of ornaments for painters, 13 engraved plates

LEMOYNE, Jean. Ornements pour servir aux peintres, & grave[urs].
Paris, G. Duchange, 1710. With engraved title-page and 5 (of 6?) engraved plates.
With: (2) LEMOYNE, Jean. Ornemens inventez & gravez.Paris, Jean Bairain, 1676. With engraved title-page and 5 engraved plates, and added at the end an engraved plate by Bernard Picart. All plates mounted within passepartout leaves. 2 works in 1 volume. Folio. 19th-century half calf. 13 ll. Full description

€ 1,750

An interactive moral instructor for young women, by the pioneers of 19th-century "lift-the-flap books"

[LIFT-THE-FLAP BOOK - MORAL INSTRUCTION FOR YOUNG WOMEN]. [GRIMALDI, Stacey and William GRIMALDI (illustrator)]. The toilet. Third edition.
London, by the author, 1823. With an engraved title-page and 9 hand-coloured engraved illustrations with movable pieces, all text is set within an ornamental frame. Contemporary gold-tooled greenish black morocco, gilt edges. [17] ll. and 10 plates. Full description

€ 875

The art of drawing landscapes

MAASKAMP, Evert. Handleiding voor jonge kunstenaars, in het teekenen van landschappen naar de natuur; de behandeling van papier, waterverwen, oostindische inkt, biestre- en neutrale kleur; benevens onderigting in het aanleggen der luchten, verschieten en voorgronden; het kleuren en opwerken; mitsgaders het kleuren van gravures. Naar de beroemdste Zwitzersche en Engelsche kunstenaars, en uit eigene ondervinding.
Amsterdam, Evert Maaskamp, 1827. 8vo. With folding engraved frontispiece and 6 plates (2 engraved plates and 4 aquatints, incl. 1 coloured by hand). Contemporary boards. VIII, 71, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 750

Poetic descriptions of Batavia, India, the Cape, Dutch country estates and notable persons

MARRE, Jan de. Batavia, begrepen in zes boeken.
Amsterdam, Adriaan Wor & heirs of G. onder de Linden, 1740.
With:
(2) MARRE, Jan de. Bespiegelingen over gods wysheid in't bestier der schepselen, en eerkroon voor de Caab de Goede Hoop.
Amsterdam, Adriaan Wor & heirs of G. onder de Linden, 1746.
(3) MARRE, Jan de. Hof- en mengeldichten.
Amsterdam, Adriaan Wor & heirs of G. onder de Linden, 1746.
3 works in 1 volume, the first in 6 parts. 4to. With an engraved frontispiece and an elaborate title-vignette (identical on all three title-pages. And ad. 1 with a folding engraved plate of Jakarta "as it was in 1731" by Jan van der Laan. Contemporary vellum, red spine label. [36], 320, [6]; [42], 178, [22], [20], 214, [4] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Stunning collotypes and chromolithographs of Pompeii wall paintings in situ soon after their excavation

MAU, August. Geschichte der decorativen Wandmalerei in Pompeji ... Mit 20 Tafeln in einer Mappe.
Berlin, G. Reimer, 1882. 1 text volume & 1 portfolio with plates. 8vo (text volume) and 1mo (plates portfolio 53 x 43 cm). With 20 large numbered plates showing Pompeii wall paintings in situ, mounted on card stock, loose in a separate portfolio with letterpress title-leaf and contents leaf: 9 sepia collotypes (21 x 16 to 26.5 x 24.5 cm) and 11 chromolithographs (21.5 x 19 to 37 x 36 cm), no. 18 actually comprising 7 small chromolithographs on 1 card, each plate with a letterpress label on the back; and 7 black and white floor plans in the text. Contemporary half sheepskin parchment (text); contemporary blue half cloth portfolio (plates). XII, 462 pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Rare late 18th-century aquatint and etched print, produced in Calcutta

MOFFAT, James. Vexation and strife.
Kolkata (Calcutta), 1797. Oblong folio. Aquatint etching on paper (leaf: ca. 29 x 38 cm.; plate: 27 x 35 cm; illustration: 24.5 x 31.5 cm). Aquatint etching showing domestic scene of a couple fighting at a table, with a dark figure watching on in the background. Signed "Calcutta J M del. et sculp. 1797" and captioned "vexation and strife". Printed on laid paper made by James Whatman the younger, watermarked. Full description

€ 7,500

Beautiful, entirely engraved, calligraphic prayerbook

MOREAU, Pierre. Les Sainctes prieres de l'ame Chrestienne Escrites & gravées apres le naturel de la plume.
Paris, I. Henault, 1656. Small 8vo. With fine engraved calligraphic title within architectural borders, engraved dedication to the Queen of France, 31 mostly full-page illustrations, some repeated, representing Christ on the cross, Mary with child, the Seven Deadly Sins, etc., and 179 engraved pages with calligraphed prayers within richly decorated borders with flowers, fruits, animals, insects, etc. Contemporary sharkskin, spine ribbed, with silver clasps including monogram. 212 pp. Full description

€ 4,250

Uphill! A collection of folders, brochures and books on mountaineering

[MOUNTAINEERING]. [A collection of brochures and folders on mountaineering].
[Austria and Switzerland, ca. 1920- ca. 1980]. Ca. 653 brochures (including a few duplicates and variant issues).
With: [A collection of books relating to mountaineering].
[Globally, ca. 1830- ca. 2000]. Ca. 875 books (including a few duplicates and variant issues, and several multiple-volume titles). Full description

€ 45,000

35 hand-coloured collotypes showing Japanese castles and temples

OGAWA Kazamusa. Famous castles & temples in Japan.
Tokio, [Kazamusa Ogawa?], (colophon in Japanese: Meiji 28 = 1895). Oblong (27 x 36.5 cm). With 35 hand-coloured collotypes, with captions. Slightly later black, gold-tooled morocco, with initials C.R. at the foot of the spine. 36 ll. Full description

€ 2,750

Rare Dutch Ovid, with 179 charming woodcuts

OVIDIUS NASO, Publius (OVID). Den metamorphosis ofte herscheppinghe ... In onse Nederduytsche tale overgeset ende met figuren verciert elck tot sijnder historien dienende. Seer nut voor alle schilders, beeltsnijders, goutsmeden, ende liefhebbers der historien.
Rotterdam, Pieter van Waesberge, [1635]. 8vo. With engraved title-page, a full-page woodcut depicting the Creation in 6 small scenes, and 178 nearly half-page woodcuts in text after Virgil Solis. Contemporary vellum. Engr. t.-p. plus 425, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Among Le Pautre’s earliest work

PHILIPPON, Adam. Curieuses recherches de plusieurs beaus morceaus d'ornemens antiques, et modernes, tant dans la ville de Rome, ques autres villes et lieux d'Italie.
Croissant, Adam Philippon, 1645. Wholly engraved print series consisting of a title-page, dedication, privilege, and 50 plates. The leaves are numbered 1-42, followed by 10 plates with their numbers changed by hand, and the privilege.
With: (2) LE PAUTRE, Jean. Frizes feuillages ou Tritons marins antiques et modernes.Paris, P. Mariette, [ca. 1664]. Series of 6 numbered engraved plates, each with two friezes . 2 series in 1 volume. Small folio (26.5 x 18.5 cm). Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [59] ll. Full description

€ 7,000

Catalogue of the famous Portland Museum, with many objects collected during Cook's Pacific voyages,
with manuscript prices and purchasers

[PORTLAND MUSEUM]. [LIGHTFOOT, John]. A catalogue of the Portland Museum lately the property of the Duchess Dowager of Portland, deceased: which will be sold by auction ...
With: (2) A catalogue of a very valuable collection of cameos, intaglios, and precious stones, and other curiosities; being part of a late much celebrated cabinet, many out of the Arundel collection; which will be sold by auction ...
[London, Skinner and Co., 1786]. 2 works in 1 volume. 4to. With full-page engraved frontispiece showing the interior of the Portland Museum with numerous objects from its collection. Contemporary gold-tooled vellum. VIII, "194" [= 192]; 6 pp. Full description

€ 18,500

Artist's manual with an exceptional collection of old master prints

[PRINT ALBUM]. Spiegel der natuur en school ter teekenkunde, bevattende LXXVI. Afbeeldingen van Landschappen, Landsdouwen, Watergezichten, enz. enz. Allen zoo veele Studiën van Silvestre, Perelle, Quinault, Du Moulin, Della Bella, Zaftleven, Almeloveen, Van Schyndel, Nolpe, Vermeulen, Visscher en Schenk, ten dienste van Teekenaaren, Plaatsnijders, Goud- en Zilversmeden en drijvers: bijzonder nuttig voor hun, die zichzelven het teekenen willen leeren zonder hulp van meester. Vooräfgegaan de eerste beginselen der Teekenkunst.
Amsterdam, Jan Steven van Esveld-Holtrop, [ca. 1808-1833]. Oblong 8vo. With 76 full-page engraved plates in various styles and sizes. The last 6 folding. Contemporary half calf with gold-tooled spine, blue title-label and marbled sides. IV pp. text. Full description

€ 7,500

Important survey of ancient Egyptian and Nubian sites now submerged, with a very large and detailed map: a fine copy, partly unopened

PROKESCH, Anton, Ritter von Osten. Das Land zwischen den Katarakten des Nil. Mit einer Karte, ...
Vienna, Carl Gerold, 1831. 12mo (the book) and 17.5 x 25 cm (the folder with the folded map). With a separate large folding lithographed map (98 x 69 cm; image area 93 x 64 cm) assembled from 2 sheets, with the cultivated areas along the river hand-coloured in green as published, also showing 17 floor plans of temples and a plan of a Roman wall. The book in the publishers original light green paper wrappers and the map in a matching green paper folder. [8], 181, [3 blank] pp. plus folding table and separate map. Full description

€ 3,750

Auction catalogue of one of the most celebrated collections of the 18th century

[RANDON DE BOISSET, Pierre Louis Paul]. Catalogue des tableaux & desseins précieux des maîtres célebres des trois écoles, figures marbres, de bronze & de terre cuite, estampes en feuilles & autres objets du cabinet de feu M. Randon de Boisset, receveur géneral des finances. ... On a joint à ce catalogue celui des vases, colonnes de marbres, porcelaines, des laques, des meubles de boule & d'autres effets précieux, par C.F. Julliot. La vente se fera le jeudi 27 février 1777 ... Vêndome.
Paris, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, 1777. 2 parts in 1 volume. 12mo. Contemporary red morocco, richly gold-tooled spine and turn-ins, gold fillets on boards and board edges, gilt edges. XII, 149, 158 pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Signed autograph letter from Redouté acknowledging payment from the Paris bookseller L. Debure for Les Roses

[AUTOGRAPH]. REDOUTÉ, Pierre-Joseph. [Letter acknowledging payment from the Paris bookseller Debure for Les Roses, part 30].
Paris, 18 February 1824. 4to (24.5 x 18.5 cm). Autograph letter, signed, written in brown ink on paper, with a note in a different hand recording a related payment. [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

The art collection of De Merval

REMY, Pierre. Catalogue de tableaux, peintures a gouache, bas-reliefs de marbres & de bronze, une très belle pendule qui joue differens airs de flûte, des porcelaines & autres objets qui composent le cabinet de M. De Merval.
Paris, Didot the Elder, 1768. 8vo. Contemporary wrappers. 58 pp. Full description

€ 460

A monumental description of the archaeological expedition to Lebanon and Syria

RENAN, Joseph Ernest. Mission de Phénicie.
Paris, Imprimerie Impériale/Nationale, 1864-1874. 14 volumes bound as 13 (7 of text and 7 of plates, the latter bound as 6). Folio (27,5 x 36,5 and 37 x 55,5 cm). With 70 engraved and lithographed numbered plates (including 1 folding), 1 folding map, and 8 plans(including 3 folding), a few in contemporary hand colouring, and several illustrations in the text.Contemporary wrappers. Plates stored in two half cloth portfolios. [4], 884, [4] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Indispensable guide to Dutch iconology in Rembrandt's day, with 196 woodcuts

RIPA, Cesare. Iconologia, of uytbeeldingen des verstands: ... Om uyt te drucken, en te vinden, 't begrip van alle sinnebeelden, invallen, devijsen of sinteykenen. ...
Amsterdam, Dirck Pietsz. Pers, 1644. 4to. With engraved allegorical frontispiece and 196 emblematic woodcut illustrations (ca. 8.5 x 6 cm) in the text by Jan Christoffel Jegher. Parchment (ca. 1725?). [14], 636, [8] pp. Full description

€ 2,750

Original manuscripts of two influential essays on art and society

ROLAND HOLST, Richard Nicolaüs. Over de monumentale schilderkunst en hare beinvloeding door de maatschappij.
[Laren?, 1910].
With: (2) ROLAND HOLST, Richard Nicolaüs. Over het rythmische en het naturalistische element in de monumentale schilderkunst.
[Laren?, 1914]. Small 4to. Neatly written in dark brown ink on machine-made wove paper without watermark. Loosely inserted is a newspaper clipping with an article about Roland Holst's lectures in Paris, from the Nieuwe Rotterdamse Courant, 28 November 1923. Sewn in quires and each essay formerly glued (now loose) in dark grey thick paper wrappers. [2 blank], [64], [2 blank]; [35], [5 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,250

Six rare annotated auction catalogues of art from Belgian collectors

ROTTIER, Jacques. Catalogue d'une très-belle collection de tableaux, dessins encadrés, médailles, bronzes, ivoires, marbres et objets d'art, délaissés par M. Jacques Rottier, avocat et amateur distingué a Gand.
Ghent, D.J. Vanderhaeghen, 1834. With folding engraved plate as frontispiece.
With:
(2) VAN ROTTERDAM. Catalogue d'une précieuse collection de tableaux des écoles Flamande, Hollandaise et Italienne délaissés par Mr. Van Rotterdam.
Ghent, widow of L. De Busscher-Braeckman, 1835.
(3) BALLIN, H. Catalogue d'une belle collection de tableaux des écoles Flamande et Hollandaise délaissés par feu le notaire H. Ballin à Gand.
Antwerp, H.P. Vanderhey, 1838. With an engraved plate loosely inserted.
(4) MAES, Marie. Catalogue d'une belle collection de tableaux des écoles Flamande et Hollandaise délaissés par feu Marie Maes.
Ghent, F.E. Gyselynck, 1837.
(5) VRANCKEN, Petrus Jacobus Franciscus. Catalogue d'une précieuse collection de tableaux des écoles Flamande, Hollandaise et Française délaissés par Mr. P.J.F. Vrancken à Lokeren.
Antwerp, H.P. Vander Hey, 1838. With 3 illustrations on 2 engraved plates.
(6) SCHAMP D'AVESCHOOT, Jean. Catalogue des tableaux des écoles Flamande, Hollandaise, Italienne, Française et Espagnole, qui composent la magnifique galerie délaissée par M. Schamp d'Aveschoot.
Ghent, Librairie Générale de H. Hoste, 1840. 6 catalogues in 1 volume. 8vo. Interleaved. Contemporary half tanned sheepskin. [2], 30; [2], III, 68; 32; 36; VI, [2], 48; XX, 109 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

"Wonderful reproductions of the best known carpets"

SARRE, Friedrich and Hermann TRENKWALD. Alt-orientalische Teppiche.
Vienna & Leipzig, Anton Schroll & Co. and Karl W. Hiersemann for the Österreichischen Museum für Kunst und Industrie, 1926-1928. 2 volumes bound as 4. Imperial folio (60.5 x 44 cm). With 120 collotype plates (67 colour and 53 black & white, 7 of the latter double-page) by Max Jaffé (1845-1939), and 14 wood-engraved full-page illustrations on the integral leaves. Later half calf with cloth sides. 21, [3], [29]; [31]; 43, [28]; [32] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Lavishly illustrated course in the art of baroque architectural drawing and ornamental design

SCHÜBLER, Johann Jakob. Grondige en duydelyke onderwyzing der volkomen kolommen-ordening, zoo als men dezelve in de heedendaagse-boukunst, gewoon is te gebruyken. ...
Including: Het tweede deel van het Grondig onderwys ..., waar in voorgestelt word zes nieuwe geinventeerde portaalen met sierlyke balkons op vrystaande kolommen; ...
Amsterdam, Petrus II Schenk, 1728. 2 volumes bound as 1. Folio (33.5 x 20.5 cm).. With 2 title-pages, each with the same large engraved illustration of an Amsterdam patrician's residence, 2 engraved architectural frontispieces, and 34 illustration plates (I-XVII, I-XVII), al engraved after the author's drawings, mostly by Renz and Montalegre (the second frontispiece by Johann Christoph Weigel). Modern maroon half calf. [6], 16; [4], 22 pp. plus frontispieces and plates. Full description

€ 2,500

Chinese archaeology in the early 20th century, with 144 collotype plates

SEGALEN, Victor, Gilbert de VOISINS and Jean LARTIGUE. Mission archéologique en Chine (1914). L'art funéraire a l'époque des Han.
Paris, Paul Geuthner, 1923-1935. 1 text volume (4to) and 2 atlas volumes (38.5 x 28 cm). With 121 illustrations in text and 144 collotype plates in the atlas. Text volume in original printed paper wrappers. Atlas in original half cloth, printed paper sides. [3] ll., 304 pp.; XI, [1 blank], [3], [1 blank] pp.; 4 ll. Full description

€ 6,500

Early Egyptian astronomy in a deluxe binding

SEYFFARTH, Gustav. Beitraege zur Kenntniss der Literatur, Kunst, Mythologie und Geschichte des alten Aegypten. Erstes Heft: Bemerkungen ueber die Aegyptischen Papyrus auf der Koeniglichen Bibliothek zu Berlin.
Leipzig, Joh. Ambros. Barth (colophon: printed by W. Haack), 1826. With 4 lithographed folding plates.
With: (2) Beitraege ... zweites, drittes, viertes, fünftes Heft. = Systema astronomiae Aegyptiacae quadripartitum ...
Leipzig, Joh. Ambros. Barth, 1833. With a general title-page, a Latin title-page and 4 part-titles, a hand-coloured frontispiece and 10 large folding plates, lithographed throughout.
5 parts in 2 volumes. 4to (22.5 x 26.5 cm). Contemporary richly gold- and blind-tooled polished red morocco in the Romantic style (by the Leipzig master Anton Stumme with his ticket on the first free endleaf). X, 42; XXX, 445, [10] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

The antiquities of Persia and on the history of the Arabs before Muhammad

SILVESTRE DE SACY, [Antoine Isaac]. Mémoires sur les antiquités de la Perse et sur lhistoire des Arabes avant Mahomet.
Paris, Eugène Duverger & Jean-Joseph Marcel, Imprimerie Impériale, [1808-1809]. Large 4to (22 x 27.5 cm). With 4 tables. Later red half morocco, marbled sides, title in gold on spine. [6], 47-58, 483-782 pp. Full description

€ 1,800

Finely illustrated manuscript handbook for architects, engineers, etc.

[MANUSCRIPT - APPLIED MATHEMATICS]. SIMMONDS, J. Hints, tables &ca [for mining, military engineering, architecture, etc.].
[England], 1840. (16.5 x 12 cm). Manuscript in ink on paper, in English, with numerous architectural and other illustrations in pencil and ink, many with grey and/or pink washes, on 30 pages, numerous manuscript tables. Written and illustrated partly on rectos only and partly on both rectos and versos. Contemporary English dark green gold-tooled calf, gold-tooled board edges, gold fillets on turn-ins, green ribbon marker, gilt edges. Rebacked, with the original backstrip laid down. [61] ll. Full description

€ 2,500

274 photographic reproductions showing art and architecture from early 20th-century Beijing

SIRÉN, Osvald. Les palais impériaux de Pékin. Deux cent soixante-quartorze planches hors texte en héliotypie d'apres les photographies de l'auteur, douze dessins architectureaux et deux plans, avec une notice historique ...
Paris & Brussels, G. Vanoest, 1926. 3 volumes. With 12 plans and 2 maps (mostly folding), and a total of 274 collotype plates. Publisher's original, printed, blue paper wrappers. VI, 73, [3 blank]; [3], [1 blank]; [3], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 15,000

Important German gothic art collection, reproduced in watercolour by the collector himself

SOYTER, Magnus. [Collection of watercolour drawings with manuscript captions].
[Augsburg], 1849-1853. 13 loose wove paper folio leaves and 1 loose wove paper bifolium. Large folio (55 x 35 cm). With 64 watercolours and manuscript captions on 15 leaves (each leaf drawn on one side only). [15] ll. Full description

€ 18,000

Religious festivities in the Southern Netherlands

[SPLENDID CEREMONY - MECHELEN]. Prael-treyn verrykt door ry-benden, praelwagens, zinne-beelden en andere oppronkingen...
Mechelen, J.F. vander Elst, [1775?].
With:
(2) [SPLENDID CEREMONY - BRUSSELS]. Beschryvinge van de ry-bende ofte cavalcade..
Brussels, J. vanden Berghen, [1770].
(3) [MEYER, Jean Thomas]. Beschryvinge van het zeven honderdjaerig jubilé van den heyligen Macarius...
Ghent, Jean Meyer, [1767].
3 works in 1 volume. 4to. Ad 1 with an engraved coat of arms, an engraved headpiece, and 16 engraved plates (including 14 folding). Ad 2 with 5 numbered folding engraved plates. Ad 3 with 15 mostly folding engraved plates, including one large folding plate showing fireworks (36.5 x 48 cm). Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine. [12], 34 [= 38]; 36; [8], XII, 84 pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Explorations in Chinese Turkistan and adjacent parts of innermost Asia

STEIN, Marc Aurel. On ancient Central-Asian tracks. Brief narrative of three expeditions in innermost Asia and north-western China.
London, MacMillan and Co., 1933. With frontispiece, map and 147 illustrations (some folding). Original publisher's brown/red cloth. xxiv, 342, [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

An early mention of Australia and a window into early 17th-century Spanish daily life

SUAREZ DE FIGUEROA, Christobal (Thomaso GARZONI). Plaza universal de todas ciencias, y artes, parte traduzida de Toscano, y parte compuesta por el doctor Christoval Suearez de Figueroa.
Perpignan, Luis Roure, 1630 (colophon: 1629). 4to. With title printed in woodcut border with large woodcut coat of arms; interesting woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces. Contemporary mottled calf. [8], 379, [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 6,500

Russian Orthhodox tetraptych brass icon with 21 scenes in relief, 20 with a blue enamel background

[TETRAPTYCH ICON]. [Incipit:] Kr[es]tou tvoemou pokli[!]naemsya vl[adi]koi s[vya]toe voskresenie tvoe slavim [= We bow before your cross, master, and praise your holy resurrection].
[Moscow or vicinity?, ca. 1810?]. A Russian Orthodox brass icon comprising 4 panels hinged to each other (15 x 9.5 x 1.5 cm closed; 15 x 35.5 x 0.5 cm open), each of the 4 interior sides with 5 relief scenes with a blue enamel background (1 scene in the onion-dome top and 1 in each of the 4 quarters of the square body), each scene with an inscription above it. Further with a brass relief veneration of the cross on the front of the exterior in a decorated architectural frame, with an oval at the head bearing the text transcribed above. Full description

€ 2,500

One of 300 copies ever published, from the collection of Baron James de Rothschild

VELDE, Charles William Meredith van de. Le Pays d'Israël. Collection de cent vues prises d'après nature dans la Syrie et la Palestine pendant son voyage d'exploration géographique en 1851 et 1852.
Paris, Veuve Jules Renouard, 1857. Elephant folio (44 x 57 cm). With 99 lithographed plates and 1 engraved map. Contemporary half red morocco and brown marbled paper, with the title lettered in gold on the gold-tooled spine, marbled endpapers. [1], 88 pp. Full description

€ 28,000

The basics of perspective

VERGNAUD, Armand Denis. Manuel de Perspective, du dessinateur et du peintre, contenant les élémens de géométrie indispensables au tracé de la perspective, la perspective linéaire et aérienne, et l'étude du dessin et de la peinture spécialement appliquée au paysage.
Paris, Roret, 1825. 12mo. With 8 folding engraved plates. Modern cloth. (4), 229, (1) pp. Full description

€ 650

How to make shell gold and shell silver to highlight your drawing

[VERLIJ, P. J.]. Verhandeling van de schilderkonst in miniatuur, om gemakkelyk te leeren schilderen zonder meester...
Amsterdam, Gerrit de Groot, 1759. 8vo. Frontispiece, title-page in red and black, woodcut head- and tailpieces and 2 engravings on a single double-page plate. 20th-century half vellum, oil-marbled sides, light green morocco spine label, lettered in gold, green top edge. [24], 196 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

A famous Dutch scholar on writing, gymnastics, music and painting

VOSSIUS, Gerardus Joannes. De quatuor artibus popularibus, grammatistice, gymnastice, musice, & graphice, liber.
Amsterdam, Johannes Blaeu, 1650. Small 4to. With Blaeus woodcut device on the title-page, 3 woodcut decorated initials. Later blue paper wrappers, title label pasted on spine. [14], 94, [12] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Manuscript weaving instructions, illustrated with about 2000 cloth samples and colour-coded patterns

[WEAVING]. Schnürungsbuch.
"Vaals-Aachen" [on the Dutch-German border], Höhere technische Schule für Tuchfabrikation, [ca. 1900]. Oblong folio (24 x 32 cm). Manuscript in German, written in black ink in a neat and legible Latin hand on paperboard leaves, comprising short instructional texts and about 2000 colour-coded weaving patterns and small samples of woven cloth mounted on both sides of the leaves. Contemporary beige half cloth. [2 blank], [117], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Very good artist's copy of the most extensive handbook on Dutch art of the 18th century

WEYERMAN, Jacob Campo. De levens-beschryvingen der Nederlandsche konst-schilders en konst-schilderessen, met een uytbreyding over de schilder-konst der ouden.
The Hague, widow of E. Boucquet, H. Scheurleer, F. Boucquet, J. de Jongh, 1729 (vols. 1-3); Dordrecht, Ab Blussé & son, 1769 (vol. 4). 4 volumes. 4to. With an engraved frontispiece, title-pages in red and black and with engraved vignettes, a folding portrait of Willem Karel Hendrik Friso (1711-1751), Prince of Orange and from 1747 hereditary Stadtholder Willem IV, a portrait of the author, 40 engraved plates by Houbraken with multiple portraits of artists on each plate, 1 plate with a night scene, 1 mezzotint and 118 engraved vignettes. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum with manuscript titles on spines. Sprinkled edges. [16], 412, [6]; [4], 412, [6], [4], 446, [4]. Full description

€ 4,000

The sculptures of the "Museum Wildianum" in 60 engraved plates, with an attractive double-page view of the library during a visit of Peter the Great - with notable provenance

WILDE, Jacob and Maria de. Signa antiqua e museo Jacobi De Wilde veterum poetarum carminibus illustrata et per Marian filiam aeri inscripta.
Amsterdam, Maria de Wilde, 1700. 4to. With an engraved title-page, an engraved vignette depicting "virtute", 1 large folding plate showing the interior of "Museum Wildianum", a full-page engraved portrait of Maria de Wilde, decorated initials in the text and 60 numbered engraved plates by Maria de Wilde. Contemporary blind-stamped vellum, sewn on 4 supports and laced through the joints, with the manuscript title and author at the head of the spine, red and blue sprinkled edges. [1], [1 blank], [11], [1 blank] pp. and 60 numbered engraved plates. Full description

€ 17,500

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Art, Architecture & Photography / Art & Art History