Autographs, Documents & Manuscripts

EGE, Otto F (compiler & author of the annotations). [Drop-title:] Fifteen original oriental manuscript leaves of six centuries. [Binding title:] Fifteen original oriental manuscripts.
[Cleveland, Ohio?], [Cleveland Institute of Art or Western Reserve University?], [ca. 1952]. 15 manuscript leaves (in one case a fragment of a scroll) of various formats and sizes, some glazed (see the detailed list of contents for specific dimensions), 7 written on straight-forward laid paper (European and non-European), 6 more problematic (probably all non-European), 1 on straight-forward wove paper (no. 14, supposedly made in Russia) and one on vellum (no. 7), most rubricated and/or decorated in various colours, some decorated or highlighted in gold. Each manuscript leaf is mounted (hinged on one edge to allow access to both sides of the leaf) in a passe-partout (46.5 x 33 cm) and each has a letterpress slip (10 x 18 cm) with explanatory text tipped onto the foot of the passe-partout. The publication has no title-page but includes a letterpress folio leaf that serves as a table of contents and has the drop-title given above (the present copy contains two copies of that contents leaf). The display typeface used in the letterpress leaves (and on the portfolio) is the 1938 Libra by the Dutch designer Sjoerd de Roos, inspired by uncial manuscripts. Publishers original portfolio (48.5 x 34 x 4.5 cm) covered with black cloth with on-lays in black and red on the front and the authors name in white and title in red on the spine, with three pairs of black ties (one on the inside) and a label on the inside of the right black flap giving information about the limited edition: "Edition limited to forty numbered sets of which this is No 33". [1] leaf (plus a duplicate) plus 15 original manuscript leaves mounted in white passe-partouts. Full description

EKATHOTSAROT, King of Ayutthaya (Siam/Thailand). Translaet van eenen brieff geschreven in gout ende bij den Coninck van Syam gesonden aen Sijn Excellentie Mauritio de Nassau.
[The Hague?, ca. 1608]. Folio (34 x 21 cm). Dutch manuscript translation, written in brown ink on paper in a slightly sloped Dutch gothic cursive hand (35 lines with text area 21 x 17.5 cm, plus 2-line drop-title), very neatly written, of a 1607 letter from Ekathatsarot, King of Ayutthaya (Siam/Thailand) to Maurits of Nassau, Prince of Orange (received in 1608), distributed as a manuscript tidings. [1] leaf. Full description

[FALCONRY - JAUME III OF MALLORCA]. [Invoice document (albarán) for falconry expenses].
[Mallorca?], Saturday, 12 June [1330s?]. 4to (ca. 165 × 230). Catalan manuscript on cotton paper. 2 written pp. on a bifolium and a single leaf. Full description

[FALCONRY - JAUME III OF MALLORCA]. [Invoice document (albarán) for falconry expenses].
[1337?]. Small folio (21.8 x 30.2 cm). The leaf is folded lenghtwise into two columns. Stored in a custom-made half purple morocco case. [1] ll. Full description

[FALCONRY - SANCHO I OF MALLORCA]. [Invoice document (albarán) for falconry expenses].
1320. Folio (folded lengthwise, 11.2 x 32 cm). Catalan manuscript on cotton paper. Stored in custom-made purple half morocco case. 9 written pp. on 8 tall sewn leaves. Full description

[FIRST EMPEROR of MEXICO - INSTATING AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE]. [Drop title:] El honor de la Capital del Imperio está comprometido en el decoro y magnificencia con que debe celebrar la Jura solemne ....
Sala Capitular del Ayuntamiento Constitucional de México [= City hall, Mexico City], 3 December 1822. Ca 20 x 15.5 cm. [4] pp. Full description

FORSTER, Johann Reinhold. [Letter to an unnamed fellow freemason in Braunschweig, probably Ferdinand, Herzog von Braunschweig-Lünenburg or someone in his inner circle].
Halle (Saale), 9 August 1781. 4to. Autograph letter in German, signed, written in brown ink on laid paper in a clear German hand, with foreign words and names in a Latin hand. [4] pp. Full description

[FORTIFICATION - MANUSCRIPT]. Traité de fortification.
[Northern Germany?, ca. 1685/1700?]. 4to & small folio (23 x 18 cm). Manuscript in French, written in black ink on paper in an easily readable cursive hand, with the title in a pen and ink decorated cartouche, about 45 pen and ink drawings (14 full-page and 8 larger folding, 2 of the folding ones in red and black ink with coloured washes, one of the colour folding leaves 36 x 27 cm), mostly showing fortification plans. Contemporary or near-contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine. [1], [3 blank], 164 pp., ll. 165-171, [172], pp. 173-197, 197 [bis], 198-289, [24 blank, partly numbered]. Full description

[MANUSCRIPT - FRANCE]. Colloquio su'gli affari presenti del 1683 fatto nell'Inferno, tra Maometto, e monsieur Colbert, già ministro di Francia.
[Italy, ca. 1684?]. Small folio (29 x 20.5 cm). Manuscript in brown ink on laid paper in a legible hand. Sewn. [54], [2 blank] pp. Full description

[AUTOGRAPH]. FRANCQ VAN BERKHEY, Jean le. [Autograph letter in French, signed, to Henri Louis Duhamel du Monceau.]
Leiden, 10 December 1771. 25 x 20 cm (letter) & 23.5 x 18.5 cm (manuscript). Never bound.
With: [MANUSCRIPT]. [FRANCQ VAN BERKHEY, Jean LE]. Memoires, pour servir a ce que l'illustre auteur de "L'histoire generale des poissons" Monsieur M. Du Hamel de Monceau, solicite a l'egard des morues.
[Leiden, 1771].
A letter and treatise in French, written in dark brown ink on paper in a neat and easily readable hand, the treatise with 9 tipped-in pen and ink illustrations drawn by the author (6.5 x 10.5 to 11.5 x 21.5 cm) and a few small illustrations in the text. [4]; “29” [= 30], [1], [1 blank] pp. plus tipped in illustrations. Full description