Asher Rare Books

Nice set of 3 well-preserved altarcards, calligraphed in red and black
and profusely illustrated from around 1850

[19TH-CENTURY ALTAR CARDS]. [3 altar cards].
ca. 1850. Central altar card (47 x 69,5 cm) with two side cards (42 x 33 cm). Full description

€ 2,500

Christianity and children's education intertwined: a very rare Italian ABC book

[ABC BOOK]. Correttissima Santa Croce per facilissima istruzzione de' fanciulli.
[Rome], Francesco Ansillioni, [ca. 1750]. Small 8vo. With 2 nearly full-page woodcuts (the Holy Virgin on the front cover and a monk with a shining nimbus containing the word "charitas" around his head on the back cover) and 7 small religious woodcuts in text. Front and back cover and the first two pages with alphabets and numbers in ornamental woodcut borders. Sewn. [16] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Pope Clement XI's copies of three important works concerning the Armenian language

AGOP, Joannes (Yovhannès KONSTANDNOWPOLSECÍ). Puritas Haygica seu grammatica Armenica ...
Rome, Sacrae Congretationis de Propaganda Fide, 1675.
With:
(2) AGOP, Joannes. Grammatica Latina Armenice' explicata: ...
Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1675.
(3) AGOP, Joannes. Puritas lingue Armenicae ...
Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1674. 3 works in 1 volume. 4to. Contemporary sheepskin parchment. [6], 246, [4]; 215, [1 blank]; 215, [1] pp. Full description

€ 24,000

Accounts of two synods held in Santiago, Chile, in 1688 and 1763

ALDAY Y ASPEE (AZPEE), Manuel de. Synodo Diocesana, ...
Lima, Oficina de la Calle de la Encarnacion, 1764. With the half-title and title-page printed in red and black, the latter in a red and black ornamented border built up from cast fleurons, each page with the text, running heads and shoulder notes in frames of thick-thin rules, a woodcut headpiece and woodcut decorated initial.
With: (2) CARRASCO Y SAAVEDRA, Bernardo. Synodo diocesana, con la carta pastoral convocatoria para ella: y otra, en orden a la paga de los diezmos.
Lima, Imprenta Real, 1764. With the title-page printed in red, green and black in a border of fleurons and other typographical elements also printed in red, green and black. With each page in a frame of rules and fleurons, woodcut tailpieces and decorated initials, numerous headpieces and other decorations built up from cast fleurons. 2 works in 1 volume. Folio. Contemporary overlapping limp sheepskin parchment. [8], 170, [26]; [14], 168 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Dala'il al-khayrat written in China

AL-JAZULI, Muhammad ibn Sulaiman. Dalâ'il al-khayrat. [= "Waymarks of benefits"].
[Eastern Turkestan, now Xinjiang, China, early 17th century CE]. 4to (19 x 14 cm). Manuscript written in black ink on paper in Arabic script, with a red single- or double-line frame around each page, rubricated throughout, and two illustrations on pages 47 and 48) showing the "Ka'ba of Allah" (!) and the burial sites of the first three Rashidun Caliphs. The Arabic script is in the sini calligraphic style used in China, an archaic form mixing features of naskh and muhaqqaq. Contemporary(?) black, red and gold painted and lacquered leather over paper and cloth. The painted sides show floral designs in black and gold on a red background, in a black border with red wave designs. With remnants of leather on the brown cloth spine. [1], 337 pp. Full description

€ 38,000

Printed on the Gauhati mission press

AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION. Conference of the Assam Mission of the American Baptist Missionary Union held in Gauhati December 21-30, 1889.
Gauhati, Gauhati mission press, 1890. 8vo. Original pale blue printed wrappers. 44, [1] pp. Full description

€ 500

Mission activities in Jaffna

AMERICAN MISSIONARY SEMINARY. Fifth triennial report of the American Mission Seminary, Jaffna, Ceylon. With an appendix. January, 1839.
Jaffna, Press of the American Mission, 1839. 8vo (20 x 13.5 cm). Original orange-brown wrappers, side stitched through 5 holes. 48, [1] pp. Full description

€ 650

Very rare Jaffna print: the second recorded copy located

AMERICAN MISSION SEMINARY. Catalogue of the officers and students of the American Mission Seminary, Jaffna, Ceylon. 1841.
Jaffna, printed at the American Mission Press, 1841. 8vo (21 x 13.5 cm). Original pink printed wrappers, with "seminary catalogue 1841" printed in black on the front wrapper. 13 pp. Full description

€ 650

Pamphlet on free will, by a prominent Lutheran reformer

AMSDORF, Nicolaus von. Offentliche Bekentnis der reinen Lehre des Evangelii, und Confutatio der itzigen Schwermer. ... Item ein Register Illyrici, etlicher bittern unwarheiten Menii und anderer.
Jena, Thomas Rewart, 1558. Small 4to (18.5 x 14.5 cm). With two woodcut initials. Modern half cloth. [28] ll. Full description

€ 2,000

Fables for Christians, by one of the founders of Rosicrucianism

[ANDREAE, Johann Valentin]. Mythologiae Christianae sive virtutum & vitiorum vitae humanae imaginum. Libri tres.
Strasbourg, heirs of Lazarus Zetzner, [1619]. With an engraved title-page.
With: (2) [GESSEL, Timan van]. Synopsis locorum sacrae scripturae patrum, et recentiorum quorundam theologorum, quibus demonstratur, quaenam sint ad salutem creditu necessaria & sufficientia.
Amsterdam, [Joan Blaeu?], 1650. 2 works in 1 volume. 12mo. Contemporary vellum. [24], 352, [7], [1 blank]; [38], 197, [1] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Very rare work on an Islamic procession in the city of Mecca in 1728

ANTONIO, João Carlos (pseudonym of António Correia de LEMOS). Relaçam de huma solemne, e extraordinaria procissam de preces, que por ordem da corte Ottomana fizeraõ os Turcos na cidade de Meca, no dia 16. de Julho de 1728. ... Primeira[-segunda] parte.
Lisbon, Pedro Ferreira, 1730. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With woodcut title vignettes, headpieces and initials. Modern blue marbled paper wrappers. 23, [1 blank]; 24 pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Venetian incunable in a contemporary richly blind-tooled (Venetian?) binding with Islamic influences:
the 3rd edition (1498) of Thomas Aquinas on the epistles of Saint Paul

AQUINAS, Thomas. Sancti Thome de Aquino super epistolas Pauli. Super epistolas Sancti Pauli[.] Co[m]mentaria preclarissima. Cum tabula ordinatissima. [= In omnes epistolas Pauli].
[Colophon:] Venice, Bonetus Locatellus for Octavianus Scotus, 22 December 1498. Folio (32.5 x 22.5 cm). Printed in two columns. Contemporary Venetian(?) blind-tooled, blackened tanned calf over bevelled wooden boards [12], 260, [1] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

The life of Muhammad and a history of Arabia under the first four Caliphs

[ARABIAN HISTORY]. Hedendaagsche historie; of het vervolg van de algemeene historie; ... Behelzende het leeven van Mohammed; en het begin van de historie der Arabieren, onder de drie eerste Khalifs ...
Utrecht, Hermanus Besseling (vols. 1-2), Leiden, Amsterdam, P. van der Eyk, G. de Groot and son, K. van Tongerloo and P. Schouten (vol. 3), 1760-1764. 6 parts in 3 volumes. 4to. With 3 engraved frontispieces, engraved coat of arms and 6 folding plates. Contemporary boards covered with sprinkled paper. Full description

€ 5,000

First 4to edition of the Monumenta by Arias Montanus, from the collection of Robert de Ligne (1564-1614)

ARIAS MONTANO (MONTANUS), Benito (Benedictus). Humanae salutis monumenta.
Antwerp, Christoffel Plantin, "1571" [= 1582/83]. 4to (22 x 14.5 cm). With an engraved, illustrated title-page bearing the initials of the engraver Pieter Huys and the date 1571, an unsigned circular portrait of Jesus in profile and 70 full-page engravings (16.5 x 11.5 cm) by several artists. 17th-century gold-tooled black goatskin, the front board with a centrepiece comprising coat-of-arms (with a name below it) in an oval (the arms and name mutilated, but probably Robert de Ligne or an heir), gilt edges, later endpapers. [172] pp. Full description

€ 19,500

Biography of a famous abbess and reformer of Port-Royal. With notes on the history of Port-Royal,
Maubuisson and other monasteries

ARNAULD D'ANDILLY, Angélique de Saint Jean. Relations sur la vie de la Reverende mere Angelique de Sainte Magdelaine Arnauld, ou receüil de la mere Angelique de Saint Jean Arnauld d'Audilly, sur la vie de sa tante la mere Marie-Angelique de Sainte Magdelaine Arnauld, & sur la réforme des abbayes de Port-Royal, Maubuisson & autres, faite par cette Sainte Abbisse.
With: (2) ARNAULD, Angélique de Sainte Magdelaine. Mémoires pour servir à la vie de la R. Mëre Marie Angélique de Sainte Magdelaine Arnauld, reformatrice de Port Royal.
[France], 1737. 2 works in 1 volume. 12mo. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine with red morocco title-label, marbled edges and marbled endpapers. VII, 291; IV, 145 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Richly illustrated manuscript teaching religion to deaf-mutes

[ASSAROTTI, Ottavio Giovanno Battista]. Dottrina Christiana. [Manuscript in Italian].
[Genoa, ca. 1815/20]. 8vo. With 117 (of 118) full-page hand-coloured drawings, each in a frame of double rules (20.5 x 14 cm), with lively illustrations of the Christian doctrine, and text in Italian. Contemporary half calf, gold-tooled spine. 117 (of 118), [3 blank] ll., including the last 3 blanks. Full description

€ 18,500

First edition of the first Italian translation of Augustine's "De civitate Dei"

AUGUSTINE of Hippo (Saint AUGUSTINE). De la cita d'Dio.
[Venice?, Antonio di Bartolommeo Miscomini, ca. 1477? (not after 1483)]. Folio. Printed in two columns, each 47 lines, with spaces for 3-6 line initials left blank. Early 19th-century gold-tooled calf. [1 blank], [322], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 19,000

Unidentified humanist's selections from St Augustine to defend the Catholic faith against reformers and heretics

AUGUSTINE of Hippo (Saint AUGUSTINE). Collectanea, ex universo opere librorum D. Aurelii Augustini passim decerpta, semitam quanda[m] media[m] Christianis, nu[n]c misere dissentie[n]bus[!] mon[s]trantia, qua unanimiter ad ecclesiam Christi redeant.
Deventer, Albert Paffraet, 1529. 8vo (16.5 x 10.5 cm). With the title in letterpress in a woodcut border and one woodcut initial. With a contemporary manuscript index (31 1/2 pp.) and contemporary manuscript notes (1 1/2 pp.) giving quotations from Saint Augustine on 16 leaves bound at the front. Contemporary blind-tooled brown calf over wooden boards (the back board replaced with paperboard), with a brass catch-plate in the middle of the fore-edge (clasp and anchor plate lacking and binding repaired). 196 ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Polemic edition of Augustine's Confessions,
a 1779 prize-book from the Collegium Antonianum in Megen (Noord-Brabant)

AUGUSTINUS, Aurelius. Confessio Augustiniana in libros quattor distributa, et certis capitibus locorum theologicorum, qui sunt hodie scitu dignissimi, comprehensa: nunc primum ex omnibus B. Aurelii Augustini libris in unum opus bona fide ac studio singulari redacta per D. Hieronymum Torrensem ...
Dillingen, Sebald Mayer, 1567. 4to. With Mayers full-page woodcut device (a pelican feeding her young with her own blood, with motto "sic his qui diligunt", copied in mirror image from that of Frans Behem in Mainz) on the last otherwise blank leaf, and some fine decorated woodcut initials. 18th century mottled calf, gold-tooled spine, red sprinkled edges. [32], 330, [24] lvs. Full description

€ 1,500

One of the earliest printed editions of Augustine of Hippo's noteworthy exposition of the Psalms

AUGUSTINE of Hippo (Saint AUGUSTINE). Explanatio Psalmorum. [Incipit:] Annotatio principaliu[m] sententiariu[m]/ principaliu[m] sente[n]tiariu[m] in expla-natione psamo[rum]...
(Colophon:) Basel, Johann Amerbach, 1489. 3 parts in 1 volume. Folio (ca. 31 x 21.5 cm).
Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over wooden boards, with 1 brass clasp and remnants of a 2nd. [1 blank], [14], [1 blank]; [146]; [192]; [192], [5 blank] ll. Full description

€ 25,000

Two rare editions of sermons, printed and published at Cologne ca. 1502 and in 1505

AUGUSTINUS DE LEONISSA. Sermones pulcherrimi sup[er] d[omi]nica[m] or[ati]o[n]em Pater noster & angelicam salutat[i]o[n]em Ave Maria. Unicuiq[ue] ad populu[m] vole[n]ti declamat[i]o[n]es facere acco[m]modati. editi p[er] venera[n]du[m] patre[m] Augustinu[m] de Leonissa ...
(Colophon: Cologne, heirs of Heinrich Quentel, 1505). With 3 decorated woodcut initials, many 3-line and 2 larger Lombardic initials. With the first decorated initial hand coloured, and rubricated throughout.
With: (2) BONAVENTURA, Saint (pseudo). Sermo[n]es Quattuor novissimorum perutiles et n[e]cc[ess]arii. unu[m]que[m]que in devot[i]o[n]is ardorem dei quam timore[m] i[n]ducentes. a Beato Bonaventura editi.
(Colophon : Cologne), [Cornelis de Zierikzee, ca. 1502]. With a small woodcut of Christ at the Last Judgement on the title-page framed by 4 decorative woodcut strip borders, a full-page woodcut of King David meeting Christ at the Last Judgement (repeated at the end), a few 3-line Lombardic initials and spaces left for a few larger manuscript initials (not filled in). 2 works in 1 volume. Small 8vo (14.5 x 10.5 cm). Modern blind-tooled brown goatskin morocco. [92]; [128] ll. Full description

€ 4,850

Unpublished letter from Philipp Melanchthon

[AUTOGRAPH]. MELANCHTHON, Philipp. [Autograph letter, signed, from Philipp Melanchthon to Sebastian Boetius].
[Wittenberg], Easter [14 April 1555]. Folio (19.5 x 32 cm). In Latin. [2] pp. Full description

€ 45,000

Incunable: first edition of any part of the most important work of William of Auvergne (ca. 1180-1249),
printed by Günther Zainer

ALVERNUS, Guillelmus (William of AUVERGNE). Libri ... de fide et legibus.
[Augsburg, Günther Zainer, ca. 1475/1476]. Small folio. Set in a hybrid roman type with gothic elements (a single column of 43 lines per page plus running heads), with the first 3 lines, including the title, in a slightly larger rotunda gothic. With all initials supplied in manuscript in red, rubricated throughout. Contemporary, richly blind-tooled vellum over wooden boards, two brass clasps, blue edges, "Nr. 56" in red ink written at the foot of the spine. [139] ll. Full description

€ 45,000

Against Portugal's centralized power in Brazil

AZEREDO COUTINHO, José Joaquim da Cunha de. Alegasaõ juridica, na qual se mostra que saõ do padroado da coroa, e naõ da Ordem militar de Cristo, as igrejas, dignidades, e beneficios dos bispados do Cabo de Bojador para o sul, em que se compreendem os bispados de Cabo Verde, S. Thomé, Angola, Brazil, India até á China. Oferecida a Sua Alteza Principe do Brazil regente de Portugal.
Lisbon, Antonio Rodrigues Galhardo, 1804. 4to. With a woodcut coat of arms of Portugal on title-page. Contemporary, elaborately gold-tooled red morocco, with the coat of arms of Portugal on the front and back board, gilt edges, marbled endpapers. 82, [2] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

California absolutely unfit for habitation

[BAEGERT, Jakob]. Nachrichten von der Amerikanische Halbinsel Californien: mit einem zweyfachen Anhang falscher Nachrichten. Geschrieben von einem Priester der Gesellschaft Jesu, welcher lang darinn diese letztere Jahr gelebt hat.
Mannheim, Churfürstliche Hof und Academie Buchdruckerey, 1772. 8vo. With an engraved folding map and two full-page plates engraved by E. Verelst, some woodcut pictorial frames for letters, and several nice woodcut head- and tailpieces. Contemporary half calf. [16], 358 pp.; [1] errata l. Full description

€ 9,500

Very rare 1662 pictorial Bible with 97 engraved scenes, with the Familist mystic Hiël’s commentary

BARREFELT, Hendrik Jansen, known as “HIËL” (illustrations by Pieter van der BORCHT). Bibelsche figueren, ofte afbeeldingen van al de gedenckweerdige historien, ende andere geschiedenissen des Ouden ende Nieuwen Testaments.
Amsterdam, Gerrit Jansz., 1662. Oblong 4to (19 x 6 cm). With a general title-page plus a separate title-page for the New Testament, each with the same new woodcut rendition of the device Michiel Colijn used in his 1613 editions, 97 (of 119) engraved and etched Bible scenes, 1 large woodcut headpiece and 1 woodcut decorated initial. Set in textura types with incidental roman and italic. Early 19th-century half vellum, sewn on 2 tapes, marbled sides, with the remains of a gold-tooled spine-label that originally read "BIBELSCHE|FIGUEREN|1662". 44 [lacking 15-16, 41-44]; 52 [lacking 41-48] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Wonderful mid-seventeenth century account of the Jesuit religious life in Malabar

BARRETO, Francisco. Relatione delle missioni, e christianità che appartengono alla privincia di Malavar della compangia di Giesu.
Rome, Francesco Cavalli, 1645. 8vo. With a woodcut Jesuit device on the title page and two woodcut decorated initials (two different series). Contemporary vellum, with remnants of a manuscript title on the spine. [4], 132 pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Most important work on the Jesuit missionary activities in Goa

BARTOLI, Danielle. Missione al Gran Mogor del P. Ridolfo Aquaviva della Compagnia di Giesu, Sua vita e morte, e d'altri quattro compagni uccisi in odio della fede in Salsete di Goa.
Roma, Per il Varesi, 1663. 8vo. Contemp. vellum. 218, (2) pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Treatise on education and pedagogy based on the Christian religion

BASEDOW, Johann Bernhard. Methodischer Unterricht der Jugend in der Religion und Sittenlehre der Vernunft nach dem in der Philalethie angegebenen Plane.
Altona, David Iversen, 1764.With: (2) BASEDOW, Johann Bernhard. Methodischer Unterricht in der überzeugenden Erkenntniss der biblischen Religion, zur vorgesetzten Ausführung des in der Philalethie angegebenen Plans.
Altona, David Iversen, 1764.
2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With an engraved illustration on both title-pages (not identical) and some woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Slightly later brown pastepaper boards, with title-label on spine, red sprinkled edges. LXII, 272; XXXII, 224, 144 pp. Full description

€ 2,000

The most complete Dutch edition of Basnages comprehensive synthesis of Jewish history,
beginning where Flavius Josephus ended

BASNAGE, Josephus. Vervolg op Flavius Josephus; of algemene historie der Joodsche naatsie, behelzende ene uitvoerige beschryving van derzelver regerings-vorm, godtsdienst, gezinten en plegtigheden, nevens de veranderingen, daar in voorgevallen: mitsgaders een verhaal van alle oorlogen, weergaloze rampen, wisselvalligheden, verstroojing door de gehele waerelt, ...
Amsterdam, Gerard onder de Linden; Delft, Reinier Boitet, 1726-1727. 2 volumes. Large folio. With 5 full-page engravings (including the dedication, often lacking), 90 engravings in text and 4 letterpress tables (1 folding). Contemporary vellum. [1], [1 blank], [44], 1-156, 185-368, 371-544, 543-554, 554*1-554*24, 555-658; [1], [1 blank], [4], 659-760, 1103-1288, 1288†-1288††††, 1289-1390, 1471-1584, 1591-1710, 1725-1844, 1879-1940 pp. Full description

€ 850

A classic description of Islam

BAUDIER, Michel. Histoire generale de la religion des Turcs. Avec la naissance, la vie, & la mort, de leur prophete Mahomet; et les actions des quatre premiers caliphes qui l'ont suivy.
Paris, Jean Guignard, 1632. 8vo. With the controversial half-page engraved portrait of Muhammad. 17th-century(?) vellum, later endpapers. [70], [2 blank], 726, [50] pp. Full description

€ 2,750

Biography of the well-known martyr Ignacio de Azevedo

BEAUVAIS, Gilles-François. La vie du venerable pere Ignace Azevedo, de la Compagnie de Jesus. L'histoire de son martyre, & de celui de trente-neuf autres de la même Compagnie. Le tout tiré des procès-verbaux dressés pour leur canonisation. Dédiée au Roi de Pologne.
Paris, Hippolyte-Louis Guerin, 1744. 12mo. With engraved armorial headpiece above the dedication to King Stanislaus I of Poland. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine, gold fillets on board edges. XLIII, [5], 300 pp. Full description

€ 2,250

Second known copy of the Mons issue of the first edition, the only known Claude Bronchin imprint

BEAUXAMIS, Thomas. In sacro sancta Coenae mysteria, passionem, et resurrectionem domini nostri Jesu, homeliae, & tabulae, annexis quibusdam scholiis, ex primis ecclesiae patribus. Ad amplissimum, & illustrissimum principem carolum cardinalem Lotharingum.
Mons (Belgium), Claude de Bronchin [printed in Paris by Guillaume Chaudière], 1570. 8vo. With Chaudières woodcut device on the title-page (Chronos, with the motto, "hancas iem sol retundit virtus"), a woodcut headpiece, 2 woodcut tailpieces and 2 woodcut initials (from 2 different series). Limp vellum (ca. 1700?). [6], 321, [1] ll. Full description

€ 3,500

The first history of Christianity in England,
in contemporary blind-tooled calf with a roll showing Reformation portraits

BEDA VENERABILIS (The Venerable BEDE). Ecclesiasticae historiae gentis Anglorum libri quinque diligenti studio à mendis, quibus hactenus scatebant, vindicati.
Including: BEDA VENERABILIS. Epitome sive breviarium totius praecedentis historiae Anglorum ...
Antwerp, Joannes de Grave (Gravius), 1550. Folio. With De Grave's woodcut armorial device on title-page (repeated on the otherwise blank final leaf) and 30 woodcut decorated initials. Contemporary blind-tooled calf, each board with a double border made from a roll with 4 heads in profile, not labelled but showing Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, Desiderius Erasmus and apparently the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V rather than the more common Jan Hus, each in an oval wreath and separated by foliage (bilaterally symmetrical both vertically and horizontally). [6], 263, [1 blank], [12] pp. Full description

€ 4,000

two controversial works by Balthasar Bekker">"Making an end" to the superstitious belief in the devil and the apocalyptical meaning of comets:
two controversial works by Balthasar Bekker

BEKKER, Balthasar. De betoverde weereld, zynde een grondig ondersoek van 't gemeen gevoelen aangaande de geesten, derselver aart en vermogen, bewind en bedryf: als ook 't gene de menschen door derselver kraght en gemeenschap doen. In vier boeken ondernomen.Amsterdam, Daniel van den Dalen, 1691-1693. With the woodcut printer's device of Daniel van den Dalen on the title-page of each book (part) and a full-page woodcut of the Oldenburg Horn.
With: (2) BEKKER, Balthasar. Ondersoek van de betekeninge der kometen, by gelegenheid van de gene die in de jaren 1680. 1681. en 1682. geschenen hebben.Including: Berigt aangaande 't uitvinden der lengte van Oost en West, voorgegeven van Liewe Willems Graaf.
Amsterdam, Jan ten Hoorn, 1692. 4to. 2 works in 1 volume, the first work in 4 parts. With a woodcut on the title-page, depicting a group of people doing astronomical research.2 works in 1 volume, the first work in 4 parts. 4to. Contemporary calf, blind-ruled frames on the boards. [18], 138, [2]; [8], 262, [2]; [8], 188, [4]; [6], 277, [3]; [8], 102, [18] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

An ounce of peace is better than a pound of victory

BELLARMINO, Roberto. De arte bene moriendi, libri duo.
Venice, Giovanni Tibernino, 1746. Agenda 12mo (16 x 8 cm). Contemporary sheepskin parchment. 216 pp. Full description

€ 400

Bellarmino's Arabic catechism with the rare Arabic instructions for confession and communion

BELLARMINO, Roberto. [Title in Arabic] | Dichiarazione piú copiosa della dottrina cristiana... Tradotta dalla lingua italiana nellaraba, e dora di bel nuovo stampata.
Rome, [Propaganda Fide], 1770.
With: (2) BORGIA, Stefano. Irsad li-ajl al-i'tiraf wa-tanawul al-qurban, ... [= Instructions for confession and communion]
[Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1770?].
2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. The catechism with a woodcut of fruits and branches on the title-page and 2 woodcut headpieces The instructions with the title in a decorative border built up from cast fleurons, 1 woodcut headpiece and several further decorations built up from cast fleurons. Except for the bilingual title-page to the Bellarmino and the imprimatur on the last printed page of the Borgia, both works are set entirely in Arabic type. Contemporary half sheepskin, manuscript title on spine, paste paper sides, sprinkled edges. 411, [1 blank]; 109, [1 blank], [1], [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Four rare political tracts

BEN SADDI, Nathan (= Robert DODSLEY). Chronique des rois d'Angleterre, ecrite en Anglois selon le stile des anciens historiens Juifs.
London [= Hanover?], Thomas Cooper [= Johann Wilhelm Schmidt?], 1743. Title in red & black with engraved vignette (a seascape with a sea creature in the foreground), headpieces and tailpieces. 144; [4], XXIV, 191, [1 blank], [2], 192-228; 108; 16 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Letters from Hormuz Island, the East Indies and Japan

[BERSE, Gaspar, Francis XAVIER et al.]. Epistolae Indicae et Iapanicae de multarum gentium ad Christi fidem, per Societatem Iesu conversione. Item de Tartarorum potentia, moribus, & totius penè Asiae religione. Tertia editio cum indice castigatior & auctior.
Including: Epistolae Iapanicae, de multorum in variis insulis gentilium ad Christi sidem conversione.
Leuven, Rutger Velpius, 1570. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. Each part with woodcut publisher's device on last blank. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [24], 361[=316], [20]; 401[=399], [25] pp. Full description

€ 19,500

Jesuit letters from Hormuz Island and the East Indies

[BERSE, Gaspar, Francis XAVIER etc.]. Epistolae Indicae et Iapanicae de multarum gentium ad Christi fidem, per Societatem Iesu conversione.
Louvain, Rutger Velpius, 1570.
With: (2) GARETIUS, Johannes. De sanctorum invocatione liber...
Ghent, Gislenus Manilius, 1570.
2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Ad 1 with the title-page in a frame built up from fleurons, and a woodcut publisher's device on last blank, ad 2 with the title-page in a frame built up from fleurons, the woodcut coat-of-arms of Cunerus Petri (bishop of Leeuwarden) on the back of the title-page and on the last leaf a woodcut printer's device within a frame built up from fleurons.
Contemporary limp vellum sewn on 3 leather supports laced through the joints, with the manuscript title on the spine, leather ties, red edges. [24], “361”[=316], [20] pp.; [16], 103, [9] ll. Full description

€ 19,500

Large folio Bible with 6 maps and 336 illustrations, in contemporary colouring with extensive gold

[BIBLE - DUTCH]. Biblia, dat is: de gantsche H. Schrifture, vervattende alle de canonijcke boecken des Ouden en des Nieuwen Testaments.
Amsterdam, widow of Paulus Aertsz. van Ravesteyn, 1660. 3 parts in 1 volume. Large folio (47.5 x 32 cm). With an integral engraved general title-page, 6 double-page engraved maps, including a world map and a plan of Jerusalem, and 336 Bible-illustrations by Claes Jansz. Visscher (after Matthäus Merian?) on 42 numbered single-page plates. The maps and illustrations coloured by an early hand with extensive use of gold. 18th-century black so-called sharkskin over bevelled wooden boards (ca. 1770?), with 8 large silver corner-pieces and 2 large silver clasps with catchplates and anchorplates, all with matching stamped relief decoration, gilt and gauffered edges. The silver furnishings bear Amsterdam city hallmarks with year letter C and master's mark DF. Rebacked with most of the original backstrip mounted on the spine. [20], 302, [2], 149; 164, [10]; [2], 66 ll. Full description

€ 65,000

Large folio Bible with 6 maps and 96 illustrations, in contemporary colouring with extensive gold

[BIBLE - DUTCH]. Biblia, dat is: de gantsche H. Schrifture, vervattende alle de canonijcke boecken des Ouden en des Nieuwen Testaments.
Amsterdam, widow of Paulus Aertsz. van Ravesteyn, 1660. 3 parts in 1 volume. Large folio (45 x 30 cm). With an integral engraved general title-page, 6 double-page engraved maps, including a world map and a plan of Jerusalem, and 96 Bible illustrations published by Frederick de Wit (engraved by Cornelis Danckerts after Matthäus Merian?) on 6 double-page plates. The engraved title-page, devices on the letterpress title-pages, maps, illustrations, and many of the woodcut decorations and initials (including all those on the back of the maps) coloured by a contemporary hand with extensive use of gold. Later (ca. 1800?) blind-tooled calf, 2 pair of brass fastenings. Modern (ca. 1900?) endpapers. [20], 302, [2], 149; 164, [10]; [2], 66 ll. Full description

€ 45,000

Keur Bible with 6 maps and 51 plates

[BIBLE - DUTCH]. Biblia, dat is de gantsche H. Schrifture, vervattende alle de Canonijcke Boecken des Ouden en des Nieuwen Testaments.
Dordrecht, Hendrick, Jacob and Pieter Keur; Amsterdam, Marcus Doornick and Pieter Rotterdam, 1702. Large folio (42.5 x 27 cm). With engraved title-page, 2 letterpress title-pages with woodcut printer's device, 1 half-title, double-page engraved world-map, 5 double-page engraved maps and 1 plan, 51 engraved plates with 6 illustrations each, the latter by Lamberecht Causé and Nicolaas Gommerse. Contemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, with brass cornerpieces, clasps and catches. [20], 302; [2], 134; [12], 164; [2], 66 ll. Full description

€ 4,500

With the 6 large Daniel Stoopendaal maps

[BIBLE – DUTCH - KEUR]. Biblia, dat is De gantsche H. Schrifture vervattende alle de canonijcke boecken des Ouden en des Nieuwen Testaments.
Dordrecht, Jacob and Pieter Keur; Amsterdam, Pieter Rotterdam and Pieter Rotterdam the younger (colophon: printed by Jacob and Pieter Keur, Dordrecht), 1714 (New Testament without Pieter Rotterdam the younger, 1713). 3 parts in 1 volume. Large folio (42.5 x 27.5 cm). With engraved general title-page, letterpress title-pages for the New Testament and Apocrypha (and half-title for the Prophets), a series of 6 engraved double-page folding maps by Daniël Stoopendaal (his larger set) and a series of 24 (of 25) engrave plates, with 6 engraved Biblical scenes each, by Dirk Jonkman. Contemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, with brass clasps, anchor and catch plates, and corner pieces. Full description

€ 3,500

With the 6 large Daniel Stoopendaal maps and the series of 212 prints by Picard and others

[BIBLE - DUTCH - KEUR]. Biblia, dat is De gantsche H. Schrifture vervattende alle de canonijcke boecken des Ouden en des Nieuwen Testaments.
Dordrecht, Jacob and Pieter Keur; Amsterdam, Pieter Rotterdam and Pieter Rotterdam the younger (colophon: printed by Jacob and Pieter Keur, Dordrecht), 1714 (New Testament without Pieter Rotterdam the younger, 1713). 3 parts in 2 volumes. Large folio (42.5×27.5 cm). With engraved general title-page, series of 6 engraved double-page folding maps by Daniël Stoopendaal (his larger set), a complete set of 184 full-page and 28 double-page engraved illustration plates by various artists, including A. de Blois, J. van Vianen and J. Mulder, after G. Hoet, B. Picart, A. Houbraken and others. Gold-tooled sprinkled calf (1738?). [20], 302; [2], 134, [12], 164, [2], 66 ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Rare Catholic Arabic Bible, based on the very first printed Arabic translation of the Bible

[BIBLE - ARABIC - OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT]. Kitab Al-Muqaddas al-Mushtamil 'ala Kutub al-'Ahd al-'Atiq wal 'Ahd al-Jadid [The Holy Book, included the books of the Old Testament found in the original Hebrew of our Lord Jesus Christ and also the Book of the New Testament].
London, William Watts, 1855. 8vo (22 x 14 cm).
Original elaborately embossed brown calf with the title lettered in gold on the spine, red edges. [1], [1 blank], [2], 645; 407; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 352 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Royal folio Elzevier Bible with maps and a rare print series: its Rotterdam binder ranks with Magnus

[BIBLE - DUTCH]. Biblia, dat is, de gantsche heylige schrifture, vervattende alle de canonijcke boecken des Ouden en des Nieuwen Testaments.
Leiden, widow and heirs of Johannes Elzevier, 1663. 3 volumes bound as 2, with the prints and maps bound in. Large folio (44.5 x 28 cm). The Elzevier Bible with an engraved allegorical frontispiece, 3 letterpress title-pages (the general title-page in red and black, the others for the New Testament and Apocrypha). Picart's wholly engraved print-Bible with an allegorical frontispiece, a half-title and 209 finely engraved Bible scenes (29 double-page) by Gerard Hoet, Bernard Picart, etc. Further with a series of 6 double-page engraved plates, namely 5 maps plus a plan of Jerusalem, all by Nicolaas I Visscher. Below the privilege from the city of Leiden, the city secretarys clerk Jacob vander Werve has authenticated the book by stamping the Leiden coat of arms and signing his name below it. Richly gold-tooled black goatskin morocco (ca. 1725) over bevelled wooden boards, bound and decorated by the so-called STAG BINDERY, Rotterdam. From the collection of Hendrik Adriaan or Hendricus Hadrianus vander Marck (ca. 1667-1726). [22], “468” [= 470]; [13], [1 blank], “167” [= 168]; [4], 77, [1 blank] ll. plus the print-Bible and maps. Full description

€ 70,000

Extra illustrated "Staten Bijbel"

[BIBLE - DUTCH]. Bybel, dat is, de gansche H. Schrift, vervattende alle de kanonyke boeken des Ouden en Nieuwen Testaments.
Gorinchem, Nicolas Goetzee, 1748. 2 volumes. Large folio. With engraved allegorical frontispiece by J. Punt after J. de Wit, large engraved vignette by J. Punt on title, 12 double-page folding engraved maps by W.A. Bachine, including a plan of Jerusalem, and 61 double-page engraved plates by Jan Luyken, including 2 with four half-page illustrations to one plate, and extra mounted on endpapers of both volumes 8 half-page engraved bible-illustrations by G. de Jode, all richly coloured by hand. Contemporary calf over wooden boards, spines ribbed and richly gilt in a fine light flower design, with broad richly ornamental gilt borders and elegant gilt inner-panel with large gilt flowers at the four corners and large flowered gilt central ornaments. [12], 19, [3], 342, [2], 151; [4], 12, 172, [4], 77 ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Very rare 18th-century Dutch pocket Bible, enlarged with rare series of 42 engraved plates

[BIBLE - DUTCH]. Biblia dat is de gantsche H. Schrift vervattende alle canonyke boeken des ouden en Nieuwen Testaments.
Including: Het nieuwe Testament. And: De CL. Psalmen des propheten Davids.
Amsterdam, Otto van Grafhorst and Dirk onder de Linden, 1752. 3 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. With engraved title-page (pasted on the "Acte van Consent en Authorisatie"), 42 engraved plates and diamond-head music for the psalms. With only the undated engraved general title-page and no separate title-page for the Old Testament, but with separate title-pages for the New Testament and the psalms.
Contemporary red morocco, with richly gold-tooled sides and spine, and gilt edges. [3] ll., 852; [234] pp. Full description

€ 4,250

Bible bound in "sharkskin", including a psalmbook published by the Nederlandsche Bijbel-Compagnie

[BIBLE - OLD TESTAMENT - DUTCH]. Biblia, dat is de gantsche Heylige Schrifture, vervattende alle de canonycke boecken des ouden ende des nieuwen testaments. ...Amsterdam, J. Brandt and son, Haarlem, Johannes Enschedé and sons, 1884.
With: (2) [BIBLE - NEW TESTAMENT - DUTCH]. Het Nieuwe Testament, ofte alle boecken des nieuwen verbonts onses heeren Jesu Christi. ...Amsterdam, J. Brandt and son, Haarlem, Johannes Enschedé and sons, 1870.
(3) [PSALMBOOK - DUTCH]. Het boek der psalmen, nevens de gezangen bij de Hervormde Kerk van Nederland in gebruik. ... Amsterdam, J. Brandt and son, Haarlem, Johannes Enschedé and sons), 1870. With the sheet music for the psalms.
With letterpress-printed music notes for the psalms. 3 works in 1 volume. 8vo. 20th-century so-called sharkskin with several elaborate silver-plated fittings, (large cornerpieces on both sides, two cord rings on the head intended to secure a carrying cord or chain, two large clasps: one inscribed "J.R.M." and the other dated "1932", catch-plates), gilt and gauffered edges. [1], 416; 126; 132 ff. Full description

€ 1,500

Lavishly and vividly hand-coloured copy of the famous Moerentorf Bible by Moretus & Keerberghen, the standard Dutch translation of the Vulgate for centuries, in contemporary, richly blind-tooled calf

[BIBLE - DUTCH - VULGATE]. Biblia sacra. Dat is de geheele heylighe schrifture bedeylt int out ende nieu Testament: van nieus met groote neersticheyt oversien, ende naer den lesten Roomschen text verbetert door sommighe doctoren inder Heyligher Godtheyt inde vermaerde universiteyt van Loven.
Antwerp, (colophon: printed by Daniel Vervliet and Hendrik Swingen for) Jan I Moretus & Jan I van Keerberghen, 1599. 2 volumes bound as 1. Folio. With an engraved title-page (coloured by a contemporary hand with extensive use of gold) showing Moses on the left, David on the right, and the four evangelists below, and 90 woodcuts in the text of both the Old and the New Testament, all except one vividly coloured by a contemporary hand. Contemporary richly blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, sewn on 5 supports, with brass catchplates, remnants of leather strap fastenings, brass corner pieces on all corners and a brass centrepiece on each board, all with brass bosses. [4], 410; [106] ll. Full description

€ 27,500

First Hawaiian language Bible published in a single volume

[BIBLE – HAWAIIAN]. Ka Palapala Hemolele a Iehova ko kakou Akua. O Ke Kauoha Kahiko A Me Ke Kauoha Hou i unuhiia mailoko mai o na olelo kahiko ...Including: Ke kauoha hou a ko kakou haku e ola'i a Iesu Kristo oia ka olelo hemolele no ke ola, a na lunaolelo i kakau ai.
Oahu and Honolulu, American Bible Society, 1843. Large 8vo (24 x 14 cm). Later half calf. 1451, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 6,950

The Acts of the Apostles in Kosraean translation, printed at Honolulu

[BIBLE - KOSRAEAN]. Orekma lun met sap. Published by the Hawaiian Board.
Honolulu, Henry M. Whitney, 1869. 12mo. Contemporary marbled wrappers. Rebacked with brown cloth. 63, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Smallest edition of the Sixtine Latin vulgate bible, printed by the Plantin-Moretus office in Antwerp,
beautifully bound for the Bishop of Evreux ca. 1700 in 9 gold-tooled morocco volumes

[BIBLE - LATIN - VULGATE]. Biblia Sacra vulgatae editionis Sixti Quinti Pont. Max. jussu recognita atque edita.
Including: Novum Jesu Christi Testamentum, vulgatae editiones, Sixti V. Pont, Max jussu recognitum atque edititum.
Antwerp, "Officina Plantiniana" [= Balthasar I Moretus, grandson of Christoffel Plantin], 1629. 7 volumes bound as 9 (Old Testament I-VII & New Testament I-II). 24mo in 8s (11.5 x 7 cm). With a richly engraved general title-page, 6 volume title-pages (each with the same Plantin-Moretus woodcut compasses device), a smaller woodcut compasses device plus 3 (of 4) repeats (2 appear on the back of the colophon; each of the others on an otherwise blank leaf), woodcut tailpieces, woodcut decorated initials. Set in roman and italic types. The present copy with 3 extra letterpress divisional title-pages, perhaps specially printed for this copy when it was bound. Uniform gold-tooled goatskin morocco (ca. 1700), sewn on 4 supports, richly gold-tooled spines, gold-tooled turn-ins and board edges. Seven volumes with the ca. 1711 engraved armorial bookplate of Jean Le Normand (1662-1733), Bishop of Evreau, and probably bound for him (his bookplate probably removed from volumes II and III as bound). 574; [2], 575-729, [2], [5 blank]; “637” [= 635], [1], [1 blank], [4 blank] (in place of [1], [3 blank]); 192; 479, [1 blank]; 861, [2], [1 blank]; 128, [186], [6 blank]; 336, [2], 337-758, [2], [8 blank] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Beautifully bound mid-17th-century "Visscher edition" of the Dutch Luther Bible with expertly hand-coloured and highlighted in gold illustrations

[BIBLE - LUTHER - DUTCH]. VISSCHER, Adolf (translator). Biblia, dat is, de gantsche H. Schrifture vervattende alle de boecken des Ouden ende Nieuwen Testaments.
Including:
(2) De Propheten.
(3) De Apocryphe boecken: dat zijn boecken die der heylige schrifture niet en worden gelijck gehouden ende nochtans nut ende goet zijn om te lezen.
Amsterdam, Rieuwert Dircksz. van Baardt (and his widow), printed on the presses of Lodewijk III Elsevier in Amsterdam, [1648]. 4 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With a full-page portrait of Martin Luther as a frontispiece, an engraved general title-page, a full-page portrait of Adolf Visscher, 6 folding double-page engraved maps, 6 double-page engraved plates showing a total of 96 biblical scenes (16 scenes per plate) printed by Frederick de Witt, and an elaborate engraved tail-piece. With three divisional typographical title-pages for the prophets, Biblical apocrypha and the New Testament, including Van Baardt's detailed woodcut vignette, decorated woodcut initials (at least 3 series) and ornamental woodcut tail-pieces.
Contemporary richly blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, with large brass clasps, catch plates and corner-pieces on both boards, red edges. [18], 278; 112; 70; 132 ll. Full description

€ 42,500

Beautifully gold-illuminated manuscript leaf with Leviticus 5-8 in Latin

[BIBLE - MANUSCRIPT LEAF]. [Latin manuscript leaf on parchment with (parts of) Leviticus 5-8].
[The Netherlands?], [late 14th century or early 15th century?]. Folio (26.5 x 40 cm). Written in a neat littera textualis in 2 columns of 50 lines. With 3 lombardic initials executed in blue or light pink with white filigree work on a gold ground, with bars in the same colours with white filigree ornamental patterns originating from the initials, with some small twigs springing from them, ending at the head and bottom of those bars in a larger twig with small "flowers" or "buds" in blue, pink or gold. Also with the numbers of the chapters and running heads "LEVI" written in red and blue. [1] leaf. Full description

€ 4,000

Monumental and seminal critical edition of the Greek New Testament (1550) with all woodcut devices, headpieces and initials coloured, including much gold and silver and extensive additional colour decorations in a rococo style

[BIBLE - NEW TESTAMENT - GREEK]. ESTIENNE, Robert, editor. Tῆò Káéíῆò ÄéáèÞêçò ἅπáíôá [Tes Kaines Diathekes Apanta] = Novum Jesu Christi D.N. Testamentum Ex Bibliotheca Regia.
Paris, Robert Estienne, King's printer, 1550. Folio (35 x 24 cm). With a Greek and Latin title-page including Estiennes woodcut basilisk device as Kings printer (and 1 repeat), his woodcut olive tree device on the otherwise blank last page (N6v), 3 single-piece decorated architectural frames with putti, etc. (plus 3 repeats) for the tables of the Eusebian canons for the Gospels, 9 woodcut headpieces and 21 decorated woodcut initial letters (plus numerous repeats). Set almost entirely in the three sizes of Claude Garamonts famous Greek printing types, known as the Grecs du Roi, and the first use of the largest size. The present copy has been richly decorated, probably around the time it was bound, not just by colouring Estiennes woodcut devices (the basilisk in gold), decorative frames, headpieces and initials, but also by adding extensive decorations in rococo style, the whole using a large number of mostly bright colours plus gold and silver. Gold-tooled black sheepskin, the gold-tooled spine with the title, publisher and date in the 2nd and 6th of 7 compartments in roman capitals, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins, gilt and richly gauffered edges, Dutch combed and curled endpapers. [32], “272” [= 268], 202, [2] pp. Full description

€ 95,000

Latin New Testament printed by Plantin, in an attractive binding with elaborately gauffered edges

[BIBLE - NEW TESTAMENT - LATIN]. Novum Jesu Christi Testamentum.
Antwerp, Christoffel Plantin, 1564[-1565].
With: (2) [INDEX]. Hebraea, Chaldaea, Graeca, et Latina nomina virorum, mulierum, populorum, idolorum, urbium, fluviorum, montiu[m], caeterorumq.; locorum quae in Bebliis sparsa leguntur ... cum Latina interpretatione: additis etiam Bibliorum locis in quibus ita scripta legu[n]tur: qua in re interpretationem quae in Bibliis Compluti excusis erat ....
Antwerp, Christoffel Plantin, 1565. With Hebrew and Greek types.
2 works in 1 volume, the 1st in 2 parts. 16mo (11.2 x 7.2 cm). Contemporary blind- and gold-tooled calf. 316, [68]; [111] [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 2,950

One of the "greatest Maori publications of the 19th century" (Lineham)

[BIBLE – NEW TESTAMENT – MAORI]. Ko te Kawenata Hou a to tatou Ariki a te Kai Whakaora a Ihu Karaiti. He mea whakamaori mai no te Reo Kariki.
London, printed for the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1894. 8vo. Publisher's brown cloth. 250, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 350

Pocket-sized Hebrew bible printed by Raphelengius in Leiden

[BIBLE - OLD TESTAMENT - HEBREW]. Hamisah humse Torah ... Nevi'im rishonim ... Nevi'im aharonium ... Sefer Ketuvim ...
Leiden, Franciscus II Raphelengius, [5]370 [= 1610]. 4 volumes bound as 1. 24mo in 8s (11 x 6 cm). Set in sephardic meruba Hebrew types (unpointed), with the imprints in semi-cursive (rabbinical) but the place of publication in meruba. Gold-tooled mottled calf (ca. 1720?). 264; 227, [1 blank]; 238, [2 blank]; 287, [1 blank] pp., vols. 1-2 with arabic numerals, 3-4 with Hebrew. Full description

€ 8,500

18th-century Dutch New Testament in an Amsterdam VOC binding,
presented by family to a young Dutch widow bound for America

[BIBLE - PRAYERBOOK - DUTCH]. Het nieuwe testament ofte alle boeken des nieuwen verbonds onses heeren Jesu Christi.
Amsterdam, "in Compagnie", 1746.
With:
(2) [PSALMS]. Het boek der psalmen, nevens de gezangen bij de hervormde kerk van Nederland in gebruik ...
Including: [CATECHISM]. Catechismus, ofte onderwysinge in de christelyke leere, ...
Amsterdam, heirs of Hendrik van der Putte, 1788.
2 works in 1 volume, the second in 2 parts. 4to. Ad 1 with an engraved title-page (within collation), woodcut decorated initials (2 series) and woodcut ornamental tailpieces; ad 2 part 1 with an engraved title-page (of the 1774 edition, outside of collation) and the publisher's woodcut device on the typographical title-page, printed musical notations for the psalms and songs, and one woodcut decorated initial; ad 2 part 2 with its own divisional typographical title-page showing an ornamental woodcut vignette and a floral woodcut tailpiece. The text is mainly set in Gothic type, with some incidental Roman type. Contemporary elaborately blind-tooled calf with the gold-tooled A VOC (the Amsterdam Chamber of the VOC) monogram on the front board, with two decorated brass clasps. [4], 312; [8], [276] ll., 71, [1] pp. Full description

€ 7,950

Bishop Pierre-Daniel Huet's psalmbook with his annotations

[BIBLE - PSALMBOOK]. PSALTERION Prophetou kai Basileoos tou David [in Greek type] - Davidis Regis ac Prophetae Psalmorum Liber. Ad exemplar Complutense.
Antwerp, Christopher Plantin, 1584. 16mo (11,8 x 8 cm). With woodcut printer's device on the title-page, text is partially printed in Greek. Late seventeenth-century dark brown calf, with gold-stamped coat of arms of Pierre-Daniel Huet on both covers and gold-tooled dubbel-lined borders on covers and spine, (remnants of) red speckled edges. 267, [13] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Urdu Gospel of St Luke and Acts of the Apostles, printed at Calcutta in Arabic type

[BIBLE - LUKE & ACTS - URDU]. The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles in Hindustání.
Calcutta (Kolkata), The Bible Translation Society, American and Foreign Bible Society, 1850. 12mo. With the title in Hindustani (Urdu) and English, and the text in Urdu only. The pages procede from right to left like a normal book in Arabic type. Set in 2 sizes of Arabic type with the English title in roman capitals. Contemporary dark brown cloth. [1], [1 blank], 191, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 750

Complete works of Anna Bijns, criticizing Martin Luther and Protestantism

BIJNS, Anna. Konstighe refereynen vol schoone schrifture ende leeringen, begrepen in drye verscheyde boecken, waer van de twee eerste wederlegghen de dolinghen comende uyt de Lutersche secte, ende abuysen deser tijden: het derde toont d'oorsaecken der plaghen, met veel seer stichtighe vermaninghen tot de deught.
Antwerp, Hieronymus Verdussen the younger, 1646. 3 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. With the same woodcut printer's device on 3 individual title-pages. Contemporary vellum with manuscript title on spine, traces of ties. [24], 76; 91; 226, [10] pp. Full description

€ 18,000

Large and richly decorated early 18th-century Dutch silver binding with crucifixion & resurrection

[BINDING - SILVER]. [Pair of embossed silver book covers, with two engraved silver clasps].
[Netherlands?, ca. 1725?]. Pair of embossed silver book covers (34 x 25 x 3 cm); each cover with a large scrollwork cartouche surrounded by extensive vine and flower decorations and with medallion portraits in each of the four corners, the front showing the crucifixion flanked by Mary and St. John (with an "INRI" scroll above, flanked by a crescent moon and a sun, and a skull and crossbones below), with portraits of four saints, each with a blank scroll (above left bearded with a regal crown; above right clean-shaven with a round-topped mitre; below left and right bare-headed and bearded), the back showing the resurrection with an angel and two astonished guards, with portraits of the four Evangelists. Full description

€ 11,500

First edition of the so-called Golden Bible, by the Augsburg Benedictine Abbeys printing office
set in nearly the first (and the best early) roman printing type north of the Alps
Robert Proctors copy, with generous margins

[BINDO GUERRI of Siena] with a prologue by Antonius de RAMPIGOLLIS. Reportatorium Biblie aureum [= Biblia aurea].
[Augsburg], [printing office of the Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra], [in the period 1473 to early 1475]. Chancery (Foolscap) folio (28 x 22 cm). With the title in a note following the prologue, at the foot of the first page (and abbreviated at the end of the book), a 2-page alphabetical table of contents and the main text comprising 139 entries.
Burgundy goatskin morocco (ca. 1890?). With the armorial bookplate of Robert Proctor. [231], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 16,500

Emblem book engraved by some of the best Antwerp artists of its time

BIVERUS, Pierre. Sacrum oratorium piarum imaginum immaculatae Mariae et animae creatae, ac baptismo, poenitentia, et eucharistia innovatae: ars nova bene vivendi et moriendi.
Antwerp, Officina Plantiniana/Balthasar Moretus, 1634. 4to. With engraved title-page, 42 engraved plates by Charles de Mallery after Adam van Noort and Adriaan Collaert, 2 engravings in text, and 15 heart-shaped engraved emblems in text by Theodoor Galle. 19th-century gold-tooled brown morocco, gilt edges; bound by Émile Bosquet. [20], 769, [9] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

With important provenance

BOCKENBERG, Pieter Cornelisz. Catalogus & brevis historia pontificum Ultraiectensium. Item catalogus & brevis historia antistitum Egmondanorum.
Leiden, Jan Jacobsz. Paets, 1586 (Colophon: 'Extant Goudae, apud Leonardum Theodori Librarium, ad pontem Hornensem'). Small 8vo. [16], 99, [12] [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

First edition of the first printed ethnographic comparison of the world's people, typographically stunning

BOEMUS (BÖHM), Johannes. Omnium gentium mores leges et ritus ex multis clarrissimis rerum scriptoribus ... nuper collecti: & in libros tris distinctos Aphricam, Asiam, Europam, optime lector lege. [Half-title:] Repertorium librorum trium Ioannis Boemi de omnium gentium ritibus. Item index rerum scitu digniorum in eosdem. Cum privilegio Papali ac Imperiali M.D.XX.
[Colophon: Augsburg, Sigismund Grimm & Marcus Wirsung, July 1520]. Folio. With the letterpress half-title in an elaborate woodcut border with a trophy of arms, putti and mermen. 17th century vellum with 3 raised spine-bands. [6], LXXXI, [1] ll. Full description

€ 5,750

The importance of this book can hardly be exaggerated

BOETHIUS. De consolatione philosophie duplici commentario videlicet Sancti Thome & Jodoci Badii Ascensii cum utriusque tabula. Item eiusdem de disciplina scholarium cum explanatione et quintilianum de officio discipulorum diligenter annotata.
Rouen, [printed by Pierre Olivier] for Jean Macé in Rennes, 1519. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to With Macés large woodcut devices on the 2 title-pages and on the verso of the last leaf, the first title-page printed in red and black. Several fine woodcut initials. Modern vellum, red morocco spine-label. [312]; [64] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Early incunable from Augsburg with wonderful initials, a famous exegetic work by Holzinger who influenced Dante's "Purgatorio"

BONAVENTURA (pseudo) [= Conradus de SAXONIA]. Speculum beate Marie virginis: compilatum ab humili fratre Bonauentura.
Augsburg, Anton Sorg, 1476. Folio (26.5 x 21.2 cm). Set in a Gothic letter in 40 lines to the page, printed in 1 column. Rubricated throughout. With a large Maiblumen woodcut-initial and 16 smaller initials (of which 11 hand-coloured in red). Modern vellum, with a manuscript title on the spine. [48] ll. Full description

€ 17,500

The important letters from Japan, 1625-1627 in the first and only edition in French

BONELLI, Jean-Baptist & Jean VIREAU (ed. & translator). Histoire de ce qui s'est passé au royaume du Japon, es annees 1625. 1626. & 1627.
Paris, Sebastian Cramoisy, 1633. 8vo. With woodcut printer's device of Cramoisy on the title, several woodcut headpieces. Beautiful 19th-century green morocco, spine richly gilt in compartments, with title lettered in gold, triple gilt lines along the edges of both covers, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. [7] 1 blank, 465 (=485) pp. Full description

€ 17,500

Rouen Book of Hours: written for the use of a noble woman, with a portrait of the owner

[BOOK OF HOURS]. [Book of Hours - use of Rouen].
Rouen, Normandy, France, ca. 1480. Small 4to (14.3 x 19.3 cm). Latin and French illuminated manuscript on vellum. Ruled in red ink for 14 lines per page (16 in the calendar). Gothic textura, major feasts in calendar in burnished gold, others alternately red or blue. Text pages illuminated with panel borders of flowers and plants on gold, and blue and gold stylised acanthus on a plain ground. Calendar has 24 small square miniatures set into panel borders; major text divisions marked by 12 large miniatures; 2 historiated initials; hundreds of smaller initials and line-fillers throughout. 18th-century French gold-tooled red calf over pasteboards, with the title lettered in gold on the spine, gilt edges, marbled endpapers. [160] ll. Full description

€ 165,000

1511 Paris book of hours printed on vellum, with with 17 large & 27 small illustrations plus more in the borders:
only known complete copy of this edition, possibly from the great Harleian Library

[BOOK OF HOURS]. Hore [= Horae beate Marie Virginis] secundum usum Romanum ad longum.
(colophon: Paris, Thomas Kees), [ca. 1511, with an almanac for the years 1511-1530]. 8vo (18 x 12 cm). Printed on vellum in red and black throughout, with illustrations printed from (mostly metal?) relief blocks: 17 nearly full-page plus 1 repeat, 27 small plus 2 repeats in the text, many additional small in the decorated border pieces that surround nearly every page. Dark brown gold- and blind-tooled goatskin morocco (ca. 1870?), signed "HARDY-MENNIL" in the foot of the front turn-in. [216] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Beautifully decorated and heightened with gold 15th-century Dutch manuscript book of hours
from the collection of Viscount Charles van Aefferden

[BOOK OF HOURS - DUTCH]. [15th-century manuscript book of hours, written in Middle Dutch]. [Incipit 1r:] Here du saltste op doen mine lippen en[de] mijn mo[n]t sal voert-kundige[n] dijn lof.
[Southern Netherlands, 15th century]. Small 4to (binding 15.5 x 12 cm; leaves ca. 14.5 x 11.5 cm). Manuscript in Middle-Dutch, written in one column (18 or 19 lines to a page) in a very neat gothic textura script, by one or maybe two hands. The vellum leaves are (lightly) ruled in red ink, the main body of the text is written in black ink. Leaf 1r shows a large 9-line painted initial (blue and white on a golden field) and elaborate green vines and blue, gold, and pink leaves in the margins, all tekst on 1r is written within a blue and gold frame. With 37 3- or 4-line painted initials (gold on a blue or pink field) with the same green, blue, gold, and pink vine-and-leaves decorations in the left margins of the leaves and 7 3-, 4-, or 5-line penwork initials (green, blue, and red) with simple red and green penwork decorations in the left margin of the leaves. Further with numerous 1- and 2-line red and blue initials throughout and occasional 6-line red or blue initials in the left margin of the leaves. 17th- or 18th-century gold- and blind-tooled half mottled calf and sprinkled paper sides, red sprinkled edges. [189] ll. Full description

€ 18,000

The most important early account of Indochina

BORRI, Cristoforo. Relatione della nuova missione delli pp. della Compagnia di Giesu, al regno della Cocincina, scritta dal padre Christoforo Borri Milanese della medesima Compagnia, che fù uno de primi ch'entrarono in detto Regno. Alla santita di N. Sig. Urbano PP. Ottavo.
Rome, Francesco Corbelletti, 1631. 8vo. With a woodcut Jesuit IHS device on the title-page and woodcut decorated initials. Contemporary vellum with the manuscript title on the spine. 231, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Leuven edition of François Xavier in the far east, including Japan

BOUHOURS, Dominique. Vie de S. François Xavier, Apotre des Indes et du Japon. Edition de la Société Catholique de la Belgique.
Leuven, Vanlinthout and Vandenzande, 1822. 8vo. Contemporary vellum. 559, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 475

Five rare publications on the 17th-century French mission in southeast Asia

BOURGES, Jacques de. Relation du voyage de Monseigneur l'evesque de Beryte, vicaire apostolique du royaume de la Cochinchine, par la Turquie, la Perse, les Indes, &c. jusqu'au royaume de Siam, & autres lieux.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1683. 8vo.
With:
(2) PALLU, François. Relation abregée des missions et des voyages des evesques François envoyez aux royaumes de la Chine, Cochinchine, Tonquin, & Siam.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1682.
(3) [FERMANEL DE FAVERY, Luc (editor)]. Relation des missions des evesques François aux royaumes de Siam, de la Cochinchine, de Camboye, & du Tonquin, &c. Divisée en quatre parties.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1684.
(4) Relation des missions et des voyages des evesques vicaires apostoliques, et de leurs ecclesiastiques és années 1672, 1673, 1674 & 1675.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1682.
(5) Relation des missions et des voyages des evesques vicaires apostoliques, et de leurs ecclesiastiques és années 1676 & 1677.
Paris, Charles Angot, 1682. 5 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [8], 167, [1]; [6], 51, [1 blank]; [16], 248; [16], 389, [1 blank]; [16], 170, [1] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Large-paper copy of an important chiliastic work

BREEN, Daniel van. Van 't geestelijck triumpherende ryck onses heeren Jesu Christi. Door den autheur verbeetert, en met aanteekeningen op de kant verrijkt, als meede met twee registers ... nu ten tweeden-maal in het Nederduyts gedrukt.
Amsterdam, Frans Kuyper, 1666. 4to (22.5 x 18.5 cm). Early 18th-century parchment. [8], 166, [26] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

A catechism in French and Carib

BRETON, Raymond. Petit catechisme ou sommaire des trois premieres parties de la doctrine chrestienne. Traduit du françois, en la langue des Caraibes Insulaires.
Auxerre, Gilles Bouquet, 1664. 8vo. With a small woodcut on the title-page showing the Virgin and a woodcut of the Crucifixion on p. 16. Modern half maroon morocco, gold-tooled spine. 70 pp. Full description

€ 19,500

Extremely rare breviary from the late Plantin press, with 17 plates

[BREVIARY]. Breviarium Romanum ex decreto sacrosancti concilii Tridentini restitutum, Pii V. Pont. Max. jussu editum, et Clementis VIII. primùm, nunc denuò Urbani PP. VIII. auctoritate recognitum. In quo omnia suis locis ad longum posita sunt, pro majori recitantium commoditate.
Antwerp, Typographia Plantiniana [Balthasar Moretus IV], 1714. 4 volumes. 12mo (14 x 9 cm). With engraved vignette with the Papal insignia on title-pages and 17 engraved plates. Text printed in red and black throughout. Contemporary gold-tooled calf, gilt edges. Pars hiemalis: [72], 568, 4, CCXXXII, [4] pp.; pars verna: [36], 592, 4, 8, CCXXXIIII, [6] pp.; pars aestiva: [36], 612, CCXV, [5] pp.; pars autumnalis: [36], 516, CCXLVIII, [4] pp. Full description

€ 4,250

Islamic religious orders in Algeria, "a work of great learning and value", presentation copy

BROSSELARD, Charles. Les khouan. De la constitution des ordres religieux musulmans en Algérie.
Algiers, A. Bourget, August 1859. 8vo. Contemporary red half sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. 36 pp. Full description

€ 3,750

Biblical travels in the form of a travel book

BÜNTING, Heinrich and Matthias HASAERT. Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae. Dat is: het reysboek der Heyligher Schrift.
Including: BÜNTING, Heinrich. Een besonder tractaet ende onderwijsinghe van de munte ende ghewichtre der Heyligher Schrifturen... [BÜNTING, Heinrich]. Itinerarium Novi Testamenti. Dat is: een reysboeck, over het Nieuwe Testament. Het tweede deel...BÜNTING, Heinrich. Harmonia evangelistarum, dat is: eene seer schoone ende eendrachtige over-een-stemminge der heyliger vier evangelisten...Amsterdam, Hendrik Laurentsz., 1635. 4 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With 5 woodcut and 2 engraved folding maps. Contemporary vellum, modern endpapers. [16], 355, [9]; [2], 36; [4], 163, [3]; 24 pp. Full description

€ 1,950

The classic book of Biblical travels: the first edition to be accompanied
by the complementary Lower Saxon chronicle in contemporary, richly blind-tooled Saxon pigskin

BÜNTING, Heinrich and Matthias HASAERT. Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae, das ist Ein Reisebuch uber die gantze Heilige Schrifft ...
Including:
[BÜNTING, Heinrich]. Itinerarium Novi Testamenti. Das ist: Ein Reisebuch over das Newe Testament.
BÜNTING, Heinrich. De monetis et mensuris sacrae scripturae. Dass ist: Ein eigentliche ausrechnung und beschreibung aller Müntz und Masse in heiliger Schrift. ...
Magdeburg, Paul Donat for Ambrosius Kirchner, 1585. With 3 title-pages, 7 double-page and 2 full-page woodcut maps
With: (2) BÜNTING, Heinrich. Braunschweigische und Luneburgische Chronica.
Including:
Das ander Theil Braunschweigischen Chronica, gehet auff das Land Lüneburg
Das dritte Theil, der Braunschweigischen und Lüneburgischen Chronica, ...
Das vierte Theil dieses Buches, gehet insonderheit auff das Fürstenthumb Grubenhagen, füret ... den geburts Stam des fürstlichen Hauses Braunschweig und Lüneburg.
Magdeburg, Paul Donat for Ambrosius Kirchner, 1584-1585. General title-page in red and black with the woodcut coat of arms of Julius of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, further with numerous finely detailed woodcut illustrations
2 works in 3 and 4 volumes, bound as 1. Folio. Contemporary, richly blind-tooled pigskin, possibly by Nikolaus Müller in Wittenberg. With a matching pair of panel stamps in the central fields: portraits of Martin Luther (front board, 83 x 44 mm) and Phillip Melanchthon (back board, 81 x 45 mm), each with the date 1556 and text below. Ad 1: [16], “141” [= 242], [18]; [6], 110, [9] [3 blank]; [6], “34” [= 33], [1 blank] pp.; ad 2: [14], “150” [= 151], [1 blank]; “46” [= 47]. [1 blank]; [1], 47-82, [1 blank]; [1], “82”-“113” [= 83-109] ll. Full description

€ 27,500

Early edition of one of the greatest Hebrew lexicons,
by the most celebrated Hebraist of 17th-century Europe

BUXTORF, Johannes. Lexicon Hebraicum et Chaldaicum: complectens omnes voces, tam primas quam derivatas, quae in Sacris Bibliis, Hebraeâ ... extant. Accessit Lexicon breve Rabbinico-Philosophicum ... Editio quinta, de novo recognita.
Basileae, heirs of Ludovicus König, 1645 (dedication signed 17 August 1647). 8vo. With woodcut head- and tailpieces. Contemporary vellum. [16], 976, [80] pp. Full description

€ 750

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

Calvin's commentary on the Pauline Epistles, one of his few works translated into Dutch before 1572

CALVIN, Jean. Uutlegghinghe ... op alle de Sendbrieven Pauli des Apostels: ende oock op den Sendbrief tot den Hebreen. Met een schoon register.
Emden, Gillis van der Erve and Willem Gailliart, 1566. Folio. With Van der Erve's woodcut device on title-page and several woodcut decorated initials. Contemporary blind-tooled calf over bevelled wooden boards, each board in a panel design with 4 different rolls, engraved brass catchplates (remains of straps but clasps lost), later(?) brass decorated corner and centre pieces, each with a boss, rebacked. The rolls show (from outside to inside) decorative crests and foliage, 4 half-length portraits with mottos, and 4 nude putti, 1 with a saint's halo. [6], "464" [= 462], [16] ll. Full description

€ 8,500

Seminal work of Protestant theology

CALVIN, Jean. Institutio Christianae religionis, ... Quae ad superiores edtiones hâc postremâ, omnium emendatissima locuplettisimáque, recèns addita sunt, statim post ipsius authoris epistolam ad regem Christianiss. Subiecta ad lectorem admonitio breviter indicat.
Geneva, Johannes le Preux, 1592. Folio. With woodcut printer's device on title-page. Contemporary vellum, with large blind-tooled centre piece. [24], 312, [31] ll. Full description

€ 2,500

Important biography of one of the leading figures of the Protestant Reformation

CAMERARIUS, Joachim. De Philippi Melanchthonis ortu, totius vitae curriculo et morte, implicata rerum memorabilium temporis illius hominumque mentione atque indicio, cum expositionis serie cohaerentium.
Leipzig, (colophon: Ernst Voegelin, 1566). Large 8vo (19.5 x 12 cm). With woodcut printer's device on title-page. Contemporary pigskin, richly blind-tooled in a panel design, monogrammed and dated "I.V.S | 1566", by the Swabian bookbinder Wolfconrad Schwickart. [20], 423[=424], [2 blank], [18] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Main work from the 15th-century "prince of preachers", copy from the Furstenberg collection

CARACCIOLO, Roberto. Sermones de laudibus sanctorum.
[Reutlingen, Michael Greyff, not after 1492]. 4to. Contemporary half pigskin, blind-tooled initials on the front board, with white pigskin restorations on the upper and lower third of the spine, gold-tooled parchment label on the spine, remnants of a central clasp, manuscript waste pastedowns. [230] ll. Full description

€ 5,000

6th edition (the last in the authors lifetime) of sermons by a rabble-rousing preacher of 15th-century Italy in richly blind-tooled Bavarian pigskin (ca. 1500), the 5th known binding by this workshop

CARACCIOLUS, Robertus. Sermones per adventu[m] domini cu[m] multis aliis inclusis. sermocionanti per utiles. famosissimi predicatoris Maiistri Ruberti de Licio Italici ordinis minoru[m]. [= Sermones de adventu, Sermo de S. Joseph, Sermo de Beatitudine, Sermones de divina caritate, Sermones de immortalitate animae].
Including: BOLLANI, Dominico (Dominicus BOLLANUS). De co[n]ceptione gloriosissime Virginis Marie [= De conceptione Beatae Virginis Mariae].
[Strasbourg, Martin Schott, 1484]. Small (Chancery) folio mostly in 8s (28.5 x 20.5 cm). Printed in 2 columns, set in 2 sizes of rotunda gothic type that Schott used for the first time in the present publication. With spaces left (without guide letters) for perhaps a hundred 3-line and dozens of larger manuscript initials, not filled in in the present copy.
Near contemporary (ca. 1500?), richly blind-tooled pigskin over square-edge boards (Eindbanddatenbank workshop w002296, active in Bavaria ca. 1473(?)-1502). With the remains of one strap-fastening (brass anchor-plate, remnants of the alum-tawed leather strap, but catchplate and clasp lost), blue-green edges. Vellum manuscript waste used for reinforcement, showing bits of Isaias 5:8-26 from a Vulgate Bible in a large textura hand. [100], [17], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 7,000

Two accounts of the Far East and the Malabar region in India

CARDIM, Antonio Francesco. Relation de la province du Japon.
Including: BARRETTO, Francesco. Relation des missions de la province de Malabar, de la comp: de Jesus.
Tournay, Adrien Quinqué, 1645. Small 8vo (14.5×9 cm). Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment, later endpapers. [10], 308 pp. Full description

€ 12,500

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

First edition of a rare work about the Orient and the crusades

CENTENO, Amaro. Historia de cosas del oriente primera y segunda parte...
Cordoba, Diego Galván, 1595. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With a woodcut coat of arms on the title-page and the divisional title-page for part 2, an elaborate Jesuit woodcut IHS vignette on the verso of the last leaf above the colophon and woodcut initials throughout, with a few typographical or woodcut tail-pieces, al text is set within a simple woodcut frame. Later tree marbled sheepskin. [8], 138, [4] ll. Full description

€ 28,000

Rare portrayal of the socio-religious landscape of late 19th-century Calcutta, by a Christian missionary

CESARY, Reverend C. Indian gods, sages, and cities.
Calcutta, printed at the Catholic orphan press, 1881. 8vo. With ornamental tail-pieces at the end of every chapter. Contemporary burgundy blind-stamped cloth with the title in gold on the front board. X, 189, [1 blank], [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 400

Rare 1542 edition of one of the most important works of Saint John Chrysostomom

CHRYSOSTOM, John. In sanctum Jesu Christi evangelium secundum Matthaeum commentarii, diligenter ab Arrianorum faecibus purgati, & in lucem in sacrae paginae tyronum gratiam modo recens sub minoriforma aediti.
Antwerp, Joannes Steelsius, 1542.
With: CHRYSOSTOM, John. Passio Domini Nostri Iesu Christi secundum Matthaeum in decem Homilias divisa.
Antwerp, Joannes Steelsius, 1542.
2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Ad 1: with two woodcut initials at the beginning of the introduction and the prologue, of 2 different series, and a large woodcut printer's device on the last page, showing a staff, surrounded by doves and the text 'steelsius', stuck in a plaquette that says 'concordia, res parue crescunt'. Ad 2: with a woodcut initial on the first leaf. Contemporary Flemish blind-tooled, panel-stamped calf, with a tripartite panel on both sides and remnants of ties. [8],"313" [=314], [1]; 47, [1] ll. Full description

€ 9,500

Extremely rare Dutch translation of a devotional work by the Church father Johannes Chrysostomus
in an attractive contemporary Antwerp panel binding

CHRYSOSTOMUS, Johannes (Antonius VAN HEMERT, translator). Van die beweechnisse des herten, tot berouwe der sonde[n]. ...
(Colophon:) Antwerp, Symon Cock, 18 August 1546. 8vo. With the title-page in red and black in a framework of thin rules, 6 woodcut decorated initials and 2 vine-leaf ornaments. Set in 3 sizes of textura gothic types. A very interesting Antwerp binding of contemporary panel-stamped calf, each board with the same panel, showing 2 medallion portraits in, the whole surrounded by a floral decorative border, interesting fastenings with cord loops that fasten to bone buttons on leather straps. [131], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Paris manual for priests, by the Bishop of Condom with Clichtove’s work on the priesthood, inaugurating Parisian Renaissance typography: two Paris first editions (1519) bound for a relative of Clichtove’s editor

CLICHTOVE, Josse (Judocus CLICHTOVEUS). De vita et moribus sacerdotum, opusculum: singularem eoru[m] dignitatem oste[n]dens, & quibus ornati esse debea[n]t virtutibus: explanans.
Paris, Henri Estienne I, 1519 (colophon: 4 August). With woodcut title-page with the letterpress title and imprint in the central opening; further with about 21 woodcut initials (4 series, mostly criblé) plus about 4 repeats.
With: (2) MARRE, Jean. Enchiridio[n] sacerdotale concinnatu[m] ad salutarem eruditionem Christifideliu[m] ab lo[n]ge revere[n]do in Christo patre d[omi]no Ioanne Mare Co[n]domien[sis]. episcopo. In quo haec sunt capita. ...
[Paris], (colophon: Jodocus Badius Ascensius, 25 November 1519). With numerous woodcut decorated initials (4 series, the largest 45-47 mm. criblé initials). 2 works in 1 volume. 4to (20 x 14 cm). 16th-century blind- and gold-tooled calf, each board in a panel design, with the owner's name "D. Ioa[n]mes[!] Lassere" on the front and motto "memento mortis" on the back, the motto and fleurs-de-lis on the back in gold. 75, [1 blank]; “LXI” [= LXXI], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Early Tasmanian printing in the Maori language

[COLENSO, William]. Ko te tuarua o nga pukapuka waki; hei wakakite atu i nga hanga a te Hahi o Roma.
Hobart (Tasmania), Rowland Skipsey Waterhouse and Jabez(?) Waterhouse, 1840. 12mo. Side stitched, but never bound. 24 pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Early New Zealand printing in the Maori language

[COLENSO, William]. He kupu wakatupato, ...
[Paiha (New Zealand), Mission Press], 1842. 8vo. Never sewn, stitched or bound. 7, [1] pp. Full description

€ 850

Prayer in Maori for adults seeking baptism

[COLENSO, William]. [Drop-title:] He Inoinga ma te tangate e wakaaro atu ana ki te Iriiringa.
[Heretaunga, William Colenso, ca. 1847]. Leaflet (17.2 x 11 cm). [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 450

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

A late call for a crusade

COPPIN, R.P. Jean. Relation des voyages faits dans la Turquie, la Thebaïde, et la Barbarie. Contenant des avis politiques qui peuvent servir de lumières aux Rois & aux Souverains de la Chrétienté, pour garentir leurs etats des incursions des Turcs, & reprendre ceux qu'ils ont usurpé sur eux.
Lyon, les frères Bruyset, 1720. 4to. Vignette on title-page, interesting woodcut head- and tailpieces showing fruits and flowers, and 4 plates visualising the position of soldiers, divisions, army and artillery. Contemporary brown calf, gold-tooled spine in 6 compartments, red morocco label, lettered in gold. [6], 496, [6] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

History of Goa, printed there

COTTINEAU DE KLOGUEN, Denis Louis and Miguel Vicente d'ABREU (translator). Bosquejo historico de Goa escripto em inglez ... vertibo em Portuguez, e accrescentabo com algumas notas, e rectificações ...
Nova-Goa, Imprensa Nacional, 1858. 8vo. With a small illustration of one of the gates of Goa. Later half red morocco. VII, [1 blank] 5-"202" [=203], [1] pp. Full description

€ 950

With plates of Moravian brethren among Greenland Eskimos, American Indians & black West Indian slaves

[CRANZ, David and/or J.K. ULRICH]. Briève & fidèle exposition de l'origine, de la doctrine, des constitutions, usages et ceremonies ecclesiastiques de l'eglise de l'unité des freres connus sous le nom de Freres de Boheme & de Moravie, ... avec XVI. planches.
[Saxony?], 1758. 8vo. With 16 numbered double-page engraved plates. Brown morocco (Lyon, ca. 1900) with gold-tooled turn-ins, signed by L(ouis) GUÉTANT. 87 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

The Jesuits in Japan

CRASSET, Jean. Außführliche Geschicht der in den äussersten Welt-Theil gelegenen japonesischen Kirch, ...
Augsburg, Franz Anton Ilger (printed by Anton Maximilian Heiss), 1738. 2 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With title-page printed in red and black, and 9 etched plates by Joseph Anton Zimmermann; woodcut head- and tailpieces. Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over wooden boards. [24], 534; “559” [= 555], [1 blank]. Full description

€ 3,950

Only Portuguese edition of Crasset's history of the Jesuits in Japan, the only edition with a map of Japan

CRASSET, Jean and Maria Antonia de Saõ Boaventura MENEZES (translator). Historia da Igreja do Japaõ, . . .
Lisbon, Manoel da Sylva (vols. 1-2), Manoel Soares (vol. 3), 1749-1751. 3 volumes. 4to. With 5 folding engraved plates, 1 folding engraved map of Japan (28×42 cm) and 1 engraved illustration in the text. Contemporary tanned sheepkin, gold-tooled spines. Full description

€ 9,000

Journey around the world with a long stay in India

CUBERO SEBASTIAN, Pedro. Breve relacion, de la peregrinacion que ha hecho de la mayor parte del mundo.
Madrid, Juan Garcia Infançon, 1680. Small 4to (20 x 14.5 cm). With the title-page in a border built up from cast fleurons, woodcut coat of arms of the dedicatee Charles II of Spain, and some woodcut initials and tailpieces.Gold-tooled morocco, by the leading Barcelona binder Emilio Brugalla (1901-1987), with the arms of the Spanish bibliophile Isidoro Fernandez (1878-1963) stamped in gold on front and back, gilt edges. [20], 360 pp. Full description

€ 18,000

4th copy located of a defence of the Archbishop of Goa against an attack by the Propaganda Fide untrimmed, most bolts unopened and the publishers printed front wrapper bound in

[CUNHA RIVARA, Joaquim Heliodoro da]. The Archbishop of Goa and the Congregation de Propaganda Fide.
"New-Goa" [= Panaji, near Goa], "printed at the national press", 1862 (wrapper 1863). 8vo in 4s with double-size sheets, giving 4to proportions (20.5 x 16 cm). With the original publishers front wrapper, printed letterpress on blue paper, repeating the title-page but in a decorative frame built up from typographic ornaments, with a different decorated swelled rule and dated 1863 rather than 1862. The imprint is set in back-sloping roman capitals. Half navy blue, gold-tooled goatskin morocco (later 19th-century), . 92 pp. Full description

€ 1,750

By a female publisher: the first separate edition of Cyril's commentary on the Law of Moses

CYRIL of Alexandria. De adoratione in spiritu et veritate, & spiritali totius legis Mosaicae in religione Christiana observantia, ...
Lyon, Sybille de la Porte, 1588. 4to. With Porta's woodcut device on title-page, a woodcut headpiece, several woodcut tailpieces, numerous decorated woodcut initials (at least 3 series) and decorations built up from cast fleurons. Contemporary limp calf parchment. 24, 454, [25], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Account on the confinement and death of one of the leading men in the rites controversy in China

[DANDI, Giovanni Pellegrino]. Relazione del penosissimo carcere, e della preziosa morte dell' eminentissimo Sig. Carlo Tomaso Maillard di Tournon ... con la facoltà di Legato a Latere nell' impero della Cina, e regni dell' Indie Orientali seguita nella citta di Macao, li 6 del mese di Guigno dell' anno 1710.
Forli, Fasti, "17012" [= 1712]. Small 8vo (14.5 x 10 cm). Contemporary stiff wrappers covered with brocade paper. [8], 56 pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Terrible executions by the Inquisition

DELLON, Charles & Archibald BOWER. An account of the inquisition at Goa, in India; translated from the French. With an appendix; containing an account of the escape of Archibald Bower, from the inquisition of Italy.
Boston, Samuel T. Armstrong, 1815. 12mo. Later half gilt calf. 214, (2) pp. Full description

€ 1,850

Fierce Jesuit attack responding to a 1605 polemic by the great Leiden professor J.J. Scaliger

[DELRIO, Martin Antonio]. Peniculus foriarum elenchi Scaligeriani pro Societate Iesu, Maldonato, Delrio. Auctore Liberio Sanga Verino Cantabro ad Clarum Bonarscium Belgam.
"Metelloburgi Mattiacorum" [= Antwerp?], "apud haeredes Matthianos" [printed by Hendrik Swingen?], 1609. 12mo (14 x 9 cm). Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. “103” [=203], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,250

First edition of an account of the qualities required of a ruler, written by a Franciscan in Goa

DEOS (DEUS), Jacinto de. Brachilogia de princepes, ...
Lisbon, António Craesbeeck de Mello, printer to "Sua Alteza" [= Prince Regent and future King Dom Pedro II], 1671. Small 8vo (15 x 9.5 cm). With 2 woodcut decorated initials (2 series). Contemporary sheepskin parchment without boards. [16], 299, [1 blank], [3], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Two religious emblem books: A mixture of humor, intelligence, and protestant severity

DILHERR, Johann Michael. Heilig-Epistolischer Bericht, Licht, Geleit und Freud. Das ist: emblematische Fürstellung, der heiligen sonn- und festtäglichen Episteln.
Nuremberg, Johann Andreas Endter and the heirs of Wolffgang der Jüngere, 1663. With engraved frontispiece and 85 large engraved emblems by M. Küsell after G. Strauch.
With: (2) DILHERR, Johann Michael. Augen- und Hertzens-Lust. Das ist emblematische Fürstellung der Sonn- und festtäglichen Evangelien.
Nuremberg, Johann Andreas Endter and the heirs of Wolffgang der Jüngere, 1661. With engraved frontispiece and 91 large engraved emblems by M. Küsell after G. Strauch. 2 works in 1 volume. Folio. Contemporary calf with the coat of arms of the Nuremberg patrician family Holzschuher Von und Zu Haszlach in gold in the centre of each board, gold-tooled spine, gilt edges. [8 blank], [30], 631, [33]; [8], 234, [4], 235-365, [31], [8 blank] pp. Full description

€ 11,500

1558 declaration signed by the great botanist Dodoens in his capacity as Mechelen churchwarden

[MANUSCRIPT]. DODOENS (DODONAEUS), Rembert. [Declaration of financial and other documents received as incoming churchwarden of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Mechelen].
[Mechelen], 27 December 1558. Oblong 4to (19 x 21.5 cm). A document written in dark brown ink on paper, with the opening words filled in afterwards in light brown ink and the signature in light brown ink. [1] ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Eight year old King Sebastião's speech for the Council of Trent

[DOM SEBASTIÃO, King of Portugal and Giovanni STROZZI (attributed)]. Oratio habita serenissimi Portugaliae Algarbiorumque Regis Sebastiani Nomine, in Concilio Tridentino. Die IX. februarij. M.D.LXII. Unva cum responsione Sanctae Synodi.
Ripae [= Riva del Garda], Italy, Pietro Antonio Alciatis, 1562. 4to (18.2 x 13.4 cm). With the woodcut coat-of-arms of the Medici popes and a woodcut head-piece on the title-page, 2 large woodcut decorated initials in the text, a woodcut head-piece at the start of the text and two ornaments at the start and end of the text. Mid 19th-century marbled paper wrappers. [1], [1 blank], [6] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Introduction to Islam by an important Dutch orientalist

DOZY, Reinhart. Het Islamisme. Tweede, herziene druk.
Haarlem, H.D. Tjeenk Willink, 1880. With 13 lithographed plates. Original publisher's gold- and blind-blocked cloth. viii, 357, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 250

Attacking Anabaptism: first edition of an apologetic work
by a leading Dutch Catholic of the Counter Reformation

DUNCAN, Martin. Anabaptisticae haereseos confutatio, et vere Christiani baptismi, ac potissimum paedobaptismatis assertio in duos libros divisa, quorum prior veram Christiani baptismi energiam declarat, posterior paedobaptismatis Christianam institutionem ex sacris literis demonstrat, contra Mennonis Simonis Frisii Anabaptisticae pravitatis summi antistitis verulentas blasphemias.
[part 2 title:] Liber posterior de paedobaptismate seu parvulorum baptismo, contra Menonis Simonis Frisii Anabaptisticae pravitatis summi antistitis verulentas blasphemias.
Antwerp, Johannes Gravius, 1549. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. With printer's device on the title of the second part, many interesting woodcut initials. 17th-century boards covered with marbled paper. [15], [1 blank], 227 ll. Full description

€ 5,000

Radical enlightenment theory on the common origin of all religions

DUPUIS, Charles-François. Mémoire sur l'origine des constellations, et sur l'explication de la fable, par le moyen de l'astronomie.
Paris, widow Desaint, 1781. 4to. With a woodcut vignette on the title-page. Contemporary cat's paw calf, gold-tooled spine. 228 pp. Full description

€ 4,000

1486 edition of the most influential work about Mediaeval liturgy
in contemporary blind-tooled pigskin for Georg Waser, a patron of the Scheyern Abbey

DURAND, Guillaume (Guillelmus DURANDUS or DURANTI). Rationale divinorum officiorum.
Strasbourg, [Johann Prüss], 1486. Chancery folio (32.5 x 22 cm). Printed in 2 columns, with 48 lines to the column. Set in 2 sizes of rotunda gothic types, Prüss types 2 (180G) and 3 (90G), with spaces left (some with and some without printed guide letters) for manuscript initials (1 8-line, 2 7-line, 4 6-line, 3 5-line and numerous 3- and 4-line). From the beginning to h3r these spaced have been filled in with manuscript lombardic initials in red and the text has been rubricated (the first fifth of the book). Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over wooden (beechwood?) boards by an Augsburg bindery (Eindbanddatenbank workshop w002998, active ca. 1488-1497). [3], 272 ll. Full description

€ 13,500

Rare collection of seven morality plays

[DUTCH MORALITY PLAYS - REDERIJKERS]. Zeven spelen, van die wercken der bermherticheyd. In rym ghemaeckt en nu tot Aemstelredam opentlyck ghespeelt, Anno 1591
Amsterdam, H. J. Muller, 1591. 8vo. Woodcut title vignette and 6 woodcut illustrations at the beginning of the plays, Contemporary vellum with manuscript title on spine. [302] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Rare 5th (2nd American) edition of a guide to the sacrament of communion,
in a contemporary American (probably Boston) scaleboard binding

EARLE, Jabez. Sacramental exercises, or, the Christian's employment, before, at, and after the Lord's Supper. ... The fourth edition. To which is added, divine hymns, for sacramental occasions.
Boston, printed [by Thomas Fleet] for Daniel Henchman, 1725. 12mo (13.5 x 8 cm). Contemporary American (Boston?) tanned sheepskin over wooden scaleboards. [4], 92 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

With 12 plates of the life of Jesus

ELANDT, Hendrik and Jan van ORLEY. De wonderbare en heilsame geboorte; benevens de voornaamste wonderdaden, van onsen eenigen middelaar Jesus Christus.
Amsterdam, Andries van Damme; Leiden, Hendrik van Damme, 1700. Oblong folio (24.5 x 36.5). With a letterpress title-page and a series of 12 numbered engraved plates, incl. the title-plate, all showing scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, finely etched by Hendrik Elandt after designs by Jan van Orley II. Contemporary half calf, gold-tooled spine, marbled sides. [4], 12 pp. plus 12 engr. plates. Full description

€ 1,950

Jewish prayer book in German, especially for Jewish women and gentiles

EUCHEL, Isaac Abraham. Gebete der hochdeutschen und polnischen Juden. Aus dem Hebräischen übersetzt und mit Anmerkungen versehen.
Vienna, J.B. Zweck, 1813. 8vo. With a woodcut head-piece. The book is printed in Gothic type, with the original titles also in Hebrew type. Contemporary blind-tooled half calf. [4], 394, [2] pp. Full description

€ 750

Important for the history of the German Jews in the age of Emancipation

EUCHEL, Isaac Abraham. Gebete der hochdeutschen und polnischen Juden. Aus dem Hebräischen übersetzt und mit Anmerkungen versehen.
Vienna, Anton Schmid, 1815. 8vo. The book is mainly printed in Gothic type with some Hebrew types to the titles and in the notes. Contemporary marbled paper over boards, with a brown label on the spine. 458 pp. Full description

€ 750

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

The only known copy of Thomas Evans's work and a striking example of nineteenth century provincial printing in India

EVANS, Thomas. Words of comfort and caution to the sad and sorrowing.
Mussoorie, India, Alexandra Press, Buckle Co., 1885. 8vo. Original publisher's printed wrappers. 28 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Beijing in the late 19th century, illustrated with numerous photographs

FAVIER, Alphonse. Péking histoire et description.
Peking, Imprimerie des Lazaristes au Pe-Tang, 1897. 35.5 x 25.5 cm. 2 volumes bound as 1 (continuous page numbers). With a frontispiece to each part, 51 plates with photolithographs and collotypes, 1 tinted map and 660 wood engraved illustrations in text. Modern half cloth, with the original wrappers bound in. XII [4], 336, [4], 337-“562” [=552], [2] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

First and only Italian edition on French missionaries in Southeast Asia

[FERMANEL DE FAVERY, Luc (editor)]. Relatione delle missioni de' vescovi vicarii apostolici, mandati dalla S. Sede apostolica alli regni di Siam, Cocincina, Camboia, e Tunkino.
Rome, printed by the Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, 1677. 4to. Modern vellum. [14], 254, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Three editions of humanist works, two from Antwerp known only from 1 other copy each, in contemporary Flemish panel-stamped calf with 6 animals in foliage plus an unusually detailed peacock

[FIOCCO, Andrea Domenico] under the name of Lucius FENESTELLA. De magistratibus, sacerdotiisq[ue] Romanorum libellus, iam primum nitori restitutus. Pomponii Laeti itidem de magistratibus & sacerdotiis, & praeterea de diversis legibus Rom[anorum]. Item Valerii Probi grammatici de literis antiquis opusculum.
Including: POMPONIO LETO, Giulio. De Ro[manorum]. magistratibus, ...
Basel, (colophon: Valentino Curio, May 1523). With the general title in a woodcut border, Curio's large architectural woodcut device on the otherwise blank final page.
With:
(2) LUCIANUS OF SAMOSATA. Complures ... dialogi à Desiderio Erasmo Roterodamo ... in Latinum conversi, & à Nicolao Buscoducensi illustrati, additis Fabularum & difficilium vocabulorum explanationibus.
(Colophon: Antwerp, Michael Hillen van Hoochstraten, 1524).
(3) MOSELLANUS, Petrus (Peter SCHADE). Paedologia ..., in puerorum usum conscripta & aucta. Dialogi XXXVII. Dialogi pueriles Christophori Hegendorphini. XII. ...
Including: HEGENDORF, Christoph. Dialogi pueriles ... XII. ...
(Colophon: Antwerp, Michael Hillen van Hoochstraten, 1523).
3 editions in 1 volume. 8vo (16 x 10.5 cm). Contemporary panel-stamped calf, each board with the same 3 panel stamps: 2 virtually identical panels with 6 animals in 2 grape vines (the animals from head to foot in the left vine: a monkey, dog and wyvern; and in the right vine: a squirrel, hare and lion) in a border of a diaper of quatrefoils in lozenges, the two separated by a small panel stamp sith a peacock, paste-downs made from a leaf from an Aristotle manuscript on vellum. 91, [1]; 26, [2]; [40] ll. Full description

€ 12,000

Sixteenth century commentary on psalms by the Italian humanist Marcus Antonius Flaminius
in an attractive binding

FLAMINIUS, Marcus Antonius. M. Antonii Flaminii in Librum Psalmorum Brevis Explanatio, ad Alexandrum Farnesium Cardinalem amplissimum. Adiectae sunt in studiosorum usum eiusdem authoris in Psalmos aliquot, suo quaeque ordine & loco, Paraphrases. Item adiectae sunt in triginta Psalmos Paraphrases, carmine ab eodem conscriptae, & suo loco positae.
Antwerp, Christopher Plantin, 1558.
With: (2) FLAMINIUS, Marcus Antonius. M. Antonii Flaminii De Rebus Divinis Carmina ad Margaritam Henrici Gallorum Regis sororem.
Antwerp, Christopher Plantin, 1558.
2 works in 1 vol. 16mo (11.4 x 7.7 cm). With woodcut printer's device on both title-pages: "Labore et constantia" and a different one on the verso of the final blank page of the second work: "Christus vera vitis". Ruled in brown/red throughout, 2 decorated initials at the beginning of the first work and 3 in the second work. Contemporary brown leather, gold-stamped frame and ornamental centrepieces on both covers, gold-tooling on spine, gold edges with blind-tooled arabesques. 365, [3]; [24] ll. Full description

€ 3,450

A rare 16th-century Dutch devotional work printed in Antwerp

[FLORIS VAN HAARLEM]. Den wech des levens. Een gheestelijc boecxken leerende hoe dat ee[n] goet kerste[n] mensch moet beginne[n] en[de] voortgaen in duechden, met veel devote ghebede[n] en[de] gheestelike corte vermaninghe[n] om tot een warachtich gheestelijc leven te comen.
[Antwerp, Heyndrick Peetersen van Middelburg, 1547?]. 8vo. With title printed in black and red, within woodcut borders. Contemporary slightly overlapping parchment, remnants of ties. [200] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Drawings made as models for the plates in the complete works of Flavius Josephus

FOKKE, Simon. [12 drawings of Old Testament scenes].
Amsterdam, 1783. Twelve pen and ink wash drawings (each ca. 8 x 6.5 cm) in subtle shades of grey and sepia. All 12 drawings mounted on a single contemporary stiff paper support (44 x 61 cm), neatly arranged in three rows of four, each with a border of lines drawn around it in ink. A contemporary pencil inscription below the lower right drawing reads "S. Fokke Amsterdam 1712-1784". Another in a later hand in the lower right corner of the support reads "S. Fokke". Full description

€ 2,500

Tolerant comparison of world religions

FRANCK, Sebastian. Werelt-boeck, spieghel ende beeltenisse des gheheelen aerdtbodems, ...
The Hague, Albrecht Heyndricxz., 1595. Folio. 17th-century parchment, new endpapers. CXXXIIII, [4] ll. Full description

€ 8,500

1565/66 pilgrimage to the Middle East, with author's portrait, coat of arms and 6 illustration plates

FÜRER VON HAIMENDORF, Christoph. Itinerarium Aegypti, Arabiae, Palaestinae, Syriae, aliarumque regionum orientalium.
Nuremberg, Abraham Wagenmann, 1621 (colophon: Nuremberg, printed by Abraham Wagenmann, 1620). Small 4to. With finely engraved full-page portrait of the author by Peter Isselberg, full-page engraved Fürer von Haimendorf coat of arms, 6 folding engraved plates. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [16], 118, [114] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Five treatises in French concerning the Arabs and Turks, including a translation of an account of a pilgrimage to Mecca

GALLAND, Julien-Claude. Recueil des rits et cérémonies du pelerinage de la Mecque, auquel on a joint divers ecrits relatifs à la religion, aux sciences & aux mœurs des Turcs.
Amsterdam; Paris, Jean Desaint and Charles Saillant, 1754. 8vo. Contemporary mottled, tanned sheepskin, gold-tooled spine. VIII, 215, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Very rare Mallorca imprint

GARCIA, Diego S.J. Sermon funebre en las exequias de la serenissima Señora D. Mariana de Austria Reyna Madre del Rey N. Señor Carlos II. Rey de las Españas. Que celebrò la nobilissima, y fidelissima ciudad de Mallorca en su Iglesia Catadral á 28. de Noviembre de 1696.
Palma de Mallorca, Miguel Capo, 1697. 4to. With the title in an ornamental frame built up from typographic ornaments (a fleur-de-lis and Vervliet vine leaf 207), three woodcut initials and a woodcut tailpiece. Modern marbled boards. [12], 26 pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Influential work on the Islam in India

GARCIN DE TASSY, Joseph Héliodore. Memoire sur les particularites de la religion Musulmane dans l'Inde, d'après les ouvrages Hindoustanis.
Paris, Adolphe Labitte, 1869. 8vo. Late 20th-century half black morocco. [4], 108 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

The state of all missionary activity around the world ca. 1820

[GAUSSEN, Francois Samuel Robert Louis?]. Exposé de l'état actuel des missions évangéliques chez les peuples infidèles, cel qu'on le connoissoit au commencement de l'année 1820.
Genève, [back of the title-page: printing office of Guillaume Fick], 1821. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. With a folding leaf (54 x 34.5 cm) containing a small coloured map of the world. Contemporary blue paper wrappers, untrimmed, preserving all deckles, and with the bolts unopened. XII, LXXXII, IV, 408, [4] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Description and illustrations of a sundial with a rotating magnetic needle,
bound in a fragment of an early Acta sanctorum manuscript

GEORGES, Pierre. Horologe magnetique elliptique ou ovale nouveau, de facile usage, et tres-commode, pour trouver les heures du jour & de la nuict, . . .
Toul (Lorraine), Simon Belgrand, G. Perin and I. Laurent, 1660. 8vo. With 8 engraved plates (1-7 numbered) with 46 numbered figures, and a letterpress folding table after page 196. Contemporary parchment made from the lower part of a leaf from a Jesuit manuscript (Acta sanctorum, for 25 July, this part not published until 1729). [12], ''296'' [= 298], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 11,500

Portuguese Catholic subjugation of ancient Christians in India's Malabar Coast

GOUVEIA, António de. Jornada do Arcebispo de Goa Dom Frey Aleixo de Menezes primaz da India Oriental, ...
With: (2) MENESES, Aleixo de. Synodo diocesano da Igreia Bispado de Angamaledo dos antigos Christaõs de Sam Thome das Serras do Malavar das partes da India Oriental.Coimbra, Diego Gomez de Loureyro, 1606. 2 complementary works in 1 volume. Folio. The first work with the large woodcut coat of arms of the Archbishop of Braga on title-page. 18th century calf. [6], 152; [2], 62 ll. Full description

€ 6,500

Astronomical and geographical information on regions in China and India

GOUYE, Thomas. Observations physiques et mathematiques, pour servir a l'histoire naturelle & à la perfection de l'astronomie & de la geographie: envoyées des Indes et de la Chine à l'Académie Royale des Sciences à Paris, par les Peres Jesuites.
Paris, Imprimerie Royale (colophon: Jean Anisson), 1692. 4to. With woodcut coat of arms on title-page, 2 double-page engraved maps and 1 engraved plate. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine. [4], 114 pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Marking the brief golden age of Christianity in the Arabian peninsula

GREGENTIUS, Saint. [Title in Greek followed by:] Disputatio cum Herbano Iudaeo: nunc primùm Graecè edita, cum interpretatione Nic. Gulonii, Carnutis, literarum Graecarum professoris regii, notis illustrata. Hoc dialogo sides Christiana tum divinorum oraculorum exposition, tum miraculorum effectu confirmatur.
Paris, Fédéric Morel, 1586. 8vo. With text in Latin and Greek on facing pages. Contemporary sheepskin parchment. [8], 204 ll. Full description

€ 6,500

Honouring Duke Theodosius II, who fought in the Battle of Alcacér Quibir

GUERREIRO, Bartolomeo. Sermam que fez o R. P. Bertolameu Guerreiro da Companhia de Iesu, nas exequias do anno que se fizerao...
Lisbon, Mathias Rodrigues, [1632]. 4to. With the woodcut coat of arms of Duke Theodosius II on the title-page, two woodcut initials (2 different series) and an ornamental head-piece. Plain paper wrappers with a small label on the front wrapper ("823"). [4], 28 ll. Full description

€ 2,750

Rare account of the efforts of Jesuit missionaries in India (Goa, Cambay, Malabar Coast, Kochi, Madurai, etc.), South East Asia, the East Indies and Africa

[GUERREIRO, Fernão (ed.)]. and Christobal SUÁREZ DE FIGUEROA (transl.). Historia y anal relacion de las cosas que hizieron los padres de la Compañia de Jesus, por las partes de Oriente y otras, en la propagacion del Santo Evangelio, los años passados de 607. y en 608.
Madrid, Imprenta Real, sold by Juan Hasrey, 1614 (colophon 1613). 4to. With a woodcut IHS Jesuit device in a decorated cartouche on the title-page, the whole in a border built up from typographic ornaments and acorns; the large woodcut coat of arms of the dedicatee, Don Geronimo Corella y Mendoza; a large woodcut scrollwork tailpiece; 6 woodcut decorated initials (6 series); and headpieces built up from arabesque typographic ornaments. Set in roman types with extensive italic, some cut by François Guyot in Antwerp. 20th-century sheepskin parchment over flexible boards, turned in at the fore-edge, sewn on 3 alum-tawed thongs laced through the joints, with the title in thin textura lettering down the spine. [16], 566, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 9,000

Influential ascetic treaty by the Spanish writer and bishop Antonio de Guevara

GUEVARA, Antonio de. (Aegidius Albertinus, translator). Aegidius Albertinus speculum religiosorum & exercitium virtuosorum oder: Der geistliche Spiegel: darinn nit allein die geistlichen Closter: vnd Ordenszperseonen, mit schonen herzlichen Lehren vun Warnungen erwiesen werden.
Munich, Adam Berg, 1601. 8vo. Title in red and black. Contemporary vellum over wooden board [12], 414 (= 829), [9] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

The best Syriac New Testament, with the Lexicon and extensive notes made to accompany it

[BIBLE - NEW TESTAMENT - SYRIAC]. GUTBIER, Aegidius. Novum Testamentum Syriacè...
Hamburg, Aegidius Gutbier, 1664 (engraved title-page "1663").
With:
(2) GUTBIER, Aegidius. Lexicon Syriacum, continens omnes N.T. Syriaci dictiones et particulas...
Hamburg, Aegidius Gutbier, 1667.(3) GUTBIER, Aegidius. Notae criticae in Novum Testamentum Syriacum... Hamburg, Aegidius Gutbier, 1667.
3 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With an architectural title-page, a woodcut vase of flowers on the letterpress title-page and decorations built up from typographic ornaments. With woodcut decorated initials and other decorations built up from typographic ornaments throughout the volume. Set in roman, italic and Syriac types, with incidental Greek and Hebrew. Contemporary vellum, manuscript title on spine. [32], “606” [= 604]; [16], 146, [50]; 55, [1] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Unrecorded Leeuwarden edition of Habermann's popular vernacular Christian prayer book, bound for the councillor to the Frisian court at Leeuwarden and his wife, with their arms in the sliverwork

HABERMANN, Johan (Hendrik van DIEST, transl. and ed.). Christelijcke gebeden ende danck-seggingen, op 't nieuw tegen 't Hoogh-Duytsche oversien ende ten dienste der gereformeerde kercke verbetert.
Leeuwarden, Lodewijck Cres, 1661. Small 16mo in 8s (10 x 7.5 x 2 cm). Contemporary gold-tooled green parchment with an (impressed?) pebble grain (giving a sort of reptile skin pattern), sewn on 3 green parchment tapes, laced through the joints, bound for the Frisian noble families Van Harinxma thoe Slooten and Burmania, with 2 silver fastenings. 275, [8], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 5,750

First edition of a devotional emblem book with an engraved title-page drawn by Rubens,
splendidly bound for the Abbot of Kremsmünster Abbey

HAEFTEN, Benedictus van. Regia via crucis.
Antwerp, Balthasar Moretus (Officina Plantiniana), 1635. 8vo (18 x 11.5 x 4 cm). With engraved title-page showing Christ, Saint Teresa of Avila and 2 unidentified men and 38 full-page emblematic engravings. Richly gold-tooled calf (ca. 1665), each board with the arms of (apparently) Abbot Placidus Buechauer (1611-1669) of Kremsmünster, gilt and elaborately gauffered edges. XL, 404, [26], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Revolution in Friesland and troubles in Leeuwarden: the Remonstrance of 1672

HAGIUS, Guilielmus. Afgeparste waerheyt, ofte nodige en naeckte aenwijsinge: Hoe dankbaerlijk de magistraat, enige uyt de vroedtschap, ende alle de praesente bevelhebbers van Leeuwarden tracteren hare gecommitteerden, die sy, tot het instellen en bevorderen van de reformatoire poincten, op den 27sten. Septembris 1672. by dEd. Mog. Heeren Staten van Frieslandt gearresteert, hebben genomineert ende versocht. Ingestelt door G. Hagius.
[Leeuwarden], for Haucke Egberts Heringa, [1673]. 4to. 19th-century blue wrappers. [8] pp. Full description

€ 650

Important collection of Jesuit letters and other texts from and about Japan,
Korea, China, India, Peru, Mexico and the Philippines

HAY, John. De rebus Japonicis, Indicis, et Peruanis epistolae recentiores.
Antwerp, Martinus Nutius II, 1605. 8vo. With Nutius's woodcut device on title-page and a small woodcut illustration in the text. Contemporary vellum. 968, [50] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Latin dialogues by the rector of the Deventer Illustre School, leading humanist and teacher of Erasmus and Pope Adrian VI

HEGIUS (VAN DEN HECK), Alexander. Dialogi. De scientia et eo q[uo]d co[n]tra Academicos. De tribus anim[a]e generibus. De incarnationis misterio dialogi duo quib[us] ... Dialogus physicus. De sensu et sensili. De arte et inertia. De rhetorica. De moralibus. Eiusde[m] Farrago cui addita invectiva eius in modos significandi ... Epistola una et altera eius ceteris apud suos latentibus.
(Colophon: Deventer, Richard Pafraet, 1503). Small 4to (21 x 14.5 cm). With spaces left for 3- to 5-line manuscript initials (most with printed guide letters). Set in a rotunda gothic type with the title, colophon, running heads, etc. in a larger textura gothic and the author's name in a still larger rotunda, with occasional words in Greek. With one blue "Lombardic" initial filled in in manuscript, capitals and paragraph marks rubricated throughout. Half tan sheepskin (ca. 1860?). [170] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

The Desert of Paran and the 42 stations of the Exodus, with a map

HERMANN, Amand. Desertum Pharan mystice explicatum, cum quadraginta duabus in eo mansionibus filiorum Isràél ad Palaestinam pergentium: . . .
Kalisz, printed by the college of the Society of Jesus, 1685. 4to. With an engraved frontispiece, showing a map of the Holy Land and the route of the Exodus with the 42 stations numbered. Contemporary overlapping vellum. [32], 505, [1 blank], [16] pp. Full description

€ 1,950

Early edition of a bestseller of the incunable period, throwing light on the popular understanding of the Epistles and Gospels

[HEROLT, Johannes], edited by Guillermus PARISIENSIS. Postilla super Epistolas et Evangelia.
[Cologne, Ulrich Zell, 1483/87]. Small folio. Printed in 2 columns, each with 49 lines to the page. Set in a late example of a hybrid form type, with lombardic initials in red gouache. Rubricated on c4v-d2r. Mid- or late-18th-century gold-tooled French(?) red goatskin morocco, the spine with a dark green gold-tooled morocco label in the 2nd of 6 compartments, gold fillets on the board edges, gold-tooled turn-ins, gilt edges, French marbled endpapers. With the first page (the only preliminary page) in facsimile, but further complete. [130] ll. Full description

€ 13,500

Important work on mystic theology

HERP, Hendrik. Den spieghel der volmaecktheydt. Seer profijtelijck allen menschen, in wat staet sy zijn. ... Nu weder van nieus ghevisiteert ende gheapprobeert.
Antwerp, Hieronymus Verdussen, 1607. 8vo. With a woodcut roundel portrait of Jesus on the title-page (signed "A"), a woodcut tailpiece, and decorations built up from cast arabesque fleurons. Contemporary overlapping vellum, leather thong ties. [162], [2 blank] ll. Full description

€ 1,450

5 rare polemical works: 3 epistles by a leading French Counter-Reformationist,
a Protestant reply and the defence against the reply

HERVET, Gentian. Epistre ou advertissement au peuple fidele de l'Eglise Catholique, touchant les differens qui sont aujourd'huy en la religion Chrestienne.
Paris, Nicolas Chesneau, 1561.
With:
(2) HERVET, Gentian. Deux epistres, aux ministres, predicans et supposts de la congregation & nouvelle eglise de ceux qui s'appellent fideles, & croyans à la parolle: ...
Paris, Nicolas Chesneau, 1562.
Including: (3) HERVET, Gentian. Seconde epistre aux ministres, predicans & suppostz de le nouvelle eglise, de ceux qui s'appellent fideles, & croyans à la parole.
Paris, Nicolas Chesneau, 1561.
(4) [TOUSSAIN, Daniel?]. Response a une certaine epistre envoyee par M. Gentian Hervet, curé de Crevant, aux fideles de l'eglise reformee d'Orleans.
[Paris?], [publisher unknown], 1561.
(5) HERVET, Gential. Apologie ou defense, contre une response des Ministres de la nouvelle eglise d'Orleans, escripte en leur nom, par Je ne sçay qui, se nommant, L'un pour tous.
Paris, Nicolas Chesneau, 1561. 5 works in 1 volume. 8vo. 18th-century(?) sheepskin parchment. 28; 24; 8; [44]; 127, [1] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Unusual grammar book for the Hindustani language, meant for Portuguese missionaries

[HINDUSTANI - GRAMMAR]. Gramatica indostana a mais vulgar que se practica no imperio do gram Mogol, para uso dos muitos reverendos padres missionarios do dito imperio.
Lisbon, Impressão Regia, 1805. Small 8vo (17.5 x 11.5 cm). With a woodcut vignette on the title page. Mid-19th century half gold-tooled tanned sheepskin, marbled paper sides. With the title in gold on the spine, marbled endpapers. [2], 150 [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Introduction to reading the Bible, intended for young people

HOFFMANN, Gottfried. Außerlesene Kern-Sprüche Heiliger Schrifft, durch kurtze Fragen deutlich erkläret und nützlich angewendet, nebst einer ausführlichen Einleitung zum Bibel-Lesen ...
Leipzig, Friedrich Lankisch, 1705. 8vo. With an engraved frontispiece, title-page printed in red and black, a folding letterpress table and occasional lines in Greek and Hebrew type. Contemporary vellum, manuscript title on spine. [34], 704 pp. Full description

€ 950

The origins of the American Indians, together with the life and teaching of David Joris

HORNIUS (HORN), Georgius. De originibus Americanis. Libri quatuor.
The Hague, Adriaan Vlacq (colophon: printed by Phillipe de Croy, Leiden), 1652.
With: (2) BLESDIJK, Nicolaas van. Historia, vitae, doctrinae, ac rerum gestarum Davidis Georgii haeresiarchae. Conscripta ab ipsius genero Nicolao Blesdikio. Nunc primum prodit in lucem ex musaeo Iacobi Revii.
Deventer, Nathanael Cost, 1642. 2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Contemporary vellum. [9], [11], 282; [8], 189 pp. Full description

€ 6,500

1612 introduction to Kabbala, in Hebrew

HOROWITZ, Shabbethai Sheftel. Sefer Shefa' tal.
Hanau, Hans Jakob Henne (Henah), [5]372 [= 1611/12]. Folio (31 x 20 cm). With about 15 woodcut illustrations in the text. Set in meruba Hebrew types with extensive passages in semi-cursive rabbinical. Later 17th-century blind-tooled vellum, modern endpapers. [10], 94 ll. Full description

€ 8,500

Radical Anabaptism: The Münster Rebellion and the Amsterdam Riots

HORTENSIUS, Lambertus. Het boeck van den oproer der Weder-dooperen. Eerst int Latijn beschreven, ende ghedruckt tot Basel ... Ende nu in Nederlandts overgheset. ...
Enkhuizen, Jacob Lenaertsz Meyn, 1614. Folio. With 1 half-page and 8 full-page engraved plates in text (one repeat). Contemporary vellum. [4], 26 ll. Full description

€ 1,950

An important Clein-Koberger edition of Germany's most popular early 16th-century prayer book, the first use of 87 new woodcuts made for it by Springinklee, Schön and a few unsigned

[HORTULUS ANIMAE - PRAYERBOOK]. [Hortulus anime cum aliis q[uam] plurimis orationibus pristine impressioni superadditis; ut tabulam in huius calce annexa[m] intue[n]ti pate[n]tissimu[m] erit.].
(colophon:) Lyon, Johannes Clein (for Johannes Koberger, Nürnberg), 15 March 1516. 8vo. With the a decorated woodcut on the title-page with a madonna and child above and a unicorn below a frame for the letterpress title printed in red, Cleins woodcut device on the final recto, further with 89 woodcut illustrations, printed from 86 blocks (in three sizes), including 52 (from 50 blocks) by Hans Springinklee (who also cut the title woodcut), 6 (from 5 blocks) by Erhard Schön and 23 other smaller woodcuts, and the text printed in red and black in gothic rotunda type, each page (except the title-page, Cleins device and a two-page table of moveable feasts), in 1 of 25 different woodcut borders (a few dated) composed of angels, putti, grotesques, vases, fountains and other emblematic and architectural details. Many of the woodcuts are partly coloured by a contemporary hand.
Contemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, sewn on 3 double cords, each board with brass pieces covering the edges at the head and foot, a brass strip near the hinge on the front board (lacking on the back board) and 2 brass catch plates on the front board with traces on the back board of leather straps that would have had brass clasps. [20], CCX, [10] ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Rare Dutch translation of a work on the origin of temples and churches

HOSPINIANUS, Rodolphus. Van de tempelen: dat is vijf boecken van den oorspronck, voortganck, ghebruyck en de misbruyck der tempelen ende gheheelijck aller dinghen, die tot de tempelen behooren.
Amsterdam, Jan Evertsz. Cloppenburch, 1606. 4to. With Cloppenburch's printer's device on title-page and one page (O1) rubricated in red. Contemporary vellum. [12], 400, 99, [6] ll. Full description

€ 2,500

333 very interesting genealogical tables of all reigning houses and noble families of Europe

HÜBNER, Johann. Drey hundert und drey und dreyßig Genealogische Tabellen, nebst denen darzu gehörigen Genealogischen Fragen, zur Erläuterung der Politischen Historie...
Leipzig, Johann Friedrich Gleditsch & Sohn, 1712. Oblong folio. With the title-page printed in red and black, 1 large woodcut gothic decorated initial. Set primarily in fraktur type. Contemporary half sheepskin, marbled sides. [8] pp., [333] ll. with tables, [7] pp. Full description

€ 750

Celebrating Gustav Adolf II, 'The Lion of the North' and champion of Protestantism,
magnificently illustrated by Crispijn vande Passe II

HULSIUS, Bartholomaeus. Den onderganck des Roomschen Arents, door den Noordschen Leeuw. Af-ghebeeldt in verscheyden konstige figuren, met sin-rijcke verklaringhen der selver, beydes in en buyten rijm, vertoonende, in 't kort, de gedenckwaerdighste saken, die van den beginne, tot noch toe, in dese oorlogen zyn omgegaen. Met een verhael van den doodt des Koninghs. Hier zyn noch by ghevoeght de victorien der Croon Sweden, sedert de doodt des auteurs vercreghen.
Amsterdam, Crispijn vande Passe, 1642. 4to. Engraved allegorical title-page with engraved title in a central panel below Fame sitting on a swan. Beautifully bound in 19thcentury light brown gold-tooled calf (1850s or 1860s?), each board with triple along the edges, decorated spine with red and green labels lettered in gold, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins , marbled endpapers, signed "PETIT SUCCr DE SIMIER": Charles Petit operated a Paris bindery from 1848 to 1873 as successor to René Simier (1772-1843), relieur du roi from 1815, and his son. [12], 91, [1 blank] pp. plus engraved title-page. Full description

€ 15,000

Antipapal dialogues (1520), with a lovely woodcut of Fortuna

HUTTEN, Ulrich von. Dialogi. Fortuna. Febris prima. Febris secunda. Trias Romana. Inspicientes.
Colophon: Mainz, Johann Schöffer, April 1520. Small 4to (19.5 x 14 cm). With a lovely woodcut of the blindfolded Fortuna on title-page (by Hans Weiditz?), a large woodcut initial Q (repeated twice) and several vine leaf ornaments. Printed in roman type. 19th-century half vellum. [72] ll. Full description

€ 3,750

Rare first edition, printed in Calcutta, of an attempt to reconcile Biblical Creation
with geological science as 19th-century liberal views on earths history and species development emerged

HUTTON, Thomas. The chronology of creation; or, geology and scripture reconciled.
Calcutta, W. Thacker and Co. (back of title-page and colophon: printed by J.C. Sherriff, Bengal Military Orphan Press), 1850. Large 8vo. With a coloured lithographic frontispiece of a camel, lithographed by T. Black at the Asiatic Lithographic Press in Calcutta, and 3 coloured lithographic plates illustrating Huttons theories about the creation of the earth (2 orthographic azimuthal projections and 1 cross-section). Contemporary green cloth. [2], XVI, [2], 503, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,950

Plantin edition of an early Christian classic

IGNATIUS of ANTIOCHIA. [In Greek:] Toi en agiois ieromartiros ignatioi archiepiskopioi antiocheias, epistolai. (In Greek).- Antiochiae, & martyris epistolae, prosus apostolicae. (In Latin).
Antwerp, Christoffel Plantin (ad 1 colophon: 8 August), 1566. Small 8vo. With Plantins woodcut compasses device on each title-page and a couple decorated woodcut initials. Set in italic and Greek type.
With: IDEM. Antiochiae, & martyris epistolae, prorsus apostolicae.
Antwerp, Christoffel Plantin, 1566. Contemporary calf. 69, [1 blank]; 78 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Beautifully illuminated and finely lettered manuscript altar canon on three wall panels

[ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT - ALTAR CANON]. Accipiendo in manibus hostiam dicat[!].... Initium Sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem. ... Cibavit illum dominus pane vitæ et intellectus.
[Belgium?], [ca. 1790?]. Three illuminated manuscript wall panels in matching style, forming a three-part altar canon lettered in blue and red ink on parchment (one 47.5 x 57 cm & two 31 x 22 cm; image sizes 46 x 54.5 cm & 29.5 x 21 cm), the larger stretched over a wooden frame and each of the smaller two over a wooden panel. All three panels meticulously and finely lettered in the style of roman printing types with 1 line in italic capitals, all 12 initials and some of their decoration in gold. All three panels richly illuminated around and between the text blocks with a gold background and extensive gold highlights, the illumination including decorated cartouches. The principal scenes at the head (miniatures in a wide variety of colours) show the Last Supper, Saint John the Evangelist and Christ washing his apostles feet; the central scenes at the foot (ink and ink wash drawings, probably emblematic, that on the large panel in grey and those on the small panels in red) show a lamb and cross on an altar, 4 standing figures with long staffs around a table with a platter (of bread?: some of the figures are eating something) and herald angels before a kneeling figure (it doesnt look like a shepherd or the Virgin Mary). Full description

€ 16,000

ca. 1493/97 Cologne edition of The art of dying, with a woodcut of Gregory the Great teaching in a classroom

[INCUNABLE - COLOGNE EDITION OF THE ARS MORIENDI]. Speculu[m] artis bene morie[n]di [= Ars moriendi].
[Cologne, Heinrich Quentell, ca. 1493/97]. Small (Chancery) 4to (20.5 x 14.5 cm). With a large woodcut (10.0 x 8.8 cm) on the title-page: depicting a teacher (Pope Gregory the Great ca. 600 CE, declared a saint in 1295) with a dove on his shoulder (his attribute), seated behind a lectern with an open book, instructing two of his pupils, seated before him, each with a book in his hands.Recent marbled paper over boards by the Geneva bookbinder Jean-Luc Honegger (b. 1953) who set up his atelier ca. 1978 (signed with his "honegger" stamp in blue ink at the foot of the back paste-down), sewn on 3 recessed supports, the marbled paper in an antique spot pattern (see Wolfe 162-163) with black spots on unusually fine-grained grey Stormont spots and with veins in red, turquoise, orange, dark blue and white, black morocco spine label with the title in gold roman capitals, reading up the spine. [31], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Wonderful large allegorical engraving, showing the missionary activities
of the Augsburg Protestant church in India.

[INDIA - MISSIONARY WORK]. Vorstellung der Evangelisch-Ostindischen Kirche.
[Augsburg], ca. 1730. 86 x 59 cm. Copperplate engraving. Full description

€ 2,500

Documenting the Indian caste system and the Indian social norms and practices from a Christian point of view

[FRENCH INDIA - MANUSCRIPT]. Des castes Indiennes.
Karaikal, 11 April [1743]. 4to (ca. 24 x 18.5 cm). Manuscript written in dark brown ink on beige laid paper. Blue mottled stiff paper wrappers. [23], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,750

Letters about Saint Jerome, by the first printer in Blaubeuren (near Ulm) ca. 1475/77

JEROME (HIERONYMUS), Saint (subject). Epistola Beati Euseby ad Damasium Portunensem Episcopum & ad Theodomum senatorem Romanum de morte gloriosi Hieronimi doctoris eximy.
[d7:] Epistola Beati Augustini Episcopi ad Cirillum venerabilem Archiepiscopium Hierosolimitanum de vita obitu & miraculis Beatissimi Hieronimi prespiteri & doctoris eximy.
[e5:] Epistola Cirilli Archiepiscopi ad Beatimi Augustinum Episcopium de miraculis gloriosi Hieronimi necnon & de morte Beati Euseby discipuli Sancti Hieronimi.
[Blaubeuren, Conrad Mancz, ca. 1475/77]. Small folio (27.5 x 20 cm). Set in what is sometimes called a gotico-antiqua type (119 mm/20 lines, with 31 lines per page), in this case mixing some roman influences into what is largely a rotunda gothic type. With about 150 "Lombardic" initials in red ink: 2 4-line, 4 3-line, about 140 2-line (1 with pen-work decorations in brown ink) and 4 1-line, in spaces left for that purpose and capitals rubricated throughout.Modern parchment. [130] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Two popular theological tracts printed by the first printer of Augsburg

JEROME (HIERONYMUS), Saint (pseudo), Eucherius of LYON (attributed). De essentia divinatis.
Including: AQUINAS, Thomas. De articulis fidei et ecclesiae sacramentis.
[Augsburg, Günther Zainer, before 1473]. Folio. With manuscript initials in red throughout. 20th-century quarter vellum. [11]; [21] [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Jesuit scholars in Asia: two contemporary transcripts of letters by renowned Jesuits

[JESUIT - LETTER - TERENTIUS (or SCHRECK), Johannes]. (drop-title 3r:) Exemplum l[ite]rar[um] R. P. Terentii ad R. Patrem Jacobum Köllerum ...
[in or shortly after 1623?]. Folio. The Latin text of both letters is written in a neat, uniform cursive hand in brown ink. Including: [JESUIT - LETTER - GALL, Johann Chrysostomus]. (drop-title 1r:) Literae P. Jo. Chrysostomi Gall Olyssiponae datae. 18th-century stiff blue paper wrappers. [8] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Foundational work on the study of the Chinese customs and language

[JESUITS]. INTORCETTA, Prospero. R.P. Prosperi Intorcetta societatis Jesu missionarii sinensis testimonium de cultu sinensi, datum anno 1668.
Paris, Nicolas Pepié, 1700. 8vo. With a small woodcut ornamental vignette on the title-page and some head- and tail-pieces built up from typographical ornaments Contemporary vellum. [2], 318, [10] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Rare first editions of two important spiritual works by the controversial Anabaptist David Joris

[JORIS, David]. Die eerste sullen die laetste, die laetste die eerste sijn.
With: (2) [JORIS, David]. Een twesprake tusschen man unde wijff, namelick Christus un[de] de gemeente oder verlorene mensch.
[Rostock, Ludwig Dietz, ca. 1550/52]. 8vo (15.5 x 11 cm). With gothic initials and a vine-leaf ornament. Set in schwabacher types with incidental and fraktur. Vellum (ca. 1680?). [211], [1 blank]; [71], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 17,500

Most important work of the mysterious and controversial Anabaptist David Joris

JORIS, David. T'Wonder-boeck: waer in dat van der wereldt aen versloten gheopenbaert is.
[Vianen, printed by Dirck Mullem and distributed via a merchant in Emden, 1584]. 4 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With a half-page engraving of the Lamb of God in part 1, a spectacular full-page engraving of the nude bride of Christ in part 3 (by Hieronymus Wierix) and an engraved landscape with the way to eternal life in the sky in part 3. Blind-tooled calf over wooden boards (ca. 1645), each board in a panel design with three ornamental rolls, 2 brass clasps and catchplates with engraved decoration. [9 of 10], 125, [3]; [5 of 6], 164, [2]; [4], 50, [2]; [2], 34, [1], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Dutch Anabaptist heretic burned in Basel three years after his death

JORIS, David (subject). David Georgen ausz Holand deß Ertzkätzers warhafftige Histori, seines Lebens, unnd verfürischen Leer, . . .
Basel, (colophon: printed by Hieronymus Curio, September 1559), 1559. Small 4to. With 2 large woodcut gothic decorated initials (56 mm). Set in schwabacher types with incidental fraktur and the year of publication in Roman numerals. Disbound. [63], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

2nd known copy of the 2nd edition (ca. 1595?) of David Joris’s first spiritual handbook

JORIS, David. Handt boecxken: inholdende vele godlijcke trouhertighe vaderlijcke vermaninghen unde leeringen: ...
[Rotterdam, Dirck de Raeff van Mullem, ca. 1595?]. Small 12mo in 8s (14 x 8 cm). With a woodcut spiral printed in the fore-edge margin to illustrate the spiritual workings of God, 11 interlaced gothic initials (cast in matrices) plus 22 repeats, and 3 vine-leaf ornaments (Vervliet 7, 127 and 184). Set in textura gothic types with an occasional word in roman. Contemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards (with tapered edges), sewn on 3 double cords, each board with a frame made with a 12 mm roll (reticulated diagonals making diamonds and half diamonds, each diamond containing a quatrafoil and each half-diamond a trefoil, in the general style of Einbanddatenbank roll r000355, workshop w007716 (Wittenberg, late 16th-century) and others in the motief group m000956, edged inside and out with multiple fillets, two brass fastenings with engraved decoration (each with a clasp on a calf strap, and a catchplate). [1], 142, [1] ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Extremely rare Syrian liturgical work by the Archbishop of Damascus, printed at the Dominican Press at Mosul

[LECTIONARY - SYRIAC]. [JOSEPH DAVID, Clemens]. Lectionarium Syriacum seu collectio orationum et lectionum quae in horis canonicis per totum anni decursum excepto jejunio quadragesimali ab ecclesiae Syriacae clero adhiberi solent.
Mosul, typis Fratrum Praedicatorum (= Dominican printing office), 1879. Folio. With a Latin title-page set in roman type and a Syriac title-page set in Syriac type, both within a red and blue ornamental frame. Preliminary leaves also set within a red ornamental frame. Text set in Syriac type and printed in black and red. With a few religious illustrations throughout the text. Contemporary half blue sheepskin, blue cloth sides, gold-tooled spine lettered (in Syriac) in gold, marbled endpapers. 648 pp. Full description

€ 12,500

First Dutch edition of Flavius Joseph's works and of Basnage's continuation, with 300 illustrations, some by Jan Luyken

JOSEPHUS, Flavius. Alle de werken.
Amsterdam, Pieter Mortier, 1704.
With: (2) BASNAGE DE BEAUVAL, Jacques. Vervolg op Flavius Josephus.
Amsterdam, Gerard Onder de Linden; Delft, Reinier Boitet, 1726-1727.
2 works in 3 volumes, bound as 2. Folio. Ad 1 with a richly engraved frontispiece, a title-page in red and black with engraved oval portrait of Flavius Josephus, divisional title, 2 folding maps, 12 double-page plates, 3 plans, and 209 illustrations in text, all engraved. Ad 2 with a richly engraved frontispiece, 2 title-pages, the first in red and black with Onder de Linden's device, the second with Boitet's device, engraved portrait of the dedicatee, dedication plate and portrait of Basnage; 4 folding letterpress genealogical and other tables, 1 engraved illustration plate, and 90 engraved illustrations in text. Uniform contemporary blind-tooled vellum, each board with a large scrollwork centrepiece and 4 cornerpieces in a double frame of fillets, hand-lettered spine titles. [40], 782, [30], 113, [11]; [44], 658, [14], 659-1940 pp. Full description

€ 3,900

First edition in Arabic of the Samaritan book of Joshua

JUYNBOLL, Theodorus Willem Johannes. Chronicon Samaritanum, Arabice conscriptum cui titulus est liber Josuae. Ex unico codice Scaligeri nunc primum edidit, Latine vertit, annotatione instruxit, et dissertationem de codice, de chronico, et de quaestionibus, ...
Leiden, Samuel and Johannes Luchtmans, 1848. 4to. With a folding lithographed plate. Set in roman and italic types with the 55-page transcription in Arabic type and shorter passages in Hebrew, Samaritan and Syriac type. Modern half cloth, gold-tooled spine, marbled sides and decorated endpapers. XII, 369; [1], [1 blank], 55 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Rare work explaining the Dutch Reformed Church's view of the Lord's mercy

KEESSEL, Dionysius van der. De vastgestelde leer en praktyk, van Neerlands kerk omtrent byzondere, algenoegzame en kragtdadige genade in Christus, gezuiverd van het misbruik derzelve. Waar by gevoegt zijn de Dordse leer-regelen...
Including:
(2) IDEM. De vastgestelde leer en praktyk ... tweede deel.
(3) IDEM. De vastgestelde leer en praktyk ... derde deel.
Deventer, Abraham van Wezel, 1749-1750. 3 parts (and part 2 in 2 sections) in 1 volume. 8vo. With several woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces Contemporary vellum, sewn on 6 supports, manuscript title on spine. [32], 866, [2] pp. Full description

€ 750

A landmark of hadith scholarship: rare first English edition of a noted Sunni text, printed in Calcutta

KHATIB AL-TIBRIZI, Muhammad ibn ’Abd Allah (Arnold N. Matthews, trans.). Mishcàt-ul-Masábìh, or, A collection of the most authentic traditions, regarding the actions and sayings of Múhammed; exhibiting the origin of the manners and customs, the civil, religious and military policy of the Muslemàns.
Calcutta, T. Hubbard at the Hindoostanee Press. 1809-1810. 2 volumes. Small folio (23.5 x 31 cm). Contemporary sheepskin, flat spines with red morocco labels. [6], IX, [1], VI, 665, [1]; [2], VI, 817, [13] pp. Full description

€ 15,000

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

Rare work of the Basel Missionary Press in Mangalore

KITTEL, Ferdinand. Ueber den Ursprung des Lingakultus in Indien.
Mangalore, [printed by Stolz & Hirner, Basel Mission Press, Mangalore, for:] Basel mission book & tract depository, 1876. 8vo. With the title on the front wrapper in a printed decorative frame. Orange printed paper wrappers. [2], 48 pp. Full description

€ 650

Rare work of the Basel Missionary Press in Mangalore

€ 650

A rare coloured and heightened in gold, complete edition of Krauss' expertly illustrated biblical scenes
from the gospels and epistles

KRAUSS, Johann Ulrich. Heilige Augen- und Gemüths-Lust. Vorstellend alle Sonn- Fest- und feyertägliche nicht nur Evangelien, sondern auch Epistelen und Lectionen, jene historisch, diese auch emblemmatisch, und mit curieusen Einfassungen, in vielen Kupffer-Stücken von frembder und gantz neuer Invention, so wohl zur Kunst-Ubung als Unterhaltung Gottseeliger Betrachtungen, wie auch Vermehrung der Kupffer-Bibelen und Ausszierung aller christlichen Postillen dienlich.
Augsburg, Johann Ulrich Kraus, (preface:) 1706. 2 parts in one vol. Folio. Part one with a vignette on the title-page, the preface with a headpiece and initial, a full-page allegorical engraving of the church signed: "Johann Ulrich Kraus del. et Scul.", and 70 numbered (1-70) plates; part 2 with a vignette on the title-page, a full-page engraving of the apostles and their symbols "simbolum apostolorum" signed: "Johann Ulrich Kraus del. et Scul.", and 50 numbered (71-120) plates. The vignettes, the initial and all engravings are beautifully coloured and heightened with gold. Contemporary speckled calf, gold-tooling on boards, gold-tooled decorations on spine, red title-label with title in gold on spine, gilt edges. [5] ll. and 71 plates with 65 blank protective leaves; [2] ll. and 51 plates with 49 protective leaves. Full description

€ 38,000

Primer in a Bantu dialect for the Finnish Lutheran mission in Namibia

KURVINEN, Pietari. Ondonga kielen ABD. Ensimäinen irja Ondonga kielellä . . . =ABD Moshindonga. Omukanda uatango koshindonga ua piangoa . . .
Helsinki, Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seuran [=Finnish Literature Society], 1876. 8vo. With 2 title-pages, the first in Finnish and the second in Ndonga, a brief preface in both languages, but with the sample texts in Ndonga. Contemporary brown textured cloth. [4], 32 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Early humanist edition of Lactantius' most important works, printed in Venice

LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus and Giovanni Andrea BUSSI) (editor) [and others]. Opera [and additional works].
Comprising:
(1) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De divinis institutionibus
(2) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De ira Dei.
(3) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De opificio Dei.
(4) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De phoenice carmina.
(5) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. [Epitome divinarum institutionem]. Nephytomon.
Additional works:
(6) RAUDENSIS, Antonius. [Lactantii Firmiani errata].
(7) GENUENSIS, Adam. His carminibus frater Adam Genuensis increpat fratrem Antonium. [Incipit:] Hic male corripuit stolidis Antonius aussis.
(8) BUSSI, Giovanni Andrea. Ioannis Andreae episcopi Aleriensis ad Paulum secundum Venetum pontificem maximum epistola.
(9) OVIDIUS, Publius Naso. Metamorphoses (extract).
(10) ALIGHIERI, Dante. Comedia, inferno XXV (extract).
(11) FORTUNATUS, Venantius. [De christi resurrectione]. [Incipit:] Lactantii fir. de resurrectio[n]is dominicae die/ [S]alve festa dies toto venerabilis aevo.
(Colophon:) Venice, Theodorus de Ragazonibus, 1390 [=1490]. 5 works and 6 additional texts in 1 volume. Folio. The text is set in Roman type with some incidental Greek.20th-century goatskin parchment, with the author and title stamped on the spine with black foil, the name of the author added in manuscript on the bottom edge of the book block. [1 blank], [147] ll. Full description

€ 6,000

Freeing Christian slaves in Algiers and Tunis in 1720

[LA FAYE, Jean Baptiste de]. Voyage pour la redemption des captifs, aux royaumes d'Alger et de Tunis. Fait en 1720. Par les PP. François Comelin, Philemon de la Motte, & Joseph Bernard de l'Ordre de la sainte Trinité, dits Mathurins.Including: La tradition de l'eglise.
Paris, Louis-Anne Sevestre and Pierre-François Giffart, 1721. 2 parts in 1 volume. 12mo. With an engraved frontispiece portrait of Louis XV, engraved by P.F. Giffart, folding engraved plate of the court of the Dey (Regent) of Algiers, and a regular engraved plate in the second part. Contemporary mottled calf, richly gold-tooled spine. [8], 169, [1 blank]; [10], LX, 306, [5], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,000

Illustrated ethnographic description of the Iroquois in Canada

LAFITEAU, Joseph-François. De zeden der wilden van Amerika. Zynde een nieuwe uitvoerige en zeer kurieuse beschryving van derzelver oorsprong, godsdienst, manier van oorlogen, huwelyken, opvoeding, oeffeningen, feesten, danzeryen, begravenissen, en andere zeldzame gewoonten.
The Hague, Gerard vander Poel, 1731. 2 volumes bound as 1. Folio. With engraved frontispiece, engraved map of North and South America and 41 engraved plates. Contemporary calf, richly gold-tooled spine. [6], 36, [18], 300; [4], 301-555 [= 560] pp. Full description

€ 3,750

A French voyage to the Levant

LA ROQUE, Jean de. Voyage de Syrie et du Mont-Liban.
Paris, André Cailleau, 1722. 2 volumes. 12mo. With 9 engraved plates (5 folding), including a folding map showing the course of the Orontes river; dedication with woodcut coat of arms of De Fleury. Contemporary sprinkled calf, gold-tooled spines with gilt-stamped crest of Henry Edward Bunbury. [12], 347, [1 blank]; [2], 321, [3] pp. Full description

€ 4,950

South Africa at the beginning of the 19th century

LATROBE, Charles Ignatius. Journal of a visit to South Africa in 1815, and 1816. With some account of the missionary settlements of the United Brethren, near the Cape of Good Hope.
London, W. M'Dowall for L.B. Seeley and R. Ackermann, 1818. 4to. With folding map (53 x 27 cm), partly hand-coloured, showing the tracks of the expedition, 12 full-page hand-coloured aquatints, and 4 full-page engravings of coastal views. Later half calf. VII, [1], 406, [2] pp. Full description

€ 2,950

Extremely rare Dutch translation of one of the most frequently printed works
on demonology by Ludwig Lavater

LAVATER, Ludwig and Sibrandus VOMELIUS (translator). Een boeck vande spoocken ofte nacht-gheesten ...
Amsterdam, Jan Evertsz. Cloppenburgh, 1610. 8vo. With an oval woodcut vignette on the title page, a large 8-line woodcut decorated initial at the start of the preface and smaller woodcut decorated initials throughout. Contemporary vellum, sewn on three tapes laced through the joints, with the manuscript title and a precious shelfmark(?) in brown ink on the spine, red edges. [1], [1 blank], [14], 287, [1 blank], [8] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Predicting the future: copy from the Broxbourne Library of the rare 1511 edition
of one of the most important prophetic astrologies of the 15th and 16th century

LICHTENBERGER, Johannes. Pronosticatio in latino rare & prius non audita: quae exponit & declarat nonnullos coeli ifluxus: & i[n]clinatione[m] certaru[m] constellationu[m] magne videlicet co[n]iunctionis & eclipsis: quae suera[n]t istis annis: quid boi maliue hoc tempore & in futuru[m] huic mu[n]do porte[n]dant: durabitq[uam] pluribus annis.
[colophon:] Venice, [Niccolò & Domenico dal Gesù = Nicolo & Domenico Sandri dal Jesus], 23 August [1511?]. 4to. With the large Dal Jesus white-on-black woodcut device, 45 half-page or nearly full-page woodcuts in the text, most with letterpress captions above or below, the first showing Ptolemy, Aristotle, the Sibyl, Birgitta of Sweden and Brother Reinhart receiving divine inspiration, with an explanation on the facing page in a 4-piece ornamental floral woodcut frame. Modern half red morocco. 39, [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 15,000

One of the earliest separately published Jesuit letters entirely devoted to the Philippines,
dealing with Musilms culture in the Philippines

LOPEZ, Gregorio. Lettera annua della Provincia delle Filippine dell' anno M.DC.VIII.
Rome, Bartolomeo Zanetti, 1611. Small 8vo (16 x 11.5 cm). 18th-century limp sheepskin parchment. 124, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Unpublished thesis on the Irish monasteries in the 5th and 6th centuries by a female student

LORCIN, Aimée. La civilisation monastique irlandaise aux Ve et VIe siècles.
Lyon, [unpublished typescript], 1944-1945. Folio (27 x 20.5 cm). With 1 duplicated manuscript map. Stiff brown paper wrappers, black cloth spine. [1], IX, 159 ll. plus 8 loose ll. with additions and corrections. Full description

€ 650

The Jesuits in India and China: adapting to local practice

LUCINO, Luigi Maria. Esame, e difesa del decreto publicato in pudisceri da monsignor Carlo Tommaso di Tournonpatriarcha d'Antiochia, commissario, e visitatore apostolico, con Podesta do legato a letere delle Indie Orientali, Impero della Cina, e Isole adjacenti. Di poi Cardinale della S. R. Chiesa.
Rome, nella stamperis Vaticana, 1729. 4to. With with the title-page printed in red and black, showing an engraved printer's device, engraved initials and head- and tail-pieces, 3 full-page and one folding engraving, with the second and third coloured by hand. Contemporary parchment, spine lettered in gold, blue edges. LXIII, 492, [2] pp. Full description

€ 3,250

Extremely rare work by Jan Luykens father on profit without loss, here for the first time including the second part

LUYKEN, Caspar. Onfeylbare regel van winste sonder verlies... Hier is noch achter gevoeght De wissel-banck, geopent door den selven autheur. De derde druck.
Amsterdam, Christoffel Luycken, 1663. 2 parts in 1 volume. 12mo. With small woodcut vignette on 2 title-pages. Contemporary vellum with manuscript title on spine, red speckled edges. 212; 52 pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Early spiritual emblem book with poems and engravings by Jan Luyken

[LUYKEN, Jan]. Jezus en de ziel. Een geestelycke spiegel voor 't gemoed. Bestaande uyt veertig aangename en stichtelycke sinne-beelden.
Amsterdam, Pieter Arentsz., 1687. 8vo. With engraved frontispiece and 39 engraved emblems in text, all engraved by Jan Luyken. Contemporary vellum, sprinkled edges. 191, [5] pp. Full description

€ 1,100

A great compendium of canon law, finely printed in Antwerp for the English market

LYNDWOOD, William. Provinciale seu constitutiones Anglie: cum summarijs, atque justis annotationibus, politissimis caracteribus, summaque accuratione rursum reuise, atque impresse.
Including: BADIUS, Jodocus (Josse BADE). Tabula indices.
London, Franciscus Bryckman (colophon: Antwerp, printed by Christoffel van Ruremund, 20 December 1525). 2 parts in 1 volume. Folio. With two title-pages, each in a woodcut border. The first shows above heaven with the holy trinity surrounded by the heavenly population, and below the world with the pope and the king kneeling before the church, surrounded by the clergy; on the second title-page the coat of arms of England, a Tudor rose with the "IHS" and Saint George and the dragon. Printed in black and red throughout. Contemporary calf in modern slipcase. CCLV [= CCLVJ], [28] ll. Full description

€ 7,000

Standard work on Hindu and Muslim law

MACNAGHTEN, William Hay (Girish Chandra TARKALANKAR, ed.). Principles of Hindu and Mahomedan law.
Calcutta, Sreenauth Banerjee and brothers (back of the title-page: printed by B.M. Sen, "Tomohur" Press, Serampore), 1873. 2 parts in 1 volume. Large 8vo. 20th-century half black morocco, black cloth sides, title and author in gold on spine, new endpapers. [6], LXIII, [1 blank], [10], 139, [1 blank]; [4], 88, XX pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Maffei's account of the East and West Indies, together with his life of Ignatius of Loyola

MAFFEI, Giovanni Pietro. Historiarum Indicarum Libri XVI.
Antwerp, Martinus Nutius, 1605.
With: (2) [MAFFEI, Giovanni Pietro]. Ignatii Loiolae vita, postremo recognita.
Antwerp, Martinus Nutius, 1605. 2 works in 1 volume (the first in 2 parts). 8vo. Contemporary vellum, remains of ties. [72], 478, [2 blank]; 401, [7]; 152, [12] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

French translation of Maffei's renowned description of the East and West Indies

MAFFEI, Giovanni Pietro. l'Histoire des Indes Orientales et Occidentales ...
Paris, Robert de Ninville, 1665. 2 volumes bound as 1. 4to. Contemporary vellum. [32], “353” [= 351], [1 blank]; [2], "292" [= 296], [24] pp. Full description

€ 2,750

A French translation of Maffei's renowned description of the East and West Indies

MAFFEI, Giovanni Pietro. L'Histoire des Indes Orientales et Occidentales ...
Paris, Robert de Ninville, 1665. 2 volumes bound as 1. 4to. Each volume with a (different) woodcut coat-of-arms of France and Navarre on the title-page. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine and board edges. [32], “353” [= 351], [1 blank]; [2], "292" [= 296], [24] pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Maffei's account of the East and West Indies

MAFFEI, Joan Petro. Historiarum Indicarum libri XVI. Selectarum, item, ex India epistolarum libri IV...
Antwerp, Martinus Nutius, 1605. 8vo. With woodcut device on title-page and woodcut initials. Contemporary vellum with faint manuscript title on spine and a small gilt-stamped rooster in the centre of the boards, remains of ties. [72], 478, [2 blank]; 401, [7] pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Italian friar captured by Ottoman pirates

MAGGIO, Francesco Maria. Vita, e morte del venerabil P. F. Alipio di S. Giuseppe Scalzo di S. Agostino Palermitano della congregazione d'Italia, in odio della confessione della S. Fede di Giesù Cristo, crudelissimamente ucciso da' Turchi di Barberia, nella città di Tripoli, a 17 di febbraio l'anno 1645 ...
Rome, Ignatio de' Lazzari, 1657. 4to. With 3 engraved plates. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [40], 24, [4], 25-234, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Martyrdom and persecutions of Jesuits in China and Japan

MAJORICA, Girolamo, Nicolas TRIGAULT and Alvaro SEMEDO. Lettere annue del Giappone dell'anno MDCXXII e della Cina del 1621 & 1622 al molto Reu. in Christo P. Mutio Vitelleschi preposito generale della Compagnia di Giesu.
Roma, Francesco Corbelletti, [1627?]. 8vo. With a woodcut "IHS" Jesuit device on title-page, woodcut headpiece, tailpiece and decorated initials. 18th-century flexible boards. 312 pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Acts of the synods of the Archbishopric of Malines of 1570, 1607 and 1609,
printed by Plantin and Moretus

[MALINES - SYNOD]. Decreta et statuta Synodi Provincialis Mechliniensis, die undecima mensis Iunii, anni millesimi, quingentesimi, septuagesimi ... Praesidente D. Martino Rythovio Episcopo Yprensi ... nomine et loco ... D. Antonii Perrenot, Archiepiscopo Mechliniensis, & ... Cardinalis Granvellani.
With: Die vigesima sexta mensis Iunii anni millesimi sexcentesimi septimi ... et vigesima die mensis Julii eiusdem anno conclusae. Praesidente ... D. Matthia Hovio Archiepiscopo Mechliniensi ...
With: (Decreta et statuta Synodi Dioecesanae Mechliniensis): die quinta Maij anni millesimi sexcentesimi noni inchoataev, & die sexta eiusdem anni & mensis absolutae. Praesidente ... D. Matthia Hovio archiepiscopo Mechliniensi.
Antwerp, Christoffel Plantin (vol. 1), Jan Moretus (vols. 2-3), 1571-1609. 3 editions in 1 volume. With Plantins woodcut compasses device on the title-page of the first work, incorporating the coat of arms of King Philip II of Spain, and another on the last leaf of the third work, and the woodcut coat-of-arms of Archbishop Matthias Hovius (1542-1620) on the title-pages of the 2nd and 3rd works; some fine woodcut initials. Contemporary limp vellum, remnants of ties, with the title in manuscript on spine and front board. 79, [1]; 127, [1]; 76, [4] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Manuscript calendar for calculating the date of Easter 1400-1440, used and perhaps produced in Auxerre

[MANUSCRIPT - CALENDAR]. [Calendar for calculating the date of Easter].
[Auxerre, France?], [ca. 1400?]. Small 4to. Latin manuscript in red, brown and black ink on paper, written in an upright French gothic semi-cursive hand with short texts in a textura hand, with 6 round diagrams for calendrical calculations containing text and 2 more with no text filled in. Leaves A4-A6 (6 pages) written in two columns contain 12 tables for the 12 months (January to December) providing data for each day of the month, and the manuscript includes further data for calendrical calculations in several more rectangular tables. The final blank leaf has holes pricked to form a circle, but no diagram has been drawn using them. Sewn through 3 holes in a (ca. 1550?) paper wrapper, the whole in paperboards lined with printed waste paper from a (17th-century?) Latin Breviary. [18], [2 blank] pp. (pp. 2 & 5 also blank). Full description

€ 40,000

Muslim prayerbook from Quanzhou, glosseed in xiaojing script

[MANUSCRIPT - CHINESE MUSLIM PRAYERBOOK]. Al-salamu 'alayka. [= Peace be unto you].
Quanzhou, 990 AH [= 1582 CE]. Folio (ca. 20.5 x 30 cm). Arabic manuscript on paper. Black sini script in nine lines with red verse markers, titles in red, glossing in black. With beautifully illuminated full-page 'Unwan with Chinese influence on designs, in gold, blue, red, green, and black. 18th-century cloth and paper wrappers. 46 ll. Full description

€ 35,000

A remarkable manuscript service book for the divine offices on parchment,
with seven eye-catching illustrations

[MANUSCRIPT - SERVICE BOOK - DIVINE OFFICES]. Ordine da osservarsi nell'oratorio di Santa Maria di Passione, circa gli Essercicii Spirituali delle feste cavato dalla Regola maggiore.
[Milan], [18th-century]. Folio (27,5 x 18,5 cm). With 5 full-page and 2 half-page, hand-painted religious illustrations and 9 hand-painted initials on a blue background, heightened with gold and silver. 18th-century gold- and blind-tooled parchment, each board with a blind ornamental centre-piece ornament in a blind-tooled frame, in a larger frame of gold fillets, with a gold flower in each of the 6 spine compartments. [1 blank], [1], 66 pp. Full description

€ 14,000

Charming 16mo German manuscript prayerbook in contemporary blind-tooled pigskin

[MANUSCRIPT - PRAYERBOOK]. [1st rubric:] Form zu betten unser liebe[n] frawen mantel, Gebet. [incipit:] Cegrüest seiestu o süesse aller heiligste junckfraw maria ...
[Ravensburg?], [ca. 1670]. Small 16mo in 8s (10 x 8.5 x 4 cm; leaf: 9 x 7.5 cm). German manuscript in red and black ink on paper, written in an upright, semi-cursive gothic hand, with so-called lombardic initials in red, rubricated throughout. With 11 lines per page, text block 7 x 5.5 cm. Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over bevelled wooden (beechwood?) boards, sewn on 3 double supports, In total more than 100 impressions of about 9 stamps. Further with 2 strap fastenings with brass clasps (each with an owners(?) stamp: 1.5 mm roman capital initials "LH" above a 3 mm head in profile, facing right), catchplates and anchor plates, plain headbands, blue edges. With 27 mm roman capital initials "BR" in brown ink on the foot edge. [423], [3 blank] pp. plus 3 endleaves at the front and 5 at the back. Full description

€ 8,500

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

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

€ 6,500

French translation of Marini's account of Tonkin and Laos

MARINI, Giovanni Filippo de. Relation nouvelle et curieuse des royaumes de Tunquin et de Lao. [Part 2:] Histoire nouvelle ...
Paris, Gervais Clouzier, 1666. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. Later half sheepskin. [8], 327, [5], 329-436 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

History of Reims, from the library of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI

MARLOT, Guillaume (& FLODOARDUS REMENSIS). Metropolis Remensis historia, a Frodoardo primum arctius digesta, nunc demum aliunde accersitis plurimum aucta, et illustrata, et ad nostrum hoc saeculum fideliter deducta. Tomus I; [Title of vol. 2:] Metropolis Remensis historia. Sive supplementum Frodoardi, ab anno CMLXX. Ad nostram aetatem fideliter et accurate productum.
Lille, Nicolas de Rache, 1666 (vol. 1) & Reims, Protasius Lelorain, 1679 (vol. 2). 2 volumes. Folio. With woodcut vignettes on the title-pages, vol. 1 with one full-page engraving of the facade of the Cathedral of Rheims and 6 half-page engravings by J. Dassonneville, and with woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Vol. 1: gold-tooled calf (dated "1740"), each board with the coat-of-arms of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (1685-1740), in the centre, and the front board dated "1740", gold-tooled spine, gilt edges; vol. 2: contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine with two red morocco labels lettered in gold. [14], 668, [16]; [8], 1-754, [2], 755-858, [2], 867-886, [28] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

Important work on China, witnessing the violent overthrow of the ancient Ming dynasty

MARTINI, Martino. Tartaros en China, historia.
Madrid, Joseph Fernadez de Buendia for Lorenço de Ibarra, 1665. Small 8vo (14.5×10 cm). Late 18th-century gold-tooled mottled goatskin. [40], 188 pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Unrecorded trilingual Hong Kong publication of Ya Sin, the chapter that is considered to be "the heart of the Qur'an"

[QUR'AN]. MA TAT NG, Imam Muhammad Yaqub bin Ibrahim, editor. Ya-Sin. A chapter in the Holy Quran.
Hong Kong, [on the back wrapper:] Hong Kong Muslim Press, 1385 AH [= 1965 CE]. 8vo (19 x 13 cm). With the upper half of each page opening with the text in Arabic, followed by a transliteration in the Latin alphabet and the Chinese, while the lower half has 2 columns of text: translations into English (right column) and Chinese (left column). With a small overview of the system of transliteration on the inside of the front wrapper and a vignette of the Hong Kong Muslim Press on the back wrapper. Original publisher's orange printed wrappers. [1], 26, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,250

Anti-Catholic persecutions in China in 1784-1785; rare eye-witness account

MATTEI, Giuseppe. Compendio della storia della persecuzione mossa contro la Cattolica religione nell' impero della Cina l'anno del signore MDCCLXXXIV.
Florence, Gaetano Cambiagi, 1789. 8vo. Contemporary (?) vellum. 131, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

The most eminent bishop of Sweden admonishing the Swedish King Charles X to promote religious unity

MATTHIAS, Johannes (Johannes Matthiae Gothus), Copie van een brief van Joh. Matthias Luthers bisschop in Sweden aen de koningh van Sweden inde welcke hy Sijn Majesteyt versoeckt, de Kerckelijcke eendracht onder de evangelische, te willen promoveren. Uyt het Latijn over gheset.
1656. 4to. Modern boards. 8 pp. Full description

€ 650

A baptism at Batavia

[MANUSCRIPT - DOCUMENT - BATAVIA]. MAUREGNAULT, Bernard Jacob. [18th-century extract from the register of baptisms of the Dutch Reformed Church at Batavia].
Batavia, 18 October 1746. 1 leaf (32.5 x 20.5 cm). In Dutch. Full description

€ 600

Failed attempt to assassinate the Dutch Stadholder

[MAURITS, Prince of Orange]. Clare af-beeldinghe, ofte effigien, der voornaemste conspirateurs, staende op het lichaem vande hoofdeloose Arminiaensche slange. Waer in vertoont word hoe den orangien boom, mitsgaders religie ende justitie (in spijt van 't bedrogh, en den vervallen boom) door de strael Gods, beschermt word.
Utrecht, Jan Amelisz. (printed by Jan Adrieansz. in Amsterdam), 1623. 1mo. Broadsheet (41 x 31 cm), with engraved illustration (16 x 22.5 cm), letterpress title at the head and a letterpress poem in 3 columns below. Full description

€ 550

Spectacular engraving on the failed attempt to assassinate the Dutch Stadholder

[MAURITS, Prince of Orange]. Clare verthooninghe, ofte af-beeldinghe des gantschen handels deser schrickelijcke ende moordadighe conspirateurs, (jeghens den heere Prince van Orangien, mitsgaders den staet ende wel-varen van 't land) vervaetende het begin , totten eynde haerder justitien toe.
Utrecht, Jan Amelissz., 1623. 1mo. Broadsheet (40 x 31.5 cm), with engraved illustration (15 x 25.5 cm) below the title, and a letterpress dialogue in verse in three columns plus and explanation of the plate, below. Full description

€ 1,250

Presentation copy of a Thai hymnal produced by the mission press in Phetchaburi,
8 years after the death of King Mongkut (of The King and I)

MCFARLAND, Samuel Gamble, ed. Siamese hymnal.
Phetchaburi (in Thailand), Samuel Gamble McFarland, 1876. 8vo. With Western round-head letterpress music notation. Set in Thai type with incidental roman. This copy with the letterpress presentation slip on blue paper tipped in (from McFarland and his wife), for people who contributed to the project. Contemporary half tanned sheepskin, probably bound for presentation. 148 pp. Full description

€ 7,000

Two first editions of theological works by the Portuguese rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel,
important for the history of Jewish-Christian relations in tolerant 17th-century Amsterdam

MENASSEH Ben Israel. De creatione problemata XXX: cum summariis singulorum problematum, & indice locorum Scripturae, quae hoc opere explicantur.
Amsterdam, the author, 1635.
With: (2) MENASSEH Ben Israel. De resurrectione mortuorum libri III. Quibus animae immortalitas & corporis resurrectio contra Zaducaeos comprobatur: caussae item miraculosae resurrectionis exponuntur: deque judicio extremo, & mundi instauratione agitur...Amsterdam, the author, 1636. 2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Contemporary calf, rebacked, with the original backstrip laid down. [16], 156, [2], [2 blank]; [40], 346, [6] pp. Full description

€ 6,000

Life (and death in Morocco) of King Sebastião I of Portugal (1554-1578)

MESA, Sebastian de. Jornada de Africa por el Rey Don Sebastian y union del reyno de Portugal a la corona de Castilla.
Barcelona, Pedro Lacavalleria, 1630. 4to. Each page framed with thin printed rules. Contemporary gold-tooled leather (blackened and flaking), each board with the helmed and mantled arms of the Mazarin family in the centre. [2], 169, [1] ll. Full description

€ 12,000

Extensive work on Mosaic law, with a section on Arabian horses

MICHAELIS, Johann David. Mosaïsch recht, of de ziel der wetten van Moses; ...
Including: Byvoegsels en verbeteringen op het Mosaïsch recht, ... achter aan eenige byzonderheden over de oudste geschiedenisse der paarden en stoeteryen in Palaestine en de nabuurige landen, in zonderheid Aegypten en Arabien.
Haarlem, Jan van Walré, 1781-1782 (parts 1-2); Jan Bosch, 1774-1776 (parts 3-6), 1778 (part 7). 7 parts in 3 volumes. 8vo. Contemporary, uniform half calf, gold-tooled spines. [12] 346; [14], 464; [10], 259, [1 blank]; [8], 414, [2 blank]; [8], 342; [2], CXXXII, 322, [4]; [6], 210, [2] pp. Full description

€ 750

Best edition of a standard work on Islam

MILLS, Charles. An history of Muhammedanism: comprising the life and character of the Arabian prophet, and succinct accounts of the empires founded by the Muhammedan arms: an inquiry into the theology, morality, laws, literature, and usages of the Muselmans, and a view of the present state and extent of the Muhammedan religion.
London, Printed for Black, Kingsbury, Parbury, and Allen, booksellers (back of title-page: printed by Cox and Baylis), 1818. 8vo. Contemporary red half sheepskin. [2], XXI, [1 blank], 484, [12 blank] pp. Full description

€ 750

Standard work on Islam

MILLS, Charles. Histoire du Mahométisme ... traduite de l´Anglais sur la deuxième édition ...
Paris, Boulland et Cie, 1825. 8vo. With hand-coloured lithographed frontispiece (''L'Evèque ou Wladika''). Late 19th-century textured cloth, gilt edges. [2], IV, 544 pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Beautiful first edition of De Groots miniature Bible summary, illustrated with 7 tiny woodcuts

[MINIATURE BOOK - BIBLE]. Kern des Bybels.
The Hague, Anthoni de Groot and sons, 1750. 128mo (or possibly 96mo) in 4s (4.5 x 3 x 1 cm). Title-page in red and black with a woodcut title-vignette (an open book on a shell, with decorations), 7 full-page (3.3 x 1.6 cm!) woodcuts depicting important scenes from the Bible (1 as frontispiece and 1 opening each of the 5 "books" and the appendix). Contemporary gold-tooled calf. 80 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

Charming and finely executed miniature, probably by a German follower of Simon Bening

[MINIATURE - GERMAN]. [The Arrest of Christ].
[Flanders (Bruges?), or Nürnberg, ca. 1520]. Miniature painted on vellum (7.8 x 5.6 cm) in numerous colours, highlighted with gold and in a gold border, probably from a book of hours, but with no text. Full description

€ 7,500

Original edition of the Dutch translation of the first influential Jewish work on Jewish rituals
addressed to non-Jews

MODENE, Leo de; Abraham GODART (transl.); Richard SIMON. Kerk-zeeden ende gewoonten die huiden in gebruik zijn onder de Jooden. Uit het Italiaans van Leo de Modene. ... Waar by noch een tweede deel is gevoegt, welkers opschrift is: Vergelyking de Joodsche Kerk-zeeden met de Leere der Kerke ... door de Hr. Simonville, ende in t Nederduitsch vertaalt door A. Godart.Amsterdam, Timotheus ten Hoorn, 1683.
Including: (2) Richard SIMON; Abraham GODART (transl.). Vergelyking der Joodsche ceremonien of kerk-zeeden. ...[Amsterdam], Timotheus ten Hoorn, 1683.2 works in 1 volume, issued as 1. 8vo. With an engraved frontispiece, dated 1684, of a circumcision and 4 folding engraved plates (ca. 14 x 17 cm) of a Jewish wedding, a Jewish divorce, a refusal to marry the widow of your brother and a circumcision. Also with woodcut vignettes on the title-pages and woodcut initials. Contemporary vellum, manuscript title on spine. [64], 200, [10]; 201 [=203], [4] pp. Full description

€ 750

Rare post-incunable to overthink the four extremes (death, the last judgement, hell and heaven) and live free of sins, popular along the Modern Devotion

[MODERN DEVOTION]. [VLIEDERHOVEN, Gerardus de]. Quattuor novissima cum multis exemplis pulcherrimis & de terroribus mortis cum eterne beatitudis gloria.
Deventer, Jacobus de Breda, 1502. 4to. With a woodcut illustration (9.5 x 8.5 cm) on title-page with the symbols of the four Evangelists.19th-century blind-tooled calf, title in gold on spine, preserving some contemporary endpapers but also with later ones. [47], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 4,500

The pinnacle of Coptic church architecture in Egypt:
the churches the Red and White Monastery near Sohag

MONNERET DE VILLARD, Ugo. Les couvents près de Sohâg (Deyr el-Abiad et Deyr el-Ahmar).
Milan, Tipografia Pontif. Arciv. S. Giuseppe, 1925-1926. 2 volumes. 4to. With 222 numbered illustrations on coated paper (photographic half-tone views, and architectural plans reproduced sometimes in line and sometimes in half-tone) bound at the end of each volume, and numerous small line illustrations printed with the text. Contemporary half green cloth, beige paper sides, grey endpapers. 135, [5] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

First complete edition of Cosmas's Christiana topographia describing his travels
in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf

MONTFAUCON, Bernard de (editor). Collectio nova patrum et scriptorum Graecorum, Eusebii Caesariensis, Athanasii, & Cosmae Aegyptii.
Paris, Claudius Rigaud, 1707. 2 volumes. Folio. With 4 engraved plates, and 3 woodcut illustrations in the text. Each volume with an engraved headpiece, the first incorporating the coat of arms of Pope Clement XI, and the second that of Jean-Paul Bignon. Contemporary calf, richly gold-tooled spine and binding edges. [14], XL, [1], [1 blank], 732, [26], [2 blank]; [16], LXVIII, 112, [2], I-XXIV, 113-593, [26], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

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

Two pamphlets on the unity of the reformed church and against the Labadists

MULLENS, Gelasius [= Guilielmus SALDENUS]. Neerlands interest, tot vrede der kercke, en wegh-neminge van alle opkomende misverstanden in de selve.
Middelburg, Yemant Hendrickss., 1664.
With:
(2) [SALDENUS, Guilielmus]. Den God-vrughtigen boer ... tot verdedigingh van Jan Bakhuys den ghenaamden Boer van Ebbink-hoven, en Desiderius Pacius over sijn zedigh versoek aan Juffrouw Schurman.
Utrecht, Jacob van Doeyenborgh, 1670. 2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Contemporary vellum. 100 pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Bibliography of Portuguese and Spanish works on Chinese and Japanese linguistics, one of 150 copies

[MUÑOZ Y MANZANO, Cipriano], CONDE DE LA VIÑAZA. Escritos de los Portugueses y Castellanos referentes a las lenguas de China y el Japon. Estudio bibliográfico por el Conde de la Vinaza.
Lisboa; Madrid; Londres, M. Gomes; M. Murillo; B. Quaritch, 1892. 8vo. Contemporary half calf; spine ribbed with gilt title. 139 pp. Full description

€ 850

Rare remonstrant pamphlet

[NAERANUS, Johannes]. Af-gedrongen verantwoordinge tegens eenige onbillijke en vreemde proceduuren, gehouden by de Kerken-Raad der Remonstranten tot Rotterdam.
Rotterdam, Joannes Naeranus, 1656. With letterpress ornament on title-page and 2 woodcut initials. 19th century blue boards. [4], 28 pp. Full description

€ 350

Nataliss famous print series in their first editions with both title-pages highlighted with gold as rarely seen

NATALIS, Hieronymus (Jerónimo NADAL). Evangelicae historiae imagines ex ordine evangeliorum, quae toto anno in missae sacrificio recitantur, in ordinem temporis vitae Christi digestae.
Antwerp, [Martinus Nutius], 1593.With: (2) IDEM. Adnotationes et meditationes in evangelia quae in sacrosancto missae sacrificio toto anno leguntur. Cum evangeliorum concordantial historiae integritati sufficienti. ...
Antwerp, Martinus Nutius, 1594 (colophon dated 1595). 2 works in 1 volume. Folio. Each work with an engraved allegorical title-page, extensively highlighted in gold, and woodcut initials and headpieces. Ad 1 contains a print series showing the life of Christ in 153 full-page engravings by the Wierix brothers, Jan II and Adriaen Collaert and Charles de Malery after Bernardo Passari and Maarten de Vos. It also has an engraved allegorical and ornamental headpiece on A2, reading "IHS In nomine Jesu". Mid 19th-century light brown calf with a blind-tooled ornamental frame on both boards, a gold-tooled spine, a black morocco spine label with the title in gold, red edges and marbled endpapers. [5] ll. plus 153 engraved prints; [1], [3 blank], 595 [= 593], [5] pp. Full description

€ 9,750

Learn how to count with the bible

NEEFF, Adriaan de. Cijffer-boeck der heylige schrift. Over de gelden, gewigten, ende maten der Hebreen arithmetisch gereduceerd op gelden, gewigten ende maten onsen lande en tijdt gebruykelijck.
Middelburgh, Gijsbertus Noorman, 1682. Small 8vo. 2 parts in 1 volume. With woodcut vignette on 2 titles, and at the end of the second work, showing identical blank escutcheons. Contemporary vellum. [14], 63, [1 blank]; [4], 75, [5] pp. Full description

€ 1,700

Large-margined copy of a classic incunable with sections on witchcraft, by Ulms first printer 1478/79in a contemporary, richly blind-tooled Augsburg binding

NIDER, Johannes. Preceptorium divine legis [preceded by] Prologus in expositionem decalogi [= Praeceptorium divinae legis, sive expositio decalogi].
[Colophon:] Ulm, Johann Zainer the elder, [1478/79]. Chancery (Foolscap) folio. Set in a rotunda gothic type, the preliminaries in two columns, with spaces for manuscript paragraph marks and initials, filled in in red ink, the initials Lombardic, one with interior decoration. Contemporary richly blind-tooled calf over square-edged wooden boards (from an Augsburg bindery active 1473-1494: Eindbanddatenbank workshop w002141), sewn on 3 double supports. Further with a brass catchplate on the front board and a brass anchor plate on the back board. The anchor plate still secures remnants of the leather strap that would have had a brass clasp. [246] ll. Full description

€ 35,000

The Carnatic coast in south east India and the Dänisch-Hallesche mission

NIEKAMP, Johann Lucas. Kurtzgefasste Missions-Geschichte oder Historischer Auszug der evangelischen Missions-Berichte aus Ost-Indien von dem Jahr 1705 bis zu Ende des Jahres 1736, ...
Halle, Waisenhaus, 1740. 4to. With 2 engraved folding maps (the second crudely highlighted in colour by a later hand). Contemporary tanned sheepskin. [22], 506, [54] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Manuscript letter by one of the first missionaries in Samoa, being a rare first-hand account
of missionary life in the South Pacific

NISBET, Henry. [Letter to his sister Sarah Nisbet].
Upolu, Samoa, 7 January 1844. Folio. Written in one column in brown ink in a cursive 19th-century hand. Folded. [2] ll. Full description

€ 5,000

Against the Jesuits: funeral oration for Claude Visdelou, important in the "struggle on the Chinese rites"

NORBERT de Bar-le-Duc (= Pierre PARISOT or NORBERT von Lothringen). Oraison funebre de Monseigneur Visdelou Jesuite, Evêque de Claudiopolis, vicaire apolostique de la province de Kuey-cheu dans l'empire de la Chine, & administrateur de la province de Huguang dans le même empire, &c. décéde le onze Novembre 1737. & inhumé dans l' eglise des RR. PP. Capucins de Pondichery, missionaires apolostiques, & curés en lad. ville. Prononcée le onze Décembre de la même année par le R.P. Norbert de Bar Le Duc, Capucin missionaire apolostique.
[Avignon?], [no publisher], 1742. 8vo. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine with red label, marbled endpapers, red edges. [12], 201, [1], XVI pp. Full description

€ 2,500

First illustrated edition of Osiander's Harmony of the Gospels, with 98 woodcuts

OSIANDER, Andreas. Harmoniae Evangelicae libri quatuor, in quibus Evangelica historia ex quatuor Evangelistis ita in unu[m] est contexta, ut nullius verbum ullum omissum, nihil alienum immixtum, nullius ordo turbatus, nihil non suo loco positum. ... Elenchus harmoniae, ...
(Colophon: Antwerp, Matthias Crom, 1540). 8vo. With a woodcut vignette at the foot of the title-page and the head of the first page of the main text (illustrating Luke 11), 1 full-page and 97 half-page woodcut illustrations by Levinus de Witte (including a few repeats). 17th-century limp sheepskin parchment. [164] ll. Full description

€ 8,500

The first publication of the Ethiopic Genesis

OTHO, Georg. Palaestra linguarum orientalium, hoc est: quatuor primorum capitum Geneseos, I. Textus originalis tam ex Judaeorum quàm Samaritanorum traditionibus. II. Targumim seu paraphrases orientales praecipuae, nempe I. Chaldaicae, (Onkelosi, Jonathanis et Hierosolymitana) II. Syriaca, III. Samaritana, IV. Arabica, V. Aethiopica, VI. Persica. Omnia cum versione Latinâ ...
Including: OTHO, Andreas. Glossarium linguarum orientalium octuplex: Hebraicum, Chaldaicum, Syriacum, Samaritanum, Arabicum, Aethiopicum, Persicum et Rabbinicum ...
Frankfurt am Main, published by Friedrich Knoch, printed by Martin Jacquet, 1702. 4to. With one woodcut initial. Set in roman, Arabic, Hebrew, Samaritan and Ethiopic types. 2 parts in 1 volume. Nineteenth-century half calf with marbled sides. [18] 140, 147, [3] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Ottoman ambassador's audiences before the Emperor Charles VI and Prince Eugene of Savoy

[OTTOMAN EMPIRE]. [Drop-title:] Distinto ragguaglio della solenne udienza che alli 4. Settembre ebbe dall' Augustissimo Imperatore Carlo VI. re della Spagne, d'Ungheria &c. a Vienna nel Palazzo Cesareo della Favorita l'ecc[ellentissi]mo sig[nor]. grande ambasciatore Ottomano visire Mückerem Ibrahim Pascia, ...
Including:
Racconto della solenne visita, che alli 7. Di Settembre 1719. Il Sig[nor]. Grande Ambasciatore Ottomano Ibrahim Pascià diede al Seren[issimo]. Prencipe Eugenio di Savoja, ...
(Colophon: Rome, Giovanni Francesco Chracas, 1719). 4to. With a hatched roman capital used as an initial. Set in roman types with extensive italic. Modern boards covered with chemical-marbled paper, black morocco spine label. 8 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Rare Bahia print of a Portuguese translation of the Proverbs

OTTONI, José Eloi. Parafraze dos proverbios de Salomão em verso portuguez, dedicada ao serenissimo principe da beira nosso senhor.
Bahia, Brazil, Manuel Antonio de Silva Serva, 1815. 8vo. With a woodcut vignette on title page and with head-pieces built-up from typographical ornaments throughout. Contemporary gold-tooled tanned sheepskin with a black morocco label on the spine, blue sprinkled edges. [2 blank], 357, [5 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

Illustrated first edition of the Dutch translation of "Der goldene Thron", intended for women & men

OTTO VAN PASSAU. Boeck des gulden throene of der xxiiij ouden.
Utrecht, "tC", (30 March) 1480. Folio. With 24 illustrations in text (ca. 9 x 6.2 cm), printed from 1 complete woodcut (plus 4 repeats) and 15 components assembled in different combinations, all rubricated and with architectural frames. Each of the 24 chapters begins with a large manuscript initial, 11 with two or more colours and others with interior white decoration. A smaller initial with penwork opens the book's first page and there are numerous further 1-line and 2-line initials. Woodcut printer's device at the end. Contemporary (Utrecht?) blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, each board in a panel design; rebacked. [4], 197 ll. Full description

€ 185,000

A subtle mixture of Christian and Pagan wisdom

OTTO VON PASSAU. Boec des gulden throe[n]s of der xxiiij. ouden en[de] hoemen elke[n] vinden mach en[de] va[n] hoerre leringhen die si leren om te comen totten ewighen leven.
(colophon: Haarlem, [Jacob Bellaert], 25 October 1484). Folio (29 x 21.5 cm). With large woodcut printer's device (142 x 82 mm) on verso of last leaf (with the arms of the city of Haarlem above an eagle holding a larger blank shield, here filled in by a contemporary owner); 4 woodcut illustrations and 20 repeats, representing the 24 elders, each showing one of the male elders, standing, teaching a female novice kneeling before him. Further with spaces left for initials, all filled in with uncials by hand, about 25 with penwork decoration in 1 or 2 additional colours: 1 blue 6-line initial with decorations in red and violate extending far into the margin, about 24 red 3 to 9-line (mostly 7-line) initials with lavendar penwork (1 with 2 green dots), some extending into the margin, and more than 70 2-line red initials without penwork decoration; a few spaces left for ¶-marks, also filled in in red; capitals rubricated throughout. Set entirely in Baellart's textura (99 or 100 mm/20 lines or about 14.5 point). Lacking leaf 137 (the second to last text leaf) and the final blank. Modern sheepskin. [1 blank, 3], "136" [= 135 (of 136)], [1] ll. Full description

€ 75,000

Rare pamphlet on the fierce persecution of Catholic missionaries in China, illustrated by two martyrdoms

[PAMPHLET - CHINA]. Noticia certa de hum successo acontecido no Imperio da China aeonde se referem os tormentos, trabalhos, e martyrios que alli padessem os Catholicos; e os que passou, o muito reverendo padre Fr. Joam de Santa Maria, religioso da vernavel ordem de S. Domingos. E onde tambem morreraõ martyres o illustrissimo bispo de Maricastro, dignissimo filho da mesma sagrada religiaõ; e outros religiosos: escrito tudo para mayor honra, e gloria de nossa santa fé.
Lisbon, 1757. 8vo. Sewn but never bound, loosely inserted in a modern paper wrapper ("etlina" in black ink and a white paper label with the number 92 taped on front wrapper). 7, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,750

One of the first accounts of a Spanish Muslim’s journey to Mecca

PAÑO Y RUATA, Mariano de. Las coplas del peregrino de Puey Monçón viaje á la Meca en el siglo XVI.
Zaragoza, Comas Hermanos, 1897. 8vo. With a facsimile of one page of the Arabic manuscript, a photographic view of the Kaaba, a double-page map and at the end a list of the books available in the Bibliotheca Arabico-Hispana. Contemporary black half sheepskin, letterpress title-label on spine. XLVI, [2], 303, [1 blank]; [8] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

"Some of the most accurate information on China to be found in the first half of the seventeenth century"

PANTOJA, Diego de. Advis ... envoyé de Paquin cité de la Chine, au R.P. Loys de Gusman ... Sur le succes de la religion chrestienne au royaume de la Chine. De l'entree d'aucuns peres de ladire compagnie en la cour du roy, & de plusieurs choses memorables, qu'ils ont veu en ce païs.
Lyon, Pierre Rigaud, 1607. 12mo. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment, remains of ties. [8], 145, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 19,000

Crispijn de Passe's complete print series, The Acts of Mercy, including The Last Judgement

PASSE, Crispijn de (the elder) [after Maarten de VOS]. [The acts of mercy, including the Last Judgement].
Antwerp, Adriaen Collaert (7 plates with the Acts of Mercy) & Johannes Galle (the Last Judgement), ca. 1580-1588. Folio (7 of 8 plates trimmed). 8 engravings (ca. 17.5 x 20.5 cm) on laid paper by Crispijn de Passe I (the elder) after Maarten de Vos with the central scene framed by an exquisite ornamental border showing crafts, tools and scenes relating to the subject. All engravings captioned with engraved Latin text in a cartouche below the images. Loose prints. Full description

€ 9,500

Religious manuscript in German in a fine binding

[PEIKHART, Franz (original compiler)]. Andachtsübungen eines Christen vor die Morgens- und Abendszeit, Heilige Mess, Beicht und Communion: mehrentheils aus denen Psalmen Davidis gezogen.
[Vienna?, ca. 1800]. 8vo. Manuscript in German on laid paper. 19th-century elaborately gold-tooled green morocco, spine with raised bands and red morocco label lettered "A.M.C.Z." in gold, gold-tooled turn-ins, paste-paper endleaves, gilt edges. [62] ll. Full description

€ 1,250

Missionary letters from Japan and India (1582-1597)

PERUSCHI, Giovanni Battista (Giambattista). Historica relatio, de potentissimi regis Mogor a Magno Tamerlane oriundi, ...
Mainz, Henricus Breem, 1598.
With:
(2) FROIS, Luís. Nova relatio historica de statu rei Christianæ in Japonia ...
Mainz, Johannes Albinus, 1598.
(3) FROIS, Luís. De rebus Japonicis historica relatio, ...
Mainz, Johannis Albinus,1599. With a woodcut vignette on the title-page and in the text.
(4) SERRANUS, Marcus Attillius. De septem urbis Romae ecclesiis.
Cologne, Birckmann for Arnoldus Mylius, 1600. With woodcut printer's device on the title-page.
4 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With numerous woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over wooden boards, sides blind-tooled with fillets, two portraits in medallions and "HEI" and "DVR", the original clasps and catch-plates preserved. [2], 53, [1, [1 blank] ll; "93" [=95], [3 blank]; [8], 314, [4]; [8], 142, [19], [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

On the authority of bishops and other questions of dogma, by the "father of the history of dogma"

PÉTAU, Denis (Dionysius PETAVIUS). Dissertationum ecclesiasticarum libri duo, in quibus de episcoporum dignitate, ac potestate; deque aliis ecclesiasticis dogmatibus disputatur.
Paris, Sebastien Cramoisy, 1641. 8vo. With Cramoisy's engraved coupling storks device on the title-page. Gold-tooled red goatskin morocco (ca. 1700?), gilt edges. [24], 354, [8] pp. Full description

€ 2,950

Exceptionally rare, very early Deventer printing of an almost unknown work attributed to Petrarca

PETRARCA, Francesco (attributed). Psalmi confessionales.
[Deventer, Albert Pafraet, ca. 1514-1517]. 8vo. With 2 allegorical woodcut illustrations. The first, on the title-page, shows "Cognitio" leaving the room to go inquire who wounded the Daughter (of) Zion. The second, on the last page, shows "Spes", "Fides" and "Cognitio" comforting the Daughter (of) Zion, who is lying in bed. Later sheepskin parchment with the title lettered in gold on the spine. [6] ff, Full description

€ 35,000

Early lives of saints, with a stunning full-page woodcut by Urs Graf

PETRUS DE NATALIBUS. Catalogus sanctorum & gestorum eorum ex diversis voluminibus collectus: ...
(Colophon: Strasbourg, printed by Martin Flach, 1513). Folio (22.2 x 32 cm). Title-page with a woodcut decorated initial and a 4-piece woodcut border by Hans Wechtlin, 1 full-page woodcut by Urs Graf, hundreds of woodcut decorated uncial initials. Set mostly in rotunda gothic types. Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over wooden boards, in a panel design, with 2 brass clasps on leather straps with brass catchplates and anchorplates. [4], 253 ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Important Spanish account of missionary activities in Japan in excellent, contemporary parchment binding

PIÑEYRO, Luys. Relacion del sucesso que tuuo nuestra santa fe en los reynos del Iapon, desde el año de seyscientos y doze hasta el de seyscientos u quinze, Imperando Cubosama.
Madrid, widow of Alonso M. de Balboa, 1617. Folio. With woodcut coat of arms on title-page, repeated at the end of books 1, 2 and 3. Contemporary parchment. [16], 516, [8] pp. Full description

€ 31,500

First edition of the history of the dioceses Tongres, Maastricht and Liège

PLACENTIUS, Johannes Leo. Catalogus omnium antistitum Tungarorum, Traiectensium, ac Leodiorum, & rerum domi, bellique gestarum compendium.
Antwerp, Willem Vorsterman, [1530?; preface dated 14 September 1529]. Small 8vo (13.5 x 10 cm). Title with woodcut coat-of-arms of Cardinal Everard van de Marck in a 4-piece woodcut border, a large woodcut coat of arms on the last page, 2 woodcut illustrations, one showing Mary and Jesus with Saint Anne (63 x 42 mm), and the other a bishop in his study (45 x 43 mm), each in the same 4-piece woodcut border (different from that on the title-page). Capitals rubricated throughout, some woodcuts also rubricated and some headings and other words underlined in red. Vellum (ca. 1700?). [16], [216] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

In a 17th-century richly gold-tooled Jesuit prize-binding

PLUTARCHUS. Moralia, quae usurpantur. sunt autem omnis elegantis doctrinae penus: id est, varij libri: morales, historici, physici, mathematici, deniq; ad politiorem litteraturam pertinentes & humanitatem: omnes de Graeca in Latinam linguam transscripti.
Basel, Thomas Guarini, 1570. Folio. With woodcut printer's device on title-page and repeated on last page, some mathematical woodcuts in text and numerous historiated woodcut initials. Early 17th-century Jesuit prize binding in richly gold-tooled light brown calf, sides with arabesques in the style of Gascon, richly gold-tooled double borders and inner panel with small bands in a geometrical pattern. [12], 857, [91] pp. Full description

€ 4,250

Unusually favourable introduction to Islam and the Ottoman Empire

POSTEL, Guilliaume. De la republique des Turcs: & là ou l'occasion s'offrera, des meurs & loy de tous Muhamedistes, ...
Including:
-Histoire et consideration de l'origine, loy, et coustume des Tartares, Persiens, Arabes, Turcs, & tous autres Ismaelites ou Muhamediques, dits par nous Mahometains, ou Sarrazins.
-La tierce partie des orientales histoires, ou est exposee la condition, ... de l'empire Turquesque: ...
Poitiers, Enguilbert de Marnef, 1560. 3 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With Marnef's printer's device on title-page (repeated on the 2 part-titles). Contemporary blind- and gold-tooled calf, restored and rebacked with a large part of the original backstrip laid-down, modern endpapers. [8], 127, [1 blank]; 57, [3 blank]; [8], 90 pp. Full description

€ 22,500

Second located copy of prayerbook in magnificent roman baroque fanfare binding
attributed to the Soresini family

[PRAYERBOOK]. Piae precationes ad missas devote celebrandas, et sacrosanctam eucharistiam sumendam. Cum variis orationibus ex bonis & probatis authoribus collectis.
Rome, Aloysius Zannettus, 1604. 8vo. With woodcut title-page and some ornamented woodcut initials in the text. Contemporary richly gold-tooled brown morocco, with gauffered edges; both sided with 2 pairs of fillets along the edges with little flowers at the corners and a floral border in between; a pattern of loose gilt stamps of flowers in a spiral line, vases with flowers, lions, stars and so-called 'foglia accartocciata' ('feuilles mortes') and a crucifixion in an oval border in the centre of the front cover and the Virgin with child in an oval border in the centre of the back cover. 272 pp. Full description

€ 27,500

A wholly engraved prayer book in fine pointillé binding from the library of Henry Perkins

[PRAYERBOOK - BINDING]. Le tableau de la croix representé dans les ceremonies de la Ste. Messe ensemble la tresor de la devotion aux soufrances de N[ot]re. S[eigneur]. I[esus]. C[hrist]. le tout enrichi de belles figures.
Paris, Francois Mazot, "1651" (privilege dated 20 September 1652). 8vo & small 4to (16.5 x 11.5 cm). With engraved title-page and 48 engraved leaves by Guillaume de Gheyn, J. Collin, and J. Durant. Later 17th-century French red morocco, elaborately gold-tooled with pointillé tools in a panel design with 2 roll borders and hundreds of impression of numerous tools, the 6 spine compartments gold-tooled, gilt edges. [2 blank], [6], "39" [= 75], [16], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,750

Novena prayerbook associated with the 1714 image of Christ as patron of La Paz, Bolivia

[PRAYERBOOK - SPANISH AMERICAN]. Novena del Señor de las piedades patron jurado de la valerosa ciudad de La Paz, que se venera en la iglesia auxîliar de los curas rectores, al cuidado del Colegio Seminario de ella. Reimpresa á solicitud de su humilde mayor domo Estavan de Asin.
Buenos Aires, Real Imprenta de Niños Expósitos, 1798. Small 8vo (15 x 10 cm). Modern red sheepskin. 24 pp. Full description

€ 4,000

Single 8vo leaf with 5 Christian prayers for children, in Maori

[PRAYERS - CHRISTIAN - MAORI]. He inoi ma nga tamariki.
[Napier?, printed by Robert Coupland Harding?, 1889?]. 8vo (18 x 12.5 cm). Single leaf, printed on 1 side. [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 500

A nearly complete collection of the earliest Propaganda Fide exotic alphabets (1629-1776), including Arabic, Burmese, Ethiopic, Greek and Syriac

[PROPAGANDA FIDE]. (1) Alphabetum Armenum iussu S.D.N. Gregorii XV. ...
(2) Alphabetum Aethiopicum, sive Abyssinum.
(3) Alphabetum Arabicum ...
(4) Alphabetum Barmanum seu Bomanum ...
(5) Alphabetum Brammhanicum ...
(6) Alphabetum Chaldaicum, ...
(7) Alphabetum Chaldaicum ...
(8) Alphabetum Cophtum sive Aegyptiacum ...
(9) Alphabetum Graecum ...
(10) Alphabetum veterum Etruscorum ...
(11) Alphabetum Ibericum, ...
(12) [Alfabeta].
(13) Alphabetum Hebraicum ...
Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1629-1776. 13 works in 1 volume. 8vo and small 4to. Sheepskin parchment (ca. 1776). Full description

€ 12,500

Promoting Catholicism through missionary work as the Jesuits lost power:
a manuscript from the Sir Thomas Phillipps collection

[PROPAGANDA FIDE]. Africa [-] Greci - Italo Greci [-] Armeni di Venezia [-] varie.
[Rome and perhaps elsewhere, ca. 1758-1764 (transcribing original documents going back to at least 1664)]. 4to. Collection of manuscript transcriptions of about 30 letters and other documents. Contemporary Italian sheepskin parchment over flexible boards. [416] pp., including about 15 blank leaves. Full description

€ 39,500

Early New Zealand imprint, in the Maori language

[PUCKEY, William Gilbert and William COLENSO (trans.)]. Ko nga upoko ewitu o te Pukapuka a te Poropiti a Raniera: me te Pukapuka ano hoki a te Poropiti a Hona: ...
Paihia (New Zealand), "Perehi o nga Mihanere" (= Missionary Press [operated by William Colenso]), 1840. Large 12mo (20 x 12 cm). contemporary grey paper wrapper. 32 pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Dutch translation of the Quran and the life of Mohammed, with 6 engraved plates by Caspar Luyken

[QURAN]. Mahomets Alkoran, door de hr. Du Ryer uit d'Arabische in de Fransche taal gestelt; benevens een tweevoudige beschrijving van Mahomets leven; en een verhaal van des zelfs reis ten hemel, gelijk ook zyn samenspraak met de Jood Abdias.
Amsterdam, Timotheus ten Hoorn, 1696. 8vo. With an integral engraved title-page, and 6 engraved plates showing the Prophet Mohammed, engraved by Caspar Luyken. Contemporary vellum, manuscript title on spine. [12], 547, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

First accurate printed Quran (both the Arabic text and the Latin translation), with extensive valuable notes
from Islamic commentaries and anti-Islamic "refutations" of every sura! plus a life of Muhammed

[QURAN - ARABIC & LATIN]. MARRACCI, Ludovico, ed. Alcorani textus universus ex correctioribus Arabum exemplaribus summa fide, ... Eadem fide, ... in Latinum translatus; appositis unicuique capiti notis, atque refutatione: ...
[vol. 2 title:] Refutatio Alcorani, in qua ad Mahumetanicae superstitionis radicem securis apponitur; ...
Padova, Typographia Seminaria, 1698. 2 volumes bound as 1. Folio (35.5 x 25 cm). Blind-tooled vellum (ca. 1800?), reusing and retooling vellum from a slightly earlier blind-tooled binding. [5], [1 blank], 45, [2], [1 blank], 46, [2], 81, [3], 94, [10], 126, [3] [1 blank] [13], [1 blank]; [8], 17, [3], “838” [= 836], [11], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Dutch translation of the Quran and the life of Mohammed, with 6 engraved plates by Caspar Luyken

[QURAN]. Mahomets Alkoran, door de hr. Du Ryer uit d'Arabische in de Fransche taal gestelt; benevens een tweevoudige beschyving van Mahomets leven; en een verhaal van des zelfs reis ten hemel, gelijk ook zyn samenspraak met de Jood Abdias.
Amsterdam, Timotheus ten Hoorn, 1698. 8vo. With an integral engraved title-page (dated 1696), engraved by J. Lamsvelt, and 6 engraved plates showing the Prophet Mohammed, engraved by Caspar Luyken. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum. [12], 547, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

From a famous private collection

[MANUSCRIPT - QURAN]. [A splendid illuminated Quran manuscript].
Iran, AH 1204 [= 1783 AD]. 8vo (15 x 9 cm) Illuminated Arabic manuscript on paper, 19 lines per page, written in a neat naskh script in black ink with diacritics in red, margins ruled in gold and colours. Gold discs or florets between verses, sura headings written in white in gold cartouches flanked by panels with alternating floral motifs in gold and various colours. Brown morocco with a flap and gold-tooled borders and central ornaments. 243 ll. plus 2 end-leaves. Full description

€ 18,000

Fourth editon of the first English Quran to be translated directly from the Arabic

[QURAN - ENGLISH]. SALE, George, (translator). The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed. Translated from the original Arabic with explanatory notes, taken from the most approved commentators to which is preffixed a preliminary discourse. A new edition.
Bath, Printed by S. Hazard for J. Johnson, Vernor and Hood, Ogilvy and Speare, J. Sewell, H. Gardner and C. and G. Kearsley, 1795. 2 vols. 8vo. Engraved fold-out map of Arabia, 3 genealogical tables of which two folding, 1 plate illustrating the Temple of Mecca, all taken from the first editon of 1735. Old calf. Full description

€ 3,500

Two incendiary pamphlets against French Huguenots, 3 years after the revocation of Edict of Nantes

[REBOUL, Guillaume]. La cabale des Reformez, tiree nouvellement du puits de Democrite.
Montpellier [= Lyon?], "chez Le Libertin, imprimeur juré de la saincte Reformation" [= Jacques Roussin?], 1597.
With: (2) REBOUL, Guillaume. Apologie ... sur La cabale des Reformez.
[Lyon?, Jacques Roussin?], 1598. 2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. 17th-century gold-tooled calf; rebacked, preserving most of the backstrip. 224; 141, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Fine impression of one of Rembrandt’s most famous etchings

REMBRANDT van Rijn. [Abraham's sacrifice].
[Amsterdam], Rembrandt, 1655. 4to leaf (16.5 x 14 cm). Etching and drypoint on European laid paper (plate size 15.7 x 13.2 cm). Mounted with 2 hinges on a piece of thick cardboard. Full description

€ 75,000

Variant issue of an account of the "Landjuweel" of Ghent 1539

[RHETORICIANS]. Spelen va[n] sinne byde[n] .xix. gheconfirmeerden cameren van rhetorijcken binnen der stede van Ghendt comparerende, verthoont, volghende den octroye vander K. Maiesteyt, Grave va[n] Vlaendren, onsen gheduchte[n] Heere, schepenen der selver stede, en[de] camere van rhetorijcke vander heylige drievuldicheyt, gheseyt de fonteynisten, verleent, en[de] der charte uutghesonde[n] op de questie, welck den mensche stervende, meesten troost is: die selve spele[n] beghinnende by ordre, so hier na volcht, de[n] .xii. junij, int jaer m.ccccc.xxxix. En[de] werde[n] volspeelt en[de] gheeyndt, den .xxiii. vanden jare en[de] maent voorsz.
(Colophon: Antwerp, [Matthias Crom], 25 October 1539). 8vo. 18th-century half vellum. [220] ll. Full description

€ 13,500

The state of religion in the Dutch East Indies

RHIJN, Leonard Johannes van. Reis door den Indischen Archipel, in het belang der evangelische zending.
Rotterdam, M. Wijt & zonen, 1851. 8vo. With 1 chromolithographed and 4 lithographed folding maps and 8 tinted lithographed illustrations. Rebacked in modern half cloth and the original gold-tooled green sheepskin backstrip laid down. XX, IV, “655” [= 651], 28 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

On the Jesuit mission in the Philippines (June 1602-June 1603)

RIBERA, Giovanni (Juan RIVERA). Lettera annua della vice. provincia delle Filippine dal Giugno del 1602. al seguente. Giugno del 1603.
Venice, Giovanni Battista Ciotti, 1605. 8vo. With a woodcut Jesuit device on the title-page and 1 woodcut decorated initial. Later vellum. 69, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

First French edition of the most important work on China of the 17th century

RICCI, Matteo and Nicolas TRIGAULT. Histoire de l'expedition Chrestienne au royaume de la Chine, entreprinse par les PP. de la compagnie de Iesus.
Lyons, for Horace Cardon, 1616. 8vo. With engraved title-page and full-page engraved portrait of prince Philippe Guillaume of Orange, and large folding plan (42.5 x 15 cm). Contemporary overlapping vellum. [40], 1096 pp. Full description

€ 25,000

Rare Portuguese edition of the romanticized life of a 17th-century Scottish Capucin friarin a finely executed Portuguese binding, richly gold-tooled

RINUCCINI, Giovanni Battista. Historia do Capuchinho Escoces.
Lisboa, Bernardo da Costa Carvalmo for Joseph da Cruz Cardozo, 1708. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. With a general title-page with a woodcut portrait of a monk (in the centre of a large rosette) and a divisional title-page for the second part of the tex. Contemporary richly gold-tooled calf, gold-tooled board edges, gilt and gauffered edges. [14], 54, [1], [1 blank], 55-237, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,250

"Pioneer Portuguese Jesuit missionary to Japan"

RODRIGUES GIRÃO, João. Litterae Iaponicae annorum M.DC.IX et X. ad R. admodum piae mem. p. Claudium Aquavivam generalem praepositum Societatis Iesu A.R.P. Provinciali eiusdem in Iapone Societ. Missae.
Antwerp, Petrus and Johannes Bellerus, 1615. 8vo. With woodcut printer's device on title-page. Modern limp parchment, gilt edges. [24], 111, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,750

The persecution of Christians in Japan

[RODRIGUES GIRÃO, João and Jean VIREAU? (translator)]. Histoire de ce qui s'est passé au royaume du Japon l'annee 1624.
Paris, Sebastien Chappelet, 1628. 8vo. With a woodcut Jesuit seal on the title page. Contemporary tanned sheepskin, blind-stamped with a fleur-de-lys. [16], 390 pp. Full description

€ 6,500

Second Latin edition of the annual report and letters on the events in Japan during the years 1609 and 1610

[RODRIGUEZ GIRAM, Joao]. Litterae iaponicae annorum M.DC.IX et X. ad R. admodum piae mem. P. Claudium Aquavivam generalem praepositum Societatis Iesu A.R.P. Provinciali eiusdem in Iapone Societ. missae.
Antwerp, P. & J. Bellerus, 1615. 8vo. Woodcut printer's device on title, woodcut initials. Contemp. limp vellum, title in ink on spine with traces of colouring, remnants of ties. [24], 111, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Annual Jesuit report on Japan for the years 1609-1610

RODRIGUEZ GIRÃO, João. Lettera annua del Giappone del 1609. e 1610, scritta al M.R.P. Claudio Acquaviva.
Rome, Bartolomeo Zannetti, 1615. 8vo. Contemporary limp vellum, title in ink and shelf marks on spine. 147 pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Rules for a good monastic life

ROLEWINCK, Werner. Formula vivendi canonico[rum] sive vicario[rum] seculariu[m] aut etiam alio[rum] devoto[rum] presbiterorum.
(Colophon: Delft, [Christiaen Snellaert], April 1496). 4to (19.5×13.5). With the main text in a rotunda type (64G), quire signatures in a slightly larger rotunda (82G), title and text opening in a larger textura (145G) and a few small printed "Lombardic" uncial initials. Rubricated throughout, with 1 4-line and a few smaller red "lombardic" uncial initials written or drawn in the blank spaces provided, red paragraph marks; type area 14.5×9 cm. Half vellum (ca. 1900?). [11] ll. Full description

€ 9,500

1506/07 missal in red and black, with hundreds of criblée initials and 1 woodcut, all hand-coloured, and double-impression plainchant music: a rare early masterpiece of Kervers book production from the library of Jean Baptiste III Verdussen

[ROMAN MISSAL]. Missale ad consuetudinem Ecclesie Romane; ...
[Paris], Thielman Kerver, [colophon: anno domini 1506. x. kalendas apriles = 23 March 1507]. 8vo. Printed in red and black throughout in 2 columns, with Kervers finely executed criblée armorial device on the title-page, a crucifixion woodcut, hundreds of impressions of at least 28 finely executed lombardic initials with decorations, as well as dozens of spaces left for manuscript initials, about half with printed guide letters, and a two-impression plainchant music type. The capitals are rubricated throughout. The main text is set in a rotunda gothic type, and the Canon in a larger textura gothic. The woodcut crucifixion, Kervers device and the criblée initials are all coloured by a contemporary hand. Gold- and blind-tooled black goatskin morocco (1st half of the 18th century), the front board dated "ANNO|DOMINI|1506" in gold, and the spine-title "MISSALE|ROMANUM" in gold, marbled endpapers, gilt edges, 2 brass fastenings. [8], 233, [3] ll. Full description

€ 18,500

With the embroidered arms of the marquis and marchioness de Verneuil on front board

ROQUES, Pierre. Le vray pietisme ou traité, dans lequel on explique la nature & les éffets de la piété; la juste étendue du renoncement au monde; où l'on remonte à la source générale du peu de vertu qu'il y a entre les Chrétiens, où l'on indique les moyens d'acquérir une piété solide; & où l'on fait connoître comment la piété nous dispose à l'égard de ceux qui ne pensent pas comme nous en matière de religion.
Basle, Jean Brandmuller, 1731. 4to. With engraved frontispiece portrait of the author by F.A. Störcklein. Contemporary vellum, with large embroidered coat of arms on front board (17.5 x 15.5 x 1 cm), with silver and gold thread. 7, [1 blank], [12], 596, 70, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 7,500

A work of learning and pastoral wisdom by a moderate inquisitor

ROSEMONDT, Godschalc. Confessionale sive libellus modum confitendi pulcherrime co[m]plecte[n]s, necessarius atq[ue] utilis, & cuilibet recte confiteri vole[n]ti, & ipsis sacerdotibus, qui aliorum confessiones audire habe[n]t. Editus a celeberrimo academie Lovanien[sis]. ... Denuo ab eodem recognitus et castigatus anno mil. CCCCC. XIX. men. Junii. die. xxvii.
(Colophon: Antwerp, Michiel Hillen van Hoochstraten, 8 July 1519). Small 8vo (14 x 10 cm). Title-page in red & black with a red woodcut rebus of the author's name at the foot. 17th-century(?) vellum with the vellum. 251, [5] ll. Full description

€ 7,500

Reaching Christian truth by studying nature; the final edition of Montaigne's translation

SABUNDE (SEBONDE), Raymond of and Michel de MONTAIGNE (translator). La theologie naturelle ... traduite en François ...
Rouen, Jean de la Mare, 1641. 8vo. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [1], [1 blank], [13], [1 blank], 891, [49] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

5 original glass lantern slides with the earliest photographs of Mecca and Medina

SADIQ BEY, Muhammad, Christiaan SNOUCK HURGRONJE and Al-Sayyid ‘Abd al-GHAFFÂR. [5 photographic lantern slides of Mecca and Medina (silver gelatin glass positives), taken in the years 1880 to 1889].
Stuttgart, Lichtbilderverlag Theodor Benzinger, [ca. 1910]. 5 glass positive lantern slides (8.5 x 10 cm), each with a black paper mask, paper tape around the edges, a letterpress slip at the foot giving the publisher's name and city, and a slip at the head with the manuscript title. Kept in a contemporary purpose-made wooden box with brass fittings, with the word "Mekka" on the top of the hinged lid. Full description

€ 35,000

Rare early Rouen edition of La Salle's Christian courtesy, in civilité type

SALLE, Jean Baptiste de la. Les règles de la bien-seance et de la civilité Chretienne. Divisées en deux parties. Pour l'instruction de la jeunesse.
Rouen, François Oursel, 1729. 8vo. With ornamental woodcut on title-page and some woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces. Main text in civilité type. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine with red label, red sprinkled edges. [16], 240 pp. Full description

€ 1,950

set in one of the first roman printing types ever produced">The "Mirror of human life", printed at Rome in 1473, with contemporary marginal manuscript notes:
set in one of the first roman printing types ever produced

SÁNCHEZ DE ARÉVALO, Rodrigo (Rodericus SANCIUS or ZAMORENSIS). Speculum vit[a]e human[a]e.
Rome, Joannes Philippus de Lignamine, 31 July 1473. Small folio (26.5 x 20 cm). With spaces left for 2 large (6-line) and about 80 small (3-line) initials. Text block 19.5 x 11.5 mm with 31 lines per page. Set in a single roman type throughout (Lignamine 125R). Limp sheepskin parchment (ca. 1740/50). [163] ll. Full description

€ 22,500

Illustrated description of the Duchy of Brabant with a Counter-Reformation programme

SANDERUS, Antoine. Chorographia sacra Brabantiae sive celebrium aliquot in ea provincia ecclesiarum et coenobiorum description, ...
Brussels, Philips Vleugaert, 1658-1660. 24 parts in 1 volume. Folio (43.5 x 28 cm). With 26 double-page engraved plates, 2 engraved portraits (the author's portrait in facsimile), 12 engravings on 6 leaves, a full-page engraving, and 10 engravings in text. Most of these are views of churches, castles and abbeys with their gardens, and many by Lucas Vorsterman the Younger. Further with engraved illustrations on 23 (of the 24) title-pages, mostly portraits of saints or coat of arms. 19th-century blind-tooled, tanned sheepskin. Full description

€ 3,500

Summary of ideas from the Qu'ran in French: bibliophile production on wove paper, published in Paris and Constantinople

SAVARY, Claude-Etienne. Morale de Mahomet; ou recueil des plus pures maximes du Coran.
Constantinople, [no publisher's name]; Paris, Lamy, 1784. 18mo in 2s. With a woodcut flower ornament on the title-page, a woodcut rococco headpiece, small decorated roman capitals used as initials, decorative rules. Brown goatskin morocco (ca. 1865?), gold-tooled spine in 6 compartments, chemical marbled sides, nonpareil marbled endpapers. [4], 91, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Comparing the calendars of the Greeks, Romans, Persians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Jews and others

SCALIGER, Joseph Justus. Opus de emendatione temporum: hac postrema ed., ex auctoris ipsius ms., emend., magnáque acces. auctius. Add. veterum Graecorum fragmenta selecta.
Including: Computus Arabicus ecclesiae Antiochenae.
Geneva, Pierre de la Rovière, 1629. Folio. With title-page printed in red and black and with woodcut printer's device and several woodcut initials. Set in roman and italic types with long passages set in Greek, Arabic and Hebrew and shorter passages in Syriac. The long passages in Samaritan and Ethiopic, printed from meticulous woodblocks. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum. [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [9], [1 blank], LII, [4], 784, [46], [2 blank], 59, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 8,500

Four rare post-incunables in defence of the Catholic faith, printed in Antwerp

SCHENCK DE TAUTENBURCH, Fredericus. Enchiridion veri praesulis secundum apostolicam traditionem.
Antwerp, Michiel Hillen van Hoochstraten, 1526
With:
(2) ISIDORUS Hispalensis. De officiis ecclesiasticis libri duo ante annos D. CCCC. ab eo aediti, & nunc ex vetusto codice in lucem restituti.
Antwerp, Johannes Graphaeus for Johannes Steelsius, 1534.
(3) WICELIUS, Georgius. Loci ex sacris literis de bonis operibus.Ad haec praeconium Evangelicae gratiae. Theies aliquot. Praecatio pro ecclesia. Matth. v. Quisquis fecerit & docuerit, hic magnus vocabitur in regno coelorum.
Antwerp, Johannes Graphaeus for Johannes Steelsius, 1534.
(4) AMBROSIUS. De his qui mysteriis initiantur, cum nonnullis aliis hac tempestate scitu dignissimis. Claruit sub Theodosio imperatore clementissimo. Anno domini CCCLXXX.
Antwerp, printed by Johannes Graphaeus for Johannes Steelsius, 1534. 4 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With the title-page of Enchiridion within a fine woodcut border, with the portrait of Virgilius Maro, and several decorated woodcut initial letters. 19th-century half calf. [48]; 72; [52]; [27], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 4,500

German Reformed congregations in America, with the baptism of a freed slave and report on the Iroquois

SCHLATTER, Michael. Getrouw verhaal van den waren toestant der meest herderloze gemeentens in Pensylvanien en aangrensende provintien.
Amsterdam, Jacobus Loveringh, 1751. 4to. Finely bound in early 20th-century(?) gold-tooled, tan goatskin morocco, green morocco label covering the entire spine, gold-tooled turn-ins, gold fillets on board edges, with the original Dutch-marbled wrappers bound in. XXII, 56 pp. Full description

€ 18,000

Illustrated account of Antwerp at the start of the 17th century

SCRIBANI, Charles. Antverpia.
Including: [SCHONDONCK, Gilles]. Hê prôtogeneia kai epistrephomonê tychê tês Anbersês.
Antwerp, Jan Moretus I, 1610. With an engraved printer's device on title-page and a woodcut printer's device on the otherwise blank page following the main part.
With: (2) SCRIBANI, Charles. Origines Antverpiensium.
Antwerp, Jan Moretus I, 1610. With an engraved printer's device on title-page, woodcut printer's device on the otherwise blank last page, folding engraved map of Antwerp and 6 double-page engraved plates. 2 works in 1 volume; 1st work in 2 parts. 4to. Contemporary vellum. [8], 146, [1], [1 blank]; 1-24; 1-172, [3], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,000

Rare religious emblem book with emblems engraved after Hugo's famous "Pia Desideria"

[SERRARIUS, Petrus]. Goddelycke aandachten ofte vlammende begeerten eens boetvaerdige geheijligd en lief-rijcke ziele.
Amsterdam, Salomon Savrij, [1653]. 16mo. With engraved title-page, 46 engraved emblems and a full-page woodcut endpiece. Contemporary vellum. [16], 96 pp. Full description

€ 5,000

First edition of a famous collection of nearly 200 sermons: the earliest dated book printed in Zwolle
and a rare early experiment labelling double-page openings, this copy in an unrecorded variant

[SERVASANCTUS DE FAENZA and others] (spuriously attributed to Saint BONAVENTURA). [Sermones de tempore et de sanctis].
(Colophon: Zwolle, [Johannes de Vollenhoe], 1479). Small (Chancery) folio (27.5 x 20.5 cm). With one 5-line and hundreds of 2- and 3-line spaces left for initials, filled in with manuscript "Lombardic" capitals in red; manuscript paragraph marks in red; and capitals rubricated throughout. Set entirely in a single textura gothic type (103 mm/20 lines) in 2 columns of 39 lines to the page. Early 18th-century tanned sheepskin. [1 blank], [340] ll. Full description

€ 35,000

Rare first and only edition of an important account of the Christian missions, by an Augustinian in Mexico

SICARDO, José (Joseph). Christiandad del Japon, y dilatada persecucion que padecio. Memorias sacras, de los martyres de las ilustres religiones de Santo Domingo, San Francisco, Compañia de Jesus; ...
Madrid, Francisco Sanz, 1698. Folio (31 x 22 cm). With the title in a frame of vine-leaf ornaments and 2 woodcut armorial headpieces plus 1 repeat. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment, later lettered spine-title. [16], 448 [= 450], [13], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 35,000

First and only edition of a Catholic devotional work with nearly 700 Van Sichem woodcuts

SICHEM, Christoffel II van. 't Schat der zielen, dat is: Het geheele leven ons Heeren Jesu Christi naer de vyer Evangelisten. Naer vervolgh des tijdts by een ghevoeght, in seven stucken verdeelt. Met seer schoon figuren verciert, gesneden door C. van Sichem, voor P. J. P[aets].
Amsterdam, Pieter J[acobsz]. P[aets], 1648. With 686 woodcuts, many full-page, by Christoph van Sichem (many with his monogram), after his own designs and after drawings and paintings by Aldegrever, Goltzius, Dürer, Bloemaert, the Wierix brothers, Lucas van Leyden, Maarten van Heemskerck, Joannes Stradanus, etc. 17th-century vellum, manuscript title on smooth spine. 800, [4] pp. Full description

€ 8,000

First edition of the Arabic Infancy Gospel, with text in Latin and Arabic

SIKE (SIECKE), Heinrich (editor). Evangelium infantiae. Vel liber apocryphus de infantia servatoris. Ex manuscripto edidit, ac latina versione & notis illustravit ...
Utrecht, François Halma, Willem vande Water, 1697. 8vo. With the main text in Arabic with a parallel Latin translation on the facing pages. Contemporary vellum. [22], 161, [7], 93, [1], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Pamphlet against the ultra-orthodox minister Adriaan Smout

[SMOUT, Adriaan Joriszoon (reply to)]. Voorlooper. Over Adriani Smoutii schriftuerlyck jae, dienende tot openinge ende recht verstandt van synen toe-eyghen-brief aen de E.M. Heeren Staten, aengaende de questie: of de vyf verschillighe poincten de salicheyt raecken of niet. Ghestelt door eenen lief-hebber der waerheyt, tot dienste van alle ghetrouwe ondersaten ende vreed-lievende menschen hier te lande.
Rotterdam, Matijs Bastiaensz., [1613]. 4to. Disbound. [32] pp. Full description

€ 250

A very popular paraphrase of the psalms by an associate of Erasmus, translated into German

SNOY, Reinier & Nicolaus Hug LANDENBURGER (transl.). Der gantze Psalter dess heiligen unnd königklichen Propheten Davids, mit beygesetzter kurtzer Catholicher Erklärung, auss den alten Vättern, unnd Kirchen Lehrern gezogen. Anfangs in lateinischer Sprach beschriben, nachmalen durch Herrn Nicolaum Hug Landenburger, des Keiserlichen Thumb Stiffts Speier Diacon verteutscht. Anjetzo aber durch instendiges Antreiben dess wolwürdigen, wolgebornen Herzen Joann Werneren, edlen Herren auff Raitnau, zu Langenstein, Sant Johannes Ordens Rittern, & zu mehrerm nutz unnd trost viler frommen unnd Gottliebenden Christen nachgetruckt.
St. Gallen, Im Fürstlichen Gottszhaus [= Johann Landorth], 1644. 4to. Title-page in red and black, a headpiece built up from typographic ornaments, and woodcut gothic decorated initials. Contemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, 2 brass clasps (on calf straps) and catchplates. [16], 574 pp. Full description

€ 1,900

Hebrew for beginners, including alphabets of meruba, rabbinical, Yiddish and script Hebrew types

SOMMERHAUSSEN, Hartog. Hebreeuwsch spel- en lees-boekje voor eerstbeginnenden.
Amsterdam, Belinfante & Comp., J. van Embden & son, S.A. Proops, 5570 [=] 1810. 2 parts in 1 volume. Small 8vo (15.5 x 9.5 cm). With the authenticating oval stamp at the foot of the last page of the main text in part 2. Set in roman and italic type with 3 sizes of (sephardic) meruba Hebrew plus alphabets of rabbinical (semi-cursive), Yiddisch and script Hebrew types, and printed on Dutch wove paper. Publisher's original yellow, printed paper wrappers over thin boards. 24, [1], [1 blank]; 28, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,950

Marvelously illustrated emblematic work on moral education

SPINNIKER, Adriaan. Leerzaame zinnebeelden, ... Tweede druk.
Haarlem, Jan Bosch, 1757. With engraved frontispiece and 50 beautifully engraved emblems in text.
With: (2) SPINNIKER, Adriaan. Vervolg der Leerzaame zinnenbeelden, Spiegel der boetvaardigheid en genade en eenige stichtelyke gezangen.
Haarlem, Jan Bosch, 1758. With same engraved frontispiece (with revisions), 30 engraved emblems in text and 4 engraved emblems on plates with letterpress text. 2 volumes bound as 1. 4to. Contemporary gold-tooled, tanned sheepskin. [16], 220, [3, 1 blank]; [8], XII, 144, 90, [2] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

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

First authorized edition, with many corrections, additions and improvements by the author,
of an important work on the Jewish calendar and on Jewish customs in Palestine

SUSAN, Issachar ben Mordecai ibn. [in Hebrew:] Sefer Ibur shanim.
Venice, Giovanni di Gara, [5]339 [= 1578/79]. Small 4to (19.5 x 15 cm). With the title set in an elaborate woodcut architectural arch and 6 round woodcut calendrical or astrological diagrams with text. Set entirely in Hebrew type, the main text in semi-cursive (rabbinical) and the headings in meruba, each of the two styles in at least 3 sizes. Contemporary limp sheepskin wrap-around cover with flap and fastened with strap. 136 ll., including the blank leaf [108]. Full description

€ 38,000

Allegorical print satirizing the Remonstrants in the Netherlands in 1618

[SWANENBURG, Isaac Claesz. van (after); DOLENDO, Zacharias?]. Vertoninghe der tegenwoordighe stant int vrye-Nederlandt.
[The Netherlands], 1618. (ca. 22 x 29,5 cm). Engraved print on paper. In passe-partout. Full description

€ 1,750

On the probability of the sun being hell

SWINDEN, Tobias. Recherches sur la nature du feu de l'enfer et du lieu où il est situé.
Amsterdam, 1757. With 2 folding engraved plates. 19th-century vellum. XVI, 271, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 900

Dutch translation of a Russian travel account of the US that describes steamboats
and native American dance rituals

SVINYIN, Pavel Petrovic (here Paul SWININ, elsewhere SVIN'IN or SUININE). Tafereelen uit eene reis naar Noord-Amerika.
Haarlem, A. Loosjes Pz., 1818. Large 8vo. Contemporary half calf, marbled sides. [4], IV, 127 pp. Full description

€ 1,250

The visit of a Siamese embassy to Rome, during the Siamese revolution of 1688

[TACHARD, Guy]. [Drop-title:] Breve ragguaglio di quanto è accaduto in Roma à Sig: Mandarini venuti co[n] il P: Guido Tasciard della compagnia di Giesù, inviato straordinario dal rè di Siam dopo l'Udienza hauuta da N.S. Innocenzo XI.
(Colophon: Rome, Domenico Antonio Ercole, 1689). Small 4to (21.5 x 15.5 cm). With decorated woodcut initial on the first page. Disbound. 8 pp. Full description

€ 3,800

To prevent the destruction of Jerusalem and the Dutch Republic

TEELLINCK, Willem. Zephaniae waerschouwinge, om te voor-comen den onder-gang Jerusalems: oock passende op de tegenwoordige ghelegentheyt onses weerden Vader-lants.
Middelburg, Hans van der Hellen for Marten Jansz. Brandt, Amsterdam, 1623. 4to. With Brandt's charming woodcut device on title-page. Contemporary half calf. [8], 156 pp. Full description

€ 1,500

The oldest book of prophecies in French, finely bound ca. 1745,
from the collections of William Beckford, Hyppolyte Destailleur and Stanislas de Guaita

[TELESFORO DA COSENZA]. Livre merveilleux, contenant en bref la fleur et substance de plusieurs traittez, tant des propheties & revelations, qu'anciennes croniques, faisant mention de tous les faictz de l'Eglise Universelle, co[m]me des scismes, discords & tribulations advenir en l'Eglise de Rome, & d'un temps auquel on ostera & tollira aux ge[n]s d'eglise & clergé, ...
Paris, Thibault Bessault, 1565. 8vo. With Bessault's woodcut device on the title-page. 18th-century French grained red morocco (ca. 1745?), gold-tooled spine with pointillé ornaments, each board framed with thin-thick-thin fillets with a rosette(?) stamped over their intersections at the corners, gold-tooled turn-ins, gold fillets on the board edges, gilt edges. [54] ll. Full description

€ 12,500

Authoritative history of the Portuguese missions in Ethiopia and Arabia, with a folding map

TELLEZ (TELLES), Balthasar. The travels of the Jesuits in Ethiopia: containing ... travels in Arabia Felix, wherein many things of that country ... are treated of, as a particular description of Aden, Moca, and several other places ...
London, J. Knapton [and 3 others, and sold by 5 more], 1710. 4to. With engraved map of Ethiopia, including part of the Red Sea and the source of the Blue Nile. Modern calf. [4], 264, [16] pp. Full description

€ 25,000

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

Second and best edition of a comprehensive history of the Hussite wars,
complete with all 17 portraits, often lacking

THEOBALD, Zacharias. Hussiten Krieg: darinnen begriffen, das Leben, die Lehr, der Todt M. Johannis Hussii, auch wie derselbe von den Böhmen, besonders Johann Zischka, ist gerochen, und seine Lehr hernacher inn dem Königreich erhalten worden ...
Nuremberg, Simon Halbmayer, 1621. 4 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With the full-page portrait of the author (1621), and 17 numbered full-page portraits of Johannes Huss, popes, kings, emperors and other Bohemian reformers, by Johann Conrad Klüpffel. The 4 titles printed in red and black, the first 3 with the woodcut coat-of-arms of Bohemia, Halbmayers woodcut device at the end of all 4 parts, folding letterpress genealogical table in the 4th part, the added Confessio. Contemporary vellum, title on spine. [8], 322, [2]; 228; 179, [9]; 107, [5] pp. Full description

€ 4,750

Fine, large-margined second edition (1470/71) of important commentaries on all 150 psalms

TORQUEMADA, Juan de (Johannes de TURRECREMATA). [Expositio super toto psalterio, incipit:] Ad sanctissimum ac beatissimum dominum dominum Pium Secundum Pontificem Maximum editio in librum psalmorum quem alii soliloquium dicunt incipit feliciter ... [colophon:] Explanatio in psalterium ...
(Colophon:) Augsburg, printed by Johann Schüssler, [1470/71]. Folio (30 x 22 cm). Set in a single type, largely a rotunda gothic but with some roman influences with 35 lines per page, with about 150 manuscript "Lombardic" initials in red ink, the lines introducing the commentary for each psalm underscored and with manuscript paragraph marks, both in red ink. Late 19th-century(?) half vellum, boards covered with 2 leaves from a Latin Vulgate Bible printed on vellum. [266], [2 blank] pp. ([133], [1 blank] ll.) Full description

€ 32,500

Rare 1527 edition of classical dictionary, owned by the neo-Latin poet Renier Tengnagel (d. 1565)

TORRENTINUS, Hermannus (Herman van der BEKE). Elucidarius poeticus co[n]tinens historias poeticas, fabulas, insulas regiones, urbes, fluvios, mo[n]tesq[ue] insigniores, atq[ue] huiusmodi alia, ...
Antwerp, Michiel Hillen van Hoogstraten, 1527. With the title in an elaborate woodcut border.
With: (2) [FIOCCHI, Andrea Dominico (Andras Dominicus FLOCCUS)] under the name of Lucius FENESTELLA. De magistratibus, sacerdotiisq[ue] Romanorum libellus, iamprimum nitori restitutus.
[Cologne, Hero Fuchs, 1527]. With the title in a finely cut 4-piece woodcut border. 2 editions in 1 volume. 8vo. 16th-century(?) limp vellum (formerly used for a slightly thinner book). The binding is an interesting example of a spine reinforced with a horizontal metal rod at the central sewing support to give more support and prevent the bookblock from becoming concaved or developing sharp kinks; probably bound in Flanders. [88]; [88] ll. Full description

€ 9,500

Extensive Italian handbook for missionaries to India, southeast Asia and China

TOSI, Clemente (TONSUS, Clemens). L'India Orientale. Descrittione geografica, & historica. (vol. 1:) Dove si tratta della parte intra Gangem contenente li regni soggetti all' Impero del Gran Mogol ... Con la confutatione dell'idolatie, superstitioni, & altri loro errori. (vol.2:) Dove si tratta della parte extra Gangem ...
Rome, Felice Cesaretti, 1676. 2 volumes. 4to. With the full-page portrait of the author by A. Clouet, many woodcut initials and head- and tail-pieces. Contemporary vellum, with a manuscript title on the spines, sprinkled edges. [8], 896, 58; [8], 927, [1] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

1532 Krakow humanist medallion binding

TOSTATUS (TOSTADO DE MADRIGAL), Alfonso. Super Leviticum in sensu litterali nova et hactenus abscondita a se edita commentaria.
(Colophon: Venice, Petrus Liechtenstein, 1529). With title-page printed in red and black with a large woodcut containing the coats of arms of the Emperor Charles V (Charles I of Spain) and two bishops (the author and perhaps a relative), leaf 2 with a woodcut of the author writing at his desk, with his arms, and a woodcut initial with the other bishop's arms inside the letter, the arms in the initial and some lines of text printed in red. Printed in two columns.
With: (2) TOSTATUS, Alfonso. Opus super Deuteronomium.
(Colophon: Venice, Petrus Liechtenstein, 1528). With title-page printed in red and black, leaf 1 with a woodcut of the author writing at his desk, with his arms (not the same woodcut as in ad 1), and a woodcut initial with the other bishop's arms as in ad 1. Printed in two columns. 2 works in 1 volume. Folio. Contemporary blind- and gold-tooled tanned sheepskin over wooden boards; each board in a panel design with 2 (on the back board 3) different vine rolls, rules, and on the front board a central medaillon depicting Bathsheba kneeling before King David playing his harp, and a half dozen separate stamps, with author and title at the head, "Thostati Super Leviti et Deuteronomy" and the binding date MDXXXII (1532); blind-tooled spine, remnants of brass anchor plates on the back board (for straps?), catch plates on the front board lacking. 249, [1 blank]; [1], 120 ll. Full description

€ 35,000

Biography of Gaspar Berse, "the Dutch Xavier"

TRIGAULT, Nicolas. La vie du P. Gaspar Barzee Zelandois, de la Compagnie de Jesus. ... En la conqueste d'un Nouveau Monde à la foy Chrestienne, soubs les estandarts du bon Jesus, en l'Inde Orientale.
Douai, Noel Wardavoir, 1615. Small 8vo (14.5 x 9 cm). Contemporary limp vellum. [24], 444, [4] pp. Full description

€ 5,000

First edition of Trithemius' most important pre-Reformation work

TRITHEMIUS, Johannes. De statu et ruina monastici ordinis.
[Mainz, Peter von Friedberg, after April 1493]. 4to. 20th-century quarter vellum, decorated paper sides. With the author, title, and place and date of publication in manuscript on the spine. [29], [1 blank] ll. Full description

€ 8,500

Utopian Ethiopia

URRETA, Luis de. Historia de la Sagrada Orden de Predicadores, en los remotos reynos de la Etiopia.
Valencia, Juan Chrysostomo Garriz, 1611. Small 4to (21 x 15 cm). With the woodcut arms of the Dominican order on title-page, and a variant version on the last page, and 3 woodcuts in text. Further with 24 decorated woodcut initials. Contemporary gold-tooled mottled calf, each board with the coat of arms of the French Seguier family and with the monogram PSMF (Pierre Seguier and his wife Madeleine Fabry) repeated 6 times on the spine. Rebacked (on recessed cords) with the original gold-tooled backstrip laid-down. [16], 410, [6] pp. Full description

€ 35,000

The religious strife in the Dutch Republic, as experienced by a key participant

UYTENBOGAERT (WTENBOGAERT), Johannes. Johannis Uytenbogaerts leven, kerckelijcke bedieninghe ende zedighe verantwoordingh ... Tweeden druck, daer eenige stucken van nieuws by gedaen zijn, ende alles dat nodigh was, uyt het Latijnsch ende Fransch overgheset.
[No place, no publisher], 1646. 4to. With an engraved portrait of the author by Wilhelm Delff after Michiel van Mierevelt, with a 6-line verse by Caspar Barlaeus underneath. Contemporary vellum. [40], 451, [3], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 750

Reports from Japan by two famous Jesuits (1589 & 1590)

VALIGNANO, Alessandro and Luís FRÓIS. Copia di due lettere annue scritte dal Giapone del 1589. & 1590. L'una dal P. Viceprovinciale al P. Alessandro Valignano, l'altra dal P. Luigi Frois al P. Generale della Compagnia di Giesu. Et dalla Spagnuola nella Italiana lingua tradotte dal P. Gasparo Spitilli della Compagnia medesima. ... Con licentia de' superiori.
Rome, Luigi Zanetti, 1593. Small 8vo (15 x 10.5 cm). Limp sheepskin parchment (ca. 1700?). 125, [3 blank] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Collected works of an indicted Belgian canonist

VAN ESPEN, Zeger Bernard. Opera, quaecunque hactenus in lucem prodeunt, omnia. Tomus primus [-secundus] . Continens ... juris ecclesiastici universi.
Louvain, 1721. 2 volumes. Folio. With the title-pages printed in red and black. Contemporary mottled calf, richly gold-tooled spines. [30], 924, [39], [1 blank]; [4], 230, [14], [4], 400, [16], [8], 208, [22], [8], 90, [6], 28, [4], 57, [2], [1 blank], 18, [4], 30, [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 750

Rare mystic work, with 22 woodcuts by the gifted Pieter van der Borcht

[VERVOORT, Frans]. Dat vyants net, der booser wercken raet, visioenen, ende met alder sijnder verholender stricken, leerende hoe wi de werelt, den vyant, ende ons selven sullen sterven, kennen, ende leerende hoe wi die werelt, den vyant, ende ons selven sullen sterven, kennen, ende overwinnen.
Antwerp, Jan van Ghelen, (colophon: 1561). 8vo. With the title in a four-piece woodcut border by Pieter van den Borcht (with his initials at the foot), Jan van Ghelen's woodcut device on verso of last leaf, a full-page armorial view (dated 1552) on the last leaf, and 20 mostly full-page woodcut illustrations by Pieter van der Borcht in text. Modern half vellum. [88] ll. Full description

€ 6,000

Pioneering work on Indian languages and society by an "unjustly forgotten" Indologist

VESDIN (VEZDIN), Filip (PAULINUS A SANCTO BARTHOLOMAEO). Viaggio alle Indie Orientali umiliato alla Santita di N. S. Papa Pio Sesto pontefice massimo ...
Rome, Antonio Fulgoni, 1796. 4to. With 12 engraved illustration plates (6 with 2 illustrations each to make 18 in total), engraved roundel portraits of Pope Pius VI (on the title-page) and the author (above the opening of the main text) and some small woodcut illustrations of "Indian hieroglyphs". Set in roman and italic types with occasional words in Greek, Arabic, East Syriac, Devanagari and more extensive texts in Malayalam, plus a Malabar song with a double staff made with built-up round-head music notes. 19th-century maroon half sheepskin. XX, 404 pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Christian missionaries in India, with a map and illustrations of the Hindu gods

VEYSSIÈRE DE LA CROZE, Mathurin. Histoire du christianisme des Indes.
The Hague, the Vaillant brothers (Isaac and Paul II?) & Nicolas Prevost, 1724. 8vo. With an engraved frontispiece, the title-page in red and black with an engraved vignette, 1 folding engraved map and 3 engraved illustration plates. Contemporary calf. [16], 570, [54] pp. Full description

€ 1,800

Printed in the Alsace for Koberger in Nuremberg with 10 magnificent woodcuts

VIGERIUS, Marcus. Decachordum Christianum Julio II. Pont. Max. dicatum. Controversia de excellentia instrumentorum Dominicae passionis, per eundem Dn. Marcum Vigerium discussa.
[Hagenau, printed by Th. Anselm & Joh. Albertus for Joh. Koberger, Nuremberg, 1517]. Folio. With title in woodcut border by Urs Graf and 10 beautiful full-page woodcuts (ca. 13.9-14.4 x 9.7-10.2 cm) by the "Master I S with the shovel", a pupil of Hans Schäufelein. Contemporary calf over wooden boards, blind-tooled side, two brass clasps. Leaves from a 14th-century liturgical manuscript pasted on the inner sides of the boards. From the "Koberger Werkstatt". [6], 204, [14] pp. Full description

€ 12,500

Impressive large allegorical print of the defeat of the Arminians at the Synod of Dort in 1618

VISSCHER, Claes Jansz. [and Simon FRISIUS]. t' Arminiaens testament.
[Amsterdam, Claes Jansz. Visscher, 1618]. Large 1mo broadsheet (66.5 x 46.5 cm), with engraved illustration (53 x 45.5 cm) at the head (with Visscher's name in the plate at lower right) and a letterpress verse text below. Full description

€ 2,500

Portrait of the arrested Arminian preacher Slatius, one of the conspirators in the failed attempt to assassinate the Dutch Stadholder

VISSCHER, Claes Jansz. Hendrick Danielsz Slatius, gewesene predicant tot Bleijswyck, naert 'tleven afgebeelt den 12 maert 1623.
[Amsterdam, Claes Jansz. Visscher, 1623]. Engraved illustration (22 x 12.5 cm), with an engraved title in Dutch at the head and Visscher's name at the foot, and with two letterpress poems in French on the left signed "A. Lancel."(measuring 24.5 x 25 in tital). Mounted on a larger blank leaf (36 x 41 cm). Full description

€ 750

Portraits and executions of four conspirators in the failed attempt to assassinate the Dutch Stadholder

VISSCHER, Claes Jansz. Cort verhael ende afbeeldinghe der justitie, geschiet den 5. mey 1623. in 'sGravenhaghe.
Amsterdam, Claes Jansz. Visscher, 1623. Engraved illustration (26.5 x 14.5 cm), giving four circular portraits and 10 separate scenes, flanked by a letterpress description in Dutch. Full description

€ 750

Skilful engraving of the execution of the conspirators in the failed attempt to assassinate the Dutch Stadholder Maurits of Nassau, Prince of Orange

VISSCHER, Claes Jansz. Justitie over enige Arminiaensche verraders, geschiet in s'Gravenhaech.
[Amsterdam, Claes Jansz. Visscher, 1623]. Engraved print (26.5 x 32 cm) mounted on a large sheet of 18th-century(?) laid paper (50.5 x 33 cm), with manuscript text in three columns with the title: Cort verhaal ende waerachtige afbeeldinge der justitie geschiet in s'Gravenhage, over seeker, conspirateurs, diens conspiratie deur Gods voorsienigheid ontdekt is den 6e. February 1623. Full description

€ 1,500

A 1486 edition of the Golden legend: one of the earliest books printed by Kessler at Basel

VORAGINE, Jacobus de. Legenda sanctorum al[ia]s Lombardica historia. [= Legenda aurea sanctorum].
[Colophon:] Basel, Nikolaus Kessler, 25 June 1486 Small (Chancery) folio (28.5 x 22 cm). With Kesslers 1485 woodcut armorial device below the colophon (double shield hanging from a branch, the dexter shield with 3 kettle hooks and the sinister shield with a K and cross). Blind-tooled tanned sheepskin (ca. 1870/1900), with a hollow back, sewn on 4 recessed cords but with 5 false bands on the spine, gold-tooled black morocco spine-label in the 2nd compartment and "BASEL 1486" in gold at the foot. [255] ll. Full description

€ 11,000

Massacre of the Waldensians in Piedmont

[WALDENSIANS]. Recit de ce qu'il y a de plus considerable aux affaires des eglises reformées des vallées de Piedmont, depuis les massacres de l'année 1655.
[Amsterdam, Abraham Wolfgang(?), after 1663]. 4to. Contemporary wrappers. [4], 60 pp. Full description

€ 2,950

Attributes of the Prophet: Arabic manuscript in black and red with text and ruling in geometric patterns

[WASF AL-RUSUL]. [Kitab Wasf al-Rusul wa al-Imama].
[Near East, ca. 1820?] Small folio (ca. 21 x 30 cm). Arabic manuscript in a naskh script, written in black ink on paper, with headings, key words and short passages in red, ruled in red throughout (often in complex patterns to form tables and geometric shapes) and with a diagrammatic human body also in red, 2 leaves with circular diagrams, some ruled leaves blank (text never completed). Contemporary limp leather. 74 ll. Full description

€ 12,000

Announcement of the annual 'day of prayer': all inhabitants of Suriname, including all enslaved people,
are forbidden to work and called to pray for the prosperity of the Dutch Republic

WICHERS, Jan Gerhard. Publicatie. Wy Mr. Jan Gerhard Wichers. Generaal Majoor, in dienst van den Staat der Vereenigde Nederlanden, Gouverneur Generaal over de colonie Surinaame, rivieren en districten van dien mitsgaaders Collonel en Cheff der gezaamentlijke militie deezer landen, &c. &c. &c, en de raaden van politie en criminele justitie der voorz. colonie &c. &c.
[Paramaribo, W. H. Poppelmann, 1786]. Broadsheet (50.5 x 36 cm). With the woodcut coat of arms of the Society of Suriname at the head. [1] leaf. Full description

€ 2,250

Very rare pamphlet on Hindu religious practices

WILKINSON, Rev. M. Missionary fragments. Second series. Reverend M. Wilkinson, missionary to North India.
Cornhill, Ipswich, printed by Robert Root, [ca. 1840]. 16 x 10 cm. Original printed paper wrappers, side stitched through 3 holes. [2], 33-64 [= 32] pp. Full description

€ 750

A humanist in strife with the Augustines and Pope Julius II, ca. 1507

WIMPFELING, Jakob (Jacobus WIMPHELINGIUS). Ad Julium. II. Po[n]tifice[m] Max[imum]. Querulosa excusatio Jacobi Wimphelingii ad instantiam fratru[m] Augustine[n]sium ad curiam romana[m] citati: ut propria in persona ibide[m] compareat: proptereaq[ue] scripsit divum Augustinum non fuisse monachum vel fratrem mendicante[m].
[Strasbourg, Jean Prüss the elder, ca. 1507]. 4to (21 x 15 cm). With a large woodcut decorated initial. Set in 2 sizes of roman type with a few words in a large textura gothic type. With the initial coloured brown by an early hand. Boards covered with grey laid paper (1940s?). [7], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Rare missionary reports from Africa, India and the East Indies, including letters from the grand-nephew of Saint Francis Xavier

[XAVIER, Jerome, and others]. Raguagli d'alcune missioni fatte dalli padri della Compagnia di Giesu nell'Indie Orientali, cioè nelle provincie di Goa, e Coccinno, e nell'Africa in Capo Verde.
Rome, Bartolomeo Zannetti, 1615. Small 8vo (14 x 9 cm).18th-century(?) sheepskin parchment. 165, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 9,500

Miracles from Brussels, illustrated by Adriaen Collaert

YDENS, Steven. Historie van het H. Sacrament der mirakelen. Berustende tot Bruessel inde collegiale kercke van S. Goedele. Beschreven door M. Steven Ydens Brusselaer, priester, licent. inde H. Godtheyt, ende canonick vande voorseyde kercke.
Brussels, Rutger Velpius, 1608. Small 8vo. With an engraved vignette on the title-page and 17 engravings on the integral leaves (most nearly full-page religious scenes: ca. 9.5 x 6.5 cm, but 1 showing the obverse and reverse of a gold medallion is smaller) by Adriaen Collaert; woodcut pictorial initials; and headpieces built up from typographic ornaments. Later calf (ca. 1700?). [46], 282, [20] pp. Full description

€ 2,500

Jesuit warning of the consequences of licentiousness, in magnificently gold-tooled morocco (ca. 1643)

ZEHENTNER, Paul. Promontorium malae spei: impiis periculose navigantibus propositium. Sive, signum & nota reprobationis: procrastinatio poenitentiae, scripta cautelae hominum, emendatione[m] vita[e] cunctantium, spe aliquando resipiscendi.
Graz, [heirs of Georg] Widmanstetter for Sebastian Haupt, 1643. Large 4to (25.5 x 19 cm). With an engraved allegorical frontispiece and a richly designed armorial and emblematic dedication plate, both by David Tscherning. Contemporary, richly gold-tooled black morocco, each board in a panel design of rolls and stamps with a large built-up centrepiece in a double frame of multiple decorative rolls (the diagonals connecting the inner and outer frames possibly intended to give the effect of a three-dimensional niche), and the spine treated as a single field with built-up decorations in a frame of multiple rolls, gold fillets on turn-ins, the whole with hundreds of impressions of dozens of stamps and rolls, gilt edges, traces of 2 pair of ties. [36], 752, [10] pp. including engraved frontispiece but not dedication plate. Full description

€ 7,950


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Religion & Devotion