Philadelphia: Fisher and Brother, circa 1860. Hardcover. A miniature biography of Benjamin Franklin. Brown cloth boards with gilt title and decoration to spine and front board. One inch tear to bottom of rear joint and amateur glue repair to book cloth on foot of spine. Chipping to spine ends, wear to edges and corners of boards, small loss to book cloth on rear board, and soiling to covers. Inscription to front free endpaper from a teacher to her student as a reward of merit, dated 1867. Occasional spots of foxing to interior, but clean overall. Size: 3 x 2.25 inches. MINI/081723. Very Good. More

Hartford: H. and F.J. Huntington, 1831. A scarce early - perhaps the earliest - instructional book for women on why calisthentics are essential both for maintaining good health and the improvement of their minds. The book is written as a series of letters from a mother, identified as "M" who begins with letters about the importance of of physical education for children. She then proceeds to offer instructions and exercises for women to do themselves and to train their daughters. There are sixty-two charming illustrations that show women how they should perform their calisthentics. Ex-library with library stamp for a New Hampshire doctor's office debossed on title page. Below the stamp "Bring it back"" is written in blue pencil. Bound in brown cloth with no titling to cover or spine. Boards are worn with sun fading to cloth along edges. The front joint is slightly cracked. A few minor stained spots on front and rear covers. Rounded corners. Cracked hinges. Front and rear endpapers are toned, foxed. Offsetting to title page and free front endpaper as well as to the rear free endpapers. Text pages are lightly aged. Small closed tears to fore-edge margins of pages 49-54 not affecting text.Occasional pencil underlining. A nice copy in quite good condition of this delightful manual. Measures 4.25 x 6.75 inches. 87 pages. MED/050823. More

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1903. Hardcover. Two folio bound volumes with all of Harper's Weekly issues for 1903. They are a fascinating compilation of articles, events, news, and numerous illustrations documenting the events in the United States and around the world. They offer an enthralling view of the country's concerns and interests at the beginning of the 20th century. Even the advertisements for products and services are quite interesting. Most of the covers continued having political cartoons. Many of the articles throughout the year were on automobiles, technology, and construction. There were weekly columns on "Americans of Tomorrow," and "Books and Bookmen ', and weekly appearances of cartoons by the well-known illustrator of the time Albert Levering. The technology articles are particularly interesting, on such topics as power from sunlight, American wireless technology, around the world in 40 days, lighting a metropolis (New York City), and Germany's suspended electrical train system. President Theodore Roosevelt received much coverage for his many activities outdoors and participating in sports such as horse jumping. He visited the West at Yellowstone, and other locations. The state of Georgia received special attention with many articles on their history and present along with descriptions of their large and small cities. It appears that there may have been supplements to the weekly issues that were not bound here. There is a several page supplement in the July 25 issue on the death of Pope Leopold XIII with several illustrations. Interesting illustrations included four page fold-out of the members of the Oliver Wendell Holmes Supreme Court, and another three page fold-out of Harper's authors that included Mark Twain, Henry James, Thomas Hardy, Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Robert W. Chambers and many others. There were just a few short but provocative items about lynching and about the increase of assaults by black men against white women and the theories why. Bound in black cloth with gilt titling to spine. The spine and corners are chipped and abraded as usual. Covers are slightly worn and rubbed. Interior pages are generally very good. Library reference sticker affixed to rear pastedown is the only indication of library ownership. There is a pagination anomaly, with the December 12 being numbered pages 3-77 with regular numbering resuming in the December 17 issue. Although not entirely, the December 12 issue focused on Christmas with several color illustrations. 2122 pages. PER/062223. Very Good. More

Boston: G.W. Cottrell, circa 1833. Hardcover. Early edition, uncommon. (Priced with condition in mind.) Copyright date listed on title page as 1833 by Monroe & Francis. With numerous handcolored illustrations. Bound in the original blue cloth boards with gilt title to front board. Large split to book cloth along front hinge and spine. Split has amateur glue repair along exterior. Interior hinges have been reinforced with pasted down paper strips. Rubbing and a few spots of soiling to boards. Wear to corners, edges, and spine ends. Pen and pencil markings to endpapers. Spots of foxing, soiling, browning, antiquated pen notations, and dampstaining to interior. Missing pages 11/12, 13/14, 15/16, 17/18, 19/20, 21/22, 41/42, and 55/56. Large open tear to one page. 96 pages including one page advertisement. CHILD/080423. Good. More

n.p. ca. 1925-1928. Interesting samples of Czech printing fom the early 20th century. One is a large bifold done by Vojtech Preissig dated 1925. Preissig (1873-1944) was a Czech typographer, printmaker, designer, illustrator, painter and teacher. Printed on light tan paper about 9 x 11 inches. It includes a line engraving. The other two samples are from Cesky Bibliofil, an important Czech annual devoted to book design, typography, and the graphic arts. Each is bifold measuring 6.75 x 9.25 inches. One of the samples has a tear and abrasion over line four of the text while the other is in fine condition. EPHEM/052523. Very Good. More

Paris: [multiple], [1797 - 1801]. Hardcover. An interesting compilation of five dramatic or comedic plays published in the last years of the French Revolution and the establishment of the First Republic. Three of the works were published by Chez Barba, a bookshop that specialized in the theater. It was founded by Jean-Nicolas Barba, a bookseller and sometimes actor. All of the plays are complete. They were printed on various types of paper, and some have browned considerably while others are clean and bright. They were apparently printed quickly and not that carefully, with upside or incorrect page numbers. Bound in tan cloth boards that are bumped, stained and rubbed. A torn paper title label is affixed to the spine. Free front endpaper has a piece cut out, removing a signature. The front pastedown has an ownership signature dated 1846. and a small piece of paper affixed along the top of the hinge. A good minus anthology of 18th century plays. Measures 5 x 7.75 inches. Pages: 56, 64, [41], 28, 40, 24. FRENCHLANG/072523. Good +. More

Washington DC: Abstract Orange, 2022. One of 45 copies. Corita Rules! is inspired by the work and rules of Corita Kent. Corita Kent (1918–1986) was an artist, educator, and advocate for social justice. She created many pieces using bright colors and typography. One of her works entitled “Power up” was a multi-section serigraph featuring the words “Power Up”. This book, that pays homage to Kent's use of color and typography, is an accordion using different color papers bound together to repeat her message of “Power up” — a call to action. The other words in this piece come from the “Ten Rules”, which was a collections of rules she used in her classroom. The book is letterpress printed using handcut wooden type. In Sister Corita’s practice, she did not number her pieces. This was a choice she made so that no one piece would be more valuable than the others. Following her tradition for this piece, the books are not numbered. In fine condition. Measures 5 x 7 inches. Unpaginated. PRI/041223. Fine. More

Washington DC: Abstract Orange, 2020. Paperback. Number 5 of 10 copies. Just before the Pandemic lock-down started in March 2020, Lauren Emeritz participated a letterpress workshop with Amos Paul Kennedy. Inspired to print, but not able to use the press in the studio due to the Pandemic, Emeritz began printing in a makeshift print studio in her home. Using wood type, a Vandercook 99, and hand-inking, she printed on chipboard, an inexpensive and accessible substrate. The prints include words and phrases from during that time early in the pandemic (March to May 2020). This collection of 36 prints is housed in an orange folding case with velcro closure and title on the spine and front panels. Size: 8.5 x 5.5 inches. ARTB/081723. Fine. More

Harper Woods, MI: Adagio Press, 1967. Hardcover. Number 60 of 473 copies. In this interesting work, Leonard Bahr explores ornamental as a fascinating aesthetic challenge. The Bradley combination ornamnets were designed 1952 by Will H. Bradley and released by American Type Founders. He states that this pamphlet was more than a year in the making. It gives the background of the creation of the ornaments, illustrates the basic four-square combinations and shows more than forty multiple combinations, including three engraved for this publication by Paul Hayden Duening. The pamphlet was printed on four colors of Italian Fabriano paper. It took about 41 different press runs to print the text pages. The pages were sewn into a white cover and a dense black wrapper. The owner of this copy bound the publication in its original wrappers in a handsome three quarter black leather binding with blue and green marbledpaper covers. Rather oddly, the owner apparently used a binding done for a different publication, as the gilt titling to the spine is for a completely different work by Albert Lantoine. This binding is in near fine condition with light wear to leather corners of covers. Marbled endpapers and an attractive bookplate on the pastedown that doesn't name its owner. Interior pages are also about fine. Accompanied by the prospectus and an undated Christmas card from Ann and Leonard Bahr. Measures 6 1/2 x 9 7/8 inches. Unpaginated [16 pages]. PRI/090123. Fine. More

New York: Hodder & Stoughton, (1912). Hardcover. Uncommon. A sweet story about a young engaged couple - and their talking cat - who secures them a position at court. Faded purple paper covered boards with color illustration of well dressed cat delivering a letter. Red title to front board. Stab bound with two knotted cords. Chipping to spine ends and minor wear to edges of boards. Fading to purple paper. Lacks color frontispiece. Green and purple floral endpapers. Occasional spots of soiling and finger smudges, but clean ovearll. 31 pages. 2.5 x 2.5 inches. CHILD/080923. Very Good. More

New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1903. Hardcover. Facsimile edition of the edition printed at Newcastle by E. Walker for T. Bewick and Son in 1818 and 1823. Red cloth boards with paper title label to spine. Browning to spine and title label, chipping to spine ends, and minor wear to edges of boards. Slight roll to spine. Top edge gilt. A scattering of foxing, but clean and bright overall. Half of rear free endpaper has been removed. Wood Engraved illustration for each fable along with an "application" or moral. 376 pages. CHILD/081523. Very Good. More

Concord N.H. Rufus Merrill, 1854. Hardcover. Includes 6 booklets divided into parts of 16 pages each: My Flower-Pot, Book About Birds, Stories About Dogs, People of the Old World, Book About America, and Indian Anecdotes. Filled with poems, prose, and charming engravings. Bound in the original pink / tan cloth boards with rubbed gilt title to spine. Soiling to boards, rolled spine, occasional finger smudges and spots of soiling to interior. Previous ownership signature in pen dated 1859 to front free endpaper. Size: 4.5 x 3 inches. CHILD/080923. Very Good. More

Philadelphia: Alice Austin, 2019. Number 15 of 20 copies. This tunnel book of the Grand Canal draws attention to the negative effects of tourism on Venice's rising water levels and ecosystem. Created from a series of lino-cuts, each page has been hand-cut and assembled into the tunnel book structure, giving the viewer a periscope-like view of the famed Grand Canal. The artist describes the scene as follows: "a chaotic mix of local fauna, gondolas, traghettos and bridges vying for space on the waterway, contrasting with the ominous visage of a cruise ship lurking on the horizon. The outsized scale of the ship emphasizes the threat these monsters impose on the delicate environment of this unique place — flooding the streets with mass tourism, and literally flooding the small canals with their enormous wakes. The cover panel is in the shape of an eye, reflecting upon the voyeuristic nature of tourism. The first panel shows an egret patiently hunting for fish amidst the chaotic scene. A quatrefoil-laced building facade typical of Venice provides the background. The second panel has a winged cherub and a traghetto (ferry) making its regular crossing of the Grand Canal, as the figures in the gondola stand in the customary Venetian way for the short trip, ready to bound off the second the boat docks. The third panel features the famed Rialto bridge, with a rower guiding a sandolo, the type of small rowboat used by the locals.  The fourth panel shows the characteristic vase-shaped chimneys of Venice. The fifth panel is an enormous cruise ship ominously looming over the buildings and canal, impossible to miss. The sixth panel is the back side of the tunnel book - The Lion's Mouth, or bocce dei Leone - depicting letter boxes found that were placed in prominent locations, where citizens could slip a note betraying the names of enemies of the Republic. The side panels show rowers in racing gondolas training for the Regatta Storica." It is printed on Mohawk heavyweight paper and housed in a marbled paper covered clamshell box with magnet closure and paper title label to spine panel. The paper was marbled by the artist. Alice Austin is a printmaker, book artist and painter living and working in Philadelphia. She has been on the faculty at the University of the Arts, teaching book structures, and has also taught workshops at the Center for Book Arts in New York, Ballinglen Foundation in Ireland, The Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice, and other institutions. She earned a BFA from the Philadelphia College of Art and has been an active member of the Guild of Book Workers since 1998. She worked as a rare book and paper conservator for over 20 years at the Library Company of Philadelphia. Alice has also been awarded several artist residencies in Europe, and her work is widely held in private, public and special collections worldwide. Size: 6 x 11 x 1.5 inches closed, 13 inches open. Box size: 6.5 x 11.5 x 2 inches. Fine. More