London: Ralph Smith, 1700. Hardcover. A unique copy of a first edition Restoration comedy from the personal library of actor and theater manager John Philip Kemble. The volume is initialed, collated, and pronounced perfect on the title page in ink by Kemble along with the date. John Philip Kemble (1757 - 1823) was an important English actor who also achieved fame as the manager of the Drury Lane and Covent Garden theaters. He was also known for assembling a theatrical library that was unrivaled. After he retired in 1819 he sold his collection of 4000 plays and forty volumes of playbills to Cavendish, the 6th Duke of Devonshire. The Devonshire collection is now part of the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. The remainder of Kemble's library was auctioned by Evans in Pall Mall over ten days beginning January 21, 1821 (from the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). George Farquhar (1677 - 1707) was an Irish playwright of real comic power who wrote for the English stage at the beginning of the 18th century. He stood out from his contemporaries for originality of dialogue and a stage sense that doubtless stemmed from his experience as an actor. His early plays were primarily spirited variations on a theme: young men have their fling for four acts and reform, unconvincingly, in the fifth. The plays have freshness, however, as well as wit and a lively human sympathy (Encyclopedia Britannica). For this copy each individual page has been meticulously framed on slightly larger sheets of contemporary white paper. It has been beautifully bound by Riviere and Son in full tan calf with gold tooling and lettering. The spines have five raised bands with gilt decorated compartments and there are two leather labels, one with the play's title and author, and the other stating "J.P. Kemble's Copy." With gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, and all edges gilt, with a few splash marks on cover otherwise in near fine condition. The pages of the play are browned with occasional spots of foxing and soiling but text is completely legible. In very good condition. Measures 6.5 x 9 inches. 54 pages. DRAMA/012121. Near Fine. More

London: Richard Standfast, 1698. Hardcover. A unique copy of a first edition Restoration comedy from the personal library of actor and theater manager John Philip Kemble. The volume is initialed, collated, and pronounced perfect on the title page in ink by Kemble along with the date. John Philip Kemble (1757 - 1823) was an important English actor who also achieved fame as the manager of the Drury Lane and Covent Garden theaters. He was also known for assembling a theatrical library that was unrivaled. After he retired in 1819 he sold his collection of 4000 plays and forty volumes of playbills to Cavendish, the 6th Duke of Devonshire. The Devonshire collection is now part of the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. The remainder of Kemble's library was auctioned by Evans in Pall Mall over ten days beginning January 21, 1821 (from the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). George Farquhar (1677 - 1707) was an Irish playwright of real comic power who wrote for the English stage at the beginning of the 18th century. He stood out from his contemporaries for originality of dialogue and a stage sense that doubtless stemmed from his experience as an actor. His early plays were primarily spirited variations on a theme: young men have their fling for four acts and reform, unconvincingly, in the fifth. The plays have freshness, however, as well as wit and a lively human sympathy (Encyclopedia Britannica). For this copy each individual page has been meticulously framed on slightly larger sheets of contemporary white paper. It has been beautifully bound by Riviere and Son in full tan calf with gold tooling and lettering. The spines have five raised bands with gilt decorated compartments and there are two leather labels, one with the play's title and author, and the other stating "J.P. Kemble's Copy." With gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, and all edges gilt, with a few splash marks on cover otherwise in near fine condition. The pages of the play are browned with occasional spots of foxing and soiling but text is completely legible. In very good condition. Measures 6.5 x 9 inches. 54 pages. DRAMA/012121. Near Fine. More

New York: George H. Doran Co., 1924. Paperback. Includes an article on Aldous Huxley by Raymond Weaver, "Moral Imbeciles in Fiction" adn more. Very good in original green wrappers with some chipping to edges. Interior lightly yellowed but clean; tightly bound. Periodicals. PER/121120. Very Good -. More

10 books, mostly hardcover. Very good condition. Very Good. More

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1835. Hardcover. First American Edition. The is the final book by William Godwin (1756 - 1836), who was best known for his work on political justice as well as several novels often addressing societal inequities. Godwin was the husband of feminist author, Mary Wollstonecraft and the father of Mary Shelley, who wrote Frankenstein about 15 years prior to the publication of this book. Here, Godwin addresses various aspects of the occult including necromancy, astrology, witchcraft, fairies, divination. It includes examples of necromancy and witchcraft from the Bible, discusses historical figures associated with magic such as Merlin Joan of Arc, Socrates, et. al. as well as details about proceedings against witchcraft throughout the ages. Godwin did not personally believe in witchcraft or necromancy, as he expresses in this book with a thorough examination and condemnation of all evidence presented. His purpose in writing this book as stated in his conclusion is that even though witchcraft is essentially folklore and nonsense of the "imbecile mind", it remains a worthy topic because its supposed practice remains punishable by death in some countries. Bound in contemporary three quarter brown leather over green and black speckled paper covered boards. The title label is no longer present on the spine. Wear and rubbing to hinges, spine ends, and corners. Remnants of adhesive from a removed bookplate to front pastedown. Penned ownership signature dated 1835 to title page. Occasional spots of foxing, but clean and bright overall. Creasing and short closed tears to margins of a few pages. 307 pages. OCC./011521. Very Good. More

Moscow: Emil Goozairow, (2020). Small unnumbered limited edition. Goozairow is a Russian artist who paints and draws, produces movies, and creates exceptional handmade books that are printed on rare types of paper and published in limited editions. His techniques create unique designs that often are made with natural materials alone or in combination with relief decorations made from metal or polymeric clay. He creates books that he describes as "pop up," “kinetic carousel," “liporello” or “3D origami.” He also writes fairy tales, stories and mystical scenes. A playful alphabet book with something embedded in both covers, causing it to rattle when read. Delightful illustrations with alliterative phrases (many comical) for each letter such as: Angel's Acorns for A, Creeping Cats, Delightful Desire for D, and Ugly Unicorn for U. The book has a special folding design that seems to unravel as you open each page. The book must be turned and flipped as you read in order to see all of the letters in order. Both boards are pyramid shaped relief designs in colored polymer clay. The book is held closed with braided brown cord straps that fasten with a metal clasp. In fine condition. Each side of this triangular shaped book measure about 2.25 inches. The depth of the book is about 3 inches. The book is painted white and blue. ARTB/021921. Fine. More

Moscow: Emil Goozairow, 2020. Hardcover. A miniature book. An impressive sculptural accordion book featuring an elaborate 3-D model of a cone shaped tower on the front cover. Beads are housed within the top sculpture so that when the book is read and turned, it rattles. Each page features an elaborate letter form, which is not necessarily recognizable as so many "branches" and lines are twined around it. The design of both sculptural covers match the aesthetic of the interior. Sitting alone, this magical object looks more like a mysterious alien artifact or a steampunk object, than a book. Another delightful creation by Russian book artist, Emile. Size: 4 x 2 x 2 inches. ARTB/021921. Fine. More

Moscow: Emil Goozairow, 2020. Hardcover. A small book. Both covers are three-dimensional and are made from sculpted, carved, and hand-painted polymer clay. The book is held closed with green cord and a metal clasp. An accordion featuring black and white illustrations of this jagged, rocky landscape - which incorporates letterforms in both the rocks and negative spaces. An imaginative design. [36 pages.] Size: about 4 x 2.5 inches. ARTB/021921. Fine. More

Liverpool: Printed by G.F. Harris's Widow and Brothers, 1817. Hardcover. This is the first edition of an interesting and monumental work that was compiled and edited by Matthew Gregson (1749-1824), who was born at Liverpool in 1749. He was many years in business as an upholsterer, and when he retired in 1814 had amassed considerable property. Although he had little education he took a deep interest in literature and science, and especially devoted attention to the collection of documentary and pictorial illustrations of the history of Lancashire. These he used in compiling his Portfolio of Fragments relative to the History and Antiquities of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster, which he brought out in 1817 in three folio parts. The second and enlarged edition is dated 1824, and the third, edited and indexed by John Harland (1806–1868), a fellow antiquary specializing in Lancashire, came out in 1867. This work led to Gregson's election as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries [Wikipedia]. In his preface, Gregson states that he did not attempt to give his materials for this book the "arrangement which the rules of historical composition require; as he has collected, so he may be said to have published, having in view the value of each individual document rather than the composition of a chain of historical events." Thus the result is a massive collection of information about the Duchy of Lancaster of every kind from textual history, to coats of arms, crowns, coronets, crests, etc. forming a useful basis for the history of that period. Bound in marbled paper boards with three quarter leather. The boards are scraped and the corners are very rubbed. The leather is scratched, grounded and rubbed. Two of the spine labels have pieces missing. Except for occasional spotting, the interior pages are quite clean and bright. There are two fold-outs. The one at the front of the book is fine. The rear fold-out has some tears from unfolding but still of use. With bookplate of Stephen Leslie Norris and ownership signature of Jane Noble Pilkington dated Dec. 1828. Very good condition. Measures 8 x 13 inches. 302 pages plus appendix with cviii pages. ENGHIST/122820. Very Good. More

Lisbon: Fundação de Casa de Bragança, 1949. Hardcover. This elegant book describing the furniture of the ducal palace of Vila Vicosa, a municipality in the Evora region of Portugal, offers a fascinating and comprehensive history of the palace and its interiors. It was published through the foundation of the House of Braganaca, or the Brigatine dynasty, from which came kings, emperors, princes, and dukes of Portuguese origin that reigned in Europe and the Americas for hundreds of years. Bound in a beautiful brown full leather binding with rulings and titling to front cover, and titling and gilt ornaments to spine compartments. Original paper wrappers bound in. Leather has some bumping and rubbing but still very good. The interior text pages and the numerous full page black and white photographs. Interior is in near fine condition.With the bookplate of Elsie Bogarus Murphy affixed to front pastedown. Murphy was a well-known Charles Town WV philanthropist. Measures 10.5 x 12 inches. 129 pages not including plates. DECORATIVE/010721. Near Fine. More

San Francisco: H. R. Coleman, 1872. hardcover. Originally published in 1835, this was the first novel to deal with whaling in Nantucket, and had some influence on the writings of Herman Melville. The book is based on the career of profiteer Kezia Coffin (1723-1798), whose corrupt activities were in contrast to the productive labors of her husband [Wikipedia]. Bound in contemporary publishers brown cloth, with tears to top and bottom of spine and chip to middle of spine, bumping and rubbing. Front hinge detached from text block but holding. Interior pages are generally clean. Gutters are pulled open on a few pages where book was laid open. Good +. Still a nice copy of a relatively uncommon title. 336 pages. MARI/122720. Good +. More

Berea, KY: Kentucke Imprints, 1985. Hardcover. Memoir including many childhood memories of Mildred Todd Hicks from the turn of the 20th century as well as recollections of important events such as the Baltimore Fire. Signed and inscribed by Barbara Hicks Harding, daughter of the author. Illustrated. Dark blue leatherette boards with gilt title to spine. Rubbing to spine ends and corners. Clean and bright. Uncommon. 163 pages. BALT/111920. Very Good. More