Rare books from Jeff Weber Rare Books

Berlin:: Nikolaus Voltz, 1583., 1583. Two volumes in one. Folio. 368 x 238 millimeters. Melitsah: [*]2, )(2, *2, A-Zz2, a2. Megale: [*]2, )(2, ()2, A-Nn2. [Lacks index at the end, as usual (six leaves).] Pagination: [12], 188; [12], 144 pp. Both titles in red and black in fine woodcut borders, two woodcut portraits of Thurneysser, and numerous woodcuts, figures and tables, typesetting in numerous languages. The Melitsah has the two folding woodcut plates "Tabula Quarundam Syllabarum" & Tafel etlicher Sylben" which are symbolic illustrations of the four continents but lacks, as usual, the six plates of scripture tables, which Sudoff conjectures were available separately and thus often lacking. / Contemporary vellum, old ink manuscript spine title, edges red; soiled, tears in spine at cords, and head of spine, lacks ties. On first title page, small repaired pieces at bottom of title pages (removing previous owner's stamp?), red eagle stamp at ends and on folding plates (some obscured), light marginal… Read More

Paris:: Chez Thomas Jolly, & Simon Benard, 1671., 1671. Colophon reads: 'De l'Imprimerie de Jean Cusson, 1670'. Tall 4to. [xlviii], 419, [1], [30] pp. 60 engraved plates (six double-page, some pls. signed 'L. Cossinus sculp.', incl. 3 text figs.), including the beautiful engraved allegorical half-title (drawn by Jean le Pautre (1618-1682) and engraved by Gerard Edelinck (1640-1707), title woodcut vignette; the leaves all extended at the gutter to permit the best possible opening for this volume. Modern full blind-stamped speckled calf, gilt-spine title. Title blind embossed: Franklin Institute Library, related small rubberstamp toward title-gutter, additional similar stamps found within. Cloth slip-case. Near fine. First edition of the most exhaustive treatise on optical instruments and lens making in the seventeenth century. This work deals with lenses for all types of instruments, including microscopes, telescopies, the camera obscura, as well as a study of what has been learned with different… Read More

New York:: Harcourt, Brace, 1932., 1932. 8vo. xii, 690 pp. Frontis. (portrait of Sherman), plates, index. Deluxe binding in contemporary navy blue crushed levant gilt, purple watered-silk moire endleaves, gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, upper cover with COSWAY-STYLE inset center medallion with glass plate protecting an original watercolor portrait of General Sherman. Protected in the original open-end box bound in half crushed morocco, raised bands, gilt stamps in each compartment, bale blue cloth sides, felt inner lining, cloth ribbon-pull. Beautifully preserved. Ownership inscription. Fine. First edition. Concealed under the gold edge a FORE-EDGE PAINTING of William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891), leading his troops to battle in the Civil War. In the scene, it appears that Atlanta (or Savanah?), all ablaze, is in the background (left) and a pasture of cows (right of center), a small rural bridge is in the path ahead leading to the next town. PROVENANCE: Inscribed (half-title) "For my friend Fred… Read More

New York:: Anson D. F. Randolph, 1862., 1862. Folio. Tinted lithographic half-title with 12 vignettes by Charles Parsons, printed by Endicott & Co. (dated 1862), title-page, 20 chromolithographic plates by Charles Parsons after van Lennep, printed by Endicott & Co. of New York; some foxing and occasional waterstain (protruding into some plates and title). Modern brown morocco-backed and preserving original brown pebbled gilt-stamped (depicting a desert oasis with 2 palm trees, a woman riding a camel, being led by a bearded man), cloth boards, gilt spine bands. RARE. First and only edition of this remarkable album containing 20 chromolithographic plates, one of the most ambitious color-plate books of the American Civil War period (1861-64). The production of this large format album with printed text and plates, was based on the writings and drawings of Henry J. van Lennep, a Missionary in Turkey who returned to the United States in 1861. The book contains an introduction wherein the author… Read More

Paris:: Arthus Bertrand, 1823., 1823. Two text volumes (octavo) and atlas (folio). [i-iv], [i-iv (dedication)], [v]-li, [1], 464; [iv], 644, [2] pp. ATLAS: [IV], [V-VII] pp. 12 lithographed plates by C. Motte (including the folding plan of the new canal of Alexandria (which is hand-colored) and the folding, double-page map of Arabia & Nedjd), table of commerce between Egypt and Europe, errata; occasional foxing. Bindings: TEXT VOLUMES: with the original printed front wrappers on olive-green paper (the back and spine renewed to match); ATLAS: Half calf backed marbled boards, calf tips, for the Signet Library [Society of Writers to the Signet]; spine and tips renewed to match. Text volumes are partly unopened, untrimmed. Within new custom-made drop-back morocco and cloth case, gilt spine titles. Very attractive copy. First edition. This is a marvelous copy with the original printed wrappers preserved on the untrimmed text block, with the folio atlas containing the 12 lithographic plates. There are two… Read More

Paris:: Imprimerie Royale, 1819., 1819. 2 volumes. Text (sm. 8vo.) and Atlas folio. TEXT VOLUME: 8vo. [xii], 460 pp. Half-title ["se trouve chez Delaunay, libraire Palais-Royal, no. 243"], title vignette of the Armes Royale, dedication to the king, list of plates, with the rare folding engraved plate "Plan du Saint Sepulcre à Jerusalem"; plate is torn and mended (some Kozo, etc.). Contemporary quarter calf, paste-paper overs boards, red morocco gilt-stamped spine label, spine with gilt bands. ATLAS VOLUME: Large oblong folio. [54 cm]: [2] pages, 78 leaves of plates (70 lithographs after Carle Vernet, Fragonard, Isabey, Pierre Prevost, and Forbin, 8 aquatints by Debucourt after Forbin, 2 engravings by Englemann and Debucourt after Forbin), plans (etchings). Original printed cover-title mounted as a title, "Voyage dans Le Levant en 1817 et 1818 » on rouge colored paper. Handsomely bound in modern half dark calf, gilt-stamped spine, original spine preserved, early green cloth over boards, decorative… Read More

Schlesswig:: Bey Jacob zur Glocken. Jm Jahr [1645]-1647., 1645. Large 4to. [13] ff., 546 [i.e. 536] pp., [1] f., 42 pp., [6] ff. With full-page engraved half title, 10 double-page engraved plates, 11 full-pages engraved plates, 60 text figures, engr. head and tail pieces, initial letters. Title with vignette "Allah" in Arabic script. First edition of Offt begehrte Beschreibung der newen orientalischen Reise, 1645-7. This is an important and widely-read seventeenth century account of travels through Russia and Persia, and into India and the Far East. The maps include the large folding plan of the Volga, plus the Baltic regions, Muscovy, Persia, Asia, China, etc. In addition to the OLEARIUS book, this HAND-COLORED DOUBLE-PAGE ENGRAVED MAP depicting Adam Olearius' [Olschlager] route, from the atlas of Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638). The map is fully hand-colored in a contemporary hand. The map is entitled: Nova et Accurata Wolgae Fluminis olim Rha dicti deline atio Auctore Adamo Oleario. /… Read More

[Persia],: undated [pre-1800]., 1800. 11.25 x 7.5 inches. [ca. 228 leaves] Written mostly in old Farsi, with some Arabic marginal notes. With one leaf [f. 66] illuminated on upper quadrant, another 2 leaves with a penciled sketch where an illumination was planned but never completed [ff. 108, 170]. There are numerous decorative motifs of flowers throughout the manuscript. Each leaf is variously partitioned, perhaps suggestive of a garden[!], in this case with flowers adorning most leaves. Binding style suggests 18-19th centuries. Bound in Islamic style, Ottoman period, full Turkey morocco, with elaborate gilt rule, corner and centre ornamental flourishes, with leather flap; some minor repairs to the sides of the binding are evident when examined closely. MANUSCRIPT OF SAADI' GOLESTAN THE GREAT PERSIAN POET: ORIGINAL COMPLETE MANUSCRIPT OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL PERSIAN POETS, SA'ADI OF SHIRAZI. The calligraphic style and the binding are suggestive of the 16th or 17th century. This piece is… Read More

Paris:: Arthus Bertrand, [1840-55]., 1840. Atlas folio (in sheets). 55 x 35.5 cm. 10 lithographic plates with drawings by Louis Bevalet & lithographed by Muller [and] Himely (engr.), 2 additional maps or charts. With the original printed wrapper chemise. Wrapper is a bit worn. Plates are in excellent condition. Very good. First printing, extremely rare, of the unfinished publication of Gaimard expedition, containing what is often missing from the main body of the expedition report (probably due to the size of the plates and their non-bound format?). It seems Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834), the famous lithographer from London, may have also been involved in the production of these plates as his name is on the plates themselves. / Gaimard, a French naval surgeon and naturalist, built an observatory at Bossekop, Finnmark, where he made his scientific observations of the Arora Borealis. There were 10 striking lithographs used to illustrate the Atlas geologique, among the most impressive astronomical… Read More

In Bologna,: 1684., 1684. Quarto. [17] ff. The plates include an engraved title within elaborate border populated with weapons and gimmicks for hunting, a bird-age is shown on the top; engraved "times to begin birding" and 15 plates bearing two plates: top illustration, and bottom engraved text. Later quarter chocolate morocco, simple spine title, raised bands, marbled boards. Fine. FIRST EDITION OF THIS EXTREMELY RARE WORK, ENTIRELY ENGRAVED, BEING MITELLI'S EXTREMELY RARE FIRST PRINTING OF HIS OWN FORM OF BIRD-HUNTING, OR BIRD TRAPPING . The magnificent illustrations depict different bird hunting techniques, all very curious. According to Ceresoli these techniques for bird trapping were actually used at the time of this publication. "The aucupio modes depicted may seem fantastic, but actually practiced in those times, in which game was more credulous and more abundant than now: the Mitelli, then, a strenuous hunter, depicts some invented or modified by himself." – Ceresoli. Mitelli practiced the… Read More

Edinburgh:: John Ballantyne, 1813., 1813. 4to. [x], 330, cxvi pp. Original olive green straight-grain morocco, gilt-extra, with alternating pattern of ovals and feathers, raised bands, all edges gilt, BOUND BY TAYLOR & HESSEY, London, with their gilt-stamp on the outer fore-edges of the upper and lower cover (as is common with their stamps). Near fine. ". . . BOUND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SIR WALTER SCOTT HIMSELF": Manuscript note found within this copy: "Sir Walter Scott's Rokeby, Edinburgh, 1813. Original edition, green morocco. * This precious volume was bound under the direction of Sir Walter Scott himself, transmitted to the binder by John Ballantyne, the publisher; the edge when bent discloses a wonderful view of Rokeby [(corrected in pencil): Barnard] Castle painted by the celebrated Patrick Nasmyth [1787-1831] when in the full rigor of his great artistic talent." – THIS MUST BE THE TAYLOR & HESSEY PAINTER, his work is profoundly similar to this artist, especially when considering his expert… Read More

London:: Privately printed, 1944]., 1944. Reprinted from The British Journal of Experimental Pathology, 1929. Vol. X, p. 226. Sm. 4to (250 x 186 mm). 12 pp. 4figures, 4 tables. Caption title. Stapled as issued; small chip to upper margin of first leaf, toning to edges, creased. Laid into blind-stamped red calf, black gilt-stamped leather spine label, forming a drop-back folding case. Very good. LIMITED REISSUE OF 250 COPIES OF FLEMING'S LANDMARK ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN. "In 1929, while working at St. Mary's Hospital in London, Fleming discovered the antibacterial properties of Penicillium mould. He published his findings in this present essay and suggested that the brown liquid substance produced by the mould would be an "efficient antiseptic for application to, or injection into, areas infected with penicillin-sensitive microbes." However, the substance proved to be unstable and chemically complex, and attempts to create a pure and stable drug by Fleming proved unsuccessful. In… Read More

Amstelodami,: apud Henricum Laurentium, 1644., 1644. Folio in 6s. [20], 418, 417-[694], 495-529, 730-[994], 997-1187, [1], [88] pp. Numerous mispaginations noted. With the magnificent engraved title, and 600-700 decorative botanical woodcuts. Text in 2 columns, index not paginated, parallel texts in Greek and Latin. Bound recently in full antique-style speckled calf, richly gilt-tooled in a masterfully elegant binding; some neat paper mends to gutter (front & back leaves), some leaves variously stained at edges in the rear, pages 950-988 browned. New endleaves. The splendid Bodaeus van Stapel edition of Theophrastus' seminal work, Enquiry into Plants, beautifully illustrated with hundreds of fine woodcuts of all the known plants. This is the first edition by edited by Johannes Bodaeus van Stapel (1602-1636), who died prior to the book being issued. This edition of Bodaeus van Stapel is the most important and influential edition of Theophrastus. The book is the first comprehensive systematization all… Read More

Cologne:: Johann Guldenschaff, 1481., 1481. First edition. Small folio. 311 of 314 leaves; CCXII and CXV supplied in early manuscript, lacking [a1, blank]. Gothic type, rubrications in red or blue, leaves 90-132 with paragraph marks, initial strokes, and underlining in red; first four leaves with repairs to fore-edge margin, some dampstains. BOUND in full 19th century polished calf over wooden boards and decorated in blind, five raised bands, gilt spine lettering, decorative blind roll to edges, inner dentelles stamped in blind, marbled endpapers; moderate edgewear, joints starting, rear joint partially split, rubbed and worn with some losses, small sticker to upper board. Housed in modern custom brown cloth clamshell case, spine lettered in gilt, minor edgewear. Very good. EXTREMELY RARE: A FORE-EDGE PAINTING ON AN INCUNABLE. Fore-edge painting by John T. Beer depicting "Monastic Ruins at Mount Sinai, " signed & dated 1895 in the lower left corner. [NOTE (see below): 'yellow' circle marking the… Read More

Venice:: Franciscus Renner, de Heilbronn, 1482/3., 1482. Volume II of III. Folio (in 10s). [12.5 x 8.7 inches / 32 x 22.4 cm.]. COLLATION (this volume is complete): A10, B10, C10, D10, E10, F10, G10, H10, J10, K8, 1(10), 2(10), 3(10), 4(10), 5(10), 6(10), 7(10), 8(10), 9(8), 10(8), 11(10), 12(10), 13(10), 14(10), 15(10), 16(10), 17(10), 18(10), 19(10), 20(10), 21(10), 22(10), 23(10), 24(10), 25(10), 26(10), 27(10), 28(10), 29(10), 30(10), 31(8), 32(10), 33(10), 34(12). This volume undated. NOTE: Part III [the third volume] is dated 1482, and the Additiones of Paulus Burgensis, 1483. CONDITION: occasional waterstains at beginning, mild staining: 14(2). ANNOTATIONS (ink): 11(10-verso), 28(8-r). HAND-COLORED INITIALS: With 1,176 beautiful hand-painted initials (599 red, 577 blue). Text printed in two columns with commentary of Nicolas de Lyra set within Biblical text, 73 lines per full sheet. BINDING: Eighteenth century stiff paper boards with paper spine or different stock, with manuscript spine… Read More