Curtius Rufus, Quintus: (Snakenburg, Hendrik, ed.:) De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni, Regis Macedonum, Libri Superstites. Cum omnibus supplementis, variantibus lectionibus, commentariis ac notis perpetuis Fr. Modii, V. Acidallii, T. Popmae, Joh. Freinshemi, Joh. Schefferi, Christoph. Cellarii, Nic. Heinsii. Selectis & excerptis Ph. Rubenii, J. Rutgersii, C. Barthii, Joh Delphis, & Lugd. Bat. [Delft & Leiden]: apud Adrianum Beman, Samuelem Luchtmans, 1724. First edition thus. 2 parts in 1. 4to., pp. [lxxiv], 472; [ii], 473-824, [ccxxiv] + 1 folding map and 17 further plates. Title-page in red and black with woodcut printer's device, woodcut initials and tailpieces. The plate opposite p.214 is printed on a smaller leaf. Sporadic light foxing, a few stains but very good overall. Contemporary tan calf neatly rebacked preserving gilt spine, corners repaired, edges red, marbled endpapers. A few stains and scrapes to boards, very good. Ownership inscription of John Taylor Coleridge of Park Crescent dated 1851 to preliminary blank. John Taylor Coleridge (1790-1876) was an English judge and the nephew of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). 'This is the celebrated quarto Variorum edition of Q. Curtius, by Snakenburg, which contains many valuable extracts from Bruno, Modius, Freinshem, and Cellarius. The text is formed according to the first edit. of Freinshem, from which it never departs but with the most scrupulous caution, and when warranted by a better reading. In compiling the work, Snakenburg consulted one good ancient MS, and two modern ones: but with the early editions of this author he appears to have been ill provided, as he consulted no edition more ancient than the Aldine. "This editor," says Ernesti, "as is too often the case, undertook the publication more from the importunity of the bookseller, than from the conviction of being able to compose a useful work from previous study, and diligent accumulation of materials." It must, however, be confessed that this edition of Snakenburg is a very valuable performance, and is deservedly held in high respect. Dr. Harwood has pronounced a warm eulogium upon it, and the editor is by him declared to have "manifested an accurate knowledge of ancient manners and customs".' (Dibdin) Schweiger II, 323; Graesse II, 311; Brunet II, 450; Dibdin II, 376-77 Ref: 54282show full image..
Curtius Rufus, Quintus: (Snakenburg, Hendrik, ed.:) De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni, Regis Macedonum, Libri Superstites. Cum omnibus supplementis, variantibus lectionibus, commentariis ac notis perpetuis Fr. Modii, V. Acidallii, T. Popmae, Joh. Freinshemi, Joh. Schefferi, Christoph. Cellarii, Nic. Heinsii. Selectis & excerptis Ph. Rubenii, J. Rutgersii, C. Barthii, Joh Delphis, & Lugd. Bat. [Delft & Leiden]: apud Adrianum Beman, Samuelem Luchtmans, 1724. First edition thus. 2 parts in 1. 4to., pp. [lxxiv], 472; [ii], 473-824, [ccxxiv] + 18 plates (3 of which folding) including additional engraved title-page. Title-page in red and black with woodcut printer's device, woodcut initials and tail-pieces. The catchword at the end of the dedication (T4) does not match the following leaf, as also found in other copies and seemingly due to the insertion of the Preface. Faintly foxed. Contemporary marbled calf, neatly rebacked with original spine retained, orange gilt title-label, gilt borders, gilt-stamped emblem of Haarlem to each board, edges coloured yellow, green cloth ties replaced, corners neatly repaired. Old spine piece worn but soundly rebacked, some scratches and scuffs to boards, a few whitish marks to top edge, endpapers a little toned at edges, very good overall. A few pencilled bookseller's notes to front paste-down. 'This is the celebrated quarto Variorum edition of Q. Curtius, by Snakenburg, which contains many valuable extracts from Bruno, Modius, Freinshem, and Cellarius. The text is formed according to the first edit. of Freinshem, from which it never departs but with the most scrupulous caution, and when warranted by a better reading. In compiling the work, Snakenburg consulted one good ancient MS, and two modern ones: but with the early editions of this author he appears to have been ill provided, as he consulted no edition more ancient than the Aldine. "This editor," says Ernesti, "as is too often the case, undertook the publication more from the importunity of the bookseller, than from the conviction of being able to compose a useful work from previous study, and diligent accumulation of materials." It must, however, be confessed that this edition of Snakenburg is a very valuable performance, and is deservedly held in high respect. Dr. Harwood has pronounced a warm eulogium upon it, and the editor is by him declared to have "manifested an accurate knowledge of ancient manners and customs".' (Dibdin) Schweiger II, 323; Graesse II, 311; Brunet II, 450; Dibdin II, 376-77 Ref: 52286show full image..
D'Orleans, Theodulf: (Andersson, Theodore M., trans., with Ommundsen, Aslaug & MacCoull, Leslie S. B.:) The Verse. Tempe: Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 2014 8vo., pp. 220. Hardback: laminated boards. New: unopened in publisher's shrink-wrap. Volume 450 in the ACMRS Medieval and Renaissance Texts and Studies series. Ref: 53704
Dahl, Ronald: (Blake, Quentin, illust.:) The Witches. London: Jonathan Cape, 1983. First edition. 8vo., pp.208. Turquoise cloth, gilt title to spine, very mildly cocked but near fine. Dust jacket price-clipped, top edge with a few very slight creased and a tear of approx. 3mm, very good indeed. First edition of Dahl's 12th novel for children. Ref: 54965show full image..
Dale, A. M.: (Turner, E.G. & Webster, T.B.L. eds.:) Collected Papers. Cambridge University Press, 1969. 8vo., pp. x, p.307, [i] + portrait plate. Internally clean and bright. Grey cloth, printed blue label with gilt title to spine. Endcaps a little creased, near fine. Dust-jacket a bit tattered, 5cm closed tear to front repaired with tape to underside, price-clipped but with price sticker added, still good. 'Miss Dale's interests were mainly concerned with the technicalities and interpretation of Greek poetry. Some of the papers deal with metre and language; but most are about aspects of Greek drama - staging, choruses, and interpretations of particular plays.' Ref: 52135
Dale, Samuel: The History and Antiquities of Harwich and Dovercourt. Topographical, Dynastical and Political. London: printed for C. Davis, 1730. First edition. 4to. pp. [4], [xxiv], 464 + 14 plates (some folding). Small ink mark to title touching two words, light waterstaining at upper and lower gutter, a bit heavier to first and last couple of gatherings, edges dusty, occasional mainly marginal foxing, last two leaves a bit spotted. Contemporary polished English calf, sympathetic modern reback, spine gilt-lettered, boards and extremities rubbed. Book plate of Henry Miller dated 1885; autographs Elizth G. Mason, H.P. Bowen 1861 and Buntwood(?) to ffep; partly erased library stamp with English note on withdrawal and sale in 1962 to verso of title and p.101; later pencilled marginalia to a few leaves. The scarce first edition of this beautifully illustrated history of the antiquities and natural landscape of Harwich and Dovercourt, in Essex. Based on the unpublished historical work of the antiquary and state official Silas Taylor (1624-78), it was enlarged and revised with a very long appendix by the physician Samuel Dale (1659??1739), who focused on the natural history of the district. Thanks to his experience as apothecary, he had a thorough knowledge of plants and his annotations elaborate on Taylor's mentions of local landscape - for instance, he discussed plants that inhabited a local cliff, adding references to other botanic works. Additional sections are devoted to fish and fossils, both - like the notes on plants - superbly illustrated with engraved specimens. ESTC T134050; Brunet 13544; Haller, Bib. botanica, 14. ESTC locates only 1 copy in the US. Ref: 51728show full image..
Dart, J(ohn): (Cole, J., illus.:) The History and Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury and the Once-Adjoining Monastery: Containing, An Account of its First Establishment [...] A Survey of the Present Church and Cloysters [...] The Lives of the Archbishops [...] An Appendix of Ancient Charters and Writings [...]. London: printed, and sold by J. Cole, J. Hoddle, J. Smith, A. Johnson, 1726. Folio, pp. [iv], IX, [i], 204, lvi, including list of subscribers in the form of nine pages showing their coats of arms (page ix having 26) + 4 double-page plates and 37 further plates. Title page in red and black, woodcut initials and head- & tail-pieces, additional engraved illustrations in the text. Occasional light smudges, some sooty marks to p.117. Contemporary calf neatly rebacked, gilt spine label, date to tail of spine, plain gilt borders, corners repaired, edges sprinkled red, endpapers replaced. Very good. John Dart (d. 1730) suffered a somewhat lacklustre reputation in his endeavours as both an attorney and an antiquary. His main antiquarian works comprised Westmonasterium, or, The history and antiquities of the abbey church of St. Peter's, Westminster (published in two volumes first in 1723 and then posthumously in 1742) and this work on Canterbury Cathedral. The two received as little acclaim as his literary endeavours, as both were considered "more notable for the quality of their engravings [...] than their antiquarian content". Richard Gough considered the former "a pompous, but very inaccurate work" (Gough, 1.763), and William Gostling, in his A Walk in and about the City of Canterbury (1774), wrote of the latter that "Mr Dart came to see our cathedral, and did see it, most certainly; but it is one thing to see and another to observe" (Gostling, 164).' (ODNB) ESTC T65420; Upcott p.391. Ref: 54207show full image..
David, Saul: Prince of Pleasure: The Prince of Wales and the Making of the Regency. London: Little, Brown and Company, 1998. First edition. 8vo., pp. x, 484 + plates. Hardback: dark blue cloth, gilt-titled to spine. Dust-jacket. Light shelf-wear: a very good copy. Ref: 53566
Davidson, James N.: Courtesans and Fishcakes: The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens. London: Harper Collins, 1997: First edition. 8vo., pp. xxvi, 372 + plates. Hardback: blue cloth, gilt-lettered, edges slightly dusted, almost fine. Ref: 54205
Davila, Henrico Caterino: (Aylesbury, W. and Cotterell, C., trans.:) The Historie of the Civill Warres of France [...] translated out of the original. London, printed by R. Raworth [...] to be sold by W. Lee, D. Pakeman, and G. Bedell [...] 1647 [1648]. 2 parts as 1. Folio, pp. [viii], 1478, with printing privilege dated 7th January 1646 facing title-page. Large engraved monogram of the translators' initials on title-page, with dedication leaves, second part title dated 1648, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces throughout text, generous margins. Without errata leaf. Occasional spots and smudges, a few cloudy wax marks affecting but not obscuring text, Z3 top corner lost and 3L4 bottom edge lost but neither affecting text, closed tear to bottom margin leaf 3N3, tiny wormhole to fore-edge margins p.851 onward. Contemporary very dark brown calf, gilt spine, tan label, marbled edges. Neat repairs to head and tail of spine, joints worn, a bit rubbed but very good. Armorial bookplate (signed AW 1828) of Sir Montague Cholmeley, Bart. to front pastedown. Given the date, this is most likely Sir Montague Cholmeley, 2nd baronet (1802-1874), who followed his father as MP for Grantham. First English translation of a history of the sixteenth century French civil wars, ending with the peace treaty of 1598. Written at the behest of Charles I, it was a topical book, printed as the king lost his own civil war, and it carries its own evidence of that political turmoil, with the translators, in a dedication to Charles I dated shortly before the King was executed, wishing that "your majesty [...] soon re-establish as happy a Peace in all Your Kingdoms, as the great Henry your queen's heroick father did in France [...]". One, William Aylesbury, who was in the service of Charles and was once tutor to his favourite, the Duke of Buckingham, obtained a fourteen year privilege to exclusively publish the book, from parliament rather than the king, but from the royalist House of Lords rather than from the 'parliamentarian' House of Commons. ESTC R21290; Wing D413 Ref: 54185show full image..
