Oliver, William: A Practical Essay on the Use and Abuse of Warm Bathing in Gouty Cases. Bath: Printed by T. Boddely, for James Leake, and Wm. Frederick, and sold by Hitch, and Hawes, and M 1753. Second edition. 8vo., pp. [iv], 96, [viii]. With half title. Some small repairs and short marginal tears to half title, first and last leaves a little dusty. Late 19th c. Half dark brown morocco, gilt title to spine, green marbled paper boards, blue endpapers. Joints and corners a bit rubbed, very good. Bookplate (with crest) of John Kent Spender, M.D. to front pastedown. Though by all accounts an engaging and competent physician, and very much involved in establishing Bath General Hospital in 1742, Dr William Oliver published little apart from this treatise on the therapeutic use of spa waters in the treatment of gout. However his name lives on in the form of the Bath Oliver biscuit, which he invented as a digestive aid for his patients. John Kent Spender's obituary (BMJ, 22nd April 1916) described him as 'The last of the generation of physicians who laid the foundation of modern Bath as a health resort.' He worked for the greater part of his career at the Mineral Water Hospital in Bath and published prolifically, his most notable book being Therapeutic Means for the Relief of Pain, which won the Fothergill Gold Medal in 1874. Ref: 54177show full image..
Sabry, M: L'Empire Egyptien sous Mohamed-Ali et La Question D'Orient Paris: Librairie Orientaliste, Paul Geuthner, 1930. Large 8vo., pp. 605, [iii]. Internally clean. Half blue sheep, raised bands, gilt title direct to spine, blue cloth boards, edges sprinkled red, dark green endpapers, original red and black wrappers bound in at rear. A bit rubbed, some peeling to spine and corners but still very good. Tiny stamp, 'Bramhall and Menzies' to ffep verso. Number 556 in an edition of 2000 copies. Ref: 54403show full image..
Selden, John: (Boxhorn, Marcus:) Mare Clausum seu de Dominio Maris. Libri Duo [?]. I. Mare, ex iure natur? seu gentium, omnium hominum non esse commune, sed dominii privati seu proprietatis capax, pariter ac tellurem, esse demonstratur: II. Serenissimum Magn? Brittani? regem maris circumflui, ut individu? atque perpetu? imperii bri Londini [London]: Juxta exemplar Will. Stanesbeii pro Richardo Meighen, 1636. Second edition. 12mo., pp. [xxiv], 504, 61, [iii]. Two parts bound together, chiefly in Latin, with passages in English, French, Greek, Hebrew and Arabic. Title-page in red and black, woodcut initials, several full-page illustrations (including 2 maps) and smaller numismatic illustrations in the text. Title-page with library ink stamp and the remains of a small paper label to top fore-edge corner, a few gatherings toned (e.g. K), some faint spots and smudges, a little light toning. Contemporary plain vellum, detailed titles inked to spine, edges faintly sprinkled brown. Vellum a little yellowed, spine greyed, a few small stains, a little surface damage to top corner of board near joint where a sticker has been mostly removed, top corner of ffep lost, still a very good, sound copy overall. To front pastedown, 'Heinbrychelii 1767', a few library codes. This edition came a year after the first, which appeared in folio in 1635. Selden (1584-1654) was commissioned by Charles I (pursuing a highly ambitious maritime policy) to undertake this work in order to settle disputes which had arisen between England and Holland over the rights Dutch fishermen claimed to fish in the waters surrounding the British Isles. It ranks as the classic opposition to the arguments made by Grotius, one of the Dutch emissaries, in his work 'Mare Liberum' (1609) that 'the sea was free to all'. Selden's response argued that the seas as well as land were capable of private dominion; he traces customs from the Greeks forward in support of his thesis. The result is a book "of tremendous erudition and replete with learning? fortified at every point with authority from record, statute, case-book and chronicle" (Fletcher: John Selden, Selden Society Lecture, 1969). ESTC S117048; Sabin 78972; Rahir 439; cf. Willems 449. Ref: 54922show full image..
Stone, Lawrence: Uncertain Unions: Marriage in England 1660-1753. Oxford University Press, 1992. First edition. 8vo., pp. xiii, 281 + plates. Hardback: black cloth, gilt-lettered to spine, fine. Dust-jacket, very good. Ref: 53574
Switzer, Stephen: A compendious method for the raising of the Italian brocoli, Spanish cardoon, celeriac, fenochi, and other foreign kitchen vegetables; as also an account of the La Lucerne, St. Foyne, Clover, and other grass seeds. With the method of burning clay, for the improving of land. London: printed for Thomas Astley, at the Rose in St Paul's Church-Yard, [1728]. Second edition. 8vo., pp. [ii], xvi, 53, [i]. Woodcut headpieces and initials. Head of title-page trimmed very close, losing top half of 'A Compendious', pp.xiii-xvi a little short at fore-edge not affecting text, partially untrimmed. Occasional light smudgy marks, some faint dampstaining to margins. A few pencil marks to title-page, including an incorrect date. 20th-century quarter calf, gilt title to spine, marbled boards, endpapers renewed, Spine sunned and a little rubbed, headcap very slightly frayed, very good. Rare in UK institutions, with LibraryHub finding only a single copy of this second edition, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The undated and and even rarer first edition appears in two forms, the second adding an Appendix (gathering G) and a new title-page. Switzer explains: 'As I am daily, and even hourly, receiving fresh Accounts of the Propagating and Improving the valuable La Lucerne, and other Grass-Seeds, I think it proper to add this half Sheet by Way of Appendix, before this pamphlet has spread itself too far; and those Gentlemen who may have bought it before this Appendix comes out, may, by sending to the Places where it is publish'd, have it chang'd: the Whole to cost One Shilling.' In this second edition the earlier Appendix has been replaced by a new one, signed F and dated May 18th 1728. Switzer: 'A Second Edition of this small Treatise being required, I thought it not improper to take a Review of the former, so that I might regulate whatsoever upon due Observation I found amiss, and might add such other Observations as in this Interval I have met with.' ESTC N48413. Ref: 55071show full image..
Thurley, Simon: Men from the Ministry: How Britain Saved Its Heritage. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 2013. First edition. 8vo., pp. viii, 294, inc. illustrations. Hardback: black cloth, silver-lettered to spine. Dust-jacket. Unused, a touch only of shelf-wear: a fine copy. Ref: 53930
Tinniswood, Adrian: The Verneys: A True Story of Love, War and Madness in Seventeenth-Century England. London: Jonathan Cape, 2007. First edition. 8vo., pp. xxii, 570 + plates. Hardback: black cloth, silver-lettered to spine, Dust-jacket, lightly sun-faded and creased with moderate shelf-wear. From the library of Prof. William Lamont, without written evidence of ownership but with his pen-scoring to outer margins against passages of particular interest. Ref: 53729
[Waldensians] Bracebridge, Charles Holte:) Authentic Details of the Valdenses, in Piemont and Other Countries; with abridged translations of 'L'Histoire des Vaudois,' par Bresse, and 'La Rentree Glorieuse,' d'Henri Arnaud, with the ancient Valdensian Catechism. To which are subjoined original letters, written during a residence among the Vaudois of Piemont an London: John Hatchard and Son, 1827. First edition. 8vo. pp. [viii], 464 + 12 plates. Plates toned with some transfer to adjacent leaves (including title-page), very occasional foxing. 19th-century half calf over marbled boards, spine gilt, gilt-lettered morocco label. Extremities and boards a bit rubbed. 19th-century memento bookplate of Capt. Gervase Petty Sleigh to front pastedown; ex-dono inscription to Joseph Walton from John Sleigh Esq. (1885); John Sleigh's autograph to first leaf of text. First edition of this important history of the Valdenses based on authentic documents and on the personal journey to Piedmont and other countries of the author, Charles Holte Bracebridge (1799-1872) of Atherstone Hall, Warwickshire. Among the places he visited was Schoenberg, the place of exile of the Valdenses in the early 18th century. Bracebridge also discussed the famous scarf of the pastor Henri Arnaud, probably donated to him by Vittorio Amedeo II, Duke of Savoy, saying it had been taken to Holland. Gervase Petty Sleigh (1854-1883) was captain on HMS Flagship Regent in Siam. Hugon-Gonnet, 'Bibliografia Valdese', 40. Ref: 53277show full image..
[Westminster Magazine] The Laughing Philosopher. Dublin: James Williams, 1777. First edition in book form. 12mo., pp.[vi], 244. Ornately engraved title-page with vignette. Running title is 'Momus: or, the laughing philosopher'. Small ink blot to top edge of text block, which is slightly visible at very edge of head margins. Occasional faint marks but very good. Some lightly pencilled notes to the index describing certain pieces as 'good' or 'tr?s bon'. Contemporary calf mottled in a diagonal pattern, neatly rebacked in a lighter brown with recent label, corners repaired, very good. To front paste-down, engraved bookplate with crest of Edward Butler of Carlow; modern bookplate of Peter Stewart Young of Tillingham. Originally printed serially in The Westminster Magazine (1772-1782). Titles include: 'A Ramble through Covent Garden'; 'Humorous description of the House of Commons'; On the present fashionable Mode of Dressing Ladies' Hair'; 'Some curious Specimens of Problematical Oratory' and 'An Attempt to explain what the undefinable Je ne sais quoi is'. ESTC T64895. Ref: 54414show full image..
Williams, N. J.: The Maritime Trade of the East Anglian Ports 1550-1590. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988. First edition. 8vo., pp. xviii, 321. Hardback: dark blue cloth, gilt-lettered to spine. Dust-jacket. A hint only of shelf-wear: very good. In the Oxford Historical Monographs series. Ref: 53913
