Antiquarian and Collectors’ Books

MEDICAL. – Samuel COOPER. A Dictionary of Practical Surgery: Containing A Complete Exhibition of the Present State of the Principles and Practice of Surgery. London: John Murray, 1809. First edition, 8vo (214 x 129mm.) Half-title, text in double column, 1p. publisher’s advertisement to rear. (Occasional browning, some corner creases, scattered spotting, several leaves with marginal loss.) Contemporary half calf over marbled paper-covered boards, red morocco lettering piece to the spine (extremities rubbed, joints splitting).

SPENSER, Edmund. The Shepherd’s Calendar, Containing Twelve Aeglogues, Proportionable to the Twelve Months. London: John Ball, 1732. 8vo (196 x 119mm.) Engraved portrait frontispiece, 12 engraved plates, English and Latin parallel titles and text, 8pp. ‘Glossary’ to rear. (Toning, occasional spotting, leaf R1 mis-numbered p.245.) Contemporary panelled calf (extremities heavily rubbed, lacking lettering piece). Provenance: R. Hoblyn (ink name inscribed to front-free endpaper). – And a further two volumes (Paul Scarron’s ‘Le Virgile Travesty en Vers Burlesques, Reveu & Corrige’, 2 vols., 1668, 12mo) (3).

BERRY, James. My Experiences as an Executioner… edited by H. Snowden Ward. London: Percy Lund & Co., [1892.] First edition, 8vo (178 x 120mm.) Photographic frontispiece, 5 wood-engraved plates, numerous wood-engraved illustrations in the text. (Toning, p.74 with a 4cm tear, occasional mark.) Original card covers (some loss to spine ends, finger-marked). Note: Berry was in the gallows trade from 1884 to 1892. He wrote in such detail about his work that after publication the Official Secrets Act was amended to forbid the publication of any more executioner memoirs. However, after sending over 130 men and women to their end, Berry had a change of heart. He resigned his post, converted to Christianity and became a prominent campaigner for the abolition of the death penalty.

SIGNED BOOKS. – [Ronald FELTON.] ‘Ronald Welch’. The Black Car Mystery. London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd., 1950. First edition, signed and inscribed by the author, 8vo (186 x 115mm.) (Mild toning, stain to fore-edge.) Original cream cloth (stain to spine), dust-jacket (partially lacking spine panel, lower panel detached, some loss). Note: scarce. Provenance: Heather Heath (inscribed to by the author on the front-free endpaper). – And a further novel by Ronald Welch, also signed (‘The Gauntlet’, 1951, 8vo) (2).

MANUSCRIPT. – Rudyard KIPLING. [A hand-written transcription of Kipling’s poem ‘When Earth’s Last Picture Is Painted. N.p.: circa 1900.] 4to (223 x 170mm.) 6pp. of the three verses of Kipling’s poem in calligraphic black ink, with initials heightened in gold, 3 initials with scenic vignettes in water-colour, decorative surround and 2 verses with illustrated water-coloured scenes as headpieces, with title-page in red, ‘L’Envoi’. (Toning.) Contemporary brown full morocco, four silver mounts to covers, g.e. (some fading to covers). Note: Kipling first published the poem in the New York Sun in 1892. He then used it as the ‘L’Envoi’ at the start of ‘The Seven Seas’, which was published in 1896.

MANUSCRIPT. – FIRST WORLD WAR. [A hand-written book of poetry made and presented as a personal gift from ‘G.D.S’ to his friend ‘D.H’. N.p.:] Christmas Day, 1914. 32pp., manuscript, 4to (258 x 147mm.) 16 leaves in a single legible near-calligraphic hand, brown ink, dedication leaf, introduction, and mostly 19th century poems transcribed recto with titles on the preceding leaf, including poems by P.B. Shelley, Robert Browning, Christina Rosetti and Mary Coleridge. (Mild toning.) Original calf-backed brown cloth (spine worn). Note: the introduction reads: ‘Dear Friend, this is Christmas Day. But there is little joy in the land: there is mourning and great heaving of heart; and yet out of the sadness of it all there will arise a new joy which shall be the spirit of LOVE’. Provenance: ‘D.H.’ (gift inscribed on the dedication leaf from ‘G.D.S. In Memory of Many a Happy Day’).

MANUSCRIPT. – FIRST WORLD WAR. [A hand-written liber amicorum compiled by the wounded soldiers on the 17th Ward of Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe. N.p.:] 1915-1916. 139pp., manuscript, 8vo (227 x 176mm.) 70 leaves of random jottings, rhymes, quotes and jokes, in numerous legible hands, several pencil drawings of regimental badges, some entries dedicated to Sister S. Neave of the 17th ward, nearly all dated and signed by the soldiers. (One loose leaf, a quire nearly detached, toning.) Original red roan (spine ends worn, endpapers browned). Note: there is every tone of voice here. Some of the soldiers are directly appreciative: ‘I write these few lines to thank nurse Neave for her kind attentions to me’, others are more brusque (‘God made man/ Then he made woman/ He took pity on man/ And made tobacco’) some play jokes (like the soldier who writes on an over-slip: ‘Ladies are requested not to lift this cover’), others are more desperate: ‘Nothing in my hand I bring/Simply to my cross I cling’. Several entries describe the difficulty of saying anything, and drawing the badge serves well enough, or random thoughts intrude (‘VOTES FOR WOMEN’), but one puts it eloquently: ‘I’m Sargeant Smith of 10 ward/ A soldier bold am I/ The tales I have to tell you/ Are enough to make you cry/ I’m lying in this hospital/ With a wound quite near my thigh/ And so to while the time away/ I lie, and lie, and lie’. Provenance: Sister S. Neave (gift inscribed to on initial blank).

HOARE, Richard Colt. Monastic Remains of the Religious houses at Witham, Bruton, and Stavordale. Frome: Crockers, 1824. Limited edition, one of only 50 copies, and one of only  11(?) with an original drawing by Hoare bound-in, 4to (278 x 224mm.) Title in red and black, 15 engraved plates mounted on India paper, 2 genealogies, 1 original ink and pencil drawing of Horsley Priory seal bound-in. (Toning, initial blank and front-free endpaper loosened, spotting to plate margins.) Contemporary calf, gilt borders, g.e. (upper cover detached, extremities rubbed). Note: a pencil inscription on the front pastedown suggests that eleven copies of the 50 had an original drawing of Horsely Priory seal bound-in by Hoare, but only ever this copy with the drawing has surfaced at auction. It was owned by Hoare’s son, Harry, so it’s very likely this was the author’s own copy and that the drawing can be attributed to him. Provenance: Harry Hoare, cricketer, son of author (bookplate to the front-free endpaper); Hugh F. Hornby (bookplate to the front pastedown).

MANUSCRIPT. – MEDICINE. [A hand-written materia medica. N.p.: circa 1760.] 102pp., manuscript, 8vo (199 x 114mm.) 51 numbered leaves in a densely written legible hand relating numerous cures, remedies and medical advice and, often, outlining the theory behind the advice, and citing sources. (Lacking pp.9-10, several leaves loose, all leaves with some loss to outer margin, occasionally text affected, text-block detached from covers.) Contemporary calf (dried and stiff, browned, some loss to lower cover). Note: beings with the benefits of ‘green tea’ (‘hastens digestion, provokes urine, cleanses and purifies the blood’) and the health-giving properties of a variety of seeds (cardamon seeds being ‘an antidote against the plague’), there’s a long analysis on ‘blood’ (it being ‘the foundation of life, the treasure of life’) and blood-letting is often the cure. There are entries on ‘mad dog bites’ and ‘any mad animal’, the ‘plague’, nervous ailments, and also ways of dealing with ‘incubus, or nightmare’ (‘sleep on your side with head raised’), and even some comparative medicine (‘The Turks way of dealing with the plague may not be as learned as ours…’). Several times the ‘Gentleman’s Magazine’ from the early 1750’s is cited as a source.

MANUSCRIPT. – M. WALLIS. [A hand-written apothecary’s note-book. N.p.: 1729-1816-1824.] 72pp., manuscript, 12mo (129 x 66mm.) 42 leaves with 17pp. of hand-written recipes for household potions in a single legible hand, 54pp. for medical cures, mostly in a single hand, also a few notes from the original owner, dating from 1729, also 13pp. and title from ‘The Royal Almanack of Ireland, for the Year of Christ 1729’ mounted on leaves, with medical notes to the margins, a 3pp. manuscript index to rear. (Browning.) 18th century calf (lower cover nearly detached, annotations to pastedowns). Note: begins with an apothecary’s list of weight conversions, the household concoctions are for removing stains, blacking shoes, to clean plates, make ink etc., the medical ones are fairly extensive, involving laxatives, bowel pain, measles, asthma, worms, bile and different types of coughing.

MANUSCRIPT. – COOKERY. [A hand-written book of recipes. N.p.: 1841-1869.] 72pp., manuscript, 8vo (189 x 136mm.) 36 leaves with numerous recipes in a single legible hand in black ink, a few leaves in blue ink and a different hand, approx. 30pp. blank to rear. (Toning, occasional spotting.) Contemporary boards (covers detached, worn). Note: mostly recipes for deserts, some fairly aspirational, ‘A stylish pudding’, ‘a French pudding’, ‘maids of honour’, but also for ‘sugar biscuits’, ‘orange jelly’ and ‘strawberry cake’ etc.

MANUSCRIPT. – Catherine M. CALLUM. [A hand-written book of recipes. N.p.: 1853-1857.] 97pp., manuscript, 8vo (147 x 95mm.) Numerous recipes in a single legible hand, often dated and placed, mostly at ‘140, Buchanan Street, Glasgow’. (Toning, occasional crease.) Original black wrappers (lightly rubbed, minor discolouring). Note: many of the recipes are for soups or deserts, puddings and short-breads, so very likely a recipe book for a café on one of the busiest roads in central Glasgow. Provenance: Catherine M. Callum (ink name inscribed verso upper cover). – And a further four late 19th century recipe books (one with 33pp. of hand-written recipes, another with 136pp.) (5).

DICKENS, Charles. Bleak House. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1853. First edition, early issue, 8vo (209 x 134mm.) Half-title, etched additional title, 38 etched plates by H.K. Browne. (Toning, browning to plates.) Near contemporary blue half calf over marbled paper-covered boards, red morocco lettering (some loss to lettering piece, extremities rubbed). – And a further three volumes by Charles Dickens (including ‘Dombey and Son’, 1848, 8vo, and ‘Little Dorrit’, 1857, 8vo, and ‘Our Mutual Friend’, 2 vols. in 1, 1865, 8vo) (4).

DICKENS, Charles. Pictures From Italy. London: for the Author by Bradbury & Evans,1846. First edition, first issue, 8vo (173 x 110mm.) 2pp. publisher’s advertisement to front and 2pp. publisher’s leaf to rear, half-title, wood-engraved vignette to title and 3 further wood-engraved illustrations after Samuel Palmer. (Toning, light spotting to preliminaries, text-block cracked at p.96 and p.112.) Original blue blind-stamped cloth (extremities bumped). – And a further three volumes related to Charles Dickens (including ‘American Notes for General Circulation’, 1850, 8vo, and ‘American Notes and Pictures From Italy’, 1885, 8vo, and ‘Little Dorrit’, 1857, 8vo). [Eckel, 135-136.] (4).

PHILOSOPHY. – George BERKELEY. Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous. In Opposition to Sceptics and Atheists. London: 1776. 8vo (209 x 124mm.) (Minor spotting to title, toning.) Contemporary calf-backed boards, black morocco lettering piece (damp-stain to upper cover, repairs to board corners). Note: the work that outlined Berkeley’s philosophical distinction between mind and matter.

CLASSICS. – William MELMOTH (translator). The Letters of Pliny the Consul: With Occasional Remarks. London: R. Dodsley, 1747. 2 vols., 8vo (203 x 122mm.) Half titles, titles in red and black with engraved vignettes, 4pp. ‘Index’ to rear. (Marginal browning to preliminaries and rear leaves.) Contemporary calf, red morocco lettering pieces to the spines (extremities rubbed, some loss to lettering piece of volume I, pencil annotations to pastedowns). Provenance: Jacob Camber (ink name inscribed to front-free endpapers); H.L. Hobart (bookplate to front pastedowns) (2).

[ADDISON, Joseph and Richard STEELE.] The Spectator. London: for J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper, 1749. 8 vols., 8vo (164 x 97mm.) 8 engraved frontispieces, engraved portrait on titles. (Occasional browning.) Contemporary calf, tan morocoo lettering pieces to the spines (extremities rubbed, joints splitting to four volumes, outer hinges of volume IV and VIII weakened). Provenance: Louisa F. Greville (name inscribed to front-free endpapers). – And a further eight volumes (Joseph Addison and Richard Steele’s ‘[The Tatler, or] The Lucubrations of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq.’, 4 vols., 1754, 8vo, and a further set of the same, dated 1774) (16).

GAZETTES. The Westminster Magazine, or the Pantheon of Taste, containing a View of the History, Politics, Literature, Manners, Gallantry and Fashions of the Year 1782. London: for John Walker, 1782. Vol. X. 12 monthly issues in 1, 8vo (211 x 126mm.) 21 engraved plates, 9 folding, including the folding map of ‘The East Indies of Indostan’. (Toning, occasional light spotting.) Late 20th century black half morocco over marbled paper-covered boards (endpapers replaced). – And a further three volumes ([Edmund Burke’s] ‘Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politicks, and Literature, of the Year 1761’, 1762, 8vo, and Browne Willis’ ‘Notitia Parliamentaria: or, a History of the Counties, Cities, and Boroughs in England and Wales’, 1730, 8vo, and ‘The European Magazine, and London Review’, Jan-June 1806, 8vo) (4).

SATIRE. – [William HALES and Thomas James MATHIAS.] Irish Pursuits of Literature in A.D. 1798, and 1799. Dublin: for J. Milliken, 1799. First edition, 8vo (210 x 127mm.) Half-title, a mock title-page for ‘Pursuits of Literature’ by ‘Octavius, with ‘Second Thoughts’, and ‘Rival Translations’, and 16pp. of a satirical ‘List of Standard Books’, and William Hales’ ‘The  Monstrous Republic’. (Occasional browning and light spotting.) Contemporary boards (rebacked with original morocco lettering piece to spine, renewed endpapers, extremities rubbed). Provenance: United Presbyterian College (bookplate to the front pastedown); Michael Emerson MacRoberts (bookplate to front-free endpaper). – And a further volume related to Ireland (Henry Piers’ ‘A Chronological Description of the County of West-Meath’, Numbers I-IV of ‘Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis’, 1770-1775, 8vo) (2).