FISHER, Irving.

Mathematical Investigations in the Theory of Value and Prices. Read April 27, 1892. [in:] Transactions of...

New Haven, by the Academy, 1892.

First appearance of Fisher’s ‘startlingly original PhD thesis’ (Blaug) which contained, among other things, the design of a machine to illustrate general equilibrium in a multi-market economy. This work expounds his monetary theories and established his international reputation.

£5500

FRY, Theodore.

A brief Memoir of Francis Fry, F.S.A. of Bristol. By his Son … Not published.

[London, Printed by Barclay and Fry,] 1887.

First edition. Francis Fry (1803–1886) of Bristol, the preeminent student and collector of English Bibles in his time, was also an active partner in the Quaker family firm of chocolate and porcelain manufacturers and type founders. Among his publications were a facsimile of the first complete...

£850

[BOOKBINDER.]

Sentence rendue en la chambre criminelle du Châtelet de Paris, qui condamne Guillaume Maillet, maître relieur,...

Paris, Jean-Charles Desaint, 1782.

Scarce pamphlet documenting the misdemeanours of the Parisian master bookbinder Guillaume Maillet.

£575

[FIELDING, Sarah.] 

The adventures of David Simple: containing an account of his travels through the cities of London and Westminster,...

London, printed for A. Millar, 1744. 

First edition, very fine.  The first and most popular novel of Sarah, the sister of Henry Fielding, who was to provide a preface and a few revisions to the second edition. 

£1500

[HERALDRY.]

Manuscripts relating to Low Countries nobility.

[Low Countries, mid-17th century?].

A fine set of manuscripts relating to Low Countries heraldry and history compiled by a learned local antiquary.

£1500

WAPPEROM, Jacobus Joannes. 

Gezangen door J.J. Wapperom. 

The Hague, 1805. 

Very rare collection of songs by the Dutch notary and poet Wapperom (1763–1822), one of only a small number of copies produced, decorated by the author himself and distributed among his friends and family. 

£675

[WESLEY, John (editor).]

Excerpta ex Ovidio, Virgilio, Horatio, Juvenali, Persio, et Martiali: in usum juventutis Christianae....

Bristol, typis F. Farley, 1749.

First edition of one of the textbooks that Wesley compiled for the school that he founded at Kingswood, Bristol, in 1748. Finding contemporary textbooks inadequate, he published an astonishing number of works for his pupils – grammars, editions of classics, and other introductions to learning....

£1100

[DE LA COSTE.]

Voyage philosophique d’Angleterre fait en 1783 et 1784.

A Londres. Et se trouve à Paris, chez Poinçoit … 1787.

First edition, second issue, with cancel title-pages redated 1787 (first 1786) – an interesting and detailed sociological discussion of England and in the English on the eve of the French Revolution, in the form of discursive letters. The author deals with London’s institutions and buildings, taverns...

£250

TENNYSON, Alfred, Lord.

A Welcome …

London: Edward Moxon & Co. … 1863.

Second edition, distinguished from the first by the hollow diamond at the centre of the French rule beneath the title.

£40

[MULLIS, William].

A brief Account of the Blue Coat Hospital, and Public Library, in the College, Manchester, founded by Humphrey...

Manchester: Printed by Leech … 1826.

Sole edition, privately printed and very rare. William Mullis was the deputy librarian of Chetham’s Library, the oldest free public reference library in the English-speaking world. It was founded in 1653, along with the Blue Coat School (two years earlier), by bequests from the merchant and banker...

£600

MACDONNEL, David Evans.

A Dictionary of Quotations, in most frequent use. Taken from the Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian...

London: Printed for G. G. and J. Robinson … 1797

First edition of the first English dictionary of quotations (Alston), albeit in foreign tongues. Drawn principally from Latin authors, with some quotations from living languages (mainly French) and some phrases from the law, the dictionary was compiled over some years by ‘look[ing] into every publication...

£650

[FORD, James, editor].

The Suffolk Garland: or, a Collection of Poems, Songs, Tales, Ballads, Sonnets, and Elegies, legendary and...

Ipswich: Printed and Sold by John Raw; Sold also by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown; and Rodd and Son, London. 1818

First edition of a miscellany of verse, much of it ephemeral, selected by the antiquary James Ford (1770-1850), perpetual curate of St. Laurence, Ipswich. In the preface Ford provides an outline of the history of ballads, drolleries, and penny literature and of how they have been collected by Pepys and...

£275

HEADRICK, Rev.

James. View of the Mineralogy, Agriculture, Manufactures and Fisheries of the Island of Arran. With Notices of Antiquities,...

Edinburgh: Printed by D. Willison, for Archibald Constable and Co. Edinburgh, and John Murray, 32. Fleet-Street, London. 1807.

First edition. The eccentric clergyman and geologist James Headrick (1759-1841) pursued a lifelong interest in the natural sciences and for a time found employment with Sir John Sinclair, probably working on The Statistical Account of Scotland. He was disappointed in repeated attempts to secure an academic...

£250

HOLCROFT, Thomas.

The Family Picture; or, domestic Dialogues on amiable and interesting Subjects: illustrated by Histories, Allegories,...

London: Printed for Lockyer Davis … Printer to the Royal Society. 1783

First edition of an early work by the radical playwright and novelist Thomas Holcroft. The Egerton family gather in the library every evening to tell stories for their mutual instruction and amusement. The novel takes the form of twenty dialogues, and each includes a number of shorter tales. Several...

£950

[BROWN, Thomas, M.D.].

The Bower of Spring, with other Poems … Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable and Co. and Longman,...

Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable and Co. and Longman, Hurst Rees, Orme and Brown, London. 1817

First edition. Brown was professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh and a prolific versifier (‘among the few Classical Writers of this scribbling generation’ according to the Edinburgh Review – for which Brown was a regular contributor).

£225

TRIMMER, Mrs.

[Sarah]. An Explanation of the Office for the public Baptism of Infants; and of the Order for the Confirmation of...

London: Printed for T. Longman, and G. G. J. and J. Robinson … and J. Johnson … 1791

First edition, dedicated with the Queen’s permission to the royal princess, Princess Mary. According to the Analytical Review there were two versions of his work with the same imprint, this one (not in ESTC), which sold for 1 s., and one with added catechistical questions for teachers (BL. Bodley,...

£650

WALKER, John.

An economical History of the Hebrides and Highlands of Scotland ... in two Volumes ... Edinburgh: Printed at the...

Edinburgh: Printed at the University Press; 1808

First edition. The eminent naturalist John Walker (1731-1803), professor of natural history in the University of Edinburgh (Smollett was one of his students) and keeper of the university museum, made six long journeys into the Highlands and Islands from 1760 to 1786. He was commissioned by the General...

£450

BURLINGTON FINE ARTS CLUB.

List of Books in the Library of the Burlington Fine Arts Club. London: Printed for the Burlington Fine...

London: Printed for the Burlington Fine Arts Club … 1887

First edition, ‘printed for circulation among the Members of the Club … to direct their attention to the fact that the nucleus of an Art Library exists’ and to encourage donation of books and subscriptions to the library fund.

£450

WILMOT, John, Esq.

Memoirs of the Life of the Right Honourable Sir John Eardley Wilmot, Knt. Late Lord Chief Justice of the Court...

‘Second edition’, expanded; first published in quarto in 1802. The Memoirs of John Eardley Wilmot (1709-1792) were authored by his son John Wilmot (1748-1815), likewise a lawyer. This copy belonged to John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon (1751-1838), who records this copy as having been given by Wilmot’s...

£450

ANDERSEN, Hans Christian.

The Improvisatore: or, Life in Italy. From the Danish … Translated by Mary Howitt. In two Volumes …...

London: Richard Bentley … 1845

First edition in English of Andersen’s autobiographical novel reflecting his travels in Italy. The poet and novelist Caroline Norton (1808-1877) obviously valued it highly, and there are pencilled marginal scorings and underlings throughout. She was a granddaughter of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and...

£550