Bibliotheca Smithiana, seu Catalogus Librorum D. Josephi Smithii Angli per Cognoma Authorum dispositus
by (SMITH, Joseph)
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
New York, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Finely engraved coat-of-arms on title. Title printed in red & black. 4 p.l., xliii, dxix (i.e. dxvii), [1], cccxlviii (i.e. ccclii), [3] pp. Thick large 4to, orig. publisher's vellum over boards, fleuron in gilt in center of covers with gilt fleurons in each corner, double gilt fillet round sides, spine gilt, brown morocco lettering piece on spine, a.e.g. Venice: Typis J.B. Pasquali, 1755. Third edition and the first complete edition of the catalogue of Smith's magnificent collection of incunabula and a few early manuscripts. Smith (1682-1770), was British Consul at Venice and, in 1765, sold his superb library to George III for 10,000 pounds. It thus became the nucleus of the "King's Library" and of the British Museum (now Library). This copy has the 352-page Appendix which reprints in full some 200 prefaces, dedications, and epilogues contained in incunabula - a unique anthology. Smith's library was rich in incunabula, early printed books, Italian literature, history, art, architecture, and antiquities. Horace Walpole sneered at Smith as "the merchant of Venice" who knew nothing of his books save their title-pages, but the censure is quite undeserved. Fine copy in the original publisher's binding. ❧ Gustave Brunet, Dictionnaire de Bibliologie Catholique, col. 625. De Ricci, pp. 54-55. Taylor, Book Catalogues, pp. 261-62.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 2614
- Title
- Bibliotheca Smithiana, seu Catalogus Librorum D. Josephi Smithii Angli per Cognoma Authorum dispositus
- Author
- (SMITH, Joseph)
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Hardcover
Terms of Sale
Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc.
5 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 5 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc.
Biblio member since 2009
New York, New York
About Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc.
By appointment
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Incunabula
- Incunabula (incunable or incunabulum) refers to a book printed before 1501 - a pamphlet, a book or document that was not...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Vellum
- Vellum is a sheet of specialty prepared skin of lamb, calf, or goat kid used for binding a book or for printing and writing. ...