Search Results: Authors starting with D from Asher Rare Books

[4], 15, [1 blank].Dissertation by the Swedish entomologist Anders Gustav Dahlbom (1806-1859) on the classification of wasps in Sweden. With Carl Fredrik Fallén (1764-1830) as praeses. Some staining, otherwise in good condition.l BMC NH, p. 413; Horn & Schenkling 4304; WorldCat (7 copies).

5 ll. + 8 ll.Four rare dissertations on entomology, all with the Swedish entomologist Anders Gustav Dahlbom (1806-1859) as praeses. The dissertations were by Julius Eduardus Wallerius, Johannes Elaus Lundquist, Georg Erlan Psilander, and Laurent Arvid Bergh. The dissertations are printed op folded pages, listing and describing various insect species according to family and genus. Edges somewhat frayed, otherwise in good condition.l Horn & Schenkling, Dahlbom, 20.

[120] pp. bound with 46 blank free endleaves: [12] pp. at the front and [22 (coated paper)], [12] pp. at the back.An unrecorded early 18th-century edition of a Dutch almanac, printed by the heirs of Albert Magnus in Amsterdam, in a remarkable, beautifully gold-tooled binding with pin fastenings. The present work is a merchant's almanac for the leap year 1712, which could also be used as a type of diary and notebook in one. Ample blank space is left for each day throughout the printed almanac and it is bound together with 22 pages (11 leaves) of blank, coated paper on which the silver stylus (or the graphite in it) could be used to make notes, as well as numerous plain free endleaves at the front (6 leaves each). Unsurprisingly, these blank pages do contain some 18th-century manuscript annotations. The printed almanac collates A-D12 E-F6 = 60 ll.The present work is not only the only known, otherwise unrecorded copy of Van Dam’s almanac for the year 1712, other copies of Van Dam's merchant almanacs for… Read More

A splendid composite atlas in a beautiful and well-balanced colouring, probably from a single professional workshop, including the work of Johannes Danckerts, Justus Danckerts, Theodorus Danckerts, Cornelis Danckerts, Carel Allard, Abraham Allard, Nicolaas Visscher I & II, Frederik de Wit, Pieter Mortier, Caspar Specht) and even a map of North America by Alexis-Hubert Jaillot in Paris.The makeup of the atlas resembles that of one published by Theodorus and Cornelis III Danckerts sometime between 1703 and 1713 (Koeman, Dan 4). Not only do 13 of the present 20 Danckerts maps and plates appear in that atlas, but it also apparently begins with the same allegorical title-page, drawn by Gerard van Houten and engraved by Petrus Schenk I and ends with the same plate of flags. Both include Cornelis Danckerts's Nieuw Aerdsch Pleyn, a world map in an equidistant polar projection. Although nearly half the maps in the present atlas are by the Danckerts family, several of the most recent maps in the atlas are by… Read More

12 pp.Extract of a report describing the important discovery of a new method to fabricate soda ash (Sodium carbonate) - widely used for cleaning, water softening and manufacturing glass and other products - using sea salt (Sodium chloride). At the end of the 18th century the department of public health in France asked the French chemists Jean Darcet (1724-1801), Claude-Hugo Lelièvre (1752-1835) and Bertrand Pelletier (1761-1797) to investigate and describe all the known processes for fabricating soda ash and to experiment with new processes. The present extract is part of their report, examining and describing the methods discovered by Alban, Athenas, Chaptal & Bérard, Guyton & De Carny and Ribaucourt. First, however, they describe the process discovered by Nicolas Leblanc, which proved to be the most important one and played a crucial role in the later industry.Leblanc discovered a rather easy way to make soda ash out of sea salt. His method greatly benefitted many industrial companies, not only as… Read More

[12], 408, [1], [3 blank] pp.First and only Portuguese edition of parts II and III of Erasmus Darwin's Zoonomia, or the laws of organic life (London, 1794-96). In Zoonomia, Darwin covered nearly all aspects of animal biology and proposed revolutionary ideas that in many ways anticipated the evolutionary theory of his grandson Charles Darwin. Baeta, who annotated this edition, was a proselytizer for Erasmus Darwin's theories. He had to flee Portugal for fear of persecution due to his sympathies with the French Revolution. He studied medicine at Edinburgh and returned to Lisbon, where he entered politics. His works were printed in England and Lisbon. Manuscript ownership entry in ink on title "Jorge Gaspar de Oliveira Rollão". In very good condition. The binding is rubbed and the spine damaged, primarily near the foot. The only Portuguese translation of one of Erasmus Darwin's main works.l Innocêncio III, 190; Lisbon, Faculdade de Medicina, Catálogo da coleção portuguesa I, 39; Ferreira de Mira,… Read More

XVIII, [1], 20-50 pp.First edition of a brief work on molluscs, worms and zoophytes, by the French zoologist François Marie Daudin (1774-1803). He describes several molluscs, including four new species of worms (worm snails), giving a brief physical description in Latin, and a physical and habitat description in French. All the species are depicted on the engraved plates. Other sections contain comments on several mollusc families and the classification of molluscs. Only a few small spots. Binding rubbed, slightly worn along the extremities. Overall in very good condition.l BMC NH, p. 425; Junk, Thes. libr. conchyliorum 86.

XXIV, 594 pp.First and only edition of the German translation of Voyage aux iles de Trinidad, de Tabago, de la Marguerite … (Paris, 1813). It was translated with additions by C.A.W. von Zimmerman. This is the only translation made after the French original. It was published as part of the series Neue Bibl. D. wichtigsten Resebeschr., 5. The author, Jean-François Dauxion-Lavaysse (ca.1770-ca. 1830), describes at length the islands of Trinidad, Tobago, Isla de Margarita and the coast of Venezuela. In a manner between empirical observation and anecdotal accounts he touches on several aspects, such as natural history, geography, geology, socio-political structures and history. He had lived as a planter on Trinidad and drew from his experiences there. Also included is a part concerning the "negro race". The large folding map at the end shows the area between Isla de Margarita and Tobago, with details of the mouth of the Orinoco river in Venezuela.Slightly foxed, minor holes in the margin of the first few… Read More

[2], XIV, [2], 152; XVI, 256; 8, [2], 270, [1 blank] pp.First and only edition of a very rare pioneering work of botany in Wales, cataloguing the plants of the Isle of Anglesey (off the coast of northwest Wales), bound together with a rare list of plants in the Southampton Botanic Garden. With the text in Latin, English and Welsh. Slightly foxed, ex-library stamps on the first and the last end-paper. Top of title-page cut off and repaired with the missing text written in ink.l Ad. 1: Pritzel 2076; not in Arnold Arboretum; Ad. 2: Arnold Arboretum II, p. 42.

70; 18; 30 pp.Three rare related treatises concerning the uses of certain plants. The two by the licentiate in medicine Joannes Baptista De Beunie are the winning answers to a competition of the Letterkundige Maatschappij van Brussel (Literary Society of Brussels) and treat the medical and other applications of plants from the Low Countries, especially the dyeing of cloth. Du Rondeau made some observations concerning the first question and treats the growing of Rhubarb, dyeing with fresh madder and tanning leather.Some leaves in the third work a bit browned, otherwise in very good condition.l Ad 1: Anet (1 copy); Pritzel 757; STCV (3 copies); WorldCat (6 copies); ad 2: Anet (1 copy); Pritzel 2561; STCV (3 copies); WorldCat (6 copies, incl. 1 the same); ad 3: STCV (1 copy); WorldCat (5 copies); not in Anet; Pritzel.

XXXIX, [1], 621; 491, [1] pp.

[12], 352 pp.First edition of Dralsé de Grandpierre's imaginary voyages to Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, the Western African lands of Guinea, Ouidah (Benin), Martinique, Indonesia and Ile de la Pierre Blanche. The first part of the account presents a description of the voyage to Buenos Aires and Argentina. The second part is dedicated to his imprisonment by the English, during which he came to visit certain parts of Africa. After his liberation, he travelled back to Martinique. When the author arrived in Martinique he joined a group of buccaneers that brought him back to France.In the third part he describes his journey back to Africa, where he visited the Kingdom of Ouidah or Benin. After that, he returned to Mexico, a city that he describes as rich, lively and almost European. The fourth part is devoted to a newly inhabited island in the strait of Malacca and to Ile de la Pierre-Blanche. Dralsé de Grandpierre devotes large parts of his account to the religion, customs and trades of the inhabitants… Read More

[8], 196; [2], 67, [2 blank], 96 pp.First edition (apparently expanded from a planned 1654 issue that seems not to have been published) of Jeremias de Decker's collected verses, including verses he translated. De Decker (1609-1666) was one of the most important poets of the second generation of the Dutch golden age and a follower of P.C. Hooft and Vondel. The printer-publisher Jacob Colom (the “J.K.” of the present title) had published the first book of De Decker’s epigrams (Punt-dichten), his first published work, in 1650. collected and edited his works for the present edition. Already in 1651, his long series of original verses devoted to Jesus, Goede vrydag (Good Friday) appeared in a published collection, where they stood next to the work of Hugo de Groot, P.C. Hooft and Vondel, and became his best-known work. His translation of the Latin Baptistes, a tragic play about John the Baptist by the Scottish humanist George Buchanan (1506-1582), written ca. 1541 but not published until 1577, was… Read More

[2], 174 [1], [1 blank]; 104; [2], 159, [1]; 176; [2], 164; 123, [1 blank]; [2], 130; 243, [1 blank] pp.First edition of a Dutch encyclopedic textbook on the art of conjuring, anonymously published in 4 volumes over 4 years. The book contains information on "white magic", based on many earlier published works of that time, describing and explaining numerous conjuring tricks with ropes, knives, watches, playing cards, etc, most of them clarified in the illustrations. Also explained are various disappearing tricks, mind reading, chemical tricks, number and word tricks, secret alphabets, etc. The author gives 13 basic rules for performing magicians, which derive from the Testament de Jerome Sharp, which was included in Henri Decremps's La magie blanche dévoilée.Bindings slightly rubbed along the extremities. Otherwise in very good condition.l Buijnsters, Verzamelen van boeken, p. 222; Nijhoff, Sale cat., Oct. 1900 (coll. J.L. Beijers), item 1796; STCN 160528283.

Beautiful collection of 10 views of the capital of the Dutch East Indies, Batavia, drawn by Charles Theodore Deeleman (1823-1884), lithographed by G.J. Bos and printed by P.W.M. Trap at Leiden. The 10 views depict the harbour of Batavia, the gate of the former castle of Batavia, the Chinese camp nearby Pintoe Kitjil, Molenvliet en Rijswijk with the building of the Union 'De Harmonie', the post office at Weltevreden, the Waterloo-square, the official residence of the general of the army, view of the north side of the cemetery of Batavia, the military school at Meester Cornelis, Goenong Sahari and the road to Jakarta.Title-page pasted on larger leaf of blue paper; some occasional foxing and staining. Good copy.l Bastin & Brommer 602; Haks & Maris, p. 69; Landwehr, Coloured plates 267.

Interesting manuscript map of the fortifications of Geertruidenberg and the attack by the French Revolutionary Army between 11 and 18 January 1795. Signed for approval by Jean-François-Aimé Dejean (1794-1824), a French engineer and commander in the Army of the North, who in 1800 became Inspector-General of fortifications and in 1804 was appointed as Napoleon's Minister of Administration of War. Three other Dutch fortification plans attributed to Dejean are located in Royal Library of Belgium.Paper watermarked with Beehive above "JH & Z" (cf. Heawood 54). In very good condition.l For Dejean: NBG XXIII, cols. 378-379.

[6], 435, [1 blank] pp.Rare first edition of an extensive herbal compiled by the Belgian landowner Lievin-Amand Delathauwer. As he states in the preface, Delathauwer wished to create a herbal in the Dutch language, as an addition to the many French works. It opens with a preface and introduction, followed by a general chapter covering all the different components of a plant. Next is a section on gardening and classification of plants and herbs. The majority of the work consists of descriptions of herbs, arranged alphabetically, mentioning the plant's habitat, characteristics and special properties if there are any. Each volume closes with an index for that volume. The fourth volume also contains a chapter on plant cultivation, plant diseases and pesticides. With a collector's label on title-page. Only very slightly browned with a few minor spots, overall in very good condition.l Anet (3 copies); BMC NH, p. 437.

[6], III, 134; [4], 107 pp.First edition of the travel account of the explorer and naturalist Adolphe François Delesset (1809- 1869) who accompanied Perrotet on his journey to India and Southeast Asia, dedicated to his uncle Baron Benjamin Delesset . During five years (1834-39) he collected several new species of plants and animals including the Wynaad laughing thrush which he collected on the slopes of the Nilgiris, which Thomas C. Jerdon named Garrulax delesserti in his honour. He travelled through Mauritius, Reunion Island, Penang, Pondicherry, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Java, Calcutta, Bengal, Bombay and Madras, returning on 30 April 1839.Spine partly detached, some plates browned and foxed, but otherwise in good condition.l Chadenat 556 (“Très finement coloriées; ouvrage très important au point de vue de la zoologie”).

[3], [1 blank], LVII, 58-60, 1-75, [1 blank]; [3], [1 blank], 510, [5], [1 blank] pp.First edition of a hunting and fishing (including angling) dictionary, listing numerous terms and animals, by the French Jean-Baptiste-Claude Delisle de Sales (1741-1816). It describes how to lure, catch and kill various animals (birds, mammals, fish), giving advice on setting up traps and choosing the right bait. It also includes a list of authors on which Delisle de Sales based his work, including Aristotle, Belon, Buffon, Gesner, Pliny and many others, and an extensive preface.Only an occasional small spot, in very good condition, wholly untrimmed. Paper wrappers heavily worn along the spine, front wrapper of first volume detached.l Schwerdt I, p. 137; Thiébaud 260.

XII, 84 pp.First and only edition of the first fascicule on the taxonomy of invertebrates in the Kingdom of Naples, by the Neapolitan zoologist, botanist, anatomist and physician Stefano Delle Chiaje (1794-1860)On the same subject and in the same mould Chiaje published later his Descrizione e notomia degli animali Invertebrati della Sicilia Citeriore (1841-44) in which he gave a profound synthesis of the results he had published already in the present work on the vertebrates of Naples ca. 15 years earlier.Original wrappers disoloured; a very good copy.l BM, Nat. Hist. I, p. 343; Nicolucci, "Sulla vita e sulle opere di Stefano delle Chiaie", in: Memorie di matematica e di fisica della Società italiana delle scienze III (1879), pp. ccxxiii-cxxxix.