Search Results: Authors starting with K from Asher Rare Books

XXXII, 365, [1] pp.First Dutch translation of one of the most popular 18th-century books on the Pacific, and the main source of early knowledge of the Pelew or Palau Islands in Micronesia, first published in London as An account of the Pelew Islands (1788). In 1773, the Antelope under command of Captain Henry Wilson was shipwrecked near one of the Palau Islands, a previously unexplored group. The crew managed to reach shore, where they were well treated by the natives. They built a small boat from the wreck, in which they reached Macao. They took Lee Boo, the son of Abba Thulle, King of the Palau Islands, with them to England where he made a very good impression. Unfortunately, he soon died of smallpox. The map covers from the equator to 24°N latitude and from 110 to 159°E longitude (from Borneo and the south coast of China in the west to the western Caroline Islands). With a minor stain in the front endpapers, slightly affecting the margin of the first portrait, but not approaching the image. The… Read More

[32], 866, [2] pp.Very rare and complete copy of this theological work by Dionysius van der Keessel (1700-1755), who was a minister of the Reformed Church at Deventer. This work deals with the the Lord's mercy and other principles regarding the Dutch reformed branch of christianity and includes rules and other extracts from the Synod in Dordrecht (1618-1619). It is dedicated to Willem IV, Prince of Oranje-Nassau (1711-1751), who was the first hereditary stadtholder of all the United Provinces of the Netherlands from 1747 until his death.With an owner's inscription in black ink on the recto of the first flyleaf: "A Bram Zeddeman[?] Geboren te Voorschoten in jaar 1868 W D H verhagen Geboren te Rotterdam Den 26 jan 1874". Very slight browning throughout, binding slightly soiled. Otherwise in good condition.l STCN 146227794 (3 copies); WorldCat (4 copies - 3 the same as STCN plus 1 at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek); not in Van der Haar, Schatkamer van de gereformeerde theologie.

[14], 311, [1] pp.Second edition of a work on all aspects of horses, horsemanship, the horse trade, horse carriages etc.. The work contains 6 chapters by Karl Kegel and 12 by Seufert von Tenecker, and 3 early lithographed plates. It was first published in 1817 and was apparently very popular as the present edition contains a 6-page list of subscribers. It was followed by several other editions.A stain in the last folding plate and some smudges on the binding. Good copy.l Not in Mennessier de la Lance; Nissen, ZBI; Podeschi.

[4], 360 ppVery rare first edition of a Dutch picaresque novel telling the story of the girl Janneton, who was born in Brussels and moved with her parents to Amsterdam when she was 9. When she was around 16 she made plans to leave town with her lover, Charles, after being frequently beaten by her father. Unsurprisingly her father didn't agree and put her away in a monastery. After several months she fled the monastery with her lover only to be raided by bandits, and Charles was killed. Janneton ended up on her own, travelled through Europe and eventually reached Cartagena, Spain, where she took a ship back to the Netherlands. During her voyage the ship got caught in a storm and ended up in front of the north African coast where it was captured by African pirates. Janneton was soon sold to an Arabic slave trader, with whom she got along very well. They travelled together through Africa and Asia, before ending up on his estate in Arabia. Eventually she managed to get back her freedom and travelled back… Read More

[2], 22 ppImportant early dissertation on the respiration and assimilation of plants, with detailed descriptions of experiments. Thesis by Matthias Keventer (1735-1805) with Gustavus Harmens as preases. In very good condition, with traces of marbled paper along the spine.l Krok, p. 342 (Keventer 1); Pritzel 3784; WorldCat (2 copies).

[4], xxiv; 24, “33”-“37” [=25-29], [1 blank]; [3], 34-37 pp.First and only edition of a collection of rare 17th-century tracts concerning herring fishery in Great Britain and the Dutch Republic, which was a common cause of conflict between the two nations. The anonymous compiler of the collection, who may have written the introduction as well, was likely a British man in the mid-18th century, advocating for the establishment of a stronger British herring fishery in his own time. With the two tracts on the Dutch herring fishery by the economic writer John Keymer (1584-1622) and the Dutch grand pensionary Johan de Witt (1625-1672), he tried to show the advantages of the herring fishery for the Dutch Republic, hoping to stimulate the English fishery.The third tract, written by the English pamphleteer, author, courtier and press censor Sir Roger l'Estrange (1616-1704) outlines how the herring fishery could be of great advantage for Britain and how it can be established. The work is rare: we have found… Read More

XVI, "600" [= 604], 14, [1], [1 blank] pp.First and only edition of a detailed account of the topography and history of Oudewater, including transcripts of ordinances, charters and privileges, compiled and drawn up by the city's bailiff Gaspar Rudolph van Kinschot (1704-1748). With 2 plans of the city, in 1632 and 1746. The views show the "Nieuwe Poort", the castle in 1555, the town hall, the church and a single view showing both the ammunition depot and the orphanage. The inclusion of the arms of Alkmaar with Oudewater and Delft on the dedication engraving seems odd, but the book states (p. 67) that the three cities made an agreement, said to date from 1421, to extend rights to each other's citizens and that for this reason the three coats of arms appear together on many public buildings.With the bookplate of the Connecticut state senator (Charles) McKew Parr (ca. 1884?-post 1961) and his wife Ruth Parr. An occasional leaf with browned patches or marginal water stains, but otherwise in very good… Read More

[14], 229, [3 blank], 32, [8] pp.Rare first and only edition of a description of the Seven Provinces of the Netherlands by Christian Kirchner. The provinces of Holland, Guelders, Zeeland, Utrecht, Friesland, Overijssel and Groningen are each treated in separate chapters with extensive information on the history of their cities, fortresses, etc. The plans depict Amsterdam, Alkmaar, Breda, Vlissingen, The Hague, Hoorn, Haarlem, Leyden, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Zwolle, Zutphen, etc.Near contemporary owner’s inscription of Friederic Bercken dated 1690 on title-page; bookplate and manuscript inscriptions on first fly-leaves. Blank leaf in preliminaries lacking; front hinge weak, but still in good condition.l Bircher, Deutsche Drucke des Barock, B9479; Sloos, Warfare 15043 (1 copy); VD17 3:304600P (6 copies); WorldCat (4 additional copies); not in Bodel Nijenhuis; De Buck; Jähns; Jordan.

[4], XLVIII, 432 pp.First edition of the French translation of a well-known mineralogical work by the Irish chemist, mineralogist and geologist Richard Kirwan (1733-1812). The original English was first published as Elements of mineralogy in 1784, and was "the first systematic mineralogy in English that classifies minerals by their chemical composition" (Schuh). The book opens with a preface, in which Kirwan discusses the position of mineralogy within science in Britain, comparing it to progresses made in France, Germany and Scandinavia. "He concludes that mineralogy must be considered a branch of chemistry. In this regard, Kirwan follows Cronstedt and uses the latter's basic classification, subjugating the mineral species into earths and stones, salts, inflammables and metals, based upon the species' chemistry" (Schuh).With a small bookplate of "Chapelle, capitaine d'artillerie" on paste-down, together with his inscription. Internally in very good condition, only a few tiny spots. Binding very… Read More

[2], 48 pp.The German missionary to India Ferdinand Kittel (1832-1903), presented in 1876 with his Ueber den Ursprung des Lingakultus in Indien a study on the origins of the cult around the lingam in India. The lingam is a sacred object in Hinduism that represents the god Shiva and is considered a symbol of generative power. It is commonly found in Shaivite temples and private shrines across India and is often placed in the centre, surrounded by other deities. Ferdinand Kittel was a missionary of the Basel Mission who made significant contributions to the study of the South Indian language Kannada through his linguistic work. Between the ages of 17 and 21, Kittel attended the Basel Mission Seminary. In 1853, he was sent to India. Unlike other missionaries, he focused more on the language and culture of the local population, leading to the creation of a Kannada dictionary that was published in 1894 with around 30,000 entries.The wrappers are slightly browned and slightly damaged at the head of the… Read More

[2], 48 pp.The German missionary to India Ferdinand Kittel (1832-1903), presented in 1876 with his Ueber den Ursprung des Lingakultus in Indien a study on the origins of the cult around the lingam in India. The lingam is a sacred object in Hinduism that represents the god Shiva and is considered a symbol of generative power. It is commonly found in Shaivite temples and private shrines across India and is often placed in the centre, surrounded by other deities. Unlike the sacred images of deities (murtis), the lingam is aniconic, being simply a cylindrical shape. It is typically paired with the yoni, a disk-shaped emblem of the goddess Shakti, to symbolize the union of the male and female principles and all of existence. TFerdinand Kittel was a missionary of the Basel Mission who made significant contributions to the study of the South Indian language Kannada through his linguistic work. Between the ages of 17 and 21, Kittel attended the Basel Mission Seminary. In 1853, he was sent to India. Unlike… Read More

[1], [1 blank] pp. and 50 leaves showing 91 engraved views.Splendidly bound, incredibly rare collection of views of the castles, houses, churches and towns surrounding the city of Kleve in present-day Germany near the Dutch border at Arnhem and Nijmegen. Here in their first edition, these views were published in instalments by Gerrit Tielenburg in Amsterdam from 1758 to 1762 (see the signatures in the plates) or shortly after. The present work gives an incredible insight into the Dutch-German countryside in the middle of the 18th century. The views were drawn by the Dutch master draughtsman of (city-) views, Jan de Beijer (1703-1780). In total, he produced some 1500 drawings, over 600 of which were reproduced as engravings by other artists. One of these other artist was Paulus van Liender (1731-1797), who engraved De Beijer's drawings for the present publication. In addition to being an expert engraver, De Liender was also draughtsman and painter of Dutch landscapes. Drawings by Jan de Beijer and… Read More

[3], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9; [1], 9, 3 engraved ll.Splendid set, rarely found complete, of 102 monumental engraved views by Salomon Kleiner (1703-1761), devoted to Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt's famous Belvedere palace in Vienna, one of the most famous and magnificent private estates built in de 18th century, owned by Prince Eugene de Savoy (1663-1736). It is accompanied by Kleiner's complementary series on the estate's menagerie, showing some hundred animals and a few plants, many exotic, set among ruins, other buildings, sculptures and fountains. The plates in the 10 parts of the main series show plans, elevations, sections, views of the exterior and especially the lavish interior, details of decoration, sculpture and art. The interiors were designed by Claude le Fort du Plessy, the beautiful frescoes by Jonas Drentwett and the gardens and waterworks by Dominique Girard (imported from Versailles). Sets with all ten parts complete plus the menagerie… Read More

IX, 242, [2]; VIII, [2], 243-496 pp.First edition of an interesting and stunningly illustrated travel book in the form of letters written during a journey through the United States by a Swedish nobleman and lieutenant-colonel of the Swedish Royal Navy. It provides an interesting picture of the United States at the beginning of the 19th century. Klinkowström discusses the important issues of the time: the acquisition of Florida, the Missouri question, slavery, etc. He describes his audience with the United States’ fifth president, James Monroe, and his visit to the theatre in Washington ("Romeo och Juliette"). The highly praised plates were designed by the author and engraved by Arkell. They include views of Gerard’s or Girard’s Bank (as it was known since 1812), designed by Samuel Blodgett and built in 1794 as the First Bank of the United States; Louis Wernwag’s 1812 covered Colossus Bridge crossing the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia in a single span (more than 100 metres), destroyed in a… Read More

[4], 551, 50 pp.First edition of the Dutch translation of Kluge’s important work Versuch einer Darstellung des animalischen Magnetismus als Heilmittel (1811), which the Dutch expert in the field, Joost Vijselaar, calls Kluge's magnum opus. It gives a complete and systematic overview of the science at that time. Kluge treats the history of animal magnetism and gives a detailed overview of the life of Franz Mesmer, together with descriptions of all aspects of magnetism, ordered in six grades. With a library stamp of P.F. Dubois on the half-title. Index at the end of the book (pp. 1-50) with some bolts unopened. In very good condition.l ADB, 16 (1882), pp. 250-251; BMN, I, p. 153; Bulletin des sciences médicales, 7 (1828), p. 267; DSB, IV, p. 560; Joost Vijselaar, De magnetiche geest. Het dierlijk magnetism 1770-1830 (Nijmegen 2001), pp. 220-221, 359-360.

12, 520; [1], [1 blank], 547; [1], [1 blank], 556; IV, 630; [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 652 pp.The first and only edition of Adriaan Kluit's constitutional history of the Dutch Republic to 1795. Kluit (1735-1807) was a renowned historian, lecturer and from 1778 on, with the exception of the years 1795-1802, a professor of Dutch History at Leiden University. He was famous for his use of medieval and other primary sources in writing his history of Holland and Zeeland: Historia critica comitatus Hollandiae et Zeelandiae (1777-1782). Kluit strongly opposed the “Patriots” and supported the princes of Orange as stadtholders, beliefs that led the University to ouste him from his post after the Batavian Revolution in 1795, but they reinstated him in 1802. He wrote the present constitutional history during this “hiatus” as a more objective adaptation of his previous work: De souvereiniteit der Staten van Holland, in which he criticises the constitutional principles of the Patriots. Kluit died as one of… Read More

VIII, 36; [4], 70, [2 blank]; [4], 87, [1 blank], [4], [2 blank] pp.Third Dutch edition, with the illustrations printed from the original plates, of three classic works of pomology (two illustrated). The twenty plates illustrating ninety apples and pears were drawn by the author and engraved by Jan Caspar Philips (ca. 1700-1775) and Jacob Folkema (1692-1767). Those of branches of fruit and nut trees were no doubt drawn by the author as well but are unsigned. Knoop (1700-1769) was gardener to Princess Anne (mother of Willem V, Prince of Orange, and his regent from 1751 to her death in 1759) at her Marienburg estate near Leeuwarden. In this edition, the plates are printed on the outer part of whole sheets bound as folding leaves. This makes it easy to look at the plates while reading the text.In very good condition, with only some browning along old folds in a few plates, a minor marginal water stain in four leaves and the spine slightly chipped. Three standard works on Dutch pomology, well-illustrated… Read More

[2 blank], [10], 300 pp.Rare first edition of a Latin-Dutch dictionary of botanical, pharmacological and medical words by Johann Hermann Knoop (1700-1769). Knoop held the position of curator of the botanical gardens of Mariënburg, the manor house (near Leeuwarden) of Princess Maria Louisa von Hessen Kassel, widow of Johan Willem Friso, Prince of Orange, and regent for their grandson the Dutch Stadtholder Willem V. Knoop was most renowned for his books on pomology and horticulture. He also taught mathematics in Leeuwarden.Spine damaged and some light browning. Untrimmed copy.l NNBW III, cols. 706-707.

[10], 244, [8] pp.First and only edition of an important work on spherical sundials by the Dutch mathematician Johann Hermann Knoop (1700-1769). It describes how to measure and construct different types of sundials, including one inside a hollow half sphere, and a "gnomic" armillary sphere. The plates, engraved by Jan Caspar Philips (1690-1775), depict these sundials. They are bound at the end of the text and can be folded out while consulting the text.Knoop was curator of the gardens of Princes Maria Louisa in Leeuwarden, and taught mathematics in the same city.With two small stamps and a shelf label on title-page. Title-page browned and thumbed, with a water stain in the foot margin, margins slightly browned throughout, with a few small spots. Otherwise in good condition, wholly untrimmed and with most bolts unopened. Binding in very good condition.l Bierens de Haan 2521.

[6], 22, [1 blank], [2], [1 blank] pp.Dissertation by Christian Andreas Koch, who must have been a pupil of the famous Leiden professor of medicine Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738), discussing a rare case of a woman named Geertruda van der Horst in the Leiden hospital with an uterine tumour. In this work, Koch describes the history of the illness, Boerhaave's medical diagnosis and his proposal for curing this woman. The present dissertation is one of his practical lessons to his students at someone's sickbed, teaching students how to recognize and treat diseases by using patients as "teaching material". The present dissertation later appeared in the fourth volume of a collection of academic disputations dealing with gastroenterological but mainly gynaecological diseases by Albrecht von Haller, Disputationes ad morborum historiam (1757-1760). The present work is very rare on the market: we couldn't trace it ever for sale in at least the past 100 years.Some occasional very minor spots, but overall in very… Read More