Search Results: Titles starting with A from Asher Rare Books

A beautiful Dutch whaling scene in watercolour. It shows five large Dutch ships, five smaller rowboats, four whales on the surface being harpooned by the sailors in the rowboats, and two bears in the foreground in the lower right corner. The bears are no doubt supposed to be polar bears, but the artist made them look more like brown bears. While the drawing is signed in black ink in the lower right corner, virtually nothing is known about the artist, except his or her name from the signature: "H. C. Tuyssen(?)".The present scene was inspired by and/or adapted from a famous set of Dutch whaling prints (ca. 1720/25) by Sieuwert van der Meulen and Adolf van der Laen. The initial composition of the scene with the bears on the ice in the foreground reminds us of the print titled "Seylen in 't ys, en soeken na de walvis” (sailing through the ice, and searching for the whale), but it is not a direct copy. The artist seems to have combined parts of three or four prints from the set, to include more ships,… Read More

A blank half-sheet of one of the largest sizes of paper used in the seventeenth-century, a size called “Elephant” in English and “Olifant” (which means elephant) in Dutch and one of the earliest examples of the use of the elephant watermark to indicate this size. The whole untrimmed sheet probably measured about 54 x 75 cm. Its elephant watermark has a capital letter ‘B’ inside the elephant near the top of its back and reads from the mould side, in the left half-sheet (so the elephant faced the centre of the sheet). The watermark measures about 87 x 162 mm. The wires that made the chainlines were unusually fine and spaced on average about 28 mm apart with the watermark in 7 chain-spaces. The general style of the watermark is much like Heawood 1331 (found in a 1649 Blaeu atlas), which also has a roman capital ‘B’ inside the elephant in the same position. Since that watermark apparently has no countermark in the other half of the sheet, ours probably didn’t either. The present elephant… Read More

An interesting collection of documents, mostly in Dutch, including a manuscript travel journal, official documents, photographs, issues of three automotive magazines and newspaper clippings, all concerning the 16th Monte Carlo Automobile Rally of 1937, described by one of the Dutch participants, Bastiaan Cornelis Pieter Hendrik van Baak (1914-2010). Van Baak was a member of the "Wageningsche Studenten Motor Club", a group of 15 motoring and automobile enthusiasts, all students at the University of Wageningen. In 1936 the club joined forces with Jan van de Weerd, the owner of a neighbouring coach company, to take part in this challenging and iconic road trip over a distance of more than 1700 kilometres from Amsterdam to Monte Carlo and the French Riviera.Detailed list of contents available on request

An extensive and wide-ranging collection of brochures, folders and books on climbing and hiking and all other aspects related to mountaineering mainly in the Central European mountain areas. The brochures and folders concentrate on the decisive factor in that far-reaching process: the emergence of tourism. This part of the collection, comprised of 653 rare and beautiful designed travel brochures and folders, show a colorful and fascinating overview of summer tourism in the central European mountain areas (mainly Austria and Switzerland) as it developed since the 1920s: from an exclusive hiking and climbing area for the European elite during the first half of the 20th century, to the very popular and well facilitated commercial centers as we know the today. Many of these were designed by notable (poster) artists such as Herbert Matter (especially interesting because of the photomontage techniques used), Hubert Mumelter, Martin Peikert, Franz Stümvoll, Hans Thoni, and contain numerous photographs from… Read More

Fine painting with Mughal influences, showing a gold-coloured domestic falcon, loosely tied to an elegant, decorated outdoor stand with a waterlily pond forming a background. With four decorative painted borders in various colours and gold, showing various floral and other motifs. The wide outermost border gives the illusion of a mosaic wall behind the painting and other borders. It is executed in the traditional Mughal geometric tiling pattern of 8-pointed stars separated by crosses, each each of the 24 stars containing a small colour painting of a bird, including some from the heron and pigeon families.An extremely attractive falcon painting in Mughal style, in fine condition.

A series of 8 pen and ink drawings (5 coloured, 1 also highlighted in gold), drawn from Chinese books, possibly the 14th-century Sanguo yanyi or Romance of the Three Kingdoms. All mounted on European paper (6 on 3 different patterns of decorated paper). The paper of the drawings ranges from 23.5 x 14 cm to 24 x 15 cm. They show the following (outdoor and indoor scenes):1) 2 warriors on horseback, one of whom has just beheaded the other and carries his head away (the beheaded warrior has not yet fallen from his horse), while his superior watches on horseback with 2 attendants.2) a man standing with a spear in the prow of a boat, while 2 men and a woman sit at a tea table in the boat, which flies a flag and pennant.3) 5 people on 2 boats, one flying a flag and pennant.4) 4 soldiers bringing a woman to a dignitary at his house.5) a delegation visiting a dignitary.6) 2 men playing go, with 4 attendants and a guard.7) a dignitary at a writing table, with attendants and visitors.8) a seated dignitary with 6… Read More

A series of 4 colour drawings of Manchurian(?) scenes. All mounted on Dutch paper probably from the period 1650-1660. The paper of the drawings themselves ranges, in three cases, from 27 x 16 cm to 30 x 19.5 cm; the fourth has been cut down to 16.5 x 17.5 cm. The drawings show the following (all outdoor scenes):1) a dignitary on horseback, with his attendant on foot carrying a parasol.2) 2 ladies, 1 holding the other's sleeve, with a flowering tree and an octagonal stone basin(?).3) a lady with a flowering plant in a basket, with a deer at her side.4) 2 ladies: 1 with a fan; the other leaning on a table with a vase of flowers.All 4 backed with matching European paper watermarked with a 7-point foolscap above "4" and 3 balls. The closest matches in the literature, Laurentius 431-437 (especially 431 and 435), date from 1651 to 1658.

VIII, 269, [1]; IV, 292; VIII, 322; "VIII"[=6], 405, [3] pp.First and only edition of a popular account of a trip from Paris to Naples via Tirol, and from Naples back to the Netherlands by way of Switzerland and along the Rhine, written by the Dutch Adriaan van der Willigen (1766-1841). He made many study trips to Germany, France and Italy, mostly in the company of his friend Chris Evers, to study the art of painting and to visit the most important art collections of early 19th century Europe. He was one of the first art historians and a famous collector of art and books. The engraved plates show Stuttgart, the costumes of Tirol, the amphitheatre in Verona, skating on the lagoon of Venice, a large folding view of Naples, the Lake Albano, Pompeii, the costumes of Roman peasants, the ruins of the Temple of Peace, costumes of the women of Leghorn, a view of Bologna, a Swiss farmer with a little girl playing an alp-horn, and a view of Frankfurt.Only slightly browned with a few small spots. Bindings rubbed… Read More

[2], VIII, [2], 330, [5], [1 blank] pp.First and only edition of the expanded Dutch translation of Abbeokuta, or Sunrise within the tropics by Charlotte Maria Tucker (1821-1893), translated and expanded by Theodorus Matthijs Looman (1816-1900). It is a description of Yorubaland, West Africa, and the Christian mission. The book opens with a chapter on the slave trade -- the Yoruba people were among the most heavily targeted -- followed by chapters on the Muslim Fula people, the Niger-expedition, Abeokuta, etc. It includes maps of West Africa, Yorubaland and Abeokuta, and several other illustrations.The British Charlotte Tucker, a prolific children's writer known for her realistic depiction of the lives of the poor, is best known for her tales of India, where she travelled and worked as a missionary.With the index loosely inserted, one plate loose, a mostly marginal tear in one page and slightly browned throughout, but all plates still very good.l NCC (7 copies); not in Kainbacher (2016); for Tucker: K.… Read More

[1] leaf.An engraved print (an illustrated flier or Flugschrift reporting a curious meteorological event), showing a cross-section of one of the enormous hail stones that fell near Heroldsberg, about 11 km northeast of Nuremberg, on 13 August 1802. It weighed 2 17/32 Pfund (nearly 1.5 kg), measured 6 Zoll long and 3 Zoll thick (about 15×7.5 cm) and was unusually colourful, as depicted in the colouring of the print in pink and grey. The print also shows the distinctive layered structure of the hail stone,With the margins trimmed off, removing the thin-line border at the head but without affecting the texts, image or the other borders. Otherwise in very good condition.l Monathliche . . . Anzeigen zur ältern und neuern Geschichte Nürnbergs, 6 (1802), pp. 119-120; not in KVK & WorldCat.

A fine impression of one of Rembrandt's most famous prints, "Abraham's sacrifice", illustrating Genesis 22: 10-12, where Abraham, after god ordered him to sacrifice his only son Isaac, raises his knife to do so but is stayed by an angel who reveals that it was only a test of his obedience to god. In the Bible, the angel merely speaks to Abraham, but Rembrandt made the scene much more intimate, with the angel reaching around Abraham from behind almost in an embrace, holding his left arm (with the knife), just above the elbow and his right arm (holding Isaac's head) near the wrist. The Dutch States Bible of 1637 does place the angel behind Abraham, but still only speaking to him. Rembrandt made the etching in 1655 and no variant states are known. It differs greatly from his 1635 painting of the same subject, where the figures are not so closely united and neither Abraham nor the angel expresses such tenderness. The present example of the etching retains the finest lines very clearly (for example, in the… Read More

Splendidly bound set of this chronological history of France written by the French historian François Eudes de Mézeray (1610-1683), first published in 1667-1668. The history begins with the reign of Faramond and ends with that of Henry IV. The supplement treats France's origin and history before the reign of Clovis. The Abrégé went through at least 15 editions between 1668 and 1717. ''Édition la plus recherchée de l'Abrégé de Mezeray'' (Willems).With slight browning to a leaf or two in some volumes, but generally in fine condition. Bindings fine. A classic history of France.l Willems 1876 (ad 1 & 2); Verkruijsse, Romeyn de Hooghe 1688.04 (ad 2).

A three-part, beautifully illuminated manuscript altar canon, in Latin, that hung in a Catholic Church for devotional use, displaying an exquisite and spectacular level of skill in the lettering and the illumination, both with an extensive use of gold. The central text block of the large panel, directly below the miniature showing the last supper, contains texts for the eucharist (the Elevando oblatam and Levando calicem). The two text blocks flanking it contain (on the left) the Gloria and Credo from the Latin mass and (on the right) four offertory prayers from the Roman rite. The first prayer, under the rubric “Sacerdos offerens hostiam super patenam dicit.” is an offertory prayer concerning bread, first found in the prayerbook of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald, compiled in the years 875 to 877. The second prayer begins with an offer of wine and goes on to offer one’s own self. The third prayer again concerns the eucharist and the fourth expresses the hope that the humble offer will be… Read More

[24], 185 ll.Interesting account book of the well-known banking house and stockbroker's firm Vlaer & Kol in Utrecht, administering financial transactions for its private customers in and around Utrecht, during the years 1818 to 1821. Included are well-known names of eminent and noble families such as Bentinck, Van der Capellen, Feith, Hardenbroeck, Heeckeren, Van Lijnden, Ram, Renesse, Tuijl van Serooskerken, Taets van Amerongen and Utenhove. Notably, the names and titles of numerous dowagers and other noble women in their own right are also included, separately from their family members. The names are listed in an alphabetical index, bound at the front of the volume. Many original accounts, bonds, letters and other documents are bound in, pasted in, attached with sealing wax or pins, or loosely inserted.During this period Everard Kol (1753-1824) ran the bank, also administering the many financial transactions of his son ("mijn zoon") Jan Kol II (1789-1848), who would succeed his father in 1824. The… Read More

XV, 222; CXXX, 64 pp.Rare narrative of the voyage to the west coast of Korea made by Captain Basil Hall (1788-1844). This expedition took Lord Amherst's Embassy to China and explorled the barely known East China Sea and Yellow Sea. Not only Korea was visited but also the Ryukyu Archipelago by the Alceste and Lyra, they obtained detailed information on the area. The Europeans in the past had explored Korea only briefly. On the way home the Alceste was wrecked in the Gaspar Strait of Sumatra. This account contains entries about the specifics of Korean lifestyles, local vocabulary, including Korean, and hydrographic charts and nautical facts such as records of sea currents and meteorological data. The drawings of scenery and costumes were made by William Havell (1782-1857), the eminent artist who accompanied the Embassy, from sketches taken on the spot, by C.W. Browne, midshipman on board the Alceste.Good uncut copy; Plate after p. XVIII bound upside down.l Abbey, Travel , 558; Cordier, Japonica, 469;… Read More

40, 23, [1 blank] pp. plus maps and plate of scales.A surprisingly rare pocket atlas illustrating the theatre of the "tegenwoordigen" (present) war, probably meaning the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) but possibly the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). The title-page notes that it is suited for officers, travellers and lovers of geography to carry in a pocket. The text (in Dutch) gives a geographic description only of "Duytsland" (Germany), including Austria, Bohemia and a few other areas, whereas the maps also cover the Low Countries, the English Channel, northwest France and to the east as far as Warsaw, Krakow and Belgrade. The 23 detail maps were designed so that they could be assembled with the key map to make a single wall map, whose cartographic image would measure 53 x 90 cm.With a contemporary owner's, bookplate, embossed stamp and library labels. With the text leaves somewhat browned, not affecting the maps or the plate with scales, and the first 2 leaves slightly worn, but generally… Read More

Engraved map of central Europe by the cartographer Justus Danckerts (1635-1701). It shows present-day Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in its totality, with large parts of Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland and even small parts of Croatia, Denmark, England, and Italy.Corners folded, and a small damage at the bottom of the fold, only slightly affecting the image, otherwise in good condition.l Koeman II, Dan 1 (no. 11).

XV, 251, [1 blank]; XIV, 208 pp.First edition of the enlarged Dutch translation of Brodie Cruickshank's Eighteen years on the Gold Coast of Africa, including an account of the native tribes and their intercourse with Europeans (London, 1853). This account of the missionary and trader Brodie Cruickshank’s 18-year stay on the Gold Coast of Africa describes and discusses the music, religion, dance, social customs and judicial system of the native people of this African region. D.P.H.J. Weijtingh not only made the Dutch translation, but also enlarged the work with an introduction in which he elaborates on the history of the Dutch possessions on the Gold Coast. The folding lithographed view of the Dutch Fort Coenraadsburg at Elmina (Ghana) was newly made for the present Dutch edition by W. Bartels: the first English edition had no illustrations. Fort Coenraadsburg was the second Dutch fort at Elmina: its construction began in 1637, immediately after the Dutch expelled the Portuguese.Folding plate slightly… Read More

[2], VIII, 133, [1 blank] pp.First and only edition of a defence of the former Supreme Director of Chile Bernardo O'Higgins (1778-1842) against the accusations presented in an article in a Peruvian newspaper. In this article in the Mercurio Peruano, published in Lima in 1833, Carlos Rodríguez (1782-1839) violently attacked O'Higgins, who immediately sued for libel. The Acusacion, an elaborate defence of O'Higgins and mostly a compilation of documents relating to his career during the Chilean War of Independence, was supposedly presented before the court in Lima, which sentenced Rodríguez to two months in prison and a fine of 150 pesos. The Acusacion did much for O'Higgins reputation in Peru, but led to negative reactions in Chile, where it was considered to be an overtly positive version of the events, even leading to a different publication countering O'Higgins's version of the events.Dr. Don Juan Ascencio was probably a pseudonym of José Joaquin de Mora (1783-1806), a Spanish poet and writer who… Read More

[7], [1 blank] pp.First and only edition of a poem in Latin verse by the Alsatian humanist theologian Jacob Wimpfeling (1450-1528), addressed to Pope Julius II, defending himself against accusations made by the Augustines. He had claimed (in 1504?) that Saint Augustine was not actually a monk and that one could lead a good Christian life without joining an order. This was not taken well and the Pope called him to Rome. The Pope remained unconvinced by Wimpfeling's present defence but did excuse him from the arduous journey to Rome due to his poverty and poor health. His opponents apparently thought him not so dangerous and finally left him in peace. He later returned to controversy: after Pope Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther in 1521 Wimpfeling tried to convince him to lift the excommunication, though he finally deferred to the Church.With the colouring of the initial offset onto the facing (blank) page, and with a manuscript note in a similarly coloured ink. In very good condition and with large… Read More