Search Results: Titles starting with I from Asher Rare Books

[34] pp.An anonymous political tract in the form of a conversation between four fictional gentlemen (Van Blyenberg, Van Sorgdal, Van Vraegwel, Van Weetburgh), whose names suggest happiness, concern, questioning and knowing respectively. It begins with a reference to the “onverwachte en haestige” (unexpected and sudden) death of the Prince of Orange, meaning Willem II, Prince of Orange and Count of Nassau, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic from 1647 to his death from the plague on 6 November 1650 at the age of twenty-four. In 1649, Admiral Witte de With, commander of the Dutch West India Company’s (WIC’s) fleet fighting the Portuguese in Brazil, came into dispute with the WIC and returned to the Netherlands against orders, arriving in April 1650. Stadtholder Willem II and the States General supported the WIC against De With and sentenced him to death. Although events in Brazil greatly influenced the politics debated in the present pamphlet and the former governor of Brazil is a central figure in… Read More

[7], 314, [2 blank] pp.Antonio Giuseppe Alberti (1712-1768) was a hydraulic architect and a road engineer in the city of Bagnacavallo. He is best known for this handbook on mathematics and conjuring, containing puzzles, tricks with cards and dice and problems relating to the theory of numbers and sleight of hand, here in the rare first edition. Alberti was the first in Italy to publish on this subject. He was inspired by the Spanish work of Pablo Minguet é Yrol, Engaños á ojos vistas y diversion de trabajos mundanos, fundada en lícitos juegos de manos, que contiene todas las diferencias de los cubiletes, y otras habilidades muy curiosas, demostradas con diferentes láminas, para que los pueda hacer facilmente cualquier entretenido (1733). This was Spain's most popular conjuring book. Both were printed many times into the 19th century.Slightly browned; spine repaired. In good condition.l Caillet I, 145 "rare"; Honeyman 47; Poggendorff I, col. 23; Riccardi I, p. 15.

67, [1 blank], 78, [2 blank], 46, [1], [1 blank], 133, [1], [2 blank] pp.Second edition of a one of the most influential texts on Renaissance architecture, first published (with the same woodcuts) in 1570. It is divided into four books that cover a range of topics, including: the choice of materials, construction techniques and the various architectural orders; a series of architectural projects by Andrea Palladio, including city palaces, villas and other buildings; the construction of streets, bridges, squares and basilicas; and surveys of ancient Roman buildings. This work secured Palladio’s as once of the most influential sources for Western architecture, his works being valued for their high Renaissance calm and harmony. The elements of Italian Renaissance architecture had already been used by other architects before Palladio, but his innovative refinements created his own new and distinctive style.The first book of his present four books of architecture, dedicated to Giacomo Angarano, discusses… Read More

[4], IV pp. and 23 leaves of explanatory text to 23 plates.The original edition of an excellent collection of magnificent scientific plates of the morphology, anatomy, and histology of invertebrates, such as molluscs (5 plates), jellyfish, starfish, crustaceans and insects. Although the title-label on the front board calls for a second part, this part was never published and so the work was never expanded beyond these 23 plates and descriptive text present here: covering all the invertebrate groups, as intended. The publication includes contributions by George James Allman (1812-1898), Carl Gegenbaur (1826-1903), Thomas Henry Huxley, Albert Kölliker, Heinrich Ludwig Hermann Müller (1829-1883), Max Schultze, Carl Theodor Ernst von Siebold (1804-1885) and Friedrich Stein.Binding only slightly worn, some foxing and some marginal browning, but overall in good condition.l Nissen, ZBI, no. 831; NDB, III, p. 61; cf. Alfred Kelly, The Descent of Darwin. The Popularization of Darwinism in Germany, 1860-1914, p. 21. Read More

559, [1]; 72 pp.First and only edition of a well-illustrated and comprehensive study of the orchids of Europe and the Mediterranean, published posthumously by the daughter of Edmond Gustave Camus (1852-1915), a pharmacist and botanist fascinated by the intricate taxonomy of the family Orchidaceae. Aimée Antoinette Camus (1879-1965) worked together with her father on this project until his death in 1915. She would continue the research and finally published the present work, which is preceded by an obituary by Henri Lecomte and a bibliography of the elder Camus's his works. The present copy not only has the regular 110 of the 122 plates of the first part of the atlas coloured by hand, but also 10 of the 11 plates of the second part. A very good copy, well bound, with only the spines slightly discoloured.l Nissen, BBI 316; Stafleu & Cowan 971.

[16], 203, [8]; [2], 219, [8]; [2], 208, [12] pp.The second edition of an interesting iconographical dictionary by the French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Boudard (1710-1768) who spent most of his active life in Italy, from 1749 to his death in 1678 at the Bourbon court in Parma. The first edition, with parallel texts in French and an Italian translation by his friend Abate Giuseppe Pezzana, was published in Parma in 1759. The terms iconology, used by Boudard, and iconography have both been used from at least the 17th century, but most authors do not distinguish the two. After an important introduction on iconography in general, follow the 630 emblems, arranged alphabetically and based on the most influential iconographical work of the 17th century, Cesare Ripa’s Iconologica. Boudard found Ripa's work so indispensable for his classes at the local Academy of Fine Arts that he published this "digest", picturing allegorical emblems of virtues, vices, emotions, arts, sciences, including series of mythological… Read More

[8], 172 pp.First and only edition of this work on the human digestion. A Dutch translation by Jacobus Romans appeared in 1696 as part of the edition of the Dutch translation of his Pharmacia … (Amsterdam, Jan ten Hoorn, 1696), with the title: Idea actionis corporum, dat is: d’Afbeelding van de werkelykheid der lighamen.Jacob Le Mort (1650-1718), a Dutch chemist and physician, was an apothecary at Amsterdam before he moved to Leiden to set up a private laboratory where he also lectured. After many difficulties and fierce opposition, he was appointed professor of Medicine at the Leiden University in 1702. He was the predecessor of the famous Boerhaave.Some small stains on the vellum, but otherwise in very good condition.l Hoogendoorn, Mort, 03D; Krivatsy 8122; Lex. hervorr. Aerzte, IV, p. 289; NNBW, I, cols. 1345-46.

[8], 390, [10]; [24], 128 pp.Ad 1: Rare first and only edition of one of Van Beverwijck's first publications, giving a series of quotations concerning medical matters from non-medical authors from antiquity, writing in Greek and Latin. The text is in Latin, but the Greek sources are quoted in the original Greek. Johan van Beverwijk (1594-1647) studied medicine in Leiden and several other European cities. He earned his doctorate in medicine at the University of Padua. In 1618 he returned to his home town Dordrecht where he became town physician and lector in medicine. His other works include Schat der gesondheyt (1636), Schat der ongesondheyt, ofte geneeskonste van de sieckten (1642) en Heel-konste (1645). They functioned as medical encyclopedias and, since he published in both Latin and Dutch, reached a large and very diverse audience. They made him as famous as his kinsman, Andreas Vesalius.Ad 2: Very rare third edition of a rare work on the therapeutic and medicinal use of the waters of the city of… Read More

[6], [2 blank], 5, CXCV ll.Early Venetian edition of one of the most important literary works of the Italian high Renaissance. Balthasar Castiglione (1478-1529), an Italian statesman, was well-versed in diplomacy and courtesy. This classical work, written in an elegant style, is a manual for courtiers, discussing the virtues of noblemen and noble ladies, showing the court etiquette in all its subtlety. Other important issues of the time, in the fields of morality, literature, and politics are also considered, making the present work the principal source for the study of customs and traditions of the time.The book was very successful: after the first edition, by Aldus in Venice, 1528, many other editions and translations followed. It remained popular through the 19th century, and continued to influence manners, especially in England and Spain. The present edition is well-produced, printed in an elegant italic type.Good copy.l Adams C-929; STC Italian p. 156.

[34], 50, [18], 223 pp.First Italian edition of a poem about falconry, in hexameters, here including the Latin original and another instructional poem by P.A. Bargeo. "First and best Italian edition of de Thou’s famous Latin poem on hawking with an Italian translation" (Schwerdt). The famous statesman and bibliophile J. A. de Thou (1553-1617), a great falconry enthusiast based the poem on his own observations. He began work on it by 1574, but wrote it mostly during his travels through France, Italy and Germany in 1581. He published a preliminary version under the title Hieracosophioy, sive De venatione per accipitres (Hieracosophion) in 1582, but expanded and revised it extensively for the 1584 edition (adding the third book) and continued to make smaller revisions to at least 1587. It was the first detailed scholarly account of falconry and remains a classic of the genre. The nine engraved vignettes in the present edition include four large falconry-themed headpieces. The portrait shows Cardinal de… Read More

131, [1] pp.Italian description of cities along the coasts of the Baltic Sea, mainly in Finland, Sweden, the Baltic states and Russia, published in 1854 in the context of the Crimean War (October 1853 to February 1856). The main reason for this conflict between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Sardinia, was to prevent Russian expansion to the south as the power of the Ottoman Empire was weakening. An immediate cause for the war was a series of disputes over the rights of Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire (especially Palestine) between the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church.The text is illustrated with 15 tinted lithographic views of cities such as Saint Petersburg in Russia, Cristianstadt (Kristianstad) in Sweden, and Ado in Finland, 1 map of the Baltic Sea, and a military ground plan of Kronstadt (a small island near Saint Petersburg). All lithographs, except the map, are signed by V. Stranski and printed by Colombo Coen.The present… Read More

[16] pp., 100 ll.First edition of a beautifully illustrated book on doves and pigeons by the German specialist Emil Schachtzabel, known for his numerous articles on domesticated dove and pigeon breeds. The present work shows a wide variety of breeds with detailed accounts of their origins, sizes, types, colours and patterns. The full-page brightly coloured plates, made after watercolour drawings by the artist Anton Schöner (1866-1930), are meant as models for a breeding standard of domesticated doves and pigeons. Breeding faults are listed in the description as well. The notes to the plates face the relevant plate, all except the first being printed on the back of the preceding plate. The binding decoration also includes images of two pigeons. In very good condition, only slightly browned.l Möbes, Bibliographie der Tauben, p. 137.

[8], 359, [57] pp.First edition of the Latin translation of a famous manual on the imagery of the classical gods and heroes, first published in Italian (without illustrations) at Venice in 1556, and intended as a source book for artists. The present Latin edition, translated and edited by Antoine du Verdier (1544-1600), who also made a French translation, is dedicated to Henricus Memmius, dated 1581. The privilege, granted jointly to two publishers, Estienne Michel and Bartholomeus Honorat, is dated 7 April 1581. The book concludes with a compendium listing the various images of the gods (2Z1r-3C1r), a detailed index (3C1v-3F4r) and the errata and colophon (3F4v).At least 30 editions appeared in the 16th- and 17th-century (18 Italian, 4 Latin, 6 French, 1 German and a free paraphrase in English), testifying to the immense popularity of the work all over Europe, but the present Latin edition appears to have remained the only one for more than a hundred years. Both Robert Burton and Sir Thomas Browne… Read More

69, [1 blank]; 78 pp.Greek and Latin edition of 12 epistles of St. Ignatius. The Greek and Latin texts are presented as two separate editions, each having its own title-page and its own series of quire signatures and page numbers, but only the Greek has a colophon and they were normally bound and sold together. The Greek text was first published in 1557 and reprinted in 1558, then accompanied by a Latin translation. The Latin translation was made by Hieronymus Vairlenius.Ignatius of Antiochia, also known as Theophorus, was born in Syria, around the year 50 and died at Rome between 98 and 117. He is said to be the third Archbishop of Antioch after St. Peter and Evodius. After his long and difficult travels to Rome he was declared holy martyr. His letters are of very great importance.With some manuscript notes in the margins. Ad 1 lacking the blank final leaf E4, ad 2 lacking the blank final leaf E8. In good condition.l USTC 404502 & 407631; Voet 1435 & 1436.

66 double ll.A very rare early edition of the second Korean translation of volume 5 of a classic Chinese Confucian schoolbook that proved extremely popular and influential in China, Japan and Korea. It was written by Zhu Xi (1130-1200) in the Song dynasty (southern Song period) and finished in 1187. He was assisted by his disciple Liu Tzu-cheng. It was translated into Korean twice, first as Beonyeok sohak (published 1518), then as Sohak eonhae (published 1588). The present edition contains this second translation, by Yi San-hae and about thirty other scholars who chose a different redaction of the Chinese text (known as the Xiaoxue Jishuo) and followed the Chinese more literally than the earlier translators. The present volume 5 covers (to give it its Chinese name) “Jia yan” (fair words), meaning writing, rhetoric and other matters concerning the expression of thought. Zhu Xi was an uncompromising figure with strong views on proper education, so the book demands much from the reader. Nevertheless… Read More

63, [1] ll.Rare Venetian post-incunable edition of a pedagogical humanist treatise by Aurelio Bienato (ca. 1450-1496), dedicated to an adolescent nobleman, Sebastiano de Agustinis. Born in Milan, Bienato studied at the University of Naples and was appointed bishop of Martirano (Catanzaro) in 1485.Bienato provides a commentary on and shortened version of the famous and influential De elegantia Latinae linguae libri sex by the humanist Lorenzo Valla (1407-57), a highly original work in which Valla subjected the forms of Latin grammar and the rules of Latin style and rhetoric to a critical examination, and placed the practice of composition on a foundation of analysis and inductive reasoning. It formed a foundation for the Humanists’ movement to reform Latin prose style, moving it in a more classical and Ciceronian direction on a scientific basis. Valla's work was controversial when it appeared, but its arguments carried the day. As a result, humanistic Latin sought to purge itself of post-classical… Read More

[8], 134, [10] ll.Rare first edition of a pharmaceutical work by Jean Du Boys (ca. 1500-1576), describing everyday medicine as found in the works of the ancient Greeks and Arabs. It gives recipes for different medicines and the attributes ascribed to the medicines and herbs. Jean Du Boys was born at Lille, studied at Louvain and practiced at Valenciennes. In 1562 he became professor at the recently founded University of Douai. He is the author a few other works. As he is occasionally also called Sylvius, he is not to be confused with Jacques Dubois Sylvius (1478?-1555), teacher of Vesalius.A few marginal water stains and a corner torn off the third leaf, but otherwise in very good condition.l USTC (8 copies); Wellcome I, 1874; for Du Boys Sylvius: De Nave & De Schepper, De geneeskunst in de zuidelijke Nederlanden (1475-1660), p. 59; Hirsch II, p. 221.

[20] pp, 624 cols.; cols. 1-492, [8] pp., cols. 493-824[=826]First Aldine edition of the collected commentaries on the rhetorical works of Cicero: De oratore, De claris oratoribus (Brutus), Topica, De partione oratoria, Rhetorica ad Herennium (Pseudo Cicero) and De inventione. The original was edited by Jacques-Louis Strébée (Strebaeus) and printed under the same title in 1541 in Basel by Robert Winter and Thomas Platter. A page-for-page reprint of the present edition was published in 1551, also at the Aldine presses.Title-page and last leaf a bit soiled, title-page restored, first and last leaves with insignificant marginal water staining, some marginal worm holes and other minor defects. Spine slightly faded, but the binding otherwise good.l Adams C-1698; Ahmanson-Murphy 353; BMC STC Italian, p. 184; Renouard, Alde, p. 136, 8.

[6], 321, [1] ll.Second known copy of the Mons issue of the first edition of a collection of Latin sermons on the Last Supper, the Passion and the resurrection of Christ, by the famous French theologian and polemicist Thomas Beauxamis (1524-1589). The dedication to Cardinal Louis of Lorrain is dated 1 January 1570. The present first edition was printed in Paris by the printer and bookseller Guillaume Chaudière, and the title-page bears his device, but he changed the imprint during the press-run to produce a small number of copies for the Mons bookseller Claude de Bronchim (“Monte in Hannonia. Apud Claudium Bronchinium”). Rousselle records no Mons publications before 1580, though the USTC records examples from 1553. This appears to be the only known book with the imprint of Claude de Bronchin, though he is recorded as a bookseller at Mons from 1569 to 1578, when he did business with (probably bought books from) Christoffel Plantin in Antwerp, but he appears to have died in the latter year.Beauxamis… Read More

An early 19th-century Russian Orthodox travelling icon in the form of a brass relief tetraptych (folding quadruple panel), the interior with a blue enamel background. The upper part of each panel has the traditional Russian Orthodox form of the onion dome, while the main body is square. The inscriptions are in Church Slavonic, rendered in the poloustav form of Cyrillic capitals. When folded for carrying the icon shows a brass relief Veneration of the Cross on the front. When opened it displays the interior of four panels side by side with twenty brass relief scenes with a blue enamel background. Each panel has one scene in the onion-dome top and one in each of the four quarters of the square body. The first three panels from left to right show in the onion domes: the crucifixion, the trinity and the feast of the cross, while the twelve quarters below show twelve scenes related to Jesus's life, associated with the twelve most important feast days, from the Annunciation to the Assumption of the Virgin… Read More