Search Results: Titles starting with J from Asher Rare Books

A fine colour printed illustration of a Common Hyacinth, Garden Hyacinth or Dutch Hyacinth from one of the rarest of the great flower books, by Gerard van Spaendonck (1746-1822), a proponent of the Dutch school of floral painting. After his arrival in Paris in 1770, he introduced new elements such as elaborate vases and rich fabrics to embellish his sophisticated compositions, and singlehandedly transformed the genre of flower painting in France (Tongiorgi Tomasi). In 1780 he became Professeur de Peinture de Fleurs at the Jardin des Plantes. Among his many pupils was Pierre Joseph Redouté.The book [Fleurs Dessinées d'Après Nature...],was originally published in 6 parts with 4 plates, all parts in printed paper wrappers. The engravings were originally printed in black as well as in colour.In very good condition. This flowerprint is both a truthful rendering of nature and a masterful artwork.l Van Boven & Segal, Gerard & Cornelis van Spaendonck, pp. 178-184, no. 19; on the book cf.: Blunt, pp.… Read More

[12], 190, [2 blank] pp.First and only edition of an account of various aspects of Japan and Japanese life. "Germain Felix Meijlan (1785-1831) entered the Dutch East India Company in 1806. From 1827 to 1830 he was opperhoofd of the company's factory in Nagasaki. … The present work was completed in the spring of 1829 and is concerned chiefly with the author's observations of life and conditions in Nagasaki. It is divided into fifteen chapters treating of such diverse topics as the government of the town of Nagasaki and that of Japan as a whole, the island of Deshima, Japanese religion and festivals and including a short sketch of the Japanese language" (Nipponalia).Back of the original wrapper slightly soiled and a few stains on the front, some spots throughout and some thumbing to the first three leaves, otherwise in good condition, wholly untrimmed, with all deckles intact.l Nipponalia I, XVII & 1941; Tiele, Bibl. 754; Cordier, Japonica, col. 486.

X, [2], 543, [1 blank], [2] pp.Second edition of the English translation of a history of Japan by the German geographer Johannes Justus Rein (1835-1918). Rein made various travels in Europe, America and Asia, and wrote several works about his research there. This work starts with a detailed description of the physical geography and the natural history of Japan: covering the volcanoes, climate, islands, mountains, flora, fauna and more. The second part deals with the history and the people, including the different shogunates, costumes, customs, art and architecture, etc.The first edition of the English translation appeared in 1884. The German original Japan nach Reisen und Studien im Auftrage der Königlich Preussischen Regierung dargestellt, was first published in 1881. A second volume to the German edition appeared in 1886. Some minor foxing through the text and plates. Overal a good copy.l Cordier, Japonica, col. 698; Wenckstern I, 49.

191, [5] pp.Expanded third edition of one of the earliest and most popular spiritual emblem books by the well-known Dutch poet and engraver Jan Luyken (1649-1712), first published in 1678. Devoted to a Christian's love for Jesus, it contains 39 emblems accompanied by a motto, some Biblical quotations, and an explanation, or reflection. The present edition is enlarged with an extensive discussion on the "joys of the eternal fatherland". Luyken was inspired for the present emblem book by the engravings of Boetius van Bolswert for the famous emblem book Pia desideria by Herman Hugo (1588-1629).Only very slightly browned around the margins and a few tiny spots. Binding only slightly soiled. Overall in very good condition.l Klaversma & Hannema 960; Landwehr, Emblem and fable books 474; Praz, p. 406; Van Eeghen & V.d. Kellen 448, nos. 4440-4479; cf. Berlin Kat. 4564 (second edition).

VI, 353, [1 blank] pp.First Dutch edition of Adam’s The narrative of Robert Adams,... (1816). Robert Adams, an American sailor whose real name was Benjamin Rose, sailed in the Charles on a trading voyage along the west coast of Africa. Somewhere near Cape Blanc the ship struck ground, and after the crew had struggled ashore they were immediately taken prisoner by some 30 Moors, possibly with the intention of selling the crew as slaves. The prisoners were taken into the interior of Mauritania, and after the party had reached a hilly village, they were assaulted by a company of black Africans. Both the Moors and the captives were imprisoned and subsequently taken to the King in Timbuktu, where they arrived in February 1811. Adams, who stayed as a guest of the king, describes Timbuktu and its inhabitants at length. Timbuktu wasn’t the thriving metropolis it was made out to be, but a small city with no walls, and houses made of clay and grass. However, after a time Adams was sold as a slave to a group… Read More

[2], 169, [1] ll.First and only edition of an account of the life, death and succession of King Sebastião I of Portugal (1554-1578), written in Spanish by Sebastian de Mesa. Sebastião became king of Portugal at the age of three, after the death of his grandfather João III. He was under the regency of his grandmother and uncle Henrique, cardinal and later king, until he was declared of age in 1568. Sebastião, educated by the Jesuits, combined religious fanaticism with an unlimited admiration for the military. He thought of himself as a Christian knight, who was going to fight and rescue the "misguided" muslims in Africa from their faith. He was killed in the bloody and disastrous Battle of the Three Kings at Alcazarquivir in the north of Morocco. Many supporters refused to believe had died, and many awaited his return for decades. This resulted in Sebastianism, a messianic religious belief that lasted well into the 19th century. In good condition, the first few leaves with foxing or very slight… Read More

[6], 152; [2], 62 ll.Rare first edition, in the original Portuguese, of a detailed eye-witness account of the travels and religious work of Aleixo de Menezes (1559-1617), Archbishop of Goa, by António de Gouveia (ca. 1568/75-1628), who accompanied him during much of his work on India's Malabar coast. It gives special emphasis to his subjugation of the Saint Thomas Christians to Rome. This community had been established in Malabar in the first centuries of the first millennia and had been part of the Eastern Christian Church. Its existence was unknown to Europeans until Vasco da Gama came to India in 1498. De Menezes, appointed Archbishop of Goa in 1595, was particularly aggressive in persecuting those who did not follow Rome's Latin rite.Although the second work was clearly designed to accompany the first it is rarer and even when it is bound with the first work it is sometimes found incomplete. The present copy is complete, including even the final integral blank leaf. It provides a further account… Read More

[4], 76 pp.One of the most compelling and entertaining travel accounts of Dutch literature, in one of the earliest and most important editions, the first to be published by Hartgers. Bontekoe details his eventful 8-year voyage to the East Indies. The vivid description of his ship accidently exploding in the Sunda Strait, killing almost a third of the crew, no doubt made a huge impression on his readers. Bontekoe returned in 1625, but his travelogue was not published until 1646. It was an immediate success and went through numerous editions. From the beginning Raven's short account of a voyage to Greenland, during which he too suffered shipwreck, was added to Bontekoe's voyage. Almost all editions of Bontekoe's narrative are rare. Jan Jansz. Deutel, who published the first edition in 1646, also published the first significantly revised edition in 1648, in part to better compete with the pirated edition with new and better illustrations by Salomon Saverij. Hartgers took the best of both, following… Read More

[2], 76 [=78] pp.Fifth edition, the first containing the plate showing six scenes, of this account of the famous circumnavigation of the Dutch fleet under command of Admiral Jacques l'Hermite (Jacques de Clerck, ca.1582-1624) during the years 1623-1626. The account t is combined with a description of Lima, an account of an expedition to Guyana and a discourse on VOC trade. Added to this edition is the description of Peru and Chile by Madriga and Spilbergen and the 'memoir' of Pedro Fernando De Quir. The plate shows 6 views of the fleet in various bays and harbours, including the harbours of Lima and Acapulco, on the roads of the Ladrones islands and Puna, and Indians without a neck.With a bookplate on the front paste-down. Restorations at the bottom of the margins of the first quire and in the margin of the engraved plate. Spine slightly damaged. Good copy.l Landwehr & V.d. Krogt, VOC 251; Tiele, Bibl. 667; Tiele, Mem. 77.

[2], 76 [ i.e 78] pp.Fifth edition, the first containing the plate showing six scenes, of this account of the famous circumnavigation of the Dutch fleet under command of Admiral Jacques l'Hermite (Jacques de Clerck, ca.1582-1624) during the years 1623-1626. The account t is combined with a description of Lima, an account of an expedition to Guyana and a discourse on VOC trade. Added to this edition is the description of Peru and Chile by Madriga and Spilbergen and the 'memoir' of Pedro Fernando De Quir. The plate shows 6 views of the fleet in various bays and harbours, including the harbours of Lima and Acapulco, on the roads of the Ladrones islands and Puna, and Indians without a neck.Waterstain troughout. Very good copy.l Landwehr & V.d. Krogt, VOC 251; Tiele, Bibl. 667; Tiele, Mem. 77.

XXXIV, 386 pp.Extremely rare first edition of the journal of the last voyage made by De La Salle to America and the Gulf of Mexico to explore the Mississippi River and Louisiana. The expedition turned out tragically, for De La Salle was murdered by his own men during the journey on 19 March 1687. This account is written by Henri Joutel, one of his companions and probably the only person on board whom he could rely on. Charlevoix, who knew Joutel personally, once described him as a very upright man.This work is rare as it is, but our copy is of a much greater rarity because it contains the large folding map, which is almost never found with the book. The beautifully designed and engraved map depicts a small view of Nicaragua, part of the Atlantic and the coastal areas of America and Middle America, which are relevant for the expedition. Besides the mouth of the Mississippi it records many other small rivers, described for the first time by De la Salle.With an owner's inscription struck through on the… Read More

[8], 198, [2] pp.Rare first edition of a journal of an expedition to Candia (Heraklion), Greece, commanded by François d'Aubusson, duc de la Feuillade (1625-1691), to help the Venetians during the Siege of Candia (1645-1669) against the Ottoman Empire. De la Feuillade had already fought the Ottoman forces at the battle of St. Gothard in 1664 and volunteered to help. With assistance from Pope Clement IX he equipped 500 men at his own expense. The journal was written as a letter by a volunteer on the expedition.The work gives an account of the Cretan war and also contains some valuable information on the Greek Orthodox Church. The manuscript of the text came into the hands of a certain Thioly, who disclaims, however, all knowledge of the author. Two later editions were published in the same year at Grenoble, followed by another in 1670, and an English translation in 1670. With ownerships inscription on first fly-leaf "Ex-libris Stephani...estie, 1670". Very good copy.l Blackmer 859; Goldsmith, BMC STC… Read More

VII, [1], 406, [2] pp.First edition of a voyage to South Africa by Latrobe on behalf of the Moravian Church to visit the missionaries at Genadendal and Groenekloof and to search for locations to establish new missionaries. There is a full description of the district of Groenekloof and of the missionary settlements north of Cape Town. Latrobe travelled from Genadedal via Zwellendam, Zeekogat, Welgelegen, Uitenhage to the Witter River and thence to the Little Fish River, visiting Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay on the way back. The fine plates show mostly scenic views. Some browning and spotting. A good copy.l Abbey, Travel 325; Gay, Bibl. de l'Afrique et l'Arabe 3117; Gordon-Brown, p. 22, 105; Mendelssohn I, pp. 866-867; Prideaux, pp. 240, 342; Tooley, Coloured plates 292.

[18] ll.Rare first and only edition of the German translation of the account of the expedition against the Kingdom of Makassar in the years 1666 to 1669, under command of Cornelis Speelman (1628-1684) on behalf of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The work was translated from the original Dutch published at Amsterdam in 1669. Speelman, a Dutch admiral and governor-general of the VOC, lead the expedition against the Sultan of Gowa (= Makassar), together with Radjah Palacca, King of the Bougainese, aiming to keep trade with Makassar exclusive to the Dutch. The sultan wanted to open the port to all nationalities and, as a prominent Islamic leader, he opposed the Dutch conversion of Islamic islanders to Calvinism. The sultan was defeated and submitted to VOC control with the treaty of Bungaya (18 November 1668).Without the engraved map included in some copies. Title-page slightly browned with a faint manuscript note in the upper margin, and a minor stain on the last leaf. Otherwise in good condition,… Read More

[8], XXIX, 310, [2], CLXXIX pp.Second, corrected edition of Parry's account of his voyage in search of the Northwest Passage. Having sailed to the Arctic under John Ross, Parry believed that Lancaster Sound could provide the opening to the western sea. Equipped with two ships, the Hecla and the Gripper, he set out to confirm his suspicion in 1819. Parry discovered Prince Regent's Inlet, Melville Sound, and Banks Island, and surveyed the south shores of Barrow Strait. He reached 110° West longitude, but ice halted further westward advance. The crew wintered in Winter Harbour, and during this long winter Edward Sabine edited a periodical journal, The North Georgia gazette, and winter chronicle. This periodical was afterwards published by John Murray, and is here offered together with Parry's narrative. Our copy, moreover, has a hand-written inscription by Parry, pasted on the front flyleaf: "Admit the bearer, W.E. Parry". Front board of the narrative slightly damaged; with the engraved bookplate of… Read More

[2], V, [1], 7-333, [1 blank] pp.First and only edition of a travelogue by John Fowler of a tour in rural New York State, which is an interesting combination of an agricultural treatise and a travelogue. Fowler remarks on agriculture in several rural areas in New York State that are available and profitable for settlers. Examples are Orange County, Utica, Niagara and Buffalo. Before writing about the journey back to England, which proved a difficult trial, he ends his agricultural sketch with general thoughts about the state of New York. He then tells of his departure for England with the ship Robert Fulton and its disaster at sea: bad weather destroyed the ship on 18 October 1830, putting an end to his voyage. His party had to make their way to the Western Islands, and his travelogue contains several descriptions of islands in the Azores archipelago, such as Corvo, Flores and Horta, that they visited on their way back home to England.In very good condition.l Huntress 245C; Sabin 25310; not in Howgego.

A very rare (Muller) print presenting an episode in the life of Willem de Goede (William the Good), Count of Holland, in 1336, passing a just judgement in favour of a poor farmer against the rich bailiff of Holland, resulting in the bailiff’s execution. Although no other state of the present plate is known, Atlas van Stolk points out that its plan and layout (and lettering, we would add) so closely matches an earlier print showing the death of Floris V, Count of Holland, in 1296 (De doot van Floris de V. Grave van Holl[and]), that one may suppose they were originally produced and published together, so engraved by Experiens Sillemans and published by Cornelis Danckerts before the death of the former in 1652. The present impression, without the name of the engraver but with the imprint indicating it was printed in Amsterdam by Hugo Allard [the elder (ca. 1624/25-1684)] in Kalverstraat, therefore shows the plate in what is probably its second state.With the print trimmed to the plate-mark, edges a bit… Read More

Third state of a rare print of the execution of the conspirators in the failed attempt to assassinate the Dutch stadholder Maurits of Nassau, Prince of Orange, in 1623, skilfully engraved by the publisher and engraver Claes Jansz. Visscher. The plate is divided into nine panels, the main one showing a view of the beheading at the square in front of Het Binnenhof in The Hague, watched by a large crowd. The other panels show portraits of Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt, David Koornwinder, Adriaen Adriaensz. van Dijck and Cornelis Gerrits and five smaller scenes of the dismembering of the bodies.A heated theological and political conflict had raged in the Low Countries between the Arminians (from 1610 also called Remonstrants) and Gomarists for more than a decade when it came to a head with the Synod of Dort (1618/19), which decided in favour of the Gomarists. The Synod led to the 1619 execution of the Republic’s greatest statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, who had supported the Arminian cause. In revenge… Read More

A very rare print presenting an episode in the life of Charles the Bold (le Téméraire; Carel de Stoute; 1433-1477), the fourth Duke of Burgundy from the House of Valois, who also ruled large parts of the Northern Netherlands and Zeeland. The smaller scenes, three on each side, illustrate the various events in the story. The caption under each small scene first gives a couplet in one line (in roman style lettering) that offers wise moral advice related to the scene. It is followed by four lines of verse (in italic) applying it more specifically to the event in the story. Six columns of italic text in the foot of the plate tell the whole story in prose. The stories used for the two similar prints appeared in Cornelius Aurelius, Die chronyk van Hollandt (Leiden, 1517), known as the “Divisiekroniek”, so this one may also come from that source, but we have not found it.The plate appears to be somewhat worn, so probably a late impression of an older plate. Trimmed to the platemark. Browned. Manuscript… Read More

XIII, [7], 395, [1] pp.The first English edition. Abbé Jean Chappe d'Auteroche, a French astronomer, was sent to Siberia to observe the transit of Venus, which was due in June 1761 and had great scientific importance, since it could be used to estimate the size of the solar system. From St Petersburg Chappe d'Auteroche sledged to Tobolosk, where he spent several months, observing the transit and carrying out a large number of scientific measurements. After his return he published his Voyage en Siberie (1768). It describes Siberia's geography, natural history, and the culture of its inhabitants, and sharply condemns Russia's political regime.The plates show native inhabitants in their respective dress, and a view with Russian sledges.With an ink stamp of a contemporary owner "W*James" on title-page, and manuscript additions and corrections. He appears to have travelled in Siberia himself and took a special interest in low temperature studies. On the plate of the Reaumur and Fahrenheit temperature… Read More