Rare books from BATTLEDORE LTD

Earliest Representation of a Rare Books Auction
The Compleat Auctioneer, circa 1700,
uncolored engraving of a book auctioneer standing behind a stall of books, with two ladies and two gentlemen beside him, and a tree behind, the tree bearing a printed notice 'A Choice Collection of Books being the Library of the late famous Unborn Doctor, are to be put to Sale this Day and to continue untill all be Sold, at Mr L-GS Auction in the North West Corner of Middle Moorfields. Cattalogues may be had at most of the eminent Booksellers in the four Quarters of Moorfeilds Gratis, the Books may be Seen before or at the time of Sale', the whole set within a 19th century black and gilt moulded frame, glazed.
Rare. The earliest known representation of a book auction. The table of books on display include many bawdy titles of the restoration era, such as 'Sch: of Venus', 'Aratines Post.', 'Play of Sodom', 'Poems by the R H the E[arl] of R[ochester], alongside standard medical works of the period, 'Culp Midw',… Read More

CLINTON (George), First Governor of New York State, 1777-1795, 1801-1804; also 4th Vice-President of the United States, 1805-1812 under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
"Kingston laid in ashes by the Enemy" ...
8vo (7-3/4 x 6-1/2 inches), 1-1/2 pages on laid paper, with integral address leaf (remnants of wax seal, some fading to text and signature, scattered minor
It should be noted that Clinton was sworn in as New York's first governor on 9th July 1777 shortly after Kingston was established as its first capitol (20th April 1777). Thus, the burning of Kingston and change of capitol to eventually Albany was a consequence of the War for Independence.
Remarkable handwritten manuscript explaining that the British troops arrived at Kingston before his own re-enforcements, whereupon 1000 men burned the town and immediately returned to their ships, warning that a similar fate awaits the settlements along the shore and that forage and property should be moved from the path of the enemy, reminding him to… Read More

L'ARMESSIN II (Nicolas de) [1632–1694]
[Habits des Metiers et Professions].
[Paris: chez N. de L'Armessin (ou chez la Veuve de N. de l'Armessin), Rue St. Jacques, à la Pomme d'Or, N.d.] circa 1690–1695.
4to., [62] ff. (last two plates with restoration); bound in green morocco, gilt (second-half of the 19th century) signed Chambolle-Duru.A remarkable collection of 62 engraved copperplates representing the earliest impressions of fantastic figures composed of the tools or attributes of their trades, created and produced about 1690 onwards (thru 1694), enhanced at the time with brilliant hand-coloring, silver and gold paint. These prints are a marvel of inventiveness showing the inspiration and influence of the 16th century painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593) who chiefly imagined only heads, now extended and re-invented for the Court of Louis XIV.
Amongst the most famous prints of the late 17th century, their printing history is rather complicated. Nicolas I de Larmessin (or L'Armessin)… Read More

Created by Felixmüller for his sons Luca and Titus, also for children of his friends, this elaborate picture-book was printed by master craftsman Zielinski in December 1925 under the supervision of the artist. Felixmüller's glowingly hand-colored images contribute to one of the most significant artist books of German Expressionism. Partly as a result of economic decline in Germany during the early 1920s, Felixmüller took overall control of all aspects of this publication, thereby keeping costs to a minimum, but at the same time enhancing significantly its quality and harmony.

One of perhaps 10 copies hand-colored by the artist, from the total edition of 350, comprising 100 copies on Bütten paper, numbered and signed by the artist bound in cloth and 250 copies on Ingres paper bound in wrappers. This copy is from the Ingres issue, and is inscribed by the artist "Eigenhandig coloriert C. Felixmüller" on the title-page, though the few other hand-colored copies traced have all been on… Read More

One of 1000 copies printed, it was sold for one shilling each, a hefty price at the time, the concept suggested by Sir Henry Cole who is best remembered as the intellectual designer of the Victoria & Albert Museum and responsible for the modern British postal system. However, because the central design depicted feasting and drinking (as designed by John Calcott Horsley), the card was attacked by the Temperance League and thought to promote drunkenness, so it was suppressed soon after publication and there are believed to be less than 30 examples thought to survive. The 2nd Christmas card did not get issued until three years later (in 1846).
The two side panels on the card illustrate images of the Christmas Spirit of giving alms to the poor, feeding and clothing the needy. Its release literarily coincided the same week with the publication of Dickens' A Christmas Carol and certainly helped perpetuate the celebration of the holiday.
Printed on one side, this is possibly a salesman's sample copy as… Read More

Finished watercolor study for the original dust jacket design of Little Toot,
the book was published in 1939. (G P Putnam's Sons, NY).

Hardie Gramatky (1907–1979), an American author, artist and watercolorist worked as an animator for Walt Disney, and when he settled back in New York, his studio overlooked the East River, where he saw the cityscape and the boat traffic along the Hudson which inspired the story of "Little Toot". Disney featured the classic children's story in an animation short as part of Melody Time (1948).
Provenance: From the Artist's Estate, acquired directly from the family.

GREENAWAY (Kate) and LOCKER (Frederick):
Cradle Verses. 1880. Illuminated Manuscript of Four Poems by Frederick Locker, written by his own hand, with extensive illustrations in watercolors by Kate Greenaway. This charming book was prepared on commission for presentation on the birthday of Frederick Locker's wife, Jane. 24mo., [48] pages; presentation vellum binding with full watercolors on corners, titled: "Babies and Blossoms", all edges green. Housed in custom green morocco leather box, gilt-lettered: "Hannah Jane Locker | 1880", with hand-made velvet pouch.
Unique and extremely charming miniature book.
Reference: Spielman and Layard p.96, illustrated pp 280-281.
Provenance: Jane Locker Lampson, thence by descent; acquired by Mrs. Robert S. Pirie from Seven Gables bookshop circa 1961.

BLAKE (William)
The Pastorals of Virgil, With a course of English Reading, adapted for Schools ... enabling youth to acquire the Latin Language in the shortest period of time. [Edited] by Robert John Thornton.
London: F C & J Rivington, 1821.
Two volumes, illustrated with engraved frontispieces + 230 illustrations: of which William Blake has contributed 17 original woodblock designs for the First Eclogue + six copperplates of Classical poets and philosophers, all of which he also engraved, and with four additional Blake designs engraved by other hands. These are WILLIAM BLAKE's only woodcut designs and have remained amongst the most influential woodcuts in the historical development of British art. Their influence can be seen in the prints of Edward Calvert and Samuel Palmer. The original blocks survive and are preserved in the British Library (London), last restruck in 1977 by Iain Bain.
8vo., xii (-vii/viii), 12, xxiv (-i/iv) 214 pp., [i] (215-)592 pp. + plates, erratic preliminaries… Read More

DODGSON (Charles L) "Lewis Carroll":
LAURENCIN (Marie) [1883–1956]
Alice in Wonderland. [Paris: Black Sun Press, 1930].
Complete set of six colored pastel drawings for this unusual Art Deco vision of ALICE, being the actual finished originals made by MARIE LAURENCIN inside a set of black and white outline designs printed as proofs on wove paper. Her original outlines would have been made directly on lithographic stones for printing whereas this manuscript series was prepared for the printers to create color-separation plates (which explains why the color-printed images in the book do not precisely match the published drawings).
Each picture is signed by the artist in colored pencil, with page size measuring 10-7/8 x 14-1/4 inches.
[Additional images available]
Together with: 6 canceled outline proofs from the printer E Desjobert, signed and dated "October 1930", with their printers' stamp. These measure 9-3/4 x 11-7/8 inches on tinted BFK wove paper.
This is one of the artist's most… Read More

Beatrix Potter's first book
POTTER (Beatrix): A Happy Pair. Verses by F E Weatherley
[London:] Hildesheimer & Faulkner, 1890.
Illustrated with six chromolithographs by Potter (one duplicated as the front cover design).
12mo., [7] ff.; pictorial card wrappers (slight staining, but an exceptionally clean copy), with original silk ties and tassels, all edges gilt. Protective clamshell cloth box.
First edition.
Beatrix Potter's FIRST Book, most likely published without her knowledge, based upon her contribution towards creating Christmas Card designs. Precedes "Peter Rabbit" by nearly 10 years.

A Selection of a Highly Important Archive

KERVORKIAN (Jack), MD:
Selection from his Archives from the Sale of his Estate, collectively dated 1982-2007.
Sold four months after his death, Dr Kervorkian's archive comprises nearly a dozen historical lots inventoried in his estate auction sale, a copy of the catalogue is likewise included:1. 2pp. typed interviews transcript with three San Quentin death row inmates and subsequent 2pp. signed Petition of 27 Death Row Prisoners in support of execution by lethal injection as opposed to lethal gas, as the former would allow use of the prisoners' body parts for organ donation while the latter would not. (42)2. Handwritten letters (3 sheets) from patient Joe Tushkowski to JK dealing with arrangements for an assisted suicide with Jack Kevorkian's initials and notes. (43)3. Four typed letters from Judge Amnon Carmi, signed, of an international scientific journal MEDICINE AND LAW, with JK carbon responses (often on verso), 1985-88, dealing with their acceptance to… Read More

GRIMM, Jacob (1785-1863) and GRIMM, Wilhelm (1786-1859). Kinder- und Haus-Märchen. Berlin: G. Reimer, 1825. Seven page illustrations by Ludwig Emil Grimm (1790-1863), comprising scenes from Mary's Child, Hansel & Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and the Goose Girl.Thick 12mo., iv 316 pp.; early 3/4 red leather, marbled boards. The spine title misspelt "Hans Märchen" instead of "Haus".This is the very rare first "Kleine Ausgabe", i.e. Popular Edition of Grimm's fairy tales intended specifically for children to read themselves. Inspired by the success of Cruikshank's popular English edition, the Grimms released this version comprising a selection of 50 of their most popular tales in pocket-size format, omitting the critical apparatus of earlier editions, and adding illustrations. The earliest version of their Fairy Tales (1812-1815) was chiefly philological and unillustrated; the next edition (1819) was re-edited and written for parents to read these stories… Read More

BOYLE (Eleanor Vere) [1825–1916]
"But he was only sunk in a dream of delight". 1868.
Original watercolor for The Story Without an End
from the German by Carové, translation by Sarah Austin
(London: Sampson Low, 1868; illustration for plate image)
Measures 5-11/16 x 4-9/16 inches

RACKHAM (Arthur) [1867–1939]
"The wonderful music with shouting and laughter", 1934
Original ink and watercolor on paper mounted on board
Frontispiece for Robert Browning: The Pied Piper of Hamelin
(London: George G Harrap, 1934)
Measures 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches
Signed in full at bottom left

ROBINSON (W Heath) [1872–1944]
The Merchant's Wife … and the Merchant. 1912.
Ink and watercolor
Page illustration for Bill the Minder
(London: Constable, 1912; p.213; uncolored)
Measures 12-1/2 x 10-1/2 inches
Signed with monogram at lower left