Rare books from Dave Shoots, Bookseller

La Haye (The Hague), Netherlands: Henri Scheurleer, 1734 Book. Illus. by Many Engravings and Foldouts. Very Good. Full Leather. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Original full leather hard cover. Text in FRENCH. From the private library of a Danish family, and in exceptional condition. I see only one small cut to lower right cover, with no leather missing. I see no evidence of anything missing among the spectacular engravings and foldouts. This is an early reprint of the 1729 Paris edition, but appears to be even more difficult to find. We have chosen the most enticing view in our opinion, but would be pleased to supply more upon your request. This is a heavy book in 6 parts individually paginated, over 500 large pp. in all. Please research and respond! NOTE; Since this is a consignment, our usual discount of 20 per cent to the trade does not apply..

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Co.; F.C. And J. Rivington; Lackington, Allen, and Co.; J. Mawman; Sherwood, Neely, and Jones; and Wilson and Son, York, 1811 Book. Illus. by 120 Engravings from Various Great Masters. Good Plus to Very Good. Full Leather. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Original full brown leather with gilt decoration on boards. This was the Family Bible of Ann and Thomas Flint Field (Cheesemonger), of Fielden, Bedfordshire, parishioners of Christ Church, Newgate. The two-page handwritten account on front endpaper of Volume I gives birth, death, and baptism dates for all 10 children. The fourth son, WILLIAM (VENTRIS) FIELD, born August 21, 1813, had a long and distinguished career in law, and tried many important cases. In 1890 he became a member of Privy Council and was created a peer, BARON FIELD OF BAKEHAM. Other internet references refer to mother and daughter (of same name) as Ann. Mother Ann was killed in a buggy upset in 1833. Father Thomas died in… Read More

London: Collins, 1940 Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Original bright red cloth on boards. Book has no writing or damage. DJ missing small bits of word "at" on front cover and word "death" at head of backstrip. DJ torn 2 inches at bottoms of both joints and across upper right corner. Not repaired. Original price 8/3 on lower flap. Eight friends usually get together for darts, but tonight they join in an experiment, following which one of the party is no longer able to play. 284 pp. plus ads. Tiny bookshop sticker..

Nurnberg: George Peter Monath, 1780 Book. Fair. Hardcover. First ( No Additional printings). 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Original grey paper boards. A listing and description of several early editions of the Holy Bible, beginning with that of Johann Bamler in 1466, in Latin. Text is in German. Condition of this book is fragile. The front cover is detached but present. Light tanning throughout. Small labels of two previous owners. 148 pp..

London: Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd. Book. Illus. by F.D. Bedford. Very Good. Hardcover. Early Variation. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Original blue cloth with all lettering in bright gilt and gilt design surrounding title block. Colour Frontispiece "A Lovely Spring Cleaning" is tipped-in on grey stock and duplicates DJ cover. DJ has 2-inch tear at lower front joint and small bits missing head and foot of spine (See photos). Other plates by Bedford (in order) are: Title, The Never Never Land, Peter Flew In, The Birds Were Flown, Let Him Keep Who Can, Peter On Guard, Summer Days on the Lagoon, To Die Will Be An Awfully Big Adventure, Flung Like Bales, Mook or Me This Time, This Man is Mine, Peter and Jane. No date given. Faint small foxing spots on margins of 257,259, and 261 and edges. Gutter strained at 193. Front and foot untrimmed. 267 pp. This book will be carefully wrapped, padded, and boxed for delivery locally or overseas..

New York: Benziger Brothers, Inc., 1917 Book. Illus. by Charles Chambers Frontispiece. Very Good. Hardcover. First Edition. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Dark green cloth on boards. Title in black, framed by florals. Author is believed to be the head Sister of St. Patrick's Academy, Chicago, who was credited with a previous copyright to the title," Nancy", in 1911. DJ also by Charles Chambers is Very Good, with no writing or tears and only light surface wear and hand soil. Book could be rated Near Fine except for removed small address label on first free endpaper. Mary tells her uncle that she wants to make her first Communion at Lourdes. This book is on consignment, so our 20% discount to booksellers does not apply. 245 pp. An alternate name for this author was Agnes Feehan..

London: Henry Colburn, 1827 Book. Good Plus to Very Good. 3/4 Leather on Leather Boards. First Edition. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Full, 3-volume set in 3/4 brown leather on leather boards. Leather spine labels in gilt. Miramichi Lodge 18 Library bookplate in each. Hinges scarcely cracked, but not separated. Last free endpaper of volume 2 missing a corner. Shelf wear. Actual author is believed to be Anna Marie Chetwood (1774-1870), daughter of a local minister, Rev. John Chetwood, resident of Cheltenham, Glanmire in County Cork. Title derives from the then current drive by educated women to advance to broader leadership roles in society. 320, 328, and 258 pp., respectively. Vol. 3 contains Errata page and 4-page catalog. Please allow for a small amount of extra postage. This set is on consignment, so our regular discount to booksellers does not apply..

Manchester: W. Cowdroy (and others), 1816 Book. Good Plus to Very Good. Full Leather. Third Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. A gathering of various publications issued by Rev. William Gadsby in the early portion of his 38-year-ministry at the chapel in Manchester. The majority of the works deal with strict Baptist doctrine. Nearly all were printed by Henry and Robert Smith, Manchester, between 1816 and 1826. Approx. 600 pp. Binding is sound and square, showing normal wear to covers. Some titles are: The Perfect Law of Liberty; Gawthorn Brought to the Test; Lines in Praise of Free Will; A Dream; Christ the Believer's Breakwater; Sandemanianism; and An Address to the Regenerated Church of Christ..

Self-published, 1899 Book. Illus. by B/W Photos By Author. Fair to Good. Original Wraps. First Edition - No Additional Printings. 11x14. Twelve large format maroon softcovers of black and white Saint John photos with tissue covers. The author travelled to several other Canadian cities, and produced similar photo books for British Columbia, Montreal and Winnipeg. They are extremely scarce in the original form. Most of the parts range from Fair to Good Plus in condition. However, Part One is in poor condition. It contains a 17-page writeup on the city. The covers are detached and taped together, and several pages are detached. Some of the tissue covers are detached and wrinkled. It seems as if this Part got the most use! The covers are also detached on Parts Seven and Twelve. Many Parts have been taped at the spine. It is impossible to know whether all the photos are there, as the photo pages are not paginated, and there is no Table of Contents or Index included. Part Nine has a… Read More

Philadelphia: David McKay Company, 1943 Book. Illus. by Cartoons By Author. Good. Hardcover. Signed By 11 Cartoonists and Other Celebrities. 5 3/4 x 7 1/2 Inches. Original red, white and blue paper covered boards with cartoon of a soldier and his lady on the front. Paper on spine has come away from spine at front gutter, but is still present. Hand soil. This book was written by the first openly black cartoonist to be syndicated in white newspapers in the U.S. We believe that this important piece of comic strip history was given as a gift to cartoonist C.D. Russell (who was identified as an influence on Campbell in his obituary) and his bride (?), Mary, in 1945. The blank pages in the front and back of the book have been signed along with sketches by some of the earliest members of the National Cartoonists Society: Milton Caniff, Jay Irving, Otto Soglow, George McManus, Bela Zaboly, Paul Frehm, Gus Edson, Dow Walling, Bill Holman, Ed Hughes, and Elmer Woggon. In addition, there are signatures… Read More

Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1965 Book. Illus. by Cover Design By John Elphick. Very Good Minus. Hardcover. First Canadian Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Orange cloth on boards with figural mockingbird in green and orange. Minor wear to corners, with 1/8" loss of cloth at top of rear spine. No writing or other damage. Published five years after its initial publication, this edition was produced for use in schools, and is fairly scarce. The novel ends with p. 296. Following is a biographical note about the author. Following this (pp. 296-312) are some Questions for Intensive Study and Questions for Writing..

London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1830 Book. Illus. by Foldout Map and Three Illustrations. Good Minus. 3/4 Leather. 1st Edition. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. Original 3/4 leather over maroon cloth on boards. Marbled page edges. Five raised bands on spine with gilt and embossed decoration. Minor wear to edges and corners of leather. Top of spine a little frayed. Previous owner's bookplates in front. Front hinge broken, but still holding. Medium hinge break between pgs. 120-121. Bad hinge break between pgs. 288-289. Rear hinge cracked. Foldout lithographed map of Nova Scotia counties is in very good condition - just a few extra folds at one edge. Captain Moorsom spent five years in Nova Scotia initially, as an officer in the 52nd Regiment. This book is his observances of the people, climate, geography, and economic prospects of the colony written in the form of letters home to friends in England. One biographer calls it "the most complete picture available of… Read More

London: J. Nourse, 1760 Book. Very Good Minus. Full-Leather. 1st Edition. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Original full brown calf on boards. Gilt title and five raised bands on spine. Dentilled edges with gilt decoration. Hinges strong. Leather cracking at spine edges. Wear to leather at top of spine (threads visible), and minor rubbing at top corners. Text is large and easy to read, if you can get past the old practice of replacing "s" with an "f"-like character! Thomas Pichon was the Secretary to the Comte de Raymond, Governor of Cape Breton. Written from Louisburg from 1750 on, Pichon's letters describe the geography, manners and customs of the Natives (who he was very sympathetic to, compared to some of his contemporaries), trade with New Zealand, the cod fishery, etc. This is one of the earliest local histories we've ever had to chance to see! Its author took pains to really be "an impartial Frenchman" as he refers to himself on the… Read More

Halifax: Clement H. Belcher, 1825 Book. Illus. by Foldout Map. Very Good. Three-Quarter Leather. New Edition. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Three-quarter chestnut leather over brown marbled paper on boards. Leather title label on spine. Printed at the Royal Acadian School (by Edmund Ward). Foldout map of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and part of New Brunswick is perfect - no tears or stains. Minor rubbing at the edges of boards and top of spine. Hinges are strong and tight. Bottom corner of page 85 is torn off (not affecting text), and the rear free endpaper has been torn out. This book has very little foxing, but the part of each page where the text is appears darker due to "offsetting". This book by Thomas C. Haliburton (known for his fictional character, Sam Slick, from "The Clockmaker") contains a lot of interesting details about Nova Scotia. Highlights include: Plants and animals, Indigenous tribes and their customs (including four pages… Read More

New York: Century Co., 1889 Book. Illus. by Black and White Line Drawings. Very Good Minus. Hardcover. 1st Edition. Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. Original decorative beige cloth over boards with brown lettering with reinforcement at spine (possibly added by original owners, the Saint John Law Society, whose name is printed at the bottom of each spine). Leather(?) labels with contents of each volume printed on spine. Most volumes have minor handsoiling to the covers. All volumes have been reinforced inside front and back covers with bookbinding tape, but despite that, most have breaks in the hinge within the first few pages. This has resulted in about ten of the 7046+ pages being separated (all are present). Some of the pages are uncut, and there is some damage to a few due to careless attempts at opening them. This set has been used, and there are edge tears and folded down corners throughout. A handful of tears go across the full width of the page, but all the information is still there.… Read More