Rare books from Kurt Gippert Bookseller (ABAA)

Lexington, VA: Washington College, 1868. Autograph. Very good+ condition. Unbound. Signed by Author(s). No edition. Quarto (4to). One page partly printed document, signed by R. E. Lee as President of Washington College, Lexington Virginia 8th February, 1868. It is an academic report for the half session for G. W. Pilson; matted with an oval photogravure portrait of General Lee. Paper has several creases from folding, but the document is in excellent condition. Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870). Americana, Civil War, Military..

Various places: Various publishers, 1675. Book. Very good condition. Hardcover. First Edition. Numerous works bound in one volume. Half vellum binding with marbled paper-covered boards; moderately soiled. Previous owner's bookplate (Bilharz) on front paste-down endpaper, and circular private library sticker at bottom of spine. Works include: 1.) Moller, D. G. "Dissertatio De Technophysiotameis, Von Kunst- und Naturalien- Kammern." Henrici Meyeri: Altdorfii, 1704. Dissertaion/Thesis (F. S. Wuffbain, respondent). 68 pages. 2.) Fermin, Phillipe. "Memoire sur l'origine de la belemnite contenant la decouverte de l'animal analogue a ce fossile." 4 page manuscript with folding manuscript illustration. Apparently a fair copy of the above named article, published in Ph. Renard's "Considerations d'histoire naturelle" pp.63-76 in 1775. 3.) Camerarius, R. J. "Dissertation inauguralis medica de lapidum figuratorum usu medico." Johannis Cunradi Reissi:… Read More

Zurich, Switzerland: Iacobus Gesnerus, 1565. Book. Good condition. Hardcover. First Edition. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Published 1565-1566. Detached title page is worn, soiled, creased and has small chips. Minor soiling and creasing to text of Part 1. Minor worming to Part 7. Worming to Part 8, which lacks the final 7 leaves (14 pages). Front board lacking, rear board detached, spine defective. Small 8vo (6.26 inches/159mm). Some early marginalia in a tiny neat hand scattered throughout the text and margins..

Los Angeles: Privately printed by the author/artist., 1946. Book. Very good+ condition. Portfolio. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. Folio. Portfolio case with string-ties evidently made by the artist; it is moderately rubbed, especially at the corners. It has an engraved title label (by the artist) inset on the front cover, and measures 16 inches wide by almost 13 inches tall. The plates are additionally protected in a printed paper folder, with a printed front cover and one page of text containing a preface and explanatory text. The text lists four etchings from the original plates, printed by the artist, referred to by the artist as "strophes." The etchings measure approximately 13 inches wide by 9 inches tall, are pencil signed, titled and numbered by the artist, and are mounted to a paper backing. It appears that the intended edition size is 10, but it is unclear how many were actually produced.There is a small pencil signed etching mounted to the single page of text. The etchings are… Read More

Paris: Editions Mornay, 1928. Book. Very good+ condition. Paperback. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. Quarto (4to). VIII, 170 pages of text. All text and illustrations printed on Japon Imperial. Original wrappers are moderately shelfworn, with the front hinge weakened; minor restoration work has been performed. The original glassine wrapper has been replaced with a custom-fitted archival mylar sleeve. Number 23 of 40 "Sur Japon Imperial (Numerotes 11 a 50) Avec Un Dessin Original Et Une Suite Sur Annam De Toutes Les Illustrations." Many pages uncut and unopened; an excellent copy except for the front hinge which has rolled and has a small tear. In addition to numerous 59 in-text illustrations, it is illustrated with six dry-point etchings (all on Japon Imperial). Included is an original charcoal drawing by Alexandre Iacovleff of a seated figure with his arm outstretched and resting upon his knee, and his other arm resting what may be a pipe on the ground. The drawing is signed by the… Read More

Poughkeepsie, NY: Not published, 1864. Autograph. Good+ condition. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. An autograph book which contains 136 pages with autographs and other written information and sentiments of students mainly attendees of Eastman National Business College (ENBC) Poughkeepsie, NY. The majority of the entries date from 1864-65, with a few that are later. One notable contributor is R.H. Henderson (Robert Henry Hendershot known as the Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock) here listed as being from Jackson, Michigan. C.M. Coolidge (1844-1934) is best known for his series of "Dogs Playing Poker" paintings, an original oil of which sold in 2015 for over $650,000. For H.S. Carpenter whose name is stamped onto the front cover of the autograph book, Coolidge made an original ink drawing which he titled "A Graduate's Appearance in his Native Town" which is an early example of Coolidge's talent. The drawing is… Read More

Paris, France: No publisher, 1867. Handwritten. Very good+ condition. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. Octavo (8vo). A bound volume containing over 120 manuscript leaves used by art critic and Realist novelist Jules François Felix Fleury-Husson to write the original manuscript for his work "l'avocat trouble-menage" under the pseudonym Champfleury. The paper is a wide variety of shapes, sizes, color, etc. and was collected from many sources, including Parisian exhibition catalogues. On the back of one sheet is a drawing of a cat. Bound in blue cloth with a leather spine label. Engraved armorial bookplate on the inside front cover "Vaillant et Veillant", and the bookplate of Jacques Dalyphard on the front endpaper. The inner front hinge is detached..

Black-Heath [London]: Not published, 1758. Autograph. Very good condition. Unbound. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. Octavo (8vo). One folio leaf folded in half, with three of the quarters containing a handwritten and signed letter by Wolfe and the other page containing the recipient name and address, forming a letter and mailing envelope together; remnants of black sealing wax remain on the edge. Addressed to "Major Walter Wolfe at Lucas's Coffee=House Dublin." James Wolfe writes a letter to his uncle dated November 17, 1758, following his return to London after successful campaigns in North American including the Siege of Louisbourg, and the Expulsion of the Acadians in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Campaign. In the letter, while most of it is speaking of health, duty and family matters, he reports "We met a Squadron of homeward bound French Men of War and did our utmost to engage them, though with inferior force..." Wolfe would go on to succeed in conquering Quebec in a… Read More

London: Printed for M.P. [Moses Pitt] and to be Sold by George Monke...and William Ewrey , 1688. Book. Very good+ condition. Hardcover. Early printing. Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. Two volumes and including the "Seraglio" text. Thought to be a 2nd printing of the first edition. Newly rebound in full caramel goatskin (leather) with a gold-embossed leather spine label; blind-tooled frames on front and rear covers. New endpapers. Measures just over 12 inches tall. Complete with 37 plates including 30 full page plates (a few are larger fold-outs), five in-text plates, and one large and one small folding map. Contains several additional smaller in-text illustrations. Each volume has multiple parts/sections. Vol. I, First Part with title dated 1688: [xiv], 264 pages of text including an index. Contains 9 illustrations including one fold-out. Vol. I, Second Part with title dated 1684: [vi], 214 pages including an index. There are 14 illustrations as called for but the plate titled… Read More

Washington: no publisher, 1803. Autograph. Good+ condition. Unbound. Signed by Author(s). Quarto (4to). One page letter, folded several times, with breaks in the folds, and heavy ink staining. Attractively framed with a small black-and-white portrait of the President. The letter, listed in Vol. 41 of "The Papers of Thomas Jefferson" (PTJ) reads "Washington July 18, 1803; Dear Sir; This will be delivered to you by Mr Barnes who being personally unknown to you, has asked of me a letter of introduction, as he proposes before I return to the seat of government, to visit Philadelphia, with a view to his re-moval there. He has been so long an inhabitant of that place that he can hardly live elsewhere. As he has been the subject of two former letters, I will add only that he is one of those grateful + correct men for whom one never regrets of having done any thing. Accept my friendly salutations and great esteem. [signed] Th. Jefferson. [addressee's name on the bottom edge] Gen'l… Read More

Richmond, VA: Printed by Thomas Nicolson and William Prentis, 1785. Book. Very good condition. Hardcover. First Edition. 235 pages of text. The original patterned paper boards are worn, stained and soiled but intact, with old ink ownership notation on board: B.W. Leigh [Virginia politician Benjamin Watkins Leigh (1781-1849)]. Folio: measures 12 7/8 x 8 inches. The text was resewn, and the spine was expertly rebacked in new leather with a leather spine label. The front endpaper and the title page were light-bleached by a conservator. Previous owner's name on the title page and first page of text: Thomas Edmunds. Edmunds (circa 1750-1791) served in various Virginia Militia and became an officer in the Revolutionary War. He represented Sussex County in the Virginia Federal Convention (a.k.a Virginia Ratifying Convention). A bookplate and pencil owner's name from 1910 are on the front pastedown and endpaper. Generally a clean copy with minor foxing and minor browning, with a few minor creases and… Read More

Williamsburg, VA: Printed by William Hunter, 1752. Book. Very good condition. Hardcover. First Edition. Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. vi, 456 pages of text including an index (table) and errata. Original full calf boards with embossed colonial seal "En Dat Virginia Quartam" stamped on the front cover. The boards are worn, scuffed and soiled, but have been refurbished by a conservator. They contain a barely legible old ink ownership notation on both board: B.W. Leigh [Virginia politician Benjamin Watkins Leigh (1781-1849)]. Folio: measures 14 x 9 inches. The spine was expertly rebacked in new calf with a leather spine label. The front endpaper was replaced with period paper, and the title page was light-bleached and mounted on tissue by a conservator . Previous owner's name is barely legible on both boards, and on the rear endpaper: Peyton Short. Short (1761-1825) was a land speculator and a Kentucky politician. A bookplate and pencil owner's name from 1911 are on the front… Read More

London: Henry Solomon Wellcome and Elkington & Co., 1890. Autograph. Very good+ condition. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. Octavo (8vo). 12 pages, including pages with mounted photographs. Bound in full leather stamped "Stanley" with shield and eagle decoration on the front cover, with wear to the extremities. The spine has been expertly rebacked in full leather to match the original. The hinge of the page containing the Stanley photograph has been repaired almost invisibly, not affecting the photograph or the text. There is minor to moderate foxing scattered throughout. With the exception of the list of persons present, which is affixed to the inside front cover, each page is mounted on thick card stock. There are five photographic portraits of the officers of the Advance Command of the Expedition, each of which is signed by the officer in the top margin above the photograph. The book is additionally signed on the front and rear endpaper by 23 attendees of the banquet… Read More

Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Grambo & Company, 1853. Book. Very good condition. Hardcover. First edition, later printing. Quarto (4to). Five volume set; complete. Listed in Howes S183 as a "cheaper edition, smaller size and omitting volume VI...". Original full leather bindings with raised bands and a maroon and a green gilt-lettered leather spine label on each volume. About half of the hinges have been repaired, there is a chip to the top of one spine that has been filled/repaired, there is minor craquelure to the finish of the leather, and the spines are darkened and somewhat worn. Published between 1853 and 1856. This edition was not published with the large folding map "A New Map of Georgia...". Although reduced from the first edition, this early reprint edition contains 275 plates including maps, figures, engraved titles, etc. some of which are fold-out but reduced from the original size and most are not in color. There is moderate browning and foxing scattered… Read More

Amsterdam: Joannes Jansson and Elizeus Weyerstraet, 1665. Book. Very good condition. Hardcover. First Edition. Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. Two volumes bound in one. Folio: binding dimensions are approximately 391mm x 236mm. Complete with 2 engraved title pages, 2 engraved portraits, 22 engraved plates and maps of which 14 are double-page, folding or fold-outs, and 7 letterpress tables of which 6 are double page, folding or fold-outs. Additionally, in the first volume this copy contains three volvelles with all elements present and properly assembled at pages 132, 154 and 156. Additionally illustrated with dozens of engraved and wood-engraved illustrations in the text including numerous initials, and head and tail pieces. Text printed in double columns. Folio; height 39cm (15.25 inches). CONDITON: The engraved title page and the letterpress title page have had the top corner repaired with the missing text/illustration area completed in manuscript. The original vellum binding is heavily worn and… Read More