Presentations and Provenances Pre-1800

1. CAVE, WILLIAM. Apostolic:, or, The history of the lives, acts, death, and martyrdoms of those who were contemporary with, or immediately succeeded the apostles as also the most eminent of the primitive fathers for the first three hundred years : to which is added, a chronology of the three first ages of the church. London: printed by A.C. for Richard Chiswel at the Rose and Crown in S. Paul's Church-yard, 1677. $2,500

First edition, folio, pp. [36], xxxii, 335; copper-engraved pictorial title and 23 copper-engraved plates of the martyrs by M. Burghers, printed title in red and black, woodcut initials throughout, the whole in a contemporary red morocco binding by the "Small Carnation Binder," boards with double gilt fillets, central gilt roll panel with fleurons at the corners, spine with raised bands and richly gilt in the compartments, gilt lettering direct, gilt dentelles, a.e.g.

According to Nixon, English Restoration Bookbindings, the Small Carnation Bindery produced bindings in London between 1675 and 1685.

This copy with a distinguished provenance, first owned by Richard Grey (1694-1771), the author of Memoria Technica, and subsequently by William Derham (1702-1757), president of St. John's College, Oxford, passed to Samuel Horne and his brother, George Horne, president of Magdalene College, Oxford, Dean of Canterbury, Lord Bishop of Norwich, author and poet.

Horne has written a 2-line manuscript verse on p. 239, and also supplied a detailed manuscript table of contents on the flyleaf. The binding is a little worn and the front joint has started to crack at the top, but overall still quite good and sound. Wing C1590

2. CRAIG, THOMAS, SIR. The right succession to the kingdom of England, in two books; against the sophisms of Parsons the Jesuite, who assum'd the counterfeit name of Doleman; by which he endeavours to overthrow not only the rights of succession in kingdoms, but also the sacred authority of kings themselves. Written originally in Latin above 100 years since … and now faithfully translated into English, with a large index … and a preface, giving an account of the author. London: printed by M. Bennet, for Dan. Brown [et al.], 1703.   $1,500

First edition in English, folio, pp. [34], 431, [1], [17]; full contemporary paneled calf, red morocco label; slight crack at the bottom of the lower joint, else a very good, sound copy.

The Dedication is signed J. G. (i.e. James Gatherer). With the early ownership inscription of "Ph: Fowke, M.D. … A.D. 1703" with a six-line inscription in Latin and Greek beneath it, and a number of additional notes in his hand throughout, in the margins and on the rear blank flyleaves.

Phineas Fowke (1638-1710) was a Yorkshire physician who graduated from Cambridge in 1668. He practiced in London and was admitted as a fellow in the College of Physicians in 1680. See DNB.

3. MORRIS, CORBYN. An essay towards fixing the true standards of wit, humour, raillery, satire, and ridicule. To which is added, an analysis of the characters of an humourist, Sir John Falstaff, Sir Roger de Coverly, and Don Quixote : inscribed to the Right Honorable Robert Earl of Orford. London: printed for J. Roberts and W. Bickerton, 1744. $6,500

First edition, 8vo, p. xxxiv, [2], xxxii, 75; presentation copy, inscribed on the flyleaf "To the Marchioness of Rockingham, presented by ye author."

The recipient was the mother of the future prime minister. Corbyn Morris was a commissioner of customs, with a strong interest in statistics and economic reforms, and he was a friend of David Hume. There is a long dedication to Sir Robert Walpole, which delighted his son, Horace Walpole, who pronounced the book "worth reading," and sent a copy to his friend, Horace Mann. At the end is reprinted a long letter from Congreve to John Dennis on humor in comedy.

Bound with: Morris, Corbyn. An essay towards deciding the question, whether Britain be permitted by right policy to insure the ships of her enemies? Addressed to the Right Honourable Henry Pelham, Esq ; to which are now first added, Further considerations upon our insurance of the French commerce in the present juncture: addressed to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle. London, A. Millar, 1758. 8vo, pp. x, 34, iv, 26, [6]; second edition, revised, but the first edition to contain Further Considerations, which has its own title page and pagination.

Together, 2 vols. in 1, contemporary full red morocco, elaborate gilt floral borders with urns and sprays at the corners, gilt-decorated spine in 6 compartments, green morocco labels in 2; a handsome, pleasing copy.

4. NANI MIRABELLI, DOMINICUS. Polyanthea, hoc est, opvs svavissimis floribvs celebriorvm sententiarvm tam Graecarvm qvam Latinarvm exornatvm, qvos ex innvmeris fere cvm sacris, tum prophanis authoribus, iisque vetustioribus & recentioribus, summa fide collegere ... Dominicus Nanus Mirabellius, Bartholomaeus Amantius, & Franciscus Tortius. Quibus accessere recenti hac editione CCXXXI. additiones, suis quibusque locis & titulis collocatae... Lugduni [i.e. Lyons]: H.E. Vignon, 1600.    $3,750

Folio, pp. [12], 851; woodcut device on title-p., title printed in red and black, a few woodcut initials and ornaments; slight inkstain enters the first few leaves in the fore-margin, title a little soiled, the whole lightly toned and/or foxed, old library rubberstamps in the margin of the title and on the last leaf of text; bound in ca. 1720 full tan goatskin, edges rubbed and worn, a few small cracks starting, but a good, sound copy of a most handsome French prize binding, with gilt arms central, surrounded by a semé of fleurs-de-lys, spine gilt in compartments with a smaller semé of fleurs-de-lys; both covers with the gilt arms, probably that of the Baron du Mesnil-Garnier, presumably the patron of the Musarum Cadomensium in Regio Collegio Societatis Jesu Agonothetae, with a tipped in presentation leaf in front of the title, with spaces for the name and date left blank.

The binding is perhaps one of several made for a prize presentation, but it seems obvious it was never used as such. That said, an inscription on a rear flyleaf shows that the book was given to Carolo Caesari Blaird for "singularis diligenticae praemium ... in schola humanitatis auditori, and is signed and dated Joannes d'Herouville, Humaniorum litterarium professor in Collegio Marchiano, anno 1720."

The Polyanthea is one of the earliest "Konversationlexica," an encyclopaedial work arranged in alphabetical order and covering subjects in the fields of classical antiquity, medieval history, natural history and medicine; also a wealth of anecdotes, adagia and quotations from better than 200 authorities, including Dante, Petrarch, and others. Says Collison in his Encyclopedias: Their History throughout the Ages: "In some ways [the Polyanthea] may be said to have been the prototype of the Conversationslexicon: it is arranged alphabetically by subjects, and it is furnished with etymological derivations, complete with numerous illustrative quotations."

Nanus Mirabellius was a poet, physician and jurist who did much to promote the study of the ancients. The work appeared in a number of editions throughout the 16th and into the 17th century. It was first published in Savona, 1503 and it ran to 26 editions up to 1681.

This edition not in Adams; BM French STC, p. 322; only 1 copy in Ireland listed in OCLC.

5. SOMERVILLE, WILLIAM. The chase. A poem. London: printed by W. Bulmer & Co., 1796.      $2,500

First Bulmer edition, and first edition with the Bewick wood engravings; royal 4to, pp. xv, [1], vii, [1], 126; vignette wood engraving on title-p., 12 wood-engraved head- and tail-pieces; slightly later half brown morocco over marbled boards, neatly rebacked; a nice copy.

A rare presentation copy from the printer William Bulmer to Josiah Boydell, dated June 2, 1796. In Bulmer's prefatory note "To the Patrons of Fine Printing," (dated May 20, 1796) he states: When the exertions of an Individual to improve his profession are crowned with success, it is certainly the highest gratification his feelings can experience." He also goes on to announce the death of John Bewick, whose last accomplishment these illustrations were. Clearly Bulmer was proud of this work, and this presentation copy to Boydell (1762-1817), the painter and engraver made famous by his illustrations of Shakespeare, is of special importance.

Hugo 94: "This work contains the best specimens of John Bewick's abilities as a designer; all the cuts were drawn by him, except one, but none of them were engraved by him. Shortly after he had finished the drawings on the blocks, he returned to the North, in consequence of ill health. They were engraved by Thomas Bewick, with the exception of the tail-piece at the end of the volume, which was engraved by Nesbit. Speaking of the death of John Bewick, a writer in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' says, "The works of this young artist will be held in estimation; and the engravings to 'Somerville's Chase' will be a monument of fame of more celebrity than marble can bestow."

6. [SPRAT, THOMAS, BISHOP OF ROCHESTER.]. A true account and declaration of the horrid conspiracy against the late King His Present Majesty and the government. As it was order'd to be published by His late Majesty. [London] In the Savoy: printed by Thomas Newcomb, one of His Majesties printers, 1685. $4,250

First edition, folio, 2 volumes in 1, pp. [6], 167; [2], 141; woodcut ornaments; full contemporary calf, neatly rebacked.

Presentation copy from the author, inscribed on the front free endpaper, "R. Duke Donum Rev:nds Authoris Thomae Roffinus" (i.e. "R. Duke, a gift of the Reverend Author, Thomas, Bishop of Rochester).

R. Duke is almost certainly Richard Duke (1658-1711), the English poet and divine (see DNB). No presentation copy of Sprat's has appeared at auction in more than 50 years.

Second title reads: Copies of the Informations and Original Papers relating to the proof of the Horrid Conspiracy against the late King, His present Majesty and the Government, 1685.

Sprat (1635-1713) was a friend of Dryden, Evelyn, Cowley, Christopher Wren, and John Wilkins, and was in the midst of those who were to found the Royal Society, of which he was the first historian.

"On 21 Sept. 1683 he was installed in the deanery of Westminster, and he was consecrated at Lambeth as bishop of Rochester on 2 Nov. 1684, holding both preferments until his death ... He marked his gratitude for his new preferments by bringing out at the close of May 1685 A True Account and Declaration of the Horrid Conspiracy against the late King, his present Majesty and the Government, which, though anonymous, was known to be the composition of Sprat. It purported to be an account of the Rye House plot, and he drew it up after much hesitation, as he subsequently pleaded, at the command of Charles II, who granted ‘free liberty to consult the Paper-office and council-books.’ A second edition appeared in the same year, a third in 1686, and a fourth in 1696" (DNB).

Wing S-5065A and S-5029A respectively.

7. WATTS, ISAAC. Prayers composed for the use and imitation of children, suited to their different ages and their various occasions: together with instructions to youth in the duty of prayer, drawn up by way of question and answer: and a serious address to them on that subject. London: printed for John Clark and Richard Hett ... Emanuel Matthews ... Richard Ford, 1728. $12,500.00

First edition, 12mo, pp. xxiii, [1], 103, [5]; contemporary full calf, double gilt rules on covers, gilt decorated spine in 6 compartments, red morocco label in 1; rebacked with original spine neatly laid down; very good copy.

With a rare presentation on the flyleaf from Isaac Watts, inscribed "Donum auctoris," and in another hand underneath "Tho Hollis 1727." On the verso of the flyleaf is the following inscription: February the 4th 1727/8 / Sarah Hollis / her Book - / God give her grace / there in to look / Not onley Look / But understand - / that Learning is better / then House or Land." And another inscription inside the back cover in Sarah Hollis's hand: "The gift of the Reverend / Mr. I. Watts to Mrs. / Sarah Hollis / Knowledg of things Misterious / and Divine - / Illustrously in Learned / men do shine."

King William died in 1702, and on the same day Watts accepted the invitation to serve as pastor of the Mark Lane Meeting. Often incapacitated by long months and years of fevers and nervous illness, Watts lived in the homes of prominent Mark Lane families, first with the Hartopps, then eight years with Thomas Hollis. It was while living with Hollis that Watts composed Horae Lyricae; Poems, chiefly of the Lyric Kind (1703), and Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707).

This copy brought four pounds, 4 shillings in 1903, to Reeves; OCLC locates Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Illinois, Huntington, National Library of Scotland, plus 1 in Germany. ESTC adds the Morgan and British Library copies. No copy has been at auction in 35 years.

[JAPANESE CULINARY MANUSCRIPT SCROLL]. A pair of 16th-century illustrated scrolls: Ryori hiden syo. [The illustrated cook book of the secrets.]. [Chiba?]: June 1, 1576.      $37,500

Two paired scrolls on native hand-made paper (mulberry?), the first approximately 11 feet, 5 inches by five inches;  and the second, sixteen feet, eight inches by five inches – in all, over 28 feet, a number of paper repairs (none particularly significant but sometimes affecting the illustrations), fore-edge of the first scroll with tears and minor paper loss, the second with last 3 panels defective, affecting both illustration, and text; in fact, I'm not completely convinced that there may not be something missing, even though I've been told to the contrary; also, with many small worm tracks, most of them filled, and occasionally affecting the illustrations.

The first scroll begins with 8 lines of text, in ink, followed by 9 gouache illustrations  including a crab, a lobster, and assorted wildfowl: chicken, thrush, duck, lark, pheasant,  quail, etc., each laid out on a platter or plate, and each with a caption in ink. The second scroll begins with 136 lines of text (taking up 6 feet, 8 inches), and with 19 gouache illustrations, each with a caption in ink, mostly dealing with the aesthetic of the presentation on the plate or platter. Pictured are servings of seaweed, tofu, sashimi, and various soups, together with cups, saucers, table settings, etc. 

At the end of the second scroll is written: "Taira Motohaya taught this to Yasunaga Owarinokami Anin and Tsurata Inbanokami Gensyo."

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