Swann Galleries: Fine Books Offered on April 11th

It’s April and the steady pitter patter of the collectible paper audience walking to and from the Armory, will soon recede.  Meanwhile Swann Galleries on 24^th Street will soon hammer down 308 lots of early printed books and 20^th-century literature and art books on the 11^th.  Whether it’s for restocking dealers, institutions, or collectors, this sale will be familiar to old hands who bid and bought in London in the 1980’s.  With clear descriptions and low estimates intended to entice, Swann looks forward to your review of their newest catalogue.

As to what is offered, almost all forms, be they books, manuscripts or incunabula, in Latin, Italian, French, English, Hebrew, Greek and/or Amharic.  The catalogue is particularly strong in early printed European languages.  Elsewhere there is a broad selection of more recent American imprints. 

In addition, 39 items drawn from the collection of Stanley DeForest Scott, are to be sold to benefit the Library of the Grolier Club.  On the Swann website search for Scott and these items will appear.

Here are some other examples:

Lots 55-86  An important group of Don Quixote’s from Ken Rapaport’s collection.  They require a careful examination.

Lot 276.    VALLINGS, FREDERIC ROSS (1826-1877) AND FAMILY. ARCHIVE OF LETTERS FROM MISSIONARIES IN INDIA.

Collection of correspondence sent to family members in the U.K. by various members of the Vallings family, comprising more than 120 pages of letters by F.R. himself, and an additional thirty to forty pages by others, including one twenty-page example; including an eight-page letter home to F.R.'s sister, describing his difficult travels, encounters with bandicoots, terrible weather, a very long snake, corrupt police, and religious intolerance; an eight-page letter written by F.R. to his mother mentioning his approach to teaching the gospels, fellow clergy from the States, and the perils of local ants, wasps & elephants; a four-page letter about the dress and arms of local indigenous people, including some discussion of local religious practices; letters from F.R.'s wife Isabel; and others written by Adolphus, Charlotte, Gertrude & George Vallings, many addressed to F.R.'s sister Charlotte [Aunt Charlie or Aunt Charles]; including a parchment bank wallet owned by Charlotte junior; sizes and condition vary.

Vallings was graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, and although he studied law, he professed his calling to serve the church instead. He arrived in India sometime around 1860, working in Calcutta and later Chota-Nagpur from 1872 until his death in 1877. He died during the sea journey home and was buried at sea. (cf. Mission Field: Monthly Proceedings of the S.P.G., 1877; John Ebenezer Marks, Forty Years in Burma 1917 ;[and] Eyre Chatterton, A History of the Church of England in India.)

Estimates: $500 - $700

Lot 282.  BROMLEY, GEORGE W. LAND BOOK OF THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN CITY OF NEW YORK

Land Book of the Borough of Manhattan City of New York.

New York: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1925.

Desk and Library Edition, oblong folio, 4-page street index, five pages of colored outline and index maps, and 191 colored plate maps; bound in publisher's black cloth stamped in red; lacking 12 pages of correction slips at end, Volume Five outline and index map detached with corner torn away, large closed tear to plates 145/146; three-inch closed tear to plates 179/180; joints starting and fraying, spine with two horizontal tears, rubbed at extremities; 15 ¾ x 11 ¼ in.

Published at the peak of the skyscraper construction boom, this atlas came out before some of the most iconic Manhattan buildings that now define its skyline were constructed, including the Manhattan Trust Building (1929-1930), the Chrysler Building (1930), and the Empire State Building (1931). Laid-in is C.S. Hammond's Handy Reference Map of New York City.

Estimates:  $400 - $600

Lot 285.  KUME, YASUO (B. 1921) TESUKI WASHI SHUHO. [SUPERIOR COLLECTION OF JAPANESE HANDMADE PAPERS].

Tokyo: Yushodo Booksellers, Ltd., 1979.

First edition, four small folio volumes, one of 350 copies, containing text descriptions in Japanese of the history and techniques involved in handmaking papers, as well as a total of 207 examples of handmade paper samples by various masters whose names and contact information are listed with a description of the paper's properties and uses; bound in publisher's paper over boards; housed in a custom folding paper portfolio with clasps; 11 ¾ x 8 ¼ in.

Estimates:  $800 - $1,200

Lot 99.  FIREWORKS, ITALIAN MANUSCRIPT. ARTE DI FARE I FUOCHI ARTIFICIALI CON POCA SPESA. 

Italy, 1850.

Small format manuscript on wove paper, consisting of twenty-eight pages; purported author identified on title as Garzena Giovanni Battista da Graglia; illustrated limp covers with text and diagrams throughout; sewn through the fold as one signature, some chipping, margins fragile; 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 in.

Illustrations include techniques for rolling up fireworks, cutaway diagrams of the resulting rockets, and sketches of other pyrotechnics, including different methods for rigging the celebratory explosives along lines of rope and into spinning circles of fire. Proportions of ingredients are also covered, with descriptions of the end product when properly prepared. The covers are cleverly decorated with a large diamond design featuring different forms of fireworks displays.

Estimates:  $600 - $800

Lot 133.  PIRACY TRIALS. THE TRYALS OF JOSEPH DAWSON, EDWARD FORSEITH, WILLIAM MAY

The Tryals of Joseph Dawson, Edward Forseith, William May, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparkes for Several Piracies and Robberies by them Committed.

London: John Everingham, 1696.

First edition, folio-format pamphlet, consisting of twenty-eight pages; disbound with amateurish paper repairs and sewing, a good candidate for restoration; 12 1/2 x 8 in.

Wing T-2252; ESTC R38357; uncommon at auction.

This report covers the trial Henry Every's crew regarding the attack on the ship Ganj-i-sawai, an Indian ship of the Grand Mughal's fleet. Perhaps the greatest ship ever taken by pirates, it carried more than 500,000 gold and silver pieces.

Estimates:  $800 - $1,200

Lot 140.  SHIRLEY, JAMES (1596-1666) SIX NEW PLAYES, VIZ, THE {BROTHERS. SISTERS. DOUBTFUL HEIR

Six New Playes, Viz, The {Brothers. Sisters. Doubtful Heir. Imposture. Cardinall. Court Secret.

London: Printed [by William Wilson & Thomas Warren] for Humphrey Robinson & Humphrey Moseley, 1653.

First edition, octavo, lacking engraved frontispiece portrait and final blank; each play with separate title page, the first five dated 1652, the last dated 1653; each play with separate collation and pagination; the final play lacking its final blank and followed by an eight-leaf signature advertising Humphrey Moseley's catalogue of books in print, consisting of 140 items, including the present title; bound in later full brown sheepskin; ownership signature of George P. Baker dated 1898 on ffep and preliminary blank; patterned endleaves; some headlines trimmed; contents not washed or pressed, a few closed tears and a paper repair or two; 6 5/8 x 4 1/8 in.

Estimates:  $800 - $1,200

Wing S-3486; ESTC R20878; Greg III 1123.

Lot 103.  FURIO CERIOL, FADRIQUE (D. 1592) A VERY BRIEFE AND PROFITABLE TREATISE

Furio Ceriol, Fadrique (d. 1592)

A very briefe and profitable Treatise declaring howe many counsells, and what maner of Counselers a Prince that will governe well ought to have. The Booke speaketh.

London: Imprinted by William Seres, 1570.

First and only English edition of Furio's Consejo i Consejeros del Principe, abridged from the d'Ulloa's Italian version by Thomas Blundeville; octavo; Seres' woodcut printer's mark on verso of title page; the textblock stab sewn and wrapped in a parchment medieval manuscript Bible leaf with text from Ecclesiastes 45:20 on the interior and Isaiah 46:1 on the exterior; with interlinear glosses and side commentary in smaller hand, initials in red; parchment detached from textblock; the book itself never properly sewn; a nice survival; early signature of Den: Fleming to title; 5 3/4 x 3 5/8 in.

Estimates:  $1,000 - $1,500

STC 11488; ESTC S105670; rare at auction, the last copy was offered for sale in 1957.

Lot 108.  GRÉVIN, JACQUES (C. 1539-1570) DEUX LIVRES DES VENINS.

Grévin, Jacques (c. 1539-1570)
Deux Livres des Venins.

Antwerp: Christofle Plantin, 1568.

First edition in French, two parts in one quarto volume, second title dated 1567; illustrated with text woodcuts of poisonous animals including many varieties of snake, the so-called "pharaoh's rat" (aka Egyptian mongoose), dragons, lizards, spiders, insects, scorpions, centipedes, shrews, salamanders, moray eel, stingrays, fish, a rabid dog, mushrooms, frogs & toads, and a variety of poisonous plants; marginal water staining throughout; a leaf or two with a stress break to the printed surface that does not extend to any margin; modern half morocco with marbled paper boards; 6 1/8 x 8 3/4 in.

$2,500 - $3,500

Lot 116.  LOUIS, VICTOR (1731-1800) SALLE DE SPECTACLE DE BORDEAUX.

Louis, Victor (1731-1800)
Salle de Spectacle de Bordeaux.

Paris: Esprit, 1782.

First edition, oversized folio, illustrated with twenty-two full page engravings, one engraved dedication leaf, the other twenty-one depicting the Grand Théâtre in Bordeaux, some creasing to two plates; bound in half leather and marbled paper done in a tree calf pattern; 25 1/4 x 18 1/2 in.

The Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, a vast neo-classical performance space that seats 1,100 spectators was completed in 1780 and is considered Louis' greatest masterpiece.

Estimates:  $2,000 - $3,000

Lot 126.  NORTHAMPTON, HENRY HOWARD, EARL OF (1540-1614) A DEFENSATIVE AGAINST THE POYSON

London: Printed by John Charlewood, servant to the right Honorable Philip Earle of Arundell, 1583, reprinted by W. Jaggard to be sold by Mathew Lownes, 1620.

Second edition, folio, title page printed within woodcut compartment decorated with interlocking knotwork designs (silked on verso, cropped at fore-edge, some losses to border restored); lacking first and final blanks (A1 & Tt4); bound in full modern calf ruled in gilt with gilt-tooled spine, rubbed; 10 3/4 x 7 in.

Howard's book against prophecy criticizes the authority of "old painted bookes, expositions of dreames, oracles, revelations, invocations of damned spirits, judicials of astrologie, or any other kinde of pretended knowledge whatsoever."

Estimates:  $600 - $800

STC 13859; ESTC S104250.

Lot 133.  PIRACY TRIALS. THE TRYALS OF JOSEPH DAWSON, EDWARD FORSEITH, WILLIAM MAY,

The Tryals of Joseph Dawson, Edward Forseith, William May, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparkes for Several Piracies and Robberies by them Committed.

London: John Everingham, 1696.

First edition, folio-format pamphlet, consisting of twenty-eight pages; disbound with amateurish paper repairs and sewing, a good candidate for restoration; 12 1/2 x 8 in.

Wing T-2252; ESTC R38357; uncommon at auction.

This report covers the trial Henry Every's crew regarding the attack on the ship Ganj-i-sawai, an Indian ship of the Grand Mughal's fleet. Perhaps the greatest ship ever taken by pirates, it carried more than 500,000 gold and silver pieces.

Estimates:  $800 - $1,200

Lot 152.  WARE, ISAAC (1704?-1766) A COMPLETE BODY OF ARCHITECTURE.

A Complete Body of Architecture. Adorned with Plans and Elevations, from Original Designs.

London: Printed for J. Rivington, L. Davis & C. Reymers, R. Baldwin et al., 1767.

Folio, second edition, title page printed in red and black, engraved frontispiece by H. Roberts after Wale (mounted); engraved vignette of the Pantheon on title; illustrated with 126 plates on 114 sheets, and many engraved vignettes; including illustrations of Inigo Jones designs published for the first time; bound in modern half leather with marbled paper boards; ex libris Harry Peihl Vankerkhoff, with stamp and bookplate inside front board; from the American Institute Library, with stamp on first page of text; some water staining, occasional tears, damage and tape repairs to two plate leaves; 15 3/4 x 10 in.

Estimates:  $1,000 - $1,500

ESTC T31030.

Lot 153.  WEBSTER, JOHN (1610-1682) THE DISPLAYING OF SUPPOSED WITCHCRAFT.

The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft. Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of Deceivers and Impostors.

London: Printed by J.M., 1677.

First edition, folio, imprimatur bound opposite the title page (torn with loss to top border of type ornaments, repaired with Japanese tissue); bound in full modern sheepskin; edges not trimmed at time of rebinding, retaining original edge marbling; modern endleaves; with 1677 signature of George Skippe to title page, and a note of the purchase price (9? shillings); edges of title and first leaf of dedicatory epistle reinforced with mending tissue; page 175/176 with tear to blank margin, lower outside corner; a few other small holes and short tears to contents; 11 1/4 x 7 1/2 in.

Webster was a cleric and physician who maintained a strong interest in occult matters but was a skeptic on the subject of witchcraft. He argues that witchcraft accusations grow out of delusions due to "melancholy and fancy." In his view, the claim that witches make a "corporeal league" with the devil and "are turned into cats, dogs, raise tempests, or the like, is utterly denied and disproved."

Estimates:  $3,000 - $5,000

Wing W-1230; ESTC R12517.

Lot 174.  STOKER, BRAM (1847-1912) DRACULA.

Dracula.

New York: Doubleday & McClure, Co., 1899.

First American edition, first printing, octavo, with the front board depicting Dracula's castle atop a hill with bats in flight and as the gilt-stamped sun peeks through; publisher's tan pictorial cloth; some scattered spots and minor stains, mostly clean; worn at extremities with a section of loss to the spine, endcaps chipped with loss, a few stains and chips to boards; 7 1/2 x 5 in.

Estimates:  $2,500 - $3,500

Dalby 10(b).

Fine Books

Timed Auction

Closing: Apr 11, 2024 at 12 PM EDT

New York, NY | 308 Lots

https://live.swanngalleries.com/auctions/4-D5W9PO/fine-books