Heraldic Illustration of the 18th century – Guillim, John / [ Edward Le Davis ] / [ Michael van der Gucht].

A Display of Heraldry. By John Guillim, pursuivant at Arms. The Sixth Edition [on fine paper]. Improv’d with large Additions of many hundred Coats of Arms, under their respective Bearings, with good Authorities from the Ashmolean Library, Sir George Mackenzie, &c. With his Tract of Precedency, containing all his Rules, Observations, Arguments, and chief Instances. To which is added, “A Treatise of Honour Military and Civil”, According to the Laws and Customs of England, By Capt. John Logan. Illustrated With the Arms, Crests, Supporters, and Motto’s of the Royal Familly, and Nobility: The Arms of the Sees of the English Bishops, and several of the Gentry. Together With the proper Habits of the different Degrees of the Nobility of England, and the Emblems of the chief Orders of Knighthood in Europe; all fairly engraven on Copper Plates. Also An Exact List of the Baronets, from their first Creation to this present Time; and most of their Arms Blazon’d. With an Account of the Customs, Government, and Privileges of the City of London, the other Cities of England, and Shire-Towns of each County, and their Arms. Likewise A Supplement of Scarce tracts relating to the Office of Arms, taken from Authentick Copies. And A Dictionary, explaining the several Terms used by Heralds, in English, Latin and French. With proper Tables to the Whole. [With 17 full-page, original portraits, engraved by Edward Le Davis and flemish engraver Michael van der Gucht / With 295 engraved crests / coat of arms, displayed on 47 pages].

London, R. and J. Bonwicke and R. Wilkin in St.Paul’s Church-Yard / And J. Walthoe and Tho. Ward, in the Temple, 1724. Folio (26 cm x 39 cm). Frontispiece, [5], 20 pp. [″The Introduction”], [1], 460 pp. [″A Display of Heraldry”], [2], 275 pp. [″Observations upon the Laws and Customs of Nations”], 58 pp. [″Honour Civil of the City of London”], 24 pp. [″Dictionary used by Heralds”], [11] pp. [″Alphabetical Table of the Names of the Nobility and Gentry”]. Illustrated and complete with 17 portraits of courtyard and apparatus and 47 plates, engraved on wood, reproducing a total of hundreds of coats of arms with coats, crests, lambrequins, helmets and coins. Very many coats of arms in the 2-columned text. Hardcover / Original 18th-century binding with modern restauration (rebacked) to the highest standards. Superior example of this publication ! Unusually excellent condition with only very minor signs of external wear. Frontispiece and last page of the work with minor crease. Two corners torn (two pages following the title), corner of page 185 torn and page 92 of the second part of the book with longer lesion within text (no loss of text). Endpapers and pastedown with some minor spotting. All these descriptions of faults sound worse than they are. Interior text, plates and portraits overall in unbelievably clean and excellent condition. Name of pre-owner in ink on title and verso frontispiece (″J.Stilwell”).

[Vanity Fair] Bowles, Thomas Gibson / [Fantastic collection of political caricature portraits of 19th century American Politicans / British Politicians]

Vanity Fair: A Weekly Show of Political, Social & Literary Wares – Complete Annual for the year 1872 with 51 full-page portraits of victorian statesmen of england as well as the united states of america (Hamilton Fish, Ulysses S. Grant, Horace Greeley etc.), politicians, writers, artists, “men of the day” and men of influence, portrayed in chromolithography / chromolithographs in colour (January 6, 1872 – June 29, 1872 & July 6, 1872 – December 28, 1872 ).

London, Vanity Fair, 1872. Folio. 208, 208 pages. Complete set. Interleaved with 51 chromolithographic portraits. Beautifully restored, original Hardcover (half-leather with orginal spine (gilt letttering and ornament). With new, linen-covered boards, using the original pastedowns and endpapers. A stunning Volume in excellent condition. All illustrations in wonderful colour.

Strickland, Agnes / [and Elizabeth Strickland].

Lives of the Queens of England, From the Norman conquest. Now first published from official records and other authentic documents, private as well as public. A new edition, revised and greatly augmented, embellished with Portraits of every Queen.

8 Volumes (complete set). London, Colburn & Co., 1851. Octavo. Volume I: Frontispiece-Portrait of Agnes Strickland and engraved titlepage, XXII, 614 pages with 15 illustrations (including Froontispiece and Vignette on Title) / Volume II: Frontispiece-Portrait of Isabella of Valois, engraved titlepage, VIII, 704 pages with 16 illustrations (including Frontispiece and Vignette on Title) / Volume III: Frontispiece-Portrait of Jane Seymour, engraved titlepage, [4], 588 pages with 10 illustrations (including Frontispiece and Vignette on Title) / Volume IV: Frontispiece-Portrait of Queen Elizabeth, engraved titlepage, [4], 790 pages with 4 illustrations (including Frontispiece and Vignette on Title) / Volume V: Frontispiece-Portrait of Anne of Denmark, engraved titlepage, [4], 703 pages with 8 illustrations (including Frontispiece and Vignette on Title) / Volume VI: Frontispiece-Portrait of Mary of Modena, engraved titlepage, [2], 672 pages with 5 illustrations (including Frontispiece and Vignette on Title) / Volume VII: Frontispiece-Portrait of Mary II when Princess of Orange, engraved titlepage, [3], 466 pages with 4 illustrations (including Frontispiece and Vignette on Title) / Volume VIII: Frontispiece-Portrait of Queen Anne, engraved titlepage, [2], 556 pages with 3 illustrations (including Frontispiece and Vignette on Title) // Original, very decorative half-leather bindings with gilt lettering and ornaments on spines, marbled-paper-covered-boards and marbled edges. Excellent, firm condition with only minor signs of wear. The set comes frm the private library of Major General Cosmo Alexander Richard Nevill, with his armorial bookplate / Ex Libris to the pastedown of each Volume, bearing his family-motto: “Ne Vile Velis” [″Wish for nothing Vile”].

Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery / Lane, John Henry H.V.

19th century original british Passport for “Mr.John Henry H. V. Lane (British Subject) travelling on the continent”, signed in July of 1886 by later prime minister Archibald Philip, Earl of Roseberry, then Foreign Secretary under Gladstone during his brief third ministry.

London, Given at the Foreign Office, 1886. 27.7 cm x 38.2 cm. 1 sheet. Original Softcover. Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. Signed by Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. Fantastic and important document of british foreign office history.

Shaw, Rev. Stebbing.

The History and Antiquities of Staffordshire. Complete Set of two Volumes (all published/fully restored). With an original Plan of Wolverhampton, A large map of Staffordshire, Engravings of Boscobel House, The Pedigree of Turton, Etchings of Kings Bromley, Pipe Ridware House, Lichfield, Site of Blythbury Priory, Mavesyn Ridware, Cathedral of Lichfield, View of Freeford, etc. etc. Volume I – Containing the Ancient and Modern History of Thirty Parishes in the Hundred of Offlow, arranged Geographically, with an Appendix of the most curious Charters &c. Illustrated with sixty-two copper plates and a copious Index / Volume II – Part1 (all published) – Containing the Prefatory Introduction, commencing with a Series of Original Letters from Plot’s time to the present; General and Natural History &c. Ancient and Modern History of the remaining Parishes in the Hundred of Offlow and the Whole of Seisdon, arranged Geographically with an Appendix of curious Charters and other additions and Corrections &c. Illustrated with fifty copper plates and a copious Index. Compiled from the Manuscripts of Huntbach, Loxdale, Bishop Lyttelton, and other Collections of Dr.Wilkes, the Rev. T.Reilde. Including Erdeswicke’s Survey of the County and the approved parts of Dr. Plot’s Natural History. The whole brought down to the present time. Interspersed with Pedigrees and Anecdotes of Families, Observations on Agriculture, Commerce, Mines and Manufactories and illustrated with a very full and correct new map of the County, “Agri Staffordiensis Icon” and numerous other plates.

London, J.Nichols and Son, 1798-1801. Large-Folio. Volume I: Folded Map of Staffordshire by W.Faden, Portrait of Rev. Shaw (detached), XXIV, (2), 125, XXXVIII, 434, 38 pages / Volume II, Part I: A Plan of Wolverhampton, XXXII, 290, 20 pages. With a double-page plan, a large, folded county map (coloured), 82 engraved plates, numerous vignettes within the text and 3 folded pedigree – tables. Modern Hardcover. Exceptionally restored. This work is difficult to handle if not in a sturdy binding ! Original Edition in professionally rebound halfleather with gilt lettering on spine and extra-strong boards, suited for this heavy set. This masterpiece of underestimated english local history is of great interest because of its fold out maps and numerous large folio etchings.

Milner, Rev. [Bishop John Milner] / [Charles Heath] / [Henry Marten].

Sammelband with several publications bound in one Volume: 1. Rev. Milner – An Historical and Critical Account of Winchester Cathedral with an Engraved View and Ichnographical Plan of that Fabric. Extracted from the Rev. Mr.Milner’s History and and Antiquities of Winchester to which is added “A Review of its Modern Monuments” (Winchester, 1801 / 148 pages) / 2. Heath, Charles – The Excursion Down the Wye from Ross to Monmouth; Comprehending Historical and Descriptive Accounts of Wilton and Goodrich Castles; Also of Court Field, The Nursery of King Henry The Fifth; New Wear, with Every other Object in the Voyage. The Celebrated Family of Swift, who resided at Goodrich, are not overlooked: and, throughout the whole are Interspersed, A Variety of Amusing and Interesting Circumstances, Never Before collected: Particularly Memoirs and Anecdotes of the Life of John Kyrle, Esq. Rendered Immortal by the Muse of Pope, under the Character of “The Man of Ross”. By Charles Heath, Printer, Monmouth. Being Part the First of this Work, – which will include the Whole of the Voyage from Ross to Chepstow. Part II will contain Monmouth. Part III from thence to the Junction of the Wye with Severn. Pointing out every interesting Object in the Course of this much-admired Excursion. (London, 1799 / 246 unnumbered pages with mentioning on the last page of this section: “End of First Part” [This information seems to be the same in all versions of this book in international libraries and it is possible that Parts II and III were not published as advertised on the titlepage but in a different way]) / 3. Henry Marten – Monmouthshire [has its own titlepage but can very well be Part II and III of the previous Volume] – “Monmouthire – Historical and Descriptive Accounts of the Ancient and Present State of Chepstow Castle – Including Persfield, with the various Views in those pleasurable Regions – Also, Notices of Caerwent, An Ancient Roman Station; Moyne’s Court, Matherne, and St. Pierre – The Old and New Passages, on both sides of the Water – The Roads to Bristol and Gloucester; and a Variety of other interesting particulars deserving the Stranger’s Notice. Interspersed with curious Biographical Anecdotes relating to the Life of Henry Marten, one of the Judges of King Charles I. confined twenty years in this Castle. Collected from original Papers and unquestionable Authorities by Charles Heath, Printer, Monmouth (c.1802) //

Winchester / London, Ja. Robbins, Charles Heath, 1801 – 1802. Octavo. Pagination of the Sammelband: First Book: Rev.John Milner – Account of Winchester Cathedral Part: Frontispiece of “North West View of the Cathedral), [2], Fold-out-plan of “Ichnography of the Cathedral Church”, 148 pages / Second Book: Charles Heath: “The Excursion Down the Wye…etc.” – First Part: 246 unnumbered pages / Second / [and possibly Third] Part: 188 unnumbered pages. Hardcover / Original, decorative half-leather of the early 19th century with original spinelabel, restored and with new endpapers and new marbled paper-covers on original boards. In protective Mylar. One page with a minor cut (without text-loss). Otherwise in very good condition with some signs of external wear. This very rare work originates from the wonderful Meade – Collection in Ballymartle (near Kinsale, West Cork), with the name of one of the Meade – family-members written on the titlepage and the bookplate / Exlibris of Richard Meade to the original endpaper.

[Froissart, Sir John] Bourchier, John (2nd Baron Berners) / [Provenance: Edward Hume Townsend / Henrietta Murray Townsend].

The Antient [Ancient] Chronicles of Sir John Froissart, of England, France, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, Brittany and Flanders, And The Adjoining Countries; Translated From the Original French, at The Command of King Henry The Eighth by John Bourchier, Lord Berners. With The Names of Places and Persons Carefully Corrected, And The Obsolete Words Modernized. With A Copious Index.

In Four Volumes [complete set]. London, For J.Davis, Military Chronicle Office, 1814 – 1816. Octavo (15,5 cm wide x 24 cm high). Pagination: Volume I: VIII, 693 pages / Volume II: 651 pages / Volume III: III, 663 pages / Volume IV: 615 pages. Hardcover / Original 19th century full-leather with gilt lettering and ornament to spine. Some of the original leather – spine detaching. The bindings firm and overall in very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Exlibris of E.H.Townsend [Edward Hume Townsend (1803 – 1880) and the manuscript-name in ink, of his daughter Henrietta Murray Townsend (died 1869) inside the cover of all four Volumes. Edward Townsend was educated in Clonakilty and later worked for the East India Company. There is plenty of information on the interesting life of Edward and his daughter Henrietta available within “The Townsend Family Records” [online].

[Newbery & Carnan].

A Description of England and Wales [with 240 Plates] – Containing a particular Account of each County, with its Antiquities, Curiosities, Situation, Figure, Extent, Climate, Rivers, Lakes, Mineral Waters, Soils, Fossils, Caverns, Plants and Minerals, Agriculture, Civil and Ecclesiastical Divisions, Cities, Towns, Palaces, Seats, Corporations, Markets, Fairs, Manufactures, Trade, Sieges, Battles and the Lives of illustrious Men each County has produced, Embellished with two hundred and forty Copper Plates of Palaces, Castles, Cathedrals; The Ruins of Roman and Saxon Buildings; And of Abbeys, Monasteries, and other Religious Houses. Besides a Variety of Cuts of Urns, Inscriptions, and other Antiquities.

Ten Volumes (complete set). London, Newbery and Carnan, 1769. Small Octavo. Volume I: XII, 299 pages / Volume II: 286 pages / Volume III: 288 pages / Volume IV: 288 pages / Volume V: 288 pages / Volume VI: 288 pages / Volume VII: 287 pages / Volume VIII: 288 pages / Volume IX: 288 pages / Volume X: 288 pages // Hardcover / Nine Volumes in their original 18th-century full leather with gilt lettering and ornament on spine. Volume One recently bound to style by english master-binders. Faded dampstain to Volume III. Otherwise in very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Two spine-labels slightly damaged. Bookplate of Daniel Conner to pastedowns of Volumes 2 – 9.

[Emerson, George Waldo] Brydges, Sir S. Egerton.

Censura Literaria. Containing Titles, Abstracts and Opinions of Old English Books. With Original Disquisitions, Articles of Biography, and Other Literary Antiquities. With the articles classed in chronological order under their separate heads.

Second Edition. 7 of 10 volumes. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10. (Incomplete). London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1815. 16 cm x 24 cm. Vol. 1: VIII, LXIII, 432 pages. / Vol. 2: VIII, 450 pages. / Vol. 3: VII, 434 pages. / Vol. 4: VII, 435 pages. / Vol. 6: VIII, 416 pages. / Vol. 8: VIII, 411 pages. / Vol. 10: VIII, 580 pages. Original Hardcover. Volume 1 has dampstaining on boards, front board detached. Volume 8 has small dampstain on front board. All volumes with stronger rubbing, fading on boards, otherwise good condition with content intact.

[Paterson, Daniel] Mogg, Edward.

Paterson’s Roads [1831/1832 Edition (18th Edition)] – Being an entirely original and accurate Description of all the direct and Principal Cross Roads in England and Wales, with part of the roads of Scotland. [Including an “Appendix to the Eighteenth Edition of Paterson’s Roads; being An Accurate Description of the Direct and Principal Cross roads communicating with the Improved Old Passage Ferry, across the River Severn, between Aust and Beachley, near Chepstow. Accompanied by a Map of the Banks of the Wye. To which are added, Course of the Chepstow Steam Packets; and An arranged Tour through Wales, with References to the pages in the Body of the Work, where connection with various lines of Road takes place.”]. The Eighteenth Edition. To which are added Topographical Sketches of the several Cities, Market Towns and remarkable Villages and descriptive accounts of the principal seats of the Nobility and Gentry, the Antiquities, Natural Curiosities and other Remarkable Objects throughout the Kingdom. The whole Remodelled, Augmented and Improved by the Addition of Numerous New Roads and New Admeasurements, and Arranged upon A Plan at once Novel, clear and intelligible, is deduced from the latest and best Authorities: Including a Table of the Heights of Mountains from the Grand Trigonometrical Survey of the Kingdom; Also a Table of the Population, From the Census of 1831; To which is annexed the Arrival and Departure of the Mail, together with the Rates of Postage and An Entirely New Set of Maps.

London, Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green and Longman, 1831/1832. Octavo (15 cm x 21,5 cm). Fontispiece – Fold-out-Map, 715 pages plus 44 pages of an Appendix. With twelve (12) Maps, including the frontipiece-map and full-page maps throughout the publication. Hardcover / Private half-leather of the early 20th century with gilt lettering on the spine. Some of the maps with visible reapirs but complete. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. This being the so-called “Best Edition”.