1. Dante Alighieri / Cockerell, Douglas / North, John William / Ashendene Press Circle /

Original Devotional Manuscript to Dante [La Divina Commedia / The Divine Comedy – Manoscritto dell’inizio del XX secolo della Divina Commedia di Dante – con strofe manoscritte da “L’Inferno / Inferno” – “Purgatorio” – “Il Paradiso / Paradiso”] – The Manuscript is titled: “Pictures Illustrating The Pilgrimage of the Divine Poet Through The Realms of Punishment of Penance and Peace” – Illuminated Devotional Manuscript of section of “L’Inferno / Inferno” – “Purgatorio” – “Il Paradiso / Paradiso” – with excerpts of Dante’s Divina Comedia, in the style of medieval illuminated manuscripts. The manuscript is a strictly themed Dante Devotion and is of magical quality if one considers the fantastic, original calligraphy artwork, the composition of the manuscript and the coded meaning to the composer of this manuscript. The Folio – size manuscript is massive and has 216 pages, of which 109 pages are with illuminated, original watercolour-paintings in the style of the medieval masters, sometimes collages with watercolour and original etchings, engravings etc. The miniature paintings are juxtaposed with 105 vintage 19th century photographs of famous Italian Art – pieces that are somehow related to Dante’s world or have an allegorical assoziation. Besides the early photographs other juxtaposed artwork or integrated artwork to the illuminations are: an original watercolour depicting the dying Dante, a sensational copper-engraving, depicting an allegorical Dante-scenario, possibly referring to the Divine Comedy, a small photograph of the famous Michelino Fresco encapsulated in one of the illuminations, an artprint attributed “Burne-Jones”, two lithographs, a large steel-engraving, a smaller steel-engraving. Most of the photographs show allegorical sculpture or art by famous italian artists like Giotto, Carpaccio, Andrea Castagna, Luca delkla Robbia, Bellini, Titian, Dosso Dossi, Orgagna, Andrea del Sarto, Fra Angelico, Paul Veronese, Botticelli, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bonifazio, Neri dei Bicci, Francesco Traini, Benozo Gozzoli, etc. etc. and other juxtaposed refer in code to Dante’s Divina Comedia or even depict himself in artform. The photographs also include some breathtaking 19th century Albumen prints of Verona, Lake Garda, Mantua and other Italian landscapes.

England, [Douglas Cockerell / John William North], no year [c.1910]. Folio (34 cm wide x 42.5 cm high). 216 pages. Hardcover / Binding in full green morocco with lettering and Dante’s head as bronze sculpture per inlet to front cover. Binding by Douglas Cockerell, signed “WHS”, during his directorship of W.H.Smith & Son (1905 – 1914). The manuscript is on excellent paper, watermarked O.W.P. & A.C.L. [O.W. Paper & Arts Co. Ltd., established by English painter John William North (1842-1924) in 1895]. The binding rubbed and with some small damages, in need of some minor restoration but overall still very good. The interior, the paper and the artwork all in excellent condition besides one of the juxtaposed photographs (Filippina Lippo) removed from the manuscript with some residue of the photograph remaining and some of the photographs with some dogears and minimal discoloration. All the original artwork in spectacular and fresh condition. The manuscript is a spectacular find and the quality of its execution is of utmost interest for any lover of rare books, manuscripts and special bindings. The circle of Douglas Cockerell, his involvement in one of the most beautiful books ever printed: the Ashendene Press Dante, as well as Cockerell being the binder of this unique manuscript, the fantastic paper used for the manuscript by one of the idyllist movement’s central figures, John William North, and the wonderful Dante – theme of the manuscript with illuminated poetry from the Divine Comedy and the unique style of collage art, lets us rightfully dream that the anonymous composer of the manuscript was an important or at least peripheral member to either the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Ashendene Press or it was someone who worked in the style of the calligraphy schools that were inspired by William Morris or even earlier epigones like Owen Jones.

2. [Chester Beatty, Sir Alfred] Holme, Charles (Charles Rennie Mackintosh / Charles Voysey and others).

The Studio: an illustrated magazine of fine and applied art. Alfred Chester Beatty’s personal set of “The Studio”; 97 volumes bound in 69 books with the Register for Vols 1-29 [Lacking Volume 61]. With original artwork by James McNeill Whistler and other important artists of the Belle Époque and Art Nouveau Movement.

97 Volumes (bound in 69 Volumes). London, Offices of The Studio, 1893 – 1929. Quarto. c. 20000 pages with illustrations, photographs, original lithographs, engravings. Contemporary private Hardcover (Uniform deep blue buckram with gilt lettering on spinelabels). Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Only a few of the Volumes a little shaky. With the handwritten entry “A. Chester Beatty – 24 Kensington Palace Gardens – W. 8”.

3. [Calder, Alexander].

“Calder’s Universe” – Large Collection of more than sixty (60) Reference-Books and Artist-Books by and on artist Alexander Calder. The collection includes not only rare Volumes with original Lithographs, Exhibition-catalogues, Autobiographies and a collection of wonderful issues of eleven Derriere Le Mirroir, most of them with original Lithographs by Calder but also the rare, signed Artist Book: “A BESTIARY” – [One of 50 copies on luxurious Rives-mould, signed by Calder and Wilbur]. The collection includes early monographs as well as later catalogues and is a perfect chance to acquire some good understanding of his works in Mobiles, Stabiles and other art. See detailed description and every item within this collection listed under “Libraries & Collections” on our website.

Quarto. The collection includes books in different bindings: Original Hardcover with illustrated dustjacket / Original Softcover / Hardcover without dustjacket. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Most books in excellent condition.

4. Pierre, Frédéric.

Du Coin De L’Oeil La Pleine Lune. [With thirteen (13) stunning, original and signed erotic, colour-engravings]. Gravé et imprimé par Frédéric Pierre à l’atelier de l’été Juin – Septembre 1991. Texte par A. Kallur / C. Aldridge / F. Pierre.

Henley-on-Thames / Stockholm, Published by Artwenty, September 1991. Folio (31.3 cm wide x 41.4 cm high). (3), 27, (1) sheets of finest BFK Rives Velin Paper with deckled edges. Hardcover / Original blue cloth with gilt lettering on spine and ornament on board. Excellent, as new condition. No.10 of only 21 copies, signed by the artist. The entire edition of this artist-book comprised of 28 copies of which 7 copies were numbered in roman numerals from I – VII and accompanied by an original, unique and signed engraving [please enquire for one of the roman numbered editions]. This is one of the 21 copies without the additional engraving. EXTREMELY Rare !!!

5. Original Earl 20th century German Expressionism in Original Woodcuts – Mann, Thomas.

Der kleine Herr Friedemann.

München, Phantasus-Verlag, 1920. Quarto. [4], 58, [3] Seiten. Mit elf (11) ganzseitigen Original-Bleischnitten und vier (4) kolorierten Bleischnitt-Initialen von Otto Nückel. Hardcover / Originales Halbpergament. Einband minimal fleckig. Sonst in sehr gutem Zustand mit nur geringen Gebrauchsspuren.

6. Reavey, George [First Literary Agent of Samuel Beckett] / Irene Rice Pereira [American abstract [modernist] artist, poet and philosopher].

The Colours Of Memory [Signed Presentation-copy / With signed, original (!) Artwork by Irene Rice Pereira as frontispiece [George Reavey’s wife at the time of publication] / One of the very rare 26 copies only].

First Edition. New York, Grove Press, 1955. Octavo. 60 pages. Original Hardcover with original dustjacket in protective collector’s mylar. Dustjacket stained. Small coffee-stain on pages 5/6. An excellent, extremely rare book, being Letter “Y” of only 26 lettered copies. Very good overall-condition with only minor signs of wear.

7. [Noël-Antoine Pluche] / [Humphreys, Samuel].

Spectacle de la Nature : Or, Nature Display’d. Being Discourses On such Particulars of Natural History As were thought most proper To Excite the Curiosity, and Form of the Minds of Youth. [With Chapters on The Cultivation and Manner of Pruning Fruit – Trees / The Plantation of Orange – Trees / The Plantation of Fig – Trees / The Plantation of Olive – Trees etc.] / [Including: “A Plate showing Elevation and Sections of a Mill on Boats”, which is basically illustrating the Invention of a Paddle Wheel Boat] / [Including: “A Memoir on the Fabric of Glasses at Saint Gobin”]. Illustrated with [204] Copper Plates. Uniformly bound set of Seven Volumes (complete set in three different editions: Third Edition / Fourth Edition, revised and Corrected / Sixth Edition).

London, Printed for R.Francklin etc., 1743. Small Octavo. Volume I: (in Sixth Edition, 1744): Frontispiece, [3], XVIII, 323 pages plus 13 pages of an Index / Volume II: (in Sixth Edition, 1743): Frontispiece, VIII, [4], 312 pages including Index / Volume III: (in Sixth Edition, 1743): Frontispiece, XVIII, 366 pages including Index / Volume IV: (In Fourth Edition,1743) Frontispiece, 368 pages including Index / Volume V: (In Fourth Edition, 1763): Frontispiece, [2], 329 pages / Volume VI: (In Third Edition, 1763): Frontispiece, [3], XXXII, 308 pages / Volume VII: (In Fourth Edition, 1763): Frontispiece, [4], 323, [1] pages. Hardcover / Original 18th century full leather with gilt lettering and ornament on spine. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. From the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with his Exlibris / Bookplate to pastedown. Extremely beautiful publication with an abundance of illustrations of Insects and Butterflies, Maps, etc. The 204 Plates overall in excellent condition with only very few of them with some tears. Interior and plates really bright and clean ! An exceptional version of this work.

8. Gilpin, William. [Castle-Freke Library Bookplates]

Collection of four Volumes (bound in two) by Gilpin – All from the historical library at Castle Freke (Castlefreke, West Cork / Ireland). The Volumes include: I. & II. Observations Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the Year 1776, on Several Parts of Great Britain; particularly the High-Lands of Scotland. [Second Edition, with an “Account of the Prints” bound to the rear] / III. Observations on the River Wye and several Parts of South Wales &c. relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty; Made in the summer of the Year 1770 (Third Edition). / IV. An Essay on Prints – [″The chief intention of the following work was to put the elegant amusement of collecting prints, on a more rational footing; by giving the unexperienced collector a few principles and cautions to assist him”] (Fourth Edition with the printed dedication “To the Honorable Horace Walpole in Deference to his Taste in the Polite Arts; and the Valuable Researches he has made to improve them; the following work is inscribed by his most obedient and very humble servant, William Gilpin”). [Volumes I & II with 40 original illustrations and vintage 18th century maps [correctly 39 illustrations and one table], for example of Loch Lomond and the Firth of Forth/ all illustrations are vintage mezzotint-plates].

Mixed Editions. Four Volumes (bound in two). London, Printed for R. Blamire, Strand, 1792. Octavo. Pagination: Volume I: XI, [1], 221 pages with 24 mezzotints / Volume II: 195, XVI pages with 16 mezzotints and an “Account of the Prints” as well as “Translations of Latin Passages” / [Volume III]: [River Wye]: XVI, 152 pages with 16 (of 17) full – page mezzotints / [Volume IV]: [An Essay on Prints]: XIII, [3], 174 pages plus XI pages Index and 1 page Errata. Hardcover / Early 19th century quarter – morocco with gilt lettering and ornament on spine. Both volumes bound in unison. Very good + condition with only minor signs of external wear. Pages 185 – 191 of Volume I with some stronger browning. Otherwise the interior very clean. All mezzotints in very good or even better condition. This is the original copy from the historical Castle-Freke Library in West Cork (Ireland), with two armorial bookplates to front and rear pastedown with the family’s motto ‘Pro Patria’. With two pages of manuscript annotations by a contemporary hand with a reference between the common name “Tarbet” in Scotland and a place-name in County Kerry in Ireland” (pages 13 of Volume II) / another entry is on page 12 of Volume II regarding the name-sake “Loch-Loung” for a Lake of ships in Scotland and Ireland.

9. [Ravilious, Eric] Shakespeare, William.

“Twelfth Night or, What You Will” by William Shakespeare – With Engravings by Eric Ravilious. With 29 wood-engravings by Eric Ravilious, printed in Grey and Maroon.

No.47 of a limited Edition of 275 copies on Batchelor Paper. Waltham Saint Lawrence, Berkshire, The Golden Cockerel Press, 1932. Folio (24.3 cm wide x 34 cm high). Pagination: Endpaper, (2), 41 leaves, (1), Endpaper. With 29 wood-engravings throughout. Hardcover / Original half-leateher, bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, with their bindery-stamp to pastedown. Binding wonderfully firm and cloth only slightly rubbed, else an excellent copy pf a very scarce book from the beloved Golden Cockerel Press.

10. Dubuffet, Jean.

La botte à nique.

Genève, Albert Skira, 1973. Slim Fpolio Box with Oxtcavo Volume and Slim-Folio Screen-print separate. 112 pages (collation complèt) plus une sérigraphie (Silkscreen: ‘Quatre Figures’) dans une chemise séparée. Original Hardcover in original box with additional folder for the silkscreen. Complete, a fantastic publication ! Some signs of foxing ! Otherwsie in EXCELLENT condition with only minor signs of wear and including the often missing screen-print in the separate chemise. / Edition originale, Exemplaire No.38 des 165 exemplaires numérotés sur vélin d’Arches. Notre exemplaire est bien complet de sa sérigraphie présentée sous une chemise à part.