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. Cordus, Euricius / Brasavola, Antonio Musa / [Hieronymus Schreiber / Jerôme Schreiber]

Botanologicon (Euricii Cordi Simesusii Medici Botanologicon) – Angebunden / Bound with: Antonio Musa Brasavola – Examen omnium simplicium medicamentorum, quorum in officinis usus est. Addita sunt Insuper Aristotelis problemata, quae ad stirpium genus, & oleracea pertinent.

Cologne (Köln) / Leyden (Lyon), Johann Gymnicus (Gymnich) / Johannes and Franciscus Frellon, 1534 / 1537. Octavo. Collation complete: I. Euricius Cordus – Botanologicon: Title with the woodcut device of Cologne-printer Johann Gymnicus, including his Motto, the first line of a Verse from the Aeneid by Virgil ‘Discite Iustitiam Moniti’, 183, [21] pp., 2 blank leaves. The titlepage of the Botanologicon bears the manuscript ownership-entry of Nuremberg’s Astronomer, Philosopher and Mathematician Hieronymus Schreiber [also called Jerôme Schreiber], student-friend of Euricius Cordus’ son Valerius Cordus in Wittenberg and later trustee of Valerius Cordus’ scholarly estate after Valerius Cordus’ premature death in Rome. Dated in the same hand on the titlepage also the entry ‘Anno 1539’, when Valerius Cordus matriculated at Wittenberg and Schreiber already had studied there since May 1532. With several contemporary manuscript annotations throughout both titles (the Botanologicon and Examen) / II. A. M. Brasavola – Examen omnium simplicium medicamentorum: Title, [1], [‘Reverendissimo to Ioannes Argenterius’, 4 pp.], [‘Ad Illustris & Sereniss. (‘Epistola Nuncupatoria’) to the Duces of Ferrara’ 17 pp.], [Epigramma, 1 p.], [Examen & Aristotelis Problemata 542 pages, [Dedication to Franciscus Frellaeus, 2 pp.], [Index copiosissimus in Examen Omnium, 13 pp.], [1]. With several manuscript annotations. Original, contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards with some stronger signs of running to the corners, with partially bevelled edges and both of the original metal clasps intact. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Title in ink to upper spine and also to top of fore-edge. Very few pressed plants loosely inserted. Interior in excellent condition with some minor staining to very few pages only.

3. Edwards, Jonathan.

A careful and strict Enquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions of that Freedom of Will, which is supposed to be essential to Moral Agency, Virtue and Vice, Reward and Punishment, Praise and Blame.

First British Edition. Boston / London, Re-Printed for Thomas Field, 1762. Octavo. IX, [5], 414, [8] pages plus two pages of advertising for Jonathan Edwards’ “Treatise concerning Religious Effections”. Hardcover / Original 18th century calf, rebacked with new spine and spinelabel. Interior all original and besides some minor signs of foxing in very good condition. Name of preowner in ink on titlepage. Binding overall excellent with only minor signs of external wear. A very rare and important book.

4. [Nonus Parker Provenance] Rycaut, Paul.

The Lives of the Popes, From the time of our Saviour Jesus Christ, To the Reign of Sixtus IV. Written Originally in Latin by Baptista Platina, Native of Cremona, And Translated into English. And the same History continued from the Year 1471 to this present time ; wherein the most remarkable Passages of Christendom, both in Church and State, are Treated of and Described. By Sir Paul Rycaut, Kt.

The Second Edition, Corrected. Two Volumes in one (complete). London, Printed for C.Wilkinson, and are Sold by A.Churchil at the Black Swan in Ave-Mary Lane, 1688. Folio (22.5 cm wide x 33.2 cm high). Pagination: Volume I: Includes the Rare Portrait-Frontispice of “Paul Rycaut, late Consul of Smyrna & fellow of the Royal Society” by R.White, [15], 416 pages / Volume II: “A continuation of the Lives of the Popes”, 394 pages plus 18 unnumbered pages of an Index. Hardcover / Original bookblock was bound by a Master-Binder into a Modern half-leather in the style of the 17th century. In protective Mylar. The original Portrait was pasted on paper. New endpapers. Marbled-Paper-covered boards. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Provenance: Working-copy of Yorkshire Landowner Nonus Parker [signed in the book as “Ubiq. Veritatem Nonus Parker 1693”, 17th-century English gentleman who purchased an estate called “Gowk-Hill” (also referred to as Gawkhill or Cuckoo Hill) in the mid-1660s. Upon taking ownership of the land, he renamed it “Park Hill”, a historic estate located near Firbeck and Laughton-en-le-Morthen in South Yorkshire, England. Heavily annotated by Nonus Parker in ink, with personal comments on Papal History, ridiculing the entry of “Pope Joan” [John VIII]. Nonus PArker writes about Pope Joan: “Theis relation is affirmed as well as denyed by several writers, yet no fire can be ‘tis belived, without a Smoke”. Includes also a lengthy manuscript-note by Nonus Parker [verso an envelope sent to him] on “whether the Story of the wandring Jew be true”

5. Fleckenstein, Josef.

Sonderdruck-Sammlung / Kleinschriften-Sammlung / Offprint-Collection of Prof.Dr.Josef Fleckenstein, one of the worlds most eminent historians for the medieval period / middle Ages (Mittelalter), and especially the development and background of knights, knighthoods, chivalry. The collection includes roughly 5000 (fivethousand) offprints and pamphlets in 166 folders, alphabetized, neatly sorted and assisted by a special, old-fashioned card catalog. Most of the offprints and pamphlets were sent to Prof.Fleckenstein by international colleagues in his field of medieval studies, history and related studies. The majority of the publications are in german but many are also in italian, french and english as well. Many of the publications are signed and beautifully inscribed to Fleckenstein.

Germany, different publishers, c.1960 – 2002. Octavo. More than 100000 pages (onehundredthousand pages). Original Softcovers. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Ask for images. Price does NOT include extra international shipping-costs needed for this collection.

6. Curtayne, Alice.

Alice Curtayne Collection: Alice Curtayne and “The Capuchin Annual”. A collection of essays, contributed by Alice Curtayne to one of Ireland’s most important Periodicals of the 20th century. The collection includes the early 1931 issue with the beautiful portrait of youthful Alice Curtayne. While the collection is still growing, unknown essays and contributions of her are surfacing [Please offer interesting material, letters, signed books etc.]. The Capuchin Annual – Collection of Alice Curtayne Material includes at the moment: 1. Alice Curtayne – “For the Septcentenary of St.Anthony of Padua (1231 – 1931) – A Study of St.Anthony the Preacher” [in: “The Capuchin Annual for the year 1931” / Including the early Curtayne-Portrait and three text-illustrations] / 2. Alice Curtayne – “Five Irish Saints”: “The Living Patrick” / “Saint Colmcille – Irishman” / “Saint Brendan – The Navigator” / “Saint Ita” / “The Method of Saint Columbus” – (In: Capuchin Annual 1945-1946 – with Illustrations in color by Stained Glass Artist, Rísteard Ó Cíonga [Richard King]).

Dublin, The Father Mathew Record Office, 1930 / 1945. Octavo (18 cm x 25 cm). Pagination for the Curtayne – contribution in Capuchin Annual 1931 [Second Year of Publication of the Annual]: 8 pages (pages 18 – 25) / Pagination for the Curtayne – contribution in Capuchin Annual 1945-1946 [Sixteenth Year of Publication of the Annual]: 9 pages (pages 269 – 277) plus Frontispiece and 4 further full-page-illustrations of Saints in color by the Risteárd Ó Cionga [Richard King]. Original illustrated Softcover. Good condition with some signs of wear (fraying to cover).

7. Schlatter, Adolf.

Der Glaube im Neuen Testament. Eine Untersuchung zur neutestamentlichen Theologie. [Manuskript-HANDEXEMPLAR SCHLATTER’S mit handschriftlichen Annotationen / Manuskript – Anmerkungen]. Eine von der Haager Gesellschaft zur Vertheidigung der christlichen Religion gekrönte Preisschrift.

Erste Ausgabe. Leiden, E.J.Brill, 1885. Gross-Oktav. Durchschossenes Exemplar welches speziell für Schlatter in zwei Bände aufgeteilt wurde. Durchgehende Paginierung. Band I: V, 304 Seiten / Band II: Seiten 305 – 591. Privates Halbleder der Zeit. Rücken teilweise angebrochen. Exlibis Schlatters in beiden Bänden (″Er trägt alles durch das Wort seiner Kraft” – Dr.Adolf Schlatter). Das Werk voller umfangreicher Annotation in Schlatter’s Hand. Einige wenige Annotationen in Stenographie.

8. [Curtayne, Alice] / McKevitt, P. / Lucey, C. / Conway, J. Jacobus / Christus Rex Society of Irish Diocesan Priests / Rísteard Ó Cíonga [Richard King as Illustrator] / etc.

Alice Curtayne as Contributor to Irish Periodicals / Journals / Digests. The collection aims for completion and collects not only issues of periodicals with contributions by Alice Curtayne but hopes to complete each set of periodicals to which Alice Curtayne contributed between the years of 1930 and 1980, in order to allow for cross-referencing of contributors, study cooperation between illustrators and Alice Curtayne, her influence and acceptance as early female contributor in a men’s world, possibly even deciphering pseudonyms under which Curtayne might have written or essays she might have contributed to but her name was omitted; in general: circumstances which have not been detected yet. The Collection is documented thoroughly in professional images and descriptions on our website and includes to date: I. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Irish Digest”: 1. “The Irish Digest” from September 1940 – including the article: Alice Curtayne – “Lament of an Author” / II. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “Christus Rex”: “Christus Rex” – An Irish Quarterly Journal of Sociology. A Collection of 24 issues of the important and underrated publication “Christus Rex” including: 1. Volume XX, No.4 of “Christus Rex”: Alice Curtayne – “The Council and Women” ]. / III. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Furrow”: “The Furrow” – Monthly Journal published by the Leinster Leader, Naas and Edited by Rev. J.G.McGarry. A Collection of 56 issues of the Journal, including two issues with Curtayne – publications: 1. “Saint Patrick in his Confession” – (In: “The Furrow” from March 1951) and 2. “Marillac Manor” (in “The Furrow” from July 1959) and 3. “Ecumenism in Dublin” (In “The Furrow” from February 1966) / IV. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Capuchin Annual”. Including: 1. Alice Curtayne – “For the Septcentenary of St.Anthony of Padua (1231 – 1931)” – [including a portrait photograph of Alice Curtayne] / 2. Alice Curtayne – “Five Irish Saints” (″The Living Patrick” / “Saint Colmcille – Irishman” / “Saint Brendan – The Navigator” / “Saint Ita” / “The Method of Saint Columbus” / (In: Capuchin Annual 1945-1946 – with Illustrations in color by Stained Glass Artist, Rísteard Ó Cíonga [Richard King].

Naas, Christus Rex Publications, 1949 – 1967. Octavo. 81 Issues with different amounts of pages and content. Overall c. 4800 pages. Original Softcover. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. Some of the issues with annotations and some with a former library-stamp. Very rare run of these periodicals which invited contributions from other women writers like Ita Meehan.

9. [Lloyd, Sampson / Lloyds Bank / Lloyds of Birmingham] Sewel, William.

History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress Of the Christian People called Quakers, Intermixed with Several Remarkable Occurences. [Provenance: Personal copy of the Brimingham Quaker – Family of Sampson Lloyd, iron manufacturers and founders of Lloyds Bank in England and Wales]. Written Originally in Low-Dutch by William Sewel, and by himself Translated into English. Now Revis’d and Publish’d, with some Amendments.

First English-language edition, following the low Dutch edition of 1717. London, Printed and Sold by Assigns of J.Sowle, at the Bible in George-Yard, Lomabrd -street, 1722. Folio (21 cm x 31 cm). [12], 723, [19] pages (including a thorough Index), plus 4 unnumbered pages of a catalogue of “Books Printed and Sold by the Assigns of J. Sowles”. Hardcover / Original, late 18th century leather with original spine-label and ornament to boards. Six raised bands; spine starting but still firm and holding. Overall very good condition. Bookplate / Exlibris of Arthur Hofmann to pastedown. Excellent and interesting provenance this being one of the most important publications on Quaker – History and originating from one of the oldest and most influential Quaker – Families in England and Wales.

10. Cloyne, Richard [Woodward] Lord Bishop of / Stock, Joseph [Late Fellow of Trinity College Dublin] / [Baggs, Stephen].

[Sammelband on Irish Protestantism and Irish Presbyterians] – Volume I: Richard, Lord Bishop of Cloyne – The Present State of the Church of Ireland: Containing a description of its Precarious Situation; and the consequent danger to the public. Recommended to the serious consideration of the Friends of the Protestant Interest. To which are subjoined some reflections on the impracticability of a proper Commutation for Tithes; and a general account of the origin and progress of the Insurrections in Munster. The Ninth Edition. [Dublin, Sleater, 1787]/ Bound with [Volume II]: Joseph Stock – A Reply to the Rev. Dr. Campbell’s Vindication of the Principles and Character of the Presbyterians of Ireland. In which the question is discussed, whether our political constitution might be improved, by substituting, in place of the present ecclesiastical establishment of England and Ireland, either the Presbyterian or Independent Model of Church Polity. [Dublin, J. Exshaw, 1787] / Bound with [Volume III]: [Baggs, Stephen] – The Insurrection. Or, A Faithful Narrative of the Disturbances which lately broke out in the Province of Munster, under the Denomination of White or Right-Boys. [″The wonderful year…Annus Mirabilis (Swift)” – Dublin, W. Sleater, 1787] //

Dublin, W. Sleater / J. Exshaw, 1787. Octavo. 138, 123 (7), (2), 45 pages plus advertising-leaf for the Stephen Baggs-publication on the Irish Insurrection, (as called for). Original, contemporary Hardcover with manuscript spine-label and marbled-paper-covered-boards, housed in a bespoke made Clamshell Box / Solander-Box. Bindung strong and firm but slightly stained and stronger rubbed. Spine slightly damaged. Front free endpaper missing. Otherwise in very good condition. With the rare publication in the rear of the Volume on ‘Whiteboyism’ (The Whiteboys or in Gaeilge: ‘na Buachaillí Bána’), including a rare advertising – sheet by bookseller W. Sleater, glued to the rear pastedown. mentioning three publications: 1. A Letter to Rev. Doctor O’Leary, found on the great Road leading from the City of Cork to Cloughnakilty [Clonakilty] / 2. A Short Refutation of the Arguments contained in Dr. Butler’s Letter to Lord Kenmare / 3. The Present State of the Church of Ireland].