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[HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT IN FRENCH] Johann Kaspar Füssell. Archives de l’histoire des insectes, publiʹees en allemand par Jean Gaspar Fuessly. Traduites en françois. 4to. 26.5 x 20 cm., Elegant script throughout, contemporary binding as depicted, 408 pages. [s.l., s.d.], c. late 18th century and perhaps a pre-publication or fair copy of the published 1794 edition. The magnificent 54 plates, the majority finely colored, are by JR Schellenberg, one of the most famous entomological illustrators of the 18th century and well known for his incredibly lifelike depictions. [SOLD]
VERY RARE: One of the Great Renaissance Medical Texts
The Book:
Bartolomeo Montagnana; Jacobus de Vitalibus. Consilia Bartholomei Montagnane : Tractatus tres de balneis Patavinis ; De cop̄ositione & dosi medicinarum ; Antidotarium eiusdem [Venice] : Bonetus Locatellus, for Octavianus Scotus, 2 August 1497. [8], 387, [1] leaves ; 31.5 cm. Later turn of the century binding with loss to spine as depicted. Internally, occasional minor browning, but overall a VERY FINE, WIDE-MARGINED AND COMPLETE COPY. Very Rare on the Market.
Bartolomeo Montagnana, a Doctor of Venetian origin, practiced in Padua as a teacher at the local and prestigious University of Medicine. He was a descendant of a long line of physicians, as well an an anatomist who had dissected as many as fourteen bodies, and thus played a major role in early anatomical investigation.
“A striking feature of clinical medicine in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries was the writing of “Consilia” or medical case-books, consisting of clinical records from the practice of well-known physicians and letters of advice written by them to imaginary patients or else to real pupils or country doctors, who appealed to their superior knowledge as consultants.” As personalized medicine, these personal clinical studies differed markedly from the lofty and erudite classics of Hippocrates and Aretsus. The work also has botanical interest, as the preparation of medicine required detailed explanations of the sources of the plants. [ Ref: Garrison, F.H. An introduction to the history of medicine]
A FASCINATING BOUND COLLECTION OF RARE AMERICAN ALMANACS 1799-1808
Collected and signed by one of the accused kidnappers of William Morgan, who disappeared while , and whose death ignited the anti-Freemason movement
The Collection:
1. Robert Bailey Thomas; William Manning; James Loring; John West. The farmer’s almanack, calculated on a new and improved plan, for the year of our Lord, 1799 : … Fitted to the town of Boston, but will serve for any of the adjoining states. … By Robert B. Thomas. Boston : Printed by Manning & Loring, for John West, proprietor of the copy-right, and for sale at his book-store, no. 75, Cornhill, and by the other booksellers in Boston. Sold also by the booksellers in Salem, Newburyport, &c. by the author at Sterling, and at various other places. (Price 7 1/2 dollars per gross, 75 cents per dozen, and 10 cents single.), [1798]. At head of title: No. VII. Advertised in the Massachusetts Mercury, October 30, 1798. Parentheses substituted for square brackets in imprint transcription. Two states noted by the Boston Public Library. This is the FIRST STATE WITH [32-34] contain “Directions for preventing calamities by fire”; and not the second state that changed p. [32-34] to “contain poems and anecdotes. ” It charmingly states, for example, “Do not permit a servant to carry a candle to his bed-room if he sleeps in an unplaistered garret” Collation: A-B⁶ C⁴ D² E⁴ F²;Title vignette. Bookseller’s advertisement, p. [48].
2. Asa Houghton. The gentlemen’s and ladies’ diary, and almanac; with an ephemeris, for the year of the Creation, according to sacred writ, 5762; and of the Christian era, 1800: … Fitted for the latitude and longitude of Boston, (Mass.) but will serve for the adjoining states without sensible variation. Keene (N.H.) : –Printed by John Prentiss. Price, 7 1/2 dols. per gross–75 cents doz.–10 cents single, [1799]
3. Isaiah Thomas’s Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode-Island, Newhampshire & Vermont almanack, with an ephemeris, for the year of our Lord 1801 : … Fitted to the latitude and longitude of the town of Boston … : [Four lines of verse] Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts, : by Isaiah Thomas. Sold by him, and by I. Thomas, Jun. in Worcester; by Thomas & Andrews, S. Hall, West & Greenleaf, E. Larkin, J. Boyle, W. Spotswood, C. Bingham, and at the Boston Bookstore, in Boston; by Thomas and Thomas, Walpole; by T.C. Cushing, Salem; and by the booksellers, in the Newengland states. Price 71/2 dols. per gross -75 cents doz.- 10 cents single., [1800] Signatures: [A]⁴ B² C-H⁴⁻². Bookseller’s advertisement, p. [48]. With a BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GEN G. WASHINGTON, 1st PRESIDENT.
4. Isaiah Thomas’s Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire & Vermont almanack, with an ephemeris, for the year of our Lord 1802. Worcester, Mass. : Printed by Isaiah Thomas, [1801]; this copy bound without title page.
5. Robert Bailey Thomas The farmer’s almanack, calculated on a new and improved plan, for the year of our Lord, 1803 : Fitted to the town of Boston, but will serve for any of the adjoining states. … Boston: : Printed for John West, propietor of the copy-right, and for sale at his book-store, no. 75 Cornhill, and by the other booksellers in Boston. Sold also by the booksellers in Salem, Newburyport, &c. by the author in Sterling, and at various other places. (Price 9 dollars per gross, 87 1/2 cents per dozen, and 12 1/2 cents single.), [1802] , minor loss to lower margin t.p.
6. Dudley Leavitt. The Newhampshire and Vermont almanack, for the year of our Lord 1804 … : Calculated for the meridian of Gilmanton, Newhampshire … [Gilmanton, N.H.] : Printed at Gilmanton, N.H. by Leavitt & Clough., [1803] SCARCE ALMANAC. 7. Asa Houghton. Houghton’s genuine almanac. The gentlemen’s and ladies’ diary, and almanac; with an ephemeris, for the year … 1805 … : Fitted to the latitude and longitude of Boston, (Mass.) … Keene, (N.H.)– : Printed by and for John Prentiss, (the proprietor.) Price, 7 1-2 dolls. per groce, 75 cents doz. and 10 cents single., [1804] WITH THE CHARMING AMERICAN EAGLE EMBLEM.
7. Asa Houghton. Houghton’s genuine almanac. The gentlemen’s and ladies’ diary, and almanac; with an ephemeris, for the year … 1806 … : Fitted to the latitude and longitude of Boston, (Mass.) … Keene, (N.H.)– : Printed by and for John Prentiss, (the proprietor.) Price 7 1-2 dolls. per gross, 75 cents per doz. & 10 cents single., [1805]
8. Asa Houghton; Gilbert Graves Houghton’s genuine almanac. The gentlemen’s and ladies’ diary, and almanac; with an ephemeris, for the year … 1807 … : Fitted to the latitude and longitude of Boston, (Mass.) … Keene, (N.H.)– : Printed by & for John Prentiss, price 7 1-2 dolls. per gross, 75 cents per doz & 10 cents single., [1806]
9. Asa Houghton Houghton’s genuine almanac. The gentlemen’s and ladies’ diary, and almanac; with an ephemeris, for the year … 1808 … : Fitted to the latitude and longitude of Boston. Keene, (N.H.) : Printed by & for John Prentiss. Price 7 1-2 dolls. per gross, 75 cents per doz. & 10 cents single., [1807]
The whole collection, approx. 19.5 cm x 12cm, bound in 19th century calf and boards with wear to spine, worn gilt lettering to spine “Almanacs 1799-1808… J.E. Sawyer.” Overall, a well preserved and rare collection with fascinating provenance. Provenance: Bound with signature to blank flyleaf 1872. of Sawyer, J. E. — of Pontiac, Oakland County, Mich. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1884. Additionally, earlier t.p. signature of prominent Mason and accused kidnapper Col. Edward Sawyer, indicating these Almanacs came from his family. Also with loose signed card of Massachusetts railroad magnate Addison Gilmore
Background:
“William Morgan (1774–1826?) was a resident of Batavia, New York, whose disappearance ignited a powerful anti-Freemason movement in the United States in the early 19th century. After stating his intention to write a book exposing Freemasonry’s “secrets”, Morgan was arrested, kidnapped, and then apparently killed. His disappearance sparked a public outcry and launched the formation of a new Anti-Masonic Party…. Three Masons, Loton Lawon, Nicholas Chesebro and Edward Sawyer, were charged with, convicted and served sentences for the kidnapping of Morgan.
“Morgan’s widow Lucinda Pendleton later became one of the plural wives of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith, Jr. Subsequent confrontations between Freemasonry and the Mormon church included controversy surrounding the church’s alleged adoption of Masonic rituals and regalia. William Morgan was given one of the first official baptisms for the dead into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”
The anti-Masonic Party introduced important innovations to American politics, such as nominating conventions and the adoption of party platforms. [Ref: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morgan_(anti-Mason) ]
“The Sawyer family has long been prominent in Masonry—Colonel Edward Sawyer, the uncle of Joseph Edward, was initiated at the age of twenty-one years, and at the time of his death, February 2, 1885, when ninety-seven years of age, was the second oldest Mason in the United States. He was implicated in the Morgan Conspiracy in 1826 and suffered greatly in the persecution which followed that unfortunate affair. Joseph Edward Sawyer was initiated May 27, 1870, in Pontiac Lodge No. 21, F. & A. M., of which he became Master. He was exalted January 29, 1875, in Oakland Chapter No. 5, R. A. M., of which he became High Priest. He received the Cryptic degrees in Pontiac Council No. 3, R. & S. M., June 28, 1875, and became Thrice Illustrious Master. He was anointed January 15, 1884, in the Council of High Priest of the State of Michigan.” [Ref: Moore, C. History Michagan, Chicago, 1925 Vol III. p. 1525]
Pierre de Saint-André; François Estienne; William T Smedley. Biblia Sacra veteris et noui testamenti : iuxta vulgatam editionem maiori quàm antehac vnquam doctorum studio. Geneuae : Apud Petrum Santandreanum, 1583. A reissue, with a different title page, of an edition of François Estienne, Geneva, 1567. The title page of the New Testament bears the imprint: Ex Officina Francisci Stephanii, 1567. Signatures: *8a-z8A-2H82I4(2I4 blank) 2A-2R8 2S4. Includes indexes. Description: [8], 435, [1], [113] leaves, 1 leaf of plates : ill. (woodcuts), 2 maps ; 8vo. COMPLETE. Occasional staining, some browning, but overall a VERY FINE COMPLETE COPY. PROVENANCE: Likely George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax (who formed the original library at Old Rufford Abbey) with Old Rufford Abbey bookplate. Rufford Abbey is an estate in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England. In 1626, the house was sold to Sir George Savile, and later inhabited by his descendant, the Marquess of Halifax. This copy bears, in fact, the 17th century ownership inscription of John Savile 1666, presumably Sir JOHN SAVILE, 6th Bart., who succeeded to the Thornhill and other estates on the death of his cousin, the 2d Marquis of Halifax. Beautiful signed armorial binding by Hering, bound between 1815 and 1845 when the famous bookbindery was located at 9 Newman St. Charles Hering bound many books for the Prince Regent, George IV, following the style of Roger Payne, binder to George III [$2500]
Lauro, Giacomo. Antiquae urbis splendor, hoc est praecipua ejusdem templa, amphitheatra, theatra, circi … aliaque sumptuosiora aedificia … opera et industria Jacobi Lauri, … in aes incisa atque in lucem edita. Addita est brevis Pusedam … imaginum explicatio, in que regnum, consulum, imperatorumque res gestae et rei romanae origo, … ostenditur. Romae, 1612-1615. 3 Parts in 1 Vol. (A fourth part, devoted to modern Rome, was issued in 1628 with a reprint of the other parts). Oblong Folio, 30 x 23 cm., Contemporary gilt-ruled vellum, front board stiff with slight warping, partial separation of inner textblock form binding, 19th century spine label. 115 plates, not including title, dedications of the 3 parts, Portraits of Sigismund, King of Poland; Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy; and Ranuzio Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza; [1 blank], [4], [4] [115] ff. Interleaved copy with 17th century French manuscript descriptive and explanatory notes, carefully hinged to page preceding each plate. Condition: Some slight browning and spotting, but overall a Very Good copy of the First Edition with the beautiful plates, still unnumbered (first state), in fine impressions.
One of the most influential and beautiful works on the monuments and antiquities of Ancient Rome, the ‘Antiquae urbis splendor’ (‘The splendour of the ancient city’) served as an important reference book and source of inspiration for many writers and artists, both Italian as well as those on the early Grand Tour. The interesting mid-17th century French interleaved notes present in the copy, could have been recorded ( for example only), by an resident Classicist artist in the circle of Nicolas Poussin for later use as a reference. Further research could make a more definitive attribution. [Sold]
