Antiquarian

The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith -1791

This is a single volume from Goldsmith’s Works published by Morison, Perth and Edinburgh.

What makes it interesting as a single volume is that it contains all of his Poetical works along with his narrative on Lord Bolingbroke and Dr Parnell.

Bound in full original calf with separate red leather title and a volume label. Small octavo, 209 pages, with two full page copper engraved plates. Page edges speckled the whole generally in very good antiquarian condition.

Some quite lengthy and beautiful poems such as … the Deserted Village, the Traveller, the Hermit … and some amusing ones … A Description of an Author’s Bed-Chamber, the haunch of Venison and we quote here partly due to brevity … Epitaph on Edward Purdon

Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed,
Who long was a bookseller’s hack;
He led such a damnable life in this world, -
I don’t think he’ll wish to come back.

Goldsmith explains … This gentleman was educated at Trinity College, Dublin; but having wasted his patrimony, he enlisted as a foot soldier. Growing tired of that employment, he obtained his discharge, and became a scribbler in the newspapers. He translated Voltaire’s Henriade.

Oliver Goldsmith interesting Poetry and funnier than you thought.

$60.00

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A Reply to the Objections of Robert Nelson Esq and an Anonymous Author – Dr Samuel Clarke – 1714

Full title continues … “against Dr Clarke’s Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity. Being a Commentary upon Forty Select Texts of Scripture. To which is added, An Answer to the Remarks of the Author of, Some Considerations concerning the Trinity, and the Ways of Managing the Controversy”.

Original panelled calf binding, raised bands to spine with six compartments, red leather title label. Binding aged and hinges cracked but holding well on strong cords. Despite deficiencies a delightful antiquarian patina. Octavo, 311 pages after preliminaries plus book advertisements and “index of the texts explained in this book”. First page is title so likely missing front end paper. Internally some ageing and staining to pages but overall very good condition for its age.

Printed for James Knapton, at the Crown in St Paul’s Church Yard 1714.

A more important historical work than immediately apparent. Samuel Clarke (1675 – 1729) was the major British figure in philosophy between John Locke and George Berkley. Born in Norwich he went to Caius College, Cambridge where his tutor was John Ellis a personal friend of Isaac Newton. Clarke adopted the new physical system of Newton and in 1697 published a book on the superiority of the Newtonian system. Taking holy orders Clarke moved rapidly up the hierarchy and by 1709 he was Rector of St James, Westminster and Chaplain in Ordinary to Queen Anne. At this time, he became in personal contact with Isaac Newton. Just before this period he presented the Boyle Lectures where he presented examples of a physico-theological system. That is that God is self-existent, infinite, omnipresent, having existed from eternity …

In 1712 Clarke published his treatise “The Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity” it was controversial and he was cautioned not to publish … he ignored this advice. There were complaints from the Lower House of Convocation and the Blasphemy Act was threatened and those that published against him included Robert Nelson (1656 – 1715) mentioned strongly in the title to this work and Francis Gastrell who was the “Anonymous Author” also referred to in a robust defence.

Clarke a controversial intellectual with personal influence from Isaac Newton, Boyle Lecturer and Chaplain to Queen Anne – 1714

$170.00

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Museum Quality Fossil Bowfin Fish from the Messel Pits, Germany

Very nice large extinct form of Bowfin Fish, Cyclurus kehreri. From the Middle Eocene (Geisealtalain) period – 47 Million Years Old.

These fossils are found within the bituminous oil shales that occur near the village of Messel, Darmstadt, Germany. The fossils are removed from the shale using a technique called reverse transfer preparation, where the fossil is mounted onto a resin plate and the destructive oils shale is then removed leaving the fossil on the resin plate. This is the only way for them to be preserved and the method is used by leading authorities.

Size of fish 26cm by 7cm, overall mount 36cm by 15cm.

The Fish has a number of living relatives such as the mudfish, mud pike, dogfish, griddle etc. and is also related to the gars.

An extremely rare and sought after fossil

$120.00

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A Tutor to Astronomy and Geography. Or and Easie and Speedy way to Know the Use of Bothe the Globes, Celestial and Terrestrial – Joseph Moxon – 1674

Small quarto published in London by Thomas Roycroft for the author. Original binding distressed with front board off and other deficiencies. Missing frontispiece and title page starting with dedication “to Samuel Pepys Esq Principal Officer of the Navy, Secretary to the Admiralty, Fellow of the Royal Society and Brother of the Trinity-house of Deptford-Strand” … 271, 9 pp. Third edition 1674 (first 1659) corrected and enlarged. Set out as a series of six books with Appendix etc

The First Book being the first Rudiments of Astronomy and Geography or a Description of the Lines, Circles and other Parts of the Globes.

The Second Book Shewing the Practical Use of the Globes applying them to the Solution of Astronomical and Geographical Problems.

The Third Book Being the Practical Use of the Globes Applying to the Solution of Problems in the Art of Navigation.

The Fourth Book Shewing the Practical Use of the Globes Applying them to the Solution of Astrological Problemes.

The Fifth Book Shewing the Practical Use of the Globes Applying them to the Solution of Gnomonical Problemes.

The Sixth Book without and never had title on Trigonometrical Problemes

Followed by An Appendix shewing the Explanation and Use of the Ptolomaick Sphere. Followed by “Ancient Stories of the Several Stars and Constellations …. Collected by Dr Hood” and “a Discourse of the Antiquity, Progress and Augmentation of Astronomy” … A catalogue of Moxon’s published items and a useful index of each book.

Many illustrations, tables and mathematical explanations in the text including one of the first publications of the key elements of Kepler’s Rudolphine Tables showing data for extrapolation of the position of a number of stars between the years 1600 and 1700.

$490.00

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Fine Binding – Magnetism – Sir W Snow Harris -1850

Rudimentary Magnetism: being a Concise Exposition of the General Principles of Magnetical Science and the Purpose to which it has been Applied.

Published by John Weale, London in 1850-52. Three parts in two (as issued) 159, 186 and 152 with all preliminaries bound finely in full calf, spine richly gilt with raised bands and black title label.

A very good copy of an important mid-19th Century work on electricity and magnetism. A good gift for a worthy scientific mind.

Finely bound 19th Century Scientific Work

$120.00

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Victorian Fine Binding – Galatea: A Pastoral Romance – Miguel de Cervantes.

A literal translation from the Spanish (the first) by Gordon Willoughby James Gyll. Published by Bell and Dalby, London in 1867.

Originally published in 1588 before the much celebrated Don Quixote. Under the guise of pastoral characters, the book represents and examination of love. This edition 349 pages after preliminaries finely bound in full orange morocco, inner gilt dentelle with marbled endpapers by respected London Bookbinder of the period – Jeremiah Larkins. A very fine copy. A lovely gift.

About the bookbinder

Jeremiah Larkins (1833-1907) was of Irish descent. He became a bookbinder at the age of seventeen and soon had his own business first as a partnership and then under his own name. He married Ann who was described as a book-folder so they must have met through the business. He became highly respected for the quality of his work amongst the London book elite of the Victorian era.

$160.00

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The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith -1791

A Reply to the Objections of Robert Nelson Esq and an Anonymous Author – Dr Samuel Clarke – 1714

Museum Quality Fossil Bowfin Fish from the Messel Pits, Germany

A Tutor to Astronomy and Geography. Or and Easie and Speedy way to Know the Use of Bothe the Globes, Celestial and Terrestrial – Joseph Moxon – 1674

Fine Binding – Magnetism – Sir W Snow Harris -1850

Victorian Fine Binding – Galatea: A Pastoral Romance – Miguel de Cervantes.

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