Antiquarian

The Accursed Thing; or The Causes of Our Public Calamities Stated and Explained – A Sermon – Rev James Robertson – 1800

Rev James Robertson was the Presbyterian Minister in the little village of Thropton Northumberland, England. This lengthy and strangely interesting sermon was published as a pamphlet by Elder of Edinburgh and others in 1800. Octavo, 35 pages, here nicely presented in a modern protective binding. Very clean for its age and well printed. Impossible to find another one we believe.

England was at war with France … the Minister has little respect for the enemy and for others that displeased higher ruling.

His concluding comment from Isiah and Psalm 69 are pertinent to now … “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand, for God is with us. He will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah, the posterity of his saints shall inherit it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein”

Maybe some in power around the World just need to think this through.

A Sermon with a strong message – Unique 1800

$80.00

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Portraiture of Socrates – Catherall – 1717

An extremely scarce work and one of the great 18th Century scholarly works in English re Socrates.

Longer title from front – Eikon Sokratike Or, a Portraiture of Socrates, Extracted out of Plato. In Blank Verse by Sam. Catherall, A.B. and Fellow Oriel College, Oxon.

Unbound as issued, amazing even though worn, that it has survived in this form for over three hundred years. Printed at Oxford by Lichfield and Peisley and sold by Knapton et al Booksellers in London 1717.

Title reflects the “Imprimatur” of Jo. Baron Vice-Can, Oxon Ball. [Balliol] College Oxon June 17, 1717.

Octavo, sewn as issued, 6, 53, pages, old water stain now faded. Ownership signature dated 1726 on title.

The quite lengthy Preface by the translator is so humble we could all learn from it today. He explains his approach, omissions and limitations … he is obviously a great fan of Plato and Socrates – and why not they both had a good approach to life and focussed on meaningful thought and actions.

All up there are 36 “Dialogues” by Plato that feature Socrates as the central character – here we have Socrates at the Bar (Trial); Socrates in Prison; Socrates Discoursing on the Immorality of the Soul with Crito, and Simmias; Socrates about to drink Poison, Discoursing with Crito in the Presence of all his Friends … interesting the work ends FINIS … which it did.

Socrates by Plato and then Catherall at Oxford – 1717 – the pointy bits

$290.00

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Trial of King Charles the First – England’s Black Tribunal -1737

Published by C Rivington, at the Bible and Crown in St Paul’s Church Yard (London) in 1737. Octavo, xxxi, 308 pages with adverts, index and engraved plate of Charles I as frontispiece. Bound in full contemporary leather, a bit worn but authentic antiquarian. No title label. The frontispiece is a masterpiece of stipple engraving and is often missing.

Carries the bookplate of Victorian gentleman James Barratt of Lymm Hall a magnificent pile which appeared in Twycross’s Mansions of England. later bookplate of Charles J Bewlay of Carleton Hall, partly laid over. This combination has been seen before, also se in the partial laid over manner … Bewlay must have purchased a good slice of Barratt’s library.

A sixth and very much enlarged edition. Set out in four parts. The longer title describes …

I – The complete Tryal of Kind Charles the First, by the pretended High Court of Justice in Westminster-Hall, begun Jan, 20, 1648. Together with His Majesty’s Speech on the Scaffold, erected at Whitehall Gate, on Tuesday Jan. 30, 1648.

II – The Loyal Martyrology: Or, A perfect Relation of the Sufferings and Death of the Nobility, Gentry, and others, who were inhumanly sacrific’d for their Loyalty to the Sovereigns King Charles I and II. Together with several Dying Speeches.

III – An Historical Register of the Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, who were slain in Defence of their King and Country, during the Unnatural Rebellion, begun in 1641.

IV – The Loyal Confessors: In a brief Account of the most Eminent Sufferers, by Imprisonment, Banishment, or in Estate, for the Cause of His Sacred Majesty.

To which is added An Historical Preface, by a True Churchman.

For those unaware of the general goings on Charles I (Son of James VI of Scotland, England’s first Stuart King) thought he could rule without a Parliament and making up his own laws (read taxes) as he went along. It led to disorder, Civil War (6% of the population died) and much more. He was arrested and charged with everything in the book [interestingly his charges are an early example of being charged with murder committed by his followers]. He didn’t recognise the Court and said so often during the Trial. He was if anything very eloquent and his responses and Dying Speech are good for reading.

Charles I – Lost is Head but not his Voice – Rare engraved frontispiece.

$380.00

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A Law Dictionary or, the Interpreter of Words and Terms, used either in the Common or Statute Laws of that Part of Great Britain, call’d England; and in Tenures and Jocular Customs – 1708

We are told on the remainder of the title that this work was first published by the learned Dr Cowel, and (is) now very much Augmented and Improv’d, by the additions of many Thousand Words, as are found in our Histories, Antiquities, Cartularies, Rolls, Registers, and other Manuscript Records, not hitherto explain’d in any Dictionary.

Folio, unpaginated, voluminous, near 500 pages. Bound in full leather, worn and scrapped but holding together very well. Internally very clean – a good example of this important reference which takes its place in the history of published legal references.

Super Preface(s) as introduction by John Cowell. Contains an Appendix of the ancient names of places … necessary for ancient deeds, charters etc.

Printed and published by D Browne, R Sare, S Battersby, J Walthoe etc

Important Historical Law Related Dictionary – 1708

$190.00

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Narzinge and Ceylon Petrus Bertius – Published 1610

An original copper engraved miniature map of Southern India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). One of the earliest maps of the region.

This map was originally drawn by Barent Langenes and published by him at Middleburg and as part of Petrus Bertius’ Caert-Thresoor in 1598.

Bertius continued to include this map in his most successful “Tabularum Geographicarum Contractarum Libri” published by Cornelis Claesz in Amsterdam. This example comes from the 1603 edition of “Tabularum”.

It is rather scarce. Here uncoloured, as it should be 85mm by 122mm. Very good condition, any darkening of the paper exaggerated by the scan.

Petrus Bertius (1565-1629) was born the son of a Flemish minister a Baveren, Flanders. He became a religious refugee and moved and settled in Amsterdam. In 1577. After finishing his studies he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at the University of Leiden. He became a prolific writer on mathematics, history and theology. He also gained renown as a geographer and publisher of magnificent atlases. Later in life, in 1618 he became cosmographer and historiographer to Louis XIII of France. He died in Paris in 1629

Price as unframed

$160.00

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Illustrated Games of Patience – Lady Adelaide Cadogan – 1880

Card games of all sorts were all the rage in Victorian times among all classes. Here we have none other than Lady Cadogan the leading expert on the many many variations of a card game generally known as Patience.

This is fourth more glamorous edition published by Sampson Low, London in 1880. Quarto, strangely paginated around the description both in narrative and pictorially of each game. The images are truly delightful a feature that is carried over to the decorated green cloth binding. A very good copy of a scarce form.

The names of the various game forms points to the French derivations .. La Belle Lucie; Le Cadran; La Quinzaine; La Loi Salique; Les Quatre Coins; Le Moulin; Le Shah etc although ending with the rather drearily named “the British Constitution”

Patience is a blessing .. let’s have more of it!

$80.00

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The Accursed Thing; or The Causes of Our Public Calamities Stated and Explained – A Sermon – Rev James Robertson – 1800

Portraiture of Socrates – Catherall – 1717

Trial of King Charles the First – England’s Black Tribunal -1737

A Law Dictionary or, the Interpreter of Words and Terms, used either in the Common or Statute Laws of that Part of Great Britain, call’d England; and in Tenures and Jocular Customs – 1708

Narzinge and Ceylon Petrus Bertius – Published 1610

Illustrated Games of Patience – Lady Adelaide Cadogan – 1880

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