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WOMEN
Women as Writers, Editors, Translators, Illustrators, & Printers
Books By, For, & About Women
French Novel in a
Jewel-Toned Binding
Tarbé des Sablons, Michelle-Catherine-Joséphine Guespereau. Elda de Kérénor. Paris: Belin-Leprieur et Morizot, 1848. 8vo (23.6 cm, 9.25"). [2], 380 pp.; 16 plts.
$85.00
Click the images for enlargements.
Uncommon first edition of this romance featuring a young orphan and a “bonne abbesse,” illustrated wit
16 aquatint plates.
Binding: Publisher's brown cloth, covers and spine heavily gilt-stamped with arabesque designs featuring color-stamped portions in blue, red, yellow, green, and white. Bright yellow endpapers, all edges gilt.
Binding as above, extremities rubbed, spine sunned to a pleasant olive. Sewing starting to loosen in some spots. Back free endpaper recto (not the yellow side!) with inked numerals and small rubber-stamp; light staining intermittently, not affecting the plates (which are both lovely and in lovely condition). (26982)

Adultery & Divorce
Tebbs, Henry Virtue. Essay on the “Scripture doctrines of adultery and divorce, and on the criminal character and punishment of adultery, by the ancient laws of England and other countries;” being a subject proposed for investigation by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in the Diocese of St. David's; and to which that Society awarded its premium of fifty pounds in December, 1821. London: F. C. & J. Rivington (Pr. by J. S. Hughes), 1822. 8vo. xvi, 254, [2 (adv.)] pp.
$250.00
First edition of this comparative analysis of the laws and customs of various countries respecting divorce and adultery, with an emphasis on the regulations of Mosaic Law and the doctrines of the New Testament. The latter section includes the views of Jesus Christ, the opinions of the Apostles and early Christian writers, and the edicts of the Christian emperors of Rome. Other sections cover the laws and practices of ancient Greece and Rome, and those of medieval and early modern Europe. The author was a proctor in Doctors' Commons. Publisher's ads in the back. With the errata page, tipped in.
Modern quarter tan cloth over light blue paper-covered boards in the style of the early 19th-century, spine with printed paper label; uncut copy. Tear and chips at top margin of title-page, repaired some time ago. Title-page and several early leaves lightly age-toned and with some traces of soiling. Old ink ownership signature on title-page and p. 22, and just a bit of ink smudging at top margin of p. 23. (24445)
Thiselton-Dyer, T.F. Folk-lore of women as illustrated by legendary and traditionary tales, folk-rhymes, proverbial sayings, superstitions, etc. Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Co.; London: Elliot Stock, 1906. 8vo (20.9 cm, 8.25"). xvi, 253, [3 (2 adv.)] pp.
$150.00

First American edition, following the first London edition of 1905: Slightly stereotypical proverbs and sayings, as well as charms and “spells,” collected from around the world by the (male) author of Folk-lore of Plants, Folk-lore of Shakespeare, and Domestic Folklore.
Publisher’s red cloth, front cover and spine stamped in black and gilt; binding a bit darkened and faintly spotted, with head of spine chipped. Front free endpaper with inked ownership inscription. A few pages with short edge tears, not touching text.

A Tour of
RUSSIA Conducted by a SPECIALIST
Tooke, William. View of the Russian empire, during the reign of Catharine the second, and to the close of the eighteenth century ... the second edition. London: Pr. by A. Strahan & G. Woodfall for T.N. Longman & O. Rees, 1800. 8vo (21.7 cm, 8.5"). 3 vols. I: xxxvi, 630 pp.; 1 fold. map. II: [2], 574 pp. III: [2], 628 pp. (pagination skips 561–64).
$100.00
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Second edition, following the first of 1799: Extensive overview
of the peoples, customs, laws, religion, natural history, etc. of “the
arctic eagle” (p. v), compiled from primary and secondary sources by a
member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and of the Free Economical Society
at St. Petersburg. The Rev. Tooke was an “intelligent and observant Russophile”
(DNB) responsible for several original works as well as a number of English
translations (with added substance and critical apparati) of significant works
on that country, including Georgi's Russia, or, A Compleat Historical Account
of All the Nations which Compose that Empire and Castéra's Life
of Catharine II, Empress of Russia.
The state of the Russian military forces is here described at length. The
commerce section includes chapters on viniculture, sericulture, and apiculture,
as well as mining and salt harvesting; at the back of the third volume are
extensive tables of Russian imports and exports, merchant ships arrived and
sailed, duties and taxes, and names of the most active St. Petersburg merchants.
Coins and measures are also examined.
Binding: Contemporary treed
calf, flat spines with gilt tooling of several sorts creating compartments,
each with a large device; gilt-stamped green leather title and volume labels.
ESTC T109837; Allibone 2434. On Tooke, see: Dictionary of
National Biography online. Bound as above, two volumes with front covers
off and all other joints weak; covers showing some gouges and spines some
chips, the set apparently having been exposed not only to normal wear/rubbing
but sometime long past to something (heat? “repairs”?) that darkened
and roughened them irregularly. Ex–social club library: front pastedowns
each with 19th-century bookplate and inked numerals, title-pages pressure-stamped.
Intermittent light foxing and light to moderate offsetting throughout; vol.
III with waterstaining in upper margins. Map lightly foxed but otherwise in
excellent condition. A set of books
still
striking, and priced to permit the next owner to contemplate
repairs. (26366)

The Lost Andrade Copy? — Dedicating a School for Girls
Torres, Ignacio de. Sermon de Santa Rita de Cassia, qve en la solemne fiesta, qve le consagra annual la devocion de el Licenciado Antonio Gonzalez Lasso. Mexico: Por Juan de Ribera, en el Empedradillo, 1682. Small 4to. [6], 12 ff.
$3000.00
The charming parochial church in Tlaxcala was where Dr. Torres preached this sermon on the occasion of the dedication of the new building of the “Colegio de Niñas,” i.e., a secondary school for girls. The tie-in to St. Rita is that she was herself the patron of a school for girls.
In his sermon, Torres discusses the need for and goodness that comes from schools for girls. The text is printed in roman with side- and shouldernotes in italic, and contains two woodcut initials.
Rare: Medina knew of this only from the Andrade copy. WorldCat finds no copies, nor does COPAC; no copy was found via the OPACs of the Spanish National Library and the Mexican National Library. We must wonder if this IS the Andrade copy that was seen by Medina.
Medina, Mexico, 1260; Andrade 763. Modern full red morocco, gilt extra on covers and spine; gilt roll of a chain design on the turn-ins. Partial, unidentified marca de fuego on top and bottom edges. A two-digit number in ink in margin of title-page; an old waterstain curving across the bottom outside page corners, light in front and heavier towards the back. In a neat cloth slipcase. (25764)
Unger, Mary E. The favorite flowers of Japan. Tokyo: Hasegawa, [1911]. 8vo (24.5 cm; 9.5"). [4] ff., 59, [4] pp.
[SOLD]

Second edition of this uncommon and beautiful work featuring 29 color wood block floral prints and a color map, hand-printed on hand-made papers. Text is in English. Illustrations are in color and are of chrysanthemums, persimmons, plum, peach, orchids, azaleas, peonies, camellia, morning-glories, cherry, magnolia, iris, hydrangea, lilies, lotus, conifers, bamboo, palms, wistaria, and considerably more.
A wonderful example of early 20th-century Japanese book printing.
Publisher’s paper over light boards; paper of spine flaked off with covers dusty and little discolored. A delicate book, priced according to its faults and still a nice object.

A Widow's Plea
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims. [drop-title] Report of the Committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims, on the petition of Elizabeth Morgan, widow of Zaquille Morgan, in behalf of herself and children. January 26, 1816. Read, and ordered to be printed.
[Washington: William A. Davis, 1816]. 8vo. 2 pp.
$10.00
Click the image for an enlargement.
Concerning the petitioner's claim for compensation for the death of her husband from exhaustion while serving as a captain in the Army during the defense of Washington in 1814. At head of title: “[31]”. Government document: House document (United States. Congress. House); 14th Congress, 1st session, no. 31.
Shaw & Shoemaker 39609. Removed from a nonce volume; inner edge a little irregular; remnants of paper adhered in inner margin. First page rubber-stamped by the War Department Library. (13169)
Sumptuously
Bound by DAVID
for
Cortland
Bishop
Uzanne,
Octave.
Son altesse la femme. Paris:
A. Quantin, 1885. Small folio (27.5 cm; 11" ). [2] ff., [i]–xii, 312 pp.,
2 l. illus. (part col.).
$1875.00
Click the images for enlargements.
Definitely this work was created
by a bibliophile for fellow lovers of the book. When this
work appeared, Uzanne (1852–1931) was in full stride as a leader of the
Paris circle of men and women interested in handsomely illustrated, printed,
and bound works of literature. In 1880 he launched Miscellanées bibliographiques
and, soon after Son altesse la femme appeared. he introduced the influential
periodicals Le Livre, Le Livre moderne, and L'Art et l'Idée.
In 1889, he took part in the creation of a publishing company, the “League
of Contemporary Bibliophiles.” He counted among his friends the artists
Jean Lorrain, Barbey d'Aurevilly, and Remy de Gourmont.
Son altesse la femme essays most satirically the position of women in
society from the medieval to the author's time. The chapters are: Le vray
mirouer de sorcellerie, La mie du poete, La précieuse, La caillette,
La citoyenne française, Les galanteries du directoire, Sous la restauration,
L'amour aux champs, La parisienne moderne, and Mulieriana.
The work was limited to 100 copies, all printed on Japan vellum. It has an
engraved vignette on the black and red printed title, small illustrations
or vignettes on 50 text pages, 11 vignette borders or headpieces (three of
them in color, 10 of them in an
extra
state), and 10 tipped-in color plates. The illustrations are
by Henri Gervex, J.A. Gonzalès, L. Kratké, Albert Lynch, Adrien
Moreau, and Félicien Rops.
Binding:
Full red crushed morocco with five raised bands. Covers with a triple-rule
gilt border; spine gilt extra with gilt beading on bands. Triple gilt fillet
on board edges. Wide turn-ins richly tooled in gilt and with cream and blue
leather inlays that are also gilt-tooled. Blue silk pastedowns and free endpapers.
Marbled paper fly-leaves. All edges gilt.
Binding
signed “David.”
Provenance: Red leather
bookplate of Cortland Field Bishop, the famed collector of the early 20th
century and, at one time, owner of the TWO most important auction galleries
in NY/USA.
Original
full-color wrappers bound in.
Vicaire, VII, 924. Uncut copy. Bound as above with original
wrappers bound in. Light refurbishment of front joint (outside).
A
fabulous copy. (26675)
Vallejo, Fernando de. Pregon en que su magestad manda, que ninguna muger de qualquier estado y calidad que sea pueda traer, ni traiga guardainfante, ò otro instrumento, ò trage semehante, excepto las mugeres que con licencia de las justicias publicamente son malas de sus personas. Madrid: En la imprenta de Francisco Martinez, 1639. Folio (28.2 cm, 11.1"). [4] ff.
$750.00


Declaration forbidding farthingales (the “guardainfante” was so-called because it could be used to conceal pregnancy) and excessive displays of decolletage by women except for prostitutes and ladies with special licenses.
Click the image for an enlargement.
Palau 236212. Removed from a nonce volume. Title-page with small early inked numeral and shadow of pencilled numeral in upper margin; publication authorization leaf with small hole just touching letters, without loss of sense.

Lore & Line Drawings
Verrill, A. Hyatt. Perfumes and spices including an account of soaps and cosmetics. New York: L.C. Page & Co., (copyright 1940). 8vo. Col. frontis., xv, [1], 304 pp.; illus.
$35.00
Click the image for an enlargement.
First edition: “The story of the history, source, preparation, and use of the spices, perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics which are in everyday use.” The color-printed frontispiece depicts various fruits and flowers including bergamot, frangipani, nutmeg, rosemary, and Balsam of Peru.
Publisher's light blue cloth, front cover and spine stamped in black; spine sunned. (24484)

A Fundamental Work
Handsomely Printed
by
the Widow Hogal
Villaseñor y Sánchez, José Antonio de. Theatro americano, descripcion general de los reynos y provincias de la Nueva España y sus jurisdicciones. México: En la Imprenta de la Viuda de D. Joseph Bernardo de Hogal, Impresora del Real y Apostólico Tribunal de la Santa Cruzada en todo este Reyno, 1746–48. 2 vols. in 1 (29.5 cm; 11.5"). I: [9] ff., 232 pp., [2] ff., pp. 233–382, [5] ff., lacks engr. title. II: [6] ff., 428 pp., [5] ff., lacks engr. title.
$7500.00
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The distinguished historian and bibliographer Don Guillermo Tovar de Teresa writes extensively of this work, but here we will quote only a small portion of what he says. “El Teatro Americano es una obra fundamental para todos aquellos estudiosos interesados en formarse una idea de la poblaciones de la Nueva España: su ubicación geográfica — longitud y latitud — con la descripción de los lugares circunvencinos; clima, aguas,y vegetacion; gobierno eclesiástico y civil, familias de indios, españoles y castas, templos y, sobre todo actividades económicas: comercio, ganadería, obrajes, minería, etc.”
Don Guillermo wrote that in his bibliography of works illuminating colonial Mexican art — and these two large volumes also have much to say, not noted above, about architecture, arts, sculpture, etc.!
The volumes are from the famous press of the widow of José Bernardo de Hogal, the Baskerville of Mexico, and they retain all of the fine characteristics that are associated with the Hogal name, including handsome black and red title-pages, great typography (here in double-column format), and use of good quality paper.
The author was general accountant of the Treasury's office of mercury accounting (the element was important in silver refining) and one of the most illustrious Cosmographers of New Spain. He wrote this treatise at the insistence of the viceroy, who was greatly pleased by it.
Sabin 99686; Medina, Mexico, 3802; Tovar de Teresa, Bibliografía novohispana de arte, II, 86/87. Recent full dark brown calf, round spines, raised bands accented with gilt rules; green and red leather spine labels; gilt center devices. Covers with elaborate gilt roll at edges, concentric center compartments and gilt corner devices. Lacking the engraved title, only. Present are intermittent touches of limited worming and, in vol. II, the occasional old stain to a top margin's edge. This is a clean and indeed
BEAUTIFUL SET. (26378)
MEXICO is one of our great specialties.
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here.
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& TYPOGRAPHY, click
here.
Copiously & Usefully Illustrated
Vindel, Francisco. Solaces bibliográficos. Madrid: Instituto
Nacional del Libro Español, 1942. 12mo. xi, 193 [1] pp., illus.
$110.00
Short bibliographical essays on such topics as Spanish-language
printing in Italy in the 16th century, Spanish books on chess and on
women
in the 15th through the 17th centuries, and the Ibarra press.
Click
the images for enlargements.
This copy with an authorial inscription to a recipient whose name has been
gently, but entirely, obliterated!
Good quality red cloth, original wrappers bound in; grey spine
label. Very good copy. (21546)
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