1000 PRACTICAL SHOW CARD LAYOUTS ..and Color Sketches by H.C. Martin

Published by The Signs Of The Times Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1928. First edition. Hardcover, red pebbled cloth with embossed white printing on the front cover, 10.75" x 8", 240 pages, illustrated with 93 full page b&w plates of various show card examples. VERY GOOD CONDITION: the covers have a touch of light wear to the corner-tips and spine-ends, internally a penciled 1929 former owners name and address on the ffep, light wear to the fore-edge from thumbing, some tiny spotting here and there otherwise, tight, bright, clean and unmarked, a bright and solid copy of this scarce 1928 trade publication.

The definitive book on the old school art of hand lettered sign writing, invaluable to anyone in the graphic arts. A fascinating collection of practical advice and sample sign layouts, this H.C. Martin scarce first edition is one of the most influential sign writing books ever published, a testament to the power of visual promotion it's filled with concepts, ideas, layouts, graphic elements, lettering styles, and instructs the show card writer how to advertise their services and add value to their business.

Show cards are advertising signs that are hand lettered and placed in shop windows or near displays to promote retail sales or events. An offshoot of sign painting, show card writing proliferated in the late 19th century and quickly became the marketing tool of choice. Show card writing became a lucrative profession, with trade schools opening and instructional books published in the early 20th century. Interestingly, show cards are ephemeral and rarely preserved and thus largely absent from the cultural record. Show card manuals are thus an invaluable resource for understanding the practice of show card writing. Show card manuals educate the student on all aspects of the industry, from the proper materials to letter formation, color schemes, and layout. Show card writing remained a significant aspect of the sign painting trade well into the twentieth century, despite technological advances in printing these signs evoke a certain nostalgia and humanity that computerized, machine made signs can never inspire.

Harold C. Martin (b. 1890-?) Display sign artist, author, creator of the art deco alphabet Modern Thick and Thin.

Eleven Issues of FILM A DOBA, the CZECHOSLOVAKIAN FILM JOURNAL that was, during the Sixties and Seventies, both a well respected publication of reviews of Czech and International Films, and an important intellectual force during the Russian Occupation. Ten of these issues are from the 1970s and one is from 1967, all years in which the Czech film industry was highly regarded even while being regulated by the Russians.

The eleven issues are from: 1967 (1), 1972 (1), 1973 (3), 1975 (2), 1976 (2), 1977 (1), and 1978 (1).

Softcover magazines, side stapled, 8x10.5 inches, approximately 50 to 60 pages each.

The eleven issues are in FAIR to GOOD condition, the issues all have a stiff vertical crease down the middle from being folded in half (perhaps delivered that way); some of the issues have bumped/creased spine ends, most have some edge and corner wear; the covers have some soiling; there are some small stains and a bit of writing here and there, a couple of the covers are pulling from the staples; internally, the pages are printed on cheap paper that has browned (this was during the Russian occupation, after all); one page has a long horizontal tear across its face that has been repaired with clear tape; there are creases and other signs of handling; nonetheless these 11 issues are solid and complete.

An interesting look at one aspect of the intellectual and artistic life in Czechoslovakia during the Russian occupation.

Issues of Film A Doba published during the Russian Occupation are hard to find.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: These 11 issues will require additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us ahead of time to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

THE JOURNAL OF PARAPSYCHOLOGY - A Scientific Quarterly Dealing with Extrasensory Perception, the Psychokinetic Effect, and Related Topics.

ELEVEN ISSUES, five from 1943-1944, six from 1948-1949. During these years the Parapsychology Journal was created and edited by the Duke University Parapsychology Research Laboratory, which published results of its ESP studies as well as studies by other parapsychologists.

Wrappers / softcovers, 6x9 inches, approximately 75 pages each.

VALUABLE ANNOTATIONS: The first five issues from 1943-1944 contain many relevant scientific annotations and tipped-in pages of notes. They appear to be from an expert in the field, but no name is noted.

FAIR condition, the spines of all the wrappers are scraped and worn with some splitting at the folds, one has some clear tape repair to the spine; two issues have blue ink staining to the top edge affecting the top blank margin of the pages but not affecting text; the text block of some of the issues is shaky and cracking here and there but holding; the first five issues have many relevant pencil annotations and taped in pages of notes as noted above; otherwise complete issues with text that is clear throughout.

The early issues of The Journal of Parapsychology, published by Duke University, are hard-to-find. The many annotations give these particular issues an extra sensory dimension!

About PARAPSYCHOLOGY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY (from Duke University Archives and Wikipedia):

******The Parapsychology Laboratory operated at Duke from 1930 to 1965. Originally research was conducted under the direction of William McDougall, Chairman of the Psychology Department, with the support of Duke President W. P. Few, University President. In the years following the deaths of McDougall in 1938 and Few in 1940 support for the Parapsychology Laboratory began to weaken, but the University continued to support it with materials and financial assistance in the form of office and research space, salaries of the secretaries and the Director, and research grants through the Graduate Research Council. In 1962, University support for parapsychological research at Duke pretty much ended, J. G. Pratt resigned from Duke in 1963, and by early 1965 the Parapsychology Research Lab became independent of the University.

J.G. Pratt (Joseph Gaither Pratt), b.1910 d.1979, was an American psychologist who specialized in the field of parapsychology. Among his research interests were extrasensory perception, psychokinesis, mediumship and poltergeists. Much of Pratt's research was conducted while he was Assistant Director of the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University.******

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This lot of catalogs will require additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!

12:01 P.M. First Revision SCREENPLAY by JONATHAN HEAP and STEPHEN TOLKIN. Based on a Short Story by RICHARD LUPOFF. 12:01 P.M. is a short film based on the 1973 science fiction short story by Richard Lupoff. It was first shown in 1990 and was nominated for an Academy Award. Many believe that Groundhog Day stole the idea for its film from 12:01 P.M. A different film based on the story 12:01 P.M. was released in 1993. Copy machine printed on plain white paper (photocopied drafts were, and still are, used for production and working scripts because they can be easily made and quickly sent to a film's writers, producers, directors, etc.), 8.5x11 inches, 3 hole punched but bound with staples at the upper left corner, 25 pages plus title page, pages printed on one side only. GOOD MINUS condition, the pages are creased at all their corners, the title page is creased with some small tears along its left edge, there is wear around the two upper staples including some extra staple holes and staple impressions, the last page has pulled from the staples (i.e. is loose), otherwise a complete, clean, clear copy. SCARCE FIRST REVISED DRAFT of this groundbreaking science fiction short film. It is the only copy I have and the only copy I have ever seen. About the 1990 film 12:01 P.M. (from Wikipedia): ******12:01 PM is a 1990 short film starring Kurtwood Smith. Directed by Jonathan Heap, it originally aired on cable television in 1990 as part of the Showtime 30 Minute Movie anthology series. It was nominated for an Academy Award.

It is the first film adaptation of the short story "12:01 PM" by Richard A. Lupoff, which was published in the December 1973 edition of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The major plot device is a time loop or time bounce, and bears great similarity to that of the 1993 film Groundhog Day. Lupoff and Jonathan Heap, director of the 1990 film, were "outraged" by the apparent theft of their idea, but after six months of lawyers conferences and substantial expenses, they decided to drop the case against Columbia Pictures. In the 1990 film, Kurtwood Smith plays Myron Castleman, an everyman stuck in a loop that forces him to constantly relive the same hour of his life over and over, being the only person aware of this. During one loop, he discovers that a scientist named Nathan Rosenbluth has predicted an event that matches his experience. Castleman calls him and explains what is going on, however, Rosenbluth is highly skeptical of his claims. Over the next loops, Myron struggles to get into contact with Rosenbluth again, and in the process becomes frustrated to the point of screaming at his secretary and throwing his suitcase into traffic. Eventually, he does manage to talk to Rosenbluth, who initially dismisses Myron as crazy until Myron describes the transition as the scientist had predicted (including the phrase "Consciousness is an independent variable," which is central to Rosenbluth's theories). The professor sadly informs Castleman that there is nothing that can be done, causing Myron to become hysterical and shoot himself. There is a brief pause until Myron finds himself back at the beginning of the loop, realizing that he is trapped for eternity. This version has NEVER BEEN RELEASED ON DVD IN THE U.S. In the 1993 film the main character keeps reliving the same 24 hour period (which in this case restarts at one minute past midnight, rather than midday as in the other versions). This version differs from the 1990 film in that it features a much lighter and more comedic tone, and that the protagonist ultimately finds a way to correct the time loop over the course of the film. This version was released on DVD in the United States on November 28, 2006.******

PROCEEDINGS HEIDEGGER CONFERENCE, Twelfth Annual Meeting, Villanova University (Radnor Township, Pennsylvania), CONVENED by JOHN D. CAPUTO. The conference took place on May 26th, 27th & 28th, 1978.

A compilation of SEVEN CONFERENCE PAPERS by Noted HEIDEGGER PHILOSOPHERS and SCHOLARS. Text in English. The papers are:

HEIDEGGER'S MISINTERPRETATION OF RILKE, by P. Christopher Smith, University of Lowell, 25 pages;

THE QUESTION OF GOD IN HEIDEGGER'S THOUGHT, by Joan Stambaugh, Hunter College, 34 pages;

A DIAGRAMMATICAL APPROACH TO HEIDEGGER'S SCHEMATISM OF EXISTENCE, by Theodore Kisiel, Northern Illinois University, 22 pages;

TIME AND BEING 1925-27, by Thomas Sheehan, Loyola University of Chicago, [29 pages];

BRIDGING THE GAP: THE CRITIQUE OF EVERYDAYNESS BY HEIDEGGER AND THE CRITICAL MARXISTS, by Michael Zimmerman, Tulane University, 21 pages;

HEIDEGGER'S PHILOSOPHY OF TECHNOLOGY, by Don Ihde, SUNY, Stony Brook, 41 pages;

HEIDEGGER'S VALUE-CRITICISM AND ITS BEARING UPON THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF VALUE, by Parvis Emad, DuPaul University, 26 pages.

Laid in is another Heidegger paper titled: BOREDOM, INDIFFERENCE AND METAPHYSICS, by Reginald Storrs Lilly, Loyola University of Chicago. It consists of 15 pages printed on one side only, bound with a single corner staple. It is not listed in the official Conference Schedule.

Printed blue paper covers, plastic spiral binding, 8.5x11 inches, approximately 200 photocopied pages (each conference paper numbered separately, plus a few unnumbered introductory and title pages).

FAIR condition: the front cover has a large light purple stain and associated waviness, appears to be offsetting from something damp; a couple of the cover holes at the top and bottom have pulled from the comb binding; internally, the first few leaves are a bit wavy but have no stains, otherwise just lightly used and still tight, bright, clean and clear. A complete and presentable copy. The laid in Heidegger paper is in good condition, some edge toning, otherwise bright and clean.

These papers from the 12th Annual Heidegger Proceedings are hard to find.

1479 DAYS: THE SIEGE OF UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO : A Documentary Overview of Events 1992-1995. Written by scholars of the University of Sarajevo, and edited by Professor Faruk Caklovica, President of the University of Sarajevo.

Published by the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, second edition, 2010

Hardcover Book, no dustjacket as issued, 8.5x12 inches, 211 pages. Illustrated throughout with color and b&w photographs, drawings and reproductions of documents.

During the Serbs war against the Bosniaks, the University of Sarajevo found itself torn in two. The Serb nationals who were part of the University either left or joined the Serbian aggressors, while the Bosniaks stayed to fight and to try to keep the University operating. The siege of the University of Sarajevo lasted 1479 days.

VERY GOOD condition, cover corner tips are bumped, otherwise tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. A solid, nice, very presentable copy.

About the SIEGE of the UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO (from the Internet sources):

******About half the professors, lecturers and employees of the University of Sarajevo turned their backs on the University at the beginning of the Bosnian war in April 1992. Most of them had Serb nationality. Many fled the city to save themselves and their families, but a considerable number joined the Serb besiegers and supported the siege. This is the sobering conclusion of the book "1479 days - Siege of University of Sarajevo", which was prepared by scholars of the University and presented to the public in the Bosnian capital. In spite of the constant shelling, in spite of the snipers, in spite of hunger and cold, training and teaching were maintained by the professors and students who stayed at the risk of their lives.******

Fifteen Issues of THE BIJUTSU KENKYU - The JOURNAL of ART STUDIES, 1939-1940.

The Bijutsu Kenkyu was, and still is, an important journal for the study of Japanese and Asian Art, and European and American art as it relates to Asian Art. The early issues are rather hard to find.

The issues in this lot are Numbers XCIV - CVIII (94 - 108). Fifteen issues. Published by The Institute of Art Research, Tokyo, Japan, 1939-1940.

Wrappers / Softcovers, 9x12 inches (22x30 cm), approximately 40 pages of text with in text b&w illustrations and 10 plates per issue (the number of text pages and plates does vary from issue to issue). Each issue came with a thin glassine overwrap, these have been removed from about half of the issues.

ILLUSTRATED with PLATES, including one tipped in color plate at the beginning of each issue.

Text in JAPANESE, but the rear wrapper of each issue gives a brief English description of the plates within.

These copies were presented "With the Compliments of PROFESSOR YUKIO YASHIRO", with his presentation card laid on top of the first issue. (Yukio Yashiro, b.1890 d.1975, was a Japanese academic, art historian, Botticelli scholar and Director of the Institute for Art Research in Tokyo. - Wikipedia.)

GOOD Condition: The glassine overwrap was removed from about half the issues, the glassine on the other issues has yellowed with age (it can easily be removed if desired); the spines have some wear and chipping; there is light dampstaining to the wrappers and on some of the inner pages of a few issues; overall the issues remain tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. Fifteen presentable copies. Great references.

A sampling of articles in the first few issues: Tthe Technique of Shitogwa (Finger-Drawing); Antonio Fontanesi and His Works in Japan; Panel Paintings of Kichijoten Shrine of Joruriji Temple; Five Hundred Arhats, by Ikeno Taiga; Study on Portraits of Goto Yujo and His Descendants; Study on the Biography of Uragami Gyokudo; Landscape of Four Seasons on Su Tung-P'o's Poems, by Shih-T'ao; Fragment of Wall-Painting of Fukiji Temple; Fragment of Wall-Painting of Fukiji Temple; Yashiro Yukio; Ise Monogatari Painted by Sotatsu.

About the Bijutsu Kenkyu Journal of Art Studies:

Published since 1932, the Bijutsu Kenkyu journal, edited by the Department of Art Research, has published monograms, research notes, explanations of plates, book reviews, exhibition reviews, and materials for art research, primarily pertaining to Japanese and East Asian classical art, but also European and American art that relates to modern and contemporary Japanese art. In its early years it was published monthly, but is now published three times a year.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This lot of 15 issues is heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us ahead of time to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

SANCTI IOANNIS CHRYSOSTOMI DE VIRGINITATE LIBER, A IVLIO POGIANO CONVERSVS. JOHANNES CHRYSOSTOMUS.

ROMAE: Apub Paulum Manutium, Aldi F., M. D. LXII [1562]. First Edition.

Modern hard covers, 7x7.5 inches (17x19 cm). Pagination: [ai] title page, aii-biii, [lacking blank leaf following biii], Ai - Qiiii - 64 numbered leaves. Aldine anchor and dolphin printer's device on title page. Collated page by page with a copy held at the National Central Library of Rome.

GOOD condition: Professionally rebound in hardcovers (leather spine and corners with decorative paper covered boards), with new blank endpapers (archival watermarked laid paper). The title page is lacking its bottom 1.5 inches and its last line of text, it has been professionally restored with archival laid paper at its corners and bottom (a copy of the title page from the copy at the National Library of Rome is laid in for comparison purposes, note that it has library stamps, paper repairs, and some hand marks and X's, the X marks notably at the ring at the top of the anchor). The corners of the first few pages have also been professionally restored, not affecting text. Else, the title page is toned; there is waterstaining to the upper gutter area and front margin of the pages, most noticeably on the first 10 pages, then becoming very light; there is some foxing here and there. Overall the pages of this 1562 book are amazingly complete, bright and clear.

RARE 1562 edition printed in Rome by Paulus Manutius at the Aldine Press.

About PAULUS MANUTIUS (from Wikipedia):

******Paulus Manutius (aka Paolo Manuzio), b.1512 d.1574, was a Venetian printer with a humanist education, the third son of the famous printer Aldus Manutius.

The printer's mark of the Aldine Press, used by both Aldus Manutius, the father, and Paulum Manutium, his son, is known as "the anchor and the dolphin".******

Agonía del tránsito de la muerte con los avisos y consuelos que cerca de ella son provechosos, Maestro Alejo Venegas de Busto.

(Agony of the Transition to Death with Helpful Warnings and Consolations when Approaching Death, with Brief Descriptions of Obscure Sentences and Words, by Maestro Alejo Venegas de Busto.)

ALCALA DE HENARES [Spain], Andrés de Angulo, Diego de Sancta Cruz, M.D.LX.V (1565). Sixth edition.

Hardcovers (19th century Spanish binding), 3/4 red leather (spine and corners) and red textured cloth covered boards, 5 raised spine bands, gilt titling and gilt designs to the spine, marbled endpapers, small 4o, 6x8 inches (14.5x20 cm). Pagination: ff. [8] CCXVI (i.e. [8], 216 leaves numbered in Roman numerals). Illustrated with intricate woodcut crests on titles.

GOOD Condition: Covers are rubbed and have some scrapes, most noticeably on the leather corners, still the covers are solid, doing their job well, and quite attractive. Internally, the title page and the subsequent couple of leaves have a little professional conservation at top margin that affects a bit of the title page image and a couple words at the top of the following two leaves; there is the ghost of the removal of a bookplate on the front free-endpaper, the title page has some early marginalia that has been lined out and there is some relevant scholarly ink marginalia on the latter pages related to the description of obscure words in that part of the text; overall solid, tight, bright, clean and clear. A nice copy.

COLLATED page by page with a 1565 copy in the Austrian National Library (the pages of THIS copy are much whiter and brighter).

About MAESTRO ALEJO VENEGAS DE BUSTO (from Wikipedia and elsewhere on the Internet):

******Alejo Venegas de Busto, b.Toledo 1497 or 1498, d.Toledo, 1562, was a Spanish Renaissance writer, humanist, lexicographer, and considered a Spanish mystic.

His best known work is the AGONY OF THE TRANSITION TO DEATH... (Toledo, 1537), an ascetic, mystic work that he dedicated to Doña Ana de la Cerda, Countess of Melito, on the occasion of the death of the writer's great protector, her husband Count Diego de Mendoza. This work derives specifically from the Praeparatio ad Mortem (1534) by Erasmus. The second edition appears in Toledo in 1540, the third in Toledo, 1543, the fourth in Zaragoza, 1544, the fifth in Toledo, 1547, the sixth in Toledo, 1553 and the seventh in Alcalá, 1565. Beginning in the third edition Venegas added his Brief Declaration of the Sentences and Obscure Words. The book has continued to be reprinted and was edited in the 19th century by Eugenio de Ochoa (Paris, Beaudry, 1847) and in 2001 by Marc Zuili (Paris, L'Harmattan, 2001). Various parts of this work have appeared in numerous other publications, including works on Spanish and Christian Mysticism.******

M. Tullii CICERONIS (Marcus Tullius CICERO): SENTENTIAE INSIGNIORES, ET PIA APOPHTHEGMATA...

[bound together with]:

ISOCRATIS Atheniensis (ISOCRATES): ORATORIS & PHILOSOPHI CLARISSIMI...

Publisher: VENETIIS (VENICE): Apud Nicolaum Beuilacquam, 1565 [and] 1569.

Two works in one. CICERONIS: [48], 504 pages; ISOCRATES: 33 pages, Bound in hardcovers, later leather-backed marbled boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, speckled edges. (12mo) 3x5 inches (7x12.5 cm). Illustrated with a printer's device on each of the two title pages, and some engraved title letters.

The first volume is a collection of half a dozen compilations of classical aphorisms of Cicero, mostly compiled by Petrus Lagnerius, edited by Bogarutius a` Bogarutiis.

The short 33 page work of ISOCRATES at the rear is ESPECIALLY SCARCE.

Condition: Scattered faint foxing, small area of worming to last four leaves with minimal loss to text, first title page has some paper repairs, previous owner's signature at the bottom of the front free endpaper, otherwise tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked.

LES OEUVRES SPIRITUELLES du R.P. LOUYS DE GRENADE (SPIRITUAL WORKS of LOUIS OF GRANADA). Louis de Granada, translated from Spanish into French by Father Simon Martin. PARIS : Chez JEAN JOST, M. DC. LI (1651). Third Edition, enlarged with the addition of "Passages de la Saincte Ecriture & des Peres, avec des Tables pour les Predicateurs" (Passages of the Holy Scripture and the Fathers, with Tables for Preachers). LARGE FORMAT HARDCOVERS, leather backed spine with speckled paper covered boards, gilt decorated spine, leather spine label stamped in gilt, Folio, 9x14 inches (22x35 cm),

title page printed in black and red, with engraved portrait. Pagination: [xxx] pages + 1987 columns (page 6 onwards are numbered in columns, 2 columns per page, for a total of 994 pages). TEXT IN FRENCH. The spiritual works of the Reverend Louys of Granada, divided into four parts : La Guide des Pecheurs (The Fishermen's Guide); Le Livre de l'Oraison (The Book of Contemplative Prayer); Le Memorial de la Vie Christienne (The Memorial of Christian Life), and le Livre de L'Amour de Dieu (the Book of God's Love); avec la Lettre de S. Eucher (with the Letter of St. Eucher). Condition:

The covers are worn, soiled, and scraped, the bottom cover corners are bent and creased, the spine is frayed at its ends and pulling for 1 inch at the top, the spine label has some chips; nonetheless the covers are solid, doing their job well, and are attractive in a Hogwarts Library sort of way. Internally, the pages have lightly toned and there is foxing to the first and last few pages, there are some old previous owner's signatures and notes here and there; a few pages have some edge wear and corner chipping; overall the pages are complete, tight, bright, clean and clear. A solid, nice copy of this important book. The Venerable Louis of Granada, OP (b. 1505 d. 1588), was a Dominican friar noted as theologian, writer and preacher. The cause for his canonization has been long accepted by the Holy See (i.e. he has been declared and accepted as a SAINT by the Catholic Church). Scarce. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is large and heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact me in advance to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

EXPLICATION DE LA DEVOTION A LA SAINTE ENFANCE DE JESUS-CHRIST NOSTRE SEIGNEUR. Divisée en Trois Parties. La Premiere Contient les Motifs & Excellence de la Devotion. La Seconde, sa Nécessité et Utilité. La Troisième, le Recueil de Ceux qui l'ont Pratiquée.... Par le Père Joseph Parisot.

(EXPLANATION OF THE DEVOTION TO THE HOLY INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Divided into Three Parts. The Premiere Contains the Motives & Excellence of Devotion. The Second, its Necessity and Utility. The Third, the Collection of Those who practiced it.... By Father Joseph Parisot.)

TOME PREMIER Qui Contient La Première et Seconde Partie. (FIRST VOLUME, containing Parts I and II). A Second Volume, containing Part III, was published subsequently. This is for the First Volume, with Parts I and II, only.

AIX (Aix-en-Provence, France): Charles David (printer to the King, the Clergy and the City). M.DC.LVII (1657).

Collated with a copy held in the Collection Jésuite des Fontaines at the Library of Lyon, that was digitized online. (This copy is in MUCH better condition than the copy in Lyon which was heavily water-stained and browned throughout.)

Full Vellum Covers, three raised spine bands, 6x8 inches, 2126 pages + an errata page. At the rear is added the Title-Page and the Table-of-Contents of the Second Volume (a Publisher's teaser, I suppose).

This 1657 book is in VERY GOOD condition, the vellum covers have yellowed and have some areas of browning especially on the rear cover, the front and rear inner hinges are cracked but holding tight, there is a two line ink statement on the front free pastedown that I believe indicates this book came from Beaucaire, France; the inner text pages are lovely, there is some light toning to some of the early and latter pages, light shorelining to the upper part of the first 50 or so pages, a torn blank bottom margin to a prelim page (not affecting text), a thumbprint size tear to the front blank margin of a few middle pages, and a rare spot here and there; overall the inner pages are quite amazingly well-kept, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. A lovely copy of this rare work on why one should worship Infant Jesus.

RARE, becoming almost impossible to find.

Ah, the innocence of Babies, even Baby Jesus...

ITALIAN MANUSCRIPT Accounts Book kept by LUCIDO SPARAPANI. Handwritten Italian text. Dates appear to be from 1669 to the 1680s. Possibly Trento, Italy.

Contains 156 leaves completely filled with handwritten text. The leaves are hand numbered in two sections 1-71 and 1-85, with some blank leaves between the sections. Contemporary plain pasteboard covers, three cord binding, 5x7.5 inches (13x19 cm).

The names I was able to identify include: Giuseppe Brunelli, Felice Vergelli, Andrea Pittore, Francesco Benigni, Giovanni Cortini; but there are more.

Condition: Surprisingly GOOD condition, the pages are firm and well bound. The handwriting is sharp and clear but the small calligraphy and the iron in the ink makes it rather difficult to read (especially if, like me, you don't read Italian). The covers have wear and a piece missing at the bottom of the pine. A wonderful, very presentable copy.

My research shows that the SPARAPANI family was a renowned family of nobility from the Trento province of Italy. The family held a number of noble titles. The family was apparently affluent, socially connected, and produced many notaries.

I found that LUCIDO SPARAPANI wrote a book about Saint Vittorino in 1701 titled:

"Notizia compendiosa della vita di S. Vittorino confessore, descritta dal conte Lucido Sparapani da Camerino nell'anno 1701. A cui furono aggiunti il panegirico composto per il sudetto santo, la narrazione della traslazione del suo corpo, e molti componimenti poetici..."

(Compendium of the life of St. Vittorino confessor, described by Count Lucido Sparapani from Camerino in the year 1701. To which were added the panegyric composed for the aforementioned saint, the narration of the translation of his body, and many poems.)

Because of the difficulty I have with Italian and the handwriting, there are likely errors in my description. Please correct me when you find them.

HISTORIA de REBUS in GALLIA Gestis ab ALEXANDRO FARNESIO Parmae et Placentiae DUCE III SUPREMO BELGII PRAEFECTO. By GUILLELMI (aka Guillelmo) DONDINI - Bononiensis E Societate Jesu. Roma, 1671. FIRST EDITION. Collated page by page with the 1671 copy at the AUSTRIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY. (The 1671 Austrian National Library copy can be found using a Google Book Search for a 1671 Edition of this book.) In addition to the copies in National Libraries and Museums, this 1671 First Edition is noted in numerous early bibliographic books and materials (e.g. Memoires de la Societe de L'Histoire de Paris et De L'Ile de France, published by H. Champion, 1876). This 1671 First Edition was REPUBLISHED in 1673, 1675, 1676, and many subsequent years (e.g. 1750). Though many believe the 1673 edition is the first edition, IT IS NOT, as a collation with the 1671 Austrian edition and numerous bibliographic citations clearly show. Leather covered boards, spine has five compartments and four raised spine bands, tooled with framing and designs to the front and rear boards and with a design in each of the five spine compartments, 6.5x8". Pagination: Blank Front Free-Endpaper, [2] blank prelim page, [1] Frontispiece Engraving, [1] blank verso, [1] Title-Page, [1] blank verso, [3] "Serenissimo Principi Ranutio II", [1] Printer's / Publishers / "Imprimatur" Colophon page (with the date 1671 in two places), 537 Text, [38] Index, [1] blank verso, [2] blank end paper,

Blank Rear Free-Endpaper. Plus 5 fold-open Plates. Illustrated with FRONTISPIECE ENGRAVING and FIVE FOLD-OPEN PLATES. All 5 Fold-Open Plates are Present, however they are all disbound and laid-in at their proper place. CONDITION: Covers are split at the front spine fold and tender at the rear spine fold but holding well with the cord binding, covers are bowing a bit, covers are worn through at the corners and places along the edges, have some rubs and scrapes, but are still quite lovely with their tooled leather covers and spine. Internally, there is an early handwritten note pasted on the front pastedown (in Latin-Italian?), there is some foxing, toning and smudging most noticeably on the first and last few pages and very light on most pages, "Bibliotheque (De Lovina?)" is written at the top of a blank prelim page - the page facing the engraved frontispiece page, there is some edge chipping and wear (not affecting text) mainly to the first and last few pages, otherwise the inner pages are still tight bright, clean and unmarked. THE PLATES are all disbound, all have edge chips and wear (some lightly affecting the image), closed tears to the folds and edges, tape repairs to their blank backsides, foxing primarily to the margins and backsides, and signs of handling; in spite of these flaws the plates are still solid, impressive, and quite lovely. All the plates are laid-in at their proper place. This 1671 FIRST EDITION is almost Impossible To Find, especially in a complete state, with its frontispiece and all five plates present.

LES DERNIERS EFFORTS DE L'INNOCENCE AFFLIGÉE - Volume I and II (bound together in this single book), par (PIERRE JURIEU). A LA HAYE : CHEZ ABRAHAM ARONDEUS, Marchand Libraire au Palais, a l'Enseigne du Roy de France, M. DC. LXXXII (1682). This book almost immediately became an important and controversial work that was quickly reprinted, most notably by Chez David Dufour, Ville Franche, who republished the book in several editions also in the year 1682. VELLUM BOUND, small format 3" x 5.25", two parts in this one book (complete), pagination: [4], 182; [2],160 pages. I collated both Volume I and Volume II page-by-page with the copy of each volume held in the Rare Book

Holdings of the Bavarian State Library, Germany. Those rare copies were digitized in 2010. Condition: The vellum covers are yellowed with age, stained, worn through along some of the edges, are peeling at the folds and edges, and have a 1/2 piece missing at the bottom of the spine; the inner rear hinge has completely split, exposing the inner binding and meaning that the vellum covers are almost disbound (a strong tug would remove them from the inner bound text. There is interesting very early writing, in French, on the front pastedown, the rear free endpaper, and on a laid-in slip of paper; there is also a signature on the very last page of text of Volume II. There is a handwritten date of 1712 on the front pastedown, but I don't know if all the writing is from that time or not. The front and rear pastedowns are soiled, creased, and have large tears. The first page of Volume I is soiled, has a dime-size edge chip (not affecting text), a couple hand-written letters "m" and "o.u." and a signature. Overall the inner pages are very nice - light foxing, mostly on the first and last few pages, some soiling, overall still tight, bright, clean and unmarked. Complete TRUE FIRST EDITION / FIRST PRINTING (Published by Chez Abraham Arondeus, La Haye) of this IMPORTANT WORK by PIERRE JURIEU. This true first printing is SCARCE, with copies only to be found in a few rare book rooms of Major Universities and National Collections (see WorldCat).

HISTOIRE de l'ORIGINE & du PROGRÈS des REVENUS ECCLÉSIASTIQUES - Où il est traité selon l'ancien et le nouveau Droit de tout ce qui regarde les Matières Bénéficiales, de la Régale, des Investitures des Nominations et des autres Droits attribués aux Princes. Par Jerome à COSTA [Richard SIMON].

FRANCFORT, Chez Frederic Arnaud, M. DC. LXXXIV (1684). FIRST EDITION. Text in French.

(The first English edition was published in 1685, under the title: The HISTORY of the ORIGINAL and PROGRESS of ECCLESIASTICAL REVENUES - Wherein is Handled According to the Laws, Both Ancient and Modern, Whatsoever Concerns Matters Beneficial, The Regale, Investitures, Nominations, And Other Rights Attributed to Princes. Written in French by a Learned Priest and now done into English.)

Contemporary calf covered boards, five raised spine bands, leather spine title label, gilt designs on spine, edges stained speckled red, 3.5x6 inches. Pagination: [4], 346, [10] pages, including an Index. Publisher's woodcut device on the title-page plus two engraved initial letters.

A pseudonymously published work on the history of Church Revenues and Finances. Simon, an accomplished Hebrew scholar, was later lauded by the New Catholic Encyclopedia as the "father of Biblical criticism".

GOOD Condition: The covers' leather is rubbed, the front hinge is split but holding well with the cord binding, overall the covers remain sturdy and attractive; internally, there is a small old French bookseller's label (Victor Pineau / Libraire / Beauvais) and a handwritten number on the front pastedown, a previous owner's signature and an institutional blind-stamp on the title page, offsetting to the margins of the endpapers and early leaves, otherwise complete, tight, bright, clean and unmarked. A nice, presentable copy.

About RICHARD SIMON (from Wikipedia): "Richard Simon, b.1638 d.1712, was a French priest, a member of the Oratorians, an influential biblical critic, and orientalist and a controversialist."

VITAE PAPARUM AVENIONENSIUM: Hoc Est HISTORIA PONTIFICUM ROMANORUM Qui in Gallia Sederunt AB Anno Christi MCCCV Usque Ad Annum MCCCXCIV. By STEPHANUS BALUZIUS (Étienne Baluze). TOMUS PRIMUS / TOMI PRIMI (Tome One). VELLUM BOUND Ecclesiastical Papal History. VERY SCARCE 1693 FIRST EDITION. PARISIIS (Paris) : Apud Franciscum Muguet Regis, Cleri Gallicani. MDCXCIII (1693). First Edition. The book was reprinted, most notably in 1916 and 1928. Those later editions can be found, but the 1693 first edition is almost impossible to find outside of a few Rare Book Rooms of Major Universities and National Libraries. Vellum Covers, manuscript titling on the spine, 8" x 10". Pagination: [1 leaf] front free endpaper, [1] title page, [1] blank verso, [4] Epistola, [16] Prefatio, [1] blank, [1] PLATE of PAPAL COINAGE, 1,478 numbered columns / 739 pages (text pages numbered by column only, two columns per page), [30] Index and Errata. Collated page for page with the 1693 First Edition Copy in the Rare Book Holdings of the Montserrat Abbey Library. That copy was digitized in 2011. There is a label size bookplate of Jacobi Manzoni at the upper corner of the front pastedown.

Jacobi Manzoni / Giacomo Manzoni, was an important Italian book collector. Manzoni was born in 1816 in Lugo, Romagna, into an aristocratic family. He was involved in many aspects of Italian life, but his main pursuit, which he began at a very early age, was collecting books and manuscripts. At the time of his death in 1889, he left a library of approximately 25,000 rare and highly valued volumes. This is one of those volumes. Condition: The Vellum Covers have yellowed and toned, the spine has substantially darkened, there is some peeling and cracking to the covers' edges and 2" of splitting at the top and bottom of the spine folds, the edges and spine ends are shelf worn and rubbed through at places, nonetheless the covers are solid, doing their job well, and attractive in a Harry Potter's Hogwarts Library way. There is a bit of writing on the endpapers, a small bookplate to the front pastedown (as noted above) and a small label with numbers to the rear pastedown;

the front free endpaper is creased, the title page has some edge wear and small edge chips, there is light toning and foxing throughout, overall the inner pages are very nice - tight, bright, clean, and unmarked.

THE SUFFICIENCY OF A STANDING REVELATION IN GENERAL, and of the SCRIPTURE REVELATION IN PARTICULAR. Both as to the Matter of It, and as to the Proof of It; and that New Revelations cannot reasonably be desired, and would probably be unsuccessful. In Eight Sermons, preach'd in the Cathedral-Church of St. Paul, London; at the Lecture Founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle Esq; in the Year MDCC. By OFSPRING BLACKALL, D.D. EIGHT SERMONS IN ONE VOLUME, with SEPARATE TITLE-PAGES, and with Errata at the bottom margin of the last page of each Sermon. These were the eight BOYLE LECTURES for 1700. LONDON: Printed by J. LEAKE, for WALTER KETTILBY, at the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1700. First edition. Lacking covers though the spine leather covering is still partially present with its five raised spine bands, 4to, 6x7.5". The eight sermons are paginated individually, with the exceptions of numbers 4 & 5 and 7 & 8 that are paginated consecutively. PAGINATION: [2] (title page for this eight sermon book, blank verso), [4] (title page to first sermon, blank verso, author's dedication), 24 (first sermon); 30 (second sermon); [2] (ad and blank verso) 31 (third sermon), [1 ad]; 68 (fourth and fifth sermons); 36 (sixth sermon); 64 pages (seventh and eighth sermons). Condition: Lacking covers, as noted above; lacking the blank endpapers; textually complete including the two first title pages (see pagination above); the first 8 pages and the last signatures consisting of pages 33-65 of the final sermon are disbound (i.e. present but laid on loosely); the first title page is worn and chipped at the edges with a torn bottom corner that affects one word; the second title page (the title page of the First Sermon) is also worn and chipped along its edges, but not affecting text; the inner pages are lightly age toned with heavier toning at the edges; about half of the pages have noticeable shorelining / water staining to their front upper area, covering about 1/3 to 1/2 of the page, but the text is always clear and fully legible beneath; there is some edge wear, corner creases, corner tip loss, and a spot or two, here and there throughout. A great copy for a fine rebinding, being a complete copy with both first title pages, and text that is bright and clear throughout. A Scarce First Edition of this Important Work. You can read about the BOYLE LECTURES on Wikipedia, and elsewhere online.