THE PRAISE OF HELL: or, a View of the Infernal Regions. Containing Some Account of the Advantages of that Place, with Respect to its Antiquity, Situation, and Stability. Together with a description of Its Inhabitants; their dresses, manners, Amusements. By Jean Frédéric Bernard. Translated from the French.

Dublin: James Potts, 1760. First English edition, originally published the previous year in France as Eloge d'Enfer.

TWO VOLUMES. Leather covers, five raised spine bands, leather title labels, 4x6.25 inches (9.5x15.5 cm). Pagination: [16], xvi, 191; [8], 224 pp. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece in each volume, an additional plate in Volume 1, and four additional plates in Volume 2.

A satirical work that finds Hell to be a well ordered and nicely governed place to reside, more attractive than the alternative. The author describes many of its residents, including Alexander VI and Albertus Magnus. Hell is easy to get into and one meets the most interesting people there.

GOOD condition: The covers have light wear and scuffing, the corner tips are bumped, the hinges are tender, especially the front hinge of Volume I; internally, the endpapers have offsetting from the leather covers and some foxing, otherwise the pages are just lightly toned with some foxing here and there.

TRAITÉ DES SENSATIONS ET DES PASSIONS EN GÉNÉRAL, Et Des SENS En PARTICULIER, by Claude-Nicolas LE CAT. (TREATISE on SENSATIONS and PASSIONS in General, and on the SENSES in PARTICULAR) PARIS: Chez VALLAT-LA-CHAPELE, Libraire au Palai, fur le Perron de la Sante-Chapell, M. DCC. LXVII. (1767). Ouvrage Divisé En Deux Parties / TWO VOLUMES - Complete in these Two Volumes. (A year later, in 1768, a third volume was issued "La théorie de l'ouie" - "theory of the eye" - which is not here; but this work is complete as originally issued in two volumes in 1767.) TWO VOLUMES. Hardcovers, leather covered boards, spine decorated and lettered in gilt, marbled page edges, marbled endpapers, xcv, [1], 264; lvi, [4], 201-684. (Note that the numbered pages at the end of Volume One and the beginning of Volume Two are not consecutive - i.e. Volume one ends at page number 264, Volume Two begins with page number 201. This is as the Two Volumes were originally published - probable printer's error. Both volumes have been collated by me with rare copies from major National Libraries that have been digitized online.) PRESENTATION COPY. Each Title-Page is INSCRIBED with a HAND-WRITTEN PRESENTATION by THE AUTHOR: "JEAN CHARLES GROSSARD... ex Dono auctoris". CONDITION: TWO BOOKS. The leather covers of both volumes are rubbed and scraped, the spine ends are chipped, the bottom of the spine of Volume Two is peeling, the front spine hinge of each volume is split but holding well; overall the covers are worn but remain attractive and are still doing their job well. Internally, the front pastedown has a long vertical scrape, as if from the removal of a piece of tape at some point. There are relevant handwritten margin notes and marks, in pencil and in English, here and there throughout. I do not know who might have written them, but they are certainly by someone carefully studying the work. The inner pages of both volumes have a bit of toning, foxing and some margin shorelining, here and there throughout, but overall the inner pages are tight, bright and clean, a remarkably well kept, sharp, clear and lovely printing of this scarce book. ILLUSTRATED with 19 ENGRAVED PLATES: ENGRAVED PORTRAIT by Thomiers at the front of Volume One, Lovely FRONTISPIECE ENGRAVING by Bacheley at the front of Volume Two (showing Women using all five senses: Sight - looking in a mirror, Sound - playing music, Taste - pouring wine; Smell - smoke from an incense burner; Touch - toughing a newly hammered helmet); PLUS 17 additional engraved PLATES (16 of which FOLD-OPEN). Also ILLUSTRATED with lovely ENGRAVED VIGNETTES at the head of many chapters, and with ENGRAVED HEAD and TAIL PIECES. This specific work by LE CAT, TRAITÉ DES SENSATIONS ET DES PASSIONS, is VERY SCARCE. About Claude-Nicolas LE CAT (from Wikipedia): ******Le Cat (1700-1768) surgeon, anatomist, & physiologist. In 1736 he established a school for anatomy & surgery in Rouen. The 'Traité Des Sensations Et Des Passions'; is considered to be Le Cat's most important work. The work grew as much out of his researches in physics as in physiology. In it Le Cat presented a theory of the propagation of light contrary to that of Newtonian attraction. He further reported on the pigmented choroid coat of the eye and assigned it a common embryonic origin with the pigment of the skin. Le Cat's reputation in France and Europe is reflected by his numerous academic awards, publications, and by surgical renown.******

HOGARTH MORALIZED - Being A COMPLETE EDITION of HOGARTH'S WORKS. Containing near Fourscore COPPER PLATES, and most elegantly engraved...[John Tusler]

LONDON: Sold by S. Hooper...and Mrs. Hogarth at her House in Leicester Fields, MDCCLXVII (1768).

FINE BINDING by RIVIERE & SON, with its imprint along the bottom dentelle of the inside front cover (impossible to read or find without a magnifier but beautiful once seen magnified). The binding is later, likely late 19th or early 20th century. FULL RED MOROCCO LEATHER, five spine bands, gilt spine titles, 6x8.75 inches (15x22.5 cm), dentelles on the inside front and rear covers. Pagination: [some prelim leaves, including frontispiece, engraved title, title page], viii, 212, v, [3] pages.

ILLUSTRATED with 78 PLATES by HOGARTH. There is an Index of the plates at the rear.

VERY GOOD condition, The covers have a little scuffing to the spine folds but are simply lovely with gorgeous dentelle decoration. The 1768 work bound within has just slight age toning and soiling to the page edges, otherwise tight, bright, clean and unmarked. A solid, very nice copy, in a gorgeous fine binding.

About RIVIERE BOOKBINDERY (from a British Museum website):

******In 1829, Robert Riviere set up in business in Bath as a bookseller and later bookbinder. In 1840 he moved to London where the firm did business at a series of addresses. His grandson Percival Calkin became a partner in 1881, and the firm's name was changed to Riviere & Son. Percival's younger brother, Arthur, became a partner in 1889 and Arthur's son Stuart Riviere Calkin entered the business in 1908 and was with the firm when it closed in 1939.******

POEMS (anonymous, but known to be FRANCIS NOEL CLARKE MUNDY). OXFORD, Printed by W. Jackson, MDCC,LX,VIII (1768). Disbound

(i.e. no covers), 4to 8x10 inches, 97 pages. Beautifully printed on heavy stock, watermarked, laid paper. The imprint of the type is fully tangible. FAIR Condition: Lacking covers (as noted above). The text block's sewn binding is mostly gone leaving all the signatures and many leaves loose. The front free endpaper is lacking, the brief errata has been clipped from its own page at the rear and pasted in the space below THE END on the last page of text, otherwise complete with all pages and signatures in their proper order. The pages themselves are in Good condition, with edge wear to their disbound edge, and some light edge toning and corner creases here and there. Overall the pages are bright, clean, clear and unmarked. Quite lovely as is (especially with the tactile printing), and a perfect candidate for rebinding. I have collated my copy page for page with the copy in the rare book room of the Oxford Library that has been digitized and put online.

L'ART DE VÉRIFIER LES DATES, Depuis L'Année 1770 jusqu'à nos Jours Tome Seizieme.

Full title: L'Art de Vérifier les Dates, depuis l'Année 1770 jusqu'à nos Jours: Formant la Continuation ou Troisième Partie de l'Ouvrage Publié, sous ce Nom, par les Religieux Bénédictins de la Congrégation de Saint-Maur. Tome 16 - Chronologie Historique de L'Amérique.

(The Art of Verifying Dates, from the Year 1770 to Our Days: Forming the Continuation or Third Part of the Work Published, under this Name, by the Benedictine Religious of the Congregation of Saint-Maur. Volume 16 - Historical Chronology of the Americas.)

This volume gives a time-line history of THE ANTILLES, CUBA, JAMAICA, MARTINIQUE, GUADALUPE, MARIE-GALANTE, SAINTES, DESIRADE, PUERTO RICO, TRINIDAD and BARBADOS. It is one of the scarcer volumes in the series.

PARIS: Chez l'Éditeur (Marquis de Fortia), 1837. FRENCH TEXT.

Lacking covers, 5.5x8.5 inches (14x22 cm), 538 pages.

POOR but COMPLETE Condition: Lacks covers and blank endpapers, early and latter pages and signatures are loose, entire text block is shaky and tender, first few pages are creased and show lots of edgewear not affecting text, various signs of edge wear to the deckled page edges, toning to first and last pages, &c. NONETHELESS, the pages are complete, and surprisingly bright, clean, clear and unmarked.

This important early chronological history of the islands in the Caribbean is RARE and worthy of rebinding.

ITINERARIO PARA PÁRROCOS DE INDIOS En Que Se Tratan Las Materias mas Particulares Tocantes a Ellos Para su BUENA ADMINISTRACIÓN... Compuesto por... SENOR DON ALONSO DE LA PEÑA MONTENEGRO, Obispo del Obispado de San Francisco de Quito...

(PASTORS' GUIDE for the GOOD ADMINISTRATION of INDIANS... Composed by DON ALONSO DE LA PENA MONTENEGRO, Bishop of the Diocese of San Francisco de Quito...)

EN MADRID: En la Oficina de Pedro Marin, 1771. Nueva Edicion, Purgada de Muchisimos Hierros (New Edition, Purged of Numerous Errors). TEXT IN SPANISH.

VELLUM BOUND, limp vellum , five cord spine bands, manuscript title on spine (mostly faded), 8x12 inches (20cm x 30cm), Pagination: [2] blank free endpaper, [32], 612 pages.

CONDITION: The vellum covers are soiled, darkened, rubbed, missing a half-dollar size piece at the upper rear corner, and well creased (as normal for limp vellum); nonetheless the vellum covers remain quite lovely in a Harry Potter Hogwarts' Library way. Internally, the front and rear inner hinges are split but holding with the cord binding; the bottom half of the last two leaves (pages 609/610 and 611/612) is roughly torn off; the rear free endpaper is lacking, and the rear pastedown is mostly lacking; there is chipping to the bottom corner of the first few pages, not affecting text; light foxing and some age spotting here and there throughout; otherwise the inner pages are nice, complete, tight, bright, clean and unmarked.

Contents:

LIBRO PRIMERO En que se Trata de la Elección y Canónica Institución del Párroco, y de todas las demás obligaciones que tiene el Doctrinero.

LIBRO SEGUNDO De la Naturaleza y costumbres de los indios.

LIBRO TERCERO En que se Trata de los Sacramentos - del Bautismo, La Confirmación - Del dolor que es parte material del Sacramento de la Penitencia, De la Confesión, Del Confesor, De la Satisfacción Sacramental que es el tercer acto Penitente, Del Inefable Sacramento de la Eucaristía, Del Sacramento de la Extremaunción, Del Sacramento del Orden, Del Sacramento del Matrimonio, De los Grados de Consanguinidad, Afinidad, y Cognación Espiritual y Dispensación en ellos.

LIBRO CUARTO De los Preceptos de la Iglesia y de la Ley Natural que deben Guardar los Indios .

LIBRO QUINTO En que se Trata de los Privilegios que tienen los Señores Arzobispos y Obispos, los Regulares, y los Indios en estas partes. Y de los Visitadores y modo como se han de portar en las visitas de los Indios y sus Doctrineros. De la conciencia errónea muy ordinaria en los Indios, y de algunas cuestiones misceláneas.

The Original Limp Vellum Binding makes this an especially attractive copy of this rare book.

MANUSCRIPT LATIN SPEECH written for and recited at a COLLEGE in THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, by HIERONYMUS VAN SLINGELANDT (his father was Baron Aelbrecht van Slingelandt). The date MDCCLXXIX (1779) is written as part of the Latin text on the first page.

Ten pages (5 leaves), seven of which are filled with the Latin manuscript speech. The leaves are string bound in embossed floral paper covers, 7.5x9 inches (19x23 cm).

The paper is WATERMARKED with a large fleur-de-lys and "J KOOL". The "J Kool" watermark refers to a Dutch family of papermakers who were active during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

VERY GOOD condition: there is a recent label on the inside front cover with #652 written on it, and a blank label on the blank verso of the title page / first page, otherwise the manuscript has been very well cared for, still bright, clean and clear, with writing that is fully legible (especially if you read Latin).

About HIERONIMUS VAN SLINGELANDT (from GENI and other genealogical websites):

********** Hieronimus van Slingelandt Birthdate: February 15, 1762 Birthplace: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Death:August 31, 1829 (67) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands Son of Baron Aelbrecht van Slingelandt and Helena Slicher Husband of Maria Antonia Fortunata Franceschini Father of Hieronymus Nicolaas van Slingelandt Brother of Johan Diederik Barthout van Slingelandt

Baron Aelbrecht van Slingelandt, [his father], 1732-1801 Aelbrecht married Helena Slicher, born in 1737, in The Netherlands. They had 2 sons: Hieronimus van Slingelandt and one other child.. Aelbrecht passed away in 1801, at age 69. **********

If you are curious to see what kind of family Heronimus van Slingelandt was born into, check out his mother's wedding gown by searching "Helena Slicher wedding gown". Wow.

NATUURKUNDIGE EN OPHELDERENDE AANMERKINGEN over het Eerste en Tweede Deel /Derde en Vierde Deel VAN J. F. MARTINET'S KATECHISMUS DER NATUUR, door J. DE VRIES. (ENLIGHTENING COMMENTS on the First, Second, Third and Fourth Part of J.F. MARTINET'S CATECHISM OF NATURE, by J. DE VRIES. FOUR PARTS IN TWO OCTAVO VOLUMES. AMSTERDAM: Joannes van Selm, MDCCLXXIX (1779). TEXT in DUTCH. A Critical and Expansive Study by J. De Vries of JOHANNES FLORENTIUS MARTINET'S work KATECHISMUS DER NATUUR (CATECHISM OF NATURE). Two Volumes, hardcovers, leather spines and corners with marbled paper covered boards, the spines have five raised bands and are decorated in gilt, black leather title labels on spines, 5x9 inches. Pagination: Volume I: XIV, [2], 198, [2]. Volume II: [VI], 192. GOOD condition. The covers have scrapes and rubs to the boards and edges, including the loss of the paper covering in various places; the spine title labels are mostly worn away; nonetheless the covers are sturdy, attractive, and are doing their job well. Internally very nice, some light foxing and offsetting to the endpapers, otherwise the pages are lovely, bright, tight, clean and unmarked. A solid, nice, two volume set.

CLAUDE FAUCHET - FRENCH BISHOP who STORMED THE BASTILLE and EULOGIZED BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - HANDWRITTEN, SIGNED, WORRIED LETTER dated 1783 - HE was GUILLOTINED on HALLOWEEN in 1793

SIGNED, HANDWRITTEN LETTER from the French Bishop CLAUDE FAUCHET to a M. CHEVIN, Fils. Dated May 15, 1783. In French.

Single page letter written on a single fold sheet of laid, watermarked paper, with an address leaf and wax seal on the backside. The letter measures 8.5x12 inches (20x31.5 cm). A typed translation is provided on a sheet of paper that has browned and is a bit brittle with age (1940s?).

The letter is written to a close friend, M. Chevin, fils. It is warm and intimate. Fauchet tells that his life is beset with "thorns" and "grief", likely troubles related to the bubbling 1789 French Revolution. Though a Revolutionist himself, Fauchet was tried and guillotined by the Revolutionists in 1993. The letter begins:

"I am very touched, my dear friend, by the part you take in my trouble and for all the evidences of affection you have shown me...for some time my life has been beset with thorns and every day brings me new grief. If the consolations of friendship did not sweeten the bitterness which pours into my heart, I would consider it a great blessing to withdraw from this world and to live only with God and my conscience."

Condition: Age toning, several original folds, tear where the letter was opened not affecting text. Overall this 1783 letter remains in GOOD condition, the writing is bright and clear, the wax seal shines, the paper's watermark is visible.

RARE FRENCH REVOLUTION ERA DOCUMENT by a BISHOP who STORMED THE BASTILLE WITH the REVOLUTIONISTS and was THEN GUILLOTINED BY THEM.

About CLAUDE FAUCHET (from Wikipedia):

******Claude Fauchet (22 September 1744 - 31 October 1793) was a French bishop.

He was born at Dornes, Nièvre. He was a curate of the church of St Roch, Paris, when he was engaged as tutor to the children of the marquis of Choiseul, brother of Louis XVs minister, an appointment which proved to be the first step to fortune. He was successively grand vicar to the archbishop of Bourges, preacher to the king, and abbot of Montfort-Le Carre.

HE WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE ATTACK ON THE BASTILLE, and on 5 August 1789 he delivered an eloquent discourse by way of funeral sermon for the citizens slain on 14 July, taking as his text the words of St Paul, 'Ye have been called to liberty".

He blessed the tricolor flag for the National Guard and in September was elected to the Commune. In 1790 he wrote France's Eulogy to Benjamin Franklin (Eloge Civique De Benjamin Franklin). He retired from the Commune in October 1790. During the next winter he organized within the Palais Royal the Social Club of the Society of the Friends of Truth, presiding over crowded meetings under the self assumed title of procureur général de la vérité. Nevertheless, events were marching faster than his opinions, and the last occasion on which he carried his public with him was in a sermon preached at Notre Dame on 4 February 1791.

In July 1793 he was imprisoned on the charge of supporting the federalist movement at Caen. He was brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal on 30 October, and was guillotined on the following day, October 31 (Halloween!!!)."******

Beskrivelse over den kongelige danske Residentsestad Kiøbenhavn og de kongelige Slotte paa Landet. Oversat efter det tredie tydske Oplag, forøget og forbedret. (Description of the Royal Danish

City of Copenhagen and the Royal Castles in the Country. A printing of the Third Edition, enlarged and improved.) By E. C. HAUBER. Published by Rothes Forlag, København / Copenhagen, 1783. TEXT in DANISH. The book which first was published in 1770 gives a detailed description of the Danish capital before the great fire of 1795 and the destructive British attacks of 1807. Hardcovers, leather spine and corners with paper covered boards, spine has five raised bands, gilt lining, and a leather label titled in gilt, 4x6.75 inches (10x17 cm). Pagination: [8], 232 pages. Includes a FOLD OPEN MAP of COPENHAGEN at the front. CONDITION: The covers are worn through at the edges and corners, rubbed, and scraped; 1/4 inch of the spine leather is tearing away at the top, the spine title leather has a corner chip; nonetheless the covers are doing their job and are attractive in a Harry Potter Hogwarts Library way. Internally, there is a small number written on the top margin of the front free endpaper; the fold open map has edge wear to its left edge, not affecting the image; there is light foxing throughout, lacks its rear free endpaper and rear pastedown. Overall a solid, nice copy, complete with its folding map.

RABBINIC RESPONSA by MENACHEM AZARIAH DA FANO, in HEBREW with some ARAMAIC. DYHERNFURTH (now Brzeg Dolny, Poland) : 1788. Possibly the copy of ISAC BADHAB JERUSALEM, a noted Book Collector and Printer. There are 2 rubber ink stamps on the title page, both in Hebrew, one with a line of English that reads "JSAC BADHAB JERUSALEM". Hardcovers, marbled paper covered boards and sheepskin covered spine, black embossed lettering on spine, 6" x 7.5", 170 pages (85 numbered pages with only every other page being numbered). Engraved Printer's device on the title page and a lovely engraved hunting woodcut at the end. Condition: The covers are rubbed, worn and scraped, leather corners missing, corners worn through; paper label on spine, nonetheless these early covers remain in one solid piece; internally, the front inner hinge is completely split, fully exposing the inner spine of the signatures; the rear inner hinge is hanging on, but a strong tug would pull the covers from the inner text block; the title page has two ink stamps as noted above, and a word or two that has been inked out, there may be blank prelims that are missing, text complete from the title page through the last page, the inner pages are evenly toned with age but remain clean, clear and fully legible; some pages have edge wear and corner creases but remain solid and well bound with their sewn binding. SCARCE 1788 Dyhernfurth imprint of Rabbinic Responsa by Da Fano. You can read about MENAHEM AZARIAH DA FANO and about RABBINIC RESPONSA on Wikipedia and elsewhere on the Internet.

VITA e COMMERCIO LETTERARIO di GALILEO GALILEI Nobile e Patrizio Fiorentino Mattematico e Filosofo Sopraordinario de' Gran Duchi di Toscana COSIMO E FERDINANDO II. Scritta da GIO. BATISTA CLEMENTE DE NELLI...

TWO VOLUME SET - Complete in These Two Volumes (Four Parts, in Two Volumes). TEXT IN ITALIAN.

Losanna (LAUSANNE) : 1793. Publisher unstated.

FIRST EDITION. Contains the FIRST BIBLIOGRAPHY of the works of GALILEO.

I collated these two volumes page-by-page with copies from the Rare Book Rooms of Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Cambridge University.

Two Hardcover Books, blue cloth covered boards, 7.5x10 inches.

Pagination:

VOLUME I: Frontispiece, xvi Introductory pages, 471 Text pages (actually 467 pages because pagination skips to page 429 after page 424 - as normal - text flows correctly - collates correctly with rare copies at Harvard and Cambridge), + one blank.

VOLUME II: [2], 471-961 pages.

The two volumes are ILLUSTRATED with TEN (of TWELVE) plates, namely: 2 engraved frontispiece portraits of Galileo (one in each Volume), 7 (of 9) engraved plates, and 1 large folding genealogical chart / plate. Four of the original nine plates were fold-open, but 2 of those 4 (plates IX and X) are now lacking (being the 2 of 12 plates that are missing).

Condition:

The covers are soiled and worn, the blue cloth covering is rubbed, splotchy, split at the spine folds, worn through at the corners, and chipped away at the spine ends, nonetheless the covers are present and still bound well to the inner pages; there is a splattering of dark blue spots to the bottom page edges of Volume I and to the top page edges of Volume II (page edges of the closed books).

Volume I has some old shorelining / water staining to the margins of various pages here and there throughout - nothing too significant except in the margins of a few pages where the margin soiling is heavy; overall the pages are in remarkably bright condition.

Volume II has shorelining / water staining to the upper margin area of the frontispiece and title page; is missing the leaf that would be pages v/vi - consisting of a "Part Three" title page and its blank verso (i.e. no text is missing); there is shorelining / light water staining and soiling to the top blank margin of a number of pages here and there throughout, not affecting text; leaf consisting of pages 521/522 has a stiff crease that appears to be a binder's error (text is complete); there are wormholes / small worm lines to the bottom blank margin of the latter pages, not affecting text; the upper corner area of pages 951-960 is soiled and foxed; page 961 (the last page - the verso is blank) has its upper portion torn away, including approximately 3 lines of 2 column.

The plates are all bright and clear, some with mild margin soiling and/or margin shorelining. The fold-open genealogical chart has some splitting at the folds and tearing near the gutter, but is overall solid, bright and clear.

A SOLID SET of these TWO VOLUMES with 10 of 12 plates and only the faults as described above. The covers are worn, but internally both volumes are still tight, bright and clear. A very presentable set.

RARE and IMPORTANT 1793 First Edition Books on GALILEO.

From an 1861 Sotheby auction catalog - the "Catalogue of the Mathematical, Historical and Miscellaneous Portion of the Celebrated Library of M. Guglielmo Libri":

******Nelli. VITA e COMMERCIO LETTERARIO di GALILEO GALILEI... Scritta da GIO. BATISTA CLEMENTE DE NELLI... Losanna, 1793.

A most valuable contribution to scientific biography, giving full particulars of Galileo's friends and opponents, and containing extracts of numerous unpublished letters of Galileo and his friends which Nelli was prevented by death from publishing in extenso, and which were only partially published in the last edition of Galileo's works.******

THE HISTORY OF AMERICA in TWO BOOKS. Containing, (I) A General HISTORY OF AMERICA. (II) A Concise HISTORY OF THE LATE REVOLUTION. Extracted from The American Edition of The Encyclopaedia. (Attributed to Jedidiah MORSE.) The TWO BOOKS are published in this ONE VOLUME, as issued.

PHILADELPHIA: Thomas Dobson, at the Stone House, South Second-Street, 1795. Second Edition (the first edition was published in 1790, also by Thomas Dobson, Philadelphia).

Hardcovers, full leather covered boards and spine, leather spine label with gilt titling, 4x7 inches, viii + 356 pages.

Contains the called for TWO FOLDING MAPS: (1) A General Map of North America, 7x8.25 inches, and (2) South America, 7x8.25 inches. The maps are numbered Plate XIV and XV, as they were numbered in the Encyclopedia. Both maps have the name "Scot" printed at the lower right. Robert Scot was a noted Philadelphia engraver who engraved a number of important maps and was an engraver for the U.S. Mint.

GOOD Condition: The covers are rubbed, worn at the edges and spine ends, and the front cover hinge is split at the top 4 inches but holding. Internally, the pages are lightly age toned, there is just some light foxing here and there throughout, more substantial on the first and last few pages, otherwise the pages are tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked.. The two folding maps have white cloth reinforcement to their folds on their blank backsides, have a few edge chips and fold edge closed tears, stiffness at the folds, and some areas of foxing and age toning, but overall are well preserved, bright, and clear. One of the nicer copies of the book that I have seen.

Book References: Evans 29111. Sabin 50937. Map Reference: Wheat & Brun 701, 51 (Maps and Charts Published in America before 1800).

Rare 1795 edition with BOTH MAPS as called for.

About JEDIDIAH MORSE, the acknowledge author (from Wikipedia):

******Jedidiah Morse, 1761 d.1826. was a geographer whose textbooks became a staple for students in the United States. He was the father of the telegraphy pioneer and painter Samuel Morse. His textbooks and maps earned him the sobriquet Father of American Geography.******

About ROBERT SCOT, the maps engraver (from Wikipedia):

******Robert Scot, b.1745 d.1823, was a Scottish-American engraver who served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1793 until his death in 1823. Scot designed the popular and rare Flowing Hair dollar coinage along with the Liberty Cap half cent.

In 1781 Scot began engraving for Robert Morris, then Superintendent of the Office of Finance of the United States. The paper money that Scot engraved for Morris helped to finance the Siege of Yorktown, the decisive battle of the American Revolution. Shortly after that battle, Major Sebastian Bauman commissioned Robert Scot to engrave a map that illustrated the American victory,

In 1790 Thomas Dobson began to publish an American Edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Robert Scot engraved the largest number of engravings for Dobson's Encyclopedia, including some important maps. The quality of his engravings helped to rapidly expand the publication of illustrated books within the United States.******

VIAGGI DALLA CHINA ALLA COSTA NORD-OVEST D'AMERICA FATTI NEGLI ANNI 1788 e 1789 - DAL CAPITANO G. MEARES.

(TRAVELS FROM CHINA TO THE NORTHWEST COAST OF AMERICA MADE IN THE YEARS 1788 and 1789 - BY CAPTAIN G. MEARES.)

Prima Traduzione Italiana. (First Italian Edition.)

Published by Giovacchino Pagani, Firenze (Florence), MDCCXCVI (1796). First Italian, one of two editions published in the same year (the other was published in Naples).

Originally published in England in 1790, then France in 1794. This First Italian Edition had the ENGRAVINGS REDONE by a FLORENTINE ARTIST, and the engraved plates were made a part of the volumes. SCARCE with the GORGEOUS FLORENTINE PLATES.

This auction is for THREE of FOUR VOLUMES - Volumes II, III and IV. LACKING VOLUME I.

Original Wrappers, paper title labels on spines, 5x7.5 inches. TEXT in ITALIAN.

Pagination:

Volume II : XV + 212 pages. ILLUSTRATED WITH 7 PLATES, including 1 that folds-open. The plates are each printed on their own unnumbered leaf.

Volume III : X + 238 pages. ILLUSTRATED WITH 1 FOLD-OPEN PLATE.

Volume IV : [4] + VIII + 276 pages. ILLUSTRATED WITH 9 PLATES, including 2 that fold-open.

THE PAGES AND PLATES HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY COLLATED. THESE BOOKS ARE COMPLETE, ALL PLATES ARE PRESENT AND IN THEIR PROPER ORDER. THERE ARE 17 PLATES IN TOTAL IN THESE THREE VOLUMES.

There is a 1.5x3.5 inch label pasted onto the inside front cover of Volume II that reads: "MEARES, JOHN. Viaggi dalla China... Firenzi, 1796. Vols. 2-4 only. Lacks Vol. 1. 1st ed. In Italian. Orig. wraps."

Condition: The original wrappers on these three volumes are mostly chipped off at the spine, exposing the signatures beneath, have chips and tears at the edges, a few holes, creases, smudges, general aging and wear, etc; the front wrapper and front free endpaper of Volume IV are disbound (i.e. present but laid-on loosely); the front wrapper of Volume IV also has its top margin and bottom front corners torn away (i.e. it is missing large pieces). Internally, there are corner creases, some corner tears, some spotting here and there, a few pages with light edge stains, a bit of foxing here and there, some page toning, splits between some signatures (always still holding well with the sewn binding); but overall the inner pages are incredibly well-kept, still complete, tight, bright, clean and unmarked. THE PLATES ARE GORGEOUS.

A WONDERFUL SET OF 3 (of 4) VOLUMES of this SCARCE WORK, COMPLETE and in ORIGINAL WRAPPERS.

HANDWRITTEN WILL of RICHARD DODD, RECTOR of COWLEY, MIDDLESEX COUNTY. DATED MAY 13, 1798. Single-Fold Sheet to make four pages, handwritten on the front page and on the two inner pages. Written on laid-paper with the WATERMARK "ALLEE 1796". The writing is bright and clear, though the calligraphy is somewhat difficult. There are numerous folds from where the will had been folded into a small size, there is some edge wear including a few small closed edge tears. Still a solid, clean, manuscript Will. Here is my transcription of the manuscript Will (pardon my errors): "I Richard Dodd Rector of Cowley in the County of Middlesex revoking all other wills, do make this my last will and Testament.

Imprimo:

I appoint my dear wife Eliz. Dodd & the Revd. Philip S. Dodd my second son the joint executors & the administrators of this my said will desiring & ordering that they will within

in one twelve month of my decease or before of they think proper buy & transfer & place two thousand pounds ________ in the name &

for the use of my son William Dodd & likewise that they buy & place the same sum in the same stock in the name of & for the use of my daughter Frances Margaret Dodd. That they assign and make over

to them likewise these shares.

In the Middlesex _______________ that_______________ / _______________ / names of William / _______________, Dodd _______________. The rest & residue of my property, be it of whatever kind I leave to my dear wife desiring that she will

leave it to her children.

Elizabeth Philip & Charles such shares & proportions as she shall think right & proper (trusting she will not whilst living or at her death leave any improper partiality of

she regards the memory of a Dear affectionate husband who look unwearied pains to save her of them from the distrust she in early life experienced from.

The inability of a most excellent Father and afford him any _______________

I sign this on the thirteenth of May in the Year of our Lord

one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight. - Rich Dodd."

PROOFS OF A CONSPIRACY AGAINST ALL THE RELIGIONS AND GOVERNMENTS OF EUROPE...FREE MASONS, ILLUMINATI, AND READING SOCIETIES...by John ROBISON.

PHILADELPHIA: Printed for T. DOBSON, 1798. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION (from the THIRD U.K. edition).

The book lacks its covers, the original title page is loose and chipped (now in a protective sleeve and laid-in), the first two leaves are lacking (facsimiles of these two leaves are in protective sleeves and laid-in), textually complete, 6x9 inches (15x23 cm), 391 pages. In a professionally made custom clamshell case.

Condition: The book lacks its covers; the title-page is loose, toned and chipped, and laid-in; the first two leaves are lacking but facsimiles are laid-in; the last page (page 391) has its upper corner torn off affecting some text; there is foxing, some light shoreline, spotting, and some margin marks, underling and notes here and there throughout, but the text remains clear and legible. In a lovely, custom cloth covered clamshell case that is in fine condition.

Though a flawed copy, this true first American edition of the Anti-Masonic conspiracy theory is quite rare and amazing.

About the conspiracist JOHN ROBISON (from Wikipedia):

******John Robison FRSE, b.1739 d.1805, was a British physicist and mathematician. He was a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.

Towards the end of his life he published Proofs of a Conspiracy, alleging clandestine intrigue by the Illuminati and Freemasons. The monk Alexander Horn provided much of the material for Robison's allegations. French priest Abbé Barruel independently developed similar views that the Illuminati had infiltrated Continental Freemasonry, leading to the excesses of the French Revolution.

Modern conspiracy theorists, such as Nesta Webster and William Guy Carr, believe the methods of the Illuminati as described in Proofs of a Conspiracy were copied by radical groups throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in their subversion of benign organizations. Spiritual Counterfeits Project editor Tal Brooke has compared the views of Proofs of a Conspiracy with those found in Carroll Quigley's Tragedy and Hope (Macmillan, 1966). Brooke suggests that the New World Order, which Robison believed Adam Weishaupt (founder of the Illuminati) had in part accomplished through the infiltration of Freemasonry, will now be completed by those holding sway over the international banking system (e.g., by means of the Rothschilds' banks, the U.S. Federal Reserve, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank).******

LA MONARCHIA. POEMETTO SICILIANO DI ANTONINO SCADUTI, E GENNA. In Circostanza del Passaggio In SICILIA della Maestà di FERDINANDO III. colla sua Reale Famiglia.

PALERMO [Sicily], Per Adorno, 1799. Text in Corsican, Preface in Italian.

Early (contemporary?) handmade plain paper covers, sewn bound, 5.5x9 inches (14x22 cm), inner pages of varying widths as issued, [7], 3-34 pages, vignette on title page. COLLATED page by page with a copy in the National Library of Naples.

GOOD condition: The covers have some corner creases, light chipping, and the spine covering has some peeling, otherwise these handmade paper covers, though plain, are quite lovely in their texture and look. Internally, there is an early previous owner's name, place and date (1828) at the bottom of the title page, some browning to the margins of some pages, a smudge here and there, overall the paper is beautiful and the printing is bold and clear throughout.

SCARCE ORIGINAL 1799 SICILIAN IMPRINT.

THE SPIRIT OF MASONRY in MORAL and ELUCIDATORY LECTURES. By William Hutchinson, Master of the Barnstable Lodge of Concord.

NEW-YORK : Printed by Isaac Collins, no. 189, Pearl-Street, for COTTOM & STEWART, Booksellers and Stationers, ALEXANDRIA [Virginia], 1800.

Lacks its front and rear covers but the leather spine is present, 4.5x6.75 inches. Pagination: [4] blank leaves, vi, [2], 174, 22 pages, [4] blank leaves.

Condition: Lacks covers as noted above, the blank prelims and endpapers are toned, chipped and creased with numerous previous owner's signatures (especially Peter Brady who bought the book in 1900 and wants everyone to know that it's His Book), otherwise generally sound, the text block is well bound to leather spine, the pages have some toning and foxing, there is light shorelining to the first and last few pages, and there is an edge chip here and there, etc., overall the text pages remain tight, clean and unmarked.

The earlier London edition of this book can be found, but the ORIGINAL 1800 AMERICAN PRINTING has become almost impossible to find.