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Rare books & Maps
Prepared for the London International Antiquarian
Book Fair at Olympia, 2015
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1-
The Inventory of Royal Armory of Spain, with their inventory of Ottoman warbanners in Arabic; a fine copy in red morocco
Abadia, Ignacio. Resumen sacado del Inventario General Historico que se hizo
en el año de 1793 de los Arneses Antiguos, Armas blancas y de fuego, con otros
efectos de la Real Armeria. N.d. [1793]. N.p. [Madrid]. Imprenta Real. In 8vo
(180 mm x 115 mm). 2 [blanks] + 1 plate + 12 ff. + 82 + 1 [blank]. Contemporary
red morocco, boards with double gilt fillet, spine flat, tooled in gilt, silk linings,
green morocco lettering piece. A very good copy, internally very fresh.
1,500 $ / 910 £
An important work inventorying the stock of the Royal Armory of Spain; it
includes banners of war taken during the wars against the Ottomans, with their
descriptions, and transcriptions of the Quran in Arabic letters. The illustration
comprises the Borbon´s coat of arms.
Provenance: Iacobi Iosephi Comitis de Mahony, armorial ex libris on front
pastedown; seller´s ticket Libreria de Fermin Caballero.
Palau, 363.
2-
Shipwreck off the Cape and gruelling overland March to Mozambique [Almada, Francisco Vaz de]. Tratado do successo que teve a não Sam Joam
Baptista, e iornada, que fez a gente, que della escapou, desde trinta, & tres graos
no Cabo da Boa Esperança, onde fez naufragio, até Zofala, indo sempre
marchando por terra. 1625 [eighteenth-century counterfiet edtion, ca. 1735].
Lisbon. Pedro Craesbeeck [i.e. António Pedroso Galrão?]. In 4to (190 mm x 140
mm). 2 ff. + 5-95 pp. Manuscript foliation, "17-64" in upper outer corner of the
recto of each leaf; text block edges rouged, scattered small foxing spots, else a
fine copy.
4,500 $ / 2,900 £
Second [?] edition; a counterfeit of the 1625 Craesbeeck edition -also included in
Gomes de Brito's Historia tragico-maritima. The Sao Joao Baptista sailed from Goa
on March 1, 1622. In July, after its companion ship disappeared near the Cape of
Good Hope, two Dutch ships attacked the Sao Joao. Following a vicious 19-day
battle she finally escaped, rudderless and battered, and drifted northward until
the sailors managed to beach her at about 33° South. In early November the 279
survivors decided to attempt to reach Mozambique on foot. Vaz de Almada
describes their battles with the Kaffirs, their desperate struggles to find food,
and the fate of those who became too weak to keep up with the group. The
captain attempted to maintain his authority by arbitrary beheading and
hanging; in at least one case, the survivors ate the bodies of those executed. Vaz
de Almada, elected leader after the captain's death near Lourenço Marques,
showed considerable prudence but could not avoid the attack of over a
thousand Kaffirs, who took what possessions the shipwreck victims still had
and left them to stagger naked into Ponta da Barra (about 24° South). There a
Portuguese ship from Sofala finally collected 32 survivors in August 1623.
The 18 shipwreck narratives that make up the @História trágico-marítima are
now recognized as literary masterpieces as well as invaluable historical
sources. "Written almost invariably with utmost frankness, and with an almost
complete absence of literary artificiality and conceits, these narratives bring
vividly before us the dangers and discomforts of life aboard the overcrowded
and overloaded East-India carracks" (Boxer, p. 92). They are also of great
importance for the ethnography of the South African Bantu before they came
into close contact with Europeans. According to Duffy (p. 144), Vaz de
Almada's account gives the most thorough description of the tribes along the
coast.
Boxer, An Introduction to the História Trágico-Marítima, pp. 80-2. Innocencio III,
77. Barbosa Machado II, 281. Payan Martins, Livros clandestinos e contrafacções em
Portugal no século XVIII, pp. 251-3.
3Arabic for the use of travellers, printed in Bombay
[Arabic] [Mutti, G.]. An Arabic grammar compiled for the use of Travellers.
1834. [Bombay]. F. D. Ramos, Government Gazette Press. In folio (270 mm x 185
mm). 2 ff. + 43 pp. Possibly contemporary half calf over boards, spine simply
tooled in gilt. A very fine wide-margined copy; very small and faint water stain
to inner margin of title page.
7,500 $ / 4,800 £
First edition. Exceedingly scarce grammar ´adapted to the dialects of Egypt and
Syria´, made for the use of English travellers and printed in Bombay; as the own
work states it is an ´attempt to facilitate the intercourse between Gentlemen
proceeding overland to Europe, and the Natives of the countries through which
they pass´. Its purpose is not to be a comprehensive survey of the language; it is
rather intended for a more practical use, a vocabulary list (pp. 18 – 20) are taken
from Mutti´s An Itinerary of the route from Suez to Alexandria (1830). What
follows are sentences of possible interactions, with their literal and phonetic
translations into Arabic.
A rare book, with only 6 recorded institutional copies (COPAC and OCLC).
4-
Rare description of Arabia and Arab costumes, an extra-illustrated copy; with a
translation from the Arabic of Albufeda´s description of Arabia
Arvieux, Laurent d´. Voyage fait par ordre du Roy Louis XIV dans la Palestine,
vers le Grand Emir, chef des Princes Arabes du Desert, connus sous le nom de
Bedouins, ou Arabes Scenites. 1717. Paris. A. Cailleau. In 8vo (165 mm x 92
mm). 1 [blank] + 16 ff. + 316 + 1 ff.; xiv + 76 + 4 ff. + 2 [blank] + 7 plates -4
folding- and one map. Contemporary mottled calf, raised bands to spine,
boards with gilt fillet, spine tooled in gilt and with two morocco lettering
pieces; upper compartment with minor loss of leather, else fine except some
rubbing. Stamps on title page and plates; an excellent copy internally, very
fresh and clean, extra illustrated.
6,000 $ / 3850 £
First edition. Arvieux´s stands as an early account of the Arabian Bedouins on
Mount Karmel; amongst the plates, those depicting Arabic costumes, and flora,
are worthy of mention. Arvieux didn´t take his impressions from other writers,
his impressions were gathered as a witness to Arab and Turkish costumes, thus
an important iconographic testimony. Arvieux (1635 – 1702) was a French
traveller and diplomat; his relation to the Middle East began as a merchant in
the Ottoman port of Smyrna, before undertaking a journey through the Levant
in 1658.
The work is divided in two, one dealing with Arvieux´s mission at Mount
Carmel in 1664, which discussed at large the costumes of the nomadic Arabs;
the second parts is a translation into French from the Arabic, of Ismael
Albufeda´s description of Arabia. An English description was published in 1718
(along with a second French edition) under the title “The Chevalier D'Arvieux's
travels in Arabia the Desart... to which is added, a general description of Arabia
by Sultan Ishmael Abulfeda”, also very rare, an incomplete copy sold at
Sotheby´s in 1999 for 4,830 GBP (Sotheby´s, L09217-59). Provenance: this copy
has three plates and a map –Carte du Royaume d´Yemen, by De´Lisle- further
to the four plates usually cited (cf. Atabey and Blackmer). Ex libris on front
pastedown “Bath Public Reference Library”.
Atabey, 38. Blackmer, 50.
5-
Striking manuscript copiously illustrated with contemporary hand-colored
folding manuscript maps of the wine region of Languedoc
Basville, Nicolas Lamoignon de; Serre, P. Memoire historique et politique sur
la Province de Languedoc, contenant son etat present. 1696. Montpelier. In folio
(371 mm x 250 mm). 1 [blank] + 466 [148] + 7 ff. [index] + 2 [blank]; 17
splendidly hand colored maps and plates + 3 pages of cloth samples.
Contemporary red morocco, simple gilt fillet to boards, with corner pieces,
raised bands to spine, compartments tooled and lettered in gilt; centered on
compartments are the cipher “B”, possibly a binding commissioned by
Archbishop Beauvau. A few scattered foxing spots, however generally a fine
manuscript, of very fresh and clear paper; the folding maps and plates retain
their strong color.
35,000 $ / 22,000 £
A splendid manuscript, made for presentation to a high authority, reporting on
the present state of the Province of Languedoc, copiously illustrated and
illuminated with maps and plates, in its original red morocco binding,
including three pages with samples of cloths from England. The maps are finely
made, evidently the work of professional cartographer. Basville was son to
Guillaume de Lamoignon, first president of the Paris Parliament; he was
intendant of Languedoc for 13 years under the reign of Louis XIV, which
acquainted him well with the state of affairs, commerce, monuments,
architecture, agriculture, inhabitants, government, and manufactures,
presumably with the wine industry as well; this, his magnus opus, was
completed in 1698, but unpublished until 1734, without illustrations, and
smaller in size.
This copy was commissioned to P. Serre, who probably commissioned an artist
for the maps. A double page table gives a census of the inhabitants of (divided
into sections as childs, nobles, bourgeois, merchants, artisans, etc.), one of the
plates, showing the Amphitheatre of Nismes, is signed by Serre, demonstrating
a skilled hand for architectural drawing. The maps are: “Carte des costes du
Languedoc depuis l’embouchure du Rône jusques en Catalogne”, “Carte des régiments
de milice bourgeoise de la province de Languedoc”, “ Carte de la jonction des deux mers
par le canal royal de la province de Languedoc”, “Carte de l’isle de Cette”, “Carte des
grands chemins royaux des Cévennes et Vivarais”, “Carte particulière du port
d’Agde », « Desseins de la maison Quarrée de Nisme”, “Le Temple de Diane”,
“Amphitéâtre de Nisme”, “Pont du Gard”, “Pont du S. Esprit”, “Pont de Toulouse”,
“Les Huit Écluses de Foncerane”, “Écluse ronde d’Agde”, “Pont de Cesse”, “Plan et
profil d’un des aqueducs du canal royal”, “Plan des vieux et nouveau crochets au bout
du grand môle du port de Cette”.
Other copies of the manuscript exist, however this is probably the most lavishly
produced; also, it was the copy used by historian Ernest Roschach, who gives a
lengthy and praise-full description of the fine plates and maps. The manuscript
begins with a large folding map of the Mediterranean coast of Languedoc,
showing all ports and coast cities. We were able to trace one other copy, held
institutionally, with only one plate.
Provenance: ownership inscription to title page, “Mgr. de Beauvau Archeveque
de Toulouse, Mgr. de Beauvau Archeveque de Narbonne”, dated 1718; Rene
Francois de Beauvau (1664 – 1739) was Archbishop of Toulouse and Narbonne,
the spine has lettered in gilt the cipher “B”, probably a binding made on his
behalf.
Basville, Memoire pour servir a la l´histoire de Languedoc, 1734. Ernest
Roschach (Vic et Vaissette, Histoire generale de Languedoc, Toulouse, Privat,
1904, XVI, pp. 34).
6The naval conflict aiming to control the Azores, pathway to the Indies; the first
battle to use war Galleons Bazan, Alvaro de. Grundlicher bericht, wellicher gestalt, in jungst verschienen
Monat: Julio und Augusto, des jetz lauffenden 83. Jars, durch Kunigklicher
May, in Hispania, General Obristen Don Alvaro de Bacan, Marches de sancta
Cruce, die Insul Terzera, sambt etlichen andern, zu den Azores gehorig,
eingenommen. N.d. [1583]. In 4to (188 mm x 128 mm). 11 ff. Recent calf-backed
cloth. Title cropped at lower margin affecting last line of text, uniform
browning.
3,500 $ / 2,200 £
First edition. An important and rare account of the naval victory fought off
Angra for the control of Terceira (Azores), on 23 June 1583 between the Spanish
fleet and a combined force of Portuguese and French fleets. The Azores were of
great strategic and geographical importance as the stopping point for fleets en
route to or from the Indies, thus the scene for the following naval engagements
during the reign of Elizabeth I. The Spanish were lead by one of their foremost
Commanders, Alvaro de Bazan y Guzman (1526 – 1588), Marquess of Santa
Cruz and Captain General of the Ocean Sea; Bazan had previously gained fame
for his participation at the Battle of Lepanto (1570), where the Holy League
defeated the Ottomans, also later on the preparations for the Armada Invencible
(1588). In the same year, a Spanish edition under the title “Relacion de la jornada,
expugnacion, y conquista de la Isla Tercera” was published.
The victory was crushing and definitive, after the landing forces occupied the
islands, a trial commenced with Bazan as Judge. Since formally Spain and
France were not at war, the charge to the officers was piracy; to this they
responded refuting the charges and showing dispatches from the King of
France, however Bazan –probably under orders of the King of Spain, in order to
prevent having to declare war against France- regarded the documents as false,
declared them guilty and condemned to death. Lords and high-ranking officers
were decapitated and soldiers over 18 years old hanged.
Palau, 25923.
7-
The taking of a Muslim city in North Africa, one of two known copies
[Africa]. Basan, Alvaro de. Relacion de la interpressa, y saqueamiento de la
villa del Carte en Africa. 1642. Madrid. Juan Sanchez. In folio (280 mm x 206
mm). 2 ff. Unbound. Lower margin a little cropped, not affecting text, minor
spotting, else very good.
1,900 $ / 1,200 £
First edition. Rare imprint –one of two known copies-, with news of the capture,
and looting of Carte (Oran, originally taken by Spanish forces in 1509); the
imprint provides details of the Muslims who inhabit the region, populated
mostly by “Xarifes Morabitos”; whom, according to the writer, descend directly
from Mahoma, are reputed to be braver than common, and to have troubled the
forces at Oran for long enough. Near Oran –where Spanish forces settled-, the
Turks fortified a city called Carte, which made the Spanish restless, for the
strategic military location of it. The core of the relation details the battle and
military actions as that of Salomon Zaporta “de los primeros que entro en el lugar,
y mato a un Moro cuerpo a cuerpo”, and the exposition of Luis de Cervantes, who
entered the place, securing it, and making sure there was no “Moor” alive. We
could find only one copy, at the Biblioteca Nacional de España.
Palau, 258248.
Candia by the Turkish forces
8-
The siege of
[Belgrano, I. M.]. Dissegno di Candia attaccata dal Turco sotto il comando del
Primo Visir, et diffesa dall'Ecc.mo Sig. Marchese Villa, dal principio del attacco
li 24, maggio, 1667, sino li 21. aprile 1668. N.p. [1669]. 497 mm x 365 mm.
Cleaned, traces of a previous fold, yellowed.
2,400 / 1,500 £
Extremely rare broadsheet of Candia being sieged by Turkish forces; the
conflict between the Ottomans and a combined force of Venetian, French and
Knights of Malta, begun in 1648 and would last until 1669, thus becoming one
of the longest sieges in modern history. In May 1648 the Ottoman forces
besieged the Venetian-ruled city, the Venetian responded attempting to
blockade the Ottoman-held Dardanelles, disrupting the chain of supply of the
Ottoman forces –not entirely successfully. The numerous naval engagements
that followed had the Island go from one hand to another. The event here
portrayed is one of the last, before the French army, not entirely destroyed but
morally crippled, abandoned the region, leaving Captain Francesco Morosini
alone, precipitating the defeat of the allied Christian forces. He surrendered to
Ahmed Koprulu, Grand Vizir of the Ottoman Empire, in September 1669. The
loss of Candia was amongst the greatest Mediterranean victories achieved by
the Turkish forces in the 17th century.
The lower part of the broadsheet has a numbered key to the most important
parts of the plan and to help understand the reality of the engagement. The
siege and invasion of the city was widely reproduced in maps and broadsides,
this one being one of the rarest. Cartographically, it is very similar to the
Ignographia Candiae tertia vice a Turcis Obsessae in lucem, published by De Wit,
after the plate by Visscher.
Toley, Mapmakers, I, 114 (only mentioning two charts by him).
9-­‐ Crusading against the Turks,
dedicated to Erasmus Ciolek, Erazm, called Vitellius. Oratio per R. patrem dominum Erasmum
vitellium episcopum plocen. in celeberrimo Augusten. Conventu ad Cesarem
Maximilianum nomine Regis Polonie Sigismundi habita die Veneris XX.
Augusti A.D. MDXVII. 1518. Augsburg. Joannes Miller. In 4to (197 mm x 145
mm). 8 ff. Modern red morocco, with slipcase. Title within woodcut border
signed by HS, white-on-black woodcut initials.
4,500 u$s / 2,800 £
First edition, dedicated to Erasmus: a plea for a crusade against the Turks
delivered to the Augsburg diet on 20 August 1518, two months before Ulrich
von Hutten made his famous address, Ad principes Germaniae to the same
audience.
The author (c. 1474-1522, Bishop of Plock) was from Cracow. From 1491 to 1493
he was a lecturer at the university of Cracow (where and when the young
Copernicus was a student). In 1502 he was appointed to the Cracow cathedral
chapter and a year later he was appointed Bishop of Plock. “Besides being
highly cultivated himself, Ciolek was a patron of scholars, artists, and writers.
He also collected an impressive library, especially acclaimed for its illuminated
manuscripts, and enlarged his episcopal palace in Plock and his house in
Cracow. In 1518 Alexander’s successor, King Sigismund I, sent him on an
important mission to the German diet at Augsburg and then to Rome. In
Augsburg he delivered on 20 August a harangue in support of a crusade
against the Turks, which was well received and was published by Jakob
Speigel, with a dedication to Erasmus. From Augsburg, Ciolek travelled to
Rome, where he remained for almost two years as a representative of
Sigismund I, living in great state.” – Contemporaries of Erasmus, I, pp. 304-305.
The title-border is by the Augsburg master HS, signed with his monogram, and
is an adaptation of Hans Weiditz’ border to Boemus, Repertorium (Augsburg
1520). See Dodgson, Catalogue of Early German and Flemish woodcuts, II, p.
193.
10Portuguese Ambassador´s farewell from China [China] [Anonymous]. Noticia admiravel, e curiosa Relacam do Grande
Imperio da China; referese a despedida, que no mesmo Imperio fez o
Embaixador Portuguez, que chegou ao presente a esta cidade em a nao
proximamente vinda de Macao, em o primeiro de Setembro de 1755. 1755.
Lisbon. Domingos Rodrigues. In 8vo (195 mm x 138 mm). 8 pp. Unbound. Left
margin with light damp, else very good.
2,400 $ / 1,500 £
First edition. Extremely rare newsletter from the Portuguese Ambassador to
China; it provides details of his stay at the Chinese court and ultimately the
farewell from the Emperor, and his departure from the Portuguese-controlled
Macao. At the end the author makes a reference to a fleet arriving from Rio de
Janeiro. Rare, we could find only one copy held institutionally in the U.S., at the
University of Minnesota, and no copies have appeared at auction in over 50
years.
OCLC, 29132403.
11Giving notice of the martyrdoms and torments suffered by Priests of the
Dominican Order in China [China] [Anonymous]. Noticia certa de hum successo acontecido no Imperio da
China, aonde se referem os tormentos, trabalhos, e martyrios que alli padessem
os Catholicos, e os que passou o muito Reverendo Padre Fr. Joam de Santa
Maria, religioso da veneravel Ordem de S. Domingos, E onde tambem morrerao
martyres o Ollustrisimo Bispo de Maricastro. 1757. Lisbon. In 8vo (192 mm x
136 mm). 7 pp. Unbound. Light toning and browning.
2,600 $ / 1,650 £
Rare relation of the martyrdom and torments suffered by Joam de Santa Maria
and Maricastro, both Priests of the Dominican Order. The newsletter narrates
the persecutions of the Catholic missionaries working in China, their vanishing
from some provinces and the pains undergone in fulfilling of their
evangelizing; however, the author begins praising the land by telling the reader
that China is the “largest, most fertile, must abundant, and richest country of
Asia”.
We could trace one copy at the National Library of Portugal and three
institutional copies in the U.S.
12-
Description of China by an anonymous traveller of the 18th century
[China] [Anonymous]. Relacam curiosa das grandezas do Reino da China,
noticia da sua situacam, fortalezas, rios, e lugares notaveis. 1762. Lisbon. Pedro
Ferreira. In 8vo (190 mm x 138 mm). 8 pp. Unbound. Lightly browned.
1,600 $ / 1,000 £
First edition in Portuguese. Extremely rare relation on China, probably by a
missionary although no trace of authorship may be found; it contains a variety
of subjects, including notes on China´s fortifications, house decoration, gardens,
hydrography, places of notices, religion, customs, and its army. Short as it is, no
vast amount of detail is found, however a intriguing set of observations on
what a visitor might be faced-upon when visiting China in the mid 18th century.
Rare, we could trace no copies having sold at auction and only three copies held
institutionally (Newberry Library, University of Minnesota and University of
British Columbia Library).
13-
A magnificent carte-a-figures wall map of Asia, one of the most visually striking
cartographic rendering of the 18th century
Clouet, Jean Baptiste Louis. La Asia dividida segun lo dilatado de sus
principals partes - Carte d´Asie en ses principaux Etats. 1785. Paris and Cadiz.
Louis Joseph Mondhare. Four sheets, 1220 mm x 940 mm once joined. Minor
restorations, especially to vignette above Siberia, and the top center of the map;
fine hand color.
19,500 $ / 12,500 £
Striking wall map of Asia including twenty decorative vignettes depicting
various scenes of Biblical nature from around Asia. The cartographic content of
the map reflects Clouet's intention to compile a map of the highest quality and
up-to-date information. The map was compiled by Jean Baptiste Louis Clouet
and published by Mondhare in Paris in 1785. The extensive legends explaining
each vignette are in both Spanish and French, as are the titles cartouches; the
map was intended for both audiences.
The Clouet wall map of Asia is one of the most decorative wall maps of Asia
published in the second half of the 18th Century. The map continues the French
Aristocratic tradition popularized during the reign of Louis XIV. In this grand
tradition, the Clouet/Mondhare map serves the dual purpose of being both a
spectacular object, utilized by the French Aristocracy of the 18th Century, in
decorating libraries and salons, and a statement of the worldliness of the
owners.
The map includes a detailed inset and the tracks of the route of the "Gore"
expedition in 1779 (identified as successor to Clerke), a reference to James
Cook's Third Voyage.
14The Arms of Malta set out to eliminate Corsairs in the Levant
[Corsairs] Aponte, Andres de. Relacion verdadera de las insignes vitorias que
la Escuadra de las seis Galeras de la Religion de San Juan de Malta ha
alcanzado… contra Turcos y Corsarios de Tripol, y otras partes de Berberia.
N.d. [1634]. N.p. [Valladolid?]. In folio (290 mm x 210 mm). 2 ff. Unbound. A
fine copy, with wide margins, light spotting.
3,000 $ / 1,900 £
First edition. The relation begins with the sailing of the fleet from Sicily towards
the Levant, with the mission of “limpiar” [clean] the seas, that it, Turkish
corsair ships; the first engagement occurred to a force of 4 vessels, which were
attacked and defeated, capturing 750 slaves –out of over 900 people, the
remainder either killed or drawn. Continues with a new adventure, penetrating
deep into waters controlled by the Turks, and provides copious details of the
battles engaged in, and the numbers (and in occasions names) of the casualties
in both sides.
Very rare, we can only find copies at the British Library and the Biblioteca
Nacional de España.
Palau, 258054 (giving it as Valladolid, Viuda de Francisco de Cordoba).
15-
Exceptional and thoroughly illuminated Executoria
Phillip II, King of Spain. Por la gracia de Dios Rey... Carta ejecutoria de
hidalguía a pedimento de Diego Tinoco Siguero. 1576. Granada. In folio
(310 mm x 205 mm). 1 [blank] + 59 ff. 4 [blank]. Contemporary lavishly
decorated brown calf, raised bands to spine, boards heavily tooled in gilt,
interlacing fillets, wide gilt frames, each with comprising intriguing
tooling; ties perished, minor rubbing. Fine manuscript on vellum, overall
in immpecable condition, with only the faintest show of erosion to
illuminations.
15,000 $ / 9,700 £
A remarkable example of 16th century Spanish illumination, finely
executed by a skilled artist and evidently commisioned by a wealthy
man; the binding is strictly contemporary and tells us of a master binder,
who used the most unusual tools for its confection.
The illumination, which is considerable, comprises two full page
miniatures: the first “Por la Gra[cia] de Dios Rey”, showing a coat of arms
enclosed in a flamboyant background with putti holding banners,
musical instruments and weapons, the second “Divina Clemencia” shows
Santiago Matamoros, in his usual depiction, slaying moors in a rampant
horse, also with a fantastic frame, with lavish uses of blue, red, and gold.
The body of the manuscript contains 13 large miniatures, an entirely
exceptional feature, which represent mostly Saints, monks, and a
splendid Philip II holding a sword; and 3 large initials. The inclusion of
the miniatures portraying Saints and monks –including possibly an
Inquisitor-, is definitely unusual, and we can only assume it was very
costly, for it was necessary to employ a miniaturist, instead of the regular
copyist in the confection of the manuscript.
16-
One of two known copies, excessively rare treatise on African and Spanish horse
riding
Gallego, Pedro. Tratado da gineta, ordenado das respostas que hum cavaleiro
de muita experiencia deu a 24. perguntas, que certo curioso lhe mandou propor.
1629. Lisbon. Pedro Craesbeeck. In 12mo (130 mm x 88 mm). 8 ff. + 69 ff. + 3 ff.
Fine blue full morocco gilt, red morocco doublures, silk fly-leaves, raised bands
to spine, lettered in gilt, by Lortic frères. Paper mildly toned as expected,
however overall in excellent condition.
11,000 $ / 7,000 £
First edition. One of two know copies of this treatise on horse riding, employed
mostly in Spain, and of African origin. The gineta riding style used shorter
stirrups and a much higher seat in the saddle than usual elsewhere in Europe,
allowing tight and complex manoeuvring of the horse. Of North African origin,
it became a distinctive characteristic of Iberian horsemanship and was widely
commented on by writers on the subject from the sixteenth until well into the
eighteenth century. The majority of these treatises appeared in Spain, more
rarely, as here, in Portugal. The name is thought to derive from the Berber tribe
of the Cenete (Zanata), which came to Iberia from North Africa in the thirteenth
century. For a general discussion, see Barbara Fuchs, Exotic nation; Maurophilia
and the construction of early modern Spain (2009), pp. 89-101, 163-5.
OCLC locates only one copy (Biblioteca Nacional de España). No copies are
traced at auction
Huth, p. 19.
17Monumental Chinese
dictionary commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte, from the Duc de Luynes library Guignes, Chretien Louis, de. Dictionnaire chinois, francais et latin, publie
d'apres l'ordre de sa Majeste l'Empereur et Roi Napoleon le Grand. 1813. Paris.
Imprimerie Imperiale. Thick folio (435 mm x 279 mm). Contemporary calf,
boards with gilt fillet, raised bands to spine, with red morocco lettered piece,
tooled and lettered in gilt; hinges starting, chipping to head of spine. An
excellent copy, large and clean, scattered foxing.
11,500 $ / 7250 £
First edition. Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned Guignes’ dictionary in 1808;
this monumental production includes thousands of Chinese characters (actually
carved in the 18th century) and was printed on heavy laid paper. The dictionary
was ground breaking and demonstrated a growing interest on China; it was
largely an editing of the compilation made by Franciscan missionary in China
Basilio de Glemona Brollo (1648 – 1704), in the 17th century; this lack of
originality gained Guignes strong criticism at the time. However, the dictionary
is still regarded as one of the best ever made, also, it is of considerable artistic
beauty.
Guignes (1759 – 1845) lived in China for 17 years and performed as translator
for the Dutch Ambassador at the Qianlong Emperor’s court from 1794-1795, he
was also author of another important work on China “Voyages a Peking, Manille
et L’Ile de France”. Despite of the unwelcoming reception of his dictionary, he is
recognized as a famed Sinologist. Provenance: Library of the Duc de Luynes,
Chateau de Dampierre.
Cordier, 1589. Brunet, II, 568.
18Rare Portuguese imprint of conflict in India
[India] [Anonymous]. Relacao marcial do plausivel, e affortunado successo,
que nas partes da India tiverao as armas Portuguezas contra o Bonsulo nosso
inimigo. Em o conflict com elle havido em o dia nove de mayo do anno passado
de 1758. 1759. Lisbon. Francisco Borges de Sousa. In 4to (194 mm x 136 mm). 8
pp. Early 20th century half calf over cloth, raised bands to spine, lettered in gilt.
Light overall toning and foxing.
1,400 $ / 890 £
First edition apparently. A rare Portuguese newsletter report on the battle
which took place on 9th May, 1758, between the Portuguese and the forces of
Khem Savant III Bhonsle, who succeeded his father in 1755, with his mother
acting as Regent until he came of age in 1763. Following the battle he was
granted the hereditary title of Raja of Savantwadi (founded 1627) and installed
as such on 11th May 1758. We could only trace three copies being held
institutionally worldwide.
19-
Viceroy of India´s embassy to Sunda
[India] Assis de Tavora, Marques Francisco de. Relacam da Embaixada que o
sunda, depois de vencido das armas Portuguezas, madou ao Illustrissimo, e
Excellentissimo Marquez de Tavora, Vice-Rey da India, e Capitam General
daquelle Estado. N.d. [not before 1750]. N.p. [Lisbon]. In 4to (190 mm x 135
mm). 8 pp. Unbound. Loose,
some light toning.
2,000 $ / 1,280 £
First edition. Assis de Tavora (1703 – 1759) was a Portuguese nobleman,
military officer, colonial administrator, and Viceroy of India from 1750-1754; his
reign in India was successful, capturing several fortresses, securing commerce,
and engaging the pirate Cananja.
Tavora declared war to the King of Sunda, taking Piro and the fortresses of
Ximpem and Conem and continuing by invading the provinces of Ponda and
Zambaulim. Despite the victories gained in favor of King Joseph I, he was
executed by order of Sebastian Jose de Carvalho e Melo, shortly upon his
arrival to Lisbon, accused of attempted regicide; him and several of his family
members were beaten to death and burned alive, whilst others decapitated.
Rare, we could find only three copies held in institutions, none in the U.S.
20-
Exceedingly rare relation of the victory of the Maltese galleons in the Levant
[Levant] [Malta]. Relacion del viage que hizieron la esquadra de seis Galeras de
Malta en los mares de Levante, corriendo el Arcipielago, y Costas de la Natolia,
ya la buelta las de Calabria, y Reyno de Napoles. N.d. [ca. 1638]. Madrid.
Imprenta del Reyno. In folio (290 mm x 208 mm). 2 ff. Unbound. A fine copy of
wide margins, contemporary foliation on right margin.
3,500 $ / 22,50 £
First edition. Impossibly rare imprint; it details the victory obtained by the
armies of Malta in the Levant, against a Turkish fleet. The relation includes a
detailed narrative of the events and the sea engagement, which ended in the
Turkish defeat. At the end, the imprints bears the inventory of casualties, with
309 Turkish killed in battle, a result favourable to the Maltese arms, which
made prisoners and obtained the releasing of captured Christians; against few
casualties in the Maltese side.
We could find no institutional copies of this rare imprint, except one in the
Naval Museum at Madrid (Fondos documentales de la Orden de San Juan,
Revista de Historia Naval, II, pp. 14).
Not in Palau.
21The defeat of the Turkish corsair fleet, one of two known copies
[Levant] [Murillas y Fexada, Juan Lopez de]. Relacion verdadera de las
Gloriosas proezas, y Vitorias, que han hecho las invencibles Galeras de Malta en
los mares de Levante, en este ano de mil y seiscientos y cincuenta y dos. S.a.
[1652]. Madrid. Gregorio Rodriguez. In folio (290 mm x 208 mm). 2 ff.
Unbound. Upper corner missing of first ff. missing, affecting a few letters. 2,700 $ / 1,700 £ First edition. The imprint narrates the sea engagement between 6 Turkish
corsairs under the command of Carapatachi “bravo cofario de Calamacia”
[brave corsair from Calamacia], and General Baylio. The battle ended with the
defeat of the Turkish fleet, and the capture of 3 vessels, which were taken back
to Malta.
Very rare, no copies can be traced at auction. We can only trace one copy in
institutions.
Not in Palau. 22Generating modern Swedish nationalism Magnus, Johannes. Gothorum Sueonum que Historia. 1554. Rome. Giovanni
Maria Viotto. In folio (285 mm x 195 mm). 1 [blank] + 29 ff. 1 [blank] + 787 + 1
ff. + 1 [blank]. Seventeenth of early eighteenth century calf, raised bands to
spine, compartments tooled and lettered in gilt, red morocco lettering piece,
minor restoration, head of spine reconstituted. Title page with partial old hand
coloring, minor wear to fore margin away from text, generally a very clean and
fresh copy, with tall margins; aii with lower margin removed, not affecting text.
7,000 $ / 4,500 £
First edition. The first national history of Sweden, filled with relevant
information on Russia and Scandinavia; considered a cornerstone in forming
modern Swedish nationalism. Johannes Magnus (1488 - 1544) was Archbishop
of Upsala, and brother to Olaus Magnus –who oversaw the printing of his
magnum opus. The work is finely illustrated with a fine title page woodcut
with inset letterpress text, a full-page map of Scandinavia (reduced from the
famous Olaus Magnus map and the first appearance of the woodcut map of
Scandinavia), two full-page devices, and hundreds of woodcuts in text,
including repeats.
Adams, M 136. Mortimer, 269.
23Extremely rare work on the
Malay language, printed in Malacca [Malay]. [Surat Mengeja Bahasa Melayu]. 1837. Malacca. Printed at the Mission
Press [John Evans]. In 8vo (218 mm x 125 mm). 1 ff. + 28 pp. Modern cloth over
boards. Erased stamps to title and following, else very good.
7,000 $ / 4,500 £
Second edition apparently. Early book printed in Malacca, aimed for the
education of children –and thus prone to being broken or heavily damaged- in
the regional language. The Melayu is a major Austronesian language, and
national language to Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore (a group of
over 250 million people); in sum, one of the most widespread languages in the
Malacca Strait.
The book is extremely rare; no copies can be traced at institutions (Worldcat), or
at auction. Only one copy, of what seems to be the same, is held at the British
Library.
Missionary printing in Malacca, pp. 202.
24-
A fine collection in a contemporary binding of the Neptune Oriental´s maps of
Arabia and South East Asia
Mannevillette, Jean Baptiste de. Supplement au Neptune Oriental. N.d. [ca.
1790]. Paris. Depot de la Marine. In folio (516 mm x 375 mm). 1[blank] + 12
double page or folding maps + 2 [blank]. Contemporary calf, boards gilt with
interlacing fillets, spine flat, with elegant tooling and morocco lettering piece,
some rubbing to boards and foot of spine. Excellent example: the maps with
strong impressions, very clean and fresh.
12,000 $ / 7,650 £
A rare collection of charts from, from the Neptune Oriental, including maps of
the Middle East and South East Asia; all the maps in excellent condition, from
the library of Baron Reille. The volume comprises the following charts: Carte
generale de la Mer Rouge avec un plan du Port de Suez; Arabie, avec plan de Giddah;
Arabie, route de la Fregate Venus, rade de Moka; Carte du Golfe de Suez; Carte des
cotes de Guzerat, de Cancan et de Canara; Carte de la partie Meridionale de la
presqueile de L´Inde qui comprend l´Ile de Ceylan avec la Cote de Coromandel et de la
Cote de Malabar; Plan d une partie des cours de la Riviere de Saigon; Cote de la
Cochinchine depuis le Cap Bonhornen; three maps of the Baye de Saigon; Plan de la
Baye de Manille et ses environs verifie sur la Fregate La Meduse en 1789; Carte d´une
partie de la Mer de Chine… d´apres les observations du Gen Rosily.
Mannevillete (1707 – 1780) was a French sailor and hydrographer, famous for
his use of instruments to correct the latitudes given by explorers; in 1745 the
first Neptune Oriental was published, a major cartographical achievement and
a practical resource for navigators. The 1775 edition encompassed the majority
of the known world. His access to up-to-date sources of information –such as
explorer´s narratives- and his eagerness to constantly update the cartography of
his maps, turn them into some of the most accurate of the 18th century.
Provenance: baron Reille.
25-
Presentation copy in red velvet of an impressive survey of the Caroline Islands
Miguel, Gregorio. Estudio sobre las Islas Carolinas, comprende la historia y
geografia de los 96 grupos que forman el Archipielago Carolino, seguido d ela
descripcion de todas las Islas del Oceano Pacifico. 1887. Madrid. Imprenta de
Jose perales y Martinez. In 8vo and folio (220 mm x 145 mm; 485 mm x 380
mm). 1 [blank] + xvi + 1 ff. + 207; 1 [blank] + 2 ff. + XIV mostly double page
maps + 1 [blank]. Contemporary red velvet, front board lettered in gilt and
stamped in gilt, and verso with Royal arms of Spain and initials M. C.,
evidently a presentation copy.
12,500 $ / 8,000 £
First edition. A very scarce work, and a brilliant copy, in its contemporary
presentation binding to the Spanish Queen; one of the only works dedicated
entirely to the Caroline Islands in the Pacific. Spanish presence in the region
dates back from the early 16th century, this archipelago however was vastly
uninhabited and unsettled until Father San Vitores arrived in 1668. With the
end of the Manila galleons, French and British expeditions in the Pacific, and
geo-political changes, Spain forcedly took an interest in the Carolines and
Palaos.
Miguel undertook the task of a comprehensive survey of the islands, with
details on the climate, hydrography, natural history, landscape, natural
resources, geographical reality, and even ethnography. An atlas was made to
illustrate his description of the islands, which features a lithographic title page
showing natives in a village, in local costumes. The significance of the atlas can
hardly be overstated, as it stands as the first atlas devoted to the region, fixing
the cartographical mistakes commited by Coello –understandable, since the
Spanish had not taken an active interest, and thus cartographical exploration
had been somewhat neglected.
No copies have appeared at auction in over 50 years; Palau only knew of the
copy offered by Vindel in 1894, for 30 Pesetas, quite a sum.
Palau, 168660.
26-
Relation of the embassy sent by the Prince of the Bezancudos to Persia [Persia] [Anonymous]. Relacam da celebre embaixada, que o Principe dos
Bezancudos mandou ao Schach da Persia, Thámas Kouli-Kahan, para o
conciliar seu aliado temendo o seu poder; e se fez esta função em 8 de Junho
deste presente anno de 1744, com huma breve noticia dos Bezancudos, e seu
Paiz. 1744. Lisbon. Officina de Pedro Ferreira. In 4to (195 mm x 135 mm). 8 pp.
Recent calf. Foliation in old ink manuscript in upper outer corner of each leaf
recto. Triangular repair of ca. 9 x 7.5 x 4 cm. to upper outer corner of title page,
mostly obscuring the final letter of the first word of the title, and touching the
two previous letters; otherwise in very good condition.
2,500 $ / 1,600 £
First and only edition in Portuguese. Library of Congress states "An account no
doubt inspired by a contemporary history of the reign of Nadir Shah”. A French
edition was published in Paris in 1742 by l'abbé André de Claustre under the
title Histoire de Thamas Kouli-Kan. The Persian history Tārīkh-i Nādirī by
Mahdī Khān Astarābādī was published in the 18th century in a variety of
European translations." However, as the title page of the present relation refers
to events of 8 June 1744, at least some of the information contained therein must
be from another, later source. Provenance: Dukes of Palmela library, with their
monogram beneath the ducal coronet stamped in purple ink on title page.
Ameal 1018. Not in JFB. Not in Innocêncio or Fonseca. Not located in Copac.
Not located in Hollis or Orbis.
27-
Announcing the creation of the Propaganda Fide
[Propaganda Fide] [Gregorius XV, Pope]. Copia d'una lettera scritta
dalla Sacra Congregatione de Propaganda Fide. 1623. Bologna. Vittoria
Benacci. In 4to (320 mm x 205 mm). 2 ff. Unbound. An uncut example;
minor foxing.
3,500 $ / 2,240 £
A very rare imprint relating to the Propaganda Fide, instituted by Pope
Gregorius XV (1554 – 1623) in 1622 with the Bull Inscrutabili Divinae
Providentiae. The institution was aimed at evangelizing the peoples of
around the world and stopping the propagation of Protestantism; one of
its best-known achievements was the publication of dozens of
vocabularies for the use of missionaries –mostly of Eurasian languages.
As matter a fact, the activities and vast extension of territory under its
jurisdiction made the Congregation one of the most important
institutions within the Church. The first steps were marked by
martyrdom and expansion to regions where no Dioceses had been
formed.
This Carta announces the creation of the institution, and briefly outlines
the reason for its creation and purpose –creation of missions, training of
missionaries, charity, etc.; it is addressed to Patriarchs, Archbishops and
Bishops. Although under the reign of Gregorius XV, this letter was given
under Prefect Ludovico Ludovisi (1622-1623), nephew to the Pope and de
facto in charge of the Vatican.
Very rare, we have been unable to trace any institutional copies.
28-
Early manuscript chart of the Falklands
[Puig, Joseph Antonio, pilot]. Plano de las Yslas Malvinas cituadas en el mar
del Sur. [c.1770]. Manuscript in ink and wash colour; watermark of “Konig &
Son”, marginal restorations virtually not affecting, excellent condition overall.
730 mm x 530 mm.
36,000 $ / 23,000 £
Stunning manuscript survey of the Falkland Islands coasts, one of the earliest
known, of high artistic craftsmanship and historically important.
The Falklands are an archipelago located c. 400km off the coast of Argentina; it
is composed of two larger islands (Isla de la Soledad and Gran Malvinas) and
several smaller ones, both larger islands are well depicted on this chart. It is
currently under British management, however its sovereignty has been
disputed by Argentina since 1833, and has lead to armed conflict. The history of
the islands goes back to the first decades of American exploration –with several
claims of sighting, from John Davis in 1592 and Sir Richard Hawkins in 1594,
however the first confirmed one being that of Sebald de Weert in 1600-,
although uncharted and unsettled until the second half of the 18th century,
when explorers Byron and Bougainville almost simultaneously claimed them
for their respective countries. Bougainville’s settling ended up with the French
leaving the islands after Spain’s claim; the British however, lead by John Byron,
founded Port Edgmond [a.k.a. Santa Catalina, see Torres Lanzas, nº 86]. The
Spanish later became aware of their presence, which again occasioned frictions
between governments and raised the possibility of war. In 1833, the British
reoccupied the islands permanently –with the exception of a short period in
1982.
Drawn after a survey performed by Joseph Antonio Puig in July 1770. Puig was
the pilot aboard the San Francisco de Paula [a.k.a. La Catalana], a bergantin
commanded by Manuel Pando. As a side note, it would be him as well who
contributed to the mysterious Pepys island history, claiming to have sighted it
and baptized it the Catalana. This voyage took Puig from Montevideo to the
Falklands and back. The enterprise was seemingly on behalf of the Rl. Compa. de
Comercio de Barcelona desde Buenos Ayres, the track marked on this chart in red.
The Archivo General de Indias has two similar maps, none of which are of this
quality. On a map located at the Biblioteca Nacional de España, entitled “Plano
de las Yslas Malvinas situadas en la latitude de 51 grados 28 minutos y en 316 grados
30 minutos”, ordered by Phelipe Ruiz Puente, we see a more primitive
rendering of the islands, which are charted rudimentarily, although the
cartouche explains they contain the last explorations done by land and sea. It is
catalogued as c.1769 and reflects the Spanish expeditions done between 1768
and 1769 to l29ocate the English settlement of Port Edgmont.
The map is beautifully made and cartographically accurate, it features a
numbered key to the straits, bays, adjacent islands and other points of interest.
Ichnographically, an interesting map: the artist decorated it with two drawings
opposing themselves, the first being the portrait of a lady holding a scale and
the second a settler seating by a fire heating coffee or some beverage,
background with a seal, whales and a turtle. The centre of the map features the
Spanish Lion in threatening posture. Two cartouches at the upper right and left
corners feature coastal profiles. Provenance, there is an unidentified wax seal on
the map, title and number on verso.
Torres Lanzas, Relacion descriptiva de los mapas, planos, etc. del Virreinato de
Buenos Aires, 1921, nº 69, 82, 86, 89.
29
Early missionary work in Sri Lanka by a Priest born in India; reestablishing the Catholic Church, from the Calvinist Dutch Rego, Sebastian do. Vida do Veneravel Padre Joseph Vaz, da congregaçaõ do
Oratorio de S. Filippe Neri de cidade de Goa, na India Oriental; fundador da
laboriosa missaõ, que os congregados desta casa tem à sua conta na ilha de
Ceylão. 1745. Lisbon. Regia Officina Sylvania, e da Academia Real. In 4to (202
mm x 130 mm). 14 ff. + 354 pp. + 1 [blank]. Fine dark blue full morocco gilt, by
Emile Rousselle. Excellent copy, very bright and clean.
2,600 $ / 1,660 £
First edition. Exceedingly rare biography of Joseph Vaz
(likely the first), a missionary priest who entered Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1687,
after the (Calvinist) Dutch had expelled the Portuguese, and managed to reestablish the Catholic Church in the island. “Establishing his headquarters in
the Buddhist kingdom of Kandy in the mountainous interior, he and his
successors gave the Catholics in the lowlands the moral and material leadership
necessary for their survival under a persecuting Calvinist regime. Indian
Brahmenes by origin, they could circulate in disguise with relative ease, and
they re-established the connections between the Ceylon Catholics and their coreligionists on the mainland” (Boxer, Portuguese Seaborne Empire, p. 244). Vaz,
who was born in Goa in 1651 and died in Ceylon in 1711 (Kandy), was first
proposed for beatification in 1737. He was finally canonized in 2014. COPAC
locates only the BL copy, five others are reported by OCLC.
De Silva, Portuguese in Asia, 1895. Innocencio, VII, 222.
30Rare account of the siege of Vienna by the Turks
[Rosinus, Joan] [Stern, Peter]. Viennae Austriae Urbis nobilissime a Sultano
Saleymano immanissimo Turcarum Tyranno immense cum exercitu obese
historia. 1530. Augsburg. Sylvan Otmar. In 4to (188 mm x 144 mm). 1 ff. [title] +
23 ff. + 1 [blank]. Old paper wrappers.
3,500 $ / 2,250 £
Rare Latin account of the siege of Vienna; according to Gollner, it is based on a
German account published by Peter Stern von Labach, to whom the work is
also attributed, however this is a different account. The authorship attribution
to Rosinus seems to be the most accepted one; he was also author of the
“Antiquitatum Romanarum Corpus Absolutissimu”. There is a dedicatory poem to
Diego Serava (d. 1545), a Spanish military officer who participated in the
defense of the siege, to whom the work has also been attributed; it is likely that
Serava actually participated in the writing, having been an eyewitness to the
conflict. The imprint contains valuable information on the siege of Vienna,
including an extensive list of prominent defenders of Vienna. Provenance:
contemporary ownership inscription on title page “Wageneckhen”; some
underlining.
Rare, we could trace no copies as having sold at auction.
Gollner, 404.
31-
The defeat of the English flotilla by the Dutch treasure fleet
[Schouten, Wouter]. Zee-Journael, ofte autentijcq verhael... aengaende al het
ghepasseerde, 't zedert 't vertreck van de vloot uyt Spanjaerts-gat na de Noort,
to het wederkeeren voor Goeree, met alle voorvallen in zee, ontmoetingen,
ghevecht in Noorwegen, tempeesten, en wat in 't generael en particulier
voorgevallen en geschiedt is, van den 13 juny tot den 6 octob. 1665. N.p. in 4to
(180 mm x 140 mm). 35 pp. Antique half vellum over boards. Upper margin
cropped by the binder.
3,500 $ / 2,250 £
First edition[?], one of two, the other with imprint “Amsterdam, Venckel, 1665”.
A scarce work, which includes an account of the Battle of Vagen: a naval
engagement between a treasure fleet under the command of Wouter Schouten
and an English flotilla of warships in August 1665, as part of the Second AngloDutch War. The battle took place in Vågen (meaning "the bay, voe, in
Norwegian), the main port area of neutral Bergen, Norway. Due to a delay in
orders the Norwegian commanders took the side of the Dutch, contrary to the
secret intentions of the King of Norway and Denmark. The battle ended with
the defeat of the English fleet, which retreated, much damaged but without
losing any ships. The treasure fleet was relieved by the Dutch home fleet
seventeen days later. Wouter Schouten's account was published for the first
time in Amsterdam in 1676 in his Oost-Indische Voiagie, published
simultaneously in Dutch and German. In his work, Schouten described the
experiences and observations taken during his voyage through the East Indies
and Africa, as the ship´s doctor. His description of Asia gained him Lach´s
attribution as “one of the best” descriptions of Asia.
Rare, we could trace no copies sold at auction in the last 100 years, nor copies
offered for sale.
Knuttel, 9103. Cf. Landwehr, VOC, 129.
32Early persecutions of Jesuit priests in China
[Sequeira, Luis de; Simoes, Juan]. Relacao summaria da prizam, tormentos, e
glorioso Martyrio dos veneraveis Padres Antonio Joseph Portuguez, e Tristam
de Attimis. 1751. Lisbon. Francisco da Silva. In 4to (184 mm x 135 mm) 38 pp.
Unbound. Scattered foxing, else fine.
3,000 $ / 1,950 £
First edition in Portuguese. The work deals with the persecution, arrest,
imprisonment and execution of a group of Jesuit missionaries under the
Qianlong Emperor. “During the violent outbreak of persecution in Fukien, in
1746, Hukwang and Kiangnan enjoyed a relative peace that lasted until the end
of 1747 when two Jesuits working in Kiangnan, Antonio Jose Henriques and
Tristano Francesco de Attimis, were arrested, condemned to death and
executed” (“China Missions in crisis”, Joseph Krahl). After De Attimis and
Henriquez’ capture, they were subdued to torture “De Attimis who was new in
the mission and did not speak the language well, was not treated badly, but
Henriques was cruelly tortured on several occasions”, apparently Henriquez
got the worst part. “Relatan las persecuciones sufridas por los cristianos en 1746 y
años siguientes. La Relacion del P. simoens es relativa a la Provincia de Pekin.”
(Medina). An edition was printed by Nicolas de la Cruz Bagay in Manila “Breve
relacion sobre la persecucion de nuestra Santa Fe en la Provincia de Kiamnan, y
otras Provincias del Imperio de la China, ilustres vidas de los PP. Ant. Joseph
Henriquez, y Tristan de Atimis, por el P. Luis de Sequeyra y el P. Juan Simoes,
de la Compañia de Jesus”.
The Jesuit presence in China underwent different periods with the local
authorities, some of great favor and some less so. This chapter of the Sino-Jesuit
relations is to be considered amongst the most agitated. The relations under the
Manchu were overall excellent, especially under Kangxi, who had little
hesitation to appoint the Jesuits as advisers on mapping and engineering. The
persecution, martyrdom and imprisonment of these priests, was one of the few
periods of unrest for the missionaries.
Palau, 309407 (Manila edition).
33-
A scarce work on navigation, astronomy and the salvaging of ships
Sinclair, George. The Principles of Astronomy and Navigation: ... to Which is
Added a Discovery of the Secrets of Nature Which are Found in the Mercurial
Weather-Glass, &c. As also a New Proposal for Buoying up a Ship of any
Burden from the Bottom of the Sea. By George Sinclair, sometimes Professor of
Philosophy in the College of Glasgow. 1688. Edinburgh. Printed by the Heir to
Andrew Anderson. In octavo (150 mm x 90 mm). Contemporary ownership
inscription and sketches to front free endpaper, contemporary limp vellum,
lacking small portion of the front cover as well as two of the four leather ties.
5,000 $ / 3,200 £
First edition. The author writes of attempts made to salvage the Spanish galleon
sunk off the Isle of Mull in 1588, points out that the weight of the vessel is
identical with the displacement, and suggests that air containers, called 'Arks',
open at the bottom, should be secured to the submerged wreck and air
admitted, either by pumping through leather pipes, or by divers introducing it
with the aid of inverted buckets or inflated skins. He also refers to the use of a
diving bell.
George Sinclair may have been born in the Haddington area, he was Professor
of Philosophy at the University of St Andrews before moving to Glasgow in
1655. He resigned in 1667 when University professors were required to submit
to the Episcopal form of church government. He became a mineral surveyor
and engineer, and then a schoolteacher in Edinburgh where he was also
employed to supervise a project to bring fresh drinking water into the city. He
published several important books on mathematics and practical physics. Later,
he was Professor of Mathematics at the University of Glasgow from 1691 until
1696, and gifted money to the fund for the building of the Old College. The
George Sinclair Chair in Mathematics was founded in 1984. He was Professor of
Mathematics and Experimental Philosophy from 1691 until his death.
ESTC R26242.
34-
Jesuits martyrdoms in Japan, first edition of Mastrili’s life, extremely
scarce
Stafford, Ignacio. Historia de la celestial vocacion, missiones apostolicas
y gloriosa muerte, del P. Marcelo Francisco Mastrili. 1639. Lisboa.
Antonio Alvarez. In 4to (198 mm x 138 mm). 3 ff. + frontispiece + 136.
Blue crushed morocco signed Brugalla, boards with gilt supralibros,
raised bands to spine lettered in gilt, inner dentelle. Upper corner of
about 30 ff. with tiny worm hole restored, mainly marginal, possibly at
time of binding; several inserted notes testifying it’s importance.
17,000 $ / 10,800 £
First edition. One of the rarest Jesuit relations; it narrates the life,
missionary work and martyrdom of Father Marcelo Mastrili (1603 - 1637)
in Japan on Mount Unzen (outskirts of Nagasaki) under the Tokugawa
Shogunate. Mastrili had sailed to Japan with aims of reconverting the
“fallen priest” Christovao Ferreira who had renounced his faith. Ferreira
(c. 1580 – 1650) was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary, he worked in Japan
from 1609 to 1633 and was the head of the Jesuit Order in that country
during the religious purges against Christianity in 1633; after being
tortured for hours, committed apostasy, subsequently changing his name
to Sawano Chuan and registering at a Buddhist temple.
Mastrili was arrested shortly after landing - the relation of his travesty
towards Japan is also noted-; he was then submitted to torture and
beheaded. Mysticism did not elude Mastrili, he reported to having
visions of St. Francis Xavier who cured him twice. Furthermore, it
contains accounts of missions to Goa, Mindanao and Japan. Subjects
include “La celestial vocacion a la mission de la India”, “La apostolica
misiondel P. Marcelo en la jornada de Mindanao”, “La entrada en el Japon…
tormentos y muerte gloriosa”. Engraved title with large coat of arms, signed
with monogram “AF?” and engraved frontispiece showing the
martyrdom of the Italian Jesuit Father Mastrili by the hands of the local
authorities. Stafford (1599 - 1642) was an English Jesuit, historian and
mathematician, he wrote an extensive treatise on calculating instruments
and several manuscripts relating to science. The work’s rarity is
considerable, with only two copies in public institutions in Spain (one
defective) and no copies having appeared for auction in the last 30 years.
Palau, 321913 ("Obra de estima en comercio").
35-
Rare account of the Malay and a sea-voyage through India and China Tavares de Vellez Guerreiro, Joao. Jornada que Antonio de Albuquerque
Coelho, Governador, e Capitao General da Cidade do Nome de Deos de Macao
na China, Fez de Goa ate chegar a dista Cidade no anno de 1718. 1732. Lisbon.
Officinal da musica. In 8vo (147 mm x 92 mm). 8 ff. + 427 + 1 [blank].
Contemporary sheep, subbed and scratched. Some scattered worm holes,
mostly marginal and unobstrusive, however sometimes touching a little text.
5,600 $ / 3,500 £
Second edition, and first European edition; the first is almost impossible to find
(Macao, 1718). The work was one of the very few published in China not
dealing with linguistics or religion. Albuquerque (1682 – 1745) was an
illegitimate son of Antonio de Albuquerque, and a Portuguese colonial officer
to the Far East; he sailed from Goa to Macao in 1717 to assume his recent
appointment as Governor of the later. The work describes the hardships and
events occurred during the journey. In 1718 Albuquerque´s ship anchored at
Johor Lama, leading up to the conquest attack by Raja Kechil and the conquest
of the most powerful Malay kingdom, Tavares. Who accompanied
Albuquerque, takes notes of his observations and experiences during the
perilous voyage across the Malay, and along the coast of India and China.
“In view of the deplorable state of affairs, a carefully selected Captain-General
was appointed for Macao… the ship he was to sail in left him behind at Goa
evidently on purpose, as the captain owed him a grudge… The voyage,
unfortunately, was beset by hardships far greater than those undergone during
the overland journey. After sailing for two months without a pilot, the ship put
into Johore in distress. There Albuquerque helped the Sultan to quell a revolt…
resuming the voyage, he met further troubles. In the absence of a pilot, it was
Albuquerque himself who steered the ship as best he could” (C. R. Boxer, A
Fidalgo in the Far East, quoting Montalto de Jesus Historic Macao).
A rare work, only two copies have appear at auction in the last 50 years.
Howgego, A 47. Cordier, Sinica, 3219. Innocencio IV, 45. Azevedo-Samodaes
3325.
36With an early account of the 1589 Drake campaign, with an important
Provenance
[Teixeira, Jose]. A Treatise Paraenetical, that is to say: an exhortation wherein is
shewed by good and evident reasons, infallible arguments, most true and
certaine histories, and notable examples; the right way & true meanes to resist
the violence of the castilian King, to breake the course of his desseignes: to beat
downe his pride, and to ruinate his puissance. 1598. London. William Ponsoby.
In 4to (172 mm x 130 mm). 8 ff. + 28 + 37-160 pp. Early 20th century polished
calf, rebacked preserving spine, gilt fillets to boards, false raised bands to spine,
tooled in gilt, with lettering piece. Top edge of text trimmed a bit close,
occasionally just affecting page numbers, else a fine copy.
7,500 $ / 4,800 £
First edition in English of this anti-Spanish treatise; including an early account
of Sir Francis Drake's 1589 Lisbon campaign. "Contains references to Sir Francis
Drake, Brazil, the West Indies, etc. The Short Title Catalogue suggests that this
is an earlier edition of 'The Spanish Pilgrime,' by José Teixeira, translated by W.
P., London, 1625" (Sabin). In the preface, it is mentioned this is a translation
from the French (1597, Jean de Montlyard).
Extremely rare at auction, this copy was the last to appear at auction, since the
70´s.
Provenance:
the
Leconfield-Penrose copy, with Boies Penrose's bookplate on the front
pastedown. Penrose, a noted collector of works on travel and exploration, wrote
the landmark history Travel and discovery in the renaissance 1420-1620; his books
were sold in London in 1970. Contemporary ownership signature to top edge of
title page, partially trimmed. Sabin, 96752. Palau, 328878.
37The Polish King rejects the Peace offering from the Turks; rare imprint
including the capitulation with the Muscovites [Turkish Wars]. Las continuas vitorias que ha tenido el Serenissimo, y
Potentissimo Vladislao Quarto Rey de Polonia, Suecia, & y las capitulaciones
que admitio para la paz perpetua entre los Moscovitas, y su Reyno de Polonia
en este año de 1634. 1634. Madrid. Alonso Martin. In folio (280 mm x 200 mm).
2 ff. Unbound. Scattered foxing.
1,500 $ / 960 £
First edition. A remarkable relation, full of political and anti-Ottoman content,
of the victories obtained in battle by the King of Poland: particularly, the
engagements against Abasa Baxa, sent by the Turkish ruler to invade Poland
with a force of 3000[?] Ottoman soldiers, whilst the Polish King was entertained
with the Muscovites. After the initial successes fighting off the Turks, a small
fleet of Cossacks was sent to the Black Sea, to burn Turkish cities; as reprisal,
the Turkish sent through Transylvania a garrison of African soldiers, with
orders of attacking the Polish Capital, convinced that no resistance would be
found, as it turned, resistance was found. The imprint follows with the
capitulation signed between the Polish and the Muscovites, clearly benefiting
the Polish, and finishes with the peace offering sent by the Turks to the Polish,
in which was asked the destruction of the Cossacks, and the petition to not
interfere in Transylvanian affairs.
Rare, we could find three institutional copies.
Not in Palau.
38-
Intriguing imprint, narrating the fooling of a Turkish Pasha, and his execution
by Soleyman the Magnificent
[Turkish wars] [Anonymous]. Auszug, ettlicher Zeitungen, was sich zum
Anfang, des yetzigen Turckenkriegs, an ettlichen orten, inn Ungern, verloffen
und zugetragen, mit sampt Eroberung der Veste und Schols. 1566. Augsburg.
H. Zimmermann. In 4to (190 mm x 153 mm). 4 ff. Recent wrappers. Toning
throughout, else a fine copy.
3,500 $ / 2,250 £
One of three slightly differing issues printed by Zimmermann, with woodcut of
fighting cavalry on title. Quite interesting news from June 1566: Arshan, Pasha
of Ofen, a drinker and opium-smoker, had opened the siege of Palota. The
imprint describes his escape after having been fooled by 400 peasants´ cars
simulating an Imperial army. Suleyman the Magnificent had Arslan strangled
in Harsany, in August 3. After Palota the Imperial forces regained Vessprim
which had been held by the Turks since 1546. Simultaneously, Zrinyi defeated
Sandshak Mohammed of Tirbala, his son and whole army causing Suleyman´s
revenge and the siege of Szigeth. The Augsburg issues also contain an appendix
of the re-ocuppation of Totis on July 21.
Gollner, 1143, variant issue. Apponyi, Hungarica, 400.
39-
Giving news of the taking of a Mosque converted into a Church, and the ransom
for the Christian images captured
[Turks] Sandoval y Roxas, Don Francisco de. Aviso verdadero, y lamentable
relacion que haze el Capitan… al Señor Don Pedro Antonio de Aragon, dandole
quenta de las sacrilegas acciones que han obrado los perfidos Mahometanos con
las Santas imagines, y cosas sagradas que hallaron en la Mamora… Trato que
hizo el Governador della con los Moros; y lo demas que vera el Curioso. 1681.
Madrid. In folio (290 mm x 190 mm). 2 ff. Half calf over both, lettering piece to
spine. Excellent copy.
1,500 $ / 950 £
In 1610, by command of King Philip III, Spanish armies took Larache and
Mehdia (San Miguel de la Mamora, or Ultramar) in Northern Africa, currently
Morocco; for the troops to be garrisoned there, a Mosque was converted into a
Christian temple, under the spiritual guidance of Capuchin monks. The monks,
following a partial destruction of the images and religious art, ordered some to
be provided from Spain, including the image of a Nazarene, from Seville,
probably done by Juan de Mesa (the Spanish artist). In 1681 the Mamora fell to
Musley Ismael, so called King of Fez, and the image taken as booty. The image
was taken back to Mequinez, where apparently the image was dragged through
the streets and harmed. At one point, according to Sandoval, the image was
handed to the Moors, along with Jews, which raises a question: was the author
joining two “heretic” religions to prove his disdain towards them, or did it
actually happen that way? In any event, it´s an interesting eyewitness account
by a Spanish nobleman, the Duke of Lerma Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas.
Later, a deal was struck, and a ransom was arranged for the return of the
images, and others.
Very rare, we could only trace the copy held at the Biblioteca Nacional de
España.
40A fundamental work
on the progress of the Dominican Order in Ethiopia, a splendid armorial binding and
important provenance
Urreta, Luis (Fr.). Historia de la Sagrada Orden de Predicadores en los remotos
Reynos de la Etiopia. 1611. Valencia. Juan Chrysostomo Garriz. In 4to (205 mm
x 150 mm). 1 [blank] + 8 ff. + 416 + 3 ff. + 1 [bkank]. Contemporary limp vellum,
with losses, spine lettered in ink. Partially illegible ownership inscription,
wormholes throughout, occasionally touching text, however mostly in the wide
margins, light damp staining to few leaves. Overall, despite the defects
mentioned, a very genuine example, unrestored, in its entirely original
condition.
6,500 $ / 4,150 £
First edition. A seminal work on the progress of the Orden de Predicadores (Ordo
Praedicatorum), known as the Dominican Order, in Ethiopia; vast in details
regarding the Saints, martyrs and missionaries active in the region, their
experiences, hardships, evangelizing and settling. The work is very well
printed, and is illustrated with a few woodcuts in text, some of allegorical
nature. The Dominicans are probably most famous for their active participation
in the Holy Inquisition; their efforts to counteract the heresy in Ethiopia and
introduce the Catholic faith however, are to be counted amongst the most
important to have been carried out.
Rare, we can trace only one copy –this one- sold in 50 years, at Sotheby’s, 1964.
Olivier, 271(4). Palau, 345993. Salva, 3417.
41-
Unpublished manuscript describing the Middle East and the Holy Land Vera, Antonio Josef de. Brebe descripcion de los santos lugar[e]s d jerusalen, y
de los crecidos gastos que a los turcos annualmente se pagan, de usanzas y
tiranias inexcusables, por su conservacion, manutencion de los religiosos de
ntro. seraf[ic]o P. S. Francisco que les asisten para su guarda, custodia, y culto
en nombre de la Santa Yglesia Catholica. N.d. [ca. 1780]. N.p. [Middle East]. In
4to (204 mm x 142 mm). 1 [blank] + 2 ff. + 109 pp. + 3 pp. + 1 [blank].
Contemporary sheep, a little rubbed. Faint water stain, mainly to upper margin,
overall fresh and clean; fine manuscript on paper, legible hand, title page
within decorative frame.
16,000 $ / 10,250 £
Fine manuscript, unpublished and of which no other copies are found, of Vera´s
description of the Holy Places. Vera´s work is evidently very learned and
profits from a deep first-hand knowledge of the region; it is written to invite
pilgrims to visit de Holy Land, and to ease their journey towards it. To achieve
his goal, the author provides descriptions of regions and cities such as
Damascus, Jordan, Constantinople, Cyprus, and Lebanon. At the same time,
Vera aims to collect money for the protection and support of the Holy Places –
guarded by Catholic missionaries. It is dedicated to Don Juan Josef Bequer, and
Doña Maria Carmen Fernandez, the dedicatory is signed by Vera.
The author proves to have a deep knowledge of the religious policy of the
region, and of the clash of religious Orders in the Holy Land –each wanting the
appointment of guarding some relics or places. Even at that time, collecting
money for the Church was not an easy task, Vera complains of the dissuasive
attitude of people towards donating, reasoning that the donations were not
going to the right places, and claiming that these were attempts of lies of Friars
to take money “diciendo ser embustes de frayles, y sacaderos de dinero”.
As per the peregrination, there are chapters explaining the visit –even as a
guide as one may follow the instructions word by word- to each sighting: for
instance “Peregrinacion que se hace al valle Josafat, Huerto de Jetsemani y
Monte Olivete”, or “Peregrinacion, que se hace al Sto Monte Sion, por pasqua
del Espiritu Santo”. Each important place is described in the work, most with
exhaustive detail.
42Nader Shah Sacks Delhi, Capturing the Peacock Throne - and with It the Koh-iNoor
Voulton, Mons. de. Verdadeira, e exacta noticia dos progressos de Thamas
Kouli Khan Schach da Persia no Imperio do Gram Mogôr, escrita na lingua
Persiana em Belhy em 21 de Abril de 1739 e mandada a Roma por Mons.
Voulton. Acrecentada com outras chegadas por varias partes, com hum mapa
do Thesouro do Gram Mogôr levado a Hispahan pelo mesmo Schach. 1740.
Lisbon. Officina de Antonio Correa Lemos. In 4to (195 mm x 135 mm). 19 pp.
Recent calf. Excellent good condition overall.
3,000 $ / 1,900 £
First Portuguese edition; interesting eyewitness account of the shah of Persia’s
campaign against the Mughal Empire, with a reference to the diamond-studded
Peacock Throne. A Spanish translation was also published in 1740, but it lacks
the list of booty and the letters at the end that appear in this version. This is one
of the earliest references to one of the world´s most famous diamonds.
Nader Shah (Tahmasp Qoli Khan), ruler of Persia from 1736 to 1747, was
known as the second Alexander due to his military genius. This account
describes his greatest campaign, against the Mughal Empire. Picking up after
the Battle of Karnal in February 1739, Voulton describes how Nader Shah
starved the Mughal army into submission, then gives a lively account (with
much indirect discourse) of the treaty negotiations, polite exchanges of gifts, the
failure of negotiations, and the peaceful occupation of Delhi by Nader Shah,
with Mohammad Shah as his prisoner. Soon thereafter a rumor spread that
Mohammad Shah had killed Nader Shah, and in a popular uprising some
Persian soldiers were killed. Nader Shah, enraged, loosed his troops to sack the
city. (Some sources reported that 200,000 residents were killed in a single day.)
The account continues with the devastating effects of the massacre and
Mohammad Shah’s capitulation to Nader Shah’s terms. The work also relates
the banquet given by the King of Persia for the Mughal emperor [it was the
other way about] with famous Persian dancers, and the negotiations for a peace
treaty.
A list of the spoils gathered in India by Nader Shah (pp. 16-17) includes “O
Trono Imperial todo guarnecido de diamantes avaliado em 9 [courons].” This is
the famous Peacock Throne of the Mughal rulers, which now became the
famous Peacock Throne of the shahs of Persia. One of its diamonds was the
Koh-i-Noor, which according to legend was named by Nader Shah, who
exclaimed “koh-i-noor!” (“Mountain of light”) when he saw it. The earliest
known reference to the jewel by that name dates to 1739. An estimate of the
total of Nader Shah’s booty is given on p. 17. Lockhart, writing ca. 1926,
estimated the total value at £87,500,000. The volume ends with letters by
Voulton of late 1739 that relay information from a Russian diplomat in Isfahan,
reporting on Nader Shah’s failed siege of Babylonia (Baghdad), his embassy to
Russia, his attempts to establish trade with Europe, and his promises to the
pope that Christians in Isfahan and Yerevan (Armenia) will not be persecuted.
As a military leader under Sultan Husayn, last of the Safavid rulers of Persia,
Nader Shah (1688 or 1698-1747) drove out invading Russians and Turks; and
then he deposed Husayn and reigned as shah himself. Having conquered
enormous territories in the Middle East, he was briefly the most powerful ruler
in the region, but notorious for his despotism, cruelty, and paranoia. Persian
nobles assassinated him in 1747, and his empire disintegrated.
Voulton, a deserter from the French army at Pondicherry, fled to the court of
the Mughal Emperor, where he became court physician and a member of the
privy council. He was apparently with the army after the Battle of Karnal and
then in Delhi. The @Verdadeira e exacta noticia includes some details that do
not appear in other contemporary accounts, such as the description of Nader
Shah eating sweetmeats while he watched the massacre at Delhi.
Lockhart points out that the errors of the Portuguese edition are reproduced
and magnified in the Spanish, suggesting that the Portuguese edition is earlier.
He speculated that the Portuguese was translated from Latin or Italian, but was
unable to find a version in any other language; nor does OCLC list any.
Provenance: Dukes of Palmela library, with their monogram beneath the ducal
coronet stamped in purple ink on title page.
Not in JFB. Not in Innocêncio or Fonseca. Porbase locates a single copy at the
Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal.
43The Passion of
Christ in Syrian, with elements of the Ethiopian and Samaritan languages
Zanolini, Antonio. Tash'ithā dhe-ḥashshā dhe-Māran yēshū' Meshīḥā] Historia
passionis Domini Nostri Jesu Christi ex textu Syriaco defumta Cum elementis
Linguarum. 1714. Patavii. Typographia Sminarii. In 12mo (115 mm x 80 mm).
157 pp. + 32 ff. [Elementa linguarum Syriacae, Samariticae, & Aethiopicae].
Antique vellum, front board stamped in gilt with title. Title page with partially
erased stamp with monogram, and ownership rubric; some toning and foxing
spots, else fine.
2,500 $ / 1,600 £
First edition. An exceedingly rare history of the Passion of Jesus Christ,
translated into Syrian; the volume incorporates a section with the elements of
the Syrian, Samaritan and Ethiopic languages. Edited or compiled by Antonio
Zanolini (1693-1762), an Italian linguist, orientalist, and scholar; active at the
Padua Seminarium, Zanolini also authored the Lexicon Syriacum, the Lexicon
Chaldaico: Rabbinicum, the Disputationes ad Sacram Scripturam, and others.
A rare book, we could only find three copies worldwide, at the Bavarian State
Library, the National Library of Israel, and the British Library.