Our members list new acquisitions and recently catalogued items almost every day of the year. Below, you'll find a few highlights from these recent additions...
Spalding’s Base Ball Guide and Official League Book for 1887
Spotted on Argonaut Bok Shop's Instagram feed:
Today is the official Opening Day of Major League Baseball!
Perhaps it is the perfect time to remind ourselves of the rules of the game. What better way to do that than to peruse the Spalding's Baseball Guide from the year 1887. While this might be the the eleventh annual edition of this standard handbook, it is incredibly important “as it presents, for the first time, a new code of playing-rules which will govern every professional club in the country.” Before this, each professional baseball organization was allowed to make up their own rules of the game. That doesn't seem very organized to me! SPALDING, A. G. Spalding’s Base Ball Guide and Official League Book for 1887. 16mo. 6¼ x 4 inches. Pp. 142, [2], 32 (ads). One illustration, one portrait. Publisher’s yellow pictorial wrappers. Spine slightly rubbed with minor wear to foot of spine, tiny chip to lower corner of front wrapper, leaves slightly toned. A fine and clean copy. Chicago and New York: A. G. Spalding & Bros., 1887.
First edition for the year but the eleventh annual edition of the standard handbook and official guide of the national game. Scarce in this condition. Presents pitchers’ records in victories for the 1886 season as well as records of the veteran batsmen of the league from 1876 to 1886. This annual is important “as it presents, for the first time, a new code of playing-rules which will govern every professional club in the country.” Prior to this particular guide, different playing rules governed each professional organization. With the new “code of playing-rules” the rules throughout the organization were standardized. The last 32 pages present illustrated advertisements for Spalding products.
Offered by Argonaut Book Shop, but not currently listed on abaa.org. (Contact the store directly if interested.)
by David Mosley
n.p., 1969. 23x29 inch poster, pinholes at corners, foxing across lower field, upper left corner torn off. David Mosley produced a number of posters of contemporary Black icons in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Offered by Bolerium Books.
London: Grant and Griffith, Successors to J. Harris, Corner of St. Paul's Churchyard, 1845.
Early edition of this classic English collection of tongue twisters, including the famous "Peter Piper" of the title, with his peck of pepper. Each letter of the alphabet receives its own absurd alliterative rhyme -- "If Tip-Toe Tommy turn'd a Turk for Two-pence, / Where's the Turk for Two-pence Tip-toe Tommy turn'd?" - accompanied by a hand-colored illustration. At the end of the alphabet are four pages of riddles: "Why is a proud woman like a music-book? Because she is full of airs." First published by John Harris in 1813, Peter Piper's Practical Principles was a resounding success with children, if not critics. A contemporary reviewer dismissed "Lanky Laurence," who "lost his lass and lobster," as "degrading trash," and looked back nostalgically to the dignified simplicity of the horn-book (London Magazine, November 1820). This edition was printed sometime between 1843, when publishers Grant and Griffith took over as successors to Harris, and 1856, when Grant retired and Griffith partnered with Robert Farran. The presence of the Harris wrappers suggests that this copy was printed earlier, rather than later, in that period. Moon 629 (7). A near-fine copy of a delightful collection. Twelvemo, measuring 7 x 4.75 inches: 32, 3, [1]. Original yellow card wrappers printed in black, bearing "John Harris" imprint. Illustrated with twenty-four hand-colored wood engravings throughout text, four pages of publisher's advertisements at rear. Monogram label of children's book collector Albert A. Howard affixed to lower wrapper. Wrappers lightly soiled, one-inch split at head of spine, lightest occasional foxing to text.
Offered by Honey & Wax Booksellers.
by FABER, GREGOR CA. 1520-AFTER 1554
Basileae [Basel]: [Heinrichum Petri], 1553. Hirsch I, 163. Eitner III, 370. Cortot p. 73. Gregory-Bartlett p. 86. Davidsson 32. Lowinsky: Josquin des Pres, pp. 159, 277. RISM BVI p. 301 (3 copies in the U.S.).
Faber was a noted German music theorist. "In 1545 he entered the University of Leipzig and in the following year he received the baccalaureate degree. After becoming a magister in 1547 he enrolled in 1549 at the University of Tübingen, where in 1554 he was awarded the degree of doctor of medicine. Meanwhile he had become a music teacher at the university and had published the treatise on which his fame rests, Musices practicae erotematum libri II (Basle, 1553)."
"Faber's treatise exhibits both conservative and progressive traits. It follows the format of Sebald Heyden's De arte canendi, for it also consists of two books, the first on the elements of music and the second on the intricacies of mensural notation. Faber's book 1, however, discusses at length the philosophy of music, an appropriate subject for a university textbook. He borrowed numerous music examples from Heyden, including Ockeghem's well-known Prenez sur moy and the Kyrie II from Isaac's Missa 'Quant j'ay au cueur'. He was one of the few theorists who followed Heyden's theory of a single tactus that could be applied to all mensurations. Although Faber praised Glarean's theory of 12 modes, he still adhered to the eight-mode system. His progressive thought is shown in comments on musica ficta and particularly on an outstanding example of it, Matthias Greiter's Passibus ambiguis for four voices. This extraordinary composition contains written-out accidentals and modulates by a downward circle of 5ths from F to F♭, the chord on which the composition ends." Clement A. Miller in Grove Music Online.
Offered by J. & J. Lubrano Music Antiquarians.
by MILTON, JOHN
Birmingham: Printed by John Baskerville for J. and R. Tonson, 1760. Third Baskerville Edition. Hardcover. large Octavos, [xix]+lxxii+[v]+416 pages; G; in early brown calf boards, rebacked with new spine, black label and gilt lettering; some bowing to boards, moderate rubbing and scuffing; marbled endpapers; torn bookplate remnants on ffep; some water damage; gift inscription on title page; Life of Milton bound within; With scarce list of Subscribers, including Benjamin Franklin; Wickenheiser 702, Coleridge 123, Kohler 38; shelved case 0. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.
Offered by Second Story Books.
New York & Boston: Dodd, Mead and Company; Printed by D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, 1898. First edition thus.
A wonderfully illustrated Alice book, excessively rare, designed and printed at the Merrymount Press by D. B. Updike, with superb full color pictorial illustration on front cover, and detailed patterned floral design on rear cover on paper covered boards, and four full-page plates (in red and black), all by the renowned artist and typeface designer, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue. Longitudinal lettering in redbrown on spine, additional lettering in black. Orange decorated endpapers. One of Goodhue’s hardest to find titles, even more so in this condition, given its notoriously fragile nature. Near fine condition. An early Merrymount title. At time of writing, no copies located on internet.
Offered by Nudelman Rare Books. (Featured in their new catalog, Catalog 42 -- item #100. This item is not listed on abaa.org.)
Previously listed:
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Near fine first edition with the words "First Published in 1937" printed on the copyright page. In original green cloth with very light tanning, rubbing at the spine, and edgewear. In fine facsimile dust jacket of the first issue; First Issue point with the correction of the 'e' in the 'Dodgeson' present on the rear flap. Housed in custom-made slipcase.
Offered by Bookbid Rare Books.
Little Town on the Prairie (First Edition)
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1941. First Edition. Near Fine/Very Good. First edition stated, first printing with "K-Q" code on copyright page. Publisher's beige cloth binding stamped in dark red. Near Fine, with light toning to pages, and bookseller ticket to rear paste down. In a Very Good un-clipped dust jacket, with light chipping at corners and spine ends, toning to spine and edges, soiling and amateur color corrections to spine edges. The seventh of nine books in the beloved children's series, Little House on the Prairie.
Offered by Burnside Rare Books.
by James W. Buel
Philadelphia:: Historical Publishing, 1889., 1889. 4to. [ii], 722 pp. Chromolithographic frontis., 8 chromolithographic plates [facing pp. Frontis., 8, 56, 130, 276, 528, 648, 664], more than 1200 engravings, index; some leaves brittle along extremities. Original brown decorative black, silver- and gilt-stamped cloth; soiled, worn, cellophane tape applied to first and last leaves at gutter. Ownership signature of Ralph Manheimer, Christmass 1893. Good.
A beautifully illustrated compendium, written for young people, of writing on the animal kingdom, from mammals and birds to insects and crustaceans. FULL TITLE: The Living World: A Complete Natural History of the World's Creatures, Fishes, Reptiles, Insects, Birds and Mammals. Founded upon the Theory of the Progression of Species, and in Accordance with Genetic Revelation, Scriptural Truths, and the Harmony of Nature. With Introduction Describing the Geological Ages, Changes in the Earth's Crusts, Fossil Remains of Extinct Animals, and Monsters of the Ancient Seas. Replete with Anecdote, Incident and Adventure, Illustrative of the Habits of the Animals Described. Abounding with Thrilling Experiences, Wonderful Discovery, Exciting Episodes and Descriptions of the Marvellous Curiosities of Nature in all parts of the Globe.
Offered by Jeff Weber Rare Books.
By Alice Notley, William S. Burroughs, Robert Creeley, et al.
Boulder: Bombay Gin, 1979. First edition. Paperback. Very Good. Issue #6 of this small press poetry magazine. Thick stapled wrappers with cover art by Robert Duncan. A very good well-stapled copy. Contributors include Allen Ginsberg, Larry Fagin, Burroughs and a huge host of the familiar characters.
Offered by Derringer Books.
Galactic Derelict (First Edition, Signed)
by Andre Norton
Cleveland and New York: The World Publishing Company, 1959. Octavo, cloth. First edition. Brief signed inscription by Norton on the title page. The second volume in the "Time Traders" series. A fine copy in very good dust jacket with light wear to spine ends and front corner tips and some dust soiling to rear panel.
Offered by L.W. Currey.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Volumes 1 & 2.
by Julia Child, Simone Beck, & Louisette Bertholle
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961 & 1970. First editions of both volumes of this classic cook book. Quarto, 2 volumes, original illustrated boards. Volume 1 is signed on the title page by both Julia Child and Simone Beck. Volume two is signed by Julia Child on the title page. Volume one and two with drawings by Sidonie Coryn. Drawings by Paul Child. Both are fine in near fine dust jackets, contemporary inscription to the half-title page of volume one. An exceptional set, rare signed in both volumes and in this condition. Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking is arguably the most influential work on French food ever published in the United States. A "self-confessed ham, she became a darling of audiences almost from the moment she made her debut in 1963 at the age of 50" (New York Times).
Offered by Raptis Rare Books.
Theodore Roosevelt, Men of the Day. No. 849
by FLAGG, JAMES MONTGOMERY
London: Vanity Fair, 1902. unbound. very good. Lithograph. 15.75" x 10.5". In very good condition. Men of the Day No. 849, The President of the United States. American artist and illustrator best remembered for his depiction of Uncle Sam on recruiting posters during the First and Second World Wars.
Offered by Argosy Book Store.
by (BINDINGS - JEWELLED). FALCONER, WILLIAM
Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1858.
From the superb collection of American bibliophile Phoebe Boyle, this is a magnificent example of a jewelled binding from the Edwardian golden age of the craft, when Sangorski & Sutcliffe and Riviere engaged in a competition to produce the most lavish works imaginable and thereby created treasures sought after by generations of bibliophiles. Perhaps the premier practitioner of the art of the jewelled binding, the atelier founded by Francis Sangorski and George Sutcliffe reached its zenith in the first dozen years of the 20th century, when their most gorgeous gem-encrusted bindings were produced. The binders drew detailed designs that reflected the contents of the book in question, and even went so far as to register some of these--like the present item--with the Patent Office to ensure they were not copied. Stephen Ratcliffe estimates that "no more than 300 were ever produced," and given the labor-intensive process required to produce a binding like the present one, this small number is not surprising: hundreds of man-hours would have been required to craft these intricate inlays and onlays, to make the thousands of applications of gold, and to set the dozens of gemstones. Our appropriately nautical binding covers a fine illustrated edition of the popular poem by Falconer (1732-69), recounting the wreck of a ship on the coast of Greece. Written in three cantos, the work first appeared in 1762, with revised versions issued in 1764 and 1769, the year the author was drowned at sea, himself the victim of a shipwreck. The present edition is enriched with engravings after Birket Foster (1825-99), described by DNB as "the most sought-after poetry illustrator of the day, associated with all the popular names, including Sir Walter Scott." New York collector Phoebe A. D. Boyle was the widow of a canvas manufacturer who had made a fortune providing tents to the U.S. Army in the Civil War. George Sutcliffe described his important client as "rivalling the Medici in her patronage of the production of beautiful books." (Shepherd, "The Cinderella of the Arts," p. 63) Stephen Ratcliffe describes the Boyle collection as "unrivalled" for its jewelled bindings and modern illuminated manuscripts, and any book from the Boyle collection, which was put together with the greatest taste and discrimination, is recognized as desirable beyond its intrinsic merit.. 201 x 153 mm. (7 7/8 x 5 5/8"). xxxvi, [2], [11]-153, [1] pp.With a life of the author by Robert Carruthers.
Offered by Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books.
Greenpoint, NY, 1869. Scarce large albumen prints of the beginning of the construction of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, the most daring engineering feat of its time. The images are held by the Museum of the City of New York, but not by the Brooklyn Museum or Brooklyn Public Library. Showing construction of the bridge, an object of fascination for the public, although newspaper editorials scoffed at the enormous undertaking. The Talfor view is taken from the Brooklyn side looking toward Manhattan across the East River, with a massive pile of rocks in the forming the base of the pier. In the foreground wooden hoists frame the foundation, and temporaryconstruction shacks surround it. In the middle ground lies the East River, and tall -masted ships can be seen at anchor on the Manhattan side.
Robert B. Talfor is known for the very rare 'Photographic Views of Red River Raft' of 1873. The 113 hand colored photographs measuring 9 x 7" document the landscape and the lives of the crews working on this massive project to remove the thousand year old log jam which blocked the Red River in Louisiana. The lot sold for $93,750, in February 2018. During the Civil War Talfor was a topographic engineer who mapped out battlefields. (The maps are listed on OCLC.) After the war he founded a photography studio in Greenpoint (Brooklyn). Curtain's Greenpoint Directory of 1868/9 records him in Brooklyn as follows: Talfor, Robert B. photographs, Washington c Greenpoint Ave, h. Eagle. By the early 1870s Talfor was in Louisiana taking the striking images of the Red River Raft project.
The Talfor albumen photograph: 16 x 10 1/2" laid down on board 19 x 14 1/4". Title printed below the image with "East River Bridge" in an elaborate type font. Edges of board rubbed, corners slightly chipped. Photograph with a few small marks at lower edge, outside image. Period note on verso, "Which do you put first, [ditto] faces glass". Possibly a window display note? [with] 3 additional large albumen photographs of the terminal buildings under construction at each end of the Brooklyn Bridge. These massive multistory shed-like structures were also called terminal sheds; here commuters embarked and disembarked to take other mass transit. Two of the images appear to be the Manhattan terminal building (at Park Row) under construction, because tall buildings surround the cast iron structure, and tram lines are visible in the road. These two images depict the terminal at the very beginning of construction (a close up of the steel outer shell, with workers in the foreground and standing on the roof ridge), and the finished building, with city dwellers passing on the sidewalk below. One is "N.Y. Station, East River Bridge.", ca. 1875 according to the Museum of the City of New York website. The third albumen likely shows the Brooklyn terminal building under construction, as the surrounding area is not as developed as the Manhattan side. Two men stand in the foreground of the half completed steel structure. The three terminal building photographs: 8 1/2 x 6 1/4" mounted on board, 14 x 11". Board dusty, one scratch at lower edge of print. Second image, 16 1/2 x 13" on board 20 1/4 x 16 1/4", board extensively chipped at edges, one corner repaired on verso with archival tape; damp stains top edge of image. Third image 10 3/4 x 8 1/2", borders extensively scuffed & marked. Images are mounted in archival mounts. Scarce photographs of the very beginnings of the construction of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
Offered by Antipodean Books, Maps, & Prints.
'Space Race' Wooden Tabletop Game
Midcentury French tabletop wooden game based on the Space Race of the 1950s and 1960s between the Soviet Union and the United States, housed inside of a hinged wooden box and comprised of a revolving spring-loaded wooden launcher, two original plastic rockets for launching, a set of score-keeping beads, and a color illustration of Soviet and American rockets and satellites in space affixed to the inside of the lid with eight different target cups bearing the names of various planets and rockets, the same illustration affixed to the exterior of the lid. Very light signs of wear and shallow scratches to exterior, excellent overall condition. Vox measures 21-1/2 by 11-3/4 by 3 inches, closed. N.p. (France) n.d. (circa 1960s). The Space Race officially began on August 2, 1955, when the Soviet Union responded to the announcement made by the United States 4 days ealier of their intent to launch artifical satellites, by declaring that they would also launch a satellite in the near future. This game features major figures from the Space Race, with the red launch rocket (and corresponding red target cup and accompanying illustration) referring to Yuri Gagarin, the first human to orbit Earth, and the yellow launch rocket (and corresponding yellow target cup and accompanying illustration) referring to Leroy Gordon Cooper, the US astronaut who manned the longest and final Mercury spaceflight in 1963. The other target cups have labels for the moon, Mars, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto. A well-made tabletop game, from a time of global fascination with outer space and spaceflight.
Offered by F.A. Bernett Books.
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