Search Results: Authors starting with G from Bruce McKittrick Rare Books

Loano: Francesco Castello, 1619. Gilt red morocco (V. Krafft), gilt outer and inner rectangles, gilt corner fleurons, spine and title gilt, all edges gilt, green silk marker. Only Edition: a dialog on fencing between master and student in three parts. The first treats the art and sport, discusses masters at arms, introduces long and short sword and describes the basic strokes. The second details the strategy, geometry, mathematics and maneuvers of offense and defense, noting that the thrust now dominates and the cut has been abandoned. The final part treats the deadliest mode, mounted fencing. Here the horse's impetus gives force to the sword and the opponent must be kept on the right hand and ahead - never behind. Antonio Alfieri (1653) copied Gaiani verbatim. I have found two copies in the U.S. In good condition. ¶Anglo, The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe passim; Anglo, "How to Kill a Man at your Ease" in Chivalry in the Renaissance ed. Anglo 12; Ayala, Bibliografia militare-italiana 198;… Read More

Naples: O. Salviani, 1580. CONTEMPORARY NEAPOLITAN BLIND-RULED AND GILT BROWN MOROCCO, two blind triple rule borders enclosing A WIDE FRAME OF A TYPICALLY SPANISH ROLL OF DRUMS, MASKS, HELMETS, SHIELDS, TOOLS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND WEAPONS, potted bouquets in the outer corners and angel heads in the inner corners, deeply impressed gilt central cartouche with AN UNIDENTIFIED DUCAL ARMORIAL CHARGE PAINTED ON A RAISED OVAL MEDALLION (painting worn), gilt birds in the spine compartments (base neatly repaired), evidence of four leather ties, edges gilt and gauffered.             Only Edition of this anthology of judicial opinions compiled for the use of law students in the Spanish Kingdom of Naples.             Primarily extracted from recent Spanish legal sources, these one hundred exemplary court decisions pose and resolve cases spanning DIVORCE, RAPE, ADULTERY, THEFT, TAXES, USURY, STUDENT DEBT, MONEY BETS, THE INHERITANCE, ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN, CONCUBINES, etc. The majority treat issues… Read More

Munich: J. Lindauer, 1800. CONTEMPORARY LIGHT BLUE SILK (rear panel rubbed), panels with silver gilt geometric frame, flat spine (faded to white) with the same ornament, blue paper label.             First Edition: for students studying at Munich's Royal Military Academy. These synchronistic tables provide a bird's-eye view of four and a half millennia - from 4000 B.C.E. to 476 C.E. They cover the history (two tables) and culture (also two) of the Hebrews, Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, and eventually, the Germans. One table treats their nation state's topography. The tables provide a snapshot of ancient governments, religions, customs, warcraft, arts, science, rivers, mountains, cities, flora and fauna. Gemünden taught grammar and history at the academy and dedicated this to Maximilian IV Joseph (1756-1825), then Prince-Elector of Bavaria, who was revitalizing his army. This copy almost certainly comes from his library - the light blue… Read More

Paris: J. II Le Blanc for J. Beguet, 1592. Contemporary vellum over soft paper boards (slightly damaged), medieval manuscript spine reinforcements, evidence of four pigskin ties. First Edition of this study of the ancient Greek liturgy performed annually on 16 October at the Basilica of St. Denis (Paris). A Counter-Reformation leader, Génébrard appended HIS REVISED AUTOBIBLIOGRAPHY - AMONG THE FIRST DOZEN TO BE PRINTED. It gives the full title, imprint and all editions of his thirty-one published texts, then lists nineteen of his works still in manuscript - his Bible recension and commentaries, a Syriac dictionary, Talmudic studies, balance of sacred and secular power.... A good copy (a few light stains, narrow worm trail in a few blank margins), some lower and outer edges uncut (natural paper flaw affecting three shoulder notes); early signature of F.M. Boscheron, title stamp of the St. Dié Seminary, two pages of notes from July 1830. ¶Burnett, Christian Hebraism in the Reformation Era 125;… Read More

Paris: Ulrich Gering and Berthold Rembolt, 1495. Late 17th- or early 18th-century mottled calf (worn, slightly wormed, crown repaired), spine and label gilt, edges sprinkled red.             The Moralia brings Christian mysticism, asceticism, dogma and allegory to bear on the story of Job's suffering. Pope Gregory marshaled Scripture alone to compose this massive commentary, which bridged the ancient and medieval worlds and remained a preeminent guide to moral theology through the Enlightenment.            Gering and Rembolt reshaped this encyclopedic commentary for young scholars and busy clerics keen on ready-reference by adding two apparatuses. The first of their innovative indices provides access to all the Bible verses referenced or quoted in Gregory's commentary - some 1500 entries in all. The second is topical, with over 300 entries on the natural world - animals, serpents, metals, herbs, woods, stars, human body parts, precious gems, wind, rivers, shadow, etc. - and on man-made… Read More

Augsburg: Günther Zainer, 1476. 19th-century gilt-ruled speckled calf (John Mackenzie; corners and hinges worn, spine crown neatly repaired), spine and red morocco label gilt, red edges.             EDITIO PRINCEPS. WILLIAM OF AUVERGNE PROPOSED "A NEW PHILOSOPHICAL VISION OF MAGIC AS APPLIED KNOWLEDGE" (Hansen). Favoring the scientific investigation of nature, his "view is both comprehensive...and marked by insight into the heart of the situation...he sees remarkably clearly what magic is" (Thorndike).             In his youth he read widely in books of judicial astronomy, magic and sorcery. Here he investigates superstitions associated with the stars, the elements, images, words, names, times, seasons, initiating actions, finding objects, dreams, auguries, constellations, sneezes, days, hours, figures, marks, images, alchemy, gemstones, minerals and metals. He discusses seeing the future in polished and reflecting surfaces like mirrors, two-edges swords, children's fingernails, egg… Read More