Search Results: Authors starting with L from Ursus Books

1868. LANDELLE, Gabriel, de la. Pigeon Vole. Aventures en l'Air. 414 pp., profusely illustrated. 8vo, 185 x 116 mm., bound in publisher's wrappers in a new red cloth folding box with a blue label. Paris: P. Brunet, 1868. A sound copy of a scarce little jewel of a book, which anticipates the books created by artists such as Max Ernst and Joseph Cornell. The pages are not only alive with images and ornaments, but there is the occasional use of red, blue and green for additional dramatic effect. While ostensibly a book on aviation, any importance it might have as such is distinctly overshadowed by the striking mise-en-page, and its role as a precursor of twentieth century avant-garde book design. The spine is broken but intact and the wrappers are worn. However, this is definitely an acceptable copy of a great rarity. Andel, The Avant-Garde Book 1900-1945, p. 10.

1561. LA PERRIÈRE, Guillaume de. Le Theatre des bons engins, Auquel sont continuz cent Emblemes moraux. 56 ff., (signatures A-G8 with the last blank), containing 100 woodcut emblems, each with dizain by La Perrière. 16 mo, 120 x 75 mm., bound in old stiff vellum. Lyon: Jean de Tournes, 1561. La Perrière's Theatre des bons engins is the earliest, and probably the most popular and influential French emblem book. The woodcut illustrations depict fishing, bird catching, chess playing, card playing, oil painting and two scenes of court tennis, as well as symbolic, allegorical and emblematic imagery often incorporating mythological figures and animals. The editions published by Jean de Tournes in Lyons in 1545 and thereafter contain newly designed woodcuts and the addition of moralizing titles, it is the model that was followed in both the subsequent Dutch and English versions of the Theatre as well as other in emblem books. Guillaume de la Perrière (1499-1565), a… Read More

1679. MENESTRIER, Claude-François. -- LA TOUR D'AUVERGNE, Louis Charles de, Prince de Turenne. Ludovico Magno theses ex universa philosophia dicat et consecrat Ludovicus a Turre-Arverniæ princeps Turennius. [16] pp., (page [4] blank). Engraved throughout: calligraphic title and text engraved by Louis Michault within elaborate emblematic and historiated borders engraved by Louis Cossin (i.e., Coquin) after Pierre-Paul Sevin. [Clermont Ferrand?], 1679. BOUND WITH: MENESTRIER, Claude-François and René d'ORIVAL. "A son Altesse Serenissime Monseigneur Louis-Auguste Prince Souverain de Dombes, sur son Imprimerie de Trévoux…" 4 ff., folio (405 x 267 mm.), deckle edges. [N.p., ca. 1701-1704]. Folio, 447 x 300 mm, bound in early 18th-century French red morocco gilt, sides paneled à la Du Seuil with inner and outer triple fillets, arabesque lozenge tools at corners of inner panel, spine intricately gold-tooled in compartments, title… Read More

2003. LALANNE, François-Xavier. Bestaire Ordinaire; Bestaire Necessaire; Bestaire Legendaire. 3 Volumes. Illustrated by François-Xavier Lalanne with 36 prints using a different technique such as aquatint, etching or lithography. Folio. 380 x 285 mm, loose in publisher's wrappers and slipcase. Paris: Les Presses de Serendip, 2003-2006. An immaculate set of the three fabulous bestiaries created by François-Xavier Lalanne in collaboration with Patrick Mauries at les Presses de Serendip. The illustrations are the work of Francois-Xavier Lalanne, half of the legendary duo known as Les Lalanne, although they rarely collaborated on individual pieces, and as here, François-Xavier preferred to create pieces inspired by the animal kingdom, while Claude favoured the botanical. Bestaire Ordinaire is number 30 of 63 copies, with the plates and the colophon initialled by Lalanne. Bestaire Legendaire is Number 30 of 63 copies, with the plates and the colophon initialled… Read More

2002. LALANNE, François-Xavier. Quelques Fables de La Fontaine. Illustrated with 19 etchings by François-Xavier Lalanne. Folio. 380 x 285 mm, loose as issued in publisher's wrappers and slipcase. Paris: Les Presses de Serendip, 2002. A pristine copy of this wonderful collection of some of La Fontaine's lesser know fables, including 'La Chatte métamorphosée en Femme', 'La Femme noyée', 'La Fortune et le Jeune Enfant', 'Le Mulet se vantant de sa généalogie', 'L'Amour et la Folie'. The illustrations are the work of Jean Francois Lalanne, half of the legendary duo known as Les Lalanne, although they rarely collaborated on individual pieces, and as here, François-Xavier preferred to create pieces inspired by the animal kingdom, while Claude favoured the botanical. One of 65 copies with each etching and the colophon initialed by Lalanne.

1925. HEARTFIELD, John. Gruben, Graeber, Dividenden. By Leo Lania. 121 pp. 8vo., bound in original cloth-backed boards designed by John Heartfield. Berlin: Malik Verlag, 1925. A scarce Malik Verlag title bearing the work of the prolific left-wing Austrian writer Leo Lania. This is a fine copy of this striking example of Heartfield's imagination as a book designer. Slight wear to the corners. Siepmann. Montage: John Heartfield vom Club Dada zur Arbeiter-Illustrierter Zeitung A58.

1957. CHAGALL, Marc. Chagall. By Jacques Lassaigne. Illustrated with several color lithographs by Chagall (some folding) and numerous reproductions of Chagall's works. 4to., original illustrated color wrappers. Paris: Maeght Editeur, 1957. An important survey of Chagall's work for which he contributed a total of 12 original lithographs.

1756. LE BLON, Jacques-Christophe and Antoine GAUTIER DE MONTDORGE. L'Art d'Imprimer les Tableaux. Traité d'après les Ecrits, les Opérations & les Instructions verbales, de J.C. Le Blon. xi, vi, [2], [xiii]-xxv, [26]-180, [4] pp., illustrated with 1 hand coloured sepia mezzotint and two black and white folding plates. 8vo, 195 x 125 mm., bound in contemporary mottled calf. Paris: Chéz P.G. Le Mercier, Jean-Luc Nyon, Michel Lambert, 1756. Le Blon was the inventor of the three colour method of printing in mezzotint and this little book is considered a key work in the history of colour printing. Le Blon's colour theory formed the foundation for modern colour printing. The bilingual text of Coloritto is in French and English; followed by the French essay of explanation and justification. Includes the renowned folding plate of an artist's palette in sepia mezzotint hand coloured to show the range and relationship of different 'tinctures.'… Read More

1768. LE GEAY, Jean Laurent. Rovine, inventione di Giovan. Loren. Legeay Architet., intagliate da lui stesso in Luce 1768. [24] ff. (24 etchings). 275 x 210 mm., bound in contemporary half-calf over boards. [London]: n.p., 1768. Complete set of the first issue of Le Geay's extremely rare and extraordinary series of architectural fantasies on the themes of fountains, tombs, ruins and vases, combining references to the antique past (including crumbling Egyptian and Roman ruins), Biblical subjects, monsters, reptiles, Chinese figures, plaques with indecipherable inscriptions, and much more, all set in decaying, classical landscapes. These twenty-four etchings comprise the earliest version of Le Geay's most celebrated graphic works. The etchings in the present set belong to the first issue printed when Le Geay was in London. Three of the suites are dated 1767-1768 and are captioned in Italian. A few critics (namely Emile Kaufmann and Jean-Claude Lemagny) have suggested that these… Read More

1764. LE PRINCE, Jean Baptiste. Divers Habillemens des Femmes de Moscovie. Dediée à M. de Lagrenée Peintre du roi, par son humble et très obéïssant Snr J.B. Le Prince. Complete suite of six numbered engravings on three sheets, signed "Le Prince 1764." Tipped-on and mounted on heavier paper, in window mats. Moscow: [1764]. WITH: ____________. IIe Suitte d'habillements des Femmes de Moscovie. Complete set of six numbered engraved plates on three sheets, signed "Le Prince 1768." Tipped-on and mounted on heavier paper, in window mats. Preserved in folding box of green paper over boards. Moscow: [1768]. Early issue of two suites from Le Prince's celebrated album of Russian Cries and Costume, which "constitute an important part of the pictorial record of the time" (Beall p. 485). Le Prince's Russian etchings became hugely popular and have been justly praised for their documentary as well as their artistic… Read More

1927. LEBEDEV, W. Kak rubanok sdelal rubanok. By Samuel Marschak. 12 pp., illustrated throughout by Lebedev. Folio, 280 x 215 mm., bound in original illustrated wrappers, preserved in a new cloth folding box. Leningrad: Raduga, 1927. First edition of this classic Russian children's book with illustrations by Lebedev. In this anthropomorphic poem, "How a plane made a plane," an old carpenter's plane realizes he can no longer do his job. With the help of his friends, the saw, mallet, and chisel, the plane creates a new young plane, his "grandson," who will take his place. A fine copy, rare with OCLC listing copies at Princeton, NYPL, University of Washington and the Toronto Public Library.

1812. RUSSIA. Histoire de Russie et des Principales Nations de l'Empire Russe. By Pierre-Charles Levesque. Eight volumes of text. xxxii, 371; 382; 395; 475; 420; 476; 453 [3]; 468 pp. 8vo., 220 x 135 mm, AND one volume Atlas in 4to., 272 x 218 mm, consisting of a folding map and 61 plates depicting portraits of the Tsars. Bound in original publisher's decorative wrappers. Uncut and partially unopened. Paris: Fournier, 1812. Fourth, and Best Edition of this classic history of Russia. An exceptional survival, completely preserved in the original publisher's marbled paper wrappers, uncut and partially unopened. This fourth edition is the most complete and desireable because it reprints Levesque's text from the 1800 edition, updated with extensive corrections and enlarged with the addition of his important life of Catherine the Great. The Histoire has further been added to with coverage up to the death of Tsar Paul 1 by Conrad Malte-Brun and Georges-Bernard Depping,… Read More

1986. LEWITT, Sol. Piramidi. 10 lithographs, each 222 × 680 mm, in publisher's cardboard box, preserved in a new cloth folding box. Turin: Marco Noire Editore, 1986. This stunning set of lithographs recall the splendid wall drawings of pyramids that the artist conceived of between 1985 and 1994. These consisted of floor to ceiling pyramids constructed of multiple facets, set against uniform backgrounds. Each work was drawn directly on the walls in successive layers of delicate ink washes, alternating in yellow, red, blue and gray. It is no accident that the results recall Renaissance frescoes since LeWitt first developed this technique after moving from New York to Spoleto, Italy in 1980. Unlke the wall drawings, many of which no longer exist, this set of lithographs bears lasting testimony to Lewitt's genius. An immaculate copy in its original cardboard box. One of an edition of 400 copies, signed by Lewitt. Barbara Krakower Gallery, Sol Lewitt Prints Catalogue Raisonne 1986.02.

1934. L'HUMANITE. L'Humanite 20 Ans. Illustrated throughout with photomontages. Folio, bound in original staple-bound wrappers, preserved in a new red cloth box. Paris: Organe Central Du Parti Communiste, August 1934. A fine copy of this fragile issue of the celebrated Communist paper L'Humanite published to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. The entire issue has a very imaginative layout, and makes extensive use of photomontage.

1884. LIEBERT, A. La Photographie en Amérique: traité complet de Photographie pratique, contenant les Découvertes les plus récentes. Quatrième édition, augmentée d'un Appendice sur le Gélatino-Bromure. x, [2], 656, vi, 24, [657]-679, [1], pp. Illustrated with a photogravure portrait of the author as frontispiece, 8 full page illustrations including four full page card inserts, each containing three mounted carbon photographs illustrating various lighting options demonstrated on the verso with illustrations, full page card insert containing two mounted woodburytypes illustrating before and after retouching, two full page cards containing carbon photographs, and finally a mounted lithograph, plus numerious in-text diagrams and illustrations. 8vo., bound in publisher's polychrome red cloth with an illustration of the sun and a camera. Paris: B. Tignol, 1884. Fourth Edition of this popular French guide to the latest photographic… Read More

1937. ROLLS-ROYCE. Rolls-Royce, Phantom III. Introduction by Wilfred Gordon Aston. 44 pp. Illustrated with 7 colour images of cars, one large folding plate showing the top and side view of the 40-50 H.P. chassis, four full-page photographic images of a showroom, service depot, and classroom, and engine and car diagrams throughout. Folio, 325 x 240 mm, spiral bound in the original red and gold illustrated wrappers, flyleaves featuring the Rolls-Royce logo drawn in red by Charles Sykes. London: Rolls-Royce Limited, [1937]. An elaborate promotional brochure for the Rolls-Royce model Phantom III, "a motor-car capable of satisfying , to a hitherto unachieved extent, not only the conditions of to-day, but also those of to-morrow." With many illustrations and information on special features, prices, inspection, overseas service, and the guarantee. PROVENANCE: Stamp on front fly-leaf of The Shuttleworth Collection, the famous aeronautical and automotive museum in England.

1854. [STANLEY, Henry, editor and English translator]. LIONNE, Artus de, Bishop of Rosalie. Chinese Manual. Sse tse ouen tsien-tchou … Four words literature (with) commentary (or) explication … Recueil des phrases Chinoises composées de quartre caractères et dont les explications sont rangées dans l'ordre alphabétique francais. viii, 75 pp. Folio, bound in original publisher's yellow cloth. London: Harrison and Sons [for Henry Stanley], 1854. A collection of Chinese phrases with English and French equivalents from Lionne's original manuscript. First Edition, printed on blue paper throughout and printed lithographically from the manuscript; edited by and with a preface in English by Henry Stanley, the eminent diplomat and Orientalist (see DNB). The work is comprised of Chinese phrases collected by one of the French Jesuit Missionaries in China. The Peking dialect is used throughout. The orthography of pronunciation is French. The Chinese… Read More

1934. LISSITZKY, El. URSS en Construction. Quatre Victoires. No. 2. 40 pp., with Russian photomontage images throughout. Folio, 415 x 300 mm., bound in original wrappers, preserved in a recent cloth box. Moscow: Editions d'Etat des Beaux-Arts, February 1934. A fine copy of one of the most sought-after issues of this landmark periodical, this one devoted to four major Soviet achievements. As Martin Parr says, "from 1930-1940 URSS en Construction employed the best Soviet photo-journalists and graphic designers. Amongst the photographers were Max Alpert, Arkadi Shaikhet, Georgi Zeima, Boris Ignatovich, Semen Fridland and Georgi Shaikhet. Designers included El Lissitzky, Sophie Kueppers, Aleksandr Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova, and Nikolai Troshin who designed this issue and over forty others. All the visual strategies of the propaganda photobooks, designed by Lissitzky, Rodchenko and others -- the elaborate photomontages, innovative photography, fold-out pages, transparent overlays and… Read More

1933. LISSITZKY, El. USSR im Bau. Der Nordost-Seeweg ist offen. No. 9. [ca. 58] pp., illustrated with Russian photomontage images throughout and a concertina foldout plate. Folio, 415 x 300 mm., bound in original illustrated wrappers, in a new cloth folding box. Moscow: Staatlicher Kunstverlag, 1933. A fine copy of one of the most sought-after issues of this landmark periodical, this one devoted to opening up of the Eastern sea route. As Martin Parr says, "from 1930-1940 URSS en Construction employed the best Soviet photo-journalists and graphic designers. Amongst the photographers were Max Alpert, Arkadi Shaikhet, Georgi Zeima, Boris Ignatovich, Semen Fridland and Georgi Shaikhet. Designers included El Lissitzky, Sophie Kueppers, Aleksandr Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova, and Nikolai Troshin who designed this issue and over forty others. All the visual strategies of the propaganda photobooks, designed by Lissitzky, Rodchenko and others -- the elaborate photomontages, innovative… Read More

1923. LISSITZKY, El. Dlya Golosa. [For Reading Out Loud]. By Vladimir Mayakovsky. 61, [3] pp., illustrated throughout by Lissitzky. 8vo, 187 x 132 mm., bound in original publisher's thick orange wrappers designed by Lissitzky, housed in a new cloth box. Berlin: Gosizdat, 1923. One of the cornerstones of any collection of Russian Futurist books. Dlya Golosa is widely considered to be Lissitzky's masterpiece of modern typography. Lissitzky designed title pages for each of Mayakovsky's poems, which are some of his most frequently quoted poetic works, including "Left March," "Ramble," "The Third International," "The Art Army," "Love," and "The Story of Red Riding Hood." Lissitzky described the inspiration that prompted the innovative design of Dlya Golosa in his essay "Typographical Facts": "To make it easier for the reader to find any particular poem, I use an alphabetical (i.e., thumb-indexed) index. The… Read More