Search Results: Titles starting with T from Ursus Books

1813. ANONYMOUS. Tableau ou Description de la Russie. Avec les Moeurs, Usages, Coutumes, Religion de ses Divers Peuples. Orne de Jolies Figures. [4], 139, [1] pp., with 7 plates. 12mo, 130 x 80 mm., bound in half reddish calf over red marbled paper covered boards. Paris: Chez H. Nicole, Rue de Seine, 1813. A charming little book on various aspects of Russia, which is very rare, and would appear to be unrecorded, since we can find no record of it in any data base, or any of the standard bibliographies. Although the format is the same as the work by Breton de la Martiniere published in the same year, the illustrations are far less sophisticated and, of course, the book is a fraction of the length. Hinges, head and tale worn, but sound, internally fine.

1932. LALAU, Maurice. Tabubu. By J.H. Rosny Ainé. Illustrated throughout with silver and gold highlighted decorations by Lalau. 12mo., original illustrated wrappers, cover adorned with a Lalau decoration highlighted in gold, preserved in a half-morocco folding box. Paris: Jules Meynial, n.d.(1932). An immaculate copy of this art-deco masterpiece. A true jewel of art-deco book illustration. Illustrated with exquisite colour woodcuts printed by Lalau in his atelier, this is one of the finest books of the period. As a book illustrator Lalau is definitely not in the front rank, but somehow with this little book he managed to outdo himself. As copies virtually never appear on the market, the book is practically unknown, and even escaped the attention of Gordon Ray, the pioneer collector of art-deco books in America. One of only 110 copies.

1741. CORTONA, Pietro da. Tabulae Anatomicae a Celeberrimo Pictore Petro Berrettino Cortonesi. Text by Cajetano Petrioli. [4], 84 pp. Illustrated with an engraved plate on title and 27 full-page engraved anatomical plates after Pietro da Cortona. Folio, 405 x 285 mm, bound in contemporary Italian calf. Rome: Antonii de Rubeis, 1741. First Edition. One of the most artistic anatomical atlases ever published. The images were designed by the great Italian painter of the High Baroque period, Pietro da Cortona. "There is no doubt that among Italian painters, he [Pietro da Cortona] must be considered the most influential personality of his generation, and this pre-eminence was recognized by his own contemporaries" (Encyclopedia of World Art XI, 355-56). Cortona's elegant figures echo the style of other Renaissance Baroque artists, however, these studies for the Tabulae Anatomicae stand apart from those of his contemporaries. Cortona prepared the original drawings around the… Read More

1935. KAWARASAKI, Kodo. Takara Zukushi. [Symbols of Treasure]. 2 volumes. Each volume with 13 leaves, including 24 woodcut illustrations, of which 12 are in colour, on double leaves folded accordion style (orihon). Oblong folio, 260 x 385 mm., bound in publisher's illustrated boards, in a new chitsu case. Kyoto: Unsodo, 1935. A superb example of colour woodblock printing used to produce a typical Japanese design portfolio. Unsodo is the name of a large Japanese publishing company with branches in both Tokyo and Kyoto. Founded in 1891, this company is still in existence today. From the 1890s through the 1930s, the Unsodo publishing house was involved in printing high quality pattern books for various crafts including textiles and lacquer.

1834. ISE, Sadatsune and Nobumitsu KURIHARA. Tazuna Zushiki. [Horse Rein/Bridle Designs]. 10 leaves, including 7 double-page colour woodcuts, on double leaves folded accordion style (orihon). 8vo, 249 x 170 mm., bound in publisher's patterned boards with title-label on top cover, preserved in a new chitsu folding case. Japan, ca. 1834. An attractive collection of coloured woodcut designs for the regimental reins and/or bridles of horses, a fact not obvious from the designs themselves, which take the form of strips of alternating colours. A rare book in fine condition.

1942. TOKYO NICHINICHI SHINBUNSHA. Teikoku kaigun no iyo. 36 ff., illustrated throughout with photomontages. Oblong 4to., 350 x 255 mm., bound in publisher's illustrated blue cloth stamped in silver and original printed cardboard slipcase. Tokyo: Tokyo Nichinichi Shinbunsha, 1942. A spectacular photo book on the Japanese Navy in World War II. It is two parts, the first one covers naval training, and the second part deals with the unfolding course of the war, recording of Japanese successes from Pearl Harbor, Malaya, New Guinea, and other parts of South East Asia. This book is one of the first to have an extended pictorial account of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It also includes numerous Soviet-style photographic plates of naval guns, battleships, military planes, as well as photographs of operations in China, Java, Borneo, Philippines, New Guinea, and other areas in South-East Asia. None of the images are credited to a particular photographer but it includes work by Matsugi Fujio and… Read More

1814. THACKARA, James. Thackara's Drawing Book for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Ladies & Gentlemen in the Pleasing and Elegant Art of Drawing. [4] pp., [54] leaves of engraved plates. Small 4to, 205 x 163 mm., contemporary sheep-backed plain boards, in a recent custom quarter morocco slipcase. Philadelphia: James Thackara & Son Engravers, 1814. An extremely rare early American drawing manual. While somewhat stained and browned throughout, and with the binding in poor shape, it is nonetheless a serviceable copy. There are 4 copies in the auction records, 1972, 1969, 1921 and 1908, all ascribed with a publication date of 1796. The copies on OCLC have been ascribed dates 1798, 1814 and 1816. OCLC lists AAS, Michigan, LC and JCB.

1766. COWLEY, John Lodge. The Theory of Perspective Demonstrated; in a Method Entirely New. By which the Several Planes, Lines, and Points, used in this Art, are shewn by Moveable Schemes, in the True Positions in which they are to be Considered. [6], xi, [1], 117, [1] pp., with 11 full-page geometric engravings printed on heavy paper, of which 10 are cut-out to demonstrate solid forms. In two volumes. 4to, 268 x 210 mm., bound in contemporary blue glazed paper boards, edges uncut, in half calf folding case. London: Printed for T. Payne, 1766. First edition, second issue, of this rare scientific cut-out book. Cowley's Theory was designed as a geometrical primer with engraved diagrams that could be removed from the book to form solids, thus demonstrating the doctrines of the 11th, 12th, and 15th books of Euclid. The present work amends his Appendix to the Elements to Euclid (1758), and forms a new and more comprehensive attempt to explain the doctrines of planes as applicable to… Read More

1876. VON BEZOLD, Wilhelm. The Theory of Color in its Relation to Art and Art-Industry...Translated from the German by S.R. Koehler...with an introduction and notes by Edward C. Pickering...Authorized American Edition. Revised and enlarged by the author. xxxiii, [1], 274 pp. Illustrated with chromolithographic frontispiece, 13 chromolithographic plates, plus numerous in-text illustrations. 8vo., 205 x 140 mm, bound in publisher's brick red cloth, spine gilt. Boston: L. Prang, 1876. First American Edition. An important work on colour theory written by the German professor of Meteorology Wilhelm von Bezold (1837-1907), originally published in German in 1874. As became exceedingly popular since the time of Michel-Eugène Chevruel's famous De la loi du contraste simultané des couleurs published in 1839, von Bezold's work combines the science of colour with its practical application to the booming dyeing industry plus the decorative and ornamental arts. The… Read More

1766. COWLEY, John Lodge. The Theory of Perspective Demonstrated; in a Method Entirely New. By which the Several Planes, Lines, and Points, used in this Art, are shewn by Moveable Schemes, in the True Positions in which they are to be Considered. [8], xi, [1], 117, [1] pp., with 11 full-page geometric engravings printed on heavy paper, of which 10 are cut-out to demonstrate solid forms. 4to, 250 x 200 mm., bound in contemporary calf, rebacked. London: printed for T. Payne, 1766. First Edition, second issue, of this rare scientific cutout book. Cowley's Theory was designed as a geometrical primer with engraved diagrams that could be removed from the book to form solids, thus demonstrating the doctrines of the 11th, 12th, and 15th books of Euclid. The present work amends his Appendix to the Elements to Euclid (1758), and forms a new and more comprehensive attempt to explain the doctrines of planes as applicable to perspective; it is among the most elaborate and most unusual of all… Read More

1746. SCHEYB, Franz Christof von. Theresiade, ein Ehren-Gedicht. Two parts in one volume. [369] pp. Engraved allegorical portrait frontispiece, engraved title-page vignette, engraved dedication leaf, 13 historiated engraved initials, and 29 engraved vignettes by Salomon Kleiner after his own designs and those of Preissler and Buch. Each leaf is enclosed by a narrow ornamental woodcut border. 4to., 300 x 214 mm, full contemporary speckled calf. Vienna: Joh. Jacob Jahn, 1746. First Edition of one of the high spots of German Baroque book production. "In his Theresiade, Scheyb created the last great Baroque encomium, very impressive and luxuriously executed in twelve books comprising nearly eight thousand lines ...in all, a laudatory poem which entangles its subject in a net of allegory" (Faber du Faur). In addition to the fine frontispiece portrait of the Empress, the work contains numerous vignettes by Kleiner. The latter have been highly praised by Lanckoronska for their… Read More

1921. SHIMIZU, Yoshiyasu. Tokaido panorama chizu. [Panoramic Map of Tokaido]. Folding panorama, 230 x 7070 mm unfolded. 8vo., 230 x 90 mm, bound in publisher's illustrated boards. Tokyo: Kanao Bun'endo, 1921. A charming panorama depicting Tokaido (the East Sea Road), the route connecting Kyoto to Tokyo. Travel, particularly along the Tokaido, was always a very popular topic in art and literature and a great many guidebooks of famous places were published and distributer the years, of which this is a good early twentieth century example. Some wear to the binding, but otherwise fine.

1935. TOKYO. Tokyo Shisei Zuhyo [Graphic Illustration of Tokyo City]. By Mitsuyoshi Ohashi. 44 pages: comprised of Japanese text surrounded by colour-printed graphs, charts, maps, illustrated vignettes, etc. Folio, 443 x 307 mm., bound western-style in navy blind-patterned cloth, in the original printed cardboard slipcase. Tokyo: Kyoto Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha, 1935. A classic in the development of the isotype technique in depicting information via coloured illustration or pictograms. The isotype (International System of Typographic Picture Education) was developed in Vienna between 1925 and 1934, which made its way to Japan quickly. It makes perfect sense from a language perspective that Japanese publishers, wishing for a broader audience, would adopt the new scientific isotype as a method of information transfer. The essence of isotype publications is the "transformation" of complex information into self-explanatory visual charts or diagrams. OCLC finds one copy at Columbia. A… Read More

1890. UEHARA, Toichiro. Tokyo kaimono hitoriannai. Shonin meika. 173 leaves, all printed on both sides, including a double-page woodcut frontispiece of Tokyo. Oblong 8vo, 125 x 175 mm., bound in publisher's wrappers in a new chitsu case. Tokyo: Uehara Toichiro, 1890. A beautifully printed guide to shops in Tokyo. With numerous woodcuts throughout and a wide variety of woodcut calligraphy. Occasional minor worming, not detracting from the overall attractiveness of the work. OCLC records copies only in The National Diet Library and at Waseda.

1883. YASUI, Otsuyu. Tokyo meisho annai: Eiri. [Illustrated Guide Book of Scenic Beauty in Tokyo]. 2 volumes. Illustrated with 60 plates and a folding map of Tokyo. 12mo, 93 x 54 mm., bound in publisher's wrappers in a modern chitsu case. Tokyo: Bunseido, 1883. A charming guide book to Tokyo at the beginning of the Meiji era.

1890. TOKYO GUIDE. Tokyo meisho hitori annai. Illustrated with 2 double-page woodcut maps and 28 full page woodcut views. Oblong 8vo, 120 x 165 mm., bound in publisher's wrappers, in a new cloth folding box. Tokyo: Hoeido, 1890. A guide to Tokyo at the end of the nineteenth century. Among the scenes which show the growing Western influence on Japanese life are depictions of European style buildings, carriages and a steam train. In fine condition.

1939. COUDER, M -L. Tout au Carreau. Suite documentaire pour l'Enseignement du Dessin dans les Classes élémentaires et la Direction des Loisirs. 4 pp. text, illustrated with 32 colour plates. Small folio, bound in publisher's decorated wrappers. Paris: Librairie Hachette, [1939]. A charming drawing book for children, remarkable for the exquisite colouring and imaginative design of the plates. A rare book, with the only two copies recorded on OCLC being in France. Perhaps its rarity is owing to the publication date which coincided with the beginning of the War. Spine slightly rubbed, and wrappers slightly soiled, but overall a sound copy.

1786. NORMAN, John. The Town and Country Builder's Assistant. [3], 4-13, [1] pp. text, with an engraved allegorical frontispiece and 60 engraved plates. Folio, 312 x 185 mm., bound in contemporary sheep (rebacked, corners repaired). Boston: John Norman, 1786. First edition of the first contribution to the field of architecture compiled in America. After issuing the first American edition of Swan's The British Architect, Norman came to Boston and published this work, compiled from various English sources, containing 60 plates depicting interior and exterior designs from homes and public buildings. "In its house plans and details this collection more nearly approaches the needs of the average well-to-do man than the more ambitious reprint of The British Architect" (AAS). The frontispiece is from Isaac Ware's 1756 The Complete Body of Architecture, and other content is drawn from the works of Batty Langley and other pattern book authors. Of great rarity. Only two other… Read More

2003. THIEBAUD, Wayne. Trout Fishing in America. By Richard Brautigan. Preface by Ron Loewinsohn. xxi, 98, [4] pp. With a photograph of the author by Edmund Shea and an original signed lithograph by Wayne Thiebaud. Small folio, 300 x 230 mm., bound in publisher's blue and grey cloth with black lettering and design. San Francisco: The Arion Press, 2003. One of 400 copies, this being one of the 200 with the Wayne Thiebaud lithograph, which bears his signature on the facing page. A minor classic of counter-culture literature, Brautigan's "Novel" reads more like a book of poetry, using surreal prose to tell an American coming of age story. A simple yet effective production by the Arion Press, printed with Bookman type on Mohawk superfine paper. As new. The copies with the Thiebaud lithograph are very scarce.

1938. ALEKSEEV, S. Tsvetovedeniye dlya arkhitektorov [i.e. Color in Architecture]. 157, [2] pp., illustrated with 12 leaves of plates, some colour. 8vo, 220 x 153 mm., bound in original brown cloth. Leningrad: GONTI, 1938. A very good copy of this work on color in architecture in Russia. Conceived as a textbook for architecture students in two parts, the first dedicated to general knowledge on colors dealing with such matters as mixing colors, color and sight, measuring colors, and color perception. The second part deals with specific problems such as lighting, with the most valuable part of the book being practical advice on the correct usage of colors. Among the tables is one which has all the colors matched with areas of use, resistance to light, main function (inside and outside coverage, decor, roof paint), specific characteristics (chemical reactions to other materials) etc. OCLC lists copies at Texas, CCA, LC, Columbia and Cambridge.