Illustrated Books

Paris, Edition Jeanne Bucher., 1928. Drawings in color by Joan Miró. 8 color pochoirs after drawings by Miró, colored by Jean Saudé on Arches paper. 4to, published in a folio of 14pp. One of the limited edition of 300. Enclosed in the ORIGINAL LINEN FOLIO in pearl grey background, with black numbers and green sun. Interior lined with black paper. 11 5/8 x 10 5/8 x 5/8. Housed in a new black clam shell case. Signed and dedicated by Lise Hirtz to Jane de Margerie. RARE. Miro created one of the most imaginative books for children and far beyond its time. Joan Miró was studying art in Barcelona and moved to Paris in 1919, He was introduced to a surrealists group in 1924 by his neighbor Andre Masson, who shared his studio. He found among these artists the inspiration necessary for his work. But it was his humor that dominated his creations, especially the black humor of the surrealists.
In August 1927 Paul Eluard sent Miro the poems by Lisa Hirtz (born Ann - Marie Meyer), a friend of Breton.… Read More

Seville, En Casa de la Viuda de Nicolas Rodriguez, 1671.. FIRST and ONLY EDITION. Folio (31.2 x 21.2 cm.), contemporary vellum (slightly soiled, repaired, recased, new endleaves). Total of 20 engravings, some folding, many with emblems (see below). Double-rule borders on each page, with ample margins. Crisp and clean, but the plate showing the Giralda with repairs (a bit crude) in upper portion at the fold, affecting the sky. Overall in good condition. (4 ll.), 343 pp., engraved title, 2 engraved portraits, 9 large folding engravings, 9 folio-size engravings. *** FIRST and ONLY EDITION of the finest Spanish festival book of the seventeenth century. Hofer described it as "The best illustrated Iberian book, by all odds, contained in the Harvard Collection." It records the festivities connected with the canonization of D. Fernando III, for which elaborate decorations were made at the Cathedral of Seville - some of them by the important Sevillan artist Juan de Valdés Leal.The portrait of D. Fernando… Read More

London:: Addison Publications Ltd for The Prince's Charities Foundation., 2008. Limited Edition . Hardcover. Fine. Double Elephant - over 25 - 50" tall. ALLEN. BALLARD. BARBER. BARTHOLOMEW. BERNI. BINNS. BOLAS. BOUVIER. BRADBURN. BRASIER. BROWN. BRUCE. CADMAN. CARMICHAEL. CONDY. COOMBS. etc etc.. Fine, 2 vols, limited edition of 175 numbered sets, 124 coloured plates. In half red goatskin over red marbled boards. Spines, raised bands, gilt tooling, titles in gilt to green morocco labels. Internally, Vol 1, 2008, half title, tp in red & black, [1] preface signed by Prince Charles, [3] Introduction, [2] Brief History, [1], [2] Artists dedication, Followed by 61 sections each containing page with artists & plant name, text description to verso, full page coloured illustration, signed by the artist with the embossed & numbered copyright stamp to bottom corner, [1] list of artists, [1], [1] founding subscribers, [1], [1] limitation. Vol 2, 2009, half title, rubricated title page, [1], [1] artists… Read More

THE GREATEST BOOK OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTUREIllustrated with 205 large woodcuts, including 74 full-page and 7 double-page blocks; magnificent allegorical woodcut title border; large woodcut head-pieces and large floriated and grotesque woodcut initials; leaf I4 slightly taller than the rest of the text block, to accommodate a tall column woodcut, with about 2 cm section at top folded in. Royal Folio. 19th-century ¼-vellum over marbled boards; spine decorated and lettered in gilt; edges gilt. Paris: Fédéric Morel, 1567. First Edition. First Issue. The most influential and most lavishly illustrated handbook of French Renaissance architecture. The first and only published volume. A second volume was planned by the author but never completed.Mortimer, Harvard College Library Cat.: French 16th-Century Books, no.355; Brunet, Supple. I, 888-9; Fowler Architect. coll. 99; Clouzot, Philibert de l'Orme, pp. 90-107; Berliner Ornamentstichkatalog 2362; Pettegree, French Vernacular Books 15434; cf. Adams L… Read More

Probaly Venice, 1825. An exquisite suite of watercolours, including a beautiful series of scenes documenting a Venetian commedia dell'arte troupe, by the Italian artist Francesco Novelli. Francesco Novelli (1767-1836), one of the preeminent artists of his generation, lived in Venice where he was best known for his outstanding book illustration. He enjoyed a long and successful career that culminated in the landmark editions of Don Quixote (1819) and Gil Blas (1820). Novelli is also known for illustrating works such as the Fasti Veneziani (1794), hinting at his abiding interest in the theatre and the performing arts. In this unmatched collection of Novelli's watercolours, the greatest number are piquant images of a troupe of the commedia dell'arte, with especially fine depictions of Pierrot himself, as well as other key figures such as Columbine and Harlequin. There is a remarkable series of scenes from a play, as well as studies of individual performers, many so precisely rendered that it is almost… Read More

New York: The Lakeside Press, 1930. First Edition Thus. Near Fine/Very Good. First edition thus, limited to 1,000 copies. Three volumes in publisher's acetate jackets, in aluminum slipcase. Presentation copy signed by Rockwell Kent on the front free end paper of Volume I, "Inscribed with affectionate friendship to Putzie - Rockwell Kent, 1950." Volumes II and III bear Rockwell Kent-illustrated bookplates of Marie Luise Hinrichs. Near Fine. Narrow strips of sunning to spine cloth at ends, light rubbing to cloth at extremities and light abrasions to black topstains. Pages toned and with offsetting from illustrations. Acetate wrappers are wrinkled and shrunken with age, as is typical, and show a bit of chipping and edge wear, with some separation starting between the acetate and a paper flap on both volumes II and III; acetate on volume II with light staining. Aluminum slipcase is lightly worn, bumped at top and bottom edge. A stunning presentation copy, inscribed by Kent, and with bookplates designed… Read More

Japanese stab binding, (covers worn), title slip (ink written, not original) 11 double sheets, numbered 12 – 22; 1 page text, 10 double page woodblock prints. In each double sheet a strong sheet of Japanese paper was bound in between, to avoid shining through of the next page, a very effective method to optimize the visual effect of the beautiful pictures.
Old, Japanese library seal on front page; a few minor defects, 7 double pages with a small, hardly noticeable insect damage at upper margin (as an example, the worst one, see last photo).
Reference: IWANAMI, "KOKUSHO SO MOKUROKU", number 4290602. Kenji Toda [RYERSON COLLECTION]. DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF JAPANESE AND CHINESE ILLUSTRATED BOOKS IN THE RYERSON LIBRARY OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO. Chicago, 1931: "… the most famous book by Moronobu…"
Extremely rare: WorldCat knows only three specimen of this edition in public libraries.
Hishikawa Moronobu is generally accredited as the founder of ukiyo-e. Before his time, the illustrations in… Read More

Amsterdam, Michel Colin, 1622.
Folio [370 x 250 mm] gathering 6 parts: (6) preliminary ll. including 1 engraved frontispiece, the foreword, and 2 preliminary ll. of the second text bound by mistake at the beginning of the volume; I/ " Herrera's Indiae Occidentalis
" ll. 1 to 44, 15 maps; II/ " Jacob Le Maire's 'Historia Navigationis Australis'", (1) l. (the other 2 preliminary ll. are bound by mistake at the beginning of the volume), 1 portrait of Jacob Le Maire, ll. 46 to 74, 2 large maps, figures in the text; III/ " Account of the Spanish expedition to the strait of Magellan... ", ll. 74-75; IV/ " Short history of the voyages to the strait of Magellan ", ll. 75 to 83; V/ " Description of the West Indies by Ordonez de Cevallos ", 10 ll. wrongly numbered 9 ; VI/ " Description of America, from the geographical tables of P. Bertius ", 11 ll. Bound in limp contemporary vellum, flat spine with the handwritten title. Contemporary binding.
The first complete account of Le Maire's world tour, which allowed… Read More

Poitiers, Enguibert de Marnef, 1560.
- Histoire et considération de l'origine, loy, et coustumes des Tartares, Persiens, Arabes, Turcs, & tous autres Ismaelites ou Muhamediques, dits par nous Mahometains, ou Sarrazins.
Poitiers, Enguibert de Marnef, 1560.
- La tierce partie des orientales histoires, ou est exposée la condition, Puissance, & revenu de l'Empire Turquesque : avec toutes les provinces & païs generalement depuis 950 ans en çà par tous Ismaelites conquis...
Poitiers, Enguibert de Marnef, 1560.
3 parts in 1 small 4to volume [205 x 146 mm] of: I/ (1) bl.l., (4) ll., 127 pp., (1) bl.p. ; II/ 57 pp., (3) bl. pp ; III/ (4) ll., 90 pp., (1) bl.l., suite of 56 full-page numbered engravings (out of 57) bound together, (1) bl.l. Bound in full contemporary brown granite-like calf, triple gilt fillet on the covers, spine ribbed and finely decorated, red edges. Binding from the 18th century.
Rare first edition of these three books known under the general title of "La République des Turcs",… Read More

A Paris, Chez Denys Moreau, 1632. Avec Privilège du Roy. 8vo.
[Followed by :]
Dictionnaire de la langue Huronne, Nécessaire à ceux qui n'ont l'intelligence d'icelle, & ont à traiter avec les Sauvages du pays. Par Fr. Gabriel Sagard, Recollet de S. François, de la Province de S. Denys.
A Paris, Chez Denis Moreau, 1632. Avec Privilège du Roy. 8vo.
2 parts in one volume 8vo.
Collated complete:
- Voyage : (12) ll. lim. Including 1 engraved frontispiece by Jaspar Isac (this frontispiece
represents savages, on the sides are the figures of Saint Francis and of the blessed brother Martin de Valence, founder of the Franciscan missions in America) ; title ; 2 ll. for an epistle " Au roy des roys et tout puissant monarque du ciel et de la terre, sauveur du monde " ; 2 ll. for an epistle; 3 ll. for a notice "Au lecteur " ; 3 ll. for the Table, le Privilège et l'Approbation ; 380 pp. ; 2 bl.ll. The privilege, dated July 21, 1632, is granted for ten years to Sagard, who declares to cede it to… Read More

Paris: Société Nouvelle des Éditions d'Art Devambez, 1926. Limited Edition. Fine. Edgar Chahine. 4to, 13 x 10 3/4 inches (330 x 250 mm); 112 pp. Copy number XXIV of 30 HC copies on papier japon ancien with 26 plates, (frontispiece, title vignette, 5 in-text and 19 full-page). Each plate appears in 3 states: first state, final state with remarques, final state. This is one of 30 copies with roman numerals reserved for the artist and his friends ("Imprimé pour l'artiste et ses amis") from an edition limited to 230 special copies; our copy also includes 4 additional plates (also in 3 states), an original drawing in reddish-orange crayon, signed by Edgar Chahine, and a signed copper etching plate for one of the illustrations. Superb red morocco binding by H. Blanchetière, signed at foot of front turn-in. Covers with inlaid strapwork border of scarlet and turquoise morocco and elaborately tooled in gilt with scrolls and hatched decoration; spine titled in gilt with 3 strapwork compartments and 4… Read More

Shizhuzhai Shuhuapu , no place (Japan), no date (probably 2nd half of 19th century); 6 of 8 volumes, thick paper covers with cover slips; cover of 1 volume with a small defect at lower left margin, the others are OK; circa 135 double page woodblock prints; 27.5 x 15.5 cm.
Printed on thin Chinese paper.
1. Vol: circa 19 double page woodblock prints and many calligraphies, 2 woodblocks with some brown staining from colors on opposite.
2. Vol: circa 20 double page woodblock prints and many calligraphies, 2 woodblocks with some brown staining from colors on opposite, 2 woodblocks with a brown stain (circa 3 cm).
3. Vol: circa 17 double page woodblock prints and many calligraphies; all woodblocks fine.
4. Vol: circa 38 double page woodblock prints; all woodblocks fine.
5. Vol: circa 18 double page woodblock prints and many calligraphies; all woodblocks fine.
6. Vol: circa 23 double page woodblock prints and many calligraphies; all woodblocks fine.
Japanese, 19. century Hishiya Magobei version of the… Read More

Tan leather binding with red title plate, gilt decoration and title on the spine. Gilt 'Cambridge panel' decoration on the boards. In Latin. Rebacked many years ago.
Chacón, A., Historia utriusque belli Dacici a Traiano Caesare gesti. With 2 coppers on 1 l. and 132 ( 2 multiple folding) copper plates. Rome, J. Mascardi 1616. Please download the enclosed selected photographs - upon application all 132+ photographs can be forwarded to interested parties. Naturally, galleries and museums can benefit from a discounted price as it is preferred that this precious volume remains intact.


This is a great book, a magnificent work of art perfected on a series of coppers on Trajan's Column in Rome by the best the world has seen.


The First Edition (1576) was crafted by Giulio Pippi (after Raphael)


This 1616 book (the second edition) is one of the most remarkable Renaissance series of illustrations. These coppers were made by Francesco Villamena, who followed the models & workings of Raphael and his students… Read More

Alfred Jarry (1873-1907). Teriade Editeur, Paris, 1966. Alfred Jarry play, illustrated by Miro with 13 original lithographs in colors, printed by Mourlot. Limited numbered edition in 205 copies on Arches wove paper, of which this copy is one of 180 copies from 1 to 180, (25 copies numbered I to XXV out of commerce reserved to the collaborators). Complete portfolio, signed in pencil by Miro on Justification page, with text in French, 13 original lithographs in color, title, and prints lists, loose as issued guarded in the original cloth chemise and matching slipcase. In very good condition, chemise with spine fade. Ref Cramer 107

Pablo Neruda, Pablo Picasso. Edition Au Vent d Arles, Paris 1960. Portfolio with 15 pochoirs of Picasso original wash drawings, reproduced by Daniel Jacomet, portraying bullfighting and flamenco dancing. This copy also includes one lithograph on Richard de Bas wove dated "le 14.12.60." and is signed and numbered in pencil by Picasso. The lithograph depicts a lancing scene, and the same image was used on the poster for the exhibition in April-May, 1961, at Galerie Bellechasse, to present the 15 original wash drawings reproduced in the album. The drawings were done between July 1959 and June 1960, they accompany a Pablo Neruda poem titled 'Toro', translated by Jean Marcenac. Limited numbered edition of 520 copies printed in Velin d Arches paper, of which this is one of 50 with the signed and numbered lithograph. Each print is also numbered in pencil. Portfolio and signed lithograph bear a different number. Loose as issued, bound in a red satin portfolio, lightly worn, with a drawing after Picasso in… Read More