The text of the documents is accomplished in a clear calligraphic hand in sepia ink within twin double-ruled frames. The calligraphy of the text is highlighted and augmented by64 lines of illuminated text on fields of blue or red and80 two-line illuminated initials, most with filigree ornamentation, also on fields of blue or red.

Binding:  Contemporary tan calf over paste boards, spine with a gilt acorn device in each of the four spine compartments; covers tooled in blind along the perimeter using a roll, the rest of each cover blind-tooled with a large central longitudinal compartment surrounded by a compartmented frame and with an outer frame accomplished using a double fillet forming squares at the corners and rectangles between each pair of squares. The central compartment has a middle lozenge containing a gilt device composed of four acorn stamps; a single gilt acorn is stamped in each corner of the compartment; and each outer corner's square has a gilt acorn device.

An unusual aspect of the binding is that a multicolored braided cord has been used to secure the central portion of the text block to the binding and the two ends of the cord have been threaded through the spine panels, perhaps once securing a lead seal.

•  Binding lightly rubbed and with evidence of silk tie closures at top, bottom, and fore-edges. The coat of arms fine and beautiful, with red border touched by knife at outer edge and with red silk guard cloth intact. The vellum of a good quality, each leaf bearing the royal tax stamp. A very nice example of this type of manuscript. doubtless with an extra-interesting story behind it.  (32217)

Single-click the image where the hand appears on
mouse-over, for an enlargement.

Though Nares is quite capable of picking nits with a level of scrupulousness to match that of the most pedantic of scholars, he is also prone to flights of fancy such as pondering—after noting that a married woman’s moveable goods are unquestionably the property of her husband— “whether the female tongue is to be reckoned among the moveables . . . I believe it is pretty generally held to continue ‘in potestate Mulieris,’ even after marriage, and I know nothing to prevent it” (p. 148). This is followed up with references to Ovid, the Wife of Bath, and the much-storied Flitch of Bacon!

•  Contemporary half calf with marbled paper sides, spines with gilt-stamped helm decorations and gilt-stamped leather title and volume labels (the volume labels recently supplied, in sympathetic style). Board edges showing light to moderate wear, with leather cracking at joints and crackled over the spines generally. Top edges gilt. Front pastedowns with bookplates now partially torn away; title-page of vol. II with an early inked ownership inscription in the upper margin. Delightful reading, as well as an overall attractive set.

Binding:  Publisher's apple green paper–covered boards in original matching slipcase with gilt-stamped spine title. All edges gilt.

•  Binding as above: lower front and back edges each with tiny bump, extremities showing very slight rubbing, slipcase with edges rubbed and a few small spots of discoloration. Front free endpaper with pencilled annotations in French. Pages and plates clean. Really in quite remarkable condition.  (30574)

Click the images for enlargements.

WorldCat and Lindsay & Neu combine to locate only three copies in the U.S.

•  Lindsay & Neu 3721; see also 3636.   Recent paper–covered boards, front cover with printed paper label. Title-page verso with inked numeral; all four leaves institutionally pressure-stamped. Inner margins reinforced. Clean.  (27785)

•  Not in Lipperheide; not in Colas.   Contemporary quarter roan and textured cloth–covered sides, spine with gilt-stamped title and gilt rolls; joints and spine rubbed, corners bumped. Front pastedown with 19th-century ticket of a Madrid bookseller. Faint offsetting, a few scattered instances of light spotting, pages overall generally clean.  (32032)

The topic of the defense was the role of the macaenas in times of war and peace.

Chain lines are horizontal!

We trace no copy via NUC, WorldCat, COPAC, Catálogo Colectivo del Patrimonio Bibliográfico, Metabase, or the OPACs of the national libraries of Mexico or Spain. We have failed to find the URL for the OPAC of the Guatemalan National Library.

•  Not in Medina, Guatemala.   Old folds, left margin irregular. A very clean, crisp copy.  (30334)

•  Original printed wrappers; dusty, with chipping, and front one now separated. Paper lost at top of spine along front joint. The whole, fragile and wanting to separate between signatures. (Our interior image tends a bit to pink tone that is not actually present, FYI.) Now housed in a simple acid-free phase box.

•  Contemporary speckled calf, spine gilt extra; binding sprung, leather starting to peel back from rubbed corners and edges, back cover cracked with crack extending into foot of spine and spine lacking title-label, leather chipped at spine extremities. Front free endpaper lacking; title-page verso with early inked presentation inscription in French. Many leaves with light to moderate waterstaining in margins, extending into text in some cases. Not at all so sad a case as detailing of faults suggests; price reduced, for the faults, nonetheless.  (24390)

•  Vicaire, Manuel de l'amateur de livres du XIXème, I, 772. Uncut, mostly unopened copy. Publisher's wrappers, printed in black and red; front one off, with expectable chipping and with soiling. Some pages lightly spotted; mostly, clean. Now housed in a simple acid-free phase-box. (14356)

An early owner has mounted on the title-page an armorial plate bearing an image of the two leopards of Normandy on a shield superimposed by a crown, the whole flanked by attendants holding long branches (palms? laurels?) in one hand and the shield in the other.

Handsomely decorated with engraved initials and tailpieces.

•  Brunet 24296.   Recent deep walnut full calf old style, by Grace Bindings (signed in blind at inner area of rear cover, lower turn-in); round spine with raised bands accented in gilt and with blind-tooled devices in compartments, oxblood leather gilt-lettered title-label, blind fillets extending onto covers from each band to terminate in trefoils and covers framed in double blind fillets. Ex–Mercantile Library of Philadelphia with stamps, mostly faint, including to title-page; title-page re-margined along top and inner edge with an interior hole filled also (no words affected). Title-page with early inked ownership initials; a few other instances of early inked notations within text. Some leaves chipped, others mildly to moderately waterstained; we have chosen to show pages bearing more waterstains rather than fewer. Armorial device mounted to title-page, as noted; we cannot be sure what this covers, but it is elegant!  (21215)

This publication demonstrates that change among many others, as it traces the Society via its own documents from its founding at the "Cantonment of the American Army, on Hudson's River, 10th May, 1783," through the incorporation of the Pennsylvania branch, to the death of Gen. Washington. Included here are the by-laws of the Pennsylvania chapter.

•  Shaw & Shoemaker 1339. Sewn, as issued. Front wrapper missing, rear wrapper present. A few spots of waterstaining. Uncut copy. New protective paper corset provided and the whole housed in a cloth clam shell case with a leather spine label lettered in gilt. A very good copy.

Bindings: Contemporary mottled calf, spine compartments defined with elegant rules and rolls and bearing handsome center-devices; gilt-stamped leather title and volume labels.

•  ESTC T81010.   Bindings rubbed and acid-pitted, with loss of tilt to top device on each spine; spine heads refurbished, vol. I with joints repaired and volume label supplied (subtly), other joints unobtrusively reinforced with toned long-fiber tissue. Ex–social club library: 19th-century bookplates (largely obscuring private bookplates in three volumes), call numbers on endpapers (overlaid with affixed paper slips in vol. I), pressure-stamp on title-pages, no other markings. Four front pastedowns with ticket of Dublin bookseller W. Figgis. Some light spotting, pages mostly clean.  (27578)