Antique and Rare Books: 16th Century to Modern First Editions

Aristotelis Organum
Venice: Ioannes Gryphius, 1547

This refined Renaissance edition of Aristotle’s Organon—his seminal collection of logical treatises—was printed in 1547 by the noted Venetian humanist Ioannes Gryphius. Edited with great scholarly care, it was revised against the finest Greek manuscripts to ensure accuracy and fidelity to the original texts.

Containing the six classical works on logic and dialectic, the Organon served as the foundation of Western logical thought from antiquity through the early modern era. This edition reflects the intellectual rigor of Renaissance humanism and the enduring influence of Aristotelian philosophy.

João Pinto Delgado — Poema de la Reyna Ester, Lamentaciones del Profeta Jeremías
Amsterdam, 1627

Published in Amsterdam in 1627, this rare volume presents two Hebrew-themed poetic works by the Sephardic poet and intellectual João Pinto Delgado: Poema de la Reyna Ester and Lamentaciones del Profeta Jeremías. Written in Spanish verse, the texts reflect the cultural and religious identity of the Sephardic diaspora in early 17th-century Europe.

Pinto Delgado was a prominent figure among the exiled Jewish communities in the Netherlands, and this work is a remarkable example of Jewish Baroque literature. Drawing on biblical themes of exile, faith, and resilience, his poetry fuses classical form with deep spiritual introspection.

Printed in a tolerant Amsterdam—then a center of Jewish printing and intellectual life—this volume stands as a testament to the survival and literary expression of Iberian Jewry after the expulsions and Inquisitions of the Iberian Peninsula.

Franciscus Junius — Grammatica Hebraeae Linguae Nunc Primum
Leiden, 1580

Printed in Leiden in 1580, this is the first edition of Franciscus Junius’s pioneering Hebrew grammar, Grammatica Hebraeae Linguae Nunc Primum. A scholar, theologian, and linguist of the Reformed tradition, Junius sought to make the study of biblical Hebrew more accessible to Christian humanists and theologians during the late Renaissance.

Composed in Latin, the work systematically presents the principles of Hebrew orthography, morphology, and syntax, drawing on careful comparison with biblical texts. It reflects the humanist commitment to returning to original scriptural languages—a hallmark of Reformation scholarship.

Published in the vibrant academic and printing center of Leiden, this grammar contributed to the spread of Hebrew learning across Northern Europe, influencing theologians, translators, and scholars engaged in the philological study of the Old Testament.

Title in red and black within woodcut border, woodcut initials,‘Indexin universum naturalis historiae’ with own title within woodcut

border.

Pliny’s Historia Naturalis ranks among the most influential works of antiquity. The first and most comprehensive scientific encyclopaedia of the ancient world, it preserved the classical knowledge of astronomy and physics, mathematics and geography, physiology and medicine, agriculture and zoology, philosophy, anthropology, literature, and the arts.

This edition, produced by the Venetian humanist Ermolao Barbaro (1454–1493), reflects the intellectual vigor of the Renaissance and includes extensive indexes by Pierre Baquelier, providing structured access to its vast contents.

Johannes Zorn — Icones Plantarum Medicinalium. Centuria I
Erfurt, 1784

Published in Erfurt in 1784, this is the first volume (Centuria I) of Johannes Zorn’s richly illustrated Icones Plantarum Medicinalium, an important 18th-century work on medicinal botany. Zorn, a German physician and botanist, combined precise botanical description with fine copperplate engravings to document plants used in traditional medicine.

Each plate presents a detailed, hand-colored depiction of the plant alongside its medicinal properties, taxonomy, and uses, reflecting the Enlightenment’s blend of scientific observation and practical application. Drawing from the botanical knowledge of Carl Linnaeus and earlier herbalists, Zorn’s work served physicians, apothecaries, and scholars of natural history.

This volume is both a scientific resource and a work of art, valued today for its contribution to the history of medicine and its elegant 18th-century botanical illustration.

Cornelius a Lapide — Salomon sive Commentarius in Proverbia Salomonis
Antwerp, 1635

Printed in Antwerp in 1635, this scholarly commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon is the work of Cornelius a Lapide(1567–1637), the eminent Flemish Jesuit exegete renowned for his extensive biblical commentaries. Salomon sive Commentarius in Proverbia Salomonis reflects his characteristic blend of meticulous philology, theological insight, and moral reflection.

Written in Latin, the commentary draws on Hebrew and Greek sources alongside the Vulgate, engaging with the patristic tradition and contemporary Catholic scholarship. Intended for both clergy and learned laity, it provided a deep moral and spiritual reading of the biblical text during the height of the Counter-Reformation.

Published by the prestigious Antwerp presses, this edition exemplifies the Jesuit commitment to rigorous scriptural study and remains a valuable witness to 17th-century biblical scholarship.

Narrative of a Ten Years’ Residence at Tripoli in Africa
London, 1817

Published in London in 1817, Narrative of a Ten Years’ Residence at Tripoli in Africa offers a vivid account of life in the Barbary States during the early 19th century. Written by Miss Tully, the sister-in-law of the British Consul at Tripoli, the work records her decade-long stay in the Ottoman Regency, from social customs and political intrigues to descriptions of the landscape, climate, and commerce.

Combining personal observation with ethnographic detail, the narrative provides rare insight into the court of the Karamanli dynasty, the experiences of European residents, and the complexities of Mediterranean diplomacy. The work was highly regarded in its time as one of the most engaging English-language portrayals of North Africa before widespread European colonization.

Today, it is valued both as a travel and cultural history classic and as an important primary source for scholars of early modern Mediterranean and North African history.

Laure Albin-Guillot — Arbres. Dialogue accompagné de dix-huit images photographiques
Bordeaux: Rousseau Frères, 1943 — H.C. (Hors Commerce) copy

Published in 1943, Arbres unites the lyrical text of Paul Valéry with the luminous botanical photography of Laure Albin-Guillot (1879–1962), one of France’s most celebrated photographers of the 20th century. This elegant quarto volume contains eighteen finely printed heliogravures, each a poetic study of trees captured with Albin-Guillot’s characteristic precision and subtle tonal gradations.

This example is an H.C. (hors commerce) copy, issued outside the regular numbered edition—often reserved for the artist, collaborators, or presentation—making it especially rare. Arbres reflects the wartime French dedication to fine bookmaking, blending literary and photographic artistry into a unified and enduring work.

Pierre d’Avity — Description Generale de l'Afrique, et de l’Amérique. Seconde Partie du Monde
Paris: Louis Mettayer, 1643

Published in Paris in 1643, this volume forms the “Second Part of the World” from Pierre d’Avity’s celebrated cosmography, Le Monde, ou description générale de ses quatre parties. It contains two major sections: a survey of the African continent (Description générale de l’Afrique) and one of the earliest comprehensive French accounts of the Americas (Description générale de l’Amérique).

Drawing on classical geography, medieval chronicles, and reports from early modern travelers, d’Avity presents an expansive view of Africa and the New World. His descriptions cover political organization, major cities and ports, commerce, natural resources, indigenous customs, and religious practices. While reflecting the Eurocentric perspectives of its time, the work remains an essential source for understanding how these regions were perceived in 17th-century Europe.

This example is from an edition issued without maps.

Johann Gerhard — Evangelischer Palmbaum auf alle Sonn- und Festtage durchs ganze Jahr samt angehängten Passions-Predigten
Jena: Georg Mengens Walden, 1663

This richly illustrated 17th-century Lutheran devotional work was authored by Johann Gerhard (1582–1637), one of the most influential theologians of Lutheran Orthodoxy. The Evangelischer Palmbaum (“Evangelical Palm Tree”) presents sermons for every Sunday and major feast day of the church year, accompanied by a series of Passion sermons. It served both as a resource for preachers and a devotional text for the faithful.

The title refers to Psalm 92:12 — “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree” — symbolizing steadfastness and spiritual vitality. The elaborate engraved title page depicts this “palm tree” in symbolic form, with medallions illustrating key moments from the life of Christ, flanked below by the apostles Peter and Paul. At the base, the imprint cartouche notes the printing by Georg Mengens Walden in Jena in 1663, and the engraving is signed by H. W. Schmelzer.

A fine example of Lutheran devotional literature and 17th-century German book art, this edition combines theological depth with an emblematic visual program designed to guide meditation and reflection.

Oscar Wilde – Salomé: Drame en un Acte
Paris, 1907
Limited Edition for Subscribers

A rare and elegant French edition of Oscar Wilde’s iconic play Salomé, originally written in French and first published in 1893. This 1907 Paris printing, issued in a limited run exclusively for subscribers (édition à petit nombre), reflects Wilde’s enduring influence on European literature and the symbolist movement.

Wilde's Salomé — a haunting, one-act tragedy inspired by biblical themes — was famously banned from the English stage at the time. Its French text and decadent tone found a more receptive audience in Paris, where this edition was privately printed for connoisseurs of literature and fine bookmaking.

This copy is an early 20th-century example of continental appreciation for Wilde’s work, notable for its typographic elegance and historical significance. An exquisite collectible for bibliophiles, scholars, and admirers of Wilde’s oeuvre.

Johann Gerhard — Evangelischer Palmbaum auf alle Sonn- und Festtage durchs ganze Jahr samt angehängten Passions-Predigten
Jena: Georg Mengens Walden, 1663

This richly illustrated 17th-century Lutheran devotional work was authored by Johann Gerhard (1582–1637), one of the most influential theologians of Lutheran Orthodoxy. The Evangelischer Palmbaum (“Evangelical Palm Tree”) presents sermons for every Sunday and major feast day of the church year, accompanied by a series of Passion sermons. It served both as a resource for preachers and a devotional text for the faithful.

The title refers to Psalm 92:12 — “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree” — symbolizing steadfastness and spiritual vitality. The elaborate engraved title page depicts this “palm tree” in symbolic form, with medallions illustrating key moments from the life of Christ, flanked below by the apostles Peter and Paul. At the base, the imprint cartouche notes the printing by Georg Mengens Walden in Jena in 1663, and the engraving is signed by H. W. Schmelzer.

A fine example of Lutheran devotional literature and 17th-century German book art, this edition combines theological depth with an emblematic visual program designed to guide meditation and reflection.

Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis
Rome, 1778

An important 18th-century Latin Bible printed in Rome in 1778, this edition of the Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionisfollows the authoritative Roman Catholic text of the Vulgate, based on the Latin translation of the Scriptures traditionally attributed to Saint Jerome.

Produced under ecclesiastical supervision, this edition reflects the post-Tridentine efforts to standardize and preserve the sacred text in its purest form. The Vulgate remained the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church for centuries, and editions like this one were central to liturgy, scholarship, and religious instruction throughout Europe.

This finely printed volume represents the clarity and gravitas of ecclesiastical publishing in the late Baroque period, often featuring elegant typography, wide margins, and the imprimatur of Church authority.

A significant devotional and historical artifact for collectors of sacred texts, rare Bibles, and classical religious printing.

Berlenburg Bible – Complete Edition (1726)
Die Heilige Schrift Alten und Neuen Testaments
Printed in Berlenburg, 1726

A rare and complete edition of the famed Berlenburg Bible, a cornerstone of Radical Pietist thought and one of the most theologically unique Bibles of early 18th-century Europe. First printed in Berlenburg in 1726, this work was not merely a translation, but a comprehensive spiritual commentary reflecting deep mystical and devotional insight.

Unlike standard Protestant or Catholic editions, the Berlenburg Bible includes extensive interpretations emphasizing the inner transformation of the soul, the invisible church, and direct union with Christ. Richly annotated and theologically radical for its time, this edition was instrumental in the spiritual movements of Pietism, especially among the Moravian Brethren and later evangelical currents.

This complete and preserved volume offers exceptional scholarly, theological, and historical value. Its wide margins, bold Fraktur typeface, and deep commentary stand as a testament to a period of profound spiritual ferment in German-speaking Europe.

Henri-Joseph Du Laurens – L’Arretin
Rome [Paris], 1768
Second Edition – Rare Satirical Work

A rare and provocative 18th-century French satire by Abbé Henri-Joseph Du Laurens, L’Arretin delivers 25 irreverent essays on religion, morality, and the abuses of ecclesiastical power. First published in 1763 and reissued here in 1768, the work sharply critiques clerical excesses and biblical orthodoxy through allegory, parody, and bold narrative invention.

Du Laurens, a defrocked monk and radical thinker, wrote under constant threat of censorship. His writing—witty, subversive, and often scandalous—earned him exile and imprisonment. L’Arretin stands among his most daring texts, combining Enlightenment wit with libertine critique.

This 1768 edition, printed under the fictitious imprint “Aux dépens de la Congrégation de l’Index”, reflects the underground nature of such forbidden literature. Copies in fine condition are increasingly scarce.

Jean de La Fontaine — Contes et nouvelles en vers

Paris [or Amsterdam], 1777
Two Volumes — Illustrated Edition

A beautiful 18th-century edition of Contes et nouvelles en vers by Jean de La Fontaine, France’s great fabulist and master of poetic storytelling. First published in 1665, these tales blend elegance, wit, and playful irreverence—retelling classic stories from Boccaccio, Ariosto, and medieval tradition with a distinctly French charm.

This 1777 edition is richly illustrated, featuring:
— Two engraved frontispieces by Vidal
— A fine portrait of La Fontaine
— 80 detailed engravings and 43 ornamental tailpieces
— Crisp typography and fine paper throughout

An acknowledged reprint of the celebrated 1762 “Fermiers Généraux” edition, this production preserves the artistic spirit and literary sophistication that made the original so admired. While issued anonymously and without place of publication, it was almost certainly printed in Amsterdam or Paris for collectors and connoisseurs of illustrated books.

Les Francs-Maçons Écrasés

Abbé Larudan (pseudonym)
Amsterdam, 1766
First Edition – Illustrated

A rare and controversial 18th-century anti-Masonic work, Les Francs-Maçons Écrasés presents itself as a sequel to L’Ordre des Francs-Maçons trahi, claiming to expose the origins, inner workings, and perceived dangers of Freemasonry. Published under the pseudonym “Abbé Larudan,” the book proposes the bold and imaginative theory that Freemasonry was founded by Oliver Cromwell as a secret tool for political revolution and the overthrow of monarchies.

This edition includes a richly engraved frontispiece, title vignette, and five remarkable folding plates illustrating Masonic symbols and imagined rituals. The text combines satire, theological speculation, and conspiracy, reflecting the widespread fascination—and fear—of Masonic influence during the Enlightenment.

Printed in Amsterdam in 1766, this first edition is highly sought after for its historical and esoteric significance, especially among collectors of Freemasonry, occult literature, and Enlightenment-era polemics.

Biblia Sacra sive Testamentum Vetus et Novum

Amsterdam, Ioannes Ianssonius, 1632
Tremellius – Junius – Beza Edition

A rare and finely printed Latin Bible from the Dutch Golden Age, issued in 1632 by the renowned Amsterdam printer Ioannes Ianssonius. This important Reformation-era edition brings together the Old Testament, translated from Hebrew into Latin by Immanuel Tremellius and Franciscus Junius, and the New Testament, revised from the Greek by Theodore Beza, a central figure of the Calvinist tradition.

The engraved title page features rich iconography: a radiant Tetragrammaton (יהוה), figures of biblical prophets, and a dramatic depiction of divine inspiration illuminating the Evangelists. The combination of theological rigor and visual symbolism reflects the deep scholarship and spiritual intensity of 17th-century Protestant Europe.

Compact in format and elegantly designed, this edition was widely used by scholars, theologians, and ministers throughout the Reformed world.

A distinguished and historically significant Bible, emblematic of the intellectual and spiritual legacy of the Reformation.

James Hutton – Dissertations on Different Subjects in Natural Philosophy

First Edition. Edinburgh & London, 1792

A rare and foundational scientific work by James Hutton, pioneer of modern geology. In this early volume—preceding his famous Theory of the Earth—Hutton explores matter, motion, and causation through the lens of Enlightenment science. It offers deep insight into his emerging theory of uniformitarianism and reflects his engagement with Newtonian physics and cosmology.

Scarce and intellectually significant, this first edition is a cornerstone in the history of natural philosophy and Earth sciences.

The New & Revised Handbook of Marks on Chinese Ceramics
By Gerald Davison – Limited Signed Edition (No. 043/100)

A rare boxed and signed edition of Gerald Davison’s authoritative reference on Chinese ceramic marks. This limited edition—numbered 043 out of only 100 copies—was published in 2010 and is signed by the author. The book remains in mint condition, housed in its original protective box.

Printed and bound in the UK with a striking red leatherette cover and gilt lettering, the volume includes over 3,500 imperial and non-imperial marks spanning from early dynasties to the Qing period. A vital resource for collectors, dealers, and scholars, it combines scholarly precision with visual clarity.

This copy comes from a distinguished private collection and represents one of the most respected tools for identifying and studying Chinese ceramics.

• Red gilt hardcover with protective box

• Limited edition: No. 043 of 100

• Signed by the author

• Mint condition

• Published by Gerald Davison Ltd., 2010

Charles Baudelaire – Les Fleurs du Mal
Printed in 1913 by G.W. van der Wiel & Cie for De Zilverdistel, The Hague

This rare and beautifully bound edition of Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal was limited to 310 copies on Batchelor handmade paper, with only 150 distributed in France. This is copy no. 229.

Finely rebound in half green morocco over marbled boards with raised bands and gilt titles, the book remains in excellent condition. A striking inserted portrait of Baudelaire—after a painting by Gustave Courbet—is annotated in pencil:
"Charles Baudelaire (1821–1867), after Courbet. Hundred Jaar Ondermode Kunst, 1935, Amsterdam."

A refined collector’s copy of one of the most influential works of 19th-century French poetry.

Le Libertin de Qualité, ou Confidences d’un Prisonnier au Château de Vincennes
A Stamboul, De l’Imprimerie des Odalisques, 1784

A rare and important first edition of this provocative 18th-century libertine novel, attributed to Honoré-Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau. Written during his imprisonment at Vincennes, the text blends satire, political defiance, and eroticism—hallmarks of pre-Revolutionary France’s underground literature.

Printed in 1784 with a fictional “Stamboul” imprint, likely a clandestine French press, this copy contains the complete 317 pages, ending with the infamous libertine monologue.

Bound in an elegant 19th-century gilt-tooled leather spine over marbled boards, with raised bands and gold lettering. A well-preserved, collector-grade example of a book long suppressed and circulated in secret.

An exceptional survival of a notorious work at the crossroads of Enlightenment thought, carceral literature, and French erotic history.