Resultados de búsqueda: Libros de Edmund Brumfitt Rare Books Ltd

8vo, pp. 8; with woodcut vignette on title and woodcut headpiece; clean and fresh throughout; unbound as issued.

A good copy of this rare petition to the legislators of the recently established Helvetic Republic, from the Canton of Thurgau, in the aftermath of the 1799 Battles of Zürich in the French Revolutionary Wars.

Bemoaning the poverty suffered by the inhabitants of Thurgau, the authors address the Citizen Legislators: 'Should we come with bitter but well-founded complaints to you? Should we tell you how our canton ... suffers the cost of the military? Should we describe to you the misery and distress that comes from a shortage of earnings and the high prices of everyday goods? Shall we set before you the poverty, the exhaustion, the ruin, and all the nameless woes that lie before us, and seems to remain in front of our eyes far into the future?'

Setting out these various miseries, the pamphlet is signed in print by the District Judge and the Municipal President of the Thurgäu canton, with… Leer más

FIRST ITALIAN TRANSLATION.
8vo, pp. 118 (first leaf blank); some spotting and dustoiling in places throughout; in the original printed orange wrappers; somewhat worn, but still an attractive copy.
Uncommon Italian translation of Johann Georg's Sulzer's Versuch einiger Moralischen Betrachtungen über die Werke der Natur, which had first appeared in Berlin in 1745.
Seeking to draw lessons about moral philosophy from the physical sciences, Sulzer reflects on the scale of the universe, the ordering of natural phenomena, the ways in which apparent disorder can be explained, and various mysteries of nature, as well as the analogies that can be drawn between the nourishment of the body and that of the soul.
Sulzer (1720-1779) began his career as a mathematician, before becoming more interested both in the physical sciences and in philosophy. He is probably best known now for his works on aesthetics, notably his Allgemeine Therie der schönen Künste (1771-74). Although he had published works on subjects… Leer más

4to, pp. [iv], 285, [1] blank; woodcut vignette on title-page, and initials; text in double columns throughout; some light foxing and browning in places, and marking to title-page, but largely clean and fresh; uncut and in large part unopened in contemporary carta rustica, with patterned paper spine, hand-written orange paper lettering-piece on spine; a lovely copy.
A good copy, in a lovely unsophisticated binding, of this later printing of collected sermons of the great preacher Jean Baptiste Massillon (1663-1742), translated into Italian after the edition of 1745-8.
The volume contains twenty sermons for some of the principal feasts of the Church calendar, including two for the Purification of the Virgin, one for Christmas, one for Pentecost, and one for the Assumption, as well as others for the feasts of St Agnes, St Thomas Aquinas, and St Benedict. The early appearance of this Italian translation (first printed, again by Occhi, in 1748) testifies to the popularity and influence of Massillon's… Leer más

12mo, pp. 384; woodcut head- and tailpieces; some spotting and dampstaining in places throughout; full-page manuscript note on front free endpaper (see below); in contemporary calf, spine ruled in gilt with gilt lettering-piece; some rubbing and wear.
Uncommon Nîmes printing of this collection of translations from Pope by the French churchman and writer Jean-François du Bellay du Resnel (1692-1761). Comprising the Essay on Man, the Essay on Criticism, the Rape of the Lock, the Dunciad, and a few smaller works, the present volume was a school prize, with a note on the front free endpaper from the mayor of Issoire in Puy-de-Dôme announcing the sharing of a prize between two pupils, signed by the teachers who had adjudicated the prize, presented on the 17th of fructidor year II.
Resnel's translations had first appeared separately in the 1730s, with the Essay on Criticism appearing in 1730, followed by the others in 1737.
Outside Continental Europe, OCLC records copies at Texas A&M, McMaster, and Leeds.

12mo, pp. xvi, 138; a4 and a5 misbound at end, but present; occasional small marginal tears, and light spotting in places, but largely clean and crisp throughout; in contemporary pink mottled boards, handwritten paper label on spine; binding worn but sound.
Uncommon later edition of this treatise on logic by the French philosopher and encyclopédiste César Chesneau, sieur Dumarsais (1676-1756).
First appearing posthumously in 1769, where it was accompanied by a theory of grammar, the Logique here is presented on its own, as part of a series of classic works 'approuvés par MM. le principal et professeurs du collége Louis-le-grand'. It is one of several books, according to the verso of the half-title, approved for the elementary logic classes at the college (originally the Jesuit College de Clermont, and still extant as the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, on the rue Saint-Jacques in Paris); other authors include Condillac, Bonnet, Clarke, and Fénélon.
Dumarsais's conception of logic is a broad one: 'the… Leer más

12mo, pp. 24; clean and fresh throughout; in contemporary stiff speckled wrappers; some wear.
Very uncommon set of devotions in honour of St Jeanne-Françoise Frémiot de Chantal (1572-1641), the founder of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, published at the time of her beatification by Pope Benedict XIV in November 1751.
Frémiot de Chantal was very enthusiastically embraced through the eighteenth century, which was not unconnected with her close association with St Francis de Sales; several biographies were to appear in the course of the century, and her Lettres spirituelles were reprinted several times. The present devotions first appeared in Rovereto in 1752, shortly after her beatification; we know of a further edition, printed in Vicenza as late as 1795, but all appear to be very rare. The book invites the reader to reflect on the faith of Jeanne, the importance of hope, the love of God, and the love of one's neighbour.
Frémiot de Chantal was canonised on July 16, 1767 by Clement XIII.… Leer más

8vo, pp. 16; some spotting and light staining in places but largely clean; unbound as issued.
Only edition of set of two dialogues warning of the dangers of religious fanaticism in the aftermath of the French Revolution, by the otherwise unidentified physician Leroux, judged 'very useful' by the Comité d'instruction publique.
By fanaticism, the author means 'le zèle outré et mal entendu pour la Religion'. The first dialogue, between a true pastor, a false pastor or fanatic, and a labourer, is designed for the use of men; the second, between the good pastor and a child, is destined for children and women, who, alas, experience shows to be 'plus sujettes à ce malheur que ne le sont ordinairement les hommes'.
The work, although approved by the Comité, had been vetoed by the King. Leroux appeared at the Convention in April 1793 with the not unreasonable request that it might once again circulate, as there was no more King:
"J'ai l'honneur de représenter à la Convention nationale que j'ai obtenu… Leer más

8vo, pp. 28; manuscript shelf number on title-page, and 'Réclamation' in contemporary hand at foot of final page; uniformly lightly browned; in recent plain wrappers.
Rare revolutionary pamphlet marking the funeral of the republican journalist Elysée Loustallot (1762-1790), editor of the Révolutions de Paris.
Loustallot not only edited the Révolutions de Paris but also contributed a great deal of the content; after his death, the periodical continued under the editorship of Prudhomme, with contributors including Maréchal and Fabre d'Eglantine, before its closure in 1794; while always supportive of the ideals of the Revolution, it had become increasingly seen as unduly moderate, and the execution of Fabre d'Eglantine did not encourage Prudhomme to continue. Loustallot, in these circumstances, could almost be seen as fortunate: he died after a long illness at the age of 28 in 1790, and his funeral is here described by the popular revolutionary writer Fenon de Litany, who reflects on Loustallot's… Leer más

8vo, pp. [x], [i] errata, [i] blank, iii-clxxix, [i] blank, [iv] repeated pages, 78; some gatherings uniformly browned due to paper quality, but otherwise, aside from very occasional light spotting, clean and fresh throughout; in contemporary red boards, spine ruled and lettered in gilt; very slight wear, but an attractive copy with the book-label of the château de Barante on front paste-down.
A lovely copy of this comprehensive survey of the theory and practice of the treatment of cholera, by the Italian physician and patriot Michele Buniva (1761-1834), with a supplement in French containing observations on the 1818 epidemic in Bengal by the French naval surgeon J.J. Deville.
The boy of Buniva's study is divided into three parts: the first discusses the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cholera, examining its relationship with other diseases such as yellow fever, the relationship with humidity, and the notion that it cholera is sui generis, unlike any other kind of contagion. Buniva examines… Leer más

8vo, pp. viii, 389, [1] blank; occasional spotting and marking, but never heavy; the odd tear to foot with slight paper loss, but never affecting text; final leaf stuck to wrapper, but verso blank so with no loss of text; uncut in interim wrappers; wrappers worn but sound, spine chipped at head and foot, with light dampstain to head and old manuscript paper label.
First Milan printing, uncommon, of Condorcet's monumental survey of the history of human endeavour, first published posthumously in 1795.
An 'ouvrage d'un utilité générale et durable', the Esquisse represents a summation of Concordet's thoughts on the notion of human progress, and thus can in some ways be seen as a definitive encapsulation of the enlightenment project, or at least of one view of it. Condorcet divides his work into ten époques, tracing human history from the initial formation of societies, through the development of agriculture, the invention of writing, the intellectual and scientific achievements of classical Greece,… Leer más

8vo, pp. [xxi], [i] blank, 383, [1] permission; occasional spotting and browning but largely clean and fresh throughout; in contemporary marbled boards with later cloth spine, handwritten paper label on spine, with matching ownership label on front paste-down; some bumping to corners and light wear.
Very uncommon collection of verse translations of the hymns and antiphons found in the Roman Breviary, by the poet and priest Giovanni Domenico Giulio.
Divided into five parts, the work comprises hymns for Sundays and weekdays throughout the year, then hymns for the principal feasts and holy days related to the life of Christ; it continues with hymns appropriate to various saints' days, and sequences for, inter alia, Requiem masses. In all, more than 160 translations appear, including multiple versions of some of the more important hymns, such as the Pange Lingua and the Salve Regina.
OCLC records no copies outside Italy.

4to, pp. 24; printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials and tail-piece; some foxing and staining in places; unbound as issued.
Very rare set of statutes and rules governing the Congregazione dei quaranta secolari, a Bolognese confraternity established in 1703 by Giuseppe Mariani, a priest 'di tutta esemplarità, e bontà di vita', under the patronage of St Catherine of Bologna.
Inspired by the devotion of forty Hail Marys devised by St Catherine, as part of the Rosary of 1000 Hail Marys, the confraternity was made up of forty 'persone secolari', all of whom are listed at the end of the Statuti. The ten chapters deal with the aim and calling of the confraternity, the election and roles of the prior and sub-prior, the number of members, their obligations and those of the confraternity as a whole, the necessity of alms-giving, the election and role of the secretary, visiting the sick, and more.
The Statuti were first printed in 1706, and here appear in corrected form. Further chapters were added in… Leer más

8vo, pp. [xxiv], 87, 116 [index], [1] blank; woodcut head- and tailpieces; occasional spotting and browning, but largely clean and fresh; initialed exlibris stamp on title-page, paste-downs covered in pencilled mathematical notes; in contemporary half vellum, marbled boards; some wear but still an attractive copy.
Second printing of this new and rare edition by the Lutheran theologian and philosopher Adam Heinrich Meißner (or Meisner, 1711-1782) of Pomponius Mela's geographical treatise, the earliest surviving Latin work on geography.
Although Meißner offers a brief preface, in which he surveys some of the previous editions of the work, and the literature that it had generated, the main attraction of his edition lies in his comprehensive indexes, which take up more than half the volume. The first is just a table of contents, but the second, over 29 pages, gives quick access to every aspect of Pomponius' work, from the physical (Fons Nili III, 9, 71) to the human (feroces homines, II, 2, 12, or, in… Leer más

8vo, pp. [vi], 335, [1] blank; final leaf attached to lower wrapper; some light foxing in places throughout, but otherwise largely clean and fresh; uncut in contemporary blue printed wrappers, old ownership signature (V. Mauville) in ink on upper wrapper; some light wear and browning but still an attractive copy.
A good copy of this uncommon study of the relative merits of sheep and goats, by the physician, naturalist, and mineralogist Giuseppe Gautieri (1769-1833).
Gautieri's study is comprehensive: he discusses in detail the use of goats as producers of milk (not only do they produce a lot, but they do so much of the year, and it is suitable for the production of butter, ricotta, and more) but also not only for meat but also for their tallow (for excellent candles), their guts (for violin strings), and more. Goats get on well with people, while being 'allegra, forte, coraggiosa e destra', putting up with heat and cold, snow and rain; and, of course, they will eat almost anything (this is counted as… Leer más

8vo, pp. [ii], 34; woodcut vignette on title-page; foxing and browning throughout, especially to first and last few leaves; in contemporary patterned wrappers; small hole to upper cover.
Attractively bound in coloured, patterned wrappers, this rare work satirises the habits of Viennese high society in the second half of the eighteenth century. The anonymous author sketches the characters and activities of various wealthy Viennese (presumably not wholly imaginary), as they sit in their coffee houses, go to the theatre, beautify themselves, while musing on the uneasy relationship between wealth and happiness (while acknowledging that he has neither).
The contemporary review in the Weiner Wochenschrift was not enthusiastic: noting the rather bitter tone of the work, it observes that 'the characters presented are seldom drawn naturally or faithfully from people's daily and social lives, and Rabener's genius does not inspire the author in his work - there is also no lack of rambling, un-German passages… Leer más

4to, pp. 20; woodcut armorial device on title-page, and headpiece; wormhole to foot of title, a couple of marginal nicks, and some browning throughout, but otherwise clean; in contemporary patterned wrappers, slightly chipped at head of spine, but an attractive copy.
Very rare account of the gathering of the Collegio Ducale in Correggio in Emilia, held over three days in September 1787, to celebrate the achievements of students with demonstrations from the students of their proficiency in discussing various matters; these range from the nature of chronology, and the ways in which days, weeks, months, and years have historically been understood, to questions of heraldry, the history of the Old Testament, and Roman history. These are interspersed with numerous performances, both of extemporised verse votes of thanks, and of music by the students, ranging from solo keyboard recitals to pieces of chamber music (including one uncommonly scored for two keyboards, four violins, and a flute, which doubtless… Leer más

4to, pp. 24; occasional marking and foxing to head of final leaf, not affecting text, otherwise largely clean and crisp throughout; in contemporary red boards; marking and occasional hole in paper on both covers, and corners bumped and worn.
Rare collection of works in prose and verse recited at the meeting held at the Accademia Napoleone in Lucca to celebrate the birth of Napoleon's nephew Jérôme Charles Baciocchi, the son of his sister Elisa who had two weeks previously had her investiture as the new Princess of Lucca.
The academy has gone through several guises since the first recorded meetings in 1584, and until 1805 and the arrival of the French was known as the Accademia degli Oscuri, based from 1780 in the monastery of San Frediano, which was also to accommodate the University of Lucca in 1785. In keeping with its traditions of attracting prominent figures in both the arts and sciences, the renamed Accademia Napoleone counted among its members the likes of Canova, Volta, and Teresa… Leer más

8vo, pp. 29, [1] blank; with four folding tables at end; printed on pale blue paper; occasional light spotting and very slight marginal dampstaining to last few leaves, not affecting text, but otherwise clean and fresh; in later patterned wrappers, spine almost entirely lacking, otherwise lightly worn.
First and seemingly only edition of this report on the relative merits of the axe and the saw in the cutting of firewood, presented by the inspector of waters and forests for the Colmar arrondissement.
Promptedby the scarcity and excessive cost of fuel, the inspector, a M. Picquet, seeks to demonstrate that the same amount of wood when cut with a saw would produce seven cords, against six when chopped with an axe, and requests permission to demonstrate this with the help of two or three members of the commission. In granting his approval, the prefect of the Haut-Rhin department notes that such a saving would be too considerable to be ignored, and proposes three local officials see with their own eyes… Leer más

8vo, pp. cccciv, [31] indexes, [1] blank; woodcut headpiece- and tailpieces; paper uniformly lightly yellowed, but otherwise fresh; uncut in later drab stiff wrappers; somewhat browned, and chipped at head.
First edition, rare, of this study of the laws governing religious orders and the election of their superiors, with particular attention paid to the Franciscans, by the Neapolitan lawyer Michele Maria Vecchioni.
Vecchioni sketches the origins and history of the Franciscans, describing their internal governance, the arrangement of the various hierarchies, and the various peculiarities of Franciscan discipline, in order to argue that the superiors of the order do not have the right to dictate or interfere in the election of priors and other heads of individual monastic houses; and that this was in accordance with Pope Benedict XII's 1342 declaration on the Franciscan rule. He explains how the established form of elections conformed not only to good sense and natural reason, but also to the general… Leer más

8vo, pp. 116; woodcut vignette on title; some light staining to last couple of leaves, but otherwise clean; crudely bound in recent maroon wrappers.

Very uncommon first Venetian printing of a surprisingly uncommon book, first published in Modena the previous year. One of the last works of the philosopher, translator, and sometime tutor of Manzoni, Francesco Soave (1743-1806).

In Italian philosophical circles, Soave had made his name with his translations of Locke in the 1770s, and his empiricist instincts are very much present in his treatment of Kant's philosophy. The dedication, to Francesco Melzi d'Eril, sets out Soave's stall, calling Kant's philosophy one 'that tends to destroy all the ideas and the maxims that had been most firmly established, both in the practical and in the speculative sciences'. Soave, noting that Kant had been largely ignored in France and Italy until the publication of Villers' Philosophie de Kant ou Principes fondamentaux de la philosophie transcendale in 1801, relies… Leer más