HAVING Note AVING decided to sell by auction the portion of the library purchased from Mr. M. C. Lefferts, described in this Catalogue, I wish to state that the sale is absolutely without reserve. No items will be purchased by me for stock. If any are bought on my account it will simply be in execution of commissions from customers. GEO. H. RICHMOND. NEM AOBK R 7 THE The Lefferts Books HE special attention of collectors is directed to the condition of the books described in this Catalogue. Mr. Marshall C. Lefferts, of whose magnificent library these volumes formed an important portion, was one of the leaders in the modern system of book collecting. That system demands perfect condition as a sine qua non. No book was admitted to his library unless it was in a state to satisfy the most fastidious, so it is that in nearly every case each volume now offered is the finest copy procurable. Where the book is of such ultra-rarity as, say, the Earl of Surrey's Poems of 1567, of which the number of known copies can be counted upon one hand, this rigid rule must be relaxed. The copy now to be sold is the finest in all probability that will ever come upon the market; and, indeed, beyond a few repairs to some leaves, is in choice state. Mr. Lefferts' superb copy of the second edition of Queen Elizabeth's Prayer Book is worthy of mention; we have little hesitation in pronouncing it the finest copy known-the first is unprocurable. The "Prayer Book" is almost equalled in condition by his copy of Coryat's Crudities in the original vellum, or the original calf copy of John Bunyan's famous Holy War, first edition-the original portrait by White, which is in the present copy, is of the most excessive rarity. Other books of great value are the choice copies of Allot's England's Parnassus (the first and in many respects the most interesting of English anthologies); Ascham's Toxophilus and more famous Scholemaster, first and second editions; the first edition of Francis Beaumont's Poems; the Florio Montaigne, 1603, first edition, and one of the most famous of books; Fenton's Tragical Discourses, a storehouse where many great writers secured their plots. John Dryden is represented by nearly all his works in first editions as also is Edmund Waller, while the Lefferts collection of Clevelands is famous. There is a splendid copy of the fourth folio Shakspeare, a large collection of the works of John Taylor, the poetical waterman, and an equally complete series of the curious writings of George Wither. That great Elizabethan Samuel Daniel is represented by no less than seventeen items. Among these is the very rare "Tethy's Festival." To be classed with such rarities as the Earl of Surrey's Poems and that rarest of Samuel Daniel's works referred to above is such a book as Patrick Hannay's "Nightingale," which will be found described in the Catalogue. In it will also be found no less than five early folio editions of Chaucer's works. The Orient is represented by some strikingly beautiful MSS.-one from the collection of the Duke of Sussex, son of George III. There are several beautiful Sixteenth Century Hora printed upon vellum, and an illuminated MS. of the Fifteenth Century also on vellum. The books have been modestly catalogued and will, we believe, in every instance more than justify the description. Mr. Richmond's note prefixed to this Catalogue should be read. BANGS & CO. Crice per Vol. 250.00 1.50 37.50 47.50 I ADA CATALOGUE DAM BELL, CLIM OF THE CLOUGH, AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLE. Rough wood engraving on title-page showing the three characters. Black letter. 4to, brown calf, lower edges, UNCUT. Lond. A. M. for W. Thackeray, n. d. * SPLENDID COPY. "The old wives, that wedded themselves to the profound histories of Robin Hood, Clim of the Clough and worthy Sir Isambras, may here learne a tale to tell amongst their gossips."THE COBLER OF CANTERBURIE. 4to. 1590. This edition is described by Collier in his "Scarcest Books in 2 ADDISON (JOSEPH). Observations upon Cato: a Tragedy. * Bound up is "Cato Examined," being animadversions upon the play. 3 ESOP'S FABLES AND LIFE. In English by T. Philipott and in French and Latin by R. Codrington. First impressions of the 112 engravings by F. Barlow. Folio, old green morocco, borders of gold, gilt edges, with crest of Gulston in gold on back. Lond. : William Godbid, 1666 * FIRST EDITION. Apparently a thick paper copy. 750 4 ALABASTER (WILLIAM). Roxana Trægedia. Prettily engraved title-page. 8vo, green crushed levant morocco, gilt edges, by RIVIERE. Lond. William Jones, 1632 25,00 *FIRST AND GENUINE EDITION. A spurious issue appeared the same day. The play was several times successfully produced at Trinity College, Cambridge. 5 ALEMAN (MATHEO). The Rogue; or, The Life of Guzman de Alfarache. Device on title-page. Folio, full green crushed levant morocco, gilt edges, by the CLUB BINDLond.: Edward Blount, 1623 Among the preliminary verses is one by BEN JONSON, who says the work has ERY. 16.00 6 Aleyn (CHARLES). The Battailes of Crescey and Poictiers, under the Fortunes and Valour of King Edward the third of that name, and his sonne Edward Prince of Wales, named the Black. THE SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED. 8vo, full dark crimson crushed levant morocco, dull gold edges, by the CLUB BINDERY. Lond. Thomas Harper for Thomas Knight, 1633 * BEAUTIFUL COPY of this rare and interesting volume. The first edition (of which we can trace the sale of no copy) appeared in 1631, and consisted of 78 pages only, while in this edition there are 125. As pointed out in the Collectanea Anglo-Poetica, the Poem of the Battaile of Crescey is enlarged from 129 stanzas in the first edition to 253 in this, while the second poem is increased from 141 to 242 stanzas. The poems also underwent a careful revision. One wormhole through about half the book (on margin). 3007 ALMACK (EDWARD). A Bibliography of the King's Book; 5.50 1.50 /50.00. or, Eikon Basilike. Facsimile plates. Royal 4to, cloth, Lond. Blades, East and Blades, 1896 uncut. * Large Paper copy, of which but 150 copies were printed, each signed and numbered by the publishers. 8 ALLEN (CHAs. Dexter). American Book-Plates. IllusN. Y. 1894 * Collectors' edition, of which but 100 were printed, on English hand-made paper, with 41 full-page plates from the original coppers. In this copy are inserted the five various bookplates of M. C. Lefferts. 9 ALLEN (CHAS. DEXTER). Ex-Libris, Essays of a Collector. 10 [ALLOT (ROBERT).] ENGLAND'S PARNASSUS; or, The Lond. N. L. C. B. for Thomas Hayes, 1600 "This, tho' I have been many years seeking after, yet I cannot get a sight of it."-WooD in the Athena, Oxon. It is the first poetical anthology of English literature, and is also the most valuable. This extremely rare selection from Shakespeare and other poets |