Uzanne, Octave (1851-1931) Son Altesse La Femme [Her Highness the Woman] [Extra-Illustrated State] [Salvatore David Master Binding] [Cortlandt Field Bishop Provenance] A FRENCH BIBLIOPHILE’S VISION TRANSFORMED INTO A MASTERWORK OF BINDING, ILLUSTRATION, AND COLLECTING HISTORY.

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• THE SEARCH FOR SPIRITUAL ASSURANCE

  

  Perkins, William (1558–1602) ; Fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge

  Perkins, William (1558–1602) ; Fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge A Treatise Tending Vnto a Declaration Whether a Man Be in the Estate of Damnation, or in the Estate of Grace ELIZABETHAN THEOLOGY — A 1591 TREATISE ON FAITH, CONSCIENCE, AND GRACE.

  $1,800.00

  Blind Horse Books [ABAA]

  Published in 1591 during William Perkins’s lifetime, this Elizabethan theological treatise represents an important contributions to English Protestant thought. A leading figure of the late sixteenth-century religious landscape, Perkins sought to address one of the central concerns of Reformation spirituality: how a believer might understand their spiritual condition and find assurance of faith. WILLIAM PERKINS — THEOLOGY MADE PRACTICAL.Perkins was among the most influential English Protestant theologians of his generation. As a fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge, and a prominent preacher and writer, he became known for presenting complex Reformed theology in practical forms accessible to clergy and lay readers alike. THE SEARCH FOR SPIRITUAL ASSURANCE.The enduring importance of ‘A Treatise Tending Vnto a Declaration Whether a Man Be in the Estate of Damnation, or in the Estate of Grace’ lies in its engagement with deeply personal questions of faith, conscience, doubt, and salvation. In an age when questions of election and grace shaped religious life, Perkins offered readers a structured approach to examining their beliefs, actions, and spiritual experience. Rather than treating theology as abstract doctrine alone, Perkins transformed difficult theological concepts into practical guidance for believers confronting questions of faith, doubt, and assurance. This copy is further distinguished by manuscript notes preserved on the verso of the original rear endpaper, written in an earlier hand. The notes have not been fully identified or transcribed but provide evidence of historical engagement with Perkins’s text and its continued study by later readers. KEY FEATURES +++ Visuals: Features Thomas Orwin’s iconic griffin printer’s mark to the title page, ornate woodcut initial letters, and elaborate typographical head- and tailpieces throughout. +++ Binding: Full light-brown calf bound in in contemporary 17th-century style, outer and inner panels framed in blind-ruled filleting, spine with five raised bands, gilt-lettered maroon morocco label (‘PERKINS’S TREATISE’), and date ‘1591’ stamped in gilt at the foot.+++ Content: Contains the full treatise on election and reprobation, including the famous dialogues between ‘Sathan and the Christian’ and pastoral ‘Consolations for the troubled consciences of repentant Sinners.’ +++ Imprint: London: Printed by Thomas Orwin for John Porter and Thomas Gubbin, 1591.  A significant Elizabethan imprint published during the lifetime of William Perkins, with early manuscript notes preserved on the original rear endpaper.+++ Specs: 24mo format (trimmed to 5.5 inches tall). +++ Reader Annotations: The original rear endpaper has been preserved and retains manuscript notes in ink on the verso, written in an unidentified secretary-style hand. CONDITION: Very Good.  The binding is sound, square, and tight, holding the compact text block firmly. The text block has been carefully trimmed during an earlier rebinding, with no loss of printed text. Internally, the text is generally clean with expected light age-toning and mild evidence of handling consistent with a volume of this period. Complete in all parts but the original endpages. The preserved original rear flyleaf shows expected light creasing and toning and retains manuscript notes in ink on the verso. The manuscript material remains legible and has not been conclusively identified. THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE:ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND — THE MAKING OF A PROTESTANT THEOLOGIAN.William Perkins was one of the most influential English Protestant theologians of the Elizabethan period. A fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge, and lecturer at Great St. Andrew’s Church, Perkins became known for presenting complex Reformed theology in practical and accessible forms for clergy and lay readers alike. THE SEARCH FOR SPIRITUAL ASSURANCE.Central to Perkins’s work was the relationship between faith, conscience, and personal assurance. ‘A Treatise Tending Vnto a Declaration Whether a Man Be in the Estate of Damnation, or in the Estate of Grace’ addresses one of the defining concerns of Reformation spirituality: whether an individual could recognize evidence of grace within themselves and understand their spiritual condition. FAITH, DOUBT, AND THE LIFE OF CONSCIENCE.The work reflects the Elizabethan emphasis on self-examination and ‘cases of conscience,’ offering readers a structured approach to questions of doubt, faith, and salvation. Through its practical treatment of spiritual anxiety and assurance, the book became an important example of the pastoral character of English Protestant theology. A THEOLOGY OF CONSCIENCE.A Treatise Tending Vnto a Declaration stands as one of Perkins’s most important examinations of the assurance of salvation. Through its discussion of signs of grace, spiritual doubt, and the examination of conscience, the text provides insight into the lived religious experience of sixteenth-century Protestantism. SCHOLARLY FEATURES+++ Design & Typography: Demonstrates the sophisticated small-format Elizabethan printing style of Thomas Orwin, utilizing black letter for primary emphasis alongside roman and italic types, designed for intimate, portable devotional carry.+++ Scholarship & Casuistry: Represents one of the earliest systematic works of Protestant casuistry (cases of conscience), bridging strict Calvinist theology with practical pastoral advice for those suffering spiritual despair.+++ Historical Influence: Perkins was the most published English author of the late Elizabethan era; his works directly shaped the theological framework of the early New England Puritan ministry, heavily influencing John Cotton, William Ames, and Cotton Mather. SUBJECTS: William Perkins, Elizabethan Religion, Puritan Theology, Reformation Literature, Early English Printing, History of Reading, Reader Annotations, Predestination GENRES: Early Printed Books, English Theology, Elizabethan Imprints, Annotated Copies, Religious Ephemera BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES: STC (2nd ed.) 19747 / 19752 series; ESTC S114285 (cf.). less

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  Offered for Sale by: Blind Horse Books [ABAA]

• IRELAND'S FINE PRESS REVIVAL

  

  Britton, Coburn (1901–1996)

  Britton, Coburn (1901–1996) Cap with Bells [Dolmen Press] [Limited Edition of 320 Copies] [Illustrated by Harry Kernoff & Noel Sheridan] A BEAUTIFUL, NEAR-FINE SPECIMEN OF POST-WAR DUBLIN TYPOGRAPHY AND GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION, MARKING THE LITERARY DEBUT OF COBURN BRITTON.

  $450.00

  Blind Horse Books [ABAA]

  This beautifully preserved copy of Coburn Britton’s poetic suite represents the author’s very first published book, issued as one of only 320 copies by Liam Miller’s legendary Dolmen Press. Serving as a foundational example of post-war Irish book design, this slim volume single-handedly resurrected fine printing in Ireland, filling the void left by the pre-war Dun Emer and Cuala Presses. The landmark collaborative production features striking modernist woodcuts by celebrated Dublin artist Harry Kernoff alongside fluid ink washes by abstract painter Noel Sheridan. It represents a deliberate bridge between the traditional Irish book arts revival and the mid-century avant-garde, capturing a moment when independent typography matched international fine-press aesthetics. KEY FEATURES+++ Visuals: Illustrated throughout with bold, expressionistic black-and-white woodcuts by Harry Kernoff and complementary textured ink washes by Noel Sheridan. The front wrap features an striking Kernoff woodcut printed in red. +++ Binding: Original cream-colored stiff card-stock stapled wrappers with the printed outer paper covers pasted over the spine line. +++ Content: The complete text of Britton’s introspective poetry, including his focal seasonal piece, Three Christmas Bells. +++ Imprint: Dublin, Ireland: The Dolmen Press, November 1959. Limited First Edition. +++ Specs: 5.25 by 7.5 inches; unpaginated text block [2 blank, 2, 7-38, 1, 1 blank]. LIMITATION: This volume represents the complete first and only printing of this collection. As stated in the colophon on the final printed page, the edition was strictly limited to a small press run of only 320 copies printed on fine paper at the Dolmen Press, Dublin, before the type was distributed. CONDITION: Near Fine. The stapled card wrappers remain firm, square, and structurally secure, with no splitting or pulling along the pasted-over outer paper spine. The interior pages are exceptionally clean, bright, and completely free of thumbing, foxing, or owner inscriptions. The delicate cream-colored outer wrappers show only minimal, uniform shelf handling and very minor, faint smudging to the rear panel, consistent with standard storage. A collection-grade survival of a fragile, small-press pamphlet. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE DOLMEN PRESS AND MODERN IRISH BOOK ARTS—A REVIVAL OF IRISH FINE PRINTING.Founded in Dublin in 1951 by architect, designer, and publisher Liam Miller, The Dolmen Press became one of the most influential forces in the revival of modern Irish fine printing. The press provided an important home for Irish poets, artists, and writers whose work benefited from careful design, illustration, and craftsmanship beyond the requirements of conventional commercial publishing. POETRY OF THE POST-INDEPENDENCE GENERATION.This 1959 edition of Cap with Bells reflects the collaborative spirit that defined Dolmen’s early achievement. Coburn Britton’s poetry belongs to a generation of Irish writers exploring personal, spiritual, and emotional landscapes in the decades following independence. Through familiar religious and seasonal imagery, Britton transforms traditional forms into intimate reflections on memory, belief, and human experience. LITERATURE AND VISUAL ART IN COLLABORATION.The volume also demonstrates Dolmen Press’s commitment to the integration of literature and visual art. Harry Kernoff, a major figure in twentieth-century Irish art, contributes bold structural woodcuts, while Noel Sheridan provides complementary abstract imagery that expands the emotional atmosphere of the poems. Together with Liam Miller’s careful typography and production choices, these elements create a unified work of mid-century Irish book art. A DOCUMENT OF IRISH CULTURAL RENEWAL.Cap with Bells stands as an important example of the cultural renewal taking place in Dublin during the postwar period, when independent presses played a central role in preserving and advancing Ireland’s literary and artistic traditions. SCHOLARLY FEATURES+++ The Dolmen Press Impact: Illustrates the early, defining design philosophy of Liam Miller, who founded the press in 1951 to rescue Irish book production from aesthetic stagnation by pairing fine typography with local artists.+++ Artistic Modernism: Features the graphic work of Harry Kernoff (1900–1974), a pivotal figure in 20th-century Irish art who famously captured Dublin’s working-class urban landscape and contributed immensely to the visual culture of the post-revival period.+++ Post-Revival Narrative: Documents the shifting landscape of Irish literature in the 1950s, where writers moved away from the nationalist and political themes of the earlier Irish Literary Revival toward deeply introspective, spiritual, and personal exploration. SUBJECTS: Coburn Britton, Harry Kernoff, Noel Sheridan, Liam Miller, Dolmen Press, Irish Literature, Irish Art, Modernist Woodcuts, Fine Press Movement, Dublin Publishing, Limited Edition, Poetry, Illustrated Book, Small Press Multiple. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE: For a complete history of the imprint, see Liam Miller’s Duffy’s Cut: A Bibliographical History of the Dolmen Press (1987). less

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  Offered for Sale by: Blind Horse Books [ABAA]

• 200-plate folio of world art in full calf binding

  

  Sylvestre, Henri

  Sylvestre, Henri THE TRIUMPHS OF MODERN ART Containing The Most Notable Paintings Of To-Day, Selected From The Modern Masterpieces Of The Whole World Of Art

  $895.00

  Gene W. Baade Books on the West

  Philadelphia: Gebbie & Co., 1890. First Edition. Leather_bound. Very Good. Item #TA001b Two Volumes. First Edition (but not the Japan Edition of multiple separate loose portfolios). Approx 12″ x 17″ full calf folio. Decoratively blind-stamped on the front covers, with gilt title. Spine titles, volume numbers, & decorative devices are in gilt. Raised bands. Beautifully marbled endpapers with gild-decorated calf over three edges of the pastedowns. Unpaginated. Each volume has 50 magnificent full page photogravures & etchings (total of 91 gravures & 9 etchings), and each has 100 typogravures (total of 200). The photogravures are monotints in various hues: light to dark sepia, aqua-blue, gray, black & white, etc… Plates are 10 1/2″ x 16 3/8″, & the borders range from approx. 1 1/2″ to 3″ per edge. Each photogravure plate has an impression “bite” between the image & the edge. Each plate is attached to the binding by a flexible cloth hinge. Preceding each plate, interleaved by a full sized paper guard, is a page with two typogravures which may or may not be by the same artist of the plate, and brief descriptions of the artists & their subjects. ca 1890 – 1900. less

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  Offered for Sale by: Gene W. Baade Books on the West

• THE NOBEL LAUREATE IN FINE PRESS FORM

  

  Mann, Thomas (1875–1955)

  Mann, Thomas (1875–1955) A Sketch of My Life [Signed by Thomas Mann] [Harrison of Paris] [Limited to 75 Copies on Imperial Japanese Vellum] SIGNED THOMAS MANN — A MASTER OF MODERN LITERATURE IN A LUXURY PRIVATE PRESS EDITION

  $2,400.00

  Blind Horse Books [ABAA]

  A beautifully preserved signed copy of A Sketch of My Life, one of only 75 copies printed on Imperial Japanese vellum by Harrison of Paris. Issued shortly after Thomas Mann received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929, this edition presents the author’s autobiographical reflection in the refined format that became central to Monroe Wheeler’s vision of modern fine press publishing. Signed by Thomas Mann and originating from the Harrison of Paris / Monroe Wheeler archive, this copy combines literary importance, exceptional materials, and fine press design. THE AUTHOR AT HIS MOMENT OF RECOGNITION.A Sketch of My Life offers Mann’s own account of his early years, family background, education, and the development of his literary career before international recognition transformed him into one of Europe’s most celebrated writers. Published at the height of Mann’s reputation, the work captures a moment of reflection before the political upheavals that would reshape his life and the literary world of the 1930s. A MODERN FINE PRESS STATEMENT.Harrison of Paris, founded and directed by Monroe Wheeler, sought to unite distinguished literature with exceptional design, typography, and materials. This edition demonstrates Wheeler’s early commitment to restrained elegance rather than traditional decorative excess. The Imperial Japanese vellum issue represents the finest state of the publication, emphasizing material quality, typography, and craftsmanship. This edition brings together Thomas Mann’s literary importance with Monroe Wheeler’s distinctive approach to modern fine press production, creating a copy of interest to collectors of twentieth-century literature and book arts. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Octavo, approximately 8.25 inches tall. Quarter-bound in vellum over stiff paper boards. Original protective slipcase. Printed in France for Harrison of Paris. Printed on Imperial Japanese vellum. [10], 11–75 pages. Includes the rare errata slip noting the increase of the limitation from 50 to 75 copies. CONDITION: Fine. The vellum remains creamy and bright. The text block is pristine. The original slipcase is solid with only minimal shelf handling. An exceptionally well-preserved example of this limited Harrison of Paris production. LITERARY SIGNIFICANCE: THE NOBEL YEARS—A WRITER AT THE SUMMIT Thomas Mann remains one of the defining literary figures of the twentieth century. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1929, he entered the 1930s as one of Europe’s most respected novelists and intellectuals. This autobiographical work reflects Mann’s own understanding of his literary development at a pivotal moment, shortly before exile and political conflict transformed his personal and professional life. THE MAKING OF MODERN FINE PRESSThe Harrison of Paris edition represents an important early expression of Monroe Wheeler’s approach to fine publishing: combining major literary voices with carefully considered typography, materials, and production. SUBJECTS: Thomas Mann; Nobel Prize Literature; Harrison of Paris; Monroe Wheeler; Fine Printing; Private Press Books; German Literature; Literary Autobiography; Modernism; Vellum Bindings; Limited Editions, Fine Press; Signed Books; Literary Autobiography; Limited Editions; German Literature; Modern Literature. less

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  Offered for Sale by: Blind Horse Books [ABAA]