Asher Rare Books

Very finely and richly illustrated manuscript pattern book containing about 210 illustrations of Chinese scenes, scenery and ornamental designs for ceramics

[MANUSCRIPT PATTERN BOOK - CHINESE CERAMICS]. [Chinoiserie decorations for ceramics].
[Denmark?], [ca. 1822-1834, with one note dated 1841]. Folio (ca. 33.5 x 21.5 cm). 31 blue paper leaves with approximately 210 illustrations, drawn on both sides of the leaves, all in brown ink, sometimes decorated with blue pencil, some with dates and/or captions in Danish written ini ink in a contemporary hand (the artist's?) with gothic influences. 45 illustrations show Chinese scenes and scenery, and 165 are showing ornaments, designs and patterns. Contemporary half calf, sewn on 4 recessed supports, shell-marbled sides. [31] ll. Full description

€ 15,000

Art & Art History China Manuscripts & Documents

A fundamental book on Egypt: the first illustrated catalogue of the first Egyptian Museum, with 40 original photographic prints

MARIETTE-BEY, Auguste. Album du musée du Boulaq comprenant quarante planches photographiées par MM. Delié et Béchard, avec un texte explicatif rédigé par Auguste Mariette-Bey.
Cairo, Mourès & Cie, 1872. Folio. With 40 original, albumen photographic prints (ca. 24.5 x 18 cm) on stiff paperboard mounted on hinges. Original publishers half brown morocco, blind stamped cloth over boards, with title and figures in gold, gilt edges. [3], [42] ll. plus 40 mounted photographic prints. Full description

€ 35,000

Art & Art History Museums & Wunderkammer North Africa & Egypt Photography

Poetic descriptions of Batavia, India, the Cape, Dutch country estates and notable persons

MARRE, Jan de. Batavia, begrepen in zes boeken.
Amsterdam, Adriaan Wor & heirs of G. onder de Linden, 1740.
With:
(2) MARRE, Jan de. Bespiegelingen over gods wysheid in't bestier der schepselen, en eerkroon voor de Caab de Goede Hoop.
Amsterdam, Adriaan Wor & heirs of G. onder de Linden, 1746.
(3) MARRE, Jan de. Hof- en mengeldichten.
Amsterdam, Adriaan Wor & heirs of G. onder de Linden, 1746.
3 works in 1 volume, the first in 6 parts. 4to. With an engraved frontispiece and an elaborate title-vignette (identical on all three title-pages. And ad. 1 with a folding engraved plate of Jakarta "as it was in 1731" by Jan van der Laan. Contemporary vellum, red spine label. [36], 320, [6]; [42], 178, [22], [20], 214, [4] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Ceylon Dutch Literature Indonesia / Dutch East Indies Southeast Asia Southern Africa VOC

Stunning collotypes and chromolithographs of Pompeii wall paintings in situ soon after their excavation

MAU, August. Geschichte der decorativen Wandmalerei in Pompeji ... Mit 20 Tafeln in einer Mappe.
Berlin, G. Reimer, 1882. 1 text volume & 1 portfolio with plates. 8vo (text volume) and 1mo (plates portfolio 53 x 43 cm). With 20 large numbered plates showing Pompeii wall paintings in situ, mounted on card stock, loose in a separate portfolio with letterpress title-leaf and contents leaf: 9 sepia collotypes (21 x 16 to 26.5 x 24.5 cm) and 11 chromolithographs (21.5 x 19 to 37 x 36 cm), no. 18 actually comprising 7 small chromolithographs on 1 card, each plate with a letterpress label on the back; and 7 black and white floor plans in the text. Contemporary half sheepskin parchment (text); contemporary blue half cloth portfolio (plates). XII, 462 pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Architecture Art & Art History Classical Antiquity Italy

Rare late 18th-century aquatint and etched print, produced in Calcutta

MOFFAT, James. Vexation and strife.
Kolkata (Calcutta), 1797. Oblong folio. Aquatint etching on paper (leaf: ca. 29 x 38 cm.; plate: 27 x 35 cm; illustration: 24.5 x 31.5 cm). Aquatint etching showing domestic scene of a couple fighting at a table, with a dark figure watching on in the background. Signed "Calcutta J M del. et sculp. 1797" and captioned "vexation and strife". Printed on laid paper made by James Whatman the younger, watermarked. Full description

€ 7,500

Art & Art History India & Sri Lanka Prints & Print Series

Beautiful, entirely engraved, calligraphic prayerbook

MOREAU, Pierre. Les Sainctes prieres de l'ame Chrestienne Escrites & gravées apres le naturel de la plume.
Paris, I. Henault, 1656. Small 8vo. With fine engraved calligraphic title within architectural borders, engraved dedication to the Queen of France, 31 mostly full-page illustrations, some repeated, representing Christ on the cross, Mary with child, the Seven Deadly Sins, etc., and 179 engraved pages with calligraphed prayers within richly decorated borders with flowers, fruits, animals, insects, etc. Contemporary sharkskin, spine ribbed, with silver clasps including monogram. 212 pp. Full description

€ 4,250

Art & Art History Bibles, Liturgy & Devotional Works Book of Hours, Missals & Prayerbooks Calligraphy

Magnificent 18th-century mosaic binding showing a beautiful floral motif

[MOSAIC BINDING - BIBLE]. LEEMPUTTE, Henricus van den (editor). Het nieuwe testament ons salighmaeckers Jesu Christi, mitsgaders: d'epistelen uit het oude testament, soo die door 't jaer in den dienst der H. Kercke gelesen worden.
Antwerp, Hieronymus Verdussen (for Niclaes Braau in Haarlem), 1696. 8vo. With 39 detailed woodcut illustrations in the text, and woodcut decorated initials and small printed manicules. The text is set in a Gothic letter, with incidental use of Roman type. Exquisite 18th-century gold-tooled multi-colour morocco mosaic binding. Gilt edges and green silk covered end papers. [1], [1 blank], [14], 837, [27] pp. Full description

€ 12,000

Antwerp Art & Art History Bibles, Liturgy & Devotional Works Bindings

Uphill! A collection of folders, brochures and books on mountaineering

[MOUNTAINEERING]. [A collection of brochures and folders on mountaineering].
[Austria and Switzerland, ca. 1920- ca. 1980]. Ca. 653 brochures (including a few duplicates and variant issues).
With: [A collection of books relating to mountaineering].
[Globally, ca. 1830- ca. 2000]. Ca. 875 books (including a few duplicates and variant issues, and several multiple-volume titles). Full description

€ 45,000

Art & Art History Austria Central Europe Charts & Maps Economic History & Trade Games & Sports Photography Switzerland

Delicately painted 17th-century initial, attributed to the circle of Portugal's finest miniature artist

[NETO, Estêvao Gonçalves, circle of (attributed)]. [Historiated initial - Capital "G"].
[Viseu?, first quarter of the 17th century]. Frame: ca. 36.5 x 33.5 cm. Tempera on parchment (ca. 20 x 21 cm), heightened with gold. Mounted in a passe-partout (ca. 28.5 x 25.5 cm), framed behind glass in a later gold frame. Full description

€ 8,500

Art & Art History Drawings & Watercolours Portugal

Vibrant 17th-century illuminated initial, which has been featured in two exhibitions about Portuguese art

[NETO, Estêvao Gonçalves, circle of (attributed)]. [Illuminated initial - Capital "S"].
[Viseu?], 1617. Frame: ca. 39.5 x 38 cm. Tempera and gold leaf on parchment (ca. 33 x 30 cm). Mounted in a passe-partout (ca. 33.5 x 32.5 cm), framed behind glass in a later gold frame. Full description