Item 16 is one of the early Jesuit Relations, Relation de ce qui s’est passé en la Nouvelle France en l’annee 1639. In it Paul Le Jeune reports on their attempts to convince the Indians to settle in one area, rather than lead nomadic lives. It also announces the Ursuline Convent in Quebec City, the first female missionaries to come to the New World. $18,500.
Item 21 is Abraham Ortelius’ atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. It is a 1603 Latin edition of what is in many ways the first modern atlas. It was the first uniformly sized collection of maps of the countries of the world since the days of Ptolemy. At the time it was published, it was apparently the most expensive book ever printed. It is not inexpensive today. $265,000.
Item 38 is an interesting work of Americana. It is a Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition…by Charles Wilkes. It consists of five volumes and an atlas printed in 1845 (second edition) covering the first U.S. naval expedition around South America, Hawaii, the Philippines, the South Pacific, Australia and Antarctica. These travels established that Antarctica was indeed a continent. The voyages were important for the U.S. as it established the country’s ability to undertake scientific journeys to Antarctica with comparable or better success than France or England. $12,000.
Within the fields of arts and humanities we find major works such as item 131, Diderot’s Encyclopedie, ou dictionnaire raisonne des sciences… This monumental work helps to usher in the age of the Enlightenment. It also undermines the old order which in turn leads to the French Revolution. In all, there are 35 volumes published between 1751 and 1780, including almost 3,000 illustrations. $75,000.
There are several Galileo items in this catalogue. Numbers 49-54 cover an interesting dialogue concerning three comets that were visible in Italy during 1618. In the debates concerning the celestial phenomena, Galileo clearly states his belief in the scientific method of observation and analysis over reliance on dogma and authority.
Item 105 is Mondino’s Anathomia [corpus human]. It is the first illustrated edition (1493) of an anatomical text which would be used for three centuries. Mondino is described as the first physician to practice dissection on a regular basis. $55,000.
And then there’s item 91, a first edition first issue of Sir Isaac Newton’s Principia. What more can be said? $300,000.
These, and many more major pieces can be found at Martayan Lan. They are on the web at www.martayanlan.com or by phone at 212-308-0018.
Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - October - 2003 Issue
Unique New Catalogues from<br>Martayan Lan and Oak Knoll Books
The world we used to know, circa 1603.Martayan Lan #21
