Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - May - 2015 Issue

Recently Acquired Material at The Lawbook Exchange

The letter of the law.

The letter of the law.

The Lawbook Exchange has issued a catalogue containing 201 items of Recently Acquired Books, Manuscripts & Ephemera. All of these works have a legal connection, but many are not legal texts of interest primarily to lawyers. Many involve the law in the context of political issues of the day, or events like sensational trials. You won't need a law license to find items to fit your interests or collection. We will skip the more legalistic texts, like the one that covers 18th century laws about olives and olive oil, to focus on a few works with perhaps a broader appeal.

 

We start with an odd, and disturbing, broadside headed Execution of Stephen Merrill Clark, Which Took Place on Winter Island, Salem, on Thursday, May 10, 1821. It's one that may give pause to those who see the U.S. Constitution as a fixed, rather than evolving document. In 1821, the Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment evidently did not apply to this case. Stephen Merrill Clark was 16 years old when he committed his crime. That crime was to burn down a barn. No one died (except, obviously, Stephen Clark). The jury recommended the legally correct sentence be commuted but the court did not listen. The young teenager was executed, death not then being deemed cruel and unusual punishment for burning down a barn. However, it did lead to pressure for reform, and three decades later, only murder remained as a capital crime in Massachusetts. Item 8. $1,850.

 

America had several of its greatest orators in the Senate during the first half of the 19th century, but none exceeded the vocal powers of Massachusetts' Daniel Webster. Perhaps his most famous quote comes from his 1830 debate with South Carolina's Robert Hayne, debating nullification and the threat of South Carolina seceding: “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.” Item 43 is a copy of the Subscriber's Edition of The Works of Daniel Webster, six volumes. It was published in 1851. Webster has signed volume 1. Just in time. Webster died the following year after he fell off a horse. Item 43. $750.

 

The next is a classic, Sylvia Nuptials, by Turin law professor Giovanni Nevizzano. This is a fifth edition, published in 1540, the last edition published during the author's lifetime. It covers such issues as marriage as discussed in Roman and canon law. Professor Nevizzano had some strong views about women, modestly described by The Lawbook Exchange as “misogyny.” His generalizations about women are most unfair, though probably every man knows one woman he would unkindly describe as the bookseller has described Nevizzano's views: “In his opinion, women were enthusiastic and effective torturers of men. They were successful, he reasoned, because their bodies were created by Satan and inhabited by the souls of fallen angels.” Nevizzano had some liberal views for his day on issues such as fornication, believing it not to be a mortal sin. Evidently, the good professor did find some useful purposes for Satan's creation. The Church was unhappy and demanded he remove some offending passages in later editions. Eventually, the book ended up on the Papal Index. Item 135. $2,500.

 

Item 165 is an abolitionist book, A Escravidao, O Clero e Abolicionismo, by Luiz Anselmo Fonseca. It calls for an abolition of slavery in Brazil, citing mainly legal, but also theological sources. The book was controversial at the time, though one wonders how abolition could have still been controversial. The year was 1887, and by then, every other nation in the Western Hemisphere had abolished slavery. Brazil did the same the following year. $950.

 

Next is an instructive compendium of Jewish law, as observed in England at the turn of the 18th century. Item 45 is Discourses of the Ecclesiastical and Civil Polity of the Jews, by Isaac Abendana, published in 1709. It is a second and final edition. Abendana was a rabbi from the Sephardic community, leading the Spanish-Portuguese synagogue. He also taught Hebrew at Cambridge and was a prolific writer. He was the Jewish community's premier authority of the time. $2,000.

 

Here is a remnant from an ecclesiastical battle at a moment when England was about to embark on a major religious conversion. The title is A Vindication of the Proceedings of His Majesties Ecclesiastical Commissioners, Against the Bishop of London, And the Fellows of Magdalen-College. In 1687, King James II interfered with the election of a president for the college. The result was the Fellows were forced at accept the Catholic King's wishes to install the pro-Catholic Bishop of Oxford as President. The King was not satisfied, demanding the Fellows admit their wrongdoing in at first trying to block the appointment and then ask for his pardon. Most refused, and were replaced by Catholic Fellows. The author of this tract, Henry Care, was a Protestant, and once vehemently so, but by this time he had mellowed and become sympathetic to Catholics, writing this defense of the King's Ecclesiastical Commissioners. James won this battle, but soon lost the war. In the following year – 1688 - James would be overthrown in the Glorious Revolution, this book would be published, and Henry Care died. Item 55. $350.

 

The Lawbook Exchange may be reached at 732-382-1800 or law@lawbookexchange.com. Their website is www.lawbookexchange.com

Rare Book Monthly

  • Fonsie Mealy’s
    Rare Books & Collectors’ Sale
    April 30th & May 1st
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Taylor (Geo.) & Skinner (A.) Maps of the Roads of Ireland, Surveyed 1777. Lond. & Dublin 1778. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Messingham (Thos.) Florilegium Insulae Sanctorum seu Vitae et Acta Sanctorum Hibernia, Paris 1624. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus). The Haw Lantern, L. (Faber & Faber) 1987, First Edn., Signed and dated. €225 to €350.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Valencey (Lt. Col. Chas.) Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, Vols. I-IV, 4 vols. Dublin 1786. €400 to €600.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Powerscourt (Viscount). A Description and History of Powerscourt, Lond. 1903. €350 to €500.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Moryson (Fynes). An Itinerary ... Containing His Ten Yeeres Travel Through the Twelve Dominions of Germany, Bohermerland, Sweitzerland…, Lond. (John Beale) 1617. €700 to €1,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: After Buffon, Birds of Europe, c. 1820. Approx. 120 fine hd. cold. plts., mor. backed boards. €125 to €250.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Dunlevy (Andrew). An Teagasg Criosduidhe De Reir Ceasda agus Freagartha... The Catechism or Christian Doctrine by Way of Question and Answer, Paris (James Guerin) 1742. €400 to €700.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: The Georgian Society Records of Eighteen-Century Domestic Architecture in Dublin, 5 vols. Complete, Dublin 1909-1913. €500 to €750.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Scale (Bernard). An Hibernian Atlas or General Description of the Kingdom of Ireland, L. (Robert Sayer & John Bennet) 1776. €625 to €850.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: [Johnson (Rev. Samuel)]. Julian the Apostate Being a Short Account of his Life, together with a Comparison of Popery and Paganism,L. (Langley Curtis) 1682. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Nichlson (Wm.) Illustrator. An Almanac of Twelve Sports, Lond. 1898. €300 to €400.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) trans. The Light of the Leaves, 2 vols., Mexico (Imprenta de los Tropicos/Bunholt) 1999. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Fleming (Ian). Moonraker, L. (Jonathan Cape) 1955. €1,500 to €2,000.
    Fonsie Mealy’s, Apr 30-May 1: Heaney (Seamus) & Egan (Felim) artist. Squarings, Twelve Poems, D. (Hieroglyph Editions Ltd.) 1991. €1,750 to €2,250.
  • Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN'S EXTREMELY RARE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT. "Scene af: Røverne i Vissenberg i Fyen." in Harpen, 1822.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST THREE FAIRY TALE PAMPHLETS, WITH ALL INDICES AND TITLE PAGES. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: THE FIRST FAIRY TALES WITH A SIGNED CARTE DE VISITE OF ANDERSEN AS FRONTIS. Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. 1835-1837.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: KARL LAGERFELD. Original pastel and ink drawing in gold, red and black for Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes (1992), "La cassette de l'Empereur."
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY OF THE SIXTH PAMPHLET FOR PETER KOCH. Eventyr, Fortalte For Børn, Second Series, Third Pamphlet. 1841. Publisher's wrappers, complete with all pre- and post-matter.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN RARE AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION SIGNED IN ENGLISH from "The Ugly Duckling," c.1860s.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: HEINRICH LEFLER, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR FOR ANDERSEN'S SNOW QUEEN, "Die Schneekönigin," 1910.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: FIRST EDITION OF ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES IN ENGLISH. Wonderful Stories for Children. London, 1846.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: ANDERSEN ON MEETING CHARLES DICKENS. Autograph Letter Signed ("H.C. Andersen") in English to William Jerdan, July 20, 1847.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR EDGAR COLLIN. Nye Eventyr og Historier. Anden Raekke. 1861.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: DOLL HOUSE FURNITURE BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON, DECORATED WITH FANTASTICAL CUT-OUTS, for the children of Jonna Stampe (née Drewsen), his godchildren.
    Bonhams, Apr. 21-29: PRESENTATION COPY FOR GEORG BRANDES. Dryaden. Et Eventyr fra Udstillingstiden i Paris 1867. 1868.
  • Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 962. Baird. United States Exploring Expedition. Philadelphia 1858.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 772. Edith Holland Norton. Brazilian Flowers. Coombe Croft 1893.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 49. Petrarca. Das Gluecksbuch, Augsburg 1536.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 1496. Jacob / Picasso. Chronique des Temps, 1956.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 8. Augustinus. De moribus ecclesie. Cologne 1480.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 17. Heures a lusaige de Noyon. Paris 1504.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 13. Schedel. Buch der Chronicken. Nürnberg 1493.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 957. Donovan. Insects of China. London 1798.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 123. A holy martyr. Tuscany, Florence, mid-14th century.
    Jeschke Jádi
    Rare Book Auction 155
    Saturday April 26, 2025
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 438. Dante. La Divine Comédie. Paris 1963.
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 602. Firdausi. Histoire de Minoutchehr. Paris 1919
    Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 26: Lot 994. Westwood. Oriental Entomology. London 1848.
  • Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: The Shem Tov Bible, 1312 | A Masterpiece from the Golden Age of Spain. Sold: 6,960,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Ten Commandments Tablet, 300-800 CE | One of humanity's earliest and most enduring moral codes. Sold: 5,040,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: William Blake | Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Sold: 4,320,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: The Declaration of Independence | The Holt printing, the only copy in private hands. Sold: 3,360,000 USD
    Sotheby's
    Sell Your Fine Books & Manuscripts
    Sotheby’s: Thomas Taylor | The original cover art for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sold: 1,920,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Machiavelli | Il Principe, a previously unrecorded copy of the book where modern political thought began. Sold: 576,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Leonardo da Vinci | Trattato della pittura, ca. 1639, a very fine pre-publication manuscript. Sold: 381,000 GBP
    Sotheby’s: Henri Matisse | Jazz, Paris 1947, the complete portfolio. Sold: 312,000 EUR

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