TAYLOR (Isaac):

Beginnings of European Biography. The Early Ages. From the Decline of the Roman Empire to the Reign of Charlemagne. Illustrated with twenty-four engravings.

London: John Harris..., [n. d.] [1827]. 12mo (in 6s), pp. xvii [xviii Errata], 150, 24 engraved illustrations on 12 leaves, original printed boards with illustration on front cover, red roan spine (worn); binding a little soiled and worn.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 4858

Catalogue: Biography

Keywords: biography History prose

TILLOTSON (John), Archbishop. BIRCH (Thomas):

The Life Of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Compiled chiefly form His Original Papers and letters.

London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper... [et al], 1752. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, 198 x 120 mms., pp. [ii], iii - vii [viii "Additions and Corrections"], 489 [490 - 504 Index], contemporary calf, red morocco label; slight wear to joints, but a very good copy. Thomas Birch (1705 - 1766) was one of the 18th century's most assiduous biographers, though his biographies are often compilations rather than narratives. In 1732, he worked on General Dictionary, Historical and Critical, an English, an expanded version of an earlier translation of Bayle's famous Dictionnaire. Birch's biography is one of the most important sources for information about Tillotson's life. A second edition was published in 1753. George Smith, commenting on the work in his Remarks upon The Life of the most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson (1753), observed, "It had been expected for half a century that some one who had a Regard for the Memory of Archbishop Tillotson, a Man so famous in his Generation upon many Accounts, would have oblig'd the World with an exact and impartial History of his Life. At length an ingenious and industrious Gentleman has endeavour'd to perform this Service to the Publick: And I can't but be of Opinion he would have done it better, had he not made too great Use of Bishop Burnet's Flourishes and Hyperboles."

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 6830

Catalogue: Biography

Keywords: biography History prose

VALERIUS MAXIMUS.

Valerius Maximus cum selectis variorum observat et nova recensione A. Thysii.

Lugd. Batavorum, Ex Officina Hackiana, 1670. 8vo, 180 x 113 mms., pp. [xvi], 844 [845 - 876 Index], including engraved title-page. BOUND WITH: Cornelius Nepotis. Vitae Excellentium Imperatorum, Observationibus ac Notis variorum Uberioribus illustratae, Accurante, Roberto Keuchenio Icto et Historiarum Professore. Lugd. Vatav. et Roterod. Ex Officiana Hackiana 1667. 8v9,m 180 x 113 mms., pp. [xxiv], 377 [378 - 392 Index, including engraved title-page. 2 volumes in 1, bound in contemporary vellum, with yapp edges, with the autograph "Wilhelm von Samson/ Bevall 1800" on the verso of the front free end-paper; spine a little soiled, but a very good copy. The anecdotes and memorable sayings of the rhetorician Valerius (fl. 14AD - 57AD) were popular with later orators and historains; the earliest publication of his works was in Mainz in 1471; the editor, Antoine Thysius (1603 - 1665) was the son of the Dutch theologian of the same name (1556 - 1640) and professor of poetry at the University of Harderwijk. Cornelius Nepos' lives of roman generals was a popular work, and this edition by Robertus Keuchenius (1636 - 1673) is one of many works by him. Dirk Van Miert, in Humanism in an Age of Science: The Amsterdam Athenaeum in the Golden Age (2009) amusingly notes "One has the impression that the ambitions of Robertus Keuchenius...were successful only because he knew how to network. in 1660 he dedicated a hymn to Professor Klenckius to congratulate him on his knighthood. He also addressed a congratulatory poem (1660) to recently re-crowned King Charles II of England." This is the first appearance of his edition of Cornelius; it was republished in 1667.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 7880

Catalogue: Biography

Keywords: biography classics prose

WALPOLE (Horace). DOBSON (Austin):

Horace Walpole. A Memoir With an Appendix of Books Printed at the Strawberry Hill Press. With Illustrations by Percy and Leon Moran.

London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1890. LIMITED EDITION. Large 8vo, 250 x 170 mms., pp. 370, frontispiece, illustrations, headpieces, uncut (some leaves unopened), original cloth (cream spine, blue boards); spine faded and sunned. No. 399 of 425 copies: "This edition, consisting of 4 copies on vellum, 5 copies on Van Gelder paper, 50 copies on Japan paper, 425 copies on Dickinson paper, was printed from type in the month of October, 1890. Theo. S. DeVinne & Co."

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Book number: 6132

Catalogue: Biography

Keywords: biography printing literature

WALTON (Izaak):

The Lives of Dr. John Done, Sir Henry Wotton, Mr. Richard Hooker, Mr. George Herbert, and Dr. Robert Sanderson. To which are added, The Autographs of those Eminent Men, now first collected; An Index, and Illustrated Notes.

London: John Major, Fleet-Street..., 1825. 8vo (in 4s), 165 x 95 mms., pp. xviii, 503 [504 colophon], 11 unnumbered leaves of plates, autographs opposite title-page, 52 woodcuts in text, contemporary plum calf, with gilt roll border enclosed borders in blank, central panel with geometric design repeated, spine gilt with ornaments of fishing, all edges gilt; some slight wear to extremities, but a very good copy, with name of T. P. Richmond in ink on top margin of title-page. This volume was isssued to complement Major's publication in 1823 of an edition of The Compleat Angler. The present volumes was reviewed in The Monthly Review for 1825: "Of the execution of this edition, it is impossible to speak in too high terms of praise. It is beautifully printed on handsome paper...which may vie with the handsomest specimens of the art of book deccoration.... On the whole, we may safely style it a beautiful book, inside and outside both!" e

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 10012

Catalogue: Biography

Keywords: Biography binding literature