Paris: Lehuby: 1842. quarter tan leather with brown boards. gilt titles and decorations to the spine. Now covered in removable archival film. All edges gilt. Yellow end papers. Contemporary gift inscription to the end paper. half title carries the approval of Cardinal Prince de Croy. Three engraved plates (frontis and two further) and an engraved title page. There is a little rubbing to the boards, but overall the spine and boards are in good bright shape. the front end paper has a nick to the top corner. The rest of this book is in good condition, slightly darkened to the page edges. The frontis plate is still holding well, but is in danger of becoming detached (slightly loose to the top half). Overall a sound copy. The book is telling the history of the missions to spread the Catholic faith. There are chapters on the Jesuit missions, missions to Constantinople and to Holland. Sections also on the religion of the Armenians, Ethiopians and the monastery at mount Sinai, the mission to Guyana etc: The Second half of the book is in two sections. The first dealing with the Mission to America to convert the Native Americans - (The "Savages" of Illinois and Louisiana). The second with the Mission to India (1701, 1709 etc.), and to Tibet. cuir quart de bronzage avec des conseils bruns. titres et décorations dorés au dos. Maintenant recouvert d'un film d'archives amovible. Tous les bords dorés. Feuilles de garde jaunes. Inscription cadeau contemporaine sur le papier de fin. le demi-titre porte l'approbation du Cardinal Prince de Croy. Trois planches gravées (frontis et deux autres) et une page de titre gravée. Il y a un peu de frottement sur les planches, mais dans l'ensemble le dos et les planches sont en bon état brillant. le papier frontal a une entaille dans le coin supérieur. Le reste de ce livre est en bon état, légèrement noirci sur les bords des pages. La plaque frontale tient toujours bien, mais risque de se détacher (légèrement lâche jusqu'à la moitié supérieure). Dans l'ensemble une copie sonore. Le livre raconte l'histoire des missions de diffusion de la foi catholique. Il y a des chapitres sur les missions jésuites, les missions à Constantinople et en Hollande. Sections également sur la religion des Arméniens, des Éthiopiens et du monastère du mont Sinaï, la mission en Guyane etc. : La seconde moitié du livre est en deux sections. Le premier traitant de la Mission en Amérique pour convertir les Amérindiens - (Les « Sauvages » de l'Illinois et de la Louisiane). La seconde avec la Mission en Inde (1701, 1709 etc.), et au Tibet. 288 pages.

Hanoverae [Hanover]: In Officina Foersteriana, 1731. First edition. Original vellum boards. Black inked title to spine. frontispiece showing Carolus Magnus (Charlemagne) holding up the church. Red and black title page. Dedication page. Introductions and preface, text. A couple of attractive woodcuts. Complete with index, errata etc: The vellum and text are both clean and tidy, in this beautiful work. Written at Charlemagne's command, this is an account, in four books, of the Second Council of Nicaea (787). This council largely dealt with the heresy of Iconoclasm, and rather, permitted the adoration of Jesus, Mary & Saints through the assistance of images - not through the adoration of the images themselves. (Keep up please - another riveting read from Harrison-Hiett). [ii], 1-138, 1-594, [ii]. pp Première édition. Planches vélin d'origine. Titre encré en noir au dos. frontispice montrant Carolus Magnus (Charlemagne) tenant l'église. Page de titre rouge et noir. Page de dédicace. Introductions et préface, texte. Quelques gravures sur bois attrayantes. Complet avec index, errate etc. : Le vélin et le texte sont à la fois propres et bien rangés, dans ce bel ouvrage. Écrit sur l'ordre de Charlemagne, il s'agit d'un récit, en quatre livres, du deuxième concile de Nicée (787). Ce concile traitait en grande partie de l'hérésie de l'iconoclasme et permettait plutôt l'adoration de Jésus, de Marie et des saints à l'aide d'images - et non à travers l'adoration des images elles-mêmes. (Continuez s'il vous plaît - une autre lecture fascinante de Harrison-Hiett). [ii], 1-138, 1-594, [ii]. pp

Paris: Editions d'Art "La Couronne", 1959. First Edition. Cream hardback book in slipcase. Limited numbered edition (one of 10,500). Gilt and black titles to book. Text in French. Black and white photographs throughout. Heavy book (over 2 kg) so standard shipping only. 350 pages. Generally in very good condition. Small split to the cover on the front inside hinge. Plastic cover to book has loss and tears (not sure if this is original). Hardback slipcase is a little rubbed and dirty but has protected book well. 315 x 235 mm (12½ x 9¼ inches). Première édition. Livre cartonné crème sous étui. Édition limitée numérotée (une sur 10 500). Titres dorés et noirs à réserver. Texte en français. Photographies en noir et blanc partout. Livre lourd (plus de 2 kg) donc envoi standard uniquement. 350 pages. Généralement en très bon état. Petite fente au couvercle sur la charnière intérieure avant. La couverture en plastique du livre a des pertes et des déchirures (je ne sais pas si c'est l'original). L'étui cartonné est un peu frotté et sale mais a bien protégé le livre. 315 x 235 mm

Hamburg: Christiani Heroldi: 1741. Recent amateur half leather (turquoise back) with cream boards. Gilt title to front and spine. Recent blue end papers and owner's bookplate to the front end paper. This volume is in fact Volume 5 of a much larger work comprising the whole of the New Testament. This volume contains commentaries on the works of Peter, James, John and Jude, along with Revelation etc. There are several attractive initial and finial woodcuts to the work. [xii], 1-815, [19] pp.
The rebind is not a particularly attractive one, although it is clean and tidy. There is a little rubbing to the gilt of the spine, but on the whole is sound. The end papers are a rather bright blue card. The text block itself is clean and tidy, with moderate darkening to it. Small ink stain to the base of the title page and first few pages.
Along with Johann August Ernesti, Johann Christoph Wolf is credited with the beginning of critical philological exegesis of the New Testament. This work was originally published in 1725.

Lugduni [Lyon]: Seb. Gryphium (Sebastian Gryphius): 1552. An interesting collection of works - two of the three having their own title pages. It would seem that these are in fact the constituent parts of Aduersus pseudoeua[n]gelicam haeresim libri seu commentarij nouem, duobus excusi uoluminibus. Which was published in Lyon in 1551. The titles here do not reference this earlier work, but the pagination conforms to Copac's entries. Early, possibly contemporary full leather boards with embossed blind stamped decoration and gilt decoration to front and rear board. A recent spine has been put on the work. Inside are three works, with small tabs denoting the begining of each work. Publisher's device to the two title pages, Initial capitals to each work. A smattering of other decorated initials. Lizet, Pierre. Born in Salers in 1482 and died in Paris in 1554. He was a French magistrate, and the first President of the Parliament of Paris between 1529 and 1549. He was a highly educated jurist, and an expert in Canon Law, but his skills in this area have been overlooked due to his theological rantings and fanatical anti-protestant stance. He presided over the "Burning House." This was a French special tribunal, which was established to prosecute crimes against the state. The court was held in a "burning room" so called because the hearings were held in a room hung with black drapes and lit by torches and candles. The most infamous of the Burning Houses was that held in 1547 under Henry II against the Protestants. He allegedly presided over feasts where the hangings and burnings were the highlights of the festivities, carried out after the dessert. He fell from favour in court intrigues, and in 1550 lost his posts. He was appointed Abbot of Saint-Victor until his death.

Sebastian Gryphius learnt the (then new) craft of printing in Germany and Venice, before settling in Lyon. Initially publishing works on Law and Administration. He became a strong part of the Lyon book trade, Interestingly, he was by the 1540's willing to publish and shelter "suspect" authors, including heretics such as Etienne Dolet (later burned as an Atheist / Protestant). Ironic as he was here printing work from a virulently fanatical establishment figure. He died in 1556. There is a street in Lyon named after him. pagination is: [iv], 1-124, 1-234, * 3-154, [ii] pp. *lacks title to the third work, hence starts at pp3. signatures are: [iv], a-p⁴, [ii], a-z⁴ A-D³, *a²-t⁴ [ii] pp.

Namur: Chez Lafontaine, 1787. Two broadsheets / decrees from the Emperor Joseph II. Both are single sheets, printed to one side. Each has a woodcut vignette to the top edge. The first, is a decree, condemning the Papal Bull Damnatio & Prohibitio libri Germanic idiomate editi, cui titulus, Was ist der Pabst. The second proclamation from Emperor Joseph II, published 5 months later, making it clear that despite his earlier decree, there is no disagreement with the Bull's content. His decrees "Concerns only the form and the distribution on the said Bull". Both of the decrees are a little darkened, with a touch of nicking to the edges. Overall in sound condition. Produced in the Austrian Netherlands. Belgium (as it is now known) was ruled by the Habsburgs for most of the Eighteenth century, before being annexed by the French in 1795. A native of the Southern Netherlands, Josef Sebastian Valentine Eybel (1741-1805) was an enlightenment writer and political appointee. Originally intended as a Jesuit, he became a civil servant, and author of religious texts. He was the anonymous author of Was ist der Pabst / papst - in which he challenged the supremacy of the Pope. 320 x 200 mm (12½ x 7¾ inches).

Munchen: J. Derschler 'schen Buchbruderei, 1863. The Sacred rule for the Order of St. Bridget with the additions, the explanation of the Order & Rule and the Rule of St. Augustine. From the Library of the Syon Abbey Bridgetine convent. Original quarter calf with dark blue buckram boards. Titles to the spine. Label of Syon Abbey to the rear board. Text is in old fashioned Gothic German. The binding is a little rubbed with some loss to the surface layer of the leather. Binding is still firm and holding together well. The paper itself is of a fairly cheap quality, but is clean and tidy throughout. Overall a nice example of this very scarce item. No copies on COPAC, and only one in the KVK catalogue of German and Austrian holdings. 141, [x] pp.

Parisiis: Antonium Dezallier, 1689. Alexandro's Dissertation on the powers of the Sacrament of Confession. This is the Second edition (the first being in 1679). The binding is holding firmly, hinges slightly cracked/abraded, some general wear to surface and extremities, corners bumped, foot of spine chipped, spine darkened. Text block holding firmly, contents generally in good clean condition, a little toned and with some occasional minor spots, creases or smudges, some light water staining toward upper edges visible toward front and rear. Title leaf a little dust soiled and with paper flaw toward centre fore edge, early ink inscription to centre of title and ensuing page. Period marbled end papers. pp. [8], 256.
Born in 1639 in Rouen, Alexandre was a Dominican Priest and theologian. His principal work was a 26 volume Ecclesiastical History Selecta historiae ecclesiasticae capita He later declared himself a Jansenist (although Roman Catholic, a movement influenced heavily by Calvinism) and was stripped of his pension and positions. He died in 1724. Dissertation d'Alexandro sur les pouvoirs du sacrement de la confession. Il s'agit de la deuxième édition (cette première étant en 1679). La reliure tient bien, charnières légèrement craquelées/abrasées, quelques usures générales en surface et aux extrémités, coins émoussés, pied du dos écaillé, dos noirci. Bloc de texte tenant fermement, contenu généralement en bon état de propreté, un peu tonique et avec quelques taches mineures occasionnelles, plis ou taches, quelques légères taches d'eau vers les bords supérieurs visibles vers l'avant et l'arrière. Feuille de titre un peu salie par la poussière et avec un défaut de papier vers le bord central, inscription à l'encre précoce au centre du titre et de la page qui s'ensuit. Gardes marbrées d'époque. Né en 1639 à Rouen, Alexandre était prêtre dominicain et théologien. Son œuvre principale était une histoire ecclésiastique en 26 volumes Selecta historiae ecclesiasticae capita. Il mourut en 1724.

Amsterdam: George Gallet, 1701. Original brown full leather binding. Frontis plate. Title vignettes & section headers. Two volumes in one. An essay on the Bible. The first volume deals with the Old Testament. The second with the New Testament. Attractive full page frontis plate showing the Library of Ecclesiastical Authors. The boards are a little rubbed, but overall in very nice condition. The gilt to the spine is faded, and the title is almost illegible. Internally clean and tidy throughout. A touch of darkening only. A very nice copy. Reliure pleine cuir marron d'origine. Plaque frontale. Vignettes de titre et en-têtes de section. Deux tomes en un. Un essai sur la Bible. Le premier volume traite de l'Ancien Testament. La seconde avec le Nouveau Testament. Jolie plaque frontale pleine page montrant la Bibliothèque des auteurs ecclésiastiques. Les planches sont un peu frottées, mais dans l'ensemble en très bon état. La dorure du dos est passée et le titre est presque illisible. Intérieurement propre et bien rangé. Une touche d'assombrissement seulement. Un très bel exemplaire.