A. Asher & Co. B.V.

[Celosia cristata].[Lekzigt near Dordrecht?, 1780?]. Watercolour on a half sheet of laid paper (42.5 x 27.5 cm), mounted on wove paper. In a passepartout.

[VINNE, Jan Jansz. van der]. · 1570

€15,000.00 ($16,533.10 | £12,512.18 | ¥2,640,439)

Attractive watercolour drawing of a cockscomb (Celosia cristata), a plant with bright ornamental flowers native to the Asiatic tropics, with a diverse herbal use, cultivated in European gardens as early as 1570. The drawing is not signed, but can be easily attributed to the Du...

[Tiger lily].[Netherlands, ca. 1780?]. Watercolour on a half sheet of laid paper (42.5 x 27.5 cm), mounted on wove paper. In a passepartout.

[VINNE, Jan Jansz. van der]. · 1734

€12,500.00 ($13,777.59 | £10,426.81 | ¥2,200,366)

Attractive watercolour drawing of one of the several similar looking species of lily known as tiger lily, with their particular spotted red/orange flowers, probably Lilium lancifolium, native to Japan and other parts of Asia. The drawing is not signed, but can be attributed to...

[Passiflora caerula or blue passion flower].[Lekzigt, near Dordrecht?, ca. 1780?]. Folio. (43 x 27.5 cm). Watercolour drawing on laid paper, signed on the back by the artist, "J. van der Vinne Jzn.". Attached by the top corners to a (19th-century?) wove millboard mount kept in a modern passe-partout.

VINNE, Jan Jansz. van der. · 1734

€16,500.00 ($18,186.42 | £13,763.39 | ¥2,904,483)

A beautiful, large watercolour drawing of a blue passion flower (Passiflora caerula, image 42 x 27 cm), by the Haarlem painter Jan Jansz. van der Vinne (1734-1805), showing a vine with two flowers fully opened and another closed, as well as numerous leaves, buds and runners. T...

Druyven hyacinthen.[Netherlands, ca. 1650]. Watercolour (ca. 13.5 x 13 cm) on laid paper (31.5 x 21 cm), with caption below.

[HOLSTEYN Pieter the younger]. · 1614

€12,000.00 ($13,226.48 | £10,009.74 | ¥2,112,351)

Delicate watercolour of two grape hyacinths by the Dutch watercolour painter and engraver Pieter Holsteyn de Jonge (1614-1673). Holsteyn made many drawings of plants, birds and insects which were often composed in albums. Some of those albums are still intact and supplied with...

Navis carmen.Rennes, widow of Mathurnus Denys, 1695. With a folding engraved plate of a 44-gun ship. With: (2) CHARLEVAL, Charles-François de. Simius carmen.Rennes, widow of Mathurnus Denys, [ca. 1695]. 2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled spine.

CHARLEVAL, Charles-François de. · 1667

€2,950.00 ($3,251.51 | £2,460.73 | ¥519,286)

34, [2 blank], 31 pp.Ad 1: Rare first and only edition of a Neo-Latin poem on ships and shipbuilding, including several lines on the etymology of the various terms used to describe a ship, which are depicted on a folding engraving. Although elegantly composed, the author seemi...

Berichtendes Send-Schreiben vom Cometen, so in Christmonat des 1664. Christen-Jahres ist erschienen: darinnen derselbige Astronomicè, Physicè, Astrologicè, Theologicè, betrachtet und erkläret wirt.Leipzig, Ritzsch, 1665. 4to. With a woodcut illustration of a comet on the title-page. Modern grey boards.

RICHTER, Christoph. · 1664

€1,500.00 ($1,653.31 | £1,251.22 | ¥264,044)

[12] ll.First and only edition of this rare pamphlet on the great comet of November 1664. The comet was immensely bright and resulted in one of the first scientific debates on an international scale, as astronomers formed international networks to exchange their data on the co...

Peccatum originale ... sic nuncupatum, philologice ... elucubratum à Themidis alumno. Vera redit facies, dissimulata perit.“Eleutheropoli” [= Leiden?], “extra plateam obscuram, sine privilegio auctoris, absque ubi & quando.” (colophon: “In horto Hesperidem, typis Adami et Evae terrae filii”, 1678). 8vo. Contemporary sheepskin parchment, with a gold-tooled frame of double fillets on each board.

[BEVERLAND, Adrianus van]. · 1987

€1,800.00 ($1,983.97 | £1,501.46 | ¥316,853)

[10], 146, [4] pp.Rare first edition of a scandalous erotic interpretation of Original Sin. It was an open secret that it came from the pen of the Leiden University student Adrianus van Beverland. Van Beverland claims that the only sin of Adam and Eve was their "conversatio ca...

Methode pour la mesure des surfaces, la dimension des solides, leurs centres de pesanteur, de percussion et d'oscillation, par l'application du calcul intégral.Paris, Jean Boudot, 1700. 4to. With a large woodcut vignette (by Bernard Picart) on the title-page, 4 folding numbered engraved plates containing 43 numbered diagrams, an engraved headpiece and initial at the opening of the main text. Contemporary sprinkled calf, gold-tooled spine.

CARRÉ, Louis. · 1663

€4,000.00 ($4,408.83 | £3,336.58 | ¥704,117)

[12], 115, [1 blank] pp.First edition of the first extensive, separately published textbook on integral calculus, by Louis Carré (1663-1711), French mathematician and private teacher at Paris, published 44 years before Leonard Euler's classic textbook. It includes a wide varie...

L'Histoire des nobles proüesses et vaillances de Gallien restauré, fils du noble Olivier le marquis, & de la belle Jacqueline, fille du roi Hugon, empereur de Constentinople. Avec les figures propres, mises de nouveau sous chacun chapitre.Troyes, Jacques Oudot, 1709. 2 works in 1 volume, the 2nd in 2 parts. 4to. With a woodcut vignette on the title page of each work, 35 woodcut illustrations in the text of ad 1; 2 woodcut headpieces and a woodcut tailpiece in ads 2 and 3. With: (2) [CHAPBOOK]. Histoire de Huon de Bordeaux, pair de France, et Duc de Guienne.Troyes, Jacques Oudot, [1705](3) [CHAPBOOK]. Livre second de Huon de Bordeaux, pair de France, et Duc de Guienne.Idem. Later dark blue leather

[CHAPBOOK - FRENCH]. · 1540

€2,500.00 ($2,755.52 | £2,085.36 | ¥440,073)

138; 141, [1]; [136] pp.Fine collection of two French chapbook editions, all "Bibliothèque bleue" printed in Troyes by a member of the Oudot family. Although these popular works, mostly dating from the Middle Ages, were many times republished - up till the present time - only ...

[The great voyages in Latin].Frankfurt am Main and Oppenheim, Johann Wechel, Matthias Becker, Johann Feyrabend, Hieronymus Galle and Johannes Hofer, 1590-1620. 11 parts in 3 volumes. Folio (ca. 33 x 23.8 cm). With 11 maps (mostly folding), 300 engraved plates (double-page, full-page and in text), engraved title pages to each part, numerous decorated woodcut initials, and numerous woodcut head- and tailpieces. 18th-century gold-tooled Dutch red morocco, bound by the Double Drawer Handle Bindery in Amsterdam, gold-tooled spines, with green morocco title labels lettered in gold, marbled edges, marbled endpapers.

BRY, Theodor de. · 1697

€240,000.00 ($264,529.68 | £200,194.80 | ¥42,247,020)

Exquisitely bound set of the Latin edition of one of the finest works on the Americas. The work is very rare. It is especially exceptional to find a set that contains multiple parts. The present set, however, contains eleven parts, including hundreds of beautifully engraved ma...

Beschreibung der Stadt Amsterdam. Darinnen von derselben ersten Ursprunge bis auf gegenwärtigen Zustand, ihr unterschiedlicher Anwachs, herliche Vorrechte, und in 60 Kupferstücken entworfene führnehmste Gebeue, zusamt ihrem Stahtswesen, Kaufhandel, und ansehnlicher Macht zur See, wie auch wass ich in und mit derselben märkwürdiges zugetragen, vor Augen gestellet werden. Hier ist auch beigefügt, ein Appendix oder Beschreibung der neuen Auslage der Stadt Amsterdam, samt den Kupferstücken. Amsterdam, Markus Wilhelmsen Doornik, 1664. 12mo. With an engraved allegorical frontispiece, and 58 engraved plates (2 full-page, 4 folding, and 52 double-page). Contemporary overlapping vellum.

ZESEN, Philipp von. · 1619

€2,500.00 ($2,755.52 | £2,085.36 | ¥440,073)

[22], 567 pp.First edition of a richly illustrated description of Amsterdam and its history, with 58 clear and detailed plates of buildings, bridges, and professions. The work also includes excellent factual descriptions of the most important buildings of Amsterdam, as well as...

Eenige stukken concerneerende criminele procedures in cas d'appel voor het hof geventileerd tusschen den bailluw van Rhijnland contra Pieter Oostenryk in materie van manslag met de ms. schriftuuren.[Leiden], 1726-1729. Folio (33 x 21.5 cm). Manuscript in Dutch on laid paper, with 2 embossed seals (clein segels). Later blue paper wrappers, with a printed title label mounted on the front wrapper.

[MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENTS]. BERGH, Johan van den. · 1725

€1,750.00 ($1,928.86 | £1,459.75 | ¥308,051)

28, [8 blank] pp.The original, heavily revised, juridical documents of a case handled by the bailiff of Rhineland, Johan van den Bergh, at the supreme court of Holland, against Pieter Oostenrijk “Broodbakker tot Soeterwoude”, who killed the town’s blacksmith Cornelis Jansz. Sc...

Verhandeling van de schilderkonst in miniatuur, om gemakkelyk te leeren schilderen zonder meester...Amsterdam, Gerrit de Groot, 1759. 8vo. Frontispiece, title-page in red and black, woodcut head- and tailpieces and 2 engravings on a single double-page plate. 20th-century half vellum, oil-marbled sides, light green morocco spine label, lettered in gold, green top edge.

[VERLIJ, P. J.].

€1,500.00 ($1,653.31 | £1,251.22 | ¥264,044)

[24], 196 pp.Second edition of a popular manual on the art of painting in general, and drawing. The sorts of paint and how to blend different colours. How to start drawing or painting. How to make shell gold and shell silver to highlight your drawing. All these subjects and ma...

Ouvres de Mr. Mariotte, de l'Académie Royale des Sciences; divisees en deux tomes, comprenant tous les traitez de cet auteur, tant ceux qui avoient déja paru séparément, que ceux qui n'avoient pas encore été publiez; imprimées sur les exemplaires les plus exacts & les plus complets; revuës & corrigées de nouveau.Leiden, Pieter van der Aa, 1717. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. Both title-pages in red and black with engraving, 26 folding plates and some small engravings in text. Contemporary sprinkled calf,

MARIOTTE, Edme. · 1620

€3,500.00 ($3,857.72 | £2,919.51 | ¥616,102)

[12], 701, [35] pp.First edition of the complete work of Edme Mariotte (ca. 1620-1684). "Honored as the man who introduced experimental physics into France. Mariotte played a central role in the work of the Paris Academy of Sciences from shortly after its formation in 1666 unt...

Les fables d'Esope, gravées par Sadeler, avec un discours préliminaire, & les sens moraux en distiques. Edition toute différente de la premiere.Paris, Claude-Charles Thiboust, 1743. 4to (25.5 x 20.5 cm). With a frontispiece and 139 half-page fable illustrations in the text (9 x 11 cm), all etched and engraved by Aegidius Sadeler. Contemporary mottled sheepskin, gold-tooled spine.

AESOP and [Henri-François d'AGUESSEAU]. · 1568

€6,500.00 ($7,164.35 | £5,421.94 | ¥1,144,190)

[24], 306, [4] pp.The third French Aesop adaptation to use the 140 plates originally etched by Aegidius or Gilles Sadeler (ca. 1568/70-1629) for his Theatrum morum (Prague, 1608), here reordered and with a new prose text, probably written by Henri-François d'Aguesseau (1668-17...

Orpheus Eucharisticus ... Tomus primus [all published].Paris, Florentin Lambert, 1657. 8vo. With an engraved title page, a typographical title page with a small woodcut ornament, 101 engraved emblems by Albert Flamen in the text (1 unnumbered on page 5, 100 numbered I-C), further with woodcut initials and woodcut tailpieces. Late 17th- or early 18th-century gold-tooled red morocco.

CHESNEAU, Augustin. · 1615

€19,500.00 ($21,493.04 | £16,265.83 | ¥3,432,570)

699, [33] pp.First edition of a remarkable religious emblem book by Augustin Chesneau (1615-after 1669). The emblems, each with a Latin title above and French moralising couplet below engraved in the plate, are by the Flemish painter and engraver Albert Flamen (1620-1674). Fla...

Cuba en 1860 o sea cuadro de sus adelantos en la poblacion, la agricultura, el comercio y las rentas publicas. Supplemento a la primera parte de la Historia politica y natural de la Isla de Cuba.Paris, Simon Raçon and co. for L. Hachette and co., 1862. Folio. With some letterpress tables in text. Contemporary red cloth.

SAGRA, Ramón de la. · 1798

€1,850.00 ($2,039.08 | £1,543.17 | ¥325,654)

[4], 282 pp.First edition of an important demographic and economic description of Cuba by the Galician politician Ramón de la Sagra (1798-1871), who lived in Cuba for several years and was appointed professor of natural history of Cuba. The chapters deal with the island's popu...

Elogio d'Amerigo Vespucci che ha riportato il premio della nobile Accademia Etrusca di Cortona nel dì 15. Ottobre dell'anno 1788. Con una dissertazione giustificativa di questo celebre navigatore, del P. Stanislao Canovai. Terza editione. Con illustrazioni ed aggiunte, e con una seconda dissertazione sulle vicende delle longitudini geografische.[Modena], 1790. 3 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With a woodcut vignette on the title page, and 3 decorated woodcut initials (2 different series). Contemporary limp grey boards.

CANOVAI, Père Stanislao. · 1788

€3,500.00 ($3,857.72 | £2,919.51 | ¥616,102)

XVII, 39, [1 blank]; 55, [1 blank]; 64, [2] pp.Rare third enlarged edition of this prize-winning eulogy on Amerigo Vespucci, hailing him as the true discoverer of the continent that was to take his name. The eulogy was held at the famous Accademia Etrusca di Cortona on 15 Octo...

Nieuwe wereldt ofte beschrijvinghe van West-Indien, wt veelderhande schriften ende aen-teeckeninghen van verscheyden natien by een versamelt.Leiden, Isaac Elzevier, 1625. Folio. With large woodcut printer’s mark on title page, 10 double-page engraved maps (plate size 28.5 x 36 cm), woodcut decorative initial letters from two series, and a wide variety of printing types. Early 18th-century calf, gold-tooled spine.

LAET, Johannes de. · 1582

€48,000.00 ($52,905.94 | £40,038.96 | ¥8,449,404)

[24], 510, [16] pp.First edition of a 17th-century standard work on North and South America, including the West Indies, with 10 maps covering the whole of Mexico, the West Indies, and Central & South America. De Laet’s book remains an important source for the New World in the ...

Relacion del último viage al Estrecho de Magallanes de la Fragata de S.M. Santa María de la Cabeza en los años de 1785 y 1786. Extracto de todos los anteriores desde su descubrimiento impresos y MSS. y Noticia de los habitantes, suelo, clima y producciones del estrecho.Madrid, la viuda de Ibarra, hijos y compañía, 1788. With: (2) [CORDOBA, Antonio de]. Apéndice a la relacion del viage al Magallanes de la Fragata de guerra Santa Maria de la Cabeza, que contiene el de los Paquebotes Santa Casilda y Santa Eulalia para completar el reconocimiento del Estrecho en los años de 1788 y 1789.Madrid, la viuda de D. Joaquin Ibarra, 1793. 2 works in 1 volume. 4to. With an engraved frontispiece portrait of Magellan by Ferdinand Selma, dated 1788, 4 large engraved folding maps, and 4 folding tables in ad 1; an engraved folding map and a folding table in ad 2. Contemporary gold-tooled mottled Spanish roan, with a red morocco title-label on the spine lettered in gold, gold-tooled board edges, marbled endpapers.

[CORDOBA, Antonio de]. · 1740

€12,500.00 ($13,777.59 | £10,426.81 | ¥2,200,366)

[6], XVI, 359; [4], 128 pp.Rare, complete work on the Strait of Magellan and its surroundings, by Antonio de Cordoba (1740?-1811), a naval commander in the Spanish navy who served in various battles, campaigns, and scientific expeditions throughout the Spanish empire. His acti...