Authore
Hieronymo Marafioto Polistinensi Calabro, Theology,
Francofurti, 1602. Illvstr. D. D. Balthassari Nilano 92 pp.

A superb illustrated presentation of views about palmistry
and its relation to divinations, necromancy etc. The
scientific utilization of ridged skin (volar skin) emerged
during our century to constitute the discipline known as
dactyloscopy in forensic applications and as dermatoglyphics
in the case of human-medical investigations. 
See notes re: Dr. H. Cummins).

Restored probably a century ago and with time this restored
binding has deteriorated - it needs to be restored again - 
the page contents are complete ... $ 600.

 A HANDBOOK OF LEGENDARY AND MYTHOLOGICAL ART. Clara 
 Erskine Clement. With Descriptive Illustrations, 12th.
 Edition, Boston: Houghton, Osgood and Co., 1879. 541 pp.
 profusely illustrated.

 This serious and very successful book is organized in four
 parts: Symbolism in Art; Legends and Stories Illustrated
 in Art; Legends of Place; and Ancient Myths which have been
 illustrated in Art. The hundreds of drawing are elegant
 and to the point.  The book remains among the classics of
 its genre (to teach the young of spirit); it is a useful
 for those who visit museums of art or old cities.

 In cloth, worn biding and small tear separates the upper
 spine from the front cover ...(discounted)........  $ 85.

 The illustrations and organization of the contents make
 this unique rare work of current value as a travel companion.



 OUR ISLANDS AND THEIR PEOPLE AS SEEN WITH CAMERA
 AND PENCIL ... Embracing Perfect Photographic and
 Descriptive representations of the People and the
 Islands lately ACQUIRED FROM SPAIN, (Cuba, Puerto Rico)
 including HAWAII and the PHILIPPINES ... Edited by
 William S. Bryan. Complete in Two Quarto Volumes,
 N. D. Thompson Publishing Co., New York, 1899,
 in two large 15.5 x 10 3/4 in or 39 x 27 cm volumes,
 784pp, with innumerable photographs, maps, color
 illustrations and drawings.

 Volume 1 starts with HAVANA -  THE KEY OF THE NEW
 POSSESSIONS, with ample illustrations of the wreck of
 the battleship "Maine", the auditorium of the Tacon
 Theatre, Tomb of Columbus etc. An entry on "The Race
 question in Cuba" states " ... there is very little
 distinction or prejudice on account of color ...", and
 in page 287 in chapter XIV dedicated to SAN JUAN
 (PUERTO RICO), " ... In Porto Rico, as in Cuba, there
 are no social distinctions on account of color ... ".
 The exposition concerning Puerto Rico opens with
 "Excelso Indolencia" interpreted as "Sublime Laziness
 ... everywhere throughout ... is this languorous,
 sedentary element emphasized ..." In Volume 2 a chapter
 "PRIMITIVE PORTO RICO" is followed chapters focused on
 HAWAII. The legend of a photograph showing  "Ex-Queen
 Liliuokalani" states " ... deposed by a revolution in
1893, and on the following 4th of July of the following
 year the Republic of Hawaii was established, followed by
 annexation to the Unites States by an act of Congress
 passed July 7th 1898 ... " (nearly hundred years later,
 Congress passed another resolution, President Clinton
 extended  apologies for these illegal actions to the
 people of Hawaii). The last chapters examine Samoa and
 the Philippine Islands.  The text gently presents the
 vistas of an epoch where feelings of "manifest imperial
 destinies" were at their peak.

 In cloth, binding of volume 2 is slightly loose
 ........... $390.

 Almost a catalog and travelog of its time, the opinions
 and vistas illustrated render this work a controversial
 and stimulating character ideal for a provocative gift.




 HAND-BOOK for TRAVELLERS IN SPAIN. 2nd Edition, London:
 John Murray, ca. 1850 (autographed in Constantinople in
 1852), 645 pp.

 Simply fascinating. Great emphasis is given to historic
 events. Almost compulsively, this Englishman ignores the
 contribution by Wellington to the destruction of Spain to
 emphasize the equally brutal behavior by the French armies.
 Also evident is an undertone portraying the Spaniards as
 uncivilized, note "...the key to decipher this singular
 people is scarcely European, since this "Berberia Cristiana"
 is at least a neutral ground between the hat and the turban ...
 many contend that Africa begins even at the Pyrenees ".  Among
 an outline of tours are "Roman Antiquarian, Moorish Antiquarian,
 Mineralogical, The Cream of Spain, Artistic, Picturesque,
 Sculptures, Paintings, Ecclesiological, Festivals," etc.

 Intact, spine is sunned ................................ $ 170.

 A unique and nice gift.



 GRAMATICA DE LA LENGUA CASTELLANA COMPUESTA POR LA
 REAL ACADEMIA ESPANOLA QUARTA EDICION ... " Madrid
 1796, 478 pp. (in two parts)

 The Castillan or Castilian language, more often called
 "Spanish" except for some countries like Argentina. The
 as "Castellano" has rapidly evolved due to trends that
 simplify and diminish its links with its Latin roots.
 In this publication such is quite obvious. The contnets
 offer a good yardstick to judge how Spanish has evolved
 The text includes ample entries comparing the former with
 with the contemporary uses in 1796; note  sodos, habedes,
 became sois, habeis or oyo which became oygo and now oigo, etc.
 Part II "De la Sintaxis" is also quite fascinating.

 In original sound binding (with a small crack) ......... $ 180.




 ADVENTURES DE ROBINSON CRUSOE traduite de Daniel de Foe
 (or Defoe) Tome i, Tours, Mame et Cie 1849. 263 pg with
 gold leaf edges, illustrated with engravings. In French.

 Exquisite cover design, spine is worn ...(discounted).. $ 195.

 A nice elegant gift, it may serve as a display piece.




 POLYNESIAN MYTHOLOGY & ANCIENT TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF
 THE NEW ZEALANDERS. As furnished by their Priests and
 Chiefs by Sir George Grey. Late Governor-in-Chief of
 New Zealand. London, date not given, ca. 1880.  247 pp.

 An elegant presentation, both in appearance and content.
 The chapters lucidly present the legends of Maui, Tawhaki,
 Rata, Kae, Manaia and other tales. The discovery of New
 Zealand and history of Hatupatu, the emigration of the
 Turi and Manaia is reviewed. The appendix offers musical
 transcriptions of native songs.

 Nice biding, the spine is partially detached and
 frail ...(discounted) .................... $ 125.

 For those interested in mythology, folklore, sociology
 and superstitions.



 NAPOLEON  LE PETIT. Edition Illustree, Paris, 300 pp.
 and over 100 engravings, date of publication not given,
 ca. 1872 - 1880.

 The large volume is a vitriolic indictment of Emperor
 Louis Napoleon both as a person and as a leader. A series
 of poems are dedicated to the terrible events of Sedan and
 its aftermath. In French.

 In original half leather binding, .................$ 155.

 A good gift for someone who likes French vitriolism.




 A JOURNEY THROUGH SPAIN IN THE YEARS 1786 AND 1787 ...
 by Joseph Townsend, London, Second Edition, 1792,
 Second volume of three, 443 pp.

 The political and economic circumstances found in
 Oviedo, Aviles, Gijon, Asturias, Leon, Salamanca, and
 Segovia are presented in considerable detail. General
 comments are also quite witty, as in  " ... the dress
 ... is peculiar to the country ... the mantilla serves
 the double purpose of a cloak and veil ... As soon as any
 Lady marries, she is teased by numerous competitors, till
 she is fixed in her choice ... instances are seen of
 ladies who often change their lovers ... I have observed
 that jealously is seldom, if ever, to be discovered in a
 husband ... a catholic country, with such depravity of
 morals ... as for the parochial clergy, one thing is
  certain, that many of them have families ... "

 In very good condition, rebound in half leather to match
 its period, pages were not trimmed ................ $ 450.




 OLD DECCAN DAYS or HINDOO FAIRY LEGENDS. Current in
 Southern India. Collected from Oral Tradition.  by
 Mary Frere. London, John Murray, 1898. Illustrated with
 five full page and many other drawings by Catherine F.
 Frere, 224 pp.

 In 1865 the author, a daughter of the English Governor
 of Bombay, collected the stories from Anna Liberata de
 Souza, her native "ayab". She states that " Professor
 Max Muller told me ... that (some the stories), as
 recorded from Anna, read like a direct translation from
 the native Sanskrit ... probable that most stories were
 brought from among the Lingaates of Southern India ... one
 of the most strongly marked divisions of the Hindoo races
 south of the river Kistna .... It is remarkable that in a
 country where women are generally supposed by us to be
 regarded as mere slaves ... should be made appear so great,
 and , as a rule, exerted wholly for good."

 On story stars "One day the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind
 went out to dine with their uncle and aunt, the Thunder and
 Lightning ... ", another starts with "A Blind man and a Deaf
 man once entered into a partnership ..." and there are 22
 more which are followed by Notes and a Glossary. This work
 became well known, resulted in multiple printings and was
 translated into many languages.


 Very nice period binding ............................... $95.

 Simply put, charming and like most fairy tales, these
 short stories can elevate the young and not so young.



 LA MOSQUERA Poetica Inventiva en Octava Rima, por Don Jospeh
 de Villaviciosa. Tercera Impression. Madrid 1777, 547 pp. and
 a portrait of the Author.

 In the introduction, a suggestion is made that the author is
 the Bishop Don Diego de Covarrubias, native from the city of
 Cuenca which is transversed by the river Moscas. This
 compilation of "Cantos" was very popular in its time and
 offers superb examples of the evolution of the Spanish ideas
 and language.

 Complete, covers are detached, the spine
 is missing ......(discounted) .... $ 150




 ENSAYO HISTORICO SOBRE LAS PROVINCIAS VASCONGADAS
 (Alva, Guipuzcoa, Viscaya y Navarra), Sobre la guerra
 que actualmente sostienen. Traducido del Frances or
 Don Pedro Martinez Lopez, Burdeos, 1836, Volume 1, 236 pp.
 (in Spanish).

 With a Plate indicating that the book was granted as the
 Third Prize by the Directors and Professors of the
 "Liceo de Orleans" and dated in Nueva Orleans, el 18 de
 Diciembre de 1845.

 The work starts with "El choque politico que existe hoy
 ... es fruto de causas muy antiguas ...". In this regard,
 the work is a historical review and a description of
 contemporary events supported by the abundant citations
 giving demographic and other data.

 Complete, original leader covers,
 spine is missing ......... (discounted ......  $ 150.




 ELEMENTOS DE TERAPEUTICA MECANICA o sean
 DE CIRUGIA VETERINARIA, Operaciones, Vendages,
 y ARTE OSTETRICIA por Don Antonio Santos,
 Madrid 1835. 506 pp.

 This intelligent rendition by a Marshal of the
 Royal Stables starts with "La cirugia mirada
 conforme a su misma etimologia, no es otra cosa
 que la terapeutica mecanica ... ". Obstetrics is
 covered with particular care. As an exponent of
 its time, it is prudent to say to a review of
 this work has promise to unearth forgotten
 clinical and therapeutic pearls.

 In its original full leather binding and
 very good condition....................... $ 250.

 A gift both in contents and binding: may be seen
 as a reference book or may be displayed.


 BEAUTES DE LHISTOIRE DES ETATS-UNIS DE LAMERIQUE
 SEPTENTRIONALE, ou Precis des Evenemens les plus
 remarquables ... et la paix de 1815 ... par P. J. B.
 Nougaret. Second Edition, Paris, Brunot-Labbe, 1824.
 Very naively charming illustrations, 486 pp.

 The original binding is in good condition but the
 corners of the back cover are broken and a few back
 pages were damaged by borers ...(discounted) ... $ 250

 A charming antique.

and ... countless more