Donald Heald Rare Books A Selection of Rare Books Donald Heald Rare Books A Selection of Rare Books Donald Heald Rare Books 124 East 74 Street New York, New York 10021 T: 212 · 744 · 3505 F: 212 · 628 · 7847 [email protected] www.donaldheald.com All purchases are subject to availability. All items are guaranteed as described. Any purchase may be returned for a full refund within ten working days as long as it is returned in the same condition and is packed and shipped correctly. The appropriate sales tax will be added for New York State residents. Payment via U.S. check drawn on a U.S. bank made payable to Donald A. Heald, wire transfer, bank draft, Paypal or by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover cards. 1 [AL-MARGHINANI, Burhan al-Din al-Farghani (1135-1197)]; - Charles HAMILTON, translator (1753-1792). The Hedàya, or Guide; A Commentary on the Mussulman Laws: Translated by the Order of the Governor-General and Council of Bengal. London: T. Bensley, 1791. 4 volumes, 4to (10 1/4 x 8 inches). lxxxix, (1), xii, 561, [2-errata] pp.; viii, 727, (1), [2-errata]; viii, 609, (1), [2-errata]; lxxxix, (1), xii, 561, (1), [2-errata]. Errata leaf in rear of each volume. Expertly bound to style in half calf over period marbled paper covered boards, flat spine divided into six compartments with gilt roll tools, black morocco lettering piece in the second, the others with a repeat arabesque decoration in gilt. First edition in English of al-Hidayah: the authoritative guide to Islamic jurisprudence. Commonly referred to as al-Hidayah or The Guidance, this work originated as a 12th-century Hanafi work by Shaykh al-Islam Burhan al-Din al-Farghani al-Marghinani (1135-1197) and is considered an authoritative guide to Islamic law among Muslims throughout the world. The Hidayah presents a legal tradition developed over many centuries and represents the corpus of Hanafi law in its approved and preferred form. The primary reason for its popularity is the reliability of its statements and the soundness of its legal reasoning. It is arguably the most popular and important work in fiqh literature. Hamilton’s English translation is based on a Persian translation by Ghulam Ya Khan from the original Arabic version. Intended for a British audience, chapters relating to rituals were omitted; however his coverage of contracts, torts and criminal law is more complete. Hamilton explains in his preface: “The permanence of any foreign dominion (and indeed, the justification of holding such a dominion) requires that a strict attention be paid to ease and advantage, not only of the governors, but of the governed; and to this great end nothing can so effectually contribute as preserving to the latter their ancient established practices, civil and religious and protecting them in the exercise in their own institutes ... they must be infinitely more acceptable than anything we could offer; since they are supported by the accumulated prejudice of ages, and, in the opinion of their followers, derive their origin from the Divinity himself” (Preliminary Discourse). The understanding of Islamic law was critical to the colonial administration of India, and Bengal in particular, which had a very large Muslim population, and this work was intended to enable English officials to understand local proceedings. A second edition of Hamilton’s translation was published in 1870, though the first edition is rare. (#29370) $ 11,000 2 ALBIN, Eleazar (c.1680-c.1742). A Natural History of English Insects, Illustrated with a hundred copper plates, curiously engraven from life, and exactly coloured by the author. London: William Innys, 1749. 4to (11 x 8 3/4 inches). 100 hand coloured engraved plates. Later half calf over marbled paper covered boards, spine with raised bands, morocco lettering piece in the second compartment, the others with a repeat decoration in gilt. Provenance: P. Lundwall (booklabel). A fine copy of Albin’s celebrated English insects: one of the most beautifully illustrated works of lepidoptery. “In the preface, Albin explains that several prominent society patrons who were obviously keenly interested in entomology, employed him to prepare drawings of butterflies, moths and larvae which they had collected” (Lisney). In 1720, the first edition of Albin’s insects was published, with each plate dedicated to a subscriber or patron. The present example is Lisney’s fifth edition, this being an issue without Derham’s notes and additions in the rear, as usual (and as per ESTC and BM(NH)). The text is entirely reset, though the plates are printed from the original copper plates and maintain their vivid hand colouring. Lisney 123; Nissen ZBI 58. (#29546) $ 5,500 3 ALBUMASAR [Ja’far ibn Muhammad Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi] (A.D. 787-886). Introductorium in astronomiam. Augsburg: Erhard Ratdolt, 7 February 1489. Small 4to (8 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches). Translated from Arabic into Latin by Hermannus Dalmata. 70 leaves. Gothic letter. 46 woodcuts (2 half-page, the remainder smaller) mainly of zodiacal figures and including 6 astronomical diagrams, opening 8-line woodcut initial, 7-line and smaller initials throughout. Expertly bound to style in nineteenth century green straight grain morocco, covers elaborately bordered in gilt, spine with raised bands in six compartments, lettered in the second compartment, the others with a repeat overall decoration in gilt, period brown paper endpapers. Rare first edition of this important illustrated work of a noted Arabian astronomer. Abu Ma’shar (787-886), born in Balkh, was the most renowned astrologer writing in Arabic in the 9th century, and was part of the group of intellectuals who served the Caliph al- Ma’mun (813-833) in Baghdad. The present work is a slightly abridged translation of his Kitab al-madkhal al-kabir ‘ala ‘ilm ahkam al-nujum (“Great Introduction to the Science of Astrology”), written in 849/850. The work was translated twice in the first half of the 12th century and was one of the earliest vehicles for the transmission of Aristotelian concepts into Latin before the actual translations of Aristotle. The work presents the philosophical and historical justifications of astrology, and a survey of the characteristics of the Signs, Planets, Sun and Moon, along with the Aspects (angular relations between them). The 15 cuts showing allegorical figures of the planets are reduced versions of seven woodcuts used by Ratdolt in Johannes de Thwrocz, Chronica Hungarorum (Augsburg: E. Ratdolt for Theobaldus Feger, 3 June 1488, Goff T-361). The cuts include 12 large and 12 small zodiacal figures, 6 astronomical tables, and 15 planetary figures printed from 7 blocks. The whole is a beautifully composed book, set in a semi-Gothic font and with white on black initials from two alphabets. Albumasar’s work would gain considerable attention during the Middle Ages and have a profound influence on Muslim intellectual history. The present first edition, printed by Erhard Ratdolt in Augsburg in 1489, is scarce; a second edition followed, printed in Venice in 1506. A fine, large example. BMC ii, 382; Goff A-359; GW 840; Hain 612; Schreiber 3075. (#29214) $ 35,000 4 AMERICAN REVOLUTION - Edmund BURKE (1729-1797); and William PITT (1708- 1778). [Sammelband of three important works by Edmund Burke and William Pitt, regarding American Independence]. London: 1775. 3 volumes in 1, quarto (10 3/8 x 7 3/8 inches). Bound to style in half period russia and period marbled paper covered boards, spine with raised bands in six compartments, red morocco lettering piece. Provenance: Francis Maseres (contemporary ink marginalia and signatures). An important association copy of three important works, including first editions of two famous speeches by the English orator Edmund Burke. The works included are as follows (in bound order): 1) Edmund Burke: The Speech of Edmund Burke, Esq; On Moving His Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies, March 22, 1775. London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1775. [4], 65pp. First edition. “Contains the famous sentence: “Whatever England has been growing to by a progressive increase of government, brought in by varieties of people, by succession of civilizing conquest and civilizing settlements, in a series of seventeen hundred years, you shall see as much added to her by America in a single life” (Sabin). Adams, Controversy 75- 17a; Howes B979, “b.”; Sabin 9296. 2) Edmund Burke. Speech of Edmund Burke, Esq. On American Taxation, April 19, 1774. London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1775. iv, 57, [1]pp. First edition. Burke’s famous argument for the repeal of the duty on tea. Adams, Controversy 75-16a; Howes B980, “b.”; Sabin 9295. 3) William Pitt. Plan Offered by the Earl of Chatham, to the House of Lords, entitled, A Provisional Act, for Settling the Troubles in America, and for Asserting the Supreme Legislative Authority and Superintending Power of Great Britain over the Colonies. London: Printed for J. Almon, 1775. 14, [1]pp. First edition. William Pitt was one of America’s staunchest supporters before the Revolution. This was his grand plea for conciliation, presented in February 1775. Pitt argued for complete sovereignty of Parliament over the colonies, but at the same time requested the King to recall the troops from Boston. His plan was defeated. Rosenbach called the work rare in his seventh catalog in 1913. Not in Adams. Nebenzahl 12:136; Rosenbach 7:480, “rare”; Sabin 63071. The first two works bound in the sammelband are by Burke. The first, a masterful March, 1775 speech, urges a reconciliation with the colonies. In the second, on the subject of American taxation, Burke urges the Crown to repeal the tea tax. Both of these works are especially rare in their first editions. The third work is a plan put forth by former Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder, proposing the recall of British troops from Boston and a conciliatory policy toward the colonies.