sides covered with most delicate gilt tooling, centre ornament of small tools forming a circle, narrow dentelle borders, corner ornaments of small tools, gilt edges, in the style of Le Gascon (front cover cracked). Electoral Typographi et Bibliopolae, 1629 46. BINDING. Argenis. By John Barclay. Editio novissima. Engraved title. 18mo, full old morocco, gilt back, gilt edges, with the arms of the Daughter of Louis XV. on sides. Ludg. Bat. Ex officina Elzeviriana, 1630 : 47. BINDING. A Folio Book Cover, composed of Oak Boards, covered with leather, and containing 8 large brass corner bosses, with inscription in Hebrew on brass ornamental centre piece on front cover, and brass clasp. Circa 1760 HEBREW BINDING OF THE 18th CENTURY. Inserted is an A. L. S. from Edwin John Bayard of the British Museum giving a translation of the cover inscription. Exceedingly rare. Items such as this, a prized possession of a Synsgogue, are seldom available for private libraries. 48. BINDING. Proprium Sanctorum ad usum Cleri Sacrosanctæ Basilica Vaticanæ. 8vo, full red morocco, with elaborate floral borders, stars, and dentelle tooling, enclosing the coat of arms of Cardinal Pallavicino. Romæ, 1773 49. BINDING. Covers of a book FROM THE LIBRARY OF HENRY III. Folio, olive morocco extra, with the arms of the King in the centre of each cover, the corners occupied by the device of the "Ordre du Saint Esprit"; back decorated with fleurs-de-lis. Leather ties. FINE SPECIMEN OF BINDING FROM THE LIBRARY OF HENRY III. 50. BLADES (WILLIAM). The Biography and Typography of William Caxton, England's First Printer. Numerous facsimiles. Small 8vo, cloth. London, 1877 SKETCH BOOK OF WILLIAM AND ROBERT BLAKE 51. BLAKE (WILLIAM). Original Sketch Book used by William Blake and by his brother, Robert. Folio, in the original cloth, leather back. Enclosed in a full lavender levant morocco solander case. With typewritten list of drawings enclosed. When Blake died he left to his widow, as practically her entire inheri tance, his own drawings and those of his brother; and the present volume was the item of most consequence indicating the work of William and Robert. The sketch book passed into the possession of Thomas Stothard, the famous English artist, and the personal friend of Blake. It appears at a later date in the sale of the collection of Sir Alexander Spearman. Robert Blake was the celebrated William's younger and favorite brother, and his junior by nearly five years, having been born in 1762 After the death of their father, in the summer of 1784, he lived with William and his wife. William not only taught him to draw and to engrave but encouraged him to exert his imagination in original sketches which were carefully preserved by William during his life. In the pres ent sketchbook, William, for the most part, made drawings on the left side of the page which Robert then copied on the right of the page, although we have some instances where the entire page is taken up by the sketches of William Blake. Omitting count of the blank pages, the sketchbook has fifty-five pages taken up with drawings. Of these, almost three hundred in all, between one hundred and thirty-five and one hundred and forty are by William Blake, the remaining number being by his brother. Robert was then only fifteen years of age, and his immature sketches did not reveal any great promise; but they are interesting in contrast to the masterly studies of the great artist who was his teacher, and who, although still just under the age of manhood, already showed the genius of a master of design. Blake's drawings include studies of the heads of men and women; entire male and female figures; sketches of hands, arms, legs, noses, lips, and eyes; Cupids; animals; mythological and allegorical figures, etc. From the point of view of the artist, these seven score drawings of William Blake are fascinating, so consummate is their quality. While the student of drawing, in comparing, let us say, the copy by Robert (on page 15) of a man's left leg, after the exquisite original design of his brother William, is enabled to realize in the most immediate and convincing fashion how free and lovely and yet how true to nature is the flowing line of William Blake, how labored and hesitating the line of the copyist. The drawings in this sketchbook have never been reproduced, and, designed as they were, at the threshold of his career, they form an illuminat ing introduction to the history of his life as an artist; while, in connection with the relationship of this book to his affection for that brother who remained the guiding star of his life, the volume must ever have a peculiarly intimate significance for biographers and the students of Blake. [SEE ILLUSTRATION] ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONCERNING THE BOSTON TEA PARTY 52. BOSTON TEA PARTY. Original Draft, signed by William Henshaw, Secretary of the Town Committee of Leicester, Mass., of the letter to the Committee of Correspondence, at Boston. 1 p. folio, Leicester, 14th Dec. 1773. Worn in folds. "Gentlemen, We have received your letter which was draughted in presence of a collected body of Committees as well as others of an anti-date which we are greatly obliged to you for and also to the Town which you have the honor to serve for their unremitted care and vigilance in watching the motions of the enemies to our rights by opposing their wicked schemes, & also for their later proceedings & Manly resolutions in regard to the detestable Tea sent here by the East India Company- And as you have requested asked our advice we shall as a Committee freely give it & that to go on as you have begun is on no account to suffer it to be landed or pay one farthing of Duty you may depend on our aid and assistance when needed, if notice is given, & make no doubt but that you will have that of our Town & District which will meet in a few Days when you will be informed of their proceedings. We are Gentlemen with Respects your most Obliged Humble Servants William Henshaw pr. Order' [SEE ILLUSTRATION] |