Amor librorum nos unit
A selling exhibition of rare books and manuscripts spanning 800 years.
A collaboration between
- Stéphane Clavreuil
- Daniel Crouch
- Jörn Günther
- Peter Harrington
- Jonathan Hill
- Umberto Pregliasco
- Bernard Shapero
A collaboration between
- Stéphane Clavreuil
- Daniel Crouch
- Jörn Günther
- Peter Harrington
- Jonathan Hill
- Umberto Pregliasco
- Bernard Shapero
The motto of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers states “Amor Librorum nos unit” – the love of books unites us.

“Tarocchi del Mantegna” – an educational game for the Ferrarese court
In the following catalogue you will find a timeline of 35 manuscript and printed books, compiled from the inventory of seven rare book dealers from five countries, spanning eight centuries of ideas, from 1255 to 1962.

An extra-illustrated folio of woodcuts, all signed by Georges Braque
This selection seeks to recreate the spirit of camaraderie of the book fairs in which we, along with our peers, have always taken pleasure, and have sincerely missed the past few months. If you did not already know all our friends and colleagues whose works are represented, then we are delighted to introduce them to you.

First edition of “certainly the most important biological book ever written”
We hope you will enjoy exploring this online exhibition dedicated to the art of the book: Amor Librorum nos unit.
A richly decorated Psalter by the ‘Franciscan Master’
Psalter, use of Ghent
Flanders, Bruges, c. 1255–60
Dealer
Jörn Günther
Latin manuscript created for a pious laywoman from a Beguine community, shortly after the canonisation of St. Clare and the lifetime of St. Francis
FRANCISCAN MASTER OF BRUGES, attributed to
Psalter, use of Ghent
Flanders, Bruges, c. 1255–60

One of the earliest substantial Japanese incunables
Daijo kishinron giki: kan jo
[Nara, Todaijiban], 1297
Dealer
Jonathan Hill
Chinese scholar Fazang’s (643–712) commentary on the classic exposition of Mahayana Buddhism
FAZANG
Daijo kishinron giki: kan jo
[Nara, Todaijiban], 1297

The largest portion of the Gutenberg Bible in private hands
‘Biblia latina’: the Book of Joshua
[Mainz, Johann Gutenberg and Johann Fust, ‘c. 1454/55’, but probably 1452–54]
Dealer
Jörn Günther
The complete Book of Joshua from the Mannheim Court Library example of the first printed bible
GUTENBERG, Johann; and Johann FUST
‘Biblia latina’: the Book of Joshua
[Mainz, Johann Gutenberg and Johann Fust, ‘c. 1454/55’, but probably 1452–54]

“Tarocchi del Mantegna” – an educational game for the Ferrarese court
The so-called “Tarot cards of Mantegna”
Northern Italy (possibly Ferrara), before 1467
Dealer
Umberto Pregliasco
One of the few Renaissance works of art to fully express the cultural world of the learned class of Italy – 50 plates, among the most enigmatic in the history of engraving
ANONYMOUS FERRARESE MASTER
The so-called “Tarot cards of Mantegna”
Northern Italy (possibly Ferrara), before 1467


The first modern book devoted solely to anatomy
Anatomia
[Padua (not Pavia), Pierre Maufer, c. 1475]
Dealer
Jonathan Hill
A hugely influential work from the “Founder of Anatomy in the Middle Ages” (Choulant-Frank)
MUNDINUS, otherwise known as “MONDINO DEI LUZZI”
Anatomia
[Padua (not Pavia), Pierre Maufer, c. 1475]


Grisaille illumination from one of the best French masters
Book of Hours, use of Rome, in Latin with French calendar
France, Tours, c. 1490–1500
Dealer
Jörn Günther
“Parce mihi domine” (Spare me, o’ Lord)
THE MASTER OF PETRARCH’S TRIUMPHS
Book of Hours, use of Rome, in Latin with French calendar
France, Tours, c. 1490–1500

Mythological romance
‘Epistres d’Ovide’ [and Three Untitled French Poems]
France, Paris, c. 1493
Dealer
Jörn Günther
A unique manuscript made for Queen Anne of Brittany
MASTER OF THE ‘CHRONIQUE SCANDALEUSE’; SAINT-GELAIS, Octovien de; and François ROBERTET
‘Epistres d’Ovide’ [and Three Untitled French Poems]
France, Paris, c. 1493

A fully illuminated example of an Italian incunable
Epistole de sancto Hieronimo vulgare. Impressa e la presente opera così con diligentia, emendata como di iucunde caractere & figure ornate.
Ferrara, Lorenzo de Rossi da Valenza, 1497
Dealer
Umberto Pregliasco
A spectacular entirely illuminated copy of one of the highest achievements in print of the Ferrarese illustration
JEROME, Saint
Epistole de sancto Hieronimo vulgare. Impressa e la presente opera così con diligentia, emendata como di iucunde caractere & figure ornate.
Ferrara, Lorenzo de Rossi da Valenza, 1497

Plutarch’s parallel lives: original compositions of the medieval way of life
Vies de Romulus et de Caton d’Utique
France, Paris, c. 1508
Dealer
Stéphane Clavreuil
Lavishly illuminated manuscript with original compositions
MASTER OF PHILIPPA OF GUELDERS; COENE IV, Jean; PICHORE, Jean [circle of]; BOURGOYN, Simon; and PLUTARCH
Vies de Romulus et de Caton d’Utique
France, Paris, c. 1508

The first and only Italian blockbook: the so called Biblia pauperum
Opera nova contemplativa per ogni fidel christiano la quale tracta de le figure del testamento vecchio le quale figure sonno verificate nel testamento nuovo
Venezia, Giovanni Andrea Valvassori, 1511
Dealer
Umberto Pregliasco
The first and only Italian blockbook: the so called Biblia pauperum. One of the five copies of the very first issue.
VAVASSORE, Giovanni Andrea
Opera nova contemplativa per ogni fidel christiano la quale tracta de le figure del testamento vecchio le quale figure sonno verificate nel testamento nuovo
Venezia, Giovanni Andrea Valvassori, 1511

The Princes’ edition of Theuerdank
‘Die geverlicheiten und einsteils geschichten des loblichen streytparen und hochberumbten helds und Ritters Tewrdannckhs’
Nürnberg [but, Augsburg], Johann Schönsperger, 1 March 1517
Dealer
Jörn Günther
The most splendid book produced in the Northern Renaissance – and a literary memorial for Emperor Maximilian I
Maximilian I
‘Die geverlicheiten und einsteils geschichten des loblichen streytparen und hochberumbten helds und Ritters Tewrdannckhs’
Nürnberg [but, Augsburg], Johann Schönsperger, 1 March 1517

A remarkable copy of Tory’s fifth “Hours”
Horae in laudem beatiss. Virginis Mariae. Ad usum Romanum
[Paris: Geoffroy Tory, 20 October 1531]
Dealer
Jonathan Hill
An important re-discovery – coloured under the direction of Tory himself in his famous “lavis à l’italienne”
TORY, Geoffroy
Horae in laudem beatiss. Virginis Mariae. Ad usum Romanum
[Paris: Geoffroy Tory, 20 October 1531]

“The most spectacular contribution of the book-maker’s art to 16th-century science”
Astronomicum Caesareum
Ingolstadt, Peter Apian, 1540
Dealer
Daniel Crouch
“The most spectacular contribution of the book-maker’s art to sixteenth-century science” from the library of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia
APIANUS, Petrus
Astronomicum Caesareum
Ingolstadt, Peter Apian, 1540

The most important scientific text of the 16th century
De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, Libri VI
Nuremberg, J. Petreius, 1543
Dealer
Jonathan Hill
“A landmark in human thought. It challenged the authority of antiquity and set the course for the modern world…” (PMM)
COPERNICUS, Nicolaus
De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, Libri VI
Nuremberg, J. Petreius, 1543

A magnificent portolan atlas by Battista Agnese
The Harisse Codex
Venice, c. 1550
Dealer
Daniel Crouch
A magnificent portolan atlas by Battista Agnese in its original binding, inscribed and attributed to Agnese by the eminent bibliographer Henry Harisse
AGNESE, Battista, attributed to
The Harisse Codex
Venice, c. 1550


Henri Estienne’s autograph manuscript of his first independently published work
[Anacreontis Teij Odae]
Paris, 1552–54
Dealer
Stéphane Clavreuil
Autograph manuscript of a work that caused a poetic revolution
ESTIENNE, Henri; and ANACREON
[Anacreontis Teij Odae]
Paris, 1552–54

From the library of Mary, Queen of Scots
Astronomique discourse par Jaques Bassantin Escossois
Lyon, Par Jan de Tournes, 1557
Dealer
Daniel Crouch
The first edition of the Bassantin’s compendium on calculating planetary positions from the library of Mary, Queen of Scots
BASSANTIN, Jacques
Astronomique discourse par Jaques Bassantin Escossois
Lyon, Par Jan de Tournes, 1557


The masterpiece of Portugal’s supreme poet, Luis de Camões
Os Lusiadas
Lisboa, Antonio Gonçalvez Impressor, 1572
Dealer
Stéphane Clavreuil
The masterpiece of Portugal’s supreme poet, Luis de Camões, with a description of his trip to the Arabian coast, and his stay in Ormuz. One of only two copies in private hands.
CAMOENS, Luis de
Os Lusiadas
Lisboa, Antonio Gonçalvez Impressor, 1572

An exceptionally rare and complete suite of odd engravings
Songes Drolatiques Allemands
[Augsburg, Jean Pretoir, after 1597]
Dealer
Umberto Pregliasco
Bizarre new creatures, made up of more elaborate inanimate elements combined with human-animal hybrids. The third copy known, in a newly discovered second-state set of 26 plates.
CUSTOS, Dominicus, attributed to
Songes Drolatiques Allemands
[Augsburg, Jean Pretoir, after 1597]

Champlain’s seminal two-sheet map of the Great Lakes
Les Voyages de la Nouvelle France occidentale, dicte Canada…depuis l’an 1603 iusques en l’an 1629
Paris, Pierre Le Mur, 1632
Dealer
Stéphane Clavreuil
The first appearance of Champlain’s seminal two-sheet map of the Great Lakes; the first collected edition of this landmark of discovery Americana; Count Hoym’s copy
CHAMPLAIN, Samuel de
Les Voyages de la Nouvelle France occidentale, dicte Canada…depuis l’an 1603 iusques en l’an 1629
Paris, Pierre Le Mur, 1632

The Fourth Folio, bound in handsome diced russia
Comedies, Histories and Tragedies. Published according to the true Original Copies. Unto which is added, Seven Plays, Never before Printed in Folio…
London: for H. Herringman, E. Brewster, and R. Bentley, 1685
Dealer
Peter Harrington
A handsome copy of the tallest of the four folios
SHAKESPEARE, William
Comedies, Histories and Tragedies. Published according to the true Original Copies. Unto which is added, Seven Plays, Never before Printed in Folio…
London: for H. Herringman, E. Brewster, and R. Bentley, 1685


Arguably the finest colour plate costume book of the Ottoman Empire
Recueil de cent estampes representant differentes nations du Levant, tirées sur les tableaux peints d’après nature en 1707 et 1708
Paris, Le Hay, 1714
Dealer
Bernard Shapero
The most luxurious edition of van Mour’s depictions of Turkish Court, with hand-coloured plates, many enhanced with gold and chips of mica
LE HAY, Jacques; FERRIOL, Charles de
Recueil de cent estampes representant differentes nations du Levant, tirées sur les tableaux peints d’après nature en 1707 et 1708
Paris, Le Hay, 1714

Two different ideas of portraying Venice in the 18th century
Vedute Altre prese da i Luoghi altre ideate da Antonio Canal e da esso intagliate poste in prospetiva umiliate All'Ill.mo Signor Giuseppe Smith Console… [and] Magnificentiores selectioresque Urbis Venetiarum prospectus… ab ipsomet acurate delineante, incidente, tijpisque mandante.
[Venice, Giambattista Pasquali, after June 1744] [and] Venice, 1741
Dealer
Umberto Pregliasco
Two different ideas of portraying Venice in the eighteenth century: the Capricci by Canaletto printed on large paper and the detailed Views by Marieschi.
CANALETTO, Antonio [and] MARIESCHI, Michele
Vedute Altre prese da i Luoghi altre ideate da Antonio Canal e da esso intagliate poste in prospetiva umiliate All'Ill.mo Signor Giuseppe Smith Console… [and] Magnificentiores selectioresque Urbis Venetiarum prospectus… ab ipsomet acurate delineante, incidente, tijpisque mandante.
[Venice, Giambattista Pasquali, after June 1744] [and] Venice, 1741

Piranesi’s architectural fantasies, including the Carceri
Opere varie di architettura, prospettive, grotteschi, antichita, 1750 [but 1761 or later] – Carceri d'invenzione, 1761 – Trofei di Ottaviano Augusto, 1753 – Antichita Romane de' Tempi della Republica (1748)
Rome, [1761], 1761, 1753, 1748
Dealer
Bernard Shapero
Piranesi’s Masterpiece, including his famous “Career” in an early Rome edition
PIRANESI, Giovanni Battista
Opere varie di architettura, prospettive, grotteschi, antichita, 1750 [but 1761 or later] – Carceri d'invenzione, 1761 – Trofei di Ottaviano Augusto, 1753 – Antichita Romane de' Tempi della Republica (1748)
Rome, [1761], 1761, 1753, 1748

A composite atlas of Italy with the arms of the father of three kings of France
[Composite atlas]
Paris, [c. 1753]
Dealer
Daniel Crouch
A composite atlas of Italy bound in red morocco with the arms of Louis, Dauphin of France, the only surviving son of King Louis XV, and the father of three kings of France.
JAILLOT, Alexis-Hubert, and others
[Composite atlas]
Paris, [c. 1753]


A unique album of historical importance to Russian military history
Книга, содержащая чертежи употребляемыхъ ныне артилерийскихъ орудiй съ принадлежностями оныхъ уменьшенные противъ натуральныхъ в 8-ю долю, деланная при Второмъ Кадетскомъ Корпусе, кадетами онаго в классе Штабсъ-капитана Ефимова-втораго.
[St Petersburg], Vtoroy Kadetskiy Korpus, 1800
Dealer
Bernard Shapero
A unique album of historical importance to the military history of the Russian Empire, from the library of Tsar Alexander II
TSAR ALEXANDER II
Книга, содержащая чертежи употребляемыхъ ныне артилерийскихъ орудiй съ принадлежностями оныхъ уменьшенные противъ натуральныхъ в 8-ю долю, деланная при Второмъ Кадетскомъ Корпусе, кадетами онаго в классе Штабсъ-капитана Ефимова-втораго.
[St Petersburg], Vtoroy Kadetskiy Korpus, 1800


First edition in the front rank of ornithological books
Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets
Paris, Levrault Freres, 1801–05
Dealer
Bernard Shapero
First edition in the front rank of ornithological books by “a superlative bird artist” (Buchanan)
LEVAILLANT, Francois
Histoire Naturelle des Perroquets
Paris, Levrault Freres, 1801–05

First edition of Darwin’s first separately printed work
For Private Distribution…Extracts from Letters addressed to Professor Henslow by C. Darwin
[Cambridge: “Printed for Distribution among the Members of the Cambridge Philosophical Society,” 1 December 1835]
Dealer
Jonathan Hill
First edition of Darwin’s first separately printed work
DARWIN, Charles Robert
For Private Distribution…Extracts from Letters addressed to Professor Henslow by C. Darwin
[Cambridge: “Printed for Distribution among the Members of the Cambridge Philosophical Society,” 1 December 1835]


A magnificent presentation copy of Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal
Les Fleurs du Mal
Paris: Poulet-Malassis & de Broise, 1857
Dealer
Stéphane Clavreuil
Decadence and eroticism – the most important symbolist and modernist collection of poems
BAUDELAIRE, Charles
Les Fleurs du Mal
Paris: Poulet-Malassis & de Broise, 1857

First edition of “certainly the most important biological book ever written”
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life
London: John Murray, 1859
Dealer
Peter Harrington
The foundation of modern evolutionary theory, in the distinctive green cloth
DARWIN, Charles
On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life
London: John Murray, 1859


An exceedingly rare presentation copy of the first great work of Dostoevsky’s maturity
Zapiski iz mertvago doma
St Petersburg: Iosafat Ogrizko, 1862
Dealer
Peter Harrington
Notes from the House of the Dead presented to his friend who saw him off to Siberian exile
DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor
Zapiski iz mertvago doma
St Petersburg: Iosafat Ogrizko, 1862

Advance review copy of Das Kapital in original printed wrappers
Das Kapital. Kritik der politischen Oekonomie. Erster Band
Hamburg: Otto Meissner, 1867
Dealer
Peter Harrington
The publisher solicits a review in the most influential German periodical of the day
MARX, Karl
Das Kapital. Kritik der politischen Oekonomie. Erster Band
Hamburg: Otto Meissner, 1867

Charting the course for Queen Victoria’s Royal Yacht
[Chart case and set of charts from Queen Victoria’s Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert (II)]
London, The Admiralty, [1880–1900]
Dealer
Daniel Crouch
A glass-fronted chart case and set of charts from Queen Victoria’s Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert (II)
THE ADMIRALTY
[Chart case and set of charts from Queen Victoria’s Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert (II)]
London, The Admiralty, [1880–1900]

Effusive presentation copy of On the Road
On the Road
New York, The Viking Press, 1957
Dealer
Peter Harrington
Inscribed in red crayon in memory of the Red House
KEROUAC, Jack
On the Road
New York, The Viking Press, 1957


An extra-illustrated folio of woodcuts, all signed by Georges Braque
Si je mourais là-bas
Paris, Louis Brodeur, 1962
Dealer
Bernard Shapero
One of 40 copies on vélin pur chiffon, with a duplicate suite of 18 woodcuts each numbered and signed by Braque
BRAQUE, Georges; and Guillaume APPOLINAIRE
Si je mourais là-bas
Paris, Louis Brodeur, 1962
