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Recent Acquisitions of Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books Recent Acquisitions by Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books. By Michael Stillman A short while ago, Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books mailed out a pamphlet of "Recent Acquisitions." While an occasional newer book may slip through, most of what you will find in a Shapero catalogue is very old. Most were published in the period from the 16th through the 18th centuries, and while there are some items for collectors of Americana, they tend to be earlier European Americana. Here are a few samples of Shapero's "recent acquisitions." America was not the only place fireworks were being set off in the year 1776. That was the year Sir William Hamilton published his Campi Phlegraei. Observations on the Volcanoes of the Two Sicilies as they have been communicated to the Royal Society of London. Over the preceding four years, Hamilton climbed Vesuvius 22 times, often at great risk, and with the help of the artist Fabris, produced a series of drawings of volcanic eruptions. Item 32. Priced at £75,000 (British pounds). If volcanoes are not your preferred type of calamity, how about earthquakes? Item 25 is a group of five pamphlets from 1756-1781 which describe 18th century European earthquakes. One covers a particularly destructive earthquake which struck Constantinople in May 1766. £1,500. Item 36, Vom Tantzenn obs Gott... is a 1545 defense of dancing. Author Jacob Ratz engaged in a debate with Melchior Ambach over whether the Bible permitted dancing. Ratz was the more liberal one who felt God permitted the activity. Ultimately, Ratz' position became the more widely accepted, which is why we have disco today. £1,750. There were also some more serious theological debates taking place around this time. Item 4, Ain schoener Dialogus... by an anonymous writer is a supposed debate between a monk and a peasant over the positions of Martin Luther. The book was written just as these opinions were starting to take hold, in 1525. £1,950. The battles between the Islamic world and the Christian world are hardly anything new. Perhaps this is why they are so hard to resolve. In earlier times, the Christians generally did not fare so well, but the Battle of Lepanto was an exception. This was a naval battle off the coast of Greece in 1571 where the navies of various European states routed that of the Ottoman Empire, providing some temporary relief from Ottoman advances. Historia delle Cose Successe... by Pietro Contarini, published in Venice in 1572, retells the great success of the Venetian navy and its allies. Item 16. £1,850.
Recent Acquisitions of Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books none Tractatus Politico-Juridicus... by Johann Marquart (or Johann Marquard) was a major undertaking in the field of trade in the 17th century. It is a particularly important resource today as most of the documents on which it is based have been lost. Published in two volumes in 1662, Marquart covered trade around the world, but this book is of great interest to collectors of Americana as much of its focus was on New World trade. It is particularly important in providing details about early Swedish colonization in America, notably Pennsylvania. Item 53. £4,000. Benedetto Castelli was a Benedictine monk who became a devoted student and supporter of Galileo. Along with his defense of the views of his mentor, Castelli was an accomplished scientist in his own right. He is best noted for his work in the field of hydraulics, being called to Rome by the Pope to aid in the control of flooding in the Papal States. Item 14 is a copy of his most important work in the field, Della Misura dell'Acque Correnti (on the measurement of running waters), from 1628. £4,200. For those who collect either illustrated books or books on science and technology, especially those from the 16th century, here is one of the best: Le diverse et artificiose machine... by Agostino Ramelli. It includes meticulously prepared drawings of the latest machines of the day, that day being one in 1588. Item 67. £37,500. Item 31 is an 1886 work published in Vienna which, to deep sadness, did not reach the hearts of the people. The book is entitled Beruehmte Maenner und Frauen. Ein illustrrirter Protest den Antisemitismus, by Dr. Carl Sigmund. It is a gentle protest against anti-Semitism. The book makes its point with portraits of prominent Jews such as Disraeli and the Rothschilds. Ultimately, the message would not get through to the Austrian people as events a half-century later would attest. £650. Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books may be found online at www.shapero.com or reached by phone at +44 (0)20 7493 0876.

Recent Acquisitions of Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books

Recent Acquisitions by Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books.

By Michael Stillman

A short while ago, Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books mailed out a pamphlet of "Recent Acquisitions." While an occasional newer book may slip through, most of what you will find in a Shapero catalogue is very old. Most were published in the period from the 16th through the 18th centuries, and while there are some items for collectors of Americana, they tend to be earlier European Americana. Here are a few samples of Shapero's "recent acquisitions."

America was not the only place fireworks were being set off in the year 1776. That was the year Sir William Hamilton published his Campi Phlegraei. Observations on the Volcanoes of the Two Sicilies as they have been communicated to the Royal Society of London. Over the preceding four years, Hamilton climbed Vesuvius 22 times, often at great risk, and with the help of the artist Fabris, produced a series of drawings of volcanic eruptions. Item 32. Priced at £75,000 (British pounds).

If volcanoes are not your preferred type of calamity, how about earthquakes? Item 25 is a group of five pamphlets from 1756-1781 which describe 18th century European earthquakes. One covers a particularly destructive earthquake which struck Constantinople in May 1766. £1,500.

Item 36, Vom Tantzenn obs Gott... is a 1545 defense of dancing. Author Jacob Ratz engaged in a debate with Melchior Ambach over whether the Bible permitted dancing. Ratz was the more liberal one who felt God permitted the activity. Ultimately, Ratz' position became the more widely accepted, which is why we have disco today. £1,750. There were also some more serious theological debates taking place around this time. Item 4, Ain schoener Dialogus... by an anonymous writer is a supposed debate between a monk and a peasant over the positions of Martin Luther. The book was written just as these opinions were starting to take hold, in 1525. £1,950.

The battles between the Islamic world and the Christian world are hardly anything new. Perhaps this is why they are so hard to resolve. In earlier times, the Christians generally did not fare so well, but the Battle of Lepanto was an exception. This was a naval battle off the coast of Greece in 1571 where the navies of various European states routed that of the Ottoman Empire, providing some temporary relief from Ottoman advances. Historia delle Cose Successe... by Pietro Contarini, published in Venice in 1572, retells the great success of the Venetian navy and its allies. Item 16. £1,850.

Recent Acquisitions of Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books

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Tractatus Politico-Juridicus... by Johann Marquart (or Johann Marquard) was a major undertaking in the field of trade in the 17th century. It is a particularly important resource today as most of the documents on which it is based have been lost. Published in two volumes in 1662, Marquart covered trade around the world, but this book is of great interest to collectors of Americana as much of its focus was on New World trade. It is particularly important in providing details about early Swedish colonization in America, notably Pennsylvania. Item 53. £4,000.

Benedetto Castelli was a Benedictine monk who became a devoted student and supporter of Galileo. Along with his defense of the views of his mentor, Castelli was an accomplished scientist in his own right. He is best noted for his work in the field of hydraulics, being called to Rome by the Pope to aid in the control of flooding in the Papal States. Item 14 is a copy of his most important work in the field, Della Misura dell'Acque Correnti (on the measurement of running waters), from 1628. £4,200.

For those who collect either illustrated books or books on science and technology, especially those from the 16th century, here is one of the best: Le diverse et artificiose machine... by Agostino Ramelli. It includes meticulously prepared drawings of the latest machines of the day, that day being one in 1588. Item 67. £37,500.

Item 31 is an 1886 work published in Vienna which, to deep sadness, did not reach the hearts of the people. The book is entitled Beruehmte Maenner und Frauen. Ein illustrrirter Protest den Antisemitismus, by Dr. Carl Sigmund. It is a gentle protest against anti-Semitism. The book makes its point with portraits of prominent Jews such as Disraeli and the Rothschilds. Ultimately, the message would not get through to the Austrian people as events a half-century later would attest. £650.

Bernard J. Shapero Rare Books may be found online at www.shapero.com or reached by phone at +44 (0)20 7493 0876.