Forum Rare Books

Rare Book Dealers, specialized in Travel & Exploration, Islamic World, Natural History, Atlases, Early Printing, Cartography, Science and Medicine, and more

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

One of the most influential #philosophers and #scientists in history died #onthisday in 1650, aged 53. In that same year, Louis Elzevier published this book containing the principal works of the great René #Descartes. Find out more on our website.

#rarebooks #bookcollecting

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Our book of the day is a wonderfully illustrated scarce Latin edition of a fundamental work on #mining and #metallurgy by the German scholar Georgius Agricola (1494-1555), generally considered to be founder of #geology as a discipline. More on website (link in bio).

#rarebooks

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

#bookoftheday is rare #firstedition of "Anaptyxis ad fastos P. Ovidii Nasonis", an extensive commentary on Ovid's Fasti, by philologist Carolus Neapolis (1614-1644) & printed by Balthasar Moretus in Antwerp in 1639. Our copy comes in very nice #binding with Jesuit monogram "IHS".

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Leiden professor of #mathematics, Ludolph van Ceulen, was born #onthisday in 1540. He spent a large part of his life calculating numerical value of Ludolphine number (named after him), today better known as π.

Depicted here is 1st Latin edition of 2 of his important treatises.

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Naturalist and painter John James Audubon died #onthisday in 1851. Best remembered for his monumental "The Birds Of America", his 3-volume and beautifully illustrated work on #quadrupeds is also a zoological highlight. Check out our copy on our website.

#animals #rarebooks #art

[Amsterdam Book Fair @amsterdambooks]

Mark on your calendar:

Amsterdam Book Fair
September 27-28
Zuiderkerk!

Stay tuned for further details.

#Amsterdam #bookfair #bookcollectors

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Less than 2 days before opening of Stuttgarter Antiquariatsmesse! Here's another highlight from our stand (64).

French translation of Johannes Trithemius' "Polygraphia", the 1st printed work on #cryptography, with the lovely volvelles, exclusive to this edition.

#rarebooks

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

One of many highlights in our catalogue for the Stuttgarter Antiquariatsmesse (Jan 24-26) is Baron von Sack's "Beschreibung einer Reise nach Surinam" (Berlin, 1821). This specific copy comes from the library of Empress Marie Louise, second wife of Napoleon.

#rarebooks #Surinam

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

It is a pleasure to present our catalogue for the 62. Antiquariatsmesse Stuttgart (Jan. 24-26). Check it out on our website (link in bio).

96 #rarebooks #manuscripts #maps concerning #Americana #medicine #middleeast #occult #science #travel, etc.

#bookfair #Stuttgart

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

8 more days until our first #bookfair of 2025! 1 of many recent acquisitions in our stand @ Stuttgarter Antiquariatsmesse is this unique #wedding album made for August Janssen and his bride Ella de Ridder in 1896. Find out more about them on our website.

#weddinginspiration

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

German cartographer Johann Matthias Hase was born #onthisday, 1684. Best remembered for his thoroughly researched historical maps & plans. Shown here are a few from an exceptionally rare collection comparing modern & ancient cities, incl. #Nanjing #Tokyo #Babylon #Paris #Rome

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Several centuries before #Stuttgart became home to Porsche & Mercedes-Benz, posh cars were already a common sight on the streets of this German city. This one featured in a splendid ceremony held in 1617.

Next week, we'll be in Stuttgart for the Antiquariatsmesse (Jan 26-28)!

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Want to catch up on your #history of #Greenland? Check out our 1746 Dutch translation of first description of the country and its natural history, Inuit culture, seal hunting and whale fishery, written by Hans Egede & marking beginning of Danish colonization.

#rarebooks

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

French archbishop, poet & writer François Fénelon died #onthisday in 1715, ageed 63. A prolific author, he is best remembered for his didactic novel "The Adventures of Telemachus". More about our luxuriously bound & printed 1785 edition on our website.

#rarebooks #bookbinding

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Best wishes for the new year everyone!

As today is #ThreeKingsDay, our first highlight of 2025 is a 1480 #bookofhours from #Rouen with a beautiful illustration of the Visit of the Magi. Find out more on our website (link in bio).

#rarebooks #medieval #manuscript #bookbinding

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Our #bookoftheday is the first complete edition of Henricus Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim's "De occulta philosophia libri tres" (Cologne, 1533), one of the most important works on magic and the occult from the 16th century. More on our website.

#cabala #rarebooks #bookbinding

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Queen Nzinga, ruler of Ndogo and Matamba, in present-day Angola, died #onthisday, 1663. Find out more about this astute diplomat and an accomplised military tactician (and ally of the Dutch) in our copy of Olfert Dapper's famous description of Africa.

#rarebooks #femalerulers

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Our #bookoftheday is a very rare only edition (1727) of a dissertation on the rights of women by Strasbourg lawyer Johann Peter von Carben, in a very nice armorial binding:

https://t.co/UOWHrnjINc

#bookbinding #womenshistory #womensrights #rarebooks

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

One of the great villains of the Dutch War Of Indepedence died #onthisday in 1582. Read all about the cruel deeds of Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba, in Everhard van Reyd's "Oorspronck ende voortganck vande Nederlantsche oorloghen (1633).

#rarebooks

[Forum Rare Books @ForumRareBooks]

Our #bookoftheday is Andrea Pozzo's "Perspectiva pictorum et architectorum" (#Rome, 1700-1702) in a very nice contemporary binding. A monument of #Baroque art and architecture, with over 200 engraved perspectival & architectural plans and designs.

#rarebooks #architecture