[Rarebooks] fa: BOOK OF TRADES or LIBRARY OF THE USEFUL ARTS - 3 vols. 1804-05 FIRST ED.

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, auction ending Sunday, May 26. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/ljpyb3g

Thanks,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.


The Book of Trades, or Library of the Useful Arts. London: Printed for Tabart and Co., 1804-05. FIRST EDITION. Three volumes, 12mo (ca. 5 5/8 in.), in early/original quarter roan and marbled boards; with 22 pp. of adverts for Books published by "Tabart and Co. at their Juvenile Library"; 58 (of 59) copper-engraved plates.

An incomplete copy: lacking one of the plates (the Feather-worker) and 6 text leaves (3 from vol. II and 3 from vol. III). Bindings rubbed and worn with some loss to the spine leather, one board detached; first two volumes lacking front free-endpapers; several page-gatherings protruding a bit from the text block, with a couple of them loosening; some dust-soiling to the edges, intermittent light spotting to the leaves, but the plates are generally quite clean and bright.

Imperfect and a bit rough, but still an uncommon example of the first edition of this often reprinted work. Originally intended for younger readers, it is today an invaluable, clearly written and charmingly illustrated survey of early 19th-century trades and professions: wool-comber, waterman, cooper, smith, apothecary, coach-maker, paviour, copper-plate printer, needle-maker, brazier, sadler, cork-cutter, etc., etc.