Art
Our best selection of art and art criticism through the ages. From the scholarly to the glossy, we try to keep a selection of the complete range of art books here.
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1903 OxfordLondon: 1903The first trade edition of this lovely depiction of Oxford, illustrated throughout with watercolours by John Fulleylove.
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1947 Designers in BritainLondon: 1947The first edition of this heavily illustrated celebration of industrial and commercial design, in the scarce original dust wrapper.
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1948 Colour PrintingLondon: 1948The first edition of Griffit's striking study on colour printing, presenting folding colour plates demonstrating methods of printing.
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1977 Words & Wisdom of Martin Luther KingBushey Heath: 1977A very scarce limited edition volume of quotes by Martin Luther King, illustrated with linocuts by Paul Peter Piech.
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c1955 Overtons St. James: A Lithograph Menu illustrated by Edward ArdizzoneLondon: c1955An exceptional example of Edward Ardizzone's scarce 1950s menu for the popular London restaurant, 'Overtons'.
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1924 Le Troisième Livre de Monogrammes, Cachets, Marques, et Ex-LibrisParis: 1924A limited edition volume of the art of George Auriol, this illustrated volume being one of only one hundred copies.
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Signed
c2015 Winged AccordionWells: c2015A very scarce artistic accordion volume by Karen Young, signed by the artist, a colourful work. -
c1970 Three Birthday Greetings Telegrams, with Original EnvelopesLondon: c1970Three very smart examples of this charming birthday telegram designed by British war artist and book illustrator, Edward Ardizzone.
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Signed
2002 Laureate's ProgressLondon: 2002An uncommon special edition of Quentin Blake's illustrated account of his work as Children's Laureate, signed to the title page. -
1843 Dresses and Decorations of the Middles AgesLondon: 1843The first edition of this fantastically illustrated look into the fashion and decorations of the Middle Ages, with coloured plates.
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1883 Pictures and Royal Portraits Illustrative of English and Scottish HistoryLondon: 1883A beautifully bound set by Thomas Archer, presenting an array of steel engravings that provide a comprehensive history of England and Scotland.
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1938 Oeuvres Romaines de Francois-Andre VincentParis: 1938A two volume work consisting of a scarce reproduction of an essay from French neoclassical painter Francois-Andre Vincent, along with a small volume of examples of his work.
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1913 Arthur Rackham's Book of PicturesLondon: 1913The first trade edition of famed illustrator Arthur Rackham's memoir, beautifully illustrated with tipped in colour plates by Rackham.
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1833 The Works of William Hogarth; In a Series of EngravingsLondon: 1833A beautiful two volume work exploring the influential art of the noted engraver William Hogarth, lavishly illustrated with over one-hundred plates.
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1863 Marks and Monograms on Pottery and PorcelainLondon: 1863A first edition of this illustrated study of antique pottery and ceramics from English writer William Chaffers.
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c1880 Aegypten in Bild un Wort, Zweiter BandStuttgart; Leipzig: c1880A beautifully bound copy of the second volume of Georg Ebers' exploration of Egypt in words and pictures, with the very scarce dust wrapper.
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1892 The Flowers of Japan and the Art of Floral ArrangementTokio: 1892An early edition of Josiah Conder's richly illustrated study of the art of Ikebana, or Japanese floral arrangement. This work introduced the art to the western world.
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1876-1877 Kwan Ko Dzu Setsu: Notice Historique et Descriptive sur les Arts et Industries JaponaisTokyo: 1876-1877The first five volumes of Ninagawa Noritane's impressive study of the history of Japanese ceramics, housed in the publisher's scarce portfolio, and illustrated with hand coloured plates.
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1888 Papier-Schmetterlinge aus JapanLeipzig und Berlin: 1888The highly decorative first edition of C. Netto's study of the art and cultural life of Japan, beautifully illustrated throughout by Paul Bender.
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1880 A Grammar of Japanese Ornament and DesignLondon [Paris]: 1880A pleasing copy of the very scarce first edition of Thomas Cutler's beautiful study of Japanese design, illustrated with a wealth of chromolithographs, and in the striking publisher's original cloth binding.
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1926 Yuchikusaizo-Kogyokufu: The Early Chinese Jades in the Collection of the Late Riichi UyenoKyoto: 1926The vanishingly scarce first edition of Dr. Hamada's very important and highly collectible work on early Chinese jade. Richly illustrated, and complete in two volumes.
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1901 The Art of Japan: Pictorial Art; Applied ArtBoston: 1901The two very scarce limited edition supplementary volumes to Captain Brinkley's analysis of the history of Japan through art, beautifully illustrated throughout in colour.
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1903 Masterpieces Selected from the Korin SchoolTokyo: 1903Volume I of Shiichi Tajima's beautiful limited edition analysis of the Korin school of Japanese art. Signed by the editor, and with over thirty plates of striking works of art.
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1960 Japanese Colour PrintsLondon: 1960Laurence Binyon and J. J. O'Brien Sexton's beautifully illustrated work on Japanese colour prints, with many brilliant colour reproductions of works from noted Japanese artist such Harunobu and Utamaro.
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1910 Japanese Temples and Their Treasures: Volume IIITokyo : 1910Volume III of this exceptionally scarce collection of 197 beautiful plates, highlighting the beauty of Japan, compiled by the Department of the Interior Imperial Japanese Government.
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1910 Japanese Temples and Their TreasuresTokyo : 1910A vanishingly scarce, complete collection of 529 stunningly illustrated plates, presenting the beauty of Japanese temples and antiquities, compiled by the Department of the Interior Imperial Japanese Government.
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1910 Japanese Temples and Their TreasuresTokyo: 1910A very scarce portfolio of over two hundred striking plates, depicting Japanese treasures from their temples.
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c1890 The Hakone DistrictYokohama: c1890A scarce photographic study of Hakone, the first edition of this beautiful work showcasing the pioneering photography of Ogawa Kazumasa.
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1924 Illustrated Catalogue of the Kano Oshima Collection of Oriental Art at the American Art GalleriesNew York: 1924A very scarce copy of this illustrated catalogue of the collection of Oriental art to be sold at the American Art Galleries.
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1916 Catalogue of the Second Portion of the Important Collection of Japanese Lacquer Formed by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart.London: 1916A very scarce copy of the second portion of Japanese lacquer to be auctioned by Christie, Manson & Woods, with illustrations.
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1875 Keramic Art of JapanLiverpool; London: 1875The first edition of this study on the beautiful ceramics of Japan, illustrated with vivid chromolithographs.
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1913 Catalogue of the Very Important Collection of Japanese Works of Art Formed by the Late Mr. Harry Seymour TrowerLondon: 1913A very scarce original catalogue from the sale auction of the Japanese art collection of Mr. Harry Seymour Trower at Glendining & Co.
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1907 Katalog einer bedeutenden Sammlung Japanischer und Chinesischer Kunstgegenstande Galerie HelbingMunich: 1907An uncommon copy of this catalogue of Japanese and Chinese art at the Galerie Helbing auction house in Munich, in the original German.
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1883 L'Art JaponaisParis: 1883A limited edition exploration of Japanese art, by the French art historian Louis Gonse, impressively illustrated throughout.
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1955-1977 Photography with a Leica, The Leica Book, Leica: The First 50 YearsLondon; Seebruck; Hove : 1955-1977A trio of works centring around the history and use of Leica camera products.
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1974-1980 3vol Sketches of Turner, Post-Impressionism, & Turner and the SublimeLondon: 1974-1980Three smart first edition volumes on the art of Turner and the Post-Impressionist school.