Copenhagen

First edition.

Bound in full marbled paper, with a light brown morocco spine label; original wrappers preserved. Spine ends, corners and joints slightly rubbed; minor marginal stain to rear wrapper.

Rare first edition of Andersen’s tale about an ill-fated dryad often compared to “The Little Mermaid” (1837). Both feature a feminine nature spirit longing to shed her form to enter the human world, with fatal consequences.

An exceptional copy, inscribed by Hans Christian...

First edition illustrated with 7 plates printed outside the text.

A snag with loss to the front wrapper, foxing throughout, dampstain to the rear wrapper.

A commentary on the bilingual Phoenician and Greek inscription engraved on one of the two Cippi of Melqart, dating from the 2nd century BC and presented in 1782 to Louis XVI by the Grand Master of the Hospitallers.

It was then housed at the Bibliothèque Mazarine and has been preserved at the Louvre since 1864.

First edition of the third series of Andersen’s tales. Two parts in one volume, published respectively on 30 March and 23 November 1872, each bearing an inscription by Andersen. He mentions the first in his diary (H. C. Andersens dagbøger, vol. IX, p. 247) and the second is recorded by Henry Tuxen (Anderseniana, vol. 4, 1958-59, p. 155).

Red cloth half binding, flat spine faded with gilt title and ruled in black, black cloth boards. First board with a slight lenghtwise crack, spine-ends and corners rubbed, small lack of material at the margin of the first board.

First Danish edition, translated by the author from the original English edition published the same year.

Illustrated covers, rare in this state of preservation. Some rubbing, soiling, and marginal tears. Two autograph ownership inscriptions by Ragna Gateau on the half-title and title pages, one dated 1937.

Second edition (after the first Latin and French of 1741) with a frontispiece and seven engraved plates (including one folding, a map of the underground world) by Brühl. It's worth noting that numerous copies from this date don't have eight plates, while the first French edition had only three and the Latin none. Originally translated from the Latin Nicolai Klimii Iter subterraneum by Eléazar de Mauvillon (1712-1779). Attributed to Holberg by Barbier (Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes). Manuel bibliographique des sciences psychiques et occultes, Caillet, 1912-1913. Engraved title.
 
Contemporary brown sheep. Spine in decorated compartments. Beige...