Exciting new additions to the Stanford rare books collection,
including a political economist's early 19th-century impressions of England,
posters and programs documenting the history of the Paris Lido's celebrated
Blue Bells dance troupe, and an important collection of works by Torre di
Rezzonico.
French Works
 |
| Adolphe Blanqui: Wikipedia |
Blanqui, Adolphe. Voyage d'un jeune français en
Angleterre et en Écosse, pendant l'automne de 1823; contenant des observations
nouvelles, relatives aux beautés du pays, aux moeurs, aux usages de ses
habitans, à leur industrie manufactière, aux progrès des arts, des sciences et
de la littérature; à l'instruction publique, enfin à tout ce qui mérite l'attention
du voyageur, et orné d'une vue du chateau de Dumbarton; par Adolphe Blanqui. Paris, Dondey-Dupré Père et Fils, 1824. With lithographed frontispiece of the castle of Dunbarton.
(4), xix, (1), 396 pp. 8vo.
First edition of the first work by
Jérôme Adolphe Blanqui, who succeeded Jean-Baptiste Say in 1833 as professor of
political economy at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers and was
editor-in-chief of the Journal des Économistes, author of an important
and esteemed history of political economy, and brother of the famous
revolutionary Auguste Blanqui.
"Blanqui had travelled nearly
over all Europe, and only left off traveling when his health compelled him to
remain at home. It may be said that the whole of his life was spent in one long
and laborious inquiry, principally directed to the solution of those questions
relating to the working classes, the importance of which he had realized more
clearly than most of his contemporaries. The brilliancy and vigour of his
language added an additional attraction to his teaching" (Palgrave, i, p.
155.) This work is a thorough and brilliant investigation into the living and
working conditions of the working classes and the economic and industrial
conditions of the country, dealing with many aspects such as population,
poverty, poor-houses, local commerce and trade, etc., but also presents a
general picture of the English nation, the countryside, the cities, ceremonies,
architecture, rituals, and its inhabitants, customes, usages, sciences, arts,
literature, etc. His main interests were industrial and commercial history and
the welfare of the working classes. Although a liberal and a follower of Adam
Smith he was much impressed by Sismondi's writings and advocated positive
governmental action for the protection of workers.
Margaret Kelly et les Bluebell Girls. Collection de programmes et d'affiches ayant appartenu
à Margaret Kelly
An extraordinary collection of
materials, primarily programs and posters, pertaining to the theatrical world
associated with Margaret Kelly Leibovici (1910-2004), the Dublin-born dance
hall star and founder of the acclaimed dance troupe Les Blue Bell's. The
documents included here allow us to trace her career from her debut as a dancer
with the Folies-Bergère
until her retirement, and they follow the evolution of her dance troupe both in
France and abroad through programs. http://www.lido.fr/les-anciennes-revues/
 |
| Octave Uzanne: Wikipedia |
Uzanne, Octave. La Française du siècle : modes, moeurs, usages / par
Octave Uzanne ; illustrations à l'aquarelle de Albert Lynch ; gravées à
l'eau-forte en couleurs par Eugène Gaujean, Paris: A. Quantin, 1886
A beautiful example of French
bibliophilie. For more on Uzanne, see: Silverman,
Willa Z. The New Bibliopolis, French book collectors and the culture of
print, 1880-1914. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2008.
Italian Works
Anguillesi, Giovanni Domenico. Discorso accademico sulla vita e le opere di Maria
Selvaggia Borghini, letto nella pubblica adunanza arcadica della colonia Alpa
il 10 gennajo 1828 dal dottore Giovanni Anguillesi. Pisa: Tipografia
Nistri, 1828.
“First edition of this lecture on
the Pisan noblewoman and poet Maria Borghini, given by the local journalist,
historian of literature and member of the learned society Colonia Alfea.
Borghini (1654-1731) had been a child prodigy and studied mathematics, Latin,
science, philosophy and theology with professors at the University of Pisa. Her
translations of Tertullian were not published until 26 years after her death.
She founded a noted scientific and literary salon in Pisa and corresponded with
a number of Tuscan intellectuals and scientists, among them Lorenzo Magaloti
and Francesco Redi, with whom she had a long and close relationship."
 |
| Torre di Rezzonico: Foto by Como |
Torre di Rezzonico, Carlo Castone
della. Discorsi accademici dell conte
Castone della Torre di Rezzonico, segretario perpetvo della R. Accademia delle
Belle Arti, Parma : Dalla Stamperia Reale, 1772. Bound with:
Torre di Rezzonico. Versi sciolti e rimati di Dorillo Dafneio. [Parma :
Dalla Stamperia Reale, 1773]; Arrivabene. Memorie di Giambatista Gherardo
conte d'Arco. Parma : Dalla Stamperia Reale, 1792.
First editions of three books from
the Bodoni press in Parma. The first two works are illustrated with
beautiful engravings by the engraver and painter Benigno Bossi and are
relatively early examples from the press. The Discorsi also
includes an elegy and sonnets. The last of the three works is a biography
of Giambatista Gherardo conte d'Arco, an Italian economic thinker and close
friend of Condillac.
Rolland, Romain, Jean Lacoste, and Marie-Laure Prévost. Journal De Vézelay: 1938-1944. Paris: Bartillat, 2012.
Wauquelin, Jean, and Nigel Bryant. The Medieval Romance of Alexander: Jehan Wauquelin's The Deeds and Conquests of Alexander the Great. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell & Brewer, 2012.
