We are offering here an exquisite French Christian Catholic devotional book "Parishioner of the Renaissance" from 1883 with an unique leather binding. This richly illustrated and illuminated Christian work containing Morning Prayers, Evening Prayers, Ordinary of the Mass, Sunday Vespers, Antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Psalms of Penance, Prayers for Communion, The Holy Feast, Sunday Vespers, etc.

Bound in an unique brown Morocco leather binding with a two hand-made metal clasps. All page edges gauffered in gilt twice by Latin text "GLORIA:IN:EXAELSIS:DEO" (engl. Glory in the Exaltation of the Holy Spirit), sepparated by the Bolnisi Cross and framed by beautiful ornamental fleurons. Binding signed in gilt by famous French publishing and binding house "Gruel" to the bottom of the spine. With embossed stylised monogram initials to the both boards. Very rich decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt frames and bordeaux Moirée silk. Free endpapers also accompanied by bordeaux Moirée silk.

Richly illustrated with engraved title page and with 8 Chromolithograph engraved plates in Color & Gilt engraved by Ch. Walter. Superb illustrations in chromolithographies taken from Medieval Manuscripts and Books of Hours. All 632 text pages framed by different illuminated decorations designed by famous French engraver's house Moreau. Pages/text block from high quality paper by Blanchet freres & Kleber.

"Paroissien de la Reneissance"; Paris, Gruel Engelmann, 1883; Size of the book: 16 x 10,8 cm (6.3" x 4.25"); Brown Morocco leather binding with two metal clasps. Embossed stylised monogram to the boards. All page edges gauffered in gilt. Spine with five rised bands; Text in French; Collation complete - [6] blank pages, Engraved title page, 632 pages, [6] blank pages, with 8 full-page chromolithograph plates; Full leather binding is strong, tight and firm, overall in excellent condition, with some minor surface scuffings to the extremities. Metal clasps in excellent condition, fully functional and well preserved, with littla patina only. Pages/Text block in immaculate condition, clean and bright, no any marks or foxing throughout, except a few pages with a few negligible (light and small) foxing dots to the white margins. Overall the condition of the book is NEAR FINE.

We are offering here a scarce Roman Catholic "Book of Hours" from 1885 with Frontispiece, Engraved title page, 25 engraved plates and 5 engraved chapter titles, plus an additional vellum front free endpaper with two Coat of Arms in Color & Gilt. All 516 pages richly illuminated and illustrated by famous French engravers A. Queyroy and A. Gusman. Pages/text block from high quality woven paper.

Bound in an unique brown Morocco leather binding with Fleur-de-Lys Symbols embossed in gilt to the boards and spine. Binding signed to the spine by Lesort. Very rich decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt frames and bordeaux Moirée silk. Free endpapers also accompanied by bordeaux Moirée silk. Stylised gilt monogram initials "H.P(ompery)" and gilt crown to the front paste-down. Sold together with an original custom-made wooden box with metal lock mechanism and red satin interior. Wooden box signed inside the box cover by famous French printing and publishing house Lesort. Monogram Initials "H.P(ompery)" with Royal Crown embossed to the box cover.

NOBLE PROVENANCE - With an additional vellum front free endpaper with two Coat of Arms in Color & Gilt (the one from the left is from the noble French house of Philippe de POMPERY (Pompery Pompry Champagne Bretagne); another Coat of Arm from the right is unknown to us). Two Coats of Arms on vellum are surrounded by: Royal Crown on the top, two Golden Lyons to the each side; and gilt fleurons at the bottom.

Note on the Pompery family, in the family papers: "We have an original document stating that Olivier de Pompery having been obliged to prove his nobility proved five generations going back to Philippe de Pompery, lord of Acy en Multien. In this document, it is said (1666): 'The defendant will not stop to seek the immemorial origin of the nobility of the family from which he descended, nor to describe the generous actions of his predecessors who have always corresponded to the glory and dignity of their quality of noble nor to the marks of public esteem that they acquired by their prudence and by their valor, without any of them ever having deviated, but have always from father to son lived as true gentlemen, he will be content to point out to the Court, etc.'. Philippe de Pompery possessed this fief of Pompery, as lord in all and part of Vanderesse, located far from the county of Acy. In any case, this name has been hereditary for several centuries. Such are the documents proving the family's nobility decrees. As for the titles, the title of squire, of knight appear."

"Heures Romaines"; Tours, Alfred Mame et Fils, 1885; Size of the book: 15,8 x 12,5 cm; Size of the wooden box: 20 x 17,5 x 5,8 cm; Brown Morocco leather binding. Binding embossed by gilt Fleur-de-Lys symbols. Spine with five raided bands. Gilt title to the spine. All page edges gilt; Text in French; Collation complete - Vellum free endpaper with gilt & color Coats of Arms, [6], False title, Frontispiece, Engraved title page, [20], 516 pages, [8]; Full Morocco leather binding is tight and firm, overall in pristine condition, with insignificant wears/traces of use. Pages/Text block in also immaculate condition, clean and bright, no foxing or marks throughout. Overall the condition of the book is NEAR FINE. Wooden box is in very good condition, with some traces of use to the exterior, but whole, strong and stabile; interior is in excellent condition.

This sought-after book consisted of seven chapters analyzing the history and geology of the deposits of Cape, financial and commercial organization of the Cape diamond mining and diamond industry, and giving great importance to the methods of extraction, exploitation, processing and recovery of South African diamonds. The work also includes a general examination of the geological origin of the diamond, its mode of formation in nature and its synthetic reproduction in laboratories. The author, a mining engineer, geologist and speleologist, specialist in mineral deposits and the author of a famous book "The Transvaal Gold Mines" (1896), treats the subject in a very technical and detailed manner.

The work is accompanied by numerous in-text photographic illustrations, maps and plans of mines, diagrams and tables, plus three full-page photographic plates and several large sketches of sections of the grinding workshop at the mines. With a multiple folding plate entitled "Compagnie de Beers Cons. - General surface area of mining installations and depot lands". Including a double-page table with statistics of a diamond production in South African mines (by companies) and double-page table with "Main operating results at De Beers Consolitated Company".

This is an extremely rare copy of this precious work - and the only complete copy selling on internet.

"Les Diamants de Cape. [Historique; Organisation Financiere et Commerciale; Geologie; Mode d'exploitation et de traitement, comparaison avec les gisements du Bresil, de l'Inde, de Borneo et d'Australie.]"; Paris, Librairie Polytechnique, Baudry et Cie, 1897; First edition; Size of the book: 22,5 x 16 cm; Red cloth hardcovers. Gilt titles on the front cover and spine; Text in French; Collation complete - Title page, VII, 239 pages, including illustrations, maps, tables, diagrams, and folding plans; Binding is tight and firm, light and ordinary signs of age and use. Small cut corresponding to the binding line on the top margin of the first flyleaf (front hinge), tiny piece of adhesive tape repairing a small cut on the vertical margin of the first page of the preface. Pages with some age taning and occasioanl small yellow stains, otherwise the text block is clear, without stamps, annotations or other marks in the text. A sound copy.

This stunning study of diamonds and gold in South Africa containes numerous photographic illustrations, maps, plans, tables, statistics (values, trading, capita, supplies, profits, dividends, etc.) including a details of exploration methods and facts. With 32 illustrations, folding General Plan of the Diamond Fields Griqualan West in South Africa and folding Geological Map of South Africa. This is an extremely rare copy of this precious work, hard to find even in National and University Libraries.

The book consists of three parts:
Part I. – The South African Diamond Fields
Part II. – The South African Gold Fields
Part III. – Appendices. Containing statistical tables and original articles by experts on the several subjects treated of. (De Kaap Goldfields; The Witwatersberg Goldfields; The Murchison Range; The Witwatersrand Goldfields; Transvaal; The Tati Gold Fields; De Beers Mine; Kimberley Mine; Bultfontein and Dutoitspan Mines; The Mashonaland Goldfields; Gold in the Cape Colony; Gold in the Orange Free State; Gold in Zululand. The Vryheid Banket Gold Fields; The Great Borehole of the Rand-Victoria Gold Mines; The Transvaal Silvermines; History of the MacArthur-Forrest Process of Gold Extraction; etc.).

This is an extremely rare copy of this precious work - and the only complete copy selling on internet.

"Diamonds and Gold in South Africa. By Theodore Reunert, with maps and illustrations."; London: William Clowes and Sons, Ltd. / Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg: J. C. Juta & Co., 1893; First edition; Size of the book: 22 x 14 cm; Original red cloth harcovers; Text in English; Collation complete – Title page, XVI, 242 pages (including the Index), with 32 illustrations, folding General Plan of the Diamond Fields Griqualand West in South Africa and folding Geological Map of South Africa; Overall in excellent condition for the age. Binding with usual shelf wear, extremities bumped and little scuffed, spine with minor discoloration, a few surface scratches to the boards. Othervise the binding is tight and firm, keeps strong and secure, joints and hinges are whole and secure. Pages/text block well preserved, very bright and clear, no foxing or marks throughout. A sound copy.

We are offering here a scarce first edition of the first book on minerals in Namibia and a practical guide to discovering, identifying, and collecting in Namibia. An impressive, richly illustrated book with over 300 color photographs of minerals, gemstones, localities, and landscapes. Featuring photographs by Dr. Olaf Medenbach, Dr. Werner Lieber, and Rainer Bode, with over 300 unique color, partly double-page photos and 50 black and white photos, maps and historical views as well as a subject index. Printed in small print run, this is an extremelly rare copy of this scarce book.

"A mineralogical journey crisscrossing Namibia. This unique book offers a truly unique experience. It is intended not only for lovers of beautiful stones, but for all friends of Namibia." (Note from the Publisher)

"...The result is a book that makes a first attempt to present some of Namibia's most beautiful mineral and gemstone treasures in words and pictures. We were supported in this endeavor by collectors from Namibia and South Africa, who gladly and willingly opened their collection cabinets and thus made it possible for the entire (mineral) world to enjoy these extraordinary 'gems'." (From the Publisher's preface)

CONTENT:

- Namibia's Geology - A Picture Book of Earth History;
- On the History of Mining in Namibia;
- The Brandberg and the Mineral Discoveries in its Surroundings;
- The Spitzkoppen;
- Paul Ramdohr and the Stiepelmann Beryl Site;
- The Blue Wonder of the Erongo - Aquamarine Hunting in Namibia's Interior;
- Miaroles in the Erongo Granite - an El Dorado for Aquamarine, Schorl, & Co.;
- Mesopotamia 504 - The Type Locality of Namibit;
- Precious and Semi-Precious Stones in Namibia;
- The Gemstone Mines around Usakos and Karibib;
- Spessartine from the Kunene River, Kaokoveld;
- Gemstone Tourmalines and Giant Quartz from Otjua;
- Searching for Tourmaline in Namibia;
- The Demantoids of Tubussis in Central Namibia;
- Sodalite from Swartbooisdrif, Kaokoveld;
- Golden Beryl (Heliodor) from the Hoffnungsstrahl pegmatite near Rössing;
- Zeolites from the Grootberg Pass in Namibia;
- Spectacular Monazites from the Eureka Farm near Usakos;
- The Boltwoodite Deposit of Goanikontes in the Namib Desert;
- Kamphaugite-(Y) from the Rössing Mine;
- The Gahnite Deposit of Okahua, Otjiwarongo Region;
- Tsumeb: A Name Goes Around the World;
- Guchab, Tsumeb, and Omaue - Dioptase at its Finest!;
- Khusib Springs - Beautiful Wulfenites and more
- Mount Aukas in the Otavi Mountains - Home of the world's most beautiful Descloizites;
- Onganja - Home of beautiful Cuprites and Malachites;
- The fluorites of Okorusu;
- The Aris Phonolite Complex and its Minerals;
- The Alpine-Type Joints from the Gamsberg Region;
- The Green "Amethysts" from the Gamsberg Region;
- Spectacular Quartz from the Orange River;
- Rosh Pinah in Southern Namibia - a Locality for Beautiful Baryte Crystals;
- Searching for Diamonds in the Desert Sand;
- Diamond Mining from the Seafloor;
- Typomorphic Namibian Minerals and Type Localities.

"Namibia - Zauberwelt edler Steine und Kristalle. Ein praktischer Ratgeber zum Entdecken, Bestimmen und Sammeln in Namibia."; Bode Verlag GmbH, Haltern, 2001; Size of the book: 28,5 x 21 cm; Illustrated cardboard hardcover; Text in German; Collation complete - Double-title page, 224 pages; Binding is strong, tight and firm, with negligible bumping, overall in excellent condition. Interior is in immaculate condition, apparently this volume has never been opened before us. A fine copy of this extremelly rare book.

Originally written in dutch, this momentous work titled "Concepts about diamond science and diamond processing", collected in volume by E. Jansen, the Director of the Vocational School for Diamond Workers, giving a complete view to the diamond science, diamond cutting, diamond processing, diamond industry and trade, the most important diamonds in the world and the most important diamond mines from the time. Contains over 400 b/w drawings in-text, 11 photographic plates, one sketch illustration, 3 maps and one folding sketch map.

The chapter "Diamond Mines" contains sections about the diamond findings in South Africa (with the sketch map of diamond mines and 4 photographic plates), South-West Africa, Belgian Congo (with the folding sketch map of the diamond beds in the Kasai region by P. Lancsweert), Brazil (with the sketch map of diamond fields) and India (with the sketch map of diamond fields).

The chapter "The Most Important Diamonds in the World" contains sections with descriptions and illustrations of The Regent Diamond (or Pitt Diamond), The Amsterdam Diamond, The Koh-i-Noor (or Mountain of Light), The Florentine Diamond (or the Grand Duke of Tuscany), The Sancy Diamond, The Hope Diamond, The Tiffany Yellow Diamond, The Star of the South (also known as 'Limar'), The Jubilee Diamond (originally known as the Reitz Diamond) and The Cullinan Diamond.

The book is consisted of four chapters:
- Diamond Science;
- Diamond Processing;
- Diamond Mines;
- The Most Important Diamonds in the World.

"An instructional manual designed to provide apprentices in the diamond cutting industry with a fund of information on the nature and properties of the diamond, details on all aspects of the cutting craft, and a general background in other matters concerning the diamond and the industry... At the time, this was the most complete instructional manual on diamond cutting available." (Gemology by J. Sinkankas, entry no. 3183.)

"Work awarded gold in the competition organized by the Province of Antwerp."

Printed in a small limited edition, this is an extremely rare copy of this precious work, hard to find even in National and University Libraries - and the only complete copy selling on internet.

"Begrippen over diamantkunde en diamantbewerking. In bundel verzameld door E. Jansen. Aalmoezenier van den Arbeid. Bestuurder der Vakschool voor Diamantbewerkers."; Antwerpen, Maatschappij "Voor God en 't Volk", 1923; First edition; Size of the book: 24,5 x 16 cm; Original publisher's grey cloth; Text in Dutch; Collation complete - Title page, 391 pages, with 400 b/w drawings in-text, 11 photographic plates, 3 maps and one folding sketch map; Binding is strong, tight and firm, with usual traces of shelf wear, little dusty and with some discoloration. Boards little bumped and wavy, spine rubbed and bumped to the extremities, corners crushed. Generally hinges are strong and secure, only rear hinge is little weak, but whole. Text block/pages clear and very bright, no marks throughout, little age tanning, some pages with fingerprints to margins and a few little brown spots to a few text pages. Overall a well preserved copy.

We are offering here an unique Morocco leather copy of the Christian devotional book "Hours of the Holy Virgin" from 1884. This exquisite Christian Catholic devotional book is richly illuminated and illustrated with chromolithograph frontispiece and 12 chromolithograph plates illustrated by famous French painter and illustrator Mathurin Louis Armand Queyroy and engraved by A. Gusman. All 432 pages richly illuminated and illustrated by A. Queyroy.

Bound in an unique brown Morocco leather binding with a two Ornamental Metal Decorations to the front board. Binding signed by famous French publishing binder F. Corno-Gille (Paris). With very rich decorated front and rear paste-down with gilt fleurons and teal Moiree silk. Free endpapers also accompanied by teal Moiree silk.

"Heures de la Sainte Vierge"; Tours, Alfred Mame et Fils, 1884; Size of the book: 15,8 x 12 cm (6.2" x 4.7"); Brown Morocco leather binding with a two ornamental metal decorations to the front board. Spine with five raised bands. All page edges gilt; Text in French; Collation complete - Engraved title, Chromolithograph frontispiece, Engraved title page, 432 pages, with 12 Chromolithograph plates; Full Morocco leather binding is tight and firm, overall well preserved, little bumped mostly to the extremities. a few negligible surface scratches/scuffings. Pages/Text block in very good condition, very bright and clean, no marks throughout, only a few pages with a few small and slight foxing dots, some pages little age tanned. Overall the condition of the book is VERY GOOD.

We are offering here a French Christian Catholic devotional book "Collection of Prayers, by Madame de Fenoil" from 1851, with engraved frontispiece and two engraved plates with Biblical motives drawn and engraved by Fonteney et Peltier (Paris). Bound in a beautiful dark Royal Blue Velvet binding richly adored by ornamental Brass Clasp, Brass Corners to the boards and stylised Brass Title to the spine. All page edges gilt.

"Recueil de Prieres, De Madame de Fenoil"; Dijon, Popelain et Cie, 1851; Size of the book: 12,5 x 8,8 cm (4.9" x 3.4"); Dark royal blue velvet binding with ornamental brass clasp and brass corners. Brass title to the spine. All page edges gilt; Text in French; Collation complete - Half-title, Frontispiece, Title page, 819 pages; Full velvet binding is tight and firm, overall extremelly well preserved for the age, with negligible shelf wears to the extremities, brass clasp and corners with some patina. Front and rear paste-downs and free endpapers little dirty. Pages/Text block in very good condition, pages very bright, no marks throughout, with occasional light foxing. Overall the condition of the book is VERY GOOD.