The following listed lots are coming up for auction on October 17th.
As you’ll read in the notes, they are `From the collection of a
gentleman of New York’. It will be a shame if they fall into the wrong
hands! Do you know who might be interested in bidding on them? The
color manuscripts are expected to be sold from $20k to 30k.
36262: Nerses Shnorhali. Hisus Vordi (Jesus the Son).
Description
Nerses Shnorhali. Hisus Vordi (Jesus the Son). Venice: Saligataui
Printing House, 1643. First Edition (first printing). Octavo. 527
pages. Illustrated with five engravings, as well as with ornaments in
the body and margins; and ornamental head- and tail-pieces. In a
wonderful contemporary red calf or goat skin binding, gilt extra, with
center medallions of the Crucifixion on the front board and Madonna
and Child on the rear board. One clasp still present, all edges gilt.
This is the second and last book published by a pioneer of Armenian
printing, Hovhannes Ankiuratsi (known in Italy as Giovanni Molino). He
had settled in Venice in the late 1630s with the aim of publishing the
Bible in Armenian. However, many obstacles, including the lack of
authorization by the Vatican, caused him to fail in this effort. The
present book is the first printing of a famous poem by Catholicos
Nerses Shnorhali (Nerses the Graceful), a saint of the Armenian Church
(1102-1173). Nerses Shnorhali was the Bishop of the Armenian Apostolic
Church and a poet and composer of church hymns. Number 38 in the
Catalogue of Armenian Books. From the collection of a gentleman of New
York.
36259: [Armenian Church]. Lyturgia Armena. Rome: Typis
Description
[Armenian Church]. Lyturgia Armena. Rome: Typis Sacrae Congregationis
de Propaganda Fide, 1677. Later edition. Folio. [2, title leaf], 50
pages. Printed in Armenian types in red and black throughout. Woodcut
vignette on title, verso of title, p. 3 and p. 10. Ornamental woodcut
initials and borders or printer’s ornaments throughout. Page 21 is a
sectional title page for Ministerium Missae, same imprint, same year,
with continuous pagination. Handsomely bound in full black crushed
morocco by Wallis, with gilt double fillet borders and gilt spine
titles. Double-ruled gilt inner dentelles. Though first printed in
1630 by Propaganda Fide, this is the finest typographic work in this
type from the press; some of this typographical material is still
housed at the Imprimerie Nationale in Paris. From the collection of a
gentleman of New York.
36257: [Armenian Psalter]. Girk Saghmosats (Book of Psalms)
Description
[Armenian Psalter]. Girk Saghmosats (Book of Psalms). [Amsterdam]:
Printing House of Ghukas Vanandetsi, 1714[-1715]. Stout octavo. 838
pages. 6.25 by 4.25 inches. Numerous full-page woodcuts (approximately
150) by C. Van Sichem after Dürer, Holbein, Goltz, Heemskerck, and
others. In Armenian character throughout. Narrow borders, marginal
woodcut ornaments and initials. Original binding of wooden boards and
brown calf, richly gilt on the sides with oval block of the
Crucifixion, scrolls in corners, and borders. Spine gilt in
compartments with five raised bands, and a red morocco lettering
label. All edges gilt with gauffered borders. Front cover detached and
rear cover cracked. Wear to binding with some loss but still a
handsome example and a good candidate for expert restoration. Number
291 in the Catalogue of Armenian Books. From the collection of a
gentleman of New York.
36265: Sharaknots (Hymnarium). Amsterdam: Printing Hous
Description
Sharaknots (Hymnarium). Amsterdam: Printing House of Holy Echmiadzin
and St. Sargis, 1664-1665. First edition of the collection of Hymns of
the Armenian Church. Octavo. 779 pages. Illustrated with forty-nine
fine engravings as well as head- and tail-ornaments, decorative
initial letters, and ornaments in the margins. Contemporary binding of
reddish-brown calf, elaborately stamped in gilt and with center
vignettes. Gauffered edges. Binding worn, with front cover detached
and clasps lacking, cracked down the center of the spine, and with
other bumps and nicks with some loss, and small worm holes. Sheets are
foxed and browned in places, and with some thumb-soiling. Small amount
of worming to the pages in the rear of the book, mostly in the margin
and extending at one point into the fore-edge. It contains Armenian
musical notation and marginal notes. Published by Karapet Andrianatsi
and Oskan Yerevantsi (the publisher of the first Armenian Bible in
1666). Number 55 in theCatalogue of Armenian Books. From the
collection of a gentleman of New York.
36249: Ghevond Alishan. Sisvan (Cilicia). Venice: Print
Description
Ghevond Alishan. Sisvan (Cilicia). Venice: Printing House of St.
Lazarus, 1885. Folio. XV, 592 pages. Black morocco-grained cloth.
Illustrated in the text, and with one map. Paper browned and with
scattered foxing and soiling, bookseller inkstamps on the half title
and title. else a very good copy. A major classic work on Armenian
Cilicia by one of the foremost members of the Mekhitarist
Congregation, which is highly appreciated by scholars in Armenian
Studies until today.From the collection of a gentleman of New York.
36251: Jamakargutiun hasarakats aghotits (Order of Hour
Description
Jamakargutiun hasarakats aghotits (Order of Hours of Common Prayers).
Amsterdam: Printing House of Tovmas Vanandetsi, 1705. Second edition.
Octavo. 6 by 3.75 inches. 632 pages. Thirty full-page engravings in
the text, head- and tail-pieces, ornaments in the margins and
decorative initials. Attractive contemporary binding of full
reddish-brown leather elaborately paneled in gilt and with center
vignettes of the Crucifixion. Spine decoratively tooled in
compartments with four raised bands. All edges gilt and beautifully
gauffered. Binding showing wear with slight loss at the edges,
evidence of worming to the boards, and also to the printed sheets
(with slight loss of text in a few places). A very handsome examples,
in good condition. It is a breviary (collection of prayers, hymns, and
readings of the Armenian Apostolic Church), containing Armenian
musical notation (it is the second printing of the breviary; the first
breviary was published in 1642). Number 226 in theCatalogue of
Armenian Books. From the collection of a gentleman of New York.
36253: [Armenian Illuminated Manuscript Four Gospels].
Description
[Armenian Illuminated Manuscript Four Gospels]. Copied by scribe
Barsegh. The colophon is undated and does not give the place. The
text, written in bolorgir, may have been copied between the 13th and
the 16th centuries. It includes two pages (written on both sides) of
an older manuscript in transition erkatagir script (used in Armenian
manuscripts in 11th-12th centuries), used as endliners attached to the
covers. Quarto, 9 by 6.5 inches. Some pages, and probably portraits,
are lacking. The manuscript has 479 pages, with very good
illustrations, and smaller marginal illustrations. Old brown leather
over boards, elaborately stamped in blind. Heavily worn, joints
cracked or cracking, leaning backwards, staining to edges and
endleaves, as well as some sheets. General wear and soiling to paper,
darkened a bit at the edges. Some illustrations with color scraped or
rubbed. Altogether a lovely example of an early manuscript, with
wonderful illustrations and calligraphy. Should be seen. From the
collection of a gentleman of New York.
36261: Hakob Nalian. Meknutiun aghotits yev nerboghinat
Description
Hakob Nalian. Meknutiun aghotits yev nerboghinats Srboyn Grigori
Narekatsvo (Commentary of Prayers and Panegyrics of Saint Grigor
Narekatsi). Vol. I-II. Constantinople: Printing House of Gabriel
Sebastatsi Barseghian, 1745. Folio. 1,136 pages. 12 by 8 inches.
Illustrated with eleven engravings, including full-page (page 722,
picture of Grigor son of Mkritch, illustrator), and numerous woodcut
ornaments to margins and initials. Contemporary brown leather stamped
in gilt and blind. All edges gilt and elaborately gauffered, though
the fore- and bottom-edges are now somewhat worn away. Marbled
pastedown endpapers, free endpapers lacking. Binding lightly worn and
rubbed, but still very handsome. Bumped at top of spine and with
head-band somewhat loose. Hinges cracked, with preliminary leaf in
front nearly loose. First title a little tattered and with a small
dampstain to the gutter margin. Scattered foxing and soiling to
sheets, but for the most part a very clean copy, in very good
condition. Written by Hakob Nalian, Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople, this is the earliest printed commentary of Grigor
Narekatsi’s works (never reprinted). It is a work highly regarded
among scholars of Armenian medieval literature. Number 485 in the
Catalogue of Armenian Books. From the collection of a gentleman of New
York.
36248: Aghot Matuyts yev Jamagirk (Prayer Offer and Book of Hours))
Description
Aghot Matuyts yev Jamagirk (Prayer Offer and Book of Hours).
Amsterdam: Printing House of Holy Echmiadzin and St. Sargis, 1667.
Twelvemo. 5.5 by 3.5 inches. 275 pages. Full contemporary embossed
brown leather, spine in compartments with three raised bands, remnants
of clasps, gilt edges elaborately gauffered. Full-page engravings,
head- and tail-pieces, decorated initials and shoulder ornaments.
Binding edgeworn and with joints cracked, some loss at head and foot
of spine and at corners. Sheets lightly foxed and browned. Altogether
a very good copy. This book came out of the printing house founded and
managed by Bishop Oskan Yerevantsi. It is the standard collection of
prayers, spiritual songs, and readings of the Armenian Apostolic
Church. Number 61 in the Catalogue of Armenian Books. From the
collection of a gentleman of New York.
36250: [Armenian Illuminated Manuscript of the Four Gospels
Description
[Armenian Illuminated Manuscript of the Four Gospels]. Copied on
parchment by archimandrite Hovhannes and illustrated by monk Nerses in
the monastery of Holy Virgin Plea-Fulfilling (Khndrakatar Surb
Astvatzatzin), in the district of Yekegheats (province of Upper
Armenia, currently Western Armenia, in territory of Turkey). The
colophon is dated 1584. The manuscript was copied by Hovhannes in the
year of his consecration as archimandrite. The manuscript has 571
pages (285 hand-numbered leaves or folios), with fifteen full-page
miniatures and smaller marginal illustrations. Contemporary embossed
leather over boards, with flap to cover the fore-edge attached to the
rear board. Vellum endleaves. Binding worn with some loss, cracked at
the spine and along the joints. Occasional soiling and other minor
flaws, but altogether a magnificent manuscript in very good condition.
>From the collection of a gentleman of New York.
36254: [Armenian Illuminated Manuscript of the Four Gosels
Description
[Armenian Illuminated Manuscript of the Four Gospels]. Copied on
vellum by Priest Grigor in Karahat, in the province of Gandzak
[currently Ganja, in Lower Karabagh, in Azerbaijan]. Colophon dated
March 20, 1659. Stout octavo, 6.25 by 4.75 inches. The manuscript has
637 pages, with 12 full page miniatures and smaller marginal
illustrations. Period binding adorned with semi-precious stones,
though only six of the seventeen settings are still complete with
their stones. Remnants of clasps to rear cover. The cover was
ornamented by jeweler Niaz in 1675, with brass framework laid over
embossed leather. It has a second colophon recorded by priest
Yeghiazar in 1737, most likely in Jerusalem. Alogether, a lovely
manuscript. Leaves and binding are somewhat tired and handled, but
still attractive. Calendars in the front, large miniatures and
marginal ornaments are all most beautifully and skillfully painted.
36258: Movses Khorenatsi. Azgabanutiun tohmin Hapetian
Description
Movses Khorenatsi. Azgabanutiun tohmin Hapetian (Genealogy of the
Family of Japhet). Venice: Printing House of Antoni Bortoli, 1752.
Third edition. Twelvemo. 6 by 3.5 inches. Xii, 423, 92 pages [second
title page]. Four engravings, engraved head- and tail-pieces and
initial letters. Contemporary brown leather paneled in blind, spine in
compartments with four raised bands and blind-stamped devices. All
edges gilt and elaborately gauffered. Marbled pastedown endpapers
(free endpapers wanting). Remnants of clasps, with some leather loss,
binding worn and chipped at the extremities, including with some loss
at the base of the spine. Rear hinge cracked and starting to separate
a bit at the top, sheets soiled and lightly foxed in a few places, but
overall a sturdy, attractive copy in very good condition. This is the
third printed edition of the History of the Armenians (Patmutiun
Hayots) by Movses Khorenatsi (5th century A.D.), the first complete
history of Armenia ever written in medieval times. This edition by
Archbishop Sargis of Constantinople, by order of the Mekhitarist
Congregation, followed the first printing of 1695 in Amsterdam,
including the title, which tended to stress the genealogical aspect of
the book for the Armenian people. It included both the History of the
Armenians and the Atlas traditionally ascribed to Khorenatsi, which in
later times started to be ascribed to seventh century scientist Anania
Shirakatsi. Number 529 in theCatalogue of Armenian Books. From the
collection of a gentleman of New York.
36260: Mateos Vanandetsi Hovhannisian and Ghukas Vanand
Description
Mateos Vanandetsi Hovhannisian and Ghukas Vanandetsi Nurijanian.
Voskea durn dpratan (Golden Door to School). Amsterdam: Printing House
of Tovma Vanandetsi, 1699-1700. Octavo. 5.75 by 3.5 inches. 62 pages.
[Bound with:] Hognadimi Astvatzabanakan, baroyakan yev kaghakakan
iroghutiants sahmank (Definitions of Multiple Theological, Moral, and
Political Events). Amsterdam: Tovma Vanandetsi, 1704. Octavo. 64
pages. [And:] Mateos Vanandetsi Hovhannisian and Ghukas Vanandetsi
Nurijanian, Bnabanutiun imastasirakan kam tarerabanutiun
(Philosophical Physics or Study of the Elements). Amsterdam: Tovma
Vanandetsi, 1702. Octavo. 120 pages. Eighteenth-century French
straight-grain morocco, boards bordered and edged in gilt, spine
elaborately stamped in gild, all edge gilt. Marbled endpapers with
gilt turn-ins. One folding engraved plate and other illustrations in
the text. There is a short folding description in French of the
contents of books (it is likely that it was attached at the time when
the binding was done). A lovely book, in very good condition. The
binding actually contains three books, all of them published in the
same printing house. The first is a sort of children’s encyclopedia,
including the principles of writing and reading, as well as science
knowledge, for the use of Armenian students. The second is a
collection of theological and moral questions, while the third is a
treatise of physics and meteorology, including also some information
about world geography. Ghukas Vanandetsi and Mateos Nurijanian were
related to each other, as well as with the owner of the printing
house, Bishop Tovma Vanandetsi. They authored two of these three
books, while the third (Hognadimi) was translated by Ghukas Vanandetsi
into Armenian. Numbers 181, 221 and 201, respectively, in the
Catalogue of Armenian Books. From the collection of a gentleman of New
York.
36252: Girg Srbo Awetarani (Book of the Holy Gospel). V
Description
Girg Srbo Awetarani (Book of the Holy Gospel). Venice: Printing House
of Michiel Angelo Barboni, 1685-1686. Second edition. Quarto. 7 by 5
inches. 450 pages. Four engravings and decorative head- and
tail-pieces, and decorative initials. Contemporary, or near
contemporary, full brown embossed leather, spine with five raised
bands. Staining and soiling to sheets and endleaves, one engraving
with repaired tear, some shoulder ornaments trimmed close, some pages
repaired with added paper or backing. Considering all faults, still a
good copy and example. Published in Venice by Martiros Aguletsi three
decades before the establishment of the Mekhitarist Congregation, it
is the second edition of the four gospels and more complete than the
first (1680). Notes on concordances on the margins and the bottom.
Number 125 in the Catalogue of Armenian Books. From the collection of
a gentleman of New York.
36256: Girk kochetsial joghovatzu (Collection of Stories and Sermons)
Description
Girk kochetsial joghovatzu (Collection of Stories and Sermons).
Constantinople: Printing House of Boghos Hovhannisian, 1793. Octavo. 6
by 4 inches. 450 pages. One engraving and two head-piece ornaments, as
well as tail-piece and ornamental initials. Contemporary blindstamped
brown leather, now in poor condition with loss at the corners and
spine, and damage to the boards. Binding broken away from the text
block at the front hinge, and preliminary leaves, including the first
with the Adam and Eve engraving, are torn and tattered at the bottom
of the gutter margin. Some pages lacking, sheets soiled and with some
dampstains, a few corners torn or torn away. Previous owner’s notes
and drawings to endleaves. A poor copy. This is a collection that
contains stories about Adam and Eve, and “other saint ancestors.” It
also contains “useful sermons, said by the saint doctors, with easy
syntax, for the benefit of the public.”
Number 906 in the Catalogue of Armenian Books. From the collection of
a gentleman of New York.
36263: Nor Ktakaran Srbo Avetarani Dearn Mero Hisusi Kristosi (New
Testament of the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ).
Description
Nor Ktakaran Srbo Avetarani Dearn Mero Hisusi Kristosi (New Testament
of the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ). Venice: Printing House
of Antoni Bortoli, 1720. Printed by order of the Mekhitarist
Congregation. (Antoni Bortoli had a privilege for printing in the
city, given by the Senate of Venice.) Octavo. 5.75 by 4 inches. 832
pages. Seven engravings plus head- and tail-pieces and ornamental
initials. Lacks title page and colophon. Contemporary reddish-brown
leather, covers bordered with a single gilt rule and triple-blind
rules and corner pieces. Center medallions stamped in gilt, with the
Crucifixion on the front and the Madonna on the rear. Spine in
compartments with four raised bands, tooled with gilt rules and center
devices. Gauffered gilt edges. Binding damaged where clasps once were,
with the loss of some leather, rubbed and worn around edges,
especially at corners. Head-and tail-bands loose, front endpaper torn
with piece missing. Previous owners writing on endleaves, infrequent
light soiling or foxing (sheets generally very clean), first engraving
just attached at bottom of gutter margin. Despite these few faults,
still an attractive copy in an appropriate period binding. Very good.
Number 316 in theCatalogue of Armenian Books. From the collection of a
gentleman of New York.
36264: Saghmos Davti vor yev kochi Saghmosaran (Psalms of David, also
called Psalter).
Description
Saghmos Davti vor yev kochi Saghmosaran (Psalms of David, also called
Psalter). Venice: Printing House of Antonio Bortoli, 1755. Octavo. 5.5
by 3.5 inches. 384 pages. [Bound with:] Tomar karcharot (Abbreviated
Calendar), by Abbot Mekhitar of Sebastia. Venice: Antoni Bortoli,
1755. Octavo. 40 pages. Nine engravings, ornaments at the beginning
and end of chapters, decorative initials and margin illustrations.
Excellent contemporary binding of red leather elaborately tooled in
gilt, ornate gilt and gauffered edges, metal clasps present. Green
silk moiré pastedown endliners, floral free endpapers. Boards slightly
warped and cracking at the joints, one corner worn through, leather on
clasps worn. Old bookseller ticket on verso of front endpaper,
previous owner’s ink name. Dampstaining to the top fore-edge corner of
some leaves, occasional foxing and soiling, but generally a very clean
copy in good or better condition. Printed by order of the Mekhitarist
Congregation. It combines both books under one cover. The abbreviated
calendar authored by Mekhitar of Sebastia, founder of the
congregation, was first published alone in 1733 and then reprinted
several times. It appears together with the Psalter in several
editions. Number 559 in the Catalogue of Armenian Books. From the
collection of a gentleman of New York.
http://historical.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=6100&lotIdNo=55021