97 “The Foundation Of Modern Constitutional Government” 153(MAGNA CARTA). Magna Charta cum statutis, tum antiquis, tum recentibus. London, 1608. Thick 12mo, contemporary full dark brown sheep. $4000 Rare early 17th-century printing of the Magna Carta in Latin, “one of the central documents in the history of Western civilization,… the symbol of political liberty… [and] the foundation of modern constitutional government” (Viorst). Text in Latin and Law French, with additional material in English. Text generally clean. Some rubbing and stripping to sheep, binding sound. Desirable in contemporary binding. The First Book To Relate The Story Of Newton And The Apple 154VOLTAIRE. Letters Concerning the English Nation. London, 1733. Octavo, contemporary full brown speckled calf rebacked and recornered, custom clamshell box. $4800 First edition of Voltaire’s commentary on English institutions, published one year before the French first edition, the first published work to relate the tale of Newton’s falling apple. “Four letters deal directly with Newton and his theories and include, for the first time, the famous anecdote of the falling apple, which gave birth to the law of gravitation” (Babson 242). Translated into English by John Lockman. Lower corner of front free endpaper (blank) repaired. Text fresh and clean, slight soiling, rubbing to boards. Extremely good in nicely refurbished contemporary calf covers. With Etchings Pencil-Signed By Howard Pyle And Others 155HORACE. Odes and Epodes. Boston, 1901-04. Eight volumes bound as ten. Octavo, contemporary full brown morocco gilt. $6800 Limited illustrated edition, one of 467 sets, with title page decoration by Howard Pyle and 12 double suite etchings by W.H.W. Bicknell, James Fagan and Edmund H. Garrett, signed in pencil by the respective artist on one impression, including a Bicknell etching after a Pyle painting, signed in pencil by Pyle. Beautifully bound in full Art Nouveau moroccogilt with morocco onlays. Latin text edited by Clement Lawrence Smith of Harvard University, who also provides a life of the Roman poet. Translations are provided as “versions, paraphrases and explanatory notes by eminent scholars, statesmen and poets.” Each poem is additionally decorated with numerous woodcut vignettes, borders and ornamented capitals. About-fine.
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