The Blogof Comellas Rare Books2026-02-21T18:18:50+02:00Copyright 2004-2005Ublog Reload 1.0.5FOURCROY (A. F. de)<![CDATA[It's interesting that there have been some comments about the sizes of collections. I remember probably about 25 years ago as a student seeing ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#662020-05-11T21:50:23+02:002020-05-11T21:50:23+02:002020-05-11T21:50:23+02:00 There was a question do we read our books? Of course! I have used mine in writing my own book on my subject (the history of chemistry) and it was wonderful to reproduce images from my books. The books are not there as items on the shelf. For me they are historic items from the period of discovery with new ideas that shaped our world. Sometimes they might even have been previously owned by the very people who actually helped formulate the ideas. A wonderful connection to the past. I still find it amazing when I hold a book in my hands that has been treasured for hundreds of years.
]]>DARWIN (C. R.)<![CDATA[I was stimulated to collect old and rare books by my father. When I was a child he would bring home old books from the ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#652020-05-11T21:09:34+02:002020-05-11T21:09:34+02:002020-05-11T21:09:34+02:00my website (www.mohma.org) along with the related medical instruments.]]>JULIEN<![CDATA[Yes indeed dear "COPERNIC" we are here to enjoy ! And I agree with you that this is not the place for despective statements of ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#612020-04-28T14:55:17+02:002020-04-28T14:55:17+02:002020-04-28T14:55:17+02:00 Carlier on wools is an interesting little book, at Comellas we had it only twice in the last thirty years : sold one 225 euros to a fellow book dealer in 2014 (contemporary wrappers) and the other one to a private collector for approximately the same amount in 1992. 140 euros + hammer premium is definitely a good deal for a nice copy (which I guess it was since I know you are taking care of that aspect).
Your comment raises a profound question: are book shops competitive in regard to auction houses? Maybe this could be a good subject for another blog post in the future. Thank you all for your contributions and stay safe! ]]>COPERNIC (N.)<![CDATA[I thought we were here to enjoy and not place a value judgement on others. Morris W. seems to have many items in his collection, ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#602020-04-27T07:49:21+02:002020-04-27T07:49:21+02:002020-04-27T07:49:21+02:00 All not very helpful I would say, let's talk about books! :-)
My latest purchase is a Carlier (1762) at auction at Tajan. 140 Euros very rare, and in it's way very interesting. It is part of a larger debate on whether (within France) goods should trade without custom duties. We are talking about the 18th century...]]>MORRIS (W.)<![CDATA[True love of books is more often found in modest shelves than in big collections, believe me. ]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#592020-04-26T19:57:30+02:002020-04-26T19:57:30+02:002020-04-26T19:57:30+02:00SHELLEY (M.)<![CDATA[I am a bibliophile in the strictest sense of the term, that is: a book lover, but now that I have read about ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#392020-04-26T16:51:21+02:002020-04-26T16:51:21+02:002020-04-26T16:51:21+02:00JULIEN<![CDATA[Great posts! And incredible collections, my friends. I am so grateful for your contributions. Please keep us posted and keep on posting! I will ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#282020-03-26T11:39:36+02:002020-03-26T11:39:36+02:002020-03-26T11:39:36+02:00COPERNIC (N.)<![CDATA[What a name... did you know that Copernicus was just a part time mathematician and astrologist... his main occupation was to run part of a ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#272020-03-26T11:12:18+02:002020-03-26T11:12:18+02:002020-03-26T11:12:18+02:00 He contributed one of the earliest tracts on monetary matters «Monete cudendae ratio» in 1526 (I hope Julien will find me a copy one day). This starts with these famous remarks:
"Numerous are the disasters which normally lead to the decay of kingdoms, principalities, and republics, the four following are in my opinion the most to be feared: war, disease, famine and inflation.”
Disease we have, inflation we will get... let's hope it stops at that...
By now you can guess, what my collection is about: History of Economic Thought. With some restrictions: First editions, contemporary bindings and only until 1800.
The collection is not big, but nice... ;-) ... 300 copies... starting in 1430 with a manuscript by Henry Totting of Oyta on life-rents... stopping in 1804 with the first print of Cesare Beccaria's Elementi... started just 8 years ago... latest addition: Oresme, Nicolas (1484) De Moneta, second edition, first in Latin. Cologne: Koellhoff the Elder.]]>FOURCROY (A. F. de)<![CDATA[What subject? I collect early chemistry (less so alchemy which I find too confusing to understand)<br /><br />- How many titles? about 1100<br /><br ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#262020-03-26T07:03:06+02:002020-03-26T07:03:06+02:002020-03-26T07:03:06+02:00 - How many titles? about 1100
- The oldest? 1491 Albertus Magnus De Mineralibus
- The newest? a few things mid 19th century, but most before 1800
- When was this collection started ? As a schoolboy, about 33 years ago!
- When was the latest addition to this collection? ask me tomorrow.
I have a very large collection of Lavoisier, including almost every contemporary edition of his fabulous Traité élémentaire de chime. Sadly I missed a copy of the first issue which came up a few years ago :-( I didn't choose Lavoisier for my pseudonym feeling not worthy enough. I hope Fourcroy wouldn't mind. I am also a big fan of that great chemist and have 43 (just counted) copies of his works in various editions / languages.]]>KIRCHER (A.)<![CDATA[The past is ever-present!]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#252020-03-26T00:18:03+02:002020-03-26T00:18:03+02:002020-03-26T00:18:03+02:00KIRCHER (A.)<![CDATA[<br />- What subject? Er, Um ...Preception\Love/ Philosophy (memory)/Chance..<br /><br />- How many titles? It changes every Day!<br /><br />- The oldest? 1250<br /><br />- ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#232020-03-25T23:18:20+02:002020-03-25T23:18:20+02:002020-03-25T23:18:20+02:00- What subject? Er, Um ...Preception\Love/ Philosophy (memory)/Chance..
- How many titles? It changes every Day!
- The oldest? 1250
- The newest? 2020
- When was this collection started ? 1973
- When was the latest addition to this collection? 3-5-2020
Now the particulars, Two books recently added : Boethius de consolation philosophy 1663.. ( I have lots of editions. ) : Abelarde Sic et non 1760 (in English) Ok one more Lucretius: De nrerum Natura 1515 (Aldus)
This is fun, I expect about three more books this and they will show in MY Blog.... but finding that might be hard.
AK]]>JULIEN<![CDATA[Camus was an excellent choice indeed!! Thank you for your input, I totally agree that what you love should be the core subject of your ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#222020-03-25T23:07:35+02:002020-03-25T23:07:35+02:002020-03-25T23:07:35+02:00CAMUS (A.)<![CDATA[This is fun choosing the pseudonym.... I picked Camus before I realized how appropriate it is. I guess it is no coincidence that I've been ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#212020-03-25T23:02:43+02:002020-03-25T23:02:43+02:002020-03-25T23:02:43+02:00MORRIS (W.)<![CDATA[Nobody here?]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#202020-03-25T22:30:39+02:002020-03-25T22:30:39+02:002020-03-25T22:30:39+02:00MORRIS (W.)<![CDATA[Hard times yes. But we get what what we deserve... Collecting rare books about political ideas. Mainly german and deutch. Quite many items because I ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#192020-03-25T13:37:38+02:002020-03-25T13:37:38+02:002020-03-25T13:37:38+02:00SHELLEY (M.)<![CDATA[Dear fellow book-lovers,<br />Yes ! Let's get together ! It's hard for all of us. Let's make the best out of this situation. When this ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=66#182020-03-25T13:08:20+02:002020-03-25T13:08:20+02:002020-03-25T13:08:20+02:00Yes ! Let's get together ! It's hard for all of us. Let's make the best out of this situation. When this is said, my heart is with those who suffer from this illness or has friends or family being ill right now. Lack of freedom but more time. Lucky us who have our love for books. There are millions of them ! In my shelfs I have my little collection of poetry from the 16/17th century. Mostly french and italian. They take me travelling with them every time I open one of them and I want more ! I started collecting only 5 years ago but I'm afraid there are now signes that I'm addicted.. I have 65 books in my library and and I want it to be filled up in the next couple of years. I look so much foreward to read about other book-lovers babies, thoughts and passions. Thank you !]]>