Austria Hungary (47 results)

Condition: New.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. In Hebrew. 192 pages. 205 x 135 mm. Michal Josef Gusikov (born Yehiel-Michiel, also spelt Guzikow or Gusikow) (2 September 1806 Shklov, Belarus - 21 October 1837 Aachen, Germany) was a Russian-Jewish klezmer who gave the first performances of klezmer music to West European concert audiences on his 'wood and straw instrument'. Gusikow's 'wood and straw instrument', from Lewald's 'Europa' Gusikov was born to a family of klezmer musicians in Shklov (now in Belarus). Originally brought up to play the flute, like his father, a weakness of the lungs forced him to seek a different specialisation. In 1831 he constructed what he called a wood and straw instrument, essentially a xylophone laid out like a cimbalom on a soundboard made from rolls of straw which allowed a loud resonance. There is debate whether this instrument was invented by Gusikov himself, or by his contemporary Samson Jakubowski. On this instrument Gusikov developed an extraordinary virtuosity, and in 1834 gave concerts in Moscow, Kiev and Odessa. He was heard in a concert in Odessa by the Polish violinist Karol Lipinski, and with the support of Lipinski and the poet Lamartine undertook a concert tour of Western Europe, from 1835 onwards. The concerts, at which Gusikov appeared in traditional Jewish gabardine and was generally accompanied by his relatives on bass and violins, were an extraordinary success; in Paris he was so popular that a coiffure was named after him, imitating his payot. Gusikow played improvisations both on traditional Jewish and klezmer melodies and also on the popular opera tunes of the time. Other locations where he played included Prague, Frankfurt and Vienna. Many professional Jewish musicians were highly impressed by Gusikov. Ferdinand Hiller wrote him a recommendation to Giacomo Meyerbeer. Felix Mendelssohn wrote to his family in 1836: 'I am curious to know whether Gusikow pleased you as much as he did me. He is quite a phenomenon; a famous fellow, inferior to no virtuoso in the world, both in execution and feeling; he therefore delights me more with his instrument of wood and straw than many with their pianofortes.' Franz Liszt, on the other hand, was more dismissive, calling Gusikov a 'Paganini of the Boulevards' whose 'gift, one might say his genius' would have been better applied to 'inventing an agricultural instrument' whereas his 'talent, being misguided, has produced nothing but musical inanities.' Gusikov attracted the admiration and friendship of the musicologist François-Joseph Fétis, who wrote a long article about him, based on their discussions in Brussels, in his musical dictionary. Exhausted by his tour, Gusikov died of tuberculosis in Aachen, his last days embittered by the alleged theft of his precious instrument from his lodgings. Only one piece of music written by Gusikov has survived, a setting of the Jewish hymn Shir Hama'alot (Psalm 126). The author, Dov Sadan was an Israeli literary critic and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the Alignment between 1965 and 1968. received a traditional Jewish education. He joined HeHalutz, and was one of its leaders during World War I. In 1925 he became editor of Atid, the organisation's journal. After making aliyah to Eretz Israel, in 1925, when it was under British rule, he initially worked as an agricultural laborer, before joining the staff of the daily newspaper Davar in 1927. In 1928 he traveled to Germany as an emissary for HeHalutz. Upon his return, he worked as a teacher in Lower Galilee and in Jerusalem. In 1933 Sadan returned to work at Davar; he also edited the paper's literary supplement. After leaving Davar again in 1944 he became a member of the editorial board at the Am Oved publishing house. Academic and political career In 1952 he was appointed head of Yiddish Studies faculty at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a post he held until 1970, and in 1963 became a professor. In 1965 he was elected to the Knesset on the Alignment list . . .…

Condition: Very Good. 8 pages, illustrated. An authentic standalone article, extracted from a larger volume. Not a reprint or reproduction, but an original work in its own right. Preserved in a modern card cover, prepared for practicality - an unassuming but serviceable presentation that favours function over finery. Size: 17.5 x 24 cms. Category: History Today; Cosmo Books : 29 years on ABE, 47 years taking care of customers. A bookseller you can rely on. Softcover (Booklet - Unbound Pages).…

Condition: Very Good. 16 pages, illustrated with photographs, drawings, and plans. Text in double columns throughout. An authentic standalone article, extracted from a larger volume. Not a reprint or reproduction, but an original work in its own right. Preserved in a modern card cover, prepared for practicality - an unassuming but serviceable presentation that favours function over finery. Size: 19 x 29 cms. Category: World War One; Cosmo Books : 29 years on ABE, 47 years taking care of customers. A bookseller you can rely on. Softcover (Booklet - Unbound Pages).…

Condition: Very Good. 36 pages, illustrated with photographs, drawings, and plans. Text in double columns throughout. An authentic standalone article, extracted from a larger volume. Not a reprint or reproduction, but an original work in its own right. Preserved in a modern card cover, prepared for practicality - an unassuming but serviceable presentation that favours function over finery. Size: 19 x 29 cms. Category: World War One; Cosmo Books : 29 years on ABE, 47 years taking care of customers. A bookseller you can rely on. Softcover (Booklet - Unbound Pages).…

Condition: Very Good. 36 pages, illustrated with photographs, drawings, and plans. Text in double columns throughout. An authentic standalone article, extracted from a larger volume. Not a reprint or reproduction, but an original work in its own right. Preserved in a modern card cover, prepared for practicality - an unassuming but serviceable presentation that favours function over finery. Size: 19 x 29 cms. Category: World War One; Cosmo Books : 29 years on ABE, 47 years taking care of customers. A bookseller you can rely on. Softcover (Booklet - Unbound Pages).…

Condition: Very Good. 10 pages, illustrated. An original article from the The American Review of Reviews, 1898. An authentic standalone article, extracted from a larger volume. Not a reprint or reproduction, but an original work in its own right. Preserved in a modern card cover, prepared for practicality - an unassuming but serviceable presentation that favours function over finery. Size: 18 x 24 cms. Category: Review of Reviews; Cosmo Books : 29 years on ABE, 47 years taking care of customers. A bookseller you can rely on. Softcover (Booklet - Unbound Pages).…

Unframed Print. Condition: Very Good. Page size 20 x 21 cms. Approx image size 10 x 15 cms. : Woodcut engraving and article. The Illustrated London News burst onto the scene in 1842, revolutionizing the way people consumed news. For the first time, readers could see the world unfold before their eyes, not just through words, but through stunning engravings and illustrations. From royal coronations to scientific breakthroughs, it delivered vivid storytelling that brought global events to life in a way no publication had done before. For over 160 years, this pioneering magazine captured the imagination of its audience, covering wars, discoveries, cultural moments, and historic milestones. With its bold mix of journalism and artistry, it set the standard for illustrated news, leaving an enduring legacy that shaped the future of storytelling. This is a genuine, original piece, carefully removed from the historic volume, not a reprint or reproduction! Category: Illustrated London News; Vintage Prints; PRINTS : Historic News. This item may require more postage than the rates shown for delivery outside the UK. If extra postage is required we will contact you before processing your order and you will be given the details and option to decline the extra cost. Cosmo Books : 29 years on ABE, 47 years taking care of customers. A bookseller you can rely on.…

Buch. Condition: Neu. Neuware - This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.…

No Binding. Condition: Very Good. A fine copper engraving. Mounted and ready to frame. A square image of empress maira theresa.

Gebunden. Condition: New.

Condition: New. pp. 376.

Condition: New. pp. 376.

Softcover. Venetian war v Neretljani; no more publ. Contents notes express strong nationalism. xxiv, 172, [1] p.: 11 leaves of pl.; 24 cm. Good, lightly stained and chipped wrapper. Text clean and crisp.

Condition: New. Print on Demand pp. 100.

LeatherBound. Condition: New. BOOKS ARE EXEMPT FROM IMPORT DUTIES AND TARIFFS; NO EXTRA CHARGES APPLY. Leatherbound edition. Condition: New. Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden leaf printing on spine. Bound in genuine leather with Satin ribbon page markers and Spine with raised gilt bands. Pages: 108. A perfect gift for your loved ones. Reprinted from 1930 edition. NO changes have been made to the original text. This is NOT a retyped or an ocr'd reprint. Illustrations, Index, if any, are included in black and white. Each page is checked manually before printing. As this print on demand book is reprinted from a very old book, there could be some missing or flawed pages, but we always try to make the book as complete as possible. Fold-outs, if any, are not part of the book. If the original book was published in multiple volumes then this reprint is of only one volume, not the whole set. IF YOU WISH TO ORDER PARTICULAR VOLUME OR ALL THE VOLUMES YOU CAN CONTACT US. Resized as per current standards. Sewing binding for longer life, where the book block is actually sewn (smythe sewn/section sewn) with thread before binding which results in a more durable type of binding. Language: English Pages: 108.…

Leatherbound. Condition: NEW. BOOKS ARE EXEMPT FROM IMPORT DUTIES AND TARIFFS; NO EXTRA CHARGES APPLY. Leatherbound edition. Condition: New. Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden leaf printing on spine. Bound in genuine leather with Satin ribbon page markers and Spine with raised gilt bands. Pages: 220. A perfect gift for your loved ones. Reprinted from 1933 edition. NO changes have been made to the original text. This is NOT a retyped or an ocr'd reprint. Illustrations, Index, if any, are included in black and white. Each page is checked manually before printing. As this print on demand book is reprinted from a very old book, there could be some missing or flawed pages, but we always try to make the book as complete as possible. Fold-outs, if any, are not part of the book. If the original book was published in multiple volumes then this reprint is of only one volume, not the whole set. IF YOU WISH TO ORDER PARTICULAR VOLUME OR ALL THE VOLUMES YOU CAN CONTACT US. Resized as per current standards. Sewing binding for longer life, where the book block is actually sewn (smythe sewn/section sewn) with thread before binding which results in a more durable type of binding. Language: English Pages: 220.…

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Self wraps 20 x 33cm. 24pp including title page. Parallel English and French text, in 2 columns. Near fine, lightly tanned, with odd numbered pages also numbered by hand, and small chip to the outer edge of the final leaf, not affecting text. This was the first multilateral treaty for the suppression of the trade. It built on the Congresses of Vienna 1815 and Verona 1822 (which provided unenforced condemnation), by giving powers to ensure "the final abolition of that Traffic", and Belgium acceded in 1848. It declares trafficking an act of piracy (Art.I), empowers warships ("Cruizers") the right to stop, search and seize suspected merchant ships in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans (Art.II-VIII); describes features to identify whether a vessel is "fitted out for that Traffic" (Art. IX); addresses confiscations, punishments, and wrongful detention (Art.X-XIII), cooperation between signatories, etc. Annex A addresses stop and search Warrants, and Annex B instructions for Cruizers. Iraq Petroluem Company Photographic Unit (illustrator).…

From mountains in Austria to city views and interiors of churches in Budapest, Vienna, Innsbruck and München: all can be found in the 43 photographic prints in the present album. They were taken in at the end of the nineteenth-century, probably in 1897 and 1899 according to blind-stamps in the prints. The photographers of most images are unknown, except for the 6 photographs of Innsbruck which were made by the Innsbruck photographer and publisher Fritz Gratl. He likely made some of the other photographs of Austrian mountains, towns and the city of Salzburg as well, since his other known photographs cover similar subjects. Most prints of Vienna and some of Budapest were published by Stengel and Company in Dresden, Germany in 1897. They and also Fritz Gratl were famous printers and publishers of postcards with similar picturesque images and the photographs in the present album are possibly the original images used to make the postcards.22 photos bear the blind stamp of the photographic studio. 4 photos have handwritten captions in pencil. The binding shows some minor signs of wear, slight foxing or browning of the outer edges of the paperboards, not affecting the photographs, some photographs slightly faded or rubbed, mostly at the edges, not affecting the actual image, the paper board of the print of "Budapest - Neues Parlament" has a slightly damaged spot in the lower margin, not affecting the integrity of the board or the print. Overall in good condition. An album of 43 photos showing the sights of Hungary, Austria and Germany. Half black leather, red buckram sides, blind-stamped boards, gold-stamped spine with the date "1899", marbled endpapers. Album with 43 photographic prints of various sizes (22 x 16.5 to 30 x 24 cm ), pasted on thick paperboard. Pages: [43] ll.…

First (and only) edition in French. Archduke Rudolf set out on his tour of the Middle East in 1881, travelling first from Vienna to Miramar, Corfu, Alexandria and Cairo. From there the group sailed up the Nile to Aswan and Memphis, then journeyed on to Port Said, the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Holy Land, returning to Vienna from Haifa via Cattaro (Kotor), Ragusa (Dubrovnik) and Trieste. This outstanding and unique copy in a sumptuous Viennese binding, in immaculate condition, was created for Anton Ritter von Beck (1812-95), then director of the government's Imperial printing office in Vienna.With a long inscription by the translator, the Baron de Montandin, to "Monsieur le Hof Rath Anton Chevalier Von Beck" on the flyleaf, dated Vienna, 28 February 1885. Some slight stains in the guards of the etchings, otherwise a very clean copy.l Hamann, Habsburger-Lexikon, pp. 415 ff.; ÖBL IX, pp. 315 ff.; Wurzbach VII, pp. 145 ff. Contemporary calf, richly gold-tooled front board, spine label, gilt edges. With 37 etched plates. Pages: [8], 168, [2] pp.…

Folio. (8), 168, (2) pp. With 37 etched plates. Contemporary full calf with richly gilt front cover, label to spine, and gilt edges. First (and only) edition in French. - Archduke Rudolf set out on his tour of the Middle East in 1881, travelling first from Vienna to Miramar, Corfu, Alexandria, and Cairo. From there the group sailed up the Nile to Aswan and Memphis, then journeyed on to Port Said, the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Holy Land, returning to Vienna from Haifa via Cattaro (Kotor), Ragusa (Dubrovnik), and Trieste. This is an outstanding and unique copy in a sumptous Viennese binding, in immaculate condition, was created for Anton Ritter von Beck (1812-95), then director of the government's Imperial printing office in Vienna. With a long inscription by the translator, the Baron de Montandin, to "Monsieur le Hof Rath Anton Chevalier Von Beck" on the flyleaf, dated Vienna, 28 February 1885. Some slight staining to the guards of the etchings, otherwise a very clean copy. - Hamann, Habsburger-Lexikon 415 ff. ÖBL IX, 315 ff. Wurzbach VII, 145 ff.…

Folio (310 x 394 mm). 85 large watercolours (200 to 255 mm x 280 to 360 mm). Mounted on laid paper sheets; each watercolour captioned in German and numbered (not in sequence) at foot. Early 20th century half calf over green roan, spine in compartments, gilt lettering. An extraordinary collection of original watercolours, apparently unpublished, celebrating the creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through various military episodes, as well as the uniforms of the various nations and regiments involved. The events depicted span the 1750s to the 1850s and include scenes from the Battle of Wagram, the skirmish at the Spinnerin am Kreuz near Vienna, and the rebellion in Transylvania (Siebenbürgen). Officers in uniform from every corner of the Empire are shown: Hungarians, Austrians, Poles, Czechs, Croats, Dalmatians, and Bosnians, with a few examples of local militias and foreign army regiments such as the Prussians, French, Turkish, Russians and British ("Scottish Grenadiers at Waterloo"). While the uniforms are described in great detail, with vivid and bright colouring, the overall style is naïve, with facial expressions and poses sometimes caricaturesque and even grotesque, reminiscent of the celebrated prints by the French "Imagerie d'Épinal". The numbers at the foot of each image, which in some instances exceed 500, suggest that the present selection was assembled from a larger collection, probably prepared for a publication that was never realised. - Occasional short marginal tears, stains and other minor blemishes to watercolours, but generally in excellent condition; binding rubbed. - From the Von Lindeman-Just family, Dresden (bookplate on front free endpaper and lettering on spine); gift from the Baroness Von Lindeman-Just to a relative in Italy (inscription dated 1962 on front free endpaper).…

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. folio. pp. 43. title & head of dedication in red & black. woodcut arms on title. engraved frontis. portrait of Maria Theresa by Frans Pilsen after a painting by Philips Karel Marissal & large folding double-page engraved plate of the inauguration ceremony by Pilsen after David 't Kindt. contemporary calf, imperial arms on upper cover, arms of Flanders on lower cover (covers with surface abrasions, spine repaired at head & foot, wormholes in outer margin those in first few leaves neatly filled in, the folding plate with half a dozen unobtrusive wormholes & some reinforcements of the folds but in very good condition nonetheless). First Edition. Fête book celebrating the inauguration at Ghent on April 27, 1744, of Maria Theresa as Countess of Flanders. The Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia was presented on the occasion with a magnificent Ghent-made gown with a garniture of Flemish lace. She is shown wearing the gown in an oil painting by Martin Van Meytens which hangs in the city town hall. Cohen-De Ricci 868. Landwehr, Splendid Ceremonies, 209. Vinet 685.…

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. folio. pp. 8 p.l., 282, lvi. 27 engravings in the text & 3 folding engraved plates (incl. in pagination). woodcut ornaments & initials. full contemporary dark brown morocco, lettered in gilt on upper cover: Constitutio Criminalis Theresiana Spectans Ad Antiquam Civitatem Voitsbergensem 1773 Antonius Josephus Schilcher P.T. Judex Civitatis Voitsberga (bit rubbed, some browning & foxing, marginal dampstain to last section containing engravings, folding plates dampstained & repaired -1 with some loss of text). Inscribed on front blank: "Mathias SchuemackerSuperioris Austriae Jo. J. Syndrins Voitsberga 1773". First Edition of the famous criminal code of Maria Theresa, which redefined torture as "a subsidiary means of eliciting truth". Torture could be applied to obtain confessions only in cases where condemnation would have involved capital or severe corporal punishment. A remarkable publication, including graphic illustrations of instruments and methods of torture (thumb-screws, stocks, racks, burning candles, leg vices, winches, the Viennese shoe ), with detailed and precise instructions on their use. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th Edn.), this illustrated edition was suppressed by Prince Kaunitz, chancellor of state and advisor to the Empress, a few days after its appearance. Torture was formally abolished in the empire in 1776.…

Soft cover. Condition: Acceptable. No Jacket. In Yiddish. 172 pages. Exl library with the deaccession stamp. 22 x 15 cm. Ziskind was born in Sedriszov, near Rzeszow, west Galicia, was educated in a Heder, then a Polish primary school, became a carpenter and in August 1914, following the outbreak of WWI, he joined the Austrian army as a volunteer, remaining at the front line until the end of 1918. In 1919 he came to Vienna, was an employee of the Yidishe morgenpost. In 1920 he left for Berlin, where he joined the Communist Party and was subsequently active in the left wing movement in Poland, Austria and Germany. From 1931 onwards he was in the Soviet Union. He participated in Yiddish and general Soviet writers' conferences in Minsk. At the Yiddish writers' conference in Minsk in March 1937 some of the spearkers attacked himone of them declaring publicly that "Gestapo agent Ziskind Lyev insinuated himself into Belorussian Yiddish literature" (Okyabr, Numger 121, Minsk 1937. That was the last he was heard of and he is rumoredto ahve been murdered in a camp somewhere inteh Petshora desert. He is one victim of Stalinism whose fate reamins a mystery. He wrote poems, short stories, and in 1919 he published the book "The Revival of Eretz Ysroel" (Vienna), in 1924 he published in "Oifgang" ("Sunrise"), which included novels and poems. Being a permanent contributor the the magazine Morgen-Freygayt (New York), he published "The Way to the Revolution of Getzl Safran" (1931) and "The Revolt of Shventa Sarne" (1932), and also "What I saw in Galicia." In Minsk, he was co-editor of the magazine "October".…

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. In German. 124. (4) pages. Very slight foxing. 231 x 152 mm. Front free endpaper has her inscription in German "Meiner Lieben Sarale", [To my dear Sarale]and her signature in Hebrew, simply as "Miriam". Miriam was an Israeli writer, poet, journalist, translator German language and kibbutz kindergarten teacher. Irma Singer grew up in a Czech-speaking Jewish family in Prague and attended German schools. She participated in the cultural life of the circles and associations of German-speaking Jews in Prague and was a member of the Jewish Hiking Association Blau-Weiss. During the First World War, she, together with Franz Kafka and Felix Weltsch, took private lessons in Hebrew with Jiřί Langer, a relative of Max Brod. When she returned to Prague with Jakob Berkowski after her emigration in 1920, Kafka gave her the book A Country Doctor with the dedication: You are far too healthy, Irma, to understand this. During the First World War she worked in Prague in a shelter for Eastern Jewish refugee children, who had been brought to safety from Galicia in western Austria-Hungary because of the war. With the Hugo Bergman family she emigrated to Palestine in 1920 and was one of the first immigrants and pioneers of the kibbutz movement. She lived the first half year with Bergman in Jerusalem and was a worker in kibbutz Degania Alef in the Sea of Galilee, later she was a kindergarten teacher there. She married Jakob Berkowski and lived for seventy years in this kibbutz, they had two sons. In the "model kibbutz" some of the visitors were Aharon David Gordon, Albert Einstein, Lord Balfour, Max Warburg and Tomas Masaryk. The poet Rachel lived there for a time. She wrote articles, published in Europe, about the kibbutz. She published a book of poetry in Austria and wrote two children's books on the subjects of emigration and kibbutz life. Signed by Author(s). …

LeatherBound. Condition: New. BOOKS ARE EXEMPT FROM IMPORT DUTIES AND TARIFFS; NO EXTRA CHARGES APPLY. LeatherBound edition. Condition: New. Reprinted from 1915 edition. Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden leaf printing on spine. NO changes have been made to the original text. This is NOT a retyped or an ocr'd reprint. Illustrations, Index, if any, are included in black and white. Each page is checked manually before printing. Pages: 112 As this print on demand book is reprinted from a very old book, there could be some missing or flawed pages, but we always try to make the book as complete as possible. Fold-outs, if any, are not part of the book. If the original book was published in multiple volumes then this reprint is of only one volume, not the whole set. Sewing binding for longer life, where the book block is actually sewn (smythe sewn/section sewn) with thread before binding which results in a more durable type of binding. Pages: 112 Language: English.…

LeatherBound. Condition: New. BOOKS ARE EXEMPT FROM IMPORT DUTIES AND TARIFFS; NO EXTRA CHARGES APPLY. LeatherBound edition. Condition: New. Reprinted from 1862 edition. Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden leaf printing on spine. NO changes have been made to the original text. This is NOT a retyped or an ocr'd reprint. Illustrations, Index, if any, are included in black and white. Each page is checked manually before printing. Pages: 133 As this print on demand book is reprinted from a very old book, there could be some missing or flawed pages, but we always try to make the book as complete as possible. Fold-outs, if any, are not part of the book. If the original book was published in multiple volumes then this reprint is of only one volume, not the whole set. Sewing binding for longer life, where the book block is actually sewn (smythe sewn/section sewn) with thread before binding which results in a more durable type of binding. Pages: 133 Language: English.…

LeatherBound. Condition: New. BOOKS ARE EXEMPT FROM IMPORT DUTIES AND TARIFFS; NO EXTRA CHARGES APPLY. LeatherBound edition. Condition: New. Reprinted from 1907 edition. Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden leaf printing on spine. NO changes have been made to the original text. This is NOT a retyped or an ocr'd reprint. Illustrations, Index, if any, are included in black and white. Each page is checked manually before printing. Pages: 108 As this print on demand book is reprinted from a very old book, there could be some missing or flawed pages, but we always try to make the book as complete as possible. Fold-outs, if any, are not part of the book. If the original book was published in multiple volumes then this reprint is of only one volume, not the whole set. Sewing binding for longer life, where the book block is actually sewn (smythe sewn/section sewn) with thread before binding which results in a more durable type of binding. Pages: 108 Language: French.…

First Edition. Folio, pp. [xvi], 282, lvi, Illustrated with 27 engravings in the text & 3 folding engraved plates (included in the pagination). One of the plates was misfolded and is consequently slightly frayed at the lower edge, with an old paper repair at the foredge, not affecting the print area. Woodcut and typographic ornaments and initials. Text in German black letter with glosses in Latin. Bound in contemporary calf, spine gilt, little rubbed and recently rebacked, red edges. Woodblock printed end papers. Some toning to the text, The binding is a little rubbed but still a very good, crisp and clean copy. Laid in: MARIA THERESA; EMPRESS. Autograph Note Signed, "Maria Theresia," on black rimmed mouring paper to paymaster Mayer, in German, concerning her son's [?] pension, requesting 500 ducats or sovereigns, and, in a postscript written at lower edge and vertically at upper edge, adding that the letters would follow in the evening. 1 page, 12mo, mourning stationery; some staining affecting signature (but still legible), folds. [Vienna, circa 1776]. Maria Theresa was the eldest daughter of emperor Charles I and of Elizabeth Christina of Brunswick. At the death of her father in 1740, she became the sole heiress of his dominions of the house of Austria. Upon her accesion to the throne the neighboring countries tried to capture parts of the empire which led to the Wars of Austrian Succession which finally concuded with the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. This is the famous criminal code of Maria Theresa which used torture as a means of "eliciting truth." Her insticts were absolutist and she would allow nothing that limited state power even as she reformed the education system and worked to better the lives of her citizens. And, she did not forbid torture. Torture was only to be used in capital and very serious criminal cases. Included in this volume are very graphic illustrattions of instruments of torture (thumb-screws, stocks, racks, burning candles, leg vices, winches, the Viennese shoe!) with detailed and precise instruction of their use. According to the Britannica, this edition was suppressed by Prince Kaunitz, chancellor of the state and an advisor to the Empress. Torture was formally abolished in the empire in 1776. Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, had sixteen children, including Queen Marie Antoinette of France. Maria Theresa was the absolute sovereign . She promulgated financial and educational reforms, promoted commerce and the development of agriculture, and reorganised Austria's ramshackle military, all of which strengthened Austria's international standing.…