* Jesus Syrach, Spiegel der Hausszucht genandt, Sampt einer kurtzen Ausslegung, für die armen Haussuäter, und jr Gesinde by Caspar Huberninus (Nuremberg, ‘durch Katharinam Gerlachin und Johanns vom Berg Erben’, 1580)
Rare edition (first 1552) of a popular commentary on Ecclesiasticus by the influential Lutheran theologian Caspar Huberinus printed in Nuremberg by Katharina Gerlach née Bischoff (d. 1592). After the death of her first husband Nicolas Schmid in 1540, she married the important music publisher Johann vom Berg, partner of Ulrich Neuber. Following Johann’s death in 1563, Katharina married the firm’s printer Dietrich Gerlach, and the couple continued the business as Gerlach and Berg’s heirs. After Dietrich died in 1575, Katharina took charge, and ran the firm until her death, during which time it issued hundreds of books of music and theology.
* A Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church of St Paul, London: on Thursday, June 1, 1797 by John Law (London, ‘printed by Ann Rivington, printer to the said Society’ for Francis and Charles Rivington, 1797)
A short sermon by John Law, Archdeacon of Rochester, touching on children’s education, issued with a lengthy account of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, printed by Ann Rivington. Ann (or Anna) Rivington (née Burge, 1756–1841) was the wife and successor of the London printer John Rivington. Ann, who operated from St John’s Square, is here described as printer to the SPCK, a privilege enjoyed by the Rivington family for 70 years (1765–1835).
* Tarot de Marseille deck (Turin, ‘Vedova Lando’, c. 1832)
A rare Tarot de Marseille deck bearing the Turin imprint of Maria Antonia Lando. Shoemaker and solider Giuseppe Maurizio Lando (c. 1783–1831) took up playing card manufacturing, and, around 1822, married Marie Antoinette (Maria Antonia) Rambaud. When he died in 1831, Maria Antonia was left widowed, pregnant, and with two small children, but she immediately took up the reins of her husband’s business. In 1832 she produced her own stencilled Marseille tarot cards, and in 1838 opened another card factory in nearby Asti. She ran the business successfully as ‘Vedova Lando’ until 1853 when she handed it over to her son Giuseppe Basilio.
