Cultured Oyster Books

disappointing, although excellent in spots. He’s turning rancid.” Reflecting his own
social and psychological unease at the time, Agee soon expands this somewhat, in one of
his earliest published critical articles, a review of Elmer Gantry that appeared in the
Phillips Exeter Monthly 31 (May, 1927,) “It is one gigantic crescendo of walloping
filthiness, and I have the feeling that it carried Mr. Lewis before it, and left him stranded
where not even himself can work his salvation.” This copy later belonged to Henry
Darcy Curwen, of the Exeter English faculty, who added his name below Agee’s and
later donated it to the Phillips Exeter library. Early signed Agee material is uncommon
and the important resonance of this copy with his beginning literary efforts can hardly be
exaggerated. $2,000.00
3. Anania, Giovanni Lorenzo d’ LA UNIVERSAL FABRICA DEL MONDO. Naples:
Giuseppe Cacchi dell’Aquila, 1573. A pleasing quarto in contemporary vellum, rebacked
with vellum at an early date with a contemporary lettering piece. With slight worming at
the first and last few leaves, occasional toning, and traces of damp staining at the back.
Anania (c.1545 – c.1607) was born in Calabria and spent most of his scholarly career in
Naples under the sponsorship of Archbishop Mario Carafa. This cosmographia was a
popular treatise on world geography that went into three subsequent editions in 1576,
1582, and 1596. His method appears to have combined a careful perusal of classical,
medieval, and contemporary texts with reports of seamen and travelers, principally
Jesuits, coming through the port of Naples. Part of the prefatory material includes an
extensive two-page listing of authors cited, and there are also four pages of errata. The
work is divided into four sections, each separately paginated: dell’ Europa (156); dell’
Asia (88); dell’ Africa (44); and del Nuovo Mondo (40), with a blank separating the third
and fourth sections. The section on the New World gives an early account of the Spanish
colonies in the Americas. Noteworthy in the text are many of the earliest known
references in print to regions, peoples, and cities of Africa, Asia and the Americas. This
first edition is very scarce, not in OCLC. $2,750.00
The waies deep, the weather sharp,
. . . the very dead of Winter
4. Andrewes, Lancelot. XCVI. SER-
MONS BY THE RIGHT HONORABLE,
AND REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,
LANCELOT ANDREWES, LATE LORD
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER. Published, by
His Majesties Speciall Command. The
Second Edition. Frontispiece portrait of
Andrewes. London: Printed by Richard
Badger, 1632. With half-title and first
and second engraved title pages, all
mounted. A fine folio copy in
contemporary calf with the embossed
royal arms of Charles I in gilt on the front
and rear panels. The main group of
sermons has a continuous pagination, 1 –
1008; followed by a secondary group.
Certaine Sermons Preached at Sundry
Times, Upon Severall Occasions,