This beautiful edition is in fine condition, with no marks or tears. The pages are tight, appear unread, and the book is tight, square, and unmarked. The Thief Taker is a novel by Janet Gleeson, set in 1750s London. The story follows Agnes Meadowes, a widowed cook employed by the Blanchard family, renowned silversmiths struggling with financial difficulties. When a valuable silver wine cooler is stolen and an apprentice is murdered, Agnes is drawn into the investigation, navigating London's criminal underworld to uncover the truth. The novel offers rich descriptions of 18th-century English life, particularly its culinary practices. Readers have praised the book for its suspenseful plot and historical authenticity. Janet Gleeson is a British historian and author.

This like-new first printing is near fine, no marks, pages are tight and near fine, the book is tight, square, and unmarked. The dust jacket is unmarked, beige cloth boards, and bright gilt lettering on the spine of the book. The Arcanum recounts the gripping quest of European craftsmen, scientists, and alchemists to unlock the secret formula (arcanum) for true porcelain, a craft long guarded by China. At its center is Johann Friedrich Böttger, an alchemist whose search unexpectedly led him to a groundbreaking role in European porcelain production. The story unfolds largely in Meissen, Germany, where Böttger ultimately succeeded in creating Europe’s first true hard-paste porcelain, leading to the founding of the world-famous Meissen porcelain manufactory in 1710. Janet Gleeson is a British historian specializing in 18th-century Europe.