
HOLY LAND
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Famous Maps of the Holy Land — Based on Sources Now Lost
Adrichem (a.k.a. Adrichom), Christiaan van. Theatrum Terrae Sanctae et biblicarum historiarum cum tabulis geographicis aere expressis. [colophon: Coloniae Agrippinae: Officina Birckmannica, sumptibus Arnoldi Mylij, 1590]. Folio (38.5 cm; 15.125"). [6] ff., 286 pp., [15] ff.; [12] fold. or double-page engr. maps.
$5000.00
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Wonderfully detailed study of the Holy Land. Adrichem (1533–85) was a Delft-born priest (a.k.a., Christianus Crucius) who wrote several works on Jerusalem and the Holy Land. His important and influential Theatrum Terrae Sanctae is famous for its engraved maps, but because he used contemporary sources that are now lost, his text is justly sought for its descriptions of Palestine and the antiquities of Jerusalem as these were to be known during the last half of the 16th century.
This is universally held to be the first edition, with subsequent editions in 1593, 1600, 1613, 1628, and 1682, and it was translated into several languages, including English. Clouding the bibliographic record however are poorly catalogued copies at Harvard and the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek: A copy at Harvard purports to have been printed in 1589, but with no indication of where or by whom. The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek copy is variously reported as having been printed in Köln in 1582 (Index Aurel.) and 1585 (its OPAC and WorldCat). We believe the Harvard and Bayerische Staatsbibliothek copies to be erroneously catalogued, leading to these questionable dates of production.
The volume here begins with an engraved allegorical title-page, has woodcut initials and tailpieces, and bears
12 folding or double-page engraved maps filled with small details, including sea monsters. The text, printed in roman type in double-column format, contains as lagniappe a chronology from Adam to 1585, the year of the author's death, and on pp. 145–81 his “Urbis Hierosolymae,” a listing of 270 landmarks in Jerusalem.
An interesting “guide book.”
Provenance: Early inked inscription of Francisci Rolland on title-page with another owner's signature scratched out; later in the “Palestine Institute” at the Pacific School of Religion (properly released).
VD16 A303; Index Aurel. 100.709. 16th-century calf, covers ruled and stamped in blind, rubbed; recently rebacked with neat gilt spine label, all edges stained red. Ex-library and provenance markings as above, institutional rubber-stamp on title-page and one leaf of text, pencilled call number on t.-p. verso. Light to moderate age-toning with spotting, dust-soiling, bent corners, short tears or chipped edges not “throughout” but more than “occasional; several gatherings with a marginal inkstain or medium waterstain. One map with a few inked spots on back, small inked notes on maps to indicate placement, all folds strong.
A marvelous series of maps and a well-researched text. (36911)
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Grammars & Language Studies
Alting, Jacob. Jacobi Altingi ... Fundamenta punctationis linguae sanctae, cum necessariis canonum, locorum S. Scripturae & vocum irregularium indicibus. Francofurti ad Moenum: Sumptibus viduae beati Knochii et J.G. Eslingeri, 1746. 8vo (18 cm; 7.25"). 3 parts in 1 vol. I: [8] ff., 385, [1] pp., [3] ff., [1], 7 pp. [30], [24] ff. II: [2] ff., 122 pp. III: [8] ff., 31, [1], 32, 88, 57–176 pp.
$325.00
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A marvelous volume containing studies or grammars of Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Ethopic, and Samaritan languages: “Editio nona. Simili Institutionum Samaritanarum, Rabbinicarum, Arabicarum, Aethiopicarum et Persicarum synopsi, a Georgio Othone ... auctior.” The two authors, Atling (1618–1679) and Georg Otho (1634–1713), were respectively a Dutch philologist, theologian, and professor at the University of Groningen; and a German librarian and professor of oriental languages.
The volume has divisional title-pages for “Jacobi Altingi Synopsis institutionum Chaldaearum et Syrarcum” dated 1747; and “Georgii Othonis ... Synopsis institutionum Samaritanarum, Rabbinicarum, Arabicarum, Aethiopicarum et Persicarum,” dated 1735.
This edition not in VD18. Modern light brown paper-covered boards with paper spine label. Ex-library with faint blind-pressure stamp on title- and one other leaf and librarian's pencil notations on verso of title-page. Scattered foxing, occasional stray stain. Overall a good, solid, clean copy. (33597)
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Antiquities of the Jews
Illustrated
Josephus, Flavius. The works of Flavius Josephus. Containing, I. The life of Josephus, as written by himself. II. The antiquities of the Jewish people; with a defense of those antiquities, in answer to Apion. III. The history of the martyrdom of the Maccabees; and the wars of the Jews with the neighbouring nations till the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman power. IV. Account of Philo's ambassy from the Jews of Alexandria, to the Emperor Caius Caligula. London: Pr. for Fielding & Walker by Henri Lion, 1777–78. 4to (27.2 cm, 10.75"). 2 vols. I: Frontis., 719, [1] pp. (lacking list of subscribers); 44 (1 fold.) plts., 7 maps (1 fold.). II: Frontis., [2], 644, [28 (index)] pp.; 16 (of 17) plts.
$875.00
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First edition, “Newly Translated from the Original Greek, by Ebenezer Thompson, D.D. and William Charles Price, L.L.D.” Josephus (b. A.D. 37) provides one of the very few non-biblical sources of Jewish history; the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, though noting the author's lack of prestige among Talmudic rabbis and his tendency to “omit and add” where he saw fit, says, “Writing a history of the Jews which non-Jews would read and believe, Josephus was an innovator in bringing together references to the Jews to be found in non-Jewish histories” (1942 ed., VI, 200). The 1910 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia adds that these works are “our only sources for many historical events . . . the value of the statements is enhanced by the insertion of dates which are otherwise wanting, and by the citation of authentic documents which confirm and supplement the Biblical narrative.”
The two volumes are illustrated with a total of
69 copper-engraved plates (out of 70 called for), including a number of maps, all engraved by several different hands after the work of various artists.
CBEL, II, 1492; ESTC T112662; Lowndes 1236; Schweiger, I, 179. Period-style quarter mottled calf with marbled paper–covered sides, leather edges blind-tooled, spines with gilt-stamped leather title-labels and gilt-stamped compartment decorations. Front fly-leaf of vol. II with 19th-century inked gift inscription. Vol. I lacking list of subscribers; vol. II lacking one plate (“The Death of Caius Caesar”). Light to moderate spotting and staining throughout; some offsetting to and around plates. One leaf torn from outer edge, narrowly missing text.
A sound, handsome set fine for working or playing with. (35380)
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Standing in a “New Light” — ARCHAEOLOGY'S Implications
Kerr, Thomas. Pick and shovel explorations. A series of Sunday evening lectures. Rockford, IL: Morning Star Printing, 1890. Small 8vo. 40 pp.
$100.00
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The WorldCat record has this excellent explanation of this pamphlet: “A series of four lectures delivered in March of 1890 in Rockford, Illinois, by Dr. Thomas Kerr, a Scottish immigrant, medical doctor and former Baptist minister expelled because of his liberal views. In 1870 he organized the Church of the Christian Union with 65 Rockford Unitarians who were without a minister. These lectures describe and discuss tablets and other archaeological finds discovered mid-nineteenth century in what was Babylon (present day Iraq). Dr. Kerr had recently returned from a trip to London and Paris where he had viewed these relics in the British Museum and the Louvre. He discusses the 'disclosures that have come from the study of archaeology' as they relate to the 'religious idea' and how they have 'placed the religious in a new light'.”
NUC and WorldCat locate
only the copy at the Rockford, IL, public library.
Evidence of Readership: Pencil notes on front wrapper, pencil notations in some margins and some underlining; “no” appears next to several assertions about “scientific discoveries” as to Akkadian; and a paragraph of 18 lines on p. 37 is completely, neatly excised (costing lines on verso also) — though whether the clipping was done for posting/sharing (or for “preservation” in a scrapbook), or as an act of censorship, is unknowable.
Original printed wrappers; “evidence of readership” as above. Very good. (34323)
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What They Wore in Biblical Times — Illustrations Supervised by
Benjamin West
Satchwell, Richard. Scripture costume: Exhibited in a series of engravings, representing the principal personages mentioned in the sacred writings ... with biographical sketches and historical remarks on the manners and customs of eastern nations. London: Pr. for Samuel Leigh by W. Clowes, 1819. Large 4to (32.8 cm, 12.9"). [2], viii, 170 pp.; 20 col. plts.
$850.00
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First edition of this deluxe volume on the costume of prominent Biblical figures including Jesus and the Queen of Sheba, with the illustrations “drawn under the superintendence” of Benjamin West. The
20 aquatint plates were engraved by Thomas Lord Busby after Satchwell's drawings and colored by hand; the illustrations are accompanied by extensive biographical and historical commentary. This elaborate production is apparently uncommon in research institutions where its presence might be expected; WorldCat places it in only six U.S. locations including the Library of Congress, one state library, one major art museum, and two great public libraries.
Binding: Contemporary maroon straight-grained morocco, framed and panelled in gilt single and double fillets with corner fleurons, spine with gilt-ruled raised bands, gilt-stamped compartment decorations, turn-ins with gilt roll. All edges gilt.
Brunet, V, 142; NSTC 2S4987. Binding as above, rebacked some time ago with complementary morocco; some rubbing and scuffing and hinges (inside) reinforced. Front free endpaper with old affixed cataloguing description; front fly-leaf with closed tear, internal hole, and pencilled annotations. Frontispiece plate (Noah) with tiny chip to upper margin and evidence of two onetime small paper adhesions, one guard leaf with short tear, final text page and back fly-leaf with slim vertical line of light staining; intermittent spots of foxing, usually faint and, where affecting plates, not detracting from images.
A sturdy. impressive, and eye-pleasing volume. (37244)
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Jerusalem Delivered; the Elizabethan English Translation
Tasso, Torquato. Godfrey of Boulogne: or The recoverie of Ierusalem. London: John Bill, 1624. Folio (27.9 cm, 11"). Frontis., [24], [390 of 392] pp. (81/82 excised and replaced in facsimile).
$1150.00
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This influential translation of Tasso's La Gerusalemme liberata “done into English Heroicall verse” by Edward Fairfax (ca. 1580–1635) was much lauded in its day. The epic romance tells a fantastical version of a First Crusade battle between Christians and Muslims over the city of Jerusalem, involving woman warrior Clorinda as well as the titular Godfrey and assorted knights, lovers, witches and mermaids, etc. Fairfax's rather freely interpreted rendition, which Graesse describes as the best translation of Tasso ever done in any language to that point, was the first complete English translation of the work, and was originally published in 1600. It appears here in its second edition, with the frontispiece portrait of Godfrey — not found in all copies — and with an ornate woodcut title-page border incorporating grapevines as well as cherubs and architectural elements.
Provenance: Title-page with early inked inscription: “Phill Wenman”; first page of “The Life of Godfrey of Boulogne” with early inked inscription: “Phi. Wenman his Booke.” Frontispiece verso, title-page, and one other page rubber-stamped by the Holbrook Library of the Pacific School of Religion (properly deaccessioned).
Evidence of readership: Intermittent, generally unobtrusive early inked marginal brackets and marks of emphasis, with one annotation reading simply “Milton” (at “Swift from my selfe I run, my selfe I feare, / Yet still my hell within my selfe I beare”).
ESTC S117570; Graesse, VI, 35; NCBEL, I, 1103; STC (rev. ed.) 23699. Contemporary mottled calf framed in double blind fillets, rebacked with plain calf, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label and gilt-ruled raised bands; sides predictably acid-pitted. Frontispiece cut down and mounted on contemporary fly-leaf. Institutional rubber-stamps as above, title-page recto with stamped numeral; pp. 81/82 excised and replaced in facsimile. Pages with light age-toning and cockling, occasional small smudges or spots; a few corners bumped. One leaf with tear from upper outer corner, not extending into text; four final leaves with closed tear in inner margin and small hole in text, affecting one to two letters of six lines of text without obscuring sense. A solid copy with appreciable history. (36790)
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