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Oedipus Aegyptiacus hoc est Universalis Hieroglyphicae veterum doctrinae temporum iniuria abolitae instauration. Rome: Vitalis Mascardi, 1652-1655.
Details
KIRCHER, Athanasius (1602-1680)
Oedipus Aegyptiacus hoc est Universalis Hieroglyphicae veterum doctrinae temporum iniuria abolitae instauration. Rome: Vitalis Mascardi, 1652-1655.
The Donaueschingen copy of 'Kircher's largest and most astounding work, the culmination of years of research in Egyptology' (Merrill). Vol. I gives a general overview of Egypt's geography, the Nile and the Egyptian pantheon; it also discusses the religious practices of China, Japan, India, Mongolia and the Aztec culture. Vol. II researches hieroglyphics, their origin and Kircher's method of interpretation; a large section is also dedicated to the Cabala and the significance of numbers, geometric shapes, music and astrology. In vol. III Kircher concentrates on the relationships between hieroglyphs, Chinese characters and Aztec writings. Brunet III, 668 ('Ce savant ouvrage et le plus recherché, et l'un des plus rares de tous ceux du P. Kircher'); Dorbon-Aine 2389 ('un monument formidable d'érudition et on ne le trouve que rarement complet de 4 volumes'); Graesse IV, 22; Sommervogel IV, 1052-56.13; Merrill 10; Caillet II, 5788 ('De tous les ouvrages du père Kircher celui-ci est le plus savant et le plus recherché').
4 parts bound in 3 volumes, folio (340 x 235mm). Additional engraved title to volume I, portrait of the dedicatee Ferdinand III by C. Bloemaert, 14 engraved plates and maps, all folding, 12 engraved illustrations in the text, over 400 woodcuts and diagrams, many full-page, with final blanks to Vol. II pts 1 and 2 (variable light staining to top corner of vol. I, folding plates with a few minor repaired tears without loss and 2 plates trimmed just into image at foot, short marginal tears to I.I2 due to paper flaw, II.O4 just into text but without loss and II.2M4, some minor worming to front endpapers of vol. II just into title and second text leaf but not affecting text, repaired marginal chip to III.4B1, variable light browning throughout but affecting central gatherings of vol. I more heavily). Contemporary vellum, yapp edges, blue edges, green silk ties, lettered in ink manuscript on spines (light rubbing and soiling to extremities, a few small light scuff marks). Provenance: Antonius Biderman (engraved armorial bookplates dated 1654) – Furstliche Hofbibliothek Donaueschingen (small discreet stamps).
Oedipus Aegyptiacus hoc est Universalis Hieroglyphicae veterum doctrinae temporum iniuria abolitae instauration. Rome: Vitalis Mascardi, 1652-1655.
The Donaueschingen copy of 'Kircher's largest and most astounding work, the culmination of years of research in Egyptology' (Merrill). Vol. I gives a general overview of Egypt's geography, the Nile and the Egyptian pantheon; it also discusses the religious practices of China, Japan, India, Mongolia and the Aztec culture. Vol. II researches hieroglyphics, their origin and Kircher's method of interpretation; a large section is also dedicated to the Cabala and the significance of numbers, geometric shapes, music and astrology. In vol. III Kircher concentrates on the relationships between hieroglyphs, Chinese characters and Aztec writings. Brunet III, 668 ('Ce savant ouvrage et le plus recherché, et l'un des plus rares de tous ceux du P. Kircher'); Dorbon-Aine 2389 ('un monument formidable d'érudition et on ne le trouve que rarement complet de 4 volumes'); Graesse IV, 22; Sommervogel IV, 1052-56.13; Merrill 10; Caillet II, 5788 ('De tous les ouvrages du père Kircher celui-ci est le plus savant et le plus recherché').
4 parts bound in 3 volumes, folio (340 x 235mm). Additional engraved title to volume I, portrait of the dedicatee Ferdinand III by C. Bloemaert, 14 engraved plates and maps, all folding, 12 engraved illustrations in the text, over 400 woodcuts and diagrams, many full-page, with final blanks to Vol. II pts 1 and 2 (variable light staining to top corner of vol. I, folding plates with a few minor repaired tears without loss and 2 plates trimmed just into image at foot, short marginal tears to I.I2 due to paper flaw, II.O4 just into text but without loss and II.2M4, some minor worming to front endpapers of vol. II just into title and second text leaf but not affecting text, repaired marginal chip to III.4B1, variable light browning throughout but affecting central gatherings of vol. I more heavily). Contemporary vellum, yapp edges, blue edges, green silk ties, lettered in ink manuscript on spines (light rubbing and soiling to extremities, a few small light scuff marks). Provenance: Antonius Biderman (engraved armorial bookplates dated 1654) – Furstliche Hofbibliothek Donaueschingen (small discreet stamps).
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