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BULWER, John (1606-1656). Chirologia: or the Naturall Language of the Hand. Composed of the Speaking Motions, and Discoursing Gestures therof. Whereunto is added Chironomia: or, the Art of Manuall Rhetoricke. London: Thomas Harper for Henry Twyford 1644.
2 parts in one, 8o (173 x 110mm). Engraved additional title-pages by William Marshall and 6 engraved plates showing manual rhetorical gestures. Contemporary mottled sheep (spine worn). Provenance: JOHN EVELYN (1620-1706), writer and diarist (press-mark "K. 57" in his hand on front free endpaper verso; bookplate; his sale, part I, Christie's 23 June 1977, lot 263).
FIRST EDITION of one of the earliest English works on sign language. Although issued together this volume comprises two separate works: Chirologia and Chironomia, each with different pagination. Bulwer was the first to undertake the task suggested by Francis Bacon to focus a new scientific enquirey on Gesture which he described as "Transient Hieroglyphics." For Bulwer Gesture was a universal character of Reason.
"[The hand] speaks all languages, and as universal character of Reason is generally understood and known by all Nations, among the formal differences of their Tongue. And being the only speech that is natural to Man, it may well be called the Tongue and General language of Human Nature, which, without teaching, men in all regions of the habitable world doe at the first sight most easily understand" (p. 3).
"Bulwer was the first Englishman to write about the teaching of deaf-mutes"--Garrison and Morton 3346 and 3347. Wing B-5462 and B-5466.
2 parts in one, 8o (173 x 110mm). Engraved additional title-pages by William Marshall and 6 engraved plates showing manual rhetorical gestures. Contemporary mottled sheep (spine worn). Provenance: JOHN EVELYN (1620-1706), writer and diarist (press-mark "K. 57" in his hand on front free endpaper verso; bookplate; his sale, part I, Christie's 23 June 1977, lot 263).
FIRST EDITION of one of the earliest English works on sign language. Although issued together this volume comprises two separate works: Chirologia and Chironomia, each with different pagination. Bulwer was the first to undertake the task suggested by Francis Bacon to focus a new scientific enquirey on Gesture which he described as "Transient Hieroglyphics." For Bulwer Gesture was a universal character of Reason.
"[The hand] speaks all languages, and as universal character of Reason is generally understood and known by all Nations, among the formal differences of their Tongue. And being the only speech that is natural to Man, it may well be called the Tongue and General language of Human Nature, which, without teaching, men in all regions of the habitable world doe at the first sight most easily understand" (p. 3).
"Bulwer was the first Englishman to write about the teaching of deaf-mutes"--Garrison and Morton 3346 and 3347. Wing B-5462 and B-5466.