Details
GAFFAREL, Jacques (1601-81). Unheard-of curiosities concerning the Talismanical sculpture of the Persians, the horoscope of the Patriarkes, and the reading of the stars, translated from the French by Edmund Chilmead. London: G. D. for Humphrey Moseley, 1650. 8 (164 x 100mm). Woodcut pentangle on X3v, 2 folding woodcut tables of the celestial constellations mounted at end. (Both tables severely torn, the second table heavily browned, text browned at margins, the "testimony" leaf, A1, with internal tear and ragged outer margin, title slightly soiled and also with tears to outer margin, A3 repaired at outer margin, some shoulder notes shaved with slight loss, clean tear to 2C1 affecting 4 lines of text at bottom.) Later calf (covers detached).
FIRST ENGLISH EDITION. Jacques Gaffarel, for a time librarian to Cardinal Richelieu, used his gift for oriental languages to enquire into the occult. The Curiositez inouyes sur la sculpture talismanique des Persans, first published in Paris in 1629, was his second book on the occult sciences. While he tried to reconcile his findings with Catholicism, the Sorbonne forced him to retract, and a refutation was written by Charles Sorel. Wing G-105.
FIRST ENGLISH EDITION. Jacques Gaffarel, for a time librarian to Cardinal Richelieu, used his gift for oriental languages to enquire into the occult. The Curiositez inouyes sur la sculpture talismanique des Persans, first published in Paris in 1629, was his second book on the occult sciences. While he tried to reconcile his findings with Catholicism, the Sorbonne forced him to retract, and a refutation was written by Charles Sorel. Wing G-105.