KIRCHER, Athanasius (1602-1680). Arca Noë, in tres libros digesta. Amsterdam: Johannes Janssonius, 1675.
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
KIRCHER, Athanasius (1602-1680). Arca Noë, in tres libros digesta. Amsterdam: Johannes Janssonius, 1675.

Details
KIRCHER, Athanasius (1602-1680). Arca Noë, in tres libros digesta. Amsterdam: Johannes Janssonius, 1675.

2° (371 x 245mm). Engraved additional title, portrait of Charles II of Spain, 19 engraved plates, plans and maps including 2 on smaller paper and 13 folding including one large plate of the arc, 11 engraved illustrations including one full-page, and 105 woodcut illustrations including 102 of birds and animals. (Browned and spotted, large folding plate after P2 with small tears at folds and a longer, crudely repaired tear, M4 with clean tear into bottom lines of text, occasional small marginal tears.) Contemporary vellum over bevelled wooden boards, two clasps, red edges, spine lettered in manuscript (soiling and spotting, extremities rubbed, spine torn at base). Provenance: Joannes Szász (bookplate) -- Ernst Lajos (stamp on engraved title; possibly the founder of the Art Ernst Lajos Museum in Budapest, 1872-1937).

FIRST EDITION of this 'fascinating and delightful piece of imaginative exegesis, filled with curious speculations' (Merrill), which uses Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arab and Syriac types. Besides fine animals, birds and sirens, the plates 'd'une remarquable beauté d'exécution' (Caillet) figure the deluge, the construction and plan of the arc as well as maps of the world, Europe including the Middle-East, Eden and Paradise. Caillet 5768; Merrill 26; Backer-Sommervogel IV, 1068, 33; Nissen, ZBI 2195.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.

More from Valuable Printed Books and Manuscripts

View All
View All