![PORDAGE, John (1607-1681). Bozhestvennaia i istinnaia metafizika, ili divnoe i opytom priobretennoe vedenie ne vidimykh i vechnykh veshchei. [Theologia Mystica, or the Mystic Divinity of the Eternal Invisibles.] [Moscow: c.1787.] 3 vols, 8° (202 x 121mm). With all half-titles. 3 engraved plates, one of which folding, illustrations. (Occasional light spotting.) Near contemporary Russian half calf, flat spines lettered and tooled in gilt and blind (corners rubbed, small chips at spine ends, sides lightly scuffed). Provenance: a Russian reader (light pencilled marginalia).](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2010/CSK/2010_CSK_05476_0383_000(pordage_john_bozhestvennaia_i_istinnaia_metafizika_ili_divnoe_i_opytom044959).jpg?w=1)
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PORDAGE, John (1607-1681). Bozhestvennaia i istinnaia metafizika, ili divnoe i opytom priobretennoe vedenie ne vidimykh i vechnykh veshchei. [Theologia Mystica, or the Mystic Divinity of the Eternal Invisibles.] [Moscow: c.1787.] 3 vols, 8° (202 x 121mm). With all half-titles. 3 engraved plates, one of which folding, illustrations. (Occasional light spotting.) Near contemporary Russian half calf, flat spines lettered and tooled in gilt and blind (corners rubbed, small chips at spine ends, sides lightly scuffed). Provenance: a Russian reader (light pencilled marginalia).
FIRST EDITION IN RUSSIAN, AND AMONG THE RAREST RUSSIAN MASONIC BOOKS.'Extremely rare' (Bitovt); 'a great rarity' (Sopikov). One of only 300 copies, printed on a clandestine press, distributed privately, and the majority of which were confiscated and destroyed. The Grand Lodge of Russia came into being in 1776. Catherine II, whose son and eventual heir was a Mason, feared that the lodges could be used for political purposes, and in 1794 banned all Masonic activity within her realm. WorldCat locates only one copy, at Harvard University. Bitovt 2152; Longinov, Novikov i Moskovskie Martinisty, p.283; Sopikov 6211; SK 5522. (3)
FIRST EDITION IN RUSSIAN, AND AMONG THE RAREST RUSSIAN MASONIC BOOKS.'Extremely rare' (Bitovt); 'a great rarity' (Sopikov). One of only 300 copies, printed on a clandestine press, distributed privately, and the majority of which were confiscated and destroyed. The Grand Lodge of Russia came into being in 1776. Catherine II, whose son and eventual heir was a Mason, feared that the lodges could be used for political purposes, and in 1794 banned all Masonic activity within her realm. WorldCat locates only one copy, at Harvard University. Bitovt 2152; Longinov, Novikov i Moskovskie Martinisty, p.283; Sopikov 6211; SK 5522. (3)