[Rarebooks] FS: Important & Uncommon 1773 Book on Gems

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

>From our latest catalog-
RECENT ACQUISITIONS FOR WINTER, 2009.
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_317.htm>

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Bruckmann, Urban Friedrich. "Abhandlung von Edelsteinen. Zweyte
Verbesserte und Vermehrte Auflage"

Braunschweig; Verlag dur Furst. Waysenhaus-Buchhandlung: 1773.

Bruckmann [1723-1812] was the court physician to the Duke of Brunswick, a
professor of anatomy, a mineralogist, gemologist, and prolific writer.

Of the first edition of this important book, first published in 1757,
Sinkankas says "it is not a formal gemological treatise but rather the
record of his personal observations on gemstones in which are incorporated
numerous quotations and citations of the opinions of others...as such, it
provides an invaluable 'status report' on gemological knowledge at the
time".

This, the second edition, was greatly enlarged, and reflected the
information gathered in the 16 intervening years during which Bruckmann
had been corresponding with other European gemologists and visiting
important collections. It also features a 'most valuable appendix
concerning the ëlargely unknown so-called gemstones' of older writers,
becoming, in effect, a glossary of same as employed by Pliny and Boetius
De Boodt, among others. This glossary is unique and deserves to be
translated...there are hundreds of terms and I know of no other place in
the literature where a similar glossary of ancient
gemological/mineralogical terms exists" (Sinkankas).

A major and important work, now uncommon.

Hardcover. 5"x8", 415 pages, decorated title page, woodcut headpiece and
tailpiece. Bound in early 19th century speckled boards. Spine rubbed, a
very small amount of very light internal spotting on a few pages,
otherwise a fine, wide-margined copy. At one time part of the noted
collection of gem dealer and gemstone-reference collector Henry Polissack,
with his label. [32733] $3,750.00


Some pictures =>

<http://www.joslinhall.com/images30/th-32733-cover.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images30/th-32733-page1.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images30/th-32733-page2.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images30/th-32733-page3.jpg>

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You can see the entire new catalog here =>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_317.htm>

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