[Rarebooks] FS: 1733 Study of Gemstones

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

TITLE: "Abhandlung von Edelsteinen. Zweyte Verbesserte und Vermehrte Auflage"

By Urban Friedrich [Benedict] Bruckmann. Printed in Braunschweig by Verlag
dur Furst. Waysenhaus-Buchhandlung in 1773. 2nd (enlarged) edition.

DISCUSSION: 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, Sinkankas1 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, 1773 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 ‘largely 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. Sinkankas 975.

DESCRIPTION: Hardcover. 5”x8”, 415 pages, decorated title page, woodcut
headpiece and tailpiece. Bound in early 19th century speckled boards.

CONDITION NOTES: Spine rubbed, a very small amount of very light internal
spotting on a few pages, otherwise a fine, wide-margined copy.

PRICE: $3,750-

SOME PICTURES =>

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