[Rarebooks] Offering: A few antiquarian books on curious subjects

[Michael John Thompson]

Michael John Thompson, Antiquarian Bookseller
5275 Jerow Road
Hornby Island, BC
Canada V0R 1Z0
http://www.ThompsonRareBooks.com



A few Antiquarian Works on Mythology, Religion, 
Egyptology, Magicians, Theology, etc.
Prices are in Canadian dollars, post extra. Trade discount allowed.


1.  AMBROSOVSZKY, Michael. Imago Orbis ab orbis 
condito per saecula repartita ac per breves 
aphorismos historice delineata, id est: ilias 
innuce comprehensa sive chronologica sacra, et 
prophana ab origine mundi ad nostra plane tempora 
continua serie illigata. Agria: Caroli Josephi 
Bauer 1759 First Edition, First Printing. First 
edition, 16mo., two parts bound together in one. 
Contemporary full calf, gilt figuring on spine, 
red label, 4 raised bands. [368 + 148 pp]. Covers 
and back scuffed, chipped and worn, some worming. 
Pages crisp, darkened title page. Minor worming, 
foxing & / or dampstaining in margins. Very good, overall.
¶ Michael Ambrosovszky, Hungarian, 1702-1792. 
Educated in Nagyszombat (Trnava), where he 
received a doctorate of philosophy in 1731. He 
wrote books on Hungarian history and on religious 
subjects. The current work, Imago Orbis..., is of 
great rarity, with the only copies we can locate 
being in the National library of Hungary.          $1,250.00



2.  ANONYMOUS [likely edited by ALLETZ Pons 
Augustin Alletz or François Xavier Rigourd]. 
Connoissance de la Mythologie, par demandes et 
par réponses. Augmentée des traits d'Histoire qui 
ont servi de fondement à tout le systême de la 
Fable: Avec Une Table très-commode pour les 
Lecteurs. Angers: De l'imprimerie nationale, Chez 
Mame, Imprimeur du Département. [circa 1780]. 8th 
edition. 12mo, bound in contemporary mottled 
calf, gilt banding and red leather label titled 
in gilt on spine. [viii, 436 pp]. Covers and back 
rubbed and scuffed with slight wear at 
extremities, corners bumped. Pastedowns and 
endpapers browned in margins. Contents crisp and 
fresh, occasional spotting. A very good, attractive copy.           $225.00


3.  BEAUSOBRE, M. de. Histoire Critique de 
Manichee et du Manicheisme. Amsterdam: J. 
Frederic Bernard. 1734 First Edition, First 
Printing. Quarto. Bound in contemporary Binding 
mottled calf, the spine with raised bands and 
heavily decorated gilt in compartments, 
contrasting red label titled in gilt, marbled 
endpapers. Title page printed in red and black 
with engraved vignette depicting a building 
surmounted by a scroll with the motto " Jane Fac 
Aeternos Pacem Pacisque Ministros ". lxxvi + 594 
pp. Heraldic bookplate on front endpaper, covers 
and back rubbed, slightly scuffed and bumped. 
Contents crisp, fresh, occasionally age toned / spotted. A very nice copy.
¶ First edition of the first volume (the second 
appeared only later, in 1739 ) of this historical 
investigation on Manichaeism composed by Isaac 
Beausobre ( Niort, 1659-1738 ). He compares the 
Sephiroth theory of the Zohar with the theories 
of light in the oriental religions. He draws into 
his investigations other mystical and hermetical 
currents. The work marks the true birth of the 
modern studies of the Manicheans . Caillet, 885 . 
De Guaita, 1143.           $450.00



4.  CLAUSTRE, André de; Revised and corrected by 
François Richer. Dictionnaire Portatif de 
Mythologie: Pour l'intelligence des poëtes, de 
L'Histoire Fabuleuse, des Monumens Historiques, 
des Bas-Reliefs, des Tableaux, &c. Paris: Chez 
Briasson. 1765. Second Edition. 12mo. Two 
volumes, uniformly bound in contemporary mottled 
calf, the spines with five raised bands and 
decorated gilt in compartments, red and green 
title labels, marbled endpapers. Covers and backs 
rubbed, chipped and scuffed. Ink inscription and 
remnants of red sealing wax, slight foxing to 
half title of Volume I. Hinges tender, pages crisp and unmarked. A nice set.
¶ For authorship, see Barbier, Dictionnaire des 
Ouvrages Anonymes.              $250.00



5.  CUMBERLAND, Richard. Sanchoniatho's 
Phoenician History: Translated from the First 
Book of Eusebius De Preparatione Evangelica with 
A Continuation of Sanchoniatho's History by 
Eratosthenes Cyrenaeus's Canon, which Dicaearchus 
connects with the First Olympiad. London: Printed 
by W.B. for R. Wilkin at the King's Head in St. 
Paul's Church-yard. 1720 First Edition, First 
Printing. Octavo, bound in contemporary full 
calf, gilt borders. nicely rebacked at some 
point, 5 raised bands on spine, red title label. 
iii-xxxvii, 488 pp. Decorative head- and 
tail-pieces, initial letters. Front endpapers 
affixed to front board, bookplate. Two repaired 
tears to title page, signature on verso. Foldout 
Chronological Table of Sanchoniatho's 
Genealogies, compar'd with Moses's, and continued 
by Eratosthenes inserted facing p. 38. A complete and attractive copy.
¶ Richard Cumberland (1631 - 1718), English 
philosopher and Bishop of Peterborough. A 
translation and analysis of Sanchoniathon's 
Phoenecian History from the first book Eusebius 
of Caesarea. Sanchuniathon is the purported 
Phoenician author of three lost works originally 
in the Phoenician language, surviving only in 
partial paraphrase and summary of a Greek 
translation by Philo of Byblos, according to the 
Christian bishop Eusebius of Caesarea. All our 
knowledge of Sanchuniathon and his work comes 
from Eusebius's Praeparatio Evangelica, which 
contains some information about him along with 
the only surviving excerpts from his writing, as 
summarized and quoted from his supposed 
translator, Philo of Byblos. These few fragments 
comprise the most extended literary source 
concerning Phoenician religion in either Greek or 
Latin.                 $750.00



6.  GALE, Thomas [editor]. Opuscula Mythologica 
Physica et Ethica Graece et Latine. Amsterdam: 
Henricum Wetstenium. 1688. Second Edition, 
Enlarged. Octavo, full contemporary armorial 
vellum ornately decorated in gilt on front & rear 
panels and spine, the spine with a leather label 
titled in gilt. [20], 752, [8] pp. Prize book 
awarded by the Amsterdam Gymnasium with ornate 
period binding and inscription page inserted 
immediately before main title, dated x kal. April 
1712. Covers and back lightly rubbed / age 
darkened. Bookplate removed from front pastedown, 
engraved frontispiece excised. Main title page in 
red and black, separate title page for each work. 
Hinges firm; text block square and tight; contents crisp, fresh and unmarked.
¶ New edition - second edition, revised and 
enlarged. First published in 1671, but this is 
considered to be the 'best' edition. Contents 
include: Palaephati - De incredibliibus 
historiis; Heracliti - de Incredibilibus; Homeri 
- Poetae Vita; Ocellus Lucanus - Philosophus de 
Universi Natura; Sext Pythagorei Senteniae e 
Graeco in Latinum a Ruffiono versae; Ex quorundam 
Pythagoreorum libris Fragmenta, in quibus de 
Philosophia Morali agitur. The collection is 
edited, with a Dedication and Preface by Thomas 
Gale [1636-1792], considered one of the most 
eminent English classical scholars and 
antiquarians. Educated at Westminster School and 
Trinity College, Cambridge. Appointed regius 
professor of Greek at Cambridge in 1666, Fellow 
of the Royal Society in 1697 and Dean of York in 1697.             $475.00



7.  HOLBERG, Ludwig [Translated by M. de 
Mauvillon]. Voyage de Nicolas Klimius dans le 
Monde Souterrein: Contenant une nouvelle theorie 
de la terre, & histoire d'une cinquieme monarchie 
inconnue jusqu'a present... traduit du Latin par 
Mr. de Mauvillon [Bound With] Relation d'un 
Voyage du Pole Arctique au Pole Antarctique par 
le Centre du Monde, avec la description de ce 
perilleux passage, & des choses merveilles & 
etonnantes qu'on a decouvertes sous le Pole 
Antarctique. Issued as: Voyages Imaginaires, 
Songes, Visions, et Romans Cabalistiques, Tome 
Dix-Neuvieme. Amsterdam & Paris: Rue et Hotel 
Serpente. 1787. Octavo, bound in contemporary 
quarter vellum, marbled card boards, ink title on 
spine. [364; [1], 367-469 pp]. Issued as Voyages 
Imaginaires, Songes, Visions, et Romans 
Cabalistiques, Tome Dix-Neuvieme. Covers and back 
rubbed and bumped, darkening, wear to 
extremities. Pages age toned, sporadic foxing, 
minor marks to inner margin of Avertissement 
leaf; a very good, attractive copy.
¶ A utopian hollow earth novel, written as a 
satire, and the first fictional use of astronomer 
Edmond Halley's 1692 theory that the Earth 
consisted of concentric spheres surrounding a 
central sun, with openings at the poles. The 
hero, Niels Klim, falls down a shaft and finds 
himself in a new world. He visits a number of 
different countries and is involved in many 
exciting escapades. The whole work is considered 
to be a satire upon European customs of the time. 
The second work bound here, ''Relation d'un 
Voyage du Pole Arctique au Pole Antarctique', is 
a Symmes style hollow earth novel.                $300.00



8.  HOLLMANN, Samuel Christian. Uberzeugender 
Vortrag von Gott und der Schrift mit nothigen 
unmerckungen erlautert von Samuel Christian 
Hollmann. Leipzig: Johann Friedrich Gleditschen. 
1748. Early edition, the work was first published 
in 1733. Octavo, bound in full brown calf, the 
spine with 5 raised bands, gilt figuring in 
compartments & leather label titled in gilt; 
decorative patterned endpapers, all edges stained 
red. 517 pp + [7] pp Register at rear, beautiful 
engraved frontispiece depicting the Edenic Adam 
and the Creation. Covers and back rubbed, chipped 
and scuffed, faint remains of paper label, some 
worm marks on rear panel. Pages lightly foxed, 
notation on front pastedown. Quite a nice copy.
¶ Samuel Christian Hollmann (1696 -1787), German 
philosopher and naturalist. This is an early work 
by him on the nature of the Scriptures. He 
published works on physics, natural philosophy, 
anatomical, botanical, paleontological, and 
meteorological observations and investigations, 
wrote about barometric altitude measurement, on 
electricity, earthquakes, & artificial cooling. 
In 1752 he described a discovery of rhinoceros 
bones in Germany. He held the post of 
Vice-President of the University of Göttingen for 
many years.            $350.00



9.  KERI, Francisci Borgiae. Historiae Byzantinae 
Epitome, e compluribus graecis praecipue 
scriptoribus concinnata...Tomulus prior. Tyrnau: 
Typis Academicis Societatis Jesu. 1743. Small 
octavo. Three parts in one volume, bound in 
contemporary mottled calf, the spine with raised 
bands decorated gilt in compartments, red title 
label, marbled edges and endpapers. Attractive 
head- and tailpieces throughout, initial letters, 
title page vignette. 182 + 315 + 254 pp. Covers 
rubbed and scuffed with wear / slight loss at 
extremities, corners bumped. Back scuffed, 
chipped at head with minor loss. Bookplate 
partially removed from front pastedown. Contents 
crisp and fresh, old damp staining at top outside margin, not affecting text.
¶ Dissertations on Byzantian history. A further 
volume, 'Tomulus Posterior', exists. Francisci 
Keri (1702 -1768), Hungarian Jesuit and 
Astronomer. His main works were: panegyric de S. 
Ignatio (Nagyszombat 1730). Dissertatio de Cometa 
viso (ditto 1736). Epitomae historiae Byzantinae 
(ditto 1738). Dissertatio physica de corpore 
generatim (ditto 1762). De motu corporum (ditto 
1753). De causis motuum (ditto 1754). De luce (spot 1756).              $275.00



10.  MACROBIUS, Aurelius Theodosius. Opera, cum 
notis integris Isacii Pontani, Io. Meursii, Iac. 
Gronovii quibus adiunxit et suas Io. Car. 
Zeunius. Leipzig: G. Theophili Georgi. 1774. 
Octavo, bound in contemporary quarter calf with 
marbled boards, gilt stamping, spine panel rule 
and with small decorations in gilt, brown leather 
label titled in gilt. [xvi, 848, 104 pp]. Four 
woodcut diagrams, one depicting the sun, the 
planets and the zodiac revolving around the 
earth. Pages crisp, lightly foxed, a very nice, attractive copy.
¶ Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius, commonly 
referred to as Macrobius, was a Roman who 
flourished during the early fifth century. He is 
primarily known for his writings, which include 
the Saturnalia, a compendium of ancient Roman 
religious and antiquarian lore, the Commentarii 
in Somnium Scipionis ("Commentary on the Dream of 
Scipio"), which was an important source for 
Platonism in the Latin West during the Middle 
Ages, and De differentiis et societatibus graeci 
latinique verbi ("On the differences and 
similarities of the Greek and Latin verb") which 
is now lost. "The Dream of Scipio," would have 
been unknown to the Middle Ages without 
Macrobius' commentary. Macrobius is also known 
for his lengthy discussion of Virgil and his 
cosmology, here illustrated with four woodcut diagrams.           $350.00



11.  PALAEPHATUS. Edited by Ioh. Frid. Fischer 
(Johann Friedrich Fischer). De Incredibilibus 
Graece. Quartum ed., teritium rec. indicemque 
verborum Graecorum adiecit Ioh. Frid. Fischerus 
(Johann Friedrich Fischer). Lipsiae (Leipzig): 
Ioh. Frid. Langenhemii 1777. Fourth edition, 
third revision. Octavo, bound in quarter calf 
with patterned blue boards. [viii, 38, [58]. 
Preface in Latin, text in Greek, Index in Greek 
and Latin. Covers rubbed with wear to corners, 
back chipped with slight loss. Boards splitting 
at joints but holding, remnants of ancient paper 
tape across spine. Decorated title page with 
engraved vignette, stamp on verso. Old ink 
notations and signature inside cover and front 
endpaper. Hinges tender, text block holding, 
pages crisp, lightly age toned. Quite a decent copy.
¶ Palaephatus (Greek: ?a?a?fat??), late 4th 
Century. De Incredibilibus Graece (?e?? ?p?st?? - 
On Incredible Tales) is a rationalizing text on 
Greek mythology, a work of paradoxography. It 
survives in a (probably corrupt) Byzantine 
edition. The work consists of an introduction and 
52 brief sections on various Greek myths. The 
first 45 have a common format: a brief statement 
of a wonder tale from Greek mythology, usually 
followed by a claim of disbelief ("This is 
absurd" or "This is not likely" or "The true 
version is..."), and then a sequence of every-day 
occurrences which gave rise to the wonder-story 
through misunderstanding. The last seven are 
equally brief retellings of myth, without any 
rationalizing explanation. Palaephatus' date and 
name are uncertain; many scholars have concluded 
that Palaephatus is a pseudonym; the evidence, 
such as it is, is all of it consistent with the 
late fourth century BC.            $250.00



12.  PALINGENIUS, Marcellus [Attributed: Pietro 
Angelo Manzolli]. Zodiacus Vitae, hoc est de 
hominis vita, studio et moribus optime 
instituendis libri xii. Basel: Joannis 
Schweighauser. 1789. New edition. . 12mo. Bound 
in early full calf, gilt decorations on spine, 
contrasting red label leather titled in gilt, 
decorative endpapers. 366 pp + [55] pp Index. 
Covers and back rubbed and bumped, slight wear. 
Ink notation on title page, dated 1810. Quite a nice copy.
¶ Pier Angelo Manzolli, the author of Zodiacus 
Vitae, is believed to be the Neapolitan poet 
Marcello Stellato (in Latin: Marcellus 
Palingenius Stellatus) (born ca. 1500 - died in 
Cesena before 1551). The persona of Pier Angelo 
Manzolli was created by Jacopo Facciolati in the 
eighteenth-century. Zodiacus Vitae is a Latin 
poem divided into 12 books, one for each sign of 
the zodiac, published at Basel in 1543, but first 
published in Venice in 1536, and dedicated to 
Ercole II d'Este, duke of Ferrara. The didactic 
poem addresses the subject of human happiness in 
connection with scientific knowledge, and 
combines metaphysical speculation with satirical 
attacks on ecclesiastical hypocrisy, and 
especially on the Popes and Martin Luther. It was 
translated into several languages, but fell under 
the ban of the Inquisition on the ground of its 
rationalizing tendencies. In 1551. After 
Stellato's death, the Catholic Church burned his 
heretical bones and Pope Paul IV placed his book 
in the first Index Librorum Prohibitorum, ("Index 
of Prohibited Books"), in 1559.                $250.00



13.  SANDINI, Antonius. Historia Familiae Sacrae, 
ex Antiquis Monumentis Collecta. Tyrnau: 
Academicis Societatis Jesu. 1748. Early edition, 
first published in 1734. 12mo, contemporary 
mottled calf, title label on spine all edges 
speckled red. [8], 432, [20pp], title page 
printed in red and black, decorative inititals 
and tailpieces. Covers and back bumped and 
rubbed, old notations on front pastedown and 
front free endpaper, ink stamp on title page verso. A nice copy.
¶ Antonius Sandini (1692 - 1751) was a professor 
of Church History and Librarian of the Bishop of Padua.                $300.00



14.  SCHONVISNER, Stephano. De ruderibus laconici 
caldariique Romani et nonnullis aliis monumentis 
in solo budensi. Budae: Typis Regia 
Universiitatis. 1778. First Edition, First 
Printing. First edition. Quarto. [A2-3, 233]. 
Vignettes on initial pages of Parts I & II, 3 
folding engraved plates inserted at rear, 
decorative tailpieces & intital letters. Binding 
quarter calf, four raised bands, marbled boards. 
Stamp on title page and p.119, ink notations on 
title page, foot of pages 186-189 and head of 
first folding plate. Small, neat repair to an old 
worm hole at foot of pp 100-125. Pages crisp, 
minor damp staining not affecting text. A decent and pleasing copy. Rare.
¶ Stephen Schönvisner [1738 - 1818], Hungarian 
Jesuit and Theologian, Archeology professor at 
the Royal University of Budapest, discoverer of 
the Roman city of Aquincum. 'De ruderibus 
laconici caldariique Romani...' is archeological 
work on the excavations of a Roman Bathhouse.



15.  SELDEN, John. Beyer, Andreas [Editor]. De 
Dis Syris Syntagmata II: Adversaria Nempe de 
Numinibus Commentitiis in Veteri Instrumento 
Memoratis: Accedunt Fere Quae Sunt Reliqua 
Syrorum: Prisca Porro Arabum, Aegyptiorum, 
Persarum, Afrorum, Europaeorum Item Theologia, 
Subinde Illustratur. Additamentia & Indicibus 
copiosissimis locupletata, opera M. Andreae 
Byeri. Amstelodami (Amsterdam): apud Lucam 
Bysterum. 1680. New Edition, greatly expanded, of 
a work first issued in 1617. Two volumes in one, 
small 12mo contemporary vellum. Preliminaries, 
296, [50]; preliminaries, 352, [32] pp. Small 
woodcut and a folding chart in the Addendum, 
decorative initials and tailpieces. This copy 
lacks the engraved portrait frontispiece, 
engraved title page and printed title leaf 
(present here as reproductions only). Text in 
Latin and Greek, plus some Arabic and Hebrew in 
the Addendum. Vellum, rubbed, darkened, small 
stains. Ink signature on front endpaper. Pages crisp, lightly age toned.
¶ Later edition of a work first published in 
1617. John Selden (1584-1654), the 'most learned 
person in England' in the seventeenth century, 
was a lawyer, an antiquarian, a member of 
Parliament, and the greatest expert of his day on 
British legal matters. De Dis Syris Syntagmata II 
is an analysis of the Pagan gods of the Hebrew 
bible, particularly the Syrian Gods. Considered 
to be one of the most important books of 
orientalism to have been published during the 17th century.          $250.00



16.  SPINETO, Marquis. Lectures on the Elements 
of Hieroglyphics and Egyptian Antiquities. 
London: C.J.G. & F. Rivington 1829. First 
Edition, First Printing. First edition. Octavo, 
rebound in early black cloth with gilt titles and 
rules to spine panel. [xx, 493 pp,] eleven 
folding plates at rear. 8 page publisher's 
catalogue, dated 'January, 1829', bound in at 
front. Several plates bent at inside edge & / or 
repaired along outside joints. Pages crisp, 
occasionally lightly smudged / spotted. A very good copy.
¶ An early work on Hieroglyphics.               $200.00



17.  VILLEMARQUE, Hersart de la. Myrdhinn ou 
l'Enchanteur Merlin, son histoire, ses oeuvres, 
son influence. Paris: Didier et Cie. 1862 First 
Edition, First Printing. First edition. Octavo, 
bound in half black calf, patterned paper boards, 
gilt titles on spine, marbled endpapers. [xi, 
431]. Text in French. Covers rubbed and chipped, 
wear to extremities. Back rubbed and scuffed with 
minor loss to extremities. Labels removed from 
pastedowns and rear endpaper. Very good copy, overall.
¶On the enchanter Merlin, his legend, his life, 
his work, his influence and his prophecies.             $150.00



18.  WITSIUS, Hermann. Miscellaneorum Sacrorum: 
Libri Quatuor cum tabulis aliquot aeniis. 
Herborn: Iohannis Nicolai Andreae. 1712. Quarto, 
two volumes. Bound in full contemporary vellum, 
ink title on spines. Printed title in red and 
black. With engraved title pages and decorative 
head- and tail-pieces. Four large folding 
engraved copperplates depicting the construction 
of the Tabernacle; the finished Tabernacle; the 
interior of the Tabernacle with the Golden Lamp 
and - by the skilful use of a mounted, folding 
panel within the plate, a curtain which lifts to 
reveal the Ark of the Covenant surrounded by 
Cherubim; the last plate depicts the Synedrium 
Magnum. [22], 859, [73]; [14], 951, [56] pp. 
Covers and backs rubbed, bumped and age/dust 
darkened. Volume I: Remains of red sealing wax on 
front pastedown, small piece from upper outside 
corner of free endpaper removed, ink 
signatures/notations on ffep and p. 392, worming 
in bottom outside margin through p. 270, not 
affecting text. Volume II: small piece from upper 
outside corner of free endpaper removed, 
signatures on ffep and title page. Overall, a very good, attractive set.
¶ Dutch theologian Hermann Wits (1636-1708), 
studied at Utrecht, Leiden and Groningen. In 1675 
he became professor of divinity successively at 
the University of Franeker, later he held the 
same post at the Universiy of Utrecht. In 1685 he 
accompanied the Dutch embassy as a preacher to 
King James II of England. Miscellaneorum 
Sacrorum... is an extensive collection of 
exegetical treatises (" De Prophetis & 
prophetia", "De Mysteriis tabernaculi Levitici", 
"De IV bestiis Danielis", "De cultu Molochi " etc.             $750.00


---
Michael John Thompson, Antiquarian Bookseller
Imladris
5275 Jerow Road
Hornby Island, BC
Canada V0R 1Z0
Ph:  250-335-1182
Fax: 250-335-2241

http://www.ThompsonRareBooks.com
http://www.BeltaneBooks.com
http://www.Mjtbooks.com



---
Michael John Thompson, Antiquarian Bookseller
Imladris
5275 Jerow Road
Hornby Island, BC
Canada V0R 1Z0
Ph:  250-335-1182
Fax: 250-335-2241

http://www.ThompsonRareBooks.com
http://www.BeltaneBooks.com
http://www.Mjtbooks.com