History, Law & Philosophy / Philosophy & Esotericism

AGRIPPA VON NETTESHEIM, Henricus Cornelius. De occulta philosophia libri tres.
[Cologne, Johann Soter], (colophon:) 1533. Folio. With a woodcut portrait of the author on the title page, 12 woodcut illustrations in the text, 28 letterpress tables, numerous symbols in the text, and numerous decorated woodcut initials. Contemporary elaborately blind-tooled brown calf. Kept in a custom-made clamshell box of burgundy cloth. [12], CCCLXII pp. Full description

ALBERTUS MAGNUS (pseudo). De virtutibus herbarum. De virtutibus lapidum. De virutibus animalium et mirabilibus mundi. Item parvum regimen sanitatis valde utile. [Liber aggregationis and De mirabilibus mundi].
[colophon (f4r):] Antwerp, Govaert Bac, 1502. 4to. With a full-page woodcut on the title-page (a monk offering a book to a prince), repeated on the back of the title-page, and Govaert Bacs full-page woodcut printer's device of on the verso of the last leaf. With 3- and 4-line lombardic initials and smaller 2-line initials, supplied by hand in red. Rubricated throughout. 19th-century calf with double gold fillets along the edges of both boards. [36] ll. Full description

[ANDERSON, James]. The constitutions of the Free-Masons. Containing the history, charges, regulations, &c. of that most ancient and right worshipful fraternity. For the use of the lodges.
London, Printed by William Hunter for John Senex and John Hooke, 1723 ["In the year of masonry 5723. Anno Domini 1723"]. Large 4to (ca. 23 x 18 cm). With the allegorical engraved frontispiece by John Pine, a woodcut vignette on the title-page, the engraved coat-of-arms of the dedicatee John, 2nd Duke of Montagu, 6 pages with printed musical scores, one woodcut tailpiece and 6 historiated woodcut initials. Contemporary dark brown calf, re-backed with a modern ribbed spine with black morocco title-label lettered Constitutions in gold. [8], [91], [1], [3 with manuscript text], [13 blank] pp. Full description

[ANDREAE, Johann Valentin]. Mythologiae Christianae sive virtutum & vitiorum vitae humanae imaginum. Libri tres.
Strasbourg, heirs of Lazarus Zetzner, [1619]. With an engraved title-page.
With: (2) [GESSEL, Timan van]. Synopsis locorum sacrae scripturae patrum, et recentiorum quorundam theologorum, quibus demonstratur, quaenam sint ad salutem creditu necessaria & sufficientia.
Amsterdam, [Joan Blaeu?], 1650. 2 works in 1 volume. 12mo. Contemporary vellum. [24], 352, [7], [1 blank]; [38], 197, [1] pp. Full description

BASEDOW, Johann Bernhard. Methodischer Unterricht der Jugend in der Religion und Sittenlehre der Vernunft nach dem in der Philalethie angegebenen Plane.
Altona, David Iversen, 1764.With: (2) BASEDOW, Johann Bernhard. Methodischer Unterricht in der überzeugenden Erkenntniss der biblischen Religion, zur vorgesetzten Ausführung des in der Philalethie angegebenen Plans.
Altona, David Iversen, 1764.
2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With an engraved illustration on both title-pages (not identical) and some woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Slightly later brown pastepaper boards, with title-label on spine, red sprinkled edges. LXII, 272; XXXII, 224, 144 pp. Full description

[BOURGUET, Louis]. Mémoires pour servir a l'histoire naturelle des pétrifications dans les quatre parties du monde.
The Hague, Jean Neaulme, 1742. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With 60 folding engraved plates with 441 illustrations of fossils and shells. Modern half calf, gold-tooled spine. XVI, 163, [1 blank]; 91, [1] pp. Full description

CERF, J. de. [Oval miniature portrait painting of Voltaire].
[France?], "1687" [= ca. 1735?]. Oval portrait painting (11 x 9 cm) in grisaille on copper, with a note on the back "J. de Cerf A[nn]o 1687". Mounted in a gilt rectangular wooden frame (34.5 x 28 cm). Full description

DESCARTES, René. Principia philosopiae.
Amsterdam, Louis Elzevier, 1650.
With:
(2) IDEM. Specimina philosopiae: seu dissertatio de methodo rectè regendae rationis, & veritatis in scientiis investigandae: dioptrice, et meteora.
Amsterdam, Louis Elzevier, 1650.
(3) IDEM. Passiones animae.
Amsterdam, Louis Elzevier, 1650.
3 works in 1 volume. 4to. With 3 title-pages, each with Elzeviers woodcut Athena and tree device (Rahir M19), ads 1 and 2 with numerous woodcut illustrations in the text, ad 1 with a woodcut tailpiece (Rahir fleuron 102) and all three with a few woodcut decorated initials (2 series). Sprinkled calf (old boards rebound on 4 recessed cords with a blind-tooled spine, a spine label, and new endpapers ca. 1800?). [40], “302” [= 292]; [16], 316; [24], 98, [6] pp. Full description

DIDEROT, Denis. Oeuvres de Denis Diderot, publiées, sur les manuscrits de l'auteur, par Jacques-André Naigeon, de l'Institut National des Sciences, etc. Tome premier[-quinzième].
Paris, Desray, Deterville (back of half-title, vol. I: printed by [Charles] Crapelet), an VI [=] 1798. 15 volumes. 8vo. With a frontispiece portrait of the author engraved by Charles Étienne Gaucher after a 1766 drawing by Jean-Baptiste Greuze, 16 engraved plates and a folding letterpress table of all kinds of human knowledge for the Encyclopédie (52 x 37.5 cm). Contemporary, uniform half sprinkled calf, richly gold-tooled spines. [in total about 7500 pp.]. Full description

DUPUIS, Charles-François. Mémoire sur l'origine des constellations, et sur l'explication de la fable, par le moyen de l'astronomie.
Paris, widow Desaint, 1781. 4to. With a woodcut vignette on the title-page. Contemporary cat's paw calf, gold-tooled spine. 228 pp. Full description

FOLLIN, Herman (Hermanus FOLLINUS). Den Nederlandtsche sleutel van t'secreet der philosophie, in welck grondelijc bewesen wert, d'aert, so in 't generael, als in 't bysonder aller metallen, als goudt, silver, coper, etc. En die gheheele alchijmie, met haer verborghentheden. Midsgaders d'eerste materie der Philosophen, dat is: Quinta essentia des wijns, met haren volcomen ghebruyck, en verclaringhe aller duystere woorden des voorsz. constes, op dat Paracelsus claerlijck in alles mach werden verstaen.
Haarlem, Adriaen Rooman for Daniel de Keyser, 1613. Small 8vo. With 3 half-page woodcuts in the text, one repeated on the title-page, all showing distilling equipment. Modern vellum. 76 ll. Full description

GOSSIN, Pierre-François. Décret sur la translation des cendres de Voltaire à Sainte-Geneviève, précédé du Rapport fait par M. Gossin, au nom du Comité de Constitution, le 30 Mars 1791.
[Paris], by order of the Assemblée Nationale, [1791]. 8vo. Modern red half morocco. 3, [1 blank] pp. Full description

HEGIUS (VAN DEN HECK), Alexander. Dialogi. De scientia et eo q[uo]d co[n]tra Academicos. De tribus anim[a]e generibus. De incarnationis misterio dialogi duo quib[us] ... Dialogus physicus. De sensu et sensili. De arte et inertia. De rhetorica. De moralibus. Eiusde[m] Farrago cui addita invectiva eius in modos significandi ... Epistola una et altera eius ceteris apud suos latentibus.
(Colophon: Deventer, Richard Pafraet, 1503). Small 4to (21 x 14.5 cm). With spaces left for 3- to 5-line manuscript initials (most with printed guide letters). Set in a rotunda gothic type with the title, colophon, running heads, etc. in a larger textura gothic and the author's name in a still larger rotunda, with occasional words in Greek. With one blue "Lombardic" initial filled in in manuscript, capitals and paragraph marks rubricated throughout. Half tan sheepskin (ca. 1860?). [170] pp. Full description

HELMAN, Isidore-Stanislas. Faits memorables des empereurs de la Chine, tirés des annales chinoises... gravées ... d'après les dessins originaux de la Chine ... tirés du cabinet de mr. Bertin.
Paris, Helman and Nicholas Ponce, 1788.
With: (2) HELMAN, Isidore-Stanislas. Abrégé historique des principaux traits de la vie de Confucius célebre philosophe chinois, ... gravées ... d'après des dessins originaux de la Chine envoyés à Paris par M. Amiot missionaire à Pékin ...
Paris, Helman and Nicholas Ponce, [1788]. 2 works in 1 volume. 4to. Ad 1: wholly engraved series, consisting of a title-page, dedication, 24 illustrations and 24 text pages, each printed on one side of a leaf. Ad 2: wholly engraved series, consisting of a title-page, 24 illustrations and 28 text pages, 8 of the text pages printed on both sides of 4 leaves, and each of the others on one side of a leaf. Contemporary gold-tooled, mottled calf, gold-tooled spine, sides, board edges and turn-ins, gilt edges. Full description

HELVETIUS, Claude Adrien. De L'homme, de ses facultés intellectuelles et de son éducation. Ouvrage posthume.
London [= France?], La Société Typographique, 1773. 2 volumes bound as 1. 8vo. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine. XXXII, 326, [2 blank]; [2 blank], 412 pp. Full description

[HEMSTERHUIS, Frans]. Aristée, ou de la divinité.
Paris [= The Hague or Haarlem], 1779. 12mo. With engraved vignette on the title-page and 3 engraved head- and tailpieces, all printed in brown. Contemporary gold-tooled red morocco, gold-tooled spine, board edges and turn-ins, gilt edges. [2 blank], X, 208 pp. Full description

HOLM, Jonas and Olof Adamsson HERWECH. Dissertatio philosophica, de praestantia studii historici naturae.
Stockholm, Laurentius Salvius, 1752. 4to. Disbound. 48, [4] pp. Full description

HORNIUS, Georgius (Georg HORN). Arca mosis sive historia mundi.
Leiden & Rotterdam, ex officina Hackiana, 1668. 12mo. With an engraved frontispiece (dated 1669), a woodcut printer's device and some initials. Contemporary sheepskin. [36], 220, [2] pp. Full description

HOROWITZ, Shabbethai Sheftel. Sefer Shefa' tal.
Hanau, Hans Jakob Henne (Henah), [5]372 [= 1611/12]. Folio (31 x 20 cm). With about 15 woodcut illustrations in the text. Set in meruba Hebrew types with extensive passages in semi-cursive rabbinical. Later 17th-century blind-tooled vellum, modern endpapers. [10], 94 ll. Full description

KORNMANN, Heinrich. Sibylla trig-Andriana, seu virginitate, virginum statu et jure tractatus novus et jucundus ...
Including:
De annulo triplici: usitato, sponsalitio, signatorio: ...
Linea amoris sive commentarius in versiculum glossae, ...
The Hague, Adriaan Vlacq, 1654. 3 parts in 1 volume. 12mo. Contemporary sheepskin parchment. [24], 214; 69, [3]; 117, [3] pp. Full description

KORNMANN, Heinrich. Sibylla trig-Andriana, seu virginitate, virginum statu et jure tractatus novus et jucundus ...
Including:
-De Annulo triplici: usitato, sponsalitio, signatorio: ...
-Linea amoris sive commentarius in versiculum glossae, ...
The Hague, Adriaan Vlacq, 1654.
With: (2) BOETHIUS. De consolatione philosophiae, libri v. ex vetustissimis libris a Th. Pulmannus.
Leiden, Officina Plantiniana, Franciscus Raphelengius, 1590. With Plantin's woodcut compasses device on title-page. 2 editions in 1 volume (the first in 3 parts). 12mo. 17th-century overlapping sheepskin parchment. [24], 214; 69, [3]; 117, [3]; 144 pp. Full description

LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus and Giovanni Andrea BUSSI) (editor) [and others]. Opera [and additional works].
Comprising:
(1) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De divinis institutionibus
(2) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De ira Dei.
(3) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De opificio Dei.
(4) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De phoenice carmina.
(5) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. [Epitome divinarum institutionem]. Nephytomon.
Additional works:
(6) RAUDENSIS, Antonius. [Lactantii Firmiani errata].
(7) GENUENSIS, Adam. His carminibus frater Adam Genuensis increpat fratrem Antonium. [Incipit:] Hic male corripuit stolidis Antonius aussis.
(8) BUSSI, Giovanni Andrea. Ioannis Andreae episcopi Aleriensis ad Paulum secundum Venetum pontificem maximum epistola.
(9) OVIDIUS, Publius Naso. Metamorphoses (extract).
(10) ALIGHIERI, Dante. Comedia, inferno XXV (extract).
(11) FORTUNATUS, Venantius. [De christi resurrectione]. [Incipit:] Lactantii fir. de resurrectio[n]is dominicae die/ [S]alve festa dies toto venerabilis aevo.
(Colophon:) Venice, Theodorus de Ragazonibus, 1390 [=1490]. 5 works and 6 additional texts in 1 volume. Folio. The text is set in Roman type with some incidental Greek.20th-century goatskin parchment, with the author and title stamped on the spine with black foil, the name of the author added in manuscript on the bottom edge of the book block. [1 blank], [147] ll. Full description

LULL, Ramon. Opera ea quae ad adinventam ab ipso artem universalem, scientiarum artium que omnium brevi compendio, firmaq[ue] menmoria apprehendendarum, locupletissimaq[ue] vel oratione ex tempore pertractandarum, pertinent.
Strasbourg, sold by the heirs of Lazarus Zetzner, 1617.
With:
(2) ALSTED, Johann Heinrich. Clavis artis Lullianae, et verae logices ...
Strasbourg, sold by the heirs of Lazarus Zetzner, 1633.
2 works in 1 volume. 8vo. With 3 folding letterpress tables, numerous woodcut diagrams in the text, a decorated woodcut initial at the start of each chapter, and a woodcut printer's device on the title-page. Contemporary vellum, sewn on 5 supports laced through the joints, with the manuscript title on the spine. [16], 1109, [39], [2 blank]; [8], 182; [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

MAGNI, Jacobus [Jacques Legrand]. Sophologium.
[Strasbourg, R-printer (Adolf Rusch), ca. 1468]. Folio (21 × 28.2 cm). With the text set in 35 lines, spaces for initials show tiny guide letters, rubricated throughout, with 3- and 5-line blue or red Lombardic initials. 18th-century gold-tooled red morocco, gilt edges, marbled endpapers. 217 (of 218) ff. (lacking the final blank).Roman type, Full description

NIEUWENTYT, Bernard. Het regt gebruik der werelt beschouwingen, ter overtuiginge van ongodisten en ongelovigen aangetoont.
Amsterdam, Joannes Pauli, 1740. Large 4to. With title printed in red and black, engraved frontispiece, portrait of the author, and 28 engraved folding plates. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine. [8], 916, [18] pp. Full description

[PERAU, Gabriel-Louis Calabre]. L'Ordre des Francs-Maçons trahi, et le secret des mopses revelé.
Amsterdam, 1745. 8vo. With vignette on the title-page and 14 engraved plates (4 folding). 19th-century half calf. [16], 174, [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

PERRENOT, Abraham. Bedenkingen over de beoeffening der rechtsgeleerdheid, benevens vier verhandelingen over wysgeerige stoffen.
Dordrecht, Abraham Blussé and son (colophon: printed by Johan Joseph Besseling, [Utrecht]), 1781.
With: (2) PERRENOT, Abraham. Considérations sur l'étude de la jurisprudence, ... Nouvelle edition. Berlin, G.J. Decker; Utrecht, Henrikus Spruit, 1776. 8vo. 2 works in 1 volume. Contemporary red morocco, richly gold-tooled spine, gold-tooled boards (triple fillets, with floral ornaments in each corner), board edges and turn-ins, gilt edges. Bound by the Dutch court bookbinder Abraham van Rossum (active in Amsterdam 1812-1854), one of the "major binders" (Storm van Leeuwen) of that period. 5, [1], 339, 5; 68 pp. Full description

PLUTARCHUS. Moralia, quae usurpantur. sunt autem omnis elegantis doctrinae penus: id est, varij libri: morales, historici, physici, mathematici, deniq; ad politiorem litteraturam pertinentes & humanitatem: omnes de Graeca in Latinam linguam transscripti.
Basel, Thomas Guarini, 1570. Folio. With woodcut printer's device on title-page and repeated on last page, some mathematical woodcuts in text and numerous historiated woodcut initials. Early 17th-century Jesuit prize binding in richly gold-tooled light brown calf, sides with arabesques in the style of Gascon, richly gold-tooled double borders and inner panel with small bands in a geometrical pattern. [12], 857, [91] pp. Full description

SABUNDE (SEBONDE), Raymond of and Michel de MONTAIGNE (translator). La theologie naturelle ... traduite en François ...
Rouen, Jean de la Mare, 1641. 8vo. Contemporary limp sheepskin parchment. [1], [1 blank], [13], [1 blank], 891, [49] pp. Full description

SÁNCHEZ DE ARÉVALO, Rodrigo (Rodericus SANCIUS or ZAMORENSIS). Speculum vit[a]e human[a]e.
Rome, Joannes Philippus de Lignamine, 31 July 1473. Small folio (26.5 x 20 cm). With spaces left for 2 large (6-line) and about 80 small (3-line) initials. Text block 19.5 x 11.5 mm with 31 lines per page. Set in a single roman type throughout (Lignamine 125R). Limp sheepskin parchment (ca. 1740/50). [163] ll. Full description

SELENUS, Gustavus (pseudonym of Augustus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg). Cryptomenytices et cryptographiae libri IX. In quibus & planissima Steganographiae à Johanne Trithemio ...
(Colophon:) Lüneburg, printed for the author by Johann and Heinrich Stern, 1624. Small folio (ca. 29 x 18.5 cm). With the title set within an elaborately engraved pictorial border, a full-page engraving, a half-page engraving, an engraved illustration in the text, and a folding letterpress table. Further with numerous woodcut or letterpress diagrams, tables, and musical scores in the text, a woodcut printers device on verso of the final leaf, woodcut and typographical head- and tailpieces, and woodcut decorated initials. Modern overlapping vellum, sewn on 3 supports laced through the joints, with the manuscript title in black ink on the spine. [36], 493, [1] pp. Full description

SENNERTUS, Daniel and Daniël JONCTYS (translator). Verhandelingh der toover-sieckten. Geschil van de schôot- en steeck-vrije. Geschil van de wapen-salve. Paracelsi vrye-konst. Uyt verscheyde Latijnsche boecken vertaelt, en by een geschikt door D. Jonctys.
Amsterdam, Jan van Hilten (colophon: printed by Pieter Dircksz. Boeteman), 1646. 4 parts in 1 work. 8vo. With an engraved title-page showing a magician laying magic bones at a person's sickbed, a small vignette on the title-page, 3 typographical divisional title-pages, 1 small woodcut illustration in the text (p. 200), 3 decorated initials (3 different series) and 3 ornamental tail-pieces. Contemporary overlapping vellum. [1], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], [24], 331, [8], [1 blank] pp. Full description

SIMPLICIUS of Cilicia. Commentarius in Enchiridion Epicteti, ex libris veteribus emendatus. Cum versione Hieronymi Wolfii, et Cl. Salmasii animadversionibus, et notis quibus Philosophia Stoica passim explicatur & illustratur.
Leiden, Johannes Maire, 1640. 4 parts in 1 volume. 4to. With three title-pages. Set in roman, Greek and Arabic types. Contemporary French pointillé binding in the style of "Le Gascon", richly gold-tooled in concentric panels on both covers, and in the six compartments of the spine, the second with the title. [20], 332, [12]; [1], [1 blank], 329, [23]; [34], 88, 15 pp. Full description

ST. LO, George. England's safety: or, a bridle to the French King. Proposing a sure method for encouraging navigation, and raising qualified seamen ...
London, William Miller, 1693. 4to. With a pseudo-heraldic woodcut frontispiece (17 x 12 cm) with letterpress title and motto ("This encouraged, England must flourish."), with as bearing an anchor topped by the royal crown, and other nautical attributes, supported by 2 men, one with a globe and the other with a quadrant, each with a compass at his feet. The British flag flies above it with ships in the background. Set in roman and italic types. 18th-century blue paper wrappers, side stitched through 4 holes, with manuscript title-label on front. 54, [2] pp. Full description

TROTSKY, Leon. Tuda i Obratno: vmesto predislovija. I. Ot Peterburga do Berezzova. Sovet rabočich deputatov po etapam. II. Moj pobeg. - 800 verst na olenjach. [There and back again] [text in Russian in Cyrillic type].
St. Petersburg, Shipovnik, 1907. With a lithographed device on the front cover. Original publisher's printed wrappers. 123, [1 blank], IV pp. Full description

WOLSON (WILSON), Thomas. De metselaar ontmomd, of het rechte geheim der vrye metselaren ontdekt, in allen deele oprechtelyk en zonder achterhouding, door een gewezen vryen metselaar. ... Derde druk.
Arnhem, Jacob Nijhoff, 1753. 8vo (16.5 x 10 cm). With a woodcut freemasonry device on title-page and 3 folding engraved plates. Contemporary marbled paper wrappers. [8], 106 pp. Full description