Alphabeti ver`e Naturalis Hebraici brevissima delineatio [“A Brief Delineation of the True Nature of the Hebrew Alphabet.”]

AUCTION 75 | Thursday, March 08th, 2018 at 1:00 PM

Auction of Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Antiquities, Ceremonial Objects & Graphic Art

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Lot 163

HELMONT, FRANCISCUS MERCURIUS BARON VON.

Alphabeti ver`e Naturalis Hebraici brevissima delineatio [“A Brief Delineation of the True Nature of the Hebrew Alphabet.”]

Engraved frontispiece signed “F. Franck.” With 36 extraordinary engravings of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. pp. (36), 107, (1); ff. 36. Browned. Contemporary vellum. 12mo.

Sulzbach:

Est: $800 - $1,200

PRICE REALIZED $650

Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont (1614-99) was a Belgian physician and philosopher. He postulates here that Hebrew is the most suitable language for teaching the deaf and dumb to speak. The most unusual copper engravings are designed to display the parts of the mouth from which a specific Hebrew sound is produced. See A. J. Klijnsmit, F. M. van Helmont: Kabbalist and Phonetician, in: Studia Rosenthaliana 30:2 (1996) pp. 267-281.