HELMONT, FRANCISCUS MERCURIUS VAN

AUCTION 42 | Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 157

HELMONT, FRANCISCUS MERCURIUS VAN

Een zeer Korte Afbeelding van het Ware Natuurlijke Hebreuwse A.B.C. ["A Very Brief Delineation of the True Natural Hebrew Alphabet."]. * Appended: Amman, Joh. Conrad, MD. Surdus Loquens / Of de Doove Sprekende, Dat is Wiskunstige Beschryvinge op wat wyse men Doof-Geborene sal konnen leeren Spreken ["The Speaking Deaf: Teaching the Born-deaf to Speak."] ff. (24), 36; pp. 200, (4). Waterstained. Wormholes or tears from f.191 to end, text slightly affected. Recent marbled endpapers and morocco boards. 12mo cf. Freimann, p. 84

Amsterdam: Pieter Rotterdam 1697

Est: $1,500 - $2,000

Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont (1614-1699) was a Belgian physician and philosopher. He theorized that the Hebrew language would be helpful in teaching speech to the deaf and dumb. The extraordinary copper engravings in this work are designed to show the parts of the throat from which a specific Hebrew sound is produced. The book contains a preface by Christian kabbalist, Chr. Knorr von Rosenroth