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

AUCTION 48 | Thursday, May 27th, 2010 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art Featuring an Exceptional Collection of American Judaica

Back to Catalogue Download Catalogue

<Previous Lot

/359

Next Lot>

Lot 109

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 Freimann, p. 84

Sulzbach: Abraham Lichtenthaler 1657

Est: $2,500 - $3,000

Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont (1614-1699) 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," Studia Rosenthaliana 30:2 (1996), pp.267-281.