146

Sebastian Munster (1488-1552)

Chaldaica Grammatica. John Dee's (1527-1609) Copy, with his Signature.

Basel: Apud Io. Frob., 1527.
First edition, quarto, ex libris John Dee with his signature written in mirror writing (a nod to the Hebrew) at head of title dated London, 1561; with the letter d surrounded by dots and a dash in his hand beside the imprint; listed in John Dee's Library Catalogue as 1583 Fr; with hand-drawn additional 3-leaf clovers in the margins sporadically throughout; with title page and colophon inscribed by an unidentified John Brock, and one text leaf inscribed John Higginson, in a 17th century hand; modern perforated mark of the defunct Philadelphia Divinity School on penultimate leaf; bound in full modern calf, antique style (some light water staining to contents); 7 5/8 x 5 1/2 in.

"As the oldest of the languages, and that of God's earliest verbal revelation to mankind, Hebrew was the prime candidate for the divine language of creation, a privilege reinforced or stimulated by its association with kabbalah, in which Hebrew was the vehicle of cosmological truths, magical powers, and gnostic and mystical communion with God. [John] Dee's materials on Hebrew and ancient languages give some indications of the views on language that Dee had encountered. A theme shared by some of these works is the idea that all languages have a common foundation and source and can therefore be harmonized with one another. They all promote the view that these ancient languages are imbued with magical power or the keys to religious mysteries which can be revealed through appropriate esoteric exegetical techniques, such as kabbalah." (Quoted from Nicholas Clulee's John Dee's Natural Philosophy: Between Science and Religion, Routledge, 2013.)

Dee's vast library was dispersed illicitly and without his approval when he left Mortlake House for the continent in the 1580s. The survival of his manuscript catalogue, along with inscribed copies such as the present, have allowed modern historians to piece together that which was scattered.

  • Notes: Ex libris Professor, Astronomer, Historian & Bibliophile Owen Gingerich.
  • Condition: a-z4, A-E4.

    Please contact us to request a condition report:
    Devon Eastland, Senior Specialist: [email protected]
    Grace Meschery-McCormack, Cataloguer: [email protected]


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