Disputatio de Quaestione quae fuerit artium magicarum origo, quomodo illae Asiae populis ad Graecos, atque Romanos, et ab his ad ceteras gentes sint propagatae, quibusque rationbus adducti fuerint ii qui ad nostra usque tempora easdem vel defenderent, vel oppugnarent?
Marburgi: Nova Officina Libraria Academica, 1787. First Edition. Hardcover. small quarto. 158 pp. Nineteen century black half leather with black cloth boards, title page vignette. One of the most celebrated works by Dietrich Tiedemann (1748-1803) the German philosopher and professor known for his skill as a linguist and as one of the most prominent opponents of Kant. This particular study is of the origin of the magical arts. It is divided into 14 chapters, and examines magical practices and beliefs of the ancient Chaldeans, Persians, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans right up to the then-contemporary traditions of the Orient and Occident. (Caillet, 10694) From the collection of Robert Oscar Lenkiewicz (1941 - 2002), noted British artist, eccentric, and student and collector of works on Hermetica and the arcane sciences. Edges of boards chafed, and rubbed at corners and head and tail of spine. Leather hinge split vertically between front board and spine (though both the board and the spine are quite strong), title page darkened, paper generally a bit browned with some light scattered foxing. Overall a near VG copy of a scarce and important eighteenth century Hermetic work. Item #33284
Price: $1,250.00