Ancient Alphabets and Hieroglyphic Characters explained; with an Account of the Egyptian priests, their Classes, Initiation, and Sacrifices, in the Arabic language by Ahmad bin Abubekr bin Wahshih; and in English by Joseph Hammer.
London: Privately published, Printed by W. Bulmer and Co., 1806. First English Language Edition. Hardcover. Small quarto. English/Hieorglyphic translation and Arabic/Hieorglyphic text bound back to back (starting at different ends of the book): xii + 54pp (translation); 136pp (Arabic text). Original beige paper spine with printed titling over grey paper-covered boards. Hieroglyphics reproduced in text. A very scarce and important work on ancient languages by Ibn Wahshiyyah the Nabataean, the tenth century Arab alchemist, agriculturalist, historian and Egyptologist, born near Kufa in modern Iraq. Ibn Wahshiyyah is said to be the first historian to have achieved at least a partial decipherment of some of the Egyptian hieroglyphs by analysing them in relation to the Coptic language. His work was known to Athanasius Kircher, who used it in his own researches. This first English language edition translated and published by Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall,( 1774-1856) Austrian orientalist and historian. Moderate overall shelf wear and rubbing, spine darkened with a light vertical crease and some light bruising and chafing at ends, some heavy chafing to corners and edges, old binder's tape reinforcement to inside front hinge, endpapers and first & last few leaves (including title page) a bit browned and lightly foxed else text pages remarkably clean & unmarked. Overall a tight unmarked VG+ copy of this very scarce first edition. Item #67239
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