Item #70328 The Chaldean Account of Genesis. Containing the Description of the Creation, the Fall of Man, the Deluge, the Tower of Babel, the Times of the Patriarchs, and Nimrod: Babylonian Fables, and Legends of the Gods; from the Cuneiform Inscriptions. George SMITH.
The Chaldean Account of Genesis. Containing the Description of the Creation, the Fall of Man, the Deluge, the Tower of Babel, the Times of the Patriarchs, and Nimrod: Babylonian Fables, and Legends of the Gods; from the Cuneiform Inscriptions.

The Chaldean Account of Genesis. Containing the Description of the Creation, the Fall of Man, the Deluge, the Tower of Babel, the Times of the Patriarchs, and Nimrod: Babylonian Fables, and Legends of the Gods; from the Cuneiform Inscriptions.

New York: Scribner, Armstrong & Co., 1876. First Edition. Hardcover, Large Octavo. xvi + 320pp (+ 2pp adverts). Original gilt decorated green cloth with gilt title, etc. to spine, blind rules and gilt design to frornt board and spine. Frontispiece, b&w illustrations, index. The first US edition of this classic work by the English Assyriologist, George Smith (1840-1876), in which he assembled the creation myths of ancient Babylonia and Assyria from surviving fragments. The collection has been much favoured not only by those interested in the religious history of the ancient Middle East, but also by occultists, including Mme. Blavatsky, who made considerable use of it when writing "The Secret Doctrine." Very slightly leaned, small semi-circular rub to front board, corners very lightly bruised and with a hint of rubbing to the edges. A large contemporary newspaper article on the author tipped onto front pastedown, pencilled owner's name and acquisition date "April - 1876" on front free endpaper. A mere hint of pale foxing to the first and last few pages. A beautiful tight, bright and clean copy, about as close to Fine as it would be get for a book that is close to a century-and-a-half old. Item #70328

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