Sepher Maphteah Shelomo. (Book of the Key of Solomon). An Exact Facsimile of an Original Book of Magic in Hebrew. ...
London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1914. First Edition. Hardcover, Large quarto, xx + [158]pp. Original deep blue cloth with gilt titling to spine and front covers, Errata slip. Edition limited to 300 copies. The bulk of the book is taken up with a photographic facsimile of an original Hebrew manuscript, of the Clavicula Salomonis, complete with numerous seals, talismans etc. It is prefaced by a twenty-page English-language Introduction discussing the text. From the collection of George Sarton (1884 – 1956) Belgian-born American scholar whose "Introduction to the History of Science" was considered a cornerstone in the establishment of the history of science as an independent field of study. With Sarton's bookplate on the front pastedown, and "Cambridge, Massachusetts Dec. 1921 George Sarton" in his handwriting at the bottom of title-page Cloth bumped at corners and a little bruised and chafed at the head and tail of spine, with a few very lightly discolored patches to the front board. Endpapers unevenly browned, endpaper gutters starting to crack but holding well. A little separation between some of the gatherings, otherwise a tight, internally fresh and unmarked about VG+ copy (no dust jacket). A large, heavy book which will require postage and insurance charges additional to those automatically quoted. Once we know the destination we will quote the appropriate extra amount needed. Item #70722
Sold