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Thomassen, Alexander - Pithecologia, Sive de Simiarum Natura, Carminum Libri Duo [Pithecology, or on the Nature of the Apes, Two Books of Poems, in Favor of the Literary Republic]
Amstelaedami, Ex Typographia Gerardi Tielenburg, 1774. First Edition. Hardcover. Size: 12mo 7" - 7. Uncommon in the trade, there being currently only a single additional copy available on-line. Appears to be one of only two titles by the author (the other, held in the Esther Bobst Library at N.Y.U., is Seculum Philosophicum . . . ) and the only edition thereof, according to Worldcat dot org; located only in three U.S. and one U.K. libraries. The title page continues: "In gratiam Reipublicae Literariae," by Alexander Thomassen (1726-1798), published in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by Gerardi Tielenburg (1734-1776), & Sociorum, in 1774. Previous owner (a bookseller and appraiser, fluent in Latin) denotes "eighteenth-century acid-treated calf" over boards, with newer, finely tooled backstrip, with gilt lettering and fleurs-de-lis, title stamped in gilt over a short strip of burgundy leather. Front and rear boards blind-ruled. Wave-patterned, comb-marbled endpapers front and rear, still quite sturdily bound, with only slightly wavy text-block, moderately to heavily toned, but easily readable. Elaborate title-page vignette depicting an exemplar of Homo sapiens teaching fire-making to bipedal but non-human primate members. Opposite, at frontis, is a spectacular black-and-white engraving depicting God (Zeus?), thunderbolts in one fist, sceptre in another, looking down, six primates looking up in supplication, all with tails, but one with an 18th-century coiffure. Additional fine engraved tails. Text wholly in Latin. Another reviewer (fluent in Latin) writes "A curious, satirical, and sometimes serious, piece of hexametric neo-latin poetry." The author's "Prooemium" mentions Aldrovandus, Jonston, Linnaeus, Brisson, Buffon, thus invoking science, reason, and perhaps the first stirrings of evolution, at least relatedness of primate species, in a way that presupposed Lamarck. Frontispiece, 61 [3] pp., the final being a page of errata. All in, a scarce title in robust condition suitable for preservation for another couple hundred years.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. . . . Good
USD 275.00 [Appr.: EURO 253.5 | £UK 216 | JP¥ 43274] Booknumber: 355900
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USD 275.00 [Appr.: EURO 253.5 | £UK 216 | JP¥ 43274] Booknumber: 355900
Remove
Total: USD 275.00 [Appr.: EURO 253.5 | £UK 216 | JP¥ 43274]
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