1436/​6036

Trismegistus: Poemander, seu de potestate ac sapientia diuina. Paris: Turnebum 1554. 8vo. (4) + 1–126 p.+ (final blank). Text in greek and latin. With stamp and annotations in old hand on title leaf and annotations on inner front board and fly leaf. Bound in cont. full vellum. Inner spine/hinge weak. Signs of wear.

The texts attributed to Hermes Trismegistus became imensely popular and respected during the renaissance, escpecially among alchemists. The texts of Hermes Trismegistus coined the term hermeticism and were thought to have been written by an all knowing Egyptian priest in Antiquity. Thus the first translations of a hermetic text were highly valued and appeared in the 1470's for the first time. The hermetic writings are concerned with alchemy, magic, astrology and related subjects. The works were very influencial and both physicists like Newton and authors like Shakespeare were influenced by hermetic writings. It was not until the 17th century it was shown by Isaac Casaubon that the hermetic texts were written in the 2nd-3rd centuries in Egypt, probably by Egyptians with a Greek education, and not by a single priscus theologus.

Auction

Books and manuscripts, 2 September 2014

Category

Books & manuscripts

Estimate

8,000–10,000 DKK

Sold

Price realised

18,500 DKK  

30 bids

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