Bibliotheca Vetus et Nova, in qua Hebraeorum, Chaldaeorum, Syrorum, Arabum, Persarum, Aegyptiorum, Graecorum & Latinorum per Universum terrarum orbem Scriptorum, Theologorum, JCtorum, Medicorum. Philosophorum, Historicorum, Geographorum, Philologorum,.

König, George Matthias

Published by Wolffgangi Mauritii & Haeredum J. A. Endterorum., 1678

About this Item

[xii], 888p. Contemporary vellum over boards. Title lettered on the spine in later script. The first edition and a notable attempt to create a universal bibliography with the intended purpose to improve on Gesner's Bibliotheca Universalis. It includes about 35,000 titles by roughly 15,000 authors set out in alphabetical order with numerous bibliographical citations and annotations referring to various previous historical and literary works. George Matthias König, (1619-1699), was Professor of Poetry and Greek Language at the University in Altdorf. His Bibliotheca, as James Darling observes col.1749, is a "more useful book than many of greater pretensions". Ebert #11497 notes with some element of acceptance that "This lexicon of learned men, with all its faults, has matter peculiar to itself". Petzholdt p73 adds that a manuscript containing an attempted supplement to König dated 1730 in 1003 columns had been found in Hamburg. Besterman col#804, Jocher col 2137, H.P. Kraus Catalogue 190. Catalogus Catalogorum, #525.Some general dust soiling to the binding and an unfortunate 'V' shaped cut on the spine without loss of vellum. A fresh clean copy of a scarce item aside from a small marginal paper tear not affecting the text on p227 and p303 as well as a small brown spot on p311. From the library of the noted Swedish scholar Carl Aurivillius (1717-1786) with his signature and shelf mark on the inside front board dated 1757. Additional provenances from the library of the Swedish bibliophile Gustaf Rudbeck with his bookplate on the inside front board and a contemporary ownership signature of Claudius Focks on the title page.

Seller Inventory # 002889

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Bibliotheca Vetus et Nova, in qua Hebraeorum, Chaldaeorum, Syrorum, Arabum, Persarum, Aegyptiorum, Graecorum & Latinorum per Universum terrarum orbem Scriptorum, Theologorum, JCtorum, Medicorum. Philosophorum, Historicorum, Geographorum, Philologorum,.
• Publisher: Wolffgangi Mauritii & Haeredum J. A. Endterorum.
• Publication Date: 1678
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good