Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller - Old and Rare Books

De Tabernaculo Foederis, de sancta civitate Jerusalem, et de Templo ejus. Libri septem [Seven Books on the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy City of Jerusalem, and Its Temple) [COPY FROM THE PARISIAN LIBRARY OF THE ORATORIAN ORDER, TO WHICH THE AUTHOR BELONGED]

Lamy, Bernard; Pierre-Nicolas Desmolets (ed.)

Paris: Jean Mariette, 1720. First edition. Hardcover. Folio. [14: title; praefatio; vita auctoris; index operum]pp., 1361 cols. [i.e., 1360, col. 335 omitted from column numeration; cols. 76, 156, 763, 1071 numbered 67, 15, 765, 107, respectively ], [74: indices; dissertatio; index; approbatio (dated 10 January 1721); expositio tabulae]pp. 20 numbered hors-texte copper plate engraved plates (9 double-suite, i.e. large format accross a full sheet); 11 folding). Latin text in two columns (apart from preliminaries), with occasional citations in Greek and Hebrew. Printer’s device at title; engraved cartouche vignette at opening page of main text; woodcut headpieces, lettrines, and diagrams throughout. Full contempory calf, 6 raised bands, gilt borders and compartments. Elaborate gilt-stamped heraldic vignettes at both boards (putatively attributed to the Parisian Library of the Oratorians), edges sprinkled in blue. Moderate wear at corners and spine ends; upper joint partially cracked (cords sound). Title with discrete library stamp at bottom margin; neat old manuscript notations at paste-down and front endleaf. Faint marginal embrowning, otherwise a very good, amply-margined copy, crisp and clean with exquisite plates. Collation: a[tilde]-e[tilde]2 o[tilde]1 A-4Q4, 4R-5G2, 5H1, a-d2 (= 384 leaves: 4T1 missigned T; 5F2 as 4F2; 5G1 as 4G1; 5G2 as G2; 5H1 as 4H1).

First edition of this massive historical and architectural study of Jerusalem, tracing the development of the Temple Mount and its environs from the portable wilderness sanctuary (Heb. = mishkan) which housed the Israelite Ark of the Covenant (Heb. = aron ha-brit). Beautifully illustrated and posthumously brought to the press by the author's fellow Oratorian, Louis Ellies du Pin, “this work occupied the author thirty years in its production... In its progress Lamy consulted the most learned men in various departments of science, and the most able artists” (Darling 1762). In addition to architectural plans and detailed monumental reconstructions, the suite of engraved plates includes depictions of Noah's Ark; the Tower of Babylon; the disposition of the Israelite Tribes in the wilderness; the Tabernacle and its paraphernalia, including various interpretations of the seven-branched lamp (Heb. = menorah); a bird's eye view of ancient Jerusalem. The finely engraved images in this volume would have a long after-history well into the nineteenth century as they were re-copied and modified in works dealing with ecclesiatical history and the antiquities of the Jews.

Edited by Pierre Nicolas Desmolets, the main text of De Tabernaculo is bracketed by his prefatory “Vita Auctoris” (which includes a bibliography of 33 works by Lamy), and concluding “De templo Salomonis historico-critica dissertatio” (A Historico-critical Essay on the Temple of Solomon). A final expository leaf provides a detailed legend for plate XIX, which comprises a site plan and five cross-sectional schemes of the Second Temple. "This reconstruction of the [Second] Temple differs radically from that of Villalpando, whom Lamy mentioned with scant respect. Lamy attempted to return to the sources; as a rationalist he distrusted symbolism and allegory and was fascinated by historical facts. Therefore he turned again to II Chronicles 3:4 and, although he reconstructed the Temple without a tower, still gave an elevation to the façade of 120 cubits (pl. XIX). He thus achieved a monumental structure of clear form, an impression apparent not only in the simplified general view but seen more especially in the western aspect which is adorned by a great double staircase of an almost Classical shape" (Rosenau).

Taken under the tutelage of the Oratorians at the age of twelve in his native town of Le Mans, Bernard Lamy (1640-1715) "soon evinced more than ordinary talent and versatility of mind. In 1658 he entered the congregation of the Oratory, and, after studying philosophy at Paris and at Saumur, was appointed professor in the college of Vendome and later at Juilly. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1667, and after teaching a few years at Le Mans he was appointed to a chair of philosophy in the University of Angers" (CE). A polymathic scholar, Lamy wrote widely on mathematics; mechanics; poetry; rhetoric; theology; ecclesiatical history; and biblical criticism. The heterodox views expressed in his Harmonia, sive concordia Evangelii (Paris, 1699), along with his strong Cartesian sympathies, would involve Lamy in controverises throughout his scholarly career. While De tabernaculo was never fully translated into English, some extracts are included in Richard Bundy’s English version of the author’s Apparatus Biblicus (London, 1723). Very good-. Item #48828

References: Brunet 1:803. Ingold, Bibl. oratorienne, 70. Laor 1061 (double suite map plate VIII: “Imaginary plan of ancient Jerusalem inside the latest walls. Oriented to the east. The Calvary is outside the walls. The plan is divided into three parts: 'Bezeta sue civitas nova,' 'Salem seu urbs inferior,' and 'Mons Sion seu urbs superior.'). Le Long (1723) 2:818. Orme, Bibl. Biblica, 283.

Provenance: "Ex libris Domus Oratorii Parisiensis Catalogo inscriptus" noted in manuscript at title, along with faint library stamp at bottom margin.

Full Imprint: Parisiis, apud Joannem Mariette, viâ Jacobaeâ, sub Columnis Herculeis, M. DCC. XX.

Price: $1,750.00