Augustin CALMET

First Dutch edition after the original French edition of 1722. It is copiously illustrated in volume I with a frontispiece by Gunst, an engraved epistle page, 2 title headpieces, 7 maps, 35 plates including several on double pages, some with 2 figures per plate; in volume II with a title headpiece, 60 plates (including several on double pages) and 4 plates of medals. The plates represent views and scenes, costumes, monuments, archaeology...
Modern pastiche binding in full brown calfskin. Spine with raised bands decorated. Spine lightened. Traces of rubbing. Some foxing and occasional worming, browned pages, others yellowed, some with browning. One plate in volume II with 10 cm tear repaired. In volume I, p. 265, words underlined in blue pencil.
A monument of exegetical literature accompanied by superb illustration. The work is a dictionary that is historical, geographical and chronological.

Second edition, the most sought-after. The first was published by Emery in 1722 in 2 folio volumes, to which 2 supplement volumes were added in 1728. 1 frontispiece and 204 hors-texte plates of which approximately half are double-page corresponding, according to the publisher's count, to more than 300 figures. Repeated title vignette and vignettes at chapter heads. The double plates have all been mounted on tabs. Title pages in red and black. Copy on fine paper, the half-titles, titles and plates on thick rag paper, the text on laid paper. Wide margins.
Volume I: 6 maps, 1 plan, 47 hors-texte plates (single and double, as well as one triple). Volume II: 59 hors-texte plates (the majority double-page). Volume III: 84 hors-texte plates (approximately half double-page). Volume IV: 7 hors-texte plates. Rich iconography composed of views, battle scenes, architectural plates, tortures, costumes, ceremonies...
Armorial copy of Guillaume Pavée, baron de Vendeuvre (1779-1870). Or a peacock proper, on a chief azure charged with a crosslet or between two stars of the same, surmounted by a baron's crown.
Contemporary full glazed Lavallière calf binding. Spine with 6 raised bands, compartments richly decorated with small gilt tools, dark green morocco title and volume labels, gilt armorial stamps at center of boards and blind fillet border, gilt roll on edges, marbled paper doublures and endpapers, red edges. Upper joint of volume I split at head for 7 cm and small chip at foot of lower joint; upper joint of volume II split at tail for 7.5 cm; surface scratches, scrapes on boards of volume III, discreet repaired damage at tail; headcap of volume IV damaged, small wormhole trace at foot of upper joint and some surface scratches at tail of front board (some browning as well); wear to corners, some restored; some small wormholes, particularly on joints. Some leaves or gatherings slightly yellowed as always. Tear with small loss of text to leaf K (see photograph) of volume I; sound angular stain on some leaves of volume II; in volume III, harmless wormhole through foot margin to page 272 (becomes a small trace of about 1.5 cm on only a few leaves); small tear in paper of last leaf of volume IV. Other very minor usual defects of no consequence whatsoever. Fresh set overall.
Handsome copy of this monument of exegetical literature.

New edition decorated with a title headpiece by Scottin and a plate of Phoenician characters.
Contemporary full speckled brown sheep binding. Raised-band spine decorated. Red morocco title label. 4 wormholes at foot, 2 along the upper joint. A tear with loss at foot. Corners slightly bumped. Rubbing.
Excellent erudite study by the Dominican father Calmet on the books of Ezra, Tobit... Archaeological, historical, linguistic commentary... Calmet establishes his commentary according to a Christian and messianic vision, never losing sight of the importance of Hebrew studies.