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Estimate: $ 500 - $ 1,000
COURT DE GÉBELIN, ANTOINE. Monde Primitif, analysé et comparé avec le Monde Moderne . . . Nouvelle Édition. 47 engraved plates, some folding; 2 folding engraved maps. Half-title in Volume 2 only. 9 volumes. 4to, contemporary mottled sheep gilt, varying wear or damage to spine ends, Volume 8 front joint cracked, cords intact, few other joints starting; varying and occasionally heavy browning of text with scattered stains, engraved matter generally clean, front free endpaper lacking in Volume 8. Paris, 1787 [except Volumes 6-8 dated 1796, 1781, 1782, respectively]
First published in 1773-82, "a half-finished study of language and mythology considered as the key to the understanding of antiquity" (EB), incorporating discussions of the development of allegory, the history of the calendar, comparative grammar and etymology, and a universal theory of language. Pages 365-410 in Volume 8 concern the esoteric content and supposed ancient Egyptian origin of tarot. Kaplan, Encyclopedia of Tarot I, 28; Sabin 17174 (for discussion of the interrelationship of ancient and American languages in Volume 8, pages 489-560 ).
