SELENUS GUSTAVUS (Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg), Gustavi Selen...

Hammer

£4,000

SELENUS GUSTAVUS (Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg), Gustavi Seleni Cryptomenytices et Cryptographiæ ... In quibus & planissima Steganographie a Johanne Trithemio. Half-title, title within fine engraved historiated border, fldg. letterpress table, 3 engraved illustrations (one being full-page), very many woodcut diagrams, text. illus. & tables, musical notation, initials, head and tail-pieces and printer's device to colophon. Folio. Old vellum covered brds. Ownership inscription of Jo. F. Herbsteri, 1744. Luneburg, 1624. "Extends Trithemius` Steganographia and may be considered indispensable in the study of encrypted correspondence". "Arguably the most complete tome on esoteric cryptography ever published". The engraved title is very detailed and is purported to attribute the authorship of Shakespeare's plays to Sir Francis Bacon. The author also wrote on chess and gave his name to a design of chess pieces. 

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Some worming to end-papers (front & back) and a single wormhole through the entire block. Marginal repair without loss noted to p397. Vellum binding very spotted but tight. Textual contents good.