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Auction archive: Lot number 39

ROSICRUCIANISM]. 'Physica Metaphysica et Hyperphisica D.O.M.A.', a Rosicrucian handbook, in Latin and German, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON PAPER

Auction 08.06.2005
8 Jun 2005
Estimate
£10,000 - £15,000
ca. US$18,185 - US$27,277
Price realised:
£12,000
ca. US$21,822
Auction archive: Lot number 39

ROSICRUCIANISM]. 'Physica Metaphysica et Hyperphisica D.O.M.A.', a Rosicrucian handbook, in Latin and German, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON PAPER

Auction 08.06.2005
8 Jun 2005
Estimate
£10,000 - £15,000
ca. US$18,185 - US$27,277
Price realised:
£12,000
ca. US$21,822
Beschreibung:

ROSICRUCIANISM]. 'Physica Metaphysica et Hyperphisica D.O.M.A.', a Rosicrucian handbook, in Latin and German, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON PAPER [Germany, early-18th century] 620 x 425mm. 18 leaves (pages numbered 1-28): APPARENTLY COMPLETE, in three or more hands, the illuminated figures in liquid gold and colours including full-page depictions of the Primum Mobile as a cross in glory above the geocentric universe, a cabalistic table of 'the eternal sun', and 'The heavenly and earthly Eve', half-page depictions of the four elements, the sealed book and the unsealed book, additional illuminated elements including suns, rainbows, the flaming heart and a crown, uncoloured figures including the 'philosophico-cabalistic magical scale and golden tree', and a hermetic representation of the universe, titles in flourished display script (some foxing, water staining to lower right corner of all pages, leading to restoration to front flyleaf and ff.3 and 7-18, not affecting text or images). Contemporary half-vellum boards (worn, some restoration). The 'Physica Metaphysica et Hyperphisica' opens with the words of St Paul in 1 Corinthians 2, 'Ich weiß nichts, Ich kann nichts ...', and proceeds with a pictorial digest of an elaboration of hermetic and alchemical theosophy. Particularly striking are the full-page depictions of the Primum Mobile, and of the heavenly and earthly Eve, crowned and radiant, with 'Homo' in her womb, presiding over a table linking 'Theoria' and 'Practica' with 'Chaos' at the centre. The light, didactic tone is set by the sub-title, describing the work as an 'Einfältig A.B.C. Büchlein für Junge Schueler ... in der Schulen des H. Geistes', and by the verse with which the work concludes: 'Wilt du ein Philosophus sein So laß Gedult bey dir ziehen ein ...'. The D.O.M.A. manuscripts in general are discussed by Manly Hall ( Codex Rosae Crucis. A ... manuscript of Rosicrucian interest, now published for the first time in its original form , Los Angeles, 1938), who considers it 'the finest work on metaphysical cabalism and mystical theosophy that yet has come to light'. Hall remains uncertain that the work is specifically Rosicrucian, though he notes elements of 'Alchemy, hermetic philosophy, mystic Christianity, cabalism and ceremonial magic, ontology and cosmogony, Pythagorean and Platonic numerology, Gnostic Christianity, classical pagan mythology, medicine and pharmacology, and comparative religion'. He suggest that D.O.M.A. may stand for 'Deo Optimo Maximo Altissimo'.

Auction archive: Lot number 39
Auction:
Datum:
8 Jun 2005
Auction house:
Christie's
London, King Street
Beschreibung:

ROSICRUCIANISM]. 'Physica Metaphysica et Hyperphisica D.O.M.A.', a Rosicrucian handbook, in Latin and German, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON PAPER [Germany, early-18th century] 620 x 425mm. 18 leaves (pages numbered 1-28): APPARENTLY COMPLETE, in three or more hands, the illuminated figures in liquid gold and colours including full-page depictions of the Primum Mobile as a cross in glory above the geocentric universe, a cabalistic table of 'the eternal sun', and 'The heavenly and earthly Eve', half-page depictions of the four elements, the sealed book and the unsealed book, additional illuminated elements including suns, rainbows, the flaming heart and a crown, uncoloured figures including the 'philosophico-cabalistic magical scale and golden tree', and a hermetic representation of the universe, titles in flourished display script (some foxing, water staining to lower right corner of all pages, leading to restoration to front flyleaf and ff.3 and 7-18, not affecting text or images). Contemporary half-vellum boards (worn, some restoration). The 'Physica Metaphysica et Hyperphisica' opens with the words of St Paul in 1 Corinthians 2, 'Ich weiß nichts, Ich kann nichts ...', and proceeds with a pictorial digest of an elaboration of hermetic and alchemical theosophy. Particularly striking are the full-page depictions of the Primum Mobile, and of the heavenly and earthly Eve, crowned and radiant, with 'Homo' in her womb, presiding over a table linking 'Theoria' and 'Practica' with 'Chaos' at the centre. The light, didactic tone is set by the sub-title, describing the work as an 'Einfältig A.B.C. Büchlein für Junge Schueler ... in der Schulen des H. Geistes', and by the verse with which the work concludes: 'Wilt du ein Philosophus sein So laß Gedult bey dir ziehen ein ...'. The D.O.M.A. manuscripts in general are discussed by Manly Hall ( Codex Rosae Crucis. A ... manuscript of Rosicrucian interest, now published for the first time in its original form , Los Angeles, 1938), who considers it 'the finest work on metaphysical cabalism and mystical theosophy that yet has come to light'. Hall remains uncertain that the work is specifically Rosicrucian, though he notes elements of 'Alchemy, hermetic philosophy, mystic Christianity, cabalism and ceremonial magic, ontology and cosmogony, Pythagorean and Platonic numerology, Gnostic Christianity, classical pagan mythology, medicine and pharmacology, and comparative religion'. He suggest that D.O.M.A. may stand for 'Deo Optimo Maximo Altissimo'.

Auction archive: Lot number 39
Auction:
Datum:
8 Jun 2005
Auction house:
Christie's
London, King Street
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