EARLY WORK ON SEALS

HEINECCIUS, JOANNIS MICHAELIS.

De veteribus Germanorum aliarumque Nationum Sigillis, eorumque usu et praestantia, Syntagma Historicum, in quo cum de re sigillari in universum agitur, tum imprimis sigilla imperatorum, regum, principum comitum, nobilium, civitatum, item pontificum, episcoporum, ecclesiarum, describuntur et passim cum numis solidis aeque ac bracteatis conferuntur, et hinc inde ex diplomatibus variisque observationibus historicis illustrantur, accedunt sigillorum icones tabulis aeneis comprehensae.

Frankfurt & Leipzig, Nicolai Förster, 1709.

Folio (355 x 235 mm). In contemporary full calf with four raised bands. Wear to extremities, top of spine missing leather, scratches to boards, missing part of leather. Frontispiece partly detached but otherwise internally fine. (14), 224, (16) pp. + frontispiece and 18 engraved plates and numerous engravings in text.

First edition of this rare early work on sigillography, describing and illustrating royal, ecclesiastical and nobel seals. Both authority, etymology, use, synonymy, materials, colors, figures, registrations ect. is thoroughly described.
Heineccius built upon the epistemological framework set out by Mabillon who laid the foundations for the scientific study of original documents, including paleography and sigillography in his De re diplomatica libri VI (1681).

Order-nr.: 60667