4 vols. xxiii, 269, [6], 301, [10], [1]; [8], 195, [34], [2], 120, 160, 32; [4], 507, [26], 37; [6], 304, 218, [7] pp. With copper-engraved frontispice portait & 25 copper-engraved plates, 2 of them hand-colored, 2 double-page, and 4 with overlays (including one of the double-page plates). (4to) 11x8¼, period calf, rebacked with original spine strips laid on, morocco lettering pieces, raised bands.
Important English edition of the works of Jacob Behmen, or Boehme, 1575-1624, a German theosophist and mystic who had a profound influence across Europe and into England, where his followers and adherents included Isaac Newton. This excellent edition is especially noteworthy for its famous plates by William Law, several of which have marvelous overlays, when lifted revealing the makeup of the human anatomy and soul. The colored plates are cabalistic and astrological in nature. The fourth volume lacks the half-title, A1, but does have the errata leaf; the other volumes seem not to have been issued with half-titles. One of the plates might have a portion shaved off, 4 others with small pieces, ½x¾" or so, neatly cut out.
Condition:
Some rubbing and discoloration to covers, corners bumped; occasional light and fairly minor dampstaining, a bit of foxing, pencil X's in some of the margins (mostly Vol. II), overall very good, a highly significant and increasingly scarce edition.