Apparatus Biblicus sive Manuductio ad Sacram Scripturam, Tum clarius, tum facilius intelligendam (Complete with all the plates)

Lugduni (Lyon): Jacobum Certe, 1723. Editio Novissima (New edition). Hardcover. vg. Quarto. [20], 422, [62]pp (Tables and Index). Contemporary marbled calf with gold lettering and tooling on spine. All edges red. Marbled endpapers. Printer's device on title page. Decorative head-, and tailpieces. In this work, Bernard Lamy, the renowned French Oratorian mathematician and theologian, calls in question the historical character of the book of Tobias and book of Judith, and maintains that even after the Council of Trent a difference of authority should be recognized between the proto-canonical and deutero-canonical books of the Bible. This study examines (truncated) also such subjects as the history of the Hebrews and the Holy Land, a description of the Tabernacle and Temple, a history of the scriptures, and a great many tangential matters like the plants, animals, minerals, diseases, and customs mentioned in the Bible. This book is exquisitely illustrated with 1 in text engraving, and 22 fine copperplate engravings bound at rear (including 11 folding). One folding plate shows the Greek & Hebrew alphabets. Others include 11 plates depicting animals and plants, two maps, a plan of Jerusalem, a detailed temple plan, a priest with garments, a rabbi with tefillin, and 3 charts of coinage and measurements. Some age wear along edges of covers. Gold tooling partly faded on spine. Text in Latin. Binding in overall good, interior in very good condition. (Inventory #: 30565)