The American Bibliopolist Volume 5-6

Download or read book The American Bibliopolist Volume 5-6 written by Anonymous and published by Rarebooksclub.com. This book was released on 2013-09 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ... curious work published by M.Cahagnet, 1848: "This mirror was sold in 1842 amongst the curiosities in the possession of Horace Walpole, at Strawberry Hill, for the enormous sum of three hundred and twenty-six francs. 'It was simply a bit of sea-coal perfectly polished, cut in a circular form, with a handle; this curiosity formerly figured in the cabinet of the Earl of Peterborough. In the catalogue it was thus described: 'A black (tone, by means of which Or. Dee evoked spirits.' "It passed from the hands of the Earl into those of Lady Elizabeth Germaine, then became the property of John, last Duke of Argyll, whose grandson, Lord Campbell, presented it tn Walpole." The author of the 'Theatrum Chemicum," Elias Ashmole, speaks of the same mirror in the following terms: "By the aid of this magic stone, we can see whatever persons we desire, no matter in what part of the world they be, and were they hidden in the most retired apartments, or even in the caverns in the bowels of the earth. John Dee, born in London in 1527, was the son of a wine merchant; he studied the sciences with success, and devoted himself, at an early period, to judicial astrology. Queen Elizabeth took him under her protection. He composed several useful works. When he had discovered his mirror ke returned thanksgivings tt God. He was occupied during his whole life in the search of the philosopher's stone, and died in London at the age of eighty-four, in a state of abject poverty." I think Mr. Blenkinsopp must be in error as to this mirror ever being in the possession of Zadkiel, as wherein he writes of magic mirrors in his Almanacs, and mentions Dr. Dee, he never hints at this article being in his possession, but speaks of, and gives...