Epistola Itineraria LXXII. De Sylvae Hercynicae Antris. Die Alte- und Neue- Kelle, nec non die Hölle vocatis.
One folding engraved plate. 12 pp. Small 4to, disbound. Wolfenbuettel: 1738.
First edition. Brückmann (1697-1753), a member of the Academia Caesarea Naturae Curiosorum, was a prolific author on mining, mineralogy, and related natural history subjects. He practiced medicine at Helmstädt and Braunschweig and, after receiving a considerable inheritance, traveled widely and formed an important mineral collection. He published three separate Centuria of letters (I: 1728-41, with each “Epistola” being published separately; II: 1749; and III: 1756).
This rare work — WorldCat locates no copy in the U.S. — describes the famous “Heimkehle” gypsum cave near Ellrich in the southern Harz mountains. It was first mentioned in 1357 and is one of the two largest gypsum caves in Germany. The plate depicts the cave.
Fine copy.
❧ Hirsch, I, pp. 731-32. Poggendorff, I, 312-13.
Price: $1,350.00
Item ID: 3196
