BREREWOOD, Edward - Lot 16

BREREWOOD, Edward Recherches curieuses sur la diversité des langues et religions par toutes les principales parties du monde, mises en français par Jean de la Montagne Paris, Olivier de Varennes, 1640, in-8, contemporary full vellum, XXII, 338 pp. (printing or foliation error between 79 and 90, as in all known copies, but complete). A note in pen underlining the quality and rarity of this volume. Caillet 1637. Work mainly devoted to the origin and evolution of the languages of all the traditions, religions and heresies of the communities around the Mediterranean, including not only the various linguistic sources and mixtures, but also the representations, beliefs and particular religious rituals. A very large number of local religions are listed and studied (Assyrian, Georgian, Circassian, Nestorian, doctrines of the Muscovite and Russian religions, the Cophtes or Christians of Egypt, the Armenians, the Maronites, etc.). This wide-ranging study is based on various mythological and religious writings and on the erudite studies of a number of scholars of his time, foremost among them Guillaume Postel. First French edition. Very rare.