[FRANC-MACONNERIE] The Magnetic Rose System - Lot 47

[FRANC-MACONNERIE] The Magnetic Rose System s.l.n.d., in-12 pamphlet, delivery cover, pen-and-ink title pasted on 1st cover, II, 18 pp. and two large engraved plates (27 x 24 cm and 55 x 39 cm). The author and date of publication of this rare and sought-after booklet remain mysterious: Caillet gave, according to the Catalogue d'une précieuse collection de Livres... sur les Francs-Maçons... " Paris, Née de La Rochelle, 1789", while Pierre M. Conlon, in his monumental Bibliographie du Siècle des Lumières, volume XXI, gives "Michel, architecte à Lyon, 1785", as the signatory of the large engraved plate. The true purpose of this opuscule also remains an enigma. In fact, this most curious work describes a highly complex device based on Mesmer's principle of using animal magnetism for therapeutic purposes. Two large plates show the entire device described in this text. Caillet 10504: "These two plates [...] not only contain the most profound symbols of Freemasonry (the Star, the Mysterious Letter: "G" etc.), but also bear a curious resemblance to Plate I accompanying the Patent for the Archeometer, issued to Saint Yves d'Alveydre on June 26, 1903 [...]. In both cases, the Mystery of Life is represented by a Circle containing Four or Eight equilateral Triangles. The deductions of the Marquis de Saint-Yves are different from those of Née de La Rochelle, but both are no less Disciples of Pythagoras...".