Hermes Trismegistus

Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus, his divine Pymander in seventeen books, together with his second book called Asclepius; containing fifteen chapters, with a commentary. Translated formerly out of the Arabick into Greek, and thence into Latine, and Dutch, and now out of the original into English by ... Dr. Everard. London printed by J. S. for Thomas Brewster, at the Three Bibles in Paul's Church Yard, near the west end. 1657. Contemporary transcript. This MS. is a transcript of the second edition of John Everard's translation and contains the 17 Books of the 'Pymander' only. The first edition was published in 1650. The first 4 ll. are by a different and much later hand, probably that of Edward Dalton of Dunkirk House [1823-1903], whose armorial book-plate is pasted inside the upper cover.

c. 1660

1 volume 4 ll. + 125 ll. 8vo. 171/2 × 11 cm. Quarter-calf binding [c. 1805]. Text written within red rules with a wide margin. The end-papers are watermarked 1803.

Purchased at Sotheby's 7/12/1905, Lot 225.

In the entry of this MS. in Sotheby's sale-catalogue, it is stated to be in the autograph of Thomas, Lord Fairfax, the Parliamentary Commander in Chief [1662-1671]. A comparison of the script with that of an authentic Fairfax letter, proves the attribution to be incorrect.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).