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an old book with a picture of two men on ita set of five red books sitting on top of each otherseveral old books are stacked on top of each other on a tableseveral old books are stacked on top of each other on a shelfa book with a drawing of a man and a woman on ita book with a drawing of a man ' s head on itan open book with a picture of a cat on itan old book that is open on a tablean old book with a picture of a man on ita picture of a woman holding a mirror in her handan old book with a picture of a woman in a turban on top of it
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70 - LAVATER (Jean Gaspard). An Essay on Physiognomy, intended to…
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Estimate €800 - €1,500
Sale commission
Description
LAVATER (Jean Gaspard). An Essay on Physiognomy, intended to help people understand and appreciate mankind. By Jean Gaspard Lavater, citizen of Zurich and minister of the Holy Gospel. Printed in The Hague, [1783 – 1786 – 1803]. 4 vols. (35 × 30 cm), Vol. 1 294 pp – Vol. 2 404 pp. Vol. 3 – 360 pp. Vol. 4 – 328 pp. Temporary cardboard bindings – red leather spines with five raised bands (some water stains, some tears), fragile ribbon markers. Physiognomy is a pseudoscientific method based on the idea that observing a person’s physical appearance, and primarily their facial features, can provide insight into their character or personality. A bestseller throughout Europe at the time - The discipline then developed throughout the 19th century, with theories put forward notably by the criminologist Cesare Lombroso and the entire Positivist School. The original German edition, entitled ‘Physiognomische Fragmente’, was printed in Leipzig between 1775 and 1778 in four quarto volumes. Our Dutch edition was published between 1781 and 1787 for the first three volumes, and in 1803 for the fourth.
See original version (French)
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About the sale Private Collections: Gabriel GUY’s Studio – A private and antique collection of 19th- and early 20th-century painters – Garden sculptures – CHINA: A private collection from the years 1925–1930 – – VINTAGE - DESIGN - BOOKS - WINES AND SPIRITS - CERAMICS - GLASSWARE - CURIOSITIES - TABLEWARE - CLOCKS AND WATCHES - BERBER JEWELLERY
Auction location
Auction time 10/05/2026 at 10:30 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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