Müntz Spiegel. Das ist: ein new und wol. aussgeführter Bericht von der Müntz. Frankfurt, J. Feyerabend for S. Feyerabend,
FRIESE, (Tilemann)
Title-page printed in red and black, some woodcut text illustrations of coins, large printer's device at end..
4to. [8]ff. 265pp. 18th century calf. 1592
First edition of this rare historical survey of numismatics by Tilemann Friese (fl. 1567-1592), a burgermeister from Göttingen, who formed a large personal collection of coins. An edition of 1588 mentioned by Lipsius almost certainly never existed.
The work is dedicated to Heinrich Julius, Duke of Braunschweig and Lüneberg, is divided into four parts, and in the foreword to him Friese writes that he has made use of the works of other writers including Guillaume Budé, Charles Du Moulin, Johann Mathesius, Alberto Bruno and Paracelsus. The work begins with a general descriptions on numismatics and the various factors involved (e.g. the right materials, marks, standards, weight and alloy, etc.) The second chapter discusses the coinage of ancient races (i..e. the Chaldaeans, Persians, Hebrews, Greeks and Roman), and third part covers the state of the Holy Roman Empire from the birth of Christ up to 1588, with one chapter for each century. Finally, the fourth part (ff. 130-207) is an account of current coinage, which includes brief sections devoted to England, Spain, Portugal, France and Moscow.
At the end is a related treatise by Cyriacus Spangenberg: Vom rechten Brauch und Missbrauch der Müntzen. (ff. 209-63). Spangenberg is perhaps better known as one of the leading pupils of Martin Luther who gained a reputation for his outspoken views.
Provenance. From the Macclesfield Library with large armorial book-plate, and blind-stamp on first two leaves. Excellent condition.
VD16 F2890. De Kesel F14. Goldsmith-Kress Libray of Economic Literature 259.2.
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