Inscriptiones haffnienses latina danicae et germanicae. Copenhagen: Henricus Gödianus, 1668.

£4,000 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

An unusual and handsomely illustrated guide – published in this sole edition - to inscriptions found on important buildings in the city of Copenhagen, with a large section on the life, works and observatory of Tycho Brahe, and his sister Sophie; from the library of alchemist, writer, diplomat and polymath Thomas Henshaw (1618-1700), with his exlibris note on the front endpaper. Born in London to two ‘great chemists’ in 1618 (according to Hartlib), after time at Oxford and admission to Middle Temple, Henshaw was captured procuring horses and funds for Charles I’s cause during the Civil War. The terms of Henshaw’s release - that he not rejoin the king’s forces - provided him an opportunity to go abroad, including a year in Italy in the company of John Evelyn. On his return to London in 1649, Henshaw’s interest in alchemy encouraged friendships with Thomas Vaughan, Robert Child and Elias Ashmole; his extensive alchemical library proved an invaluable resource for Ashmole’s publications. Though a lawyer by training, ‘Henshaw relinquished any intention of practicing law, but at the Restoration he emerged into a more public role’, as a member and then vice-President of the Royal Society, and as French secretary to Charles II, James II and William III (ODNB). Henshaw’s inscription on the free endpaper, ‘Ex libris Tho. Henshaw Empt. Hafniae Junij 3d 1672’ indicates that he purchased this volume while on extraordinary embassy to Christian V of Denmark, as secretary to the Duke of Richm

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.