LONG LIVERS: A Curious history of such persons of both sexes - Lot 88

LONG LIVERS: A Curious history of such persons of both sexes who have had liv'd several ages, and grown young again: with the rare secret of rejuvenescency of Arnoldus de Villa Nova, and a great many approv'd and invaluable rules to prolong life: as also, how to prepare the universal medicine. London, printed for J. Holland, and L. Stokoe, 1722. In-8, speckled blond basane, spine ribbed, cloisonné and fleuronné with garnet-red title page, gilt fillet framing the boards, speckled edges (period binding). 62 [numbered i to liv and lvii to lxiv]-199-viii-(one) pp. without f. g4 and without quire signed A, as always; one double f. e4 inserted between pp. liv and lvii; headbands and spines restored, corners a little worn. Very loose translation attributed to Robert Samber, of a work by Harcouet de Longeville, Histoire des personnes qui ont vécu plusieurs siècles, which went through several editions from 1715 to 1722. THE FIRST PRINTED BOOK TO MENTION THE EXISTENCE OF FREEMASONRY, A YEAR BEFORE THE PUBLICATION OF JAMES ANDERSON'S CONSTITUTIONS. The Long Livers treatise is preceded by an epistle dated March 1, 1721 and signed "Eugenius Philalethes, junior", generally identified as Robert Samber: "Most humbly dedicated to the Grand Master, Masters, Wardens and Brethren of the most antient and honourable Fraternity of Free-Masons of Great Britain and Ireland". This epistle emphasizes the merits and (mythical) antiquity of Freemasonry, and makes a veiled allusion to high grades of a hermetic nature. Robert Samber had published a Treatise on the plague in 1721, which he dedicated to the Duke of Montague, then Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England. In the same year, 1722, James Roberts published The Old Constitutions belonging to the Ancient and Honourable society of Free and Accepted Masons, but in a periodical, The Post man. Provenance: Barons Lilford, of the Powys family (ex-libris vignettes from the library of Lilford Hall, Northamptonshire, England).