The Bestiary of Christ

New York, NY: Parabola Books. Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. 1991. 1st Edition Thus; First Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine in Near Fine DJ: The Book shows a small patch of shelf-soiling to the bottom edge of the text block near the corner; foxing to the top edge of same and two flecks of foxing to the fore-edge; a former owner's personalized bookplate at the front pastedown endpaper; the binding is square and secure; the text is clean. Free of creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of underlining, hi-lighting, notations, or marginalia. A handsome copy, structurally sound and tightly bound, showing minor cosmetic imperfections. The DJ shows just of hint of sunning to the yellow-toned background field of the backstrip; the price is unclipped; mylar-protected. Overall, very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. (9.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches) . Translated and Abridged by D. M. Dooling. Introduction by the author. Over 400 Woodcuts also by the Author. Language: English. Weight: 36.5 ounces. Brown buckram over boards with gilt medallion at the front panel and gilt titles at the backstrip. First Edition in the USA (1991) , unstated. First published in France in 1940. Hardback with DJ. This book was praised by Pope Pius XII. The original French version has over a thousand pages but this English edition cannot be said to be incomplete. The object of the book is to show the symbolism of real and mythological animals. Gives a summary of Pagan, Christian and Masonic symbolic meaning of the different creatures, and how each animal resembles a virtue of Christ. This is a masterly and enchanting encyclopaedic treatise in which Charbonneau-Lassay renews the depth and richness of the mediaeval traditions of Christian esoterism and its symbolic science, providing a detailed treatment of the spiritual meanings of birds, reptiles, insects, fish, animals and fabulous beasts from the unicorn to the manticore as emblems ultimately of the various perfections of Christ and key themes of the Christian Mysteries. The material here is invaluable. ; Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; xv, 467 pages .