‎MICHAELIS, JOHANN HEINRICH.‎
‎Observationes philologicae et criticae in Jeremiae vaticinia et Threnos.‎

‎Goettingae, Vandenhoeck et Ruprecht, 1793. 4to. In contemporary half calf with five raised bands. Wear to extremities, soiling and stains to boards. Missing leather on upper compartment on spine, front board partly detached. Previous owner's name to title-page in contemporary hand. Light marginal browning throughout. (6), 442 pp.‎

Reference : 61048

‎First edition of Michaelis’ work on Jeremiah and lamentation with commentaries on each chapter of the books with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew texts. Johann David Michaelis (1717-19) was a theologian and orientalist, whose fame today rests upon the fact that he was responsible for the first scientific expedition to Arabia Felix, namely that of Niebuhr. In 1753, he had come up with the idea for the the Royal Danish Arabia Expedition (1761-1767) and had gotten the Danish minister Bernstoff to agree to it. In 1760, when the expedition was becoming a reality, Michaelis recommended Niebuhr as a participant, and he outlined the entire purpose of the trip - namaly the list of 100 questions that he prepared and published for the members of the expedition, in order for them to answer in the course of the voyage. For all intents and purposes, Michaelis was the spiritual father of the Arabia-expedition.‎