Author: THOMAS, John Jones.
Title: Britannia Antiquissima: or, a key to the philology of history (sacred and profane).
Description: Melbourne, Henry Tolman Dwight 1866. Octavo publisher's dark green ribbed cloth blocked in blind; xxii,216pp, various symbols and runes on two lavender tinted plates. A few smudges (most noticably on the title page) and small flaws but quite a good copy. ¶ Second edition but clearly the 1860 first edition sheets with a cancel title despite a contrary note by the author on the back of that cancel - the errata and acknowledgements give it away. Cimbro-Celtic studies it seems, plotting the Cimmerians of antiquity to their descendants the Cymry, the ancient Welsh. This, with further volumes, was to establish the 'positive facts of an immemorial world .. the originators of mathematical, metaphysical, and astronomical sciences. A mystery to me, all this (I'm puzzled by the origins of triclinium: couch or bed, which seems to have its root in three knees), it gets druidical a fair bit and was also a mystery to much of his audience judging by his hurt and plaintive introduction ('a piece of useless learning' and 'nought but Welsh' are two judgements he quotes). He thanks those though who share his zeal in creating a Victorian Classic Literature'. Another three volumes were mapped out but it seems catty to remark on their existence.

Keywords: history philosophy language classical Australia Wales druids celts loony theory