⚠The page has some foxing and handwritten library shelf marks. There is partial text and an emblem visible on the right edge from a separate sheet or facing page which will be ignored.

Adam Siegismund Fleischer’s

Reflections

on

Lessing’s Fragments,

This refers to the "Wolfenbüttel Fragments," a series of controversial deistic essays published by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing between 1774 and 1778 which questioned the historical accuracy of the Bible.

the

HORUS

Likely referring to "Horus, or Astro-theological Contributions to the Interpretation of Holy Scripture" (1783), a radical work that attempted to explain biblical events through astronomy.

and the

Letters on the Bible

in a

Popular Tone,

original: "Volcks Ton." This indicates the work was written for a general audience rather than scholars, a common practice during the Enlightenment to spread new ideas to the public.

intended as a touchstone touchstone original: "Probierstein." Historically, a dark stone used to test the purity of precious metals; here used metaphorically as a test for the quality of one's mind. for all learned writers and book reviewers to test the strength of their intellect.

A 2i.
X II
~~328.~~

Three small stylized birds in flight, arranged in an inverted triangle as a decorative printer's ornament.

Vienna, 1786.

Lessing’s Fragments: Fragments of a larger work by Hermann Samuel Reimarus, published anonymously by the famous playwright and philosopher Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, which sparked the "Fragment Controversy" over the truth of Christian revelation.
Horus: An Enlightenment-era text that used astro-theology (the study of the influence of stars on religion) to interpret the Bible.
Popular Tone: A style of writing meant to be accessible to the common person ("the Volk"), reflecting the Enlightenment goal of universal education.
Touchstone: A standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized.