author

Isaac Myer

1836–1902

A 19th-century lawyer with wide-ranging curiosities, he wrote about constitutional history, Jewish mysticism, dreams, and the ancient world. His books move easily between legal argument and esoteric scholarship, which gives them an unusual, searching energy.

1 Audiobook

Scarabs

Scarabs

by Isaac Myer

About the author

Born in Philadelphia in 1836, Isaac Myer was an attorney and author who practiced law and wrote in both Philadelphia and New York. Archival records at the New York Public Library describe him not only as a lawyer, but also as an amateur historian, orientalist, and active Freemason.

His published work ranged across strikingly different subjects. In addition to writing on constitutional questions, he also explored mystical and antiquarian themes, including the Kabbalah, dreams, and ancient Egyptian scarabs. That mix of legal reasoning and spiritual curiosity helps explain why his work still feels distinctive today.

Myer died in 1902. His papers, research materials, and manuscripts were preserved in what is now the New York Public Library, a sign of the seriousness and breadth of his lifelong interests.