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Details
DELLA PORTA, Giovanni Battista (c.1538-1615). Magiae naturalis libri XX. Naples, Salviani, 1589.
First edition of the complete text in twenty books, which was almost immediately forbidden, ‘essential to an understanding of Della Porta and the science of his day’ (Mortimer). Della Porta’s Natural Magic, immediately and durably popular, dealt with mathematics, meteorology, astrology and natural philosophy, but also occult philosophy and alchemy. In 1592 his philosophical works were prohibited from further publication by the Church. Mortimer, Harvard Italian 400; Riccardi I(ii).
Folio (301 x 203mm). Woodcut border to title, author’s portrait on the verso, woodcut initials, woodcut headpieces (a few leaves with frayed edges, upper outer corner of last leaf repaired, some browning, a little heavier in places). Modern vellum, sides and spine decorated in gilt, morocco lettering-piece. Provenance: Ragionier Francesco de Molina (contemporary inscription on title) – unidentified 17th-century inscription on title.
First edition of the complete text in twenty books, which was almost immediately forbidden, ‘essential to an understanding of Della Porta and the science of his day’ (Mortimer). Della Porta’s Natural Magic, immediately and durably popular, dealt with mathematics, meteorology, astrology and natural philosophy, but also occult philosophy and alchemy. In 1592 his philosophical works were prohibited from further publication by the Church. Mortimer, Harvard Italian 400; Riccardi I(ii).
Folio (301 x 203mm). Woodcut border to title, author’s portrait on the verso, woodcut initials, woodcut headpieces (a few leaves with frayed edges, upper outer corner of last leaf repaired, some browning, a little heavier in places). Modern vellum, sides and spine decorated in gilt, morocco lettering-piece. Provenance: Ragionier Francesco de Molina (contemporary inscription on title) – unidentified 17th-century inscription on title.
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