Fine engraved port. of the author holding a telescope. xiv (i.e. xvi), 158 (i.e. 160) pp. 4to, cont. limp boards (boards slightly soiled, minor spotting), uncut. Venice: F. Nicolini, 1685.

First edition and a lovely copy in original state. This book, a summary of Montanari’s battles against astrology, aroused great interest and brought about the banning of astrology from the universities. In this work, Montanari “instead of merely fulminating against astrology or repeating old arguments, attempted to show its falsity by experiments as well. His book is furthermore written in a sober, dispassionate and impartial manner which accords well with... More

Eighteen woodcut diagrams in the text, numerous woodcut initials, & a woodcut printer’s device on recto of final leaf. Rubricated throughout in red. Gothic type, 66 lines & headlines. Two columns. 2 p.l., 152 numbered leaves. Folio (310 x 210 mm.), cont. blindstamped pigskin-backed wooden boards (spine a little rubbed, some unimportant worming at front & back), orig. or early clasps & catches. Venice: Bonetus Locatellus for O. Scotus, 20 Dec. 1493.

Second edition, enlarged with the addition of other important astrological texts, of Ptolemy’s Quadripartitum, a textbook of astrology more usually known today under its Greek title, the Tetrabiblos... More

Numerous fine paintings & diagrams throughout, using blue, green, red, gray, yellow, much gold, silver, & flesh-colored pigments. Siddham script in several places. Two scrolls (185 x 17,660 mm.; 175 x 9210 mm.), each with gold-speckled inner endpapers at front, dark blue paper on outsides. At the end of the first scroll, a note states these texts were first written in 1192 (Kenkyū 建久 3) & copied on an auspicious day in the 12th month of Genna 元和 5 (this part of Genna 5 corresponds to 1620); the second scroll is also dated at end “the 12th month of Genna... More