Milestones of Science Books

PTOLEMAEUS, Claudius et al.

Quadriparti[tum]. Ptolo. Que in hoc volumine continentur hec sunt. Liber quadri partiti Ptolomei. Centiloquium eiusdem. Centiloquium Hermetis. Eiusdem de stellis beibenijs. Centiloquium Bethem & de horis planetarum ... de significatione triplicitatum ortus. Centum quinquaginta propositiones Almansoris. Zahel de interrogationibus ... de electionibus ... de temporum significationibus in iudicijs. Messahallach de receptionibus planetarum. Eiusdem de interrogationibus. ... Epistola ... cum duodecim capitulis ... de reuolutionibus annorum mundi.

Venice: Heirs of Ottaviano Scoto, 1519.

2nd Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002964

6 February 1519. Folio (302 x 220 mm). [4], 140 leaves. Signatures: 2a⁴ A-Q⁸ R-S⁶. Place, printer and date from colophon on leaf S6r. Text in two columns, astronomical and astrological woodcut diagrams in text. Contemporary limp vellum (soiled and browned, repair to upper cover, first free endpaper torn with loss). Text only very little age-toned, first few leaves including title slightly dust-soiled and stained, title-page with small hole and erased inscription, faint dampstaining to few pages elsewhere, but generally quite clean and bright internally. Provenance: Eramersce Bedermi; ex-libris Sunerzini (inscriptions on second free endpaper). ----

Stillwell 96; Thorndike V, 364 - SECOND EDITION of this compilation of classical astrological and astronomical tracts edited by H. Salius (first published 1493 in Venice). The first Latin edition of Ptolemaeus' Quadripartitum alone was first printed by Radoldt in 1484. This Salius edition was considerably enlarged by 11 treatises of Hermes Trismegistus, Al Battani, Almansor, Zahel and Messahala. Ptolemaeus' Quadripartitum (Greek: Tetrabiblos) is divided into four books: the first is a defence of astrology and technical concepts, the second deals with the influences on earth (including astrological geography and weather prediction), and the third and fourth discuss the influences on individuals. "Ptolemy's Quadripartitum ranks as the Bible of Astrology, but the attribution of the Centiloquium is considered spurious. The volume contains also a half dozen other works of astrological interest." (Stillwell). The original Greek text was published for the first time in 1535 by Camerarius, and in 1553 by Melanchthon. Thorndike discusses the Quadripartitum at great length (I, 110-16) and stresses its influence on later writers. - Visit our website for additional images and information.

Price: 7,500 €  *  convert currency