Magiae naturalis libri viginti. Ab ipso quidem authore adaucti, nunc vero ab infinitis, quibs edition illa scatebat mendis, optime repurgati: in quibus scientiarum naturalium divitiae & deliciae demonstrantur

by PORTA, Giambatista Della

Price: $1,300.00
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Book description: Leiden: Petrum Leffen, 1651. 12mo. pp. [16], 670, [22]. Extra title dated 1650, regular title dated 1651. Bound in full vellum over thin wooden boards. Outer hinge to Front cover neatly strengthened (hardly noticeable). Occasional mild soiling / foxing; some worming in blank endpapers - otherwise clean. Text contains several illustrations of furnaces, alembics etc. Extra engraved title page depicts the author standing before a mirror holding out a small sword and performing an optical illusion. Regular title contains a phoenix printer's device. Interesting and influential book of secrets first published in four books (Naples, 1558) and in a greatly expanded edition in 20 books (Naples, 1589). The introductory first book deals with the nature of elements, celestial influence, sympathy and antipathy, occult virtue etc. Other books discuss experiments with medicines, poisons, metallurgy, distillation, transmutation, magnetism, cosmetics, pneumatics and etc. Book XVII discusses various optical experiments including a description of the camera obscura. Giambattista della Porta (1538-1615) Italian natural philosopher. "He founded in Naples the Academia Secretorum Naturae, otherwise known as the Accademia dei Oziosi; and in 1610 he became a member of the Accademia dei Lincei at Rome." [EB11]. [Caillet 8852; De Guaita 858; Graesse, Biblio magica, p.112; Thorndike VI, pp.418-22; Brunet IV, 826].

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