Phytognomonica Â… Octo libris contenta; in quibus nova, facillimaque affertur methodus, qua plantarum, animalium, metallorum; rerum denique omnium ex prima extimae faciei inspectione quivis abditas vires assequatur. Frankfurt, Johann Wechel and Peter Fischer, 1591. 8vo. With title-page printed in red and black, woodcut printer's device, woodcut author's portrait on the back of the title-page and 32 woodcuts in text illustrating plants and their similarity to the various parts of the body. Later vellum. by PORTA, Giambattista della

[16], 552 pp.Second edition of Porta's work on the doctrine of signatures and it is sometimes held that he was the real originator of this doctrine. Giambattista della Porta (1535-1615) believed that the external form of man indicates his internal qualities. Expanding this theory to plants, he maintained that the external form of plants reveals their internal healing powers. The plants that resemble particular parts of the body should be considered as suitable medication for illnesses in those particular body parts. "The back view of a human head with a thick crop of hair is introduced into the block with the Maidenhair Fern, which is an ancient specific for baldness; a Pomegranate with its seeds exposed, and a plant of "Toothwort," with its hard, white scale-leaves, are represented in the same figure as a set of human teeth" (Arber, p. 209). Porta also discusses the resemblance of plants and animal parts. A study of the character of the animal would provide clues to the medical qualities of the resembling plant. Phytognomonica was first published in Naples in 1588.In very good condition.l Arber, pp. 208-210; BMC NH, p. 1598; Nissen, BBI 463; VD 16, P4331; Wood, p. 522; DSB XI, pp. 95-98; cf. Hunter 158 (first ed).