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How to read hands and predict the future

PRAETORIUS, Johannes.
Ludicrum Chiromanticum seu Thesaurus Chiromantiae, Locupletissimus: multis Jocis & amoenitatibus, pluribus tamen seriis instructissimus: Ex omnibus, qui prostant, & de chiromantiâ seu pro, seu contrà; vel multum, vel parum litterarum monumentis consignârunt, Scriptoribus refertissimus: plurimis perspicuis Iconibus, evidentibus experimentis, & singulari Mnemonicâ Methodô elaboratissimus: uti prafamen ulteriùs declarabit.- IDEM Centifrons idolum Jani. Hoc est Metoposcopia seu prosopomantia completissima & hactenùs desideratissima: cum Centum & pluribus Iconibus seu Capitibus illustrata: memorabili & memoriali methodô artificiosissimè in eruditorum conspectum veniunt, Autoribus conflata: innumeris noviter Inventis, Apophthegmatibus & Axiomatibus constipata; Opella lectu jucundissima & fructu utilissima: cum copiosô verum & verborum.

With engraved allegorical frontispiece, folding leaf with several woodcut characters for hand-reading and planets, 4 full-page woodcuts of hands and numerous  woodcuts of hands, faces, signs, characters, etc. in text.

With engraved allegorical frontispiece, folding leaf with several woodcut characters for hand-reading and planets, 4 full-page woodcuts of hands and numerous  woodcuts of hands, faces, signs, characters, etc. in text.

With engraved allegorical frontispiece, folding leaf with several woodcut characters for hand-reading and planets, 4 full-page woodcuts of hands and numerous  woodcuts of hands, faces, signs, characters, etc. in text.

With engraved allegorical frontispiece, folding leaf with several woodcut characters for hand-reading and planets, 4 full-page woodcuts of hands and numerous  woodcuts of hands, faces, signs, characters, etc. in text.

With engraved allegorical frontispiece, folding leaf with several woodcut characters for hand-reading and planets, 4 full-page woodcuts of hands and numerous  woodcuts of hands, faces, signs, characters, etc. in text.



Leipzig, Jena, Arnstadt, J.B. Oehler, C. Freyschmidt, 1661. 2 parts in 1 vol. 4to. Contemporary vellum. With engraved allegorical frontispiece, folding leaf with several woodcut characters for hand-reading and planets, 4 full-page woodcuts of hands and numerous  woodcuts of hands, faces, signs, characters, etc. in text. (11+1 blank), 36, (1+1 blank), 14, (48), 10026 (=1026), 301-340, (12) pp.

Extremely rare first edition of this work on chiromancy or handreading and 'metoscopia', which means predicting the future by reading one's forehead. On the frontispiece, engraved by J.B. Paravicinus, both occupations are depicted. In the center of the engraving a face is shown with signs on the forehead to indicate special and meaningful areas. Around this face several people are drawn, who are having their hands read. Praetorius (=Hans Schultze, 1630-1680) composed the present work by consulting the best of authors. For example, a rarely known treatise on chiromancy by N. Pompeius is included, as well as an article by the unknown Robert Fludd, and numerous extracts of Coclès, Cardan, J.B. Porta, Peucer, Alstédius, Vossius, Indagine, etc. Praetorius  also writes about the Bohemians, he gives their name in different languages and tells about their origin, their habits and about the German laws concerning them.
The second work can be considered the third and fourth part of the preceding collection of treatises. The collation is quite complicated. The title of the second work is bound after the preface of the  first work, and before the explanation of the frontispiece. The work consists of pages 301-340, which are bound after the first work. So, the first work ends at page 10026 (=1026), after which the second work is bound, starting with page 301. According to the title there should be over 100 illustrations in the second work and an extensive index. The Bibliotheca Esoterica states that  the rest of the work, including these illustrations and index, was probably never published, because of the author's financial  problems.

Good copy.- (Binding dam.; damp-stained; few worm-holes).
Bibliotheca Esoterica 3772; Faber du Faur p. 200 (note 54); Caillet 8950; cf. Thorndike VIII, 490.

Related Subjects: 17th Century  Esoterica 

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