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Important poem on the magical and medicinal qualities of precious stones

MARBODE (MARBODIUS) of Rennes.
De gemmarum lapidumq[ue] pretiosorum formis, naturis, atq[ue] viribus eruditu[m] cu[m] primis opusculu[m], ... scholiis q[uo]q[ue] illustratu[m] p[er] Alardu[m] Aemstelredamu[m].
Cologne, Hero Alopecius [Fuchs], 1539. 8vo. With a woodcut illustration on the title-page, representing a Jewish priest behind a board with the names of 12 stones which represent the 12 tribes of Israel. 17th-century gold-tooled red morocco, richly gold-tooled spinel, gold-tooled fillets and small cornerpieces on both boards, gold-tooled board edges and turn-ins. 124, [2] ll.
€ 12,500
Perhaps the best of the seven 16th-century editions of an influential treatise in verse on the virtues of precious stones, compiled by Marbode of Rennes (1035-1123), archdeacon and schoolmaster at Anjou, later bishop of Rennes. Beside the magical powers of the 60 precious stones treated in this poem, it also lists medicinal qualities, and is hence often seen as a medical treatise. The first printed edition of the text appeared in 1511, edited by the German physician Georg Pictorius (ca. 1500-1569). The present edition was edited by the Dutch humanist Alardus Amstelredamus (1491-1544), who "had a much more complete and correct manuscript than Pictorius so that this edition contains 100 more verses of the original poem" (Schuh). Alardus added extracts from various writers, including Plinius and Dioscorides, and also included Pictorius's commentaries. The preliminaries include two letters from the mysterious Arabian King Evax to Tiberius, annotated by Alardus.
With the bookplate of the Prince of Liechtenstein on paste-down. Some minor damaged on the title-page, some ink underscoring, some minor marginal foxing. Binding only very slightly rubbed. Overall in very good condition. Adams M519; Caillet 7102; Schuh 3229; Sinkankas 4173; Thorndike I, pp. 775-782; VD16, M 932.
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Related Subjects:

Early printing & manuscripts  >  Medicine & Pharmacy | Natural History & Science
Medicine & pharmacy  >  Medicine & Pharmacy pre 1700
Science & technology  >  Alchemy, Astrology & Occult | Mineralogy & Gems