De Praestigiis Daemonum, by Johannem Weier [bound with] Theatrum De Veneficis by Abraham Saur.
WEIER [ Weir, Weyer, Wierus ], Johannem [ Johannes / Ioannis ] Abraham Saur.
Frankfurt am Mayn: Nicolaum Basseum, 1586. First Edition & Reprint Hardcover. Thick folio. Two Volumes in One. Text in German. Superb contemporary binding. Heavily decorated (blind-stamped) pig-skin over thick wooden boards. Raised bands, original paper title labels (titling handwritten in ink), heavy triangular shaped metal guards on corners, remains of metal clasps. Title pages in red and blank. Various woodcut initials, head and tail pieces throughout. Two significant works on witchcraft published by Nicolaum Basseum during the height of the witch-hunts. Basseum was a major Frankfurt publisher of works on witchcraft - six years earlier, in 1580, he had republished the Malleus Maleficarum - and his edition of "De Praestigiis Daemonum," was the last German language edition of the work to be published during Weyer's lifetime. "De Praestigiis Daemonum et Incantationibus ac Venificiis" ("On the Illusions of the Demons and on Spells and Poisons") is of course the most famous work written by the Dutch physician Johann Weyer (c. 1515 – 1588). It was arguably the first significant work to seriously question the witch persecution that was then taking place, and although Weyer was not quite as radical as some have uggested, and did allow for some demonic agency in human affairs, he also argued strongly that most cases of apparent witchcraft were probably the consequence of mental illness. His work was first published in 1563 in Latin, and Weyer kept revising and enlarging it through six editions - the final revision being completed only two years before this German language translation appeared. Weyer's work is here bound with a First Edition of the "Theatrum de Veneficis," ("Theatre of the Witches") edited by Marburg lawyer Abraham Saur, an important compendium of demonological tracts (listed below) which represented a wide variety of early modern views on witchcraft. The contents includes: Reinhard Lutz, Von Den Hexen zu Schletstadt appended essay with D. Martinus Lutherus, Von den Hexen/ und Wechselkindern; D. Lambert Daneau, Von den Zäuberern; Jacob Vallick, Von Hexen und Unholden; Ulrich Molitoris, trans./ ed. Conrad Lautenbach, Von Hexen und Unholden; Adrian Rheynmann, Von den bösen Geistern; Ludwig Lavater, Von Gespensten; Leonhardt Thurnheysser Zum Thurn, Bedencken; Abraham Saur, Von Hexen und Unholden; Paul Friese, Von deß Teuffels Nebelklappen; Hermann Neuwaldt, trans./ed. M. Heinrich Meiborn, Von erforschung der Zäuberinnen durchs kalte Wasser; Augustin Lerchheimer aka Hermann Wilken, Christlich Bedencken unnd Erinnerung von Zauberey; Heinrich Bullinger, Wider die Schwartzen Künst; Jacob Freiherr von Liechtenberg, Johann Jakob Wecker, Ware Entdeckung vnd Erklärung aller fürnembster Artickel der Zauberey; Johann von Ewich, Von Hexen; Johannes Trithemius, Johannis Trithemij zu Spanheim Antwort auff etliche fragen ihm von weilandt Keyser Maximiliano I. Hochlöblichster Gedächtnuß fürgehalten; Various authors, Consilia und Bedencken etllicher zu unsern zeiten Rechtsgelehrten Juristen von Hexen und Unholden; Johann Weyer, Book 6 of De præstigiis dæmonum. De Praestigiis Daemonum, Frankfurt am Mayn / Nicolaum Basseum, 1586. (xxiv), 575 (1) (xx)pp. Collation: )(4, (?x2)4, (?x3)4, A-BBB6, CCC4, 3D6 Full title: De Praestigiis Daemonum. Von Teufelsgespenst, Zauberern und Gifftbereytern/ Schwarzkünstlern/ Hexen und Unholden/ darzu irer Straff/ auch von den Bezauberten/ und wie ihnen zuhelffen sey/ Ordentlich und eigentlich mit sonderm fleiß in VI. Bücher getheilet: Darinnen gründlich und eigentlichdargethan/ was von solchen jeder zeit disputiert/ und gehalten worden. Erstlich durch D. Johannem Weier in latein beschrieben/ nachmals von Johanne Fuglino verteutscht/ jetzund aber nach dem letzten Lateinischen aussgangenen Original auffs neuw ubersehen, unnd mit vielen heilsamen nützlichen Stücken: Auch sonderlich hochdienlichen newen Zusätzen/ so im Lateinischen nicht gelesen/ als im folgenden Blat zufinden/ so der Bodinus mit gutem grundt nicht widerlegen kan/ durchauß gemehrte und verbessert. Sampt zu endt angehencktem newen und vollkommenen Register. No blanks at front or rear. First gathering detached. Title page creased and somewhat soiled,corners rounded and edges chipped, following three leaves similar but less so. Contemporary marginalia in bottom margin of p. 52, small cluster of worm holes in left margin of pp. 107-149 (starting at a pin hole, spreading to the size of a small finger nail, and then back to pin hole size again). A rectangular section - about 10 x 11.5 centimeters - has been excised from pp. 351/352 taking with it one paragraph of text from the outer column on each side. There is also a light, finger sized ink rub across one column of p. 553. It is quite light and only three or four words are actually obscured by it. Theatrum De Veneficis. Frankfurt am Mayn / Nicolaum Basseum, 1586.(xii) 396 (x)pp. Collation: )(6, A-Z6, Aa-Ll6, Mm4. [this copy lacks kk6] [as usual there is a misnumbering of the pages following p. 365] Full title: Theatrum De Veneficis. Das ist: Von Teufelsgespenst, Zauberern und iftbereitern, Schwarzkünstlern, Hexen und Unholden / vieler fürnemmen Historien und Exempel/ be-wärten/ glaubwirdigen/ Alten und Newen Scribenten / was von solchen jeder zeit disputiert und gehalten worden / mit sonderm fleiß (derer Verzeichnuß am folgenden Blat zu finden ) an Tag geben. Sampt etlicher hingerichten Zäuberischer Weiber gethaner Bekanntnuß / Examination, Prob / Urgicht und Straff / etc. Vieler ungleicher Frage und Meynung halben / so in dieser Materi fürfallen mögen / jetzt auffs neuw zusammen in ein Corpus bracht. Allen Vögten / Schuldtheissen / Amptleuthen deß Weltlichen Schwerdis / etc sehr nützlich vnd dienstlich zu wissen / und keines wegs zu verachten. A little light damp staining to the margins, a few old marginal notes, last four leaves (index) fragile, with corners rounded. Lacks gathering kk6 (ie pages 375 -386) affecting the essay "Consilia und Bedencken etllicher zu unsern zeiten Rechtsgelehrten Juristen von Hexen und Unholden." This volume was formerly in the Library of the Supreme Council 33o of the Ancient and Accepted Rite [Masonic] in London, and has their engraved bookplate on the front paste-down (note there are no stamps or other library markings). The book is somewhat splayed (hardly surprising given its age and contents), inner hinges split but although shaky the boards are still firmly attached the the bigskin and ropes underneath. Clasps broken and missing arms, pigskin has some tears and chips and there is generally modest wear commensurate with age to both the binding and the book itself (note specific comments about the condition of the text sections of the volumes above") If anything the wear is such that it enhances the "authentically antiquarian" feel of this book - which is quite magnificent and original in its presentation. Either volume in itself is scarce - the two together in contemporary binding the utmost of rarities. (Item ID: 37360)
$8,500.00
