Marcelli Palingenii Stellati Poetae Doctisimi Zodiacus Vitae Hoc Est, De Hominus vita, studio, ac moribus optime instituendis. Libri XII. Cum indice locupletissimo.
Lugduni [Lyon]: NP, 1576. Hardcover, 16mo ( 5 7/8 x 3 1/2 inches), 366 +, [lxxxii] pp. Late nineteenth or early twentieth century suede leather binding, with more recent gilt-stamped leather title label to spine. An early edition of an important work - a poetical reflection on the human condition, combining "metaphysical speculation with satirical attacks on ecclesiastical hypocrisy." "Zodiacus Vitae" (The Zodiac of Life) was first published in 1530 and comprises twelve 'books', each of which is named after one of the Zodiacal constellations. The author's unorthodox beliefs about the nature of the heavens and thinly veiled attacks on the clergy roused the ire of the Church, and "Zodiacus Vitae" was one of the first works to be placed on the Papal Index of Forbidden Books, which was established in 1558. The author, usually identified as Pier Angelo Manzoli (ca. 1502- ca. 1543) successfully escaped the full wrath of the Inquisitors by having died some fifteen years earlier, although according to some sources they nonetheless achieved a punishment of sorts by disinterring and burning his bones. Perhaps not surprisingly, the book became enormously popular and went through a number of editions, influencing many including Shakespeare, upon whom it is said to have had a profound effect. The binding is clean and solid, save for a hint of rubbing. A few neat words written in a contemporary hand on the title page, approx. two dozen pages have some light, contemporary underlining, and a word or two of marginalia, otherwise the text is clean with just some light uniform browning, the pages still fresh and supple. An attractive VG+ example of an uncommon early edition. Item #31958
Price: $600.00