Item #62526 Themis Aurea, Hoc est de Legibus Fraternitatis R.C. Tractatus: quo earum cum rei veritate convenientia, vtilitas publica & priuata, nec non causa necessaria, euoluuntur & demonstrantur. Michael MAIER, Michaele Maiero.
Themis Aurea, Hoc est de Legibus Fraternitatis R.C. Tractatus: quo earum cum rei veritate convenientia, vtilitas publica & priuata, nec non causa necessaria, euoluuntur & demonstrantur ...
Themis Aurea, Hoc est de Legibus Fraternitatis R.C. Tractatus: quo earum cum rei veritate convenientia, vtilitas publica & priuata, nec non causa necessaria, euoluuntur & demonstrantur ...
Themis Aurea, Hoc est de Legibus Fraternitatis R.C. Tractatus: quo earum cum rei veritate convenientia, vtilitas publica & priuata, nec non causa necessaria, euoluuntur & demonstrantur ...
Themis Aurea, Hoc est de Legibus Fraternitatis R.C. Tractatus: quo earum cum rei veritate convenientia, vtilitas publica & priuata, nec non causa necessaria, euoluuntur & demonstrantur ...

Themis Aurea, Hoc est de Legibus Fraternitatis R.C. Tractatus: quo earum cum rei veritate convenientia, vtilitas publica & priuata, nec non causa necessaria, euoluuntur & demonstrantur ...

Francofurti (Frankfurt): Typis Nicolai Hoffmanni, sumptibus Lucæ Iennis, 1618. First Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo ( 6 1/8 x 4 inches - 15.5 x 10cm). 192pp. Contemporary cream pig-skin over limp boards. Title in Latin hand lettered in ink on spine, and hand lettered in ink in Latin and French on the rear board. One woodcut device on title-page. A magnificent first edition of Michael Maier's "Themis Aurea, Hoc est de Legibus Fraternitatis R.C. Tractatus", one of the foundation works of Rosicrucianism, and a key work in medical thought and ethics. The author, Michael Maier (1568–1622) was a German physician, composer (now best know for his "Atalanta Fugiens") and alchemist, who was described by A. E. Waite as "The greatest adept of his age." He first published the "Themis Aurea" in this Latin edition in 1618. A German language edition appeared that same year, but the work did not appear in English until 1656, when a translation was published under the title "Themis Aurea, Laws of the Fraternity of the Rosie Crosse." The fore-title "Themis Aurea" (Greek and Latin respectively), roughly translates as "Golden Divine Rules" (as opposed to the rules or laws of mortals) with the rest of the title reading something like "A treatise on the laws of the fraternity of the R[osy]. C[ross]." The book opens with a lengthy allegorical treatment which likens the "Themis" to a semi-divine presence that brings peace, justice etc. to all who accept her. Maier then outlines and explores the "positions or laws, laid down by the father of the honourable Fraternity" which have a particular emphasis on the practice of medicine. Much of the work is devoted to Rosicrucian ideas about the theory and practice of medicine, Paracelsianism as opposed to Galenism, the medicinal value of herbs and plants etc., but he also treats of ethics and philosophy, and the practice of alchemy. In addition to exploring the rules and symbols of the Rosicrucian Brotherhood, he discusses at length the origins of their teachings, the reason for secrecy (including acknowledging that some works are written cryptographically so as to shroud their true meaning), the meaning of the letters R and C and so on. The limp boards are a little splayed and darkened, as it almost inevitable, and with one tiny tear towards the base of the spine. There is some old penciling (easily removed) and a little residue from an old label on the inside front cover. There is pale shadowing and spotting around the text sections of a number of pages (again typical of books of this vintage). Otherwise the pages are fresh, crisp, and generously-margined. A truly superb copy of a genuinely rare and important work - it is hard to imagine that a better copy could ever be found. Item #62526

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