Michael Scot.
London: Nelson, 1965. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. [iv] + 144pp. Brown cloth gilt-lettered on spine. B/w plates & illustrations. Appendixes & index. An important biographical work on Michael Scot (1175-c.1232), philosopher at the Court of the Holy Roman Emperor, mathematician, alchemist, astrologer, and astronomer, renowned throughout medieval Europe for his writings and translations. His interest in the hermetic sciences, soon gained him a reputation as a "wizard" or "black magician", particularly in Scotland. One popular legend has it that he once turned a coven of witches to stone, which became the stone circle of Long Meg and Her Daughters in Cumbria. Dante, in his Inferno, consigned Scot to a place with the soothsayers and magicians in the eighth layer of Hell, whilst Boccaccio referred to him as a 'great master in necromancy.' At his death Scot left a number of works, some alchemical, which survive in manuscript. Appears unread - thus a tight, bright near Fine copy in near Fine dust jacket (Dust jacket lightly rubbed and with a little light ink offset, not clipped - now in removeable mylar protective cover). Item #63768
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