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.E.S.'
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Henry Cornelius Agrippa
The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy - Second Edition - 1665
AGRIPPA, Henry Cornelius [ Heinrich Cornelius Von Nettesheim, 1486-1535]; ABANO, Peter de [Petrus de Abano, ca. 1250-ca. 1315] ; CREMONENSIS, Gerard [Gherardo da Cremona, 1113 or 14-1187]; VILLINGANUS, Geo Pictorius [Georg Pictorius, ca. 1500-1569]; TURNER, Robert [c. 1620-1665?].
HIS FOURTH BOOK OF OCCULT PHILOSOPHY. Of Geomancie. Magical Elements of
Peter de Abano. Astronomical Geomancie. The Nature of Spirits. Arbatel of
Magick. The Species or several Kindes of Magick. Translated into Englishby
Robert Turner, Philo-Med.
London: Printed by J.C. for Tho. Rooks, at the Lamb and Ink-bottle at the
East-end of S. Pauls. 1665.
Small quarto (7 x 5 inches), contemporary calf paneled in blind. 206 [211]
pp., numerous woodcut illustrations in the text (of magick circles, characters
of the spirits, geomantic layouts, etc). Margins of some pages trimmed a
little closely affecting the title words of THE PREFACE only; title page
neatly laid down on period paper. Neat owner’s initials on title page
(H.B., with a small cross) and another owner’s name on the front free
endpaper (Thos Stonwell, Surgeon, 1871). Thumb-sized burn mark on pp. 197-198,
small marginal tear pp 199-200. pp 201-206 are not present but are here
reproduced in manuscript in an antique hand, extending the text another
11 pages (hence 211, not 206 as called for). Some browning to text; older
booksellers ticket (Watkins) on front endpaper. Spine panel quite rough
and the spine leather weak, remains of older gilt rules, holding still quite
solidly on the cords. Overall, a very good copy.
The first edition of Agrippa’s fourth book appeared in Latin circa
1565, it was denounced as spurious almost immediately. The first edition
in English was translated by Robert Turner and published in 1655, this is
the second edition of 1665. This book quotes from and expands on certain
themes in Agrippa's Third Book of occult philosophy, to create a more concise
and practical synopsis of the techniques for summoning spirits. The attribution
of this text as spurious has recently been challenged by Stephen Skinner
who asserts the attribution to Agrippa.
The present text is in fact six separate books in one: The first two (OF
GEOMANCY and OF OCCULT PHILOSOPHY OR OF MAGICAL CEREMONIES THE FOURTH BOOK)
are by Agrippa, OF MAGICAL CEREMONIES is Agrippa’s most concise formulae
of how to perform an invocation, with basically step-by-step instructions.
Also included is the HEPTAMERON: OR MAGICAL ELEMENTS of Peter de Albano;
the ISAGOGE: AN INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE OF THE NATURE OF SUCH SPIRITS AS
ARE EXERCISED IN THE SUBLUNARY BOUNDS; THEIR ORIGINAL NAMES, OFFICES, ILLUSIONS,
POWER, PROPHESIES, MIRACLES; AND HOW THEY MAY BE EXPELLED AND DRIVEN AWAY
by Geo Pictorius Villinganus, Dr. in Physick; OF ASTRONOMICAL GEOMANCY by
Gerard Cremonensis and OF THE MAGICK OF THE ANCIENTS by Arbatel (ARBATEL
OF MAGICK).
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