RARE 17TH-CENTURY ILLUSTRATED FRENCH EDITIONS OF EARLY WORKS ON PALMISTRY, ASTROLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY

INDAGINE, Johannes ab. Chiromance & Physionomie Par le Regard des Membres de L'Homme, Faites Par Jean de Indagine. Plus Dudat: La Diffinition des Faces des Signes. Reigles Astronom. Du Iugemet des Maladies. L'astrologie Naturell. La Congnoissance de la Complexion des Hommes Selon la Domination des Planettes. Lyon: Jean de Tournes, 1571. BOUND WITH: RONPHILE. La Chyromantie Naturelle. Lyon: Antoine Jullieron, 1666. Two volumes bound in one. 12mo, modern full brown calf gilt, raised bands. $4200.

Rare early French editions of these core works on palm-reading, with over 80 in-text diagrams, charts, and engraved illustrations, handsomely bound in full modern calf-gilt.

Indagine, one of the most famous proponents of palmistry, combines astrology, palmistry, and physiology in an effort to determine character. His systematic approach anticipates later Renaissance medical advances. Chiromance & Physionomie was originally published in Latin in 1531 and then in French in 1549. Ronphile's text—also in French—was originally published in 1653 and provides further illumination regarding palmistry. See Brunet 435, Graesse 3-4, 421.

Top edge trimmed a bit close affecting only headers and page numbers, tiny marginal wormholing, expert restoration to lower margin of title page in first work not affecting text. A beautifully illustrated near-fine copy, very handsomely bound.