"[Demonology] Johannes TRITHEMIUS (Jean Trithème) - Johannis Trittenhemii Abbatis Spanhemensis liber Octo questionum, quas illi dissolvendas proposuit Maximilianus Caesar :1. De fide & intellectu. 2. De fide necessaria ad salutem. 3. De miraculis infidelium. 4. De scriptura sacra. 5. De reprobis atq[ue] maleficis. 6. De potestate maleficarum. 7. De permissione divina. 8. De providentia dei Coloniae (Cologne) Impensis Melchioris Nouesiani, 1534 - Extremely rare work by Jean Trithème, best known for his cabbalistic Steganography for establishing coded, keyed texts. In this work, addressed to Emperor Maximilian in 1508, the author deals with the question of demons, of which he distinguishes six genera: those of the four elements (genus igneum, genus aereum, genus terrestrium, genus aquaticum), a "subterranean" genus (subterraneum) and a "lucifuge" genus (lucifugum), hating light. The work is largely based on Psellus' 11th-century treatise on demons. This copy is in later boards with probably original vellum spine, title in ink on spine. Very well preserved inside. A superb woodcut frame on the title page. Caillet 10846 indicates it as "Rare". In-16, approx. 140pp unnumbered, complete. Provenance: Jean-Baptiste Verdussen, bookseller-publisher and first director of the Royal Academy of Antwerp, with his copper-engraved bookplate: in an oval, a stork feeds another with a snake, with the motto ""Virtus Pietas Homini Tutissima"".