15 - Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences Pictorius, Georg Ten Books of Banquet Sermons and Some Jokes About Drunkenness. Also, An Introduction to the Origin, Nature, and Illusions of the Svblvnariv Demons, &c., and How to Drive Them Away. Along with an Epitome on the Forms of Ceremonial Magic or Goetia. Two books on the proven method of pharmacology. 3 parts in 1 vol. With several woodcuts. Basel, Henricpetri, 1571. Small 8°. 16 leaves, 222 pp., 17 leaves, 118 pp., 5 leaves (modern). Leather binding on 3 bands. Rare Basel edition. - VD16 P 2715 - Graesse, Magica, p. 14 - A fascinating blend of humanistic popular literature, medicine, and natural science from the Renaissance. It provides valuable insights into the medical and natural history knowledge of the era. Pictorius, who was the town physician in Ensisheim (Alsace), weaves serious health advice with entertaining anecdotes. In the second part, he describes spirits and entities that exist in the sphere below the moon. He classifies them according to the elements (spirits of fire, air, earth, and water). The text also includes an overview of the types of ceremonial magic and black magic, as well as a discussion of whether witches or so-called wise women/fortune-tellers should be punished by burning at the stake. Part 3 covers the proven method of preparing medicines. — Frontispiece with ownership marks; a missing section at the bottom edge; the first few leaves are stained at the bottom edge and have small tears; water stains on several pages. A fascinating blend of humanist entertainment literature, medicine, and Renaissance natural science, offering valuable insights into the medical and natural-historical knowledge of the period. Pictorius, the municipal physician in Ensisheim, Alsace, interweaves serious advice on health with entertaining anecdotes. In the second part, he describes spirits and entities existing in the sphere below the moon, classifying them according to the elements: spirits of fire, air, earth, and water. It also includes an overview of the forms of ceremonial magic and black magic, as well as a discussion of whether witches or so-called wise women/fortune-tellers should be punished by burning at the stake. The third part concerns the proven method of preparing medicines. - Front free endpaper with ownership inscriptions and a tear in the lower margin; the first few leaves are stained at the lower margin and have minor defects; water stains in several places.