Occulta naturae miracula (Occult, demonology, nature, religion) ac varia rerum documenta, probabili ratione atque artifici conjectura explicata; quibus preter priores fusissmè recognitos ac multis in locis locupletatos, accesserunt libri duo novi mira rerum ac sententiarum varietate exornati, qui studioso avidoque lectori usui sunt futuri, et oblectamento Levinus Lemnius

Occulta naturae miracula by Levinus Lemnius. First Plantin edition. Hidden miracles of nature, and various documents of things, explained by probable reason and artful conjecture; besides which the former, which have been thoroughly reviewed and enriched in many places, have been added two new books adorned with a wonderful variety of things and opinions, which will be of use and delight to the studious and avid reader. Synopsis: Lemnius's famous treatise on a broad range of topics: secrets of nature, physiological, physical, medical, religious and moral topics, occult, astrology, demonology, natural philosophy, Greek philosophy, Christianity, reproduction, intoxication, pregnancy, and esoteric topics like the use of vinegar in times of plague or the amorous effect of Rhine-wine*** Condition: Good. Collated & compete in 'four books' PROVENANCE: General Theological Seminary Library, Rare Book Room, New York City General Theological Seminary's mission is to educate and form leaders for the church in a changing world, Chartered by General Convention in 1817. Church leaders, with a burst of national vision, conceived a theological institution that would belong to the whole Episcopal Church, where students from all parts of the country would come to prepare for ordination. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Levinus Lemnius (1505 - 1568) was a Dutch physician, occultist, astrologer and author. After his wife's death, he became a priest. His Occulta naturae miracula, a book of secrets, is his best-known work. It ran through many editions and was widely translated from Latin. It drew on classical sources, particularly Aristotle. Lemnius was influenced, too, by the "airs, waters, places" doctrine from the Hippocratic Corpus. The work attempted to reconcile natural philosophy as found in classical sources with Christian doctrine, while emphasizing extraordinary, sometimes, mystical aspects of the natural world. He is credited with first mentioning in this work of staining of bone with madder root. In the same work he gives credence to the theory of maternal impression; his theory of teratology connects the Aristotelian theory of generation with birth defects. He contributed to demonology, with Johann Weyer, by suggesting that mental illness and disturbance could be physically caused, rather than being a result of outside influence. He also credited Solomon with the invention of the magnetic compass. This highly influential work had a lifetime of nearly four centuries, in some form. ABOUT THE PRINTER Christophe Plantin established one of the most prominent publishing houses of his time, the Plantin Press. It played a significant role in making Antwerp a leading center of book publishing in Europe; it was continued by his successors until 1867. BOOK INFO Published in 1567 in Antwerp by Apud Guileielmum Simonem and printed by Christophe Plantin. First Plantin edition. Bound in later vellum with hand-written spine lettering. All edges stained red. Octavo, 6 1/2" x 4". Collated and complete including original blank flyleaves: [16], 473, [23] pp. Woodcut printer device on title page. Woodcut decorated initials. Woodcut portrait of Lemnius. Text in Latin. Divided into four separate "books" (parts). CONDITION REPORT: GOOD OVERALL Exterior is in FAIR condition - cracked hinges and spine, splitting front joint with very loose, but attached, top cover. Rear joint cracked in multiple spots. Soiled vellum. Sun-darkened and faded spine. Rubbed extremities. Darkened top edge. INTERIOR IS VERY GOOD Refreshed endpapers. Multiple pages with ex library stamps. General Theological Seminary bookplate on front pastedown. Light foxing. Two heavily darkened blanks (one in front, one in back). Lightly toned pages. Only a few pages with a word or two of marginalia. Twelve+ pages with words underlined in faded antiquarian ink. No water dampening. No worming. A page with a missing corner. Several blank flyleaves with tears. Generally clean pages, some thumbing.