BOISSARD (Jean) - De divinatione & magicis praestigiis q - Lot 93

BOISSARD (Jean) - De divinatione & magicis praestigiis quarum veritas solide exponitur per descriptionem deorum fatidicorum qui olim responda dederunt eorundemque. Oppenheim, Hieronymi Galleri, 1606; in-folio, 26 ppnch. + 358 pp. + table, bound in full contemporary calf, spine decorated with 6 nerves, fillets on the boards, edges speckled, spine with old restorations. Posthumous first edition of this treatise on magic and divination by the neo-Latin antiquarian and poet Jean-Jacques Boissard. His work compiles many earlier authors and finds its qualities both in the number and precision of the testimonies of ancient oracles and prophets, and in the abundant illustration by J. Théodore de Bry. Frontispiece title in a large allegorical portico, engraved dedication to Johann Casimir, Count Palatine, with his arms on verso, allegorical vignette, portraits of the author and engraver, and 48 engravings in the text. A complete copy. Boissard was born in Saint Hippolyte into a large family of magistrates. He was first educated at an early age by his uncle Hugues Babet, then continued his studies in Besançon. He then traveled to Germany with his uncle, an itinerant teacher of ancient Greek, where he studied at the universities of Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne and Louvain. It was in Louvain that he left his uncle to settle permanently in Metz, from where he traveled extensively throughout Europe (Italy, Greece...) and Syria in search of ancient sites, which he drew and reproduced in books. See also n°453. Consultant: Mr. Philippe HENRY