Allaeus Franciscus (3 results)

4to (175 x 220 mm). 138, (4), (31) pp. With 10 volvelles complete with 10 moving parts. French manuscript in brown ink on laid paper watermarked with a crown, wheel, and the letters "G.R." (Dutch, ca. 1750). Volvelles drawn and mounted on thicker, unwatermarked laid paper. Bound in 20th century quarter vellum. Sole recorded witness of a vernacular translation of this forbidden, volvelle-laden manual of prognostication, burned upon publication at the orders of the Bishop of Nantes. Appearing in 1654 as the "Astrologiae Nova Methodus", the work was immediately condemned (cf. Caillet and Dorbon) and is excessively rare in census today; no vernacular translation is known to have been published. - The treatise was deemed offensive due to the predictions of 5 volvelles in the second section, which offer horoscopes for Islam, Christianity, France, Spain, and England. The "Figure de la Secte Mahometane" found here on pp. 127-131 dare to give a horoscope of the Prophet Mohammed and a list of significant events in the history of Islam - including the suggestion that a quarter of the world will be Islamic by 1703 (mistranscribed here as 1603); the horoscope of Christianity also includes dire predictions up to 1800. The predictions for the fate of England which had caused a serious diplomatic dispute - resulting in the English ambassador demanding the book be suppressed - are curiously avoided here, and the commentary instead ends during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In the more common censured editions of the "Astrologiae Nova Methodus", neither these 5 volvelles nor any part of their textual elaborations are included. - The present manuscript certainly advertises itself as a ready for printing, beginning with a preface from the "printer to the reader", in which the author states that he encountered the 1654 Rennes edition by chance and was encouraged to produce his own "ouvrage" of it despite being aware of its censure, "quoique tous les curieux le demandassent avec empressement, nous avons differé de le donner au public, jusqu'a ce qu'il eur essayé la censure des connoisseurs". He explains the scandals attributed to the original as due to minor faults in the original "principles"; "what's more, the particular figures of France, Spain, and England were in any case erroneous thanks to the engraver, whom as we have learned was always drunk". This 18th-century editor explains that he has now corrected certain egregious faults and has simplified a few volvelles. - According to the "Vie de l'Auteur" (pp. 3-6), he is a patriotic native of Arabia Felix; as he explains, among the blessings accorded to this happy nation are fertile soils, medicinal plants, and a large number of illustrious men well-versed in astrology. The original title-page of the Rennes edition attributes the work to a certain Francisco Allaeio, "Christian Arab", but this is probably a pseudonym for Yves de Paris, a Capuchin monk known for his anti-establishment views. The final unpaginated section of the work, following the index, offers a 31-page religious justification for the relevance of astrological prediction, in which the author defends himself as "an innocent Arab proposing the destiny of the universe". - Provenance: likely the great 18th century bibliophile the Duc de La Vallière (1708-80; his sale, 1783, lot 1822). The Abbé Duclos' "Dictionnaire bibliographique, historique et critique des livres rares" (1791) notes a manuscript under exactly the same title as the present work (vol. I, p. 25) and adds the description "in-4. Manuscrit sur papier du XVIIIe Siècle, vendu 12 liv. chez M. de Duc de la Vallière, en 1784". Examining the sale catalogue of the Duc de la Vallière (1783), we find a further description of his manuscript as "très proprement écrit, contenant 359 feuillets". Among the contents of that manuscript was a "Pratique abrégée des jugemens astrologiques sur les Nativités & autres traités astrologiques" not found here, and perhaps formerly occupying the rest of the volume; it is evident that the present manuscript was rebound sometime in the 20th century. Unidentified engraved bookplate on pastedown as well as that of the collector Gonzague de Marliave. - Peignot II, 204f. Thorndike VIII, pp. 310-312. Dorbon-Ainé 61f. Houzeau/L. 5217 ("excessively rare this work was burned due to the predictions it contains. The first edition is the only complete one, the two further editions were expurgated"). Caillet III, 11557 ("the first edition, extremely rare, was burnt in Nantes or Rennes by the censorship officials").…

Contemporary full crushed brown morocco, spine raised with six (6) bands; worn gilt title on two; compartments faded; all edges speckled red and green. , Rare. Second augmented after the first edition published earlier the same year, 1654. Text in Latin. Place, printer or publisher are unidentified; [printer?s device of: (Troyes: Nicolas (I) Oudot?s heirs, printer)]; Three parts in one volume. This is a rare edition of this early French astrological work, printed the same year as its first edition. Some of the text, especially relating to predictions, was regarded exceedingly offensive, immediately condemned, leading to contents either to be removed, or whole copies burned; the present second edition was published without the contentious contents, i.e. volvelles making predictions about Islam, its future development, Christianity, and England, France, and Spain; five (5) volvelles remain in this edition relating to Henry IV of France and constellations of the heavens at the time of creation.Sotheby?s states: "The first two parts are attributed on their title-pages to a Francisci Alleius and comprise an explication of his 'new method of astrology' and comments and observations on 'the fate of the universe. ' The third part is a commentary on the preceding two sections by the Capuchin Yves de Paris, who is presumed to be the true author of the entire work. Expurgated editions, themselves very rare, were printed in Paris in 1654-56 and Rennes in 1658."While the contents give no indication of the publisher, printer or place, the printer?s device of Nicolas Oudot, Troyes, founder of the Bibliothèque bleue, is engraved on the first title. Caillet III, 11557. Thorndike VIII, 310ff. Peignot, Dictionnaire des livres condamnés au feu II, 204f. , Size : Folio (343x215mm)., Two illustrated titles with woodcut engraved printer?s devices, the first depicting a flower filled basket, the second a fruit filled bowl; woodcut engraved floral initials and head pieces at openings; moreover, five astrological figures; of these twelve (12) are moveable parts and five (5) fixed; of the five, three have retained their threaded marker., Armorial bookplate on upper pasted endpaper., References : Brunet I, 185; Caillet III, 11557; Dorbon, Bib. Estoterica 61; Houzeau and Lancaster 5217. Thorndike VIII, 310ff. Peignot, Dictionnaire des livres condamnés au feu II, 204f. , Ll: bl., vol I: [2], pp.12; vol II: pp.57, [p.1]; vol III: pp. 26; bl. Collation: e1-2, A1-C2; A1-N2, O1-3; A1-F2, G1; bl. with watermark small lower marginal tears at B1, 2 and N2; some contemporary ink under linings; wide margin paper. Overall, this rare work is in very good condition. …

4to (175 x 220 mm). 138, (4), (31) pp. With 10 volvelles complete with 10 moving parts. French manuscript in brown ink on laid paper watermarked with a crown, wheel, and the letters "G.R." (Dutch, ca. 1750). Volvelles drawn and mounted on thicker, unwatermarked laid paper. Bound in 20th century quarter vellum. "Peignot II, 204f. Thorndike VIII, pp. 310-312. Dorbon-Ainé 61f. Houzeau/L. 5217 ("excessively rare this work was burned due to the predictions it contains. The first edition is the only complete one, the two further editions were expurgated"). Caillet III, 11557 ("the first edition, extremely rare, was burnt in Nantes or Rennes by the censorship officials")." Sole recorded witness of a vernacular translation of this forbidden, volvelle-laden manual of prognostication, burned upon publication at the orders of the Bishop of Nantes. Appearing in 1654 as the "Astrologiae Nova Methodus", the work was immediately condemned (cf. Caillet and Dorbon) and is excessively rare in census today; no vernacular translation is known to have been published. - The treatise was deemed offensive due to the predictions of 5 volvelles in the second section, which offer horoscopes for Islam, Christianity, France, Spain, and England. The "Figure de la Secte Mahometane" found here on pp. 127-131 dare to give a horoscope of the Prophet Mohammed and a list of significant events in the history of Islam - including the suggestion that a quarter of the world will be Islamic by 1703 (mistranscribed here as 1603); the horoscope of Christianity also includes dire predictions up to 1800. The predictions for the fate of England which had caused a serious diplomatic dispute - resulting in the English ambassador demanding the book be suppressed - are curiously avoided here, and the commentary instead ends during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In the more common censured editions of the "Astrologiae Nova Methodus", neither these 5 volvelles nor any part of their textual elaborations are included. - The present manuscript certainly advertises itself as a ready for printing, beginning with a preface from the "printer to the reader", in which the author states that he encountered the 1654 Rennes edition by chance and was encouraged to produce his own "ouvrage" of it despite being aware of its censure, "quoique tous les curieux le demandassent avec empressement, nous avons differé de le donner au public, jusqu'a ce qu'il eur essayé la censure des connoisseurs". He explains the scandals attributed to the original as due to minor faults in the original "principles"; "what's more, the particular figures of France, Spain, and England were in any case erroneous thanks to the engraver, whom as we have learned was always drunk". This 18th-century editor explains that he has now corrected certain egregious faults and has simplified a few volvelles. - According to the "Vie de l'Auteur" (pp. 3-6), he is a patriotic native of Arabia Felix; as he explains, among the blessings accorded to this happy nation are fertile soils, medicinal plants, and a large number of illustrious men well-versed in astrology. The original title-page of the Rennes edition attributes the work to a certain Francisco Allaeio, "Christian Arab", but this is probably a pseudonym for Yves de Paris, a Capuchin monk known for his anti-establishment views. The final unpaginated section of the work, following the index, offers a 31-page religious justification for the relevance of astrological prediction, in which the author defends himself as "an innocent Arab proposing the destiny of the universe". - Provenance: likely the great 18th century bibliophile the Duc de La Vallière (1708-80; his sale, 1783, lot 1822). The Abbé Duclos' "Dictionnaire bibliographique, historique et critique des livres rares" (1791) notes a manuscript under exactly the same title as the present work (vol. I, p. 25) and adds the description "in-4. Manuscrit sur papier du XVIIIe Siècle, vendu 12 liv. chez M. de Duc de la Vallière, en.…