Mnemonics (4 results)

First edition. A self-published system for memory improvement from the "self-taught 'Wizard' of the Art of Memory," M.A. Ree, actually Emmerich or Emery Bernauer. This copy warmly inscribed to Felix Guggenheim, German American publisher and literary agent in Los Angeles, and his wife, Evelyn. Bernauer published this booklet and another calledMedical Scrapbook,which he sold via mail and by advertising through magazines such asPopular ScienceandAmazing Stories.The yearMemo-Propwas published, Bernauer had a daughter, also named Evelyn, who went on to become a child tv star starring as "Eloise" in the adaptation of the Kay Thompson book. Evelyn (Rudie) is now the co-artistic director of the Santa Monica Playhouse, as well as a writer and director. She has noted in an email which can be found on occultathesauri, she uses her fathers memory system to this day. Not surprisingly, we find no mention of this publication in OCLC. 11x8.5" [4], 41pp. Inscribed by the author to Felix and Evelyn Guggenheim on the title page. Mimeographed sheets, with tables, illustrations, diagrams, etc. Illustrated card wrappers, staple bound and reinforced with red tape. Few light stains and some toning to covers, small tear along bottom edge. Very good.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Bound in modern stiff vellum with ties. Contents in fine condition, possibly lightly washed. Tiny hole in title patched. Two small stains on leaf Cc1, another in the gutter of lvs. H4 and I1. Illustrated with woodcuts. A rare collection of alchemical texts, the third of which is attributed by the author to Paracelsus. In Part I, the author describes the alchemist's laboratory and the production of various chemical and alchemical substances. It is illustrated with woodcuts of laboratory apparatus (furnaces, alembics, vials, etc.) and mnemonic imagery (animals and people whose anatomy suggest the shapes of the apparatus) accompanying some of the laboratory equipment: an ostrich (paired with a vial), a phoenix (with a distillation vessel commonly known by that name), conjoined twins (a double dyota of the sort used by Raymond Lull), a bear (a kolben), and an ibis (a retort). Part 2 concerns the philosopher's stone, the legendary substance believed to transform base metals into gold and to yield the "elixir vitae"(the Elixir of Life). The pursuit of the Stone requires preliminary alchemical preparations, which are also described in the book: "Philosophical Mercury", "Leo Rubeus"(red sulfur dissolved in Mercury), "Vitriol of Venus"(copper sulfate), etc. Part 3, "A Key and Guide to the Books of Paracelsus", contains instructions for preparing various medicines for ailments both physical and psychological: tincture of Mercury for syphilis, Magisterium of vitriol for "suffocation of the matrix"(i.e. "hysteria", believed to be brought on by uterine disorders), Oil of Saturn for depression and hypochondria, potable gold for rejuvenation, etc. The author tells us that Paracelsus himself wrote this "key" and gave it to a friend, who concealed it rather than publish it. The author, Johann Rhenanus, served as personal physician to Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. SECOND EDITION of the FIRST PART (1st ed. 1613). SECOND EDITION, SECOND ISSUE, of parts 2 and 3. The first part is dated 1623; the other two 1615. Copies of the 1613 ed. bound up with the 1615 parts are known.

147 x 100 mm. (5 3/4 x 4"). 118, [1] leaves. Contemporary limp vellum, flat spine with title written in ink, newer (20th century?) endpapers. With eight half-page woodcuts in the text and 15 full-page woodcuts. Verso of title page with red ink "Duplicate" stamp of the library of Bernard Zufall. Young, "Bibliography of Memory," p. 91; Mortimer, Italian 157 (for 1562 edition, mentioning 1586 edition); EDIT16 CNCE 17422; USTC 827157. See also: Terpening, "Lodovico Dolce, Renaissance Man of Letters." ?Vellum a little wrinkled and somewhat soiled, but the simple binding still sound; first and last two quires with faint dampstain to lower quadrant, occasional minor browning or foxing, but still excellent internally, generally clean and fresh. Using charming woodcuts to help the reader visualize the methods described, this is a treatise on memory that explores how one can systematically employ various tricks and devices to increase retention and preserve information. The work is an Italian paraphrase in dialogue form of the "Congestorium Artificiose Memorie" by Johann Host von Romberch, printed by Giorgio de' Rusconi in 1520 and reprinted by the Sessa press in 1533; both of these earlier editions used the same blocks (except for that on f. H6r, which Mortimer notes is a "close copy" of the original) that appear in the present copy. Dolce's treatise was first printed by the Sessa brothers in 1562. Among the illustrations, there are three of special note: a cut of the human head, its cerebral cavity labelled with parts relevant to the memory; a row of 10 woodcut images of items to be found in a Renaissance library, as tools to be used in a memory system; and, perhaps most significant, a city view that includes the exterior of a bookstore, with books on display in the window. This cut is one of the earliest graphic depictions of the outside of bookselling premises to appear in a book. Italian writer and scholar Lodovico Dolce (1510? - 68) was a highly influential figure in 16th century Venetian art and literature. According to Terpening, Dolce was "responsible for over a quarter of the books published in Venice in his time," including works in most major genres, translations of Greek poetry and plays, and numerous original compositions. As such, he "played a decisive role in the dissemination of culture in the cinquecento." Today Dolce is chiefly remembered for his work "L'Aretino," a dialogue on painting and art criticism. The present copy comes from the library of magician and memory expert Bernard Zufall (1894-1971), known as the "Human Encyclopedia." Zufall amassed the largest known collection of books on mnemonics, in excess of 1,000 titles, which (except for duplicates like the present work) he donated to Yale University.

FIRST EDITION. 140 x 70 mm. (5 1/2 x 3"). 24 p.l., 225, [115] pp. Contemporary stiff vellum, smooth spine with gilt lettering. Added engraved allegorical title page, printer's device on printed title page, wood-engraved head- and tailpieces. Final [114] pages printed vertically. Verso of title page with red ink "Duplicate" stamp of the library of Bernard Zufall. âVellum lightly smudged and with slight crease at one corner, short, thin stain to text of two facing leaves, text versos with small inner margins, bottom edges of charts trimmed very close (sometimes just grazing text, but without costing any complete letters), isolated minor foxing and other trivial defects, but a generally clean and pleasing copy, without any fatal condition issue. This 18th century work on the art of memory comes from the library assembled by a magician known as the "Human Encyclopedia." Bernard Zufall (1894-1971) amassed what was considered to be the largest collection devoted to mnemonics, with more than 1,000 titles; he bequeathed all but a few duplicates (of which this is one) to Yale University. Giovanni Brancaccio (1673 - after 1738) was an attorney in Sicily who also took an interest in literature and medicine, and who had a special curiosity about memory. In this work, he cites feats of memory by historical figures, before presenting tips for memorizing Holy Scripture. This is a book rarely seen in the marketplace, and OCLC finds just eight copies in libraries, three of these in North America.