Pseudo-Agrippa, Henricus Cornelius (1486-1535) (& others)

On Astrology: containing the Fourth Book of Agrippa, Peter de Abano's Magical Elements, and A discourse on the nature and Offices of Spirits by Dr. Villinganus. Illustrated with pen-drawn figures of sigils, magical names, etc.

c. 1766

1 volume 69 ll. 4to. 211/2 x 17 cm. Paper covers. Title-page, a section before, and a section after the work by Petrus de Abano, and the end of the last work wanting. Upper part of the first leaf torn away, some margins damaged.

Purchased 1925.

This MS. is an incomplete transcript of the work entitled: 'Henry Cornelius Agrippa his Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy. Of geomancy [by Gerardus Cremonensis]. The nature of spirits by G. Pictorius. Arbatel of magick. Translated into English by Robert Turner. J. C. for John Harrison. London. 1655'. This is the B.M. Catalogue entry for a copy of the first edition. There is also an entry for a 1665 edition, printed by J. C. for Tho. Rooks.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

In this MS. on the verso of the last leaf of the first work is an inscription: 'John Parry's Book August ye. 19. M766[?]', the date struck through, and the 7 apparently altered. Below this is written: 'London Printed 1663'. No edition of 1663 is recorded in Wing. A few leaves are written in a slightly later script. On the outer cover is the signature of Albert J. Clarke, who is the writer of the title as given above [c. 1850].