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FORTUNIO LICETI

Hieroglyphica siue Antiqva Schemata Gemmarvm Anvlarivm, Qvaesita Moralia, Politica, Historica, Medica, Philosophica, & Sublimiora, Omnigenam eruditionem, & altiorem Sapientiam attingentia, diligenter explicata Responsis Fortvnii Liceti. Genvensis ex L. com. In Lyceo Patauino Medici Theorici Supremi.

Patavii (Padua), Typis Sebastiani Sardi, 1653. 4-to (23,0 x 31,7 cm). Pp. (20), 440. Contemp. vellum, spine with 5 raised bands and handwritten title in ink. Collation: §4, §§2, ++4, A-Z4, Aa-Zz4, Aaa-Iii4. Rare Italian emblem book (not in JAP since 1950). Fortunio Liceti (Fortunius Licetus, 1577–1657), was an Italian physician, astronomer, philosopher and scientist. He was born in Rapallo (Genova province), studied at the University of Bologna, where he was awarded doctorates in medicine and philosophy. After that he was lecturer at the University of Pisa from 1600 till 1609, first in logic and then in philosophy. In 1609 he was assigned a chair in philosophy at the University of Padova where he remained until his death, except for a period at Bologna between 1636 and 1645 to lecture medicine there. In Padua he likewise taught medicine. In 1616 he published a famous work on genetic anomalies and malformations of the embryo, ” De monstruorum natura, caussis, natura, et differentiis libri duo”. Liceti was inspired by Aristotle on whose teachings he was a great expert. In 1618 he affirmed the spontaneous generation of living beings in his “De spontaneo Viventium Ortu”. In that theory, Liceti followed the Aristotelian theory of four causes as explained in Aristotle’s “Generation of Animals”. Liceti’s discussion about this subject enjoyed much success in Itally and his theory was litterally absorbed into that of the famous Jesuit father, Athanasius Kircher (1602 – 1680), who provoked lively debates on the issue all over Europe. Liceti surveyed a wide range of subjects and in 1640 he published “Litheosphorus, sive de lapide Bononiensi lucem”. In this work he contested the idea that the feeble light of the waning moon was due to the reflection of the sun’s rays on the earth’s surface, maintaining that the cause was to besought in the sun’s illumination of the area surrounding the lunar mass. Liveti stated that, like the phosphorescent “Lucifer Stone of Bologna”, the moon had the property of retaining light, in opposition to Gallileo Gallilei who saw in that phenomenon simply the reflection of the earth’s surfae, lit up by the sun.Liceti’s writings attest to the multiplicity of his interests and in his later works he dealt also with more esoteric subjects like animal spirits, mysticism, phosphorescence, numismatics and gems. This work, published when he worked at the University of Padua, is one of those later publications and it “covers all aspects of contemporary human knowledge” (Landwehr) by providing a large and detailed series of discussions and explanations on the different subjects. These subjects are furthermore displayed on the engraved gems, set in rings (gemmarum anularium). This is done in 60 Antiqua Schemata Gemmarum Anularium into which the "Hieroglyphica" is divided. The Schema prima Gemmae entitled “Trium Cupidinum, Voluptuosum tyrannidem in geminos Amores probos passem exercere” and the Schema LX entitled “Meditatio frequens & intensa quatuor nonissimorum retrahit homines a vitijs ad virtutes & veram pictatem”. Each of these Schemata is preceded by an emblematic copper-engraving (usually ca 10,5 x 14,5 cm) with the relevant motto. Most of these emblematic engravings after Peter Stephan (Apud Petrum Stephanonium in Gemma). There are furthermore 5 extra text-engravings, including a repetition of Georgi’s title-vignette on p. 331.Most of the text are citations, taken from other authorities (more than 500 of these are cited in the index, a.o. Leo Allatius (Leone Allacci, theologian and librarian from Greece, but living in Italy), Baldassare Bonifacio (1586 – 1659) bishop of Capodistria, Felix Osius (1587 – 1631 – chair of rhetorics at Padua), Gabriel Naudeus (1600 – 1653) and of course Aristotle, Homer, herodotus, Galenus and Erasmus). Altogether, Liceti’s theories appear rather speculative in nature. The work is dedicated to Christina Augusta of Sweden. There exist copies with 2 different versions of this dedication; the first (as in our copy) is dated January 1653, the other one 1630; the text of this version also being shorter. We join a facsimile of this other version.Most of the 66 large emblematic text-engravings after Peter Stephan (Apud Petrum Stephanonium in Gemma). The full-page author’s portrait and the title vignette engraved by Johann Georgi (1617 – 1656, Benezit IV,210), as well as a.o an engraving on p. 357. Furthermore head- and tail-pieces (including 3 large ones), several woodcut initials (including 6-line initials) and several text-woodcuts. Bibliographical references printed in the margins.Provenance: on title-page “S. Bonaventura Venetiarum” and on portrait-leaf “est Bibliotheca conventum S. Bonav. Venetiorum” – probably Convento Patrum Reformatorum S. Francisci Sancti Bonaventurae Venetiarum.The last 10 (index)leaves (Kkk – Lll4, Mmm2) missing, the actual text of the work being complete. The 10 missing index-leaves are supplied in facsimile. These index- leaves contain Index autorum, the Index Rerum, ac Verborum memorabilium and 2 pages with the 75 publications by Liceti. The portrait (leaf §4) misbound (before instead of after the dedication to Queen Christina. Several leaves with paper-related browning, leaf Aaa4 with small defect and margins of leaves §1 (title-page) and V4 strengthened, but otherwise a very well-kept and well-bound copy with strong prints.

-- Zaal Books

Book number: 21893

€ 525.00 [Appr.: US$ 659.24 | £UK 420.5 | JP¥ 52369]

Keywords: iconology; device books; heraldry; hieroglyphs; Emblems; Gems; Seals; Numismatics; Symbolism; emblemata; esoterie; physionomie; astrologie; astrology; physionomy; Padua; Aristoteles; Christina von Schweden; iconologie; edelstenen; numismatiek; esoterik