Antoine Mizauld. 2 works - Ephemeris Coelestis anni huius labentis 1555..., Explicatio et Usus Coelestis Ephemeridis

Two related, and likely printed simultaneously, works of Antonio Mizauld, defining correlations between celestial movements and their effects on health for the year 1555.

The first book is mostly monthly tables, for 1555, relating health to movements of the heavens. The second work is an explanation, providing the user/reader a reference guide to the first work. It was likely printed with a separate title page and collation so that purchasers could re-use the second book in future years, needing to only buy updated tables.

Provenance -

The title page has an old faded inscription; under black light, and with light from the back (to see through the repair) it seems to say, "Contremarq (?).... A le Coq". Since the printer was located at the sign of the two roosters, it seems that this is an inscription from the printer verifying that this was sold at the shop; perhaps this was a method for fighting illegal printings.

The ticket of the Harvard astronomer and historian of science, Owen Gingerich, is found on the front endpapers. Notes on the rarity of the work are under the ticket, indicating he wrote them.

Bibliographic Details -

Ephemeris... 1555, Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 151790, 6 copies recorded in the world's libraries; two in France, three in Italy and one at Corpus Christi Oxford.

Explicatio et Usus Coelestis, Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 151800, 8 copies recorded in the world's libraries.

Worldcat OCLC catalogue numbers 22915194 and 22915576

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 17 x 12 x 1 cm. Limp vellum binding. Printer's mark of unicorn on both title pages. Both works have tables of information.

Not paginated. Collation - A-C8, D4, a-e8. Collates complete.

Condition -

See pictures. Vellum with light waviness and some stain marks; on rear board is a sewn repair (old). Binding ties are missing with pinholes where they were tacked on. Small chip at top of spine. The pastedowns are lifted, exposing the back of the vellum and the ties. Edges of blank unpaginated endpapers damaged. Ex libris ticket on one endpaper, with "very rare, not in NVC, BN, or BL; Paris (obs?) only". Title page edge damage repaired in an amateur way (older restoration). Very faded inscription on title page, and darkening and stain. Throughout text block toning and occasional fox spot. Also, occasional page edge chip, dog-eared corner, thumbing, candle-ember mark, etc.