FIRMIN DE BEAUVAL

Firminus Repertorium de mutatione aeris tam via astrologica, quam metheorologica, pristino nitori restitutum, per Philippum Iollainum Blereium, cum scholiis eiusdem. Firmin de Beauval.

      Parisiis,, J. Kerver,, 1539, Second Edition. Hard Cover, 11 x 8 Inches. Very Good/Fine/No Jacket.¶ Second edition of a work connecting astrology with atmospheric changes, with the possibility of weather prediction. It was the earliest printed work to do this. It was originally written in 1338 [Thorndike, L. His. Magic & Exp. Science III]. The book is divided into seven sections, and Duhem says that it was placed in the same rank with the Colliget Medicinae of Averroes, because it was spoken of as the Colliget Astrologiae. It is a compendium of meteorological knowledge not only of the 14th century, but of the middle ages. Hellmann notes 23 ancient sources such as Alkindi, Ptolemy and Albumasar. It was originally written in 1338 [Thorndike, L. Hist. Magic & Exp. Science III], and first published anonymously in 1485 with title "Opusculü repertorii pronosticon in mutationes aeris". This is the first edition to contain the scholarly notes by Phil. Iollainus of Blery. Contents include the influence of planets on meteorological phenemena, seasons and climates; global changes due to conjunctions and eclipses; predictions concerning rain; and more. Astrological tables in the text. Woodcut printer's mark on title as well as some criblé initials. Drucke, Wolfenb. II, p. 547; Sarton, III,1, p. 657-8; Hellmann, Meteorology,16; Thorndike, III, Ch. 18 (IV, p. 549); Thorndike,L. His. Magic & Exp. Science III[1934] Chapter 18. Unnoted in Dorbon or Caillet. Adams, F 508, Kiessling, Nicolas K. The Library of Robert Burton. Oxford: Oxford Bib. Society, 1988; Adams,F 508; BM STC French, p.166; NUC lists only one copy (Harvard), OCLC adds 1 Loc. [CDS]. There also is a copy at the Bodleian Library. Book measures 11" x 8". Washed, the leaves show some soiling along edges but are generally clean & bright. Expert repair to soiled blank corners of many leaves, In a recent vellum binding using an old antiphonal leaf with additional vellum ties, replaced endpapers..