ALBERTUS MAGNUS (Pseudo-).

Two treatises on magic and the marvels of the Universe attributed to Albertus Magnus in a very rare Antwerp edition of 1502 [Liber aggregationibus] De virtutibus herbarum. De virtutibus lapidum. De virutibus animalium et mirabilibus mundi. Item parvum regimen sanitatis valde utile.

      Antwerp, Govaert Bac, 1502. - 4to. Nineteenth-century polished calf with double gilt lines along the edges of both sides, gilt spine with title lettered in gold, marbled endpapers, gilt inner dentelles. With a full-page woodcut (115 x 84 mm) of a monk offering a book to a prince, repeated on the verso of the title; and full-page woodcut of the printer's device of Govaert Bac on the verso of the last leaf (133 x 84 mm): 'g [masters mark] b' cut within a birdcage on a black fond, with the coat of arms of Antwerp underneath (see NAT II, 5-6); rubricated in red throughout. 36 lvs. (Collation: a8, b4, c8, d4, e8, f4). 36 ll. to a page. Fourth copy known of this very rare post-incunable edition, and the fourth edition of this text printed in the Netherlands, of these two very popular treatises: (1) The book of secrets of Albertus Magnus, or Experiments, but mostly referred to as the Liber aggregationis: a combined work in which are described the virtues, real or imagined, of plants, stones, and animals. The plants, stones - the stones part includes numerous gemstones -, and animals are each briefly described and magical properties explained, and (2) De mirabilibus mundi, on the marvels of the Universe, that covers a variety of topics: astrology, zoology, astronomy, medicine, and physiology. These two treatises are sometimes attributed to Albertus Magnus (ca. 1193-1280), sometimes to Albertus of Saxonia, but nowadays considered to belong to the spurious works of Albertus. Added are (1) a section on maintaining one's health, the Regimen sanitatis attributed to Benedictus Kanuti (f. 24v-26r), and (2) the anonymous Quaestiones naturalis philosophorum (f. 26v-36r). Thorndike devoted an entire chapter to 'Three treatises ascribed to Albertus Magnus but usually considered spurious: Experimenta Alberti (=1), De mirabilibus mundi (=2), De secretis mulierum (not in this edition)'. The two treatises already circulated under Albert Magnus' name in the middle ages and appeared in numerous editions in the early years of printing, proving that these brief collections of superstitious experiments and sensational marvels were even more popular than Albert's longer, more difficult and argumentative, theological and scientific works.In the first treatise the author intends to make use of Kiranides and the book of Alcorath, later said to be by Hermes, and to speak first of certain herbs, than of certain stones and certain animals and of their virtues, showing the importance of natural objects in magic, and the virtues here ascribed to them are often indeed magical: one may become invisible, not feel pain, boil water instantly, make a rainbow appear, excite love between two persons, or arouse joy, sadness and other emotional and intellectual states, interpret any dream, and prophesy concerning the future, to name only a few instances. The treatise has an experimental character, which is to be classed as one of those 'books of experiments', or 'experimental books', and if this treatise is not by Albert himself, there can at least be little doubt that it pretends to be a product of his experimental school among the Dominicans at Cologne.The second treatise, the 'Marvels of the Universe' contains more theological discussion of the usual scholastic sort than the first, and so approximates rather more nearly to the form of most of Albert's works. The 'Marvels' enters upon a long and learned preliminary discussion of the validity, causes, and principles of magic before beginning its list of particular marvels, showing that the mind can bind and alter objects as it desires; the human soul can alter its own body or exterior objects, especially if its influence concurs with a favourable astrological hour. It further treats the magic power in man and specific marvels. Also a number of cures for certain diseases are described. Many of the recipes aim at magical or optical illusions, f.e. the fabrication of marvellous candles, lights and combustibles, some of which are perhaps akin to modern fi [Attributes: Hard Cover]