PARACELSUS

Practica...gemacht auff Europen, anzufahen in dem nechstkunfftigen Dreyssigsten Jar, Biss auff das Vier und Dreyssigst nachuolgend

      Large woodcut on title. 8 unnumbered leaves. Small 4to, modern black morocco in the Jansenist style by Laurenchet. [Nuremberg: F. Peypus, 1529].pA variant printing of the first edition of Paracelsus' second printed work; all books by this author printed during his lifetime are of the greatest rarity. The printing recorded by Sudhoff -- with the same place and printer -- contains six printed leaves; our copy has eight leaves. In Sudhoff 2, the Practica ends on A4v and the "An die Astronomos" occupies B1r-B2r; in our copy the Practica ends on the top of B2v with the "An die Astronomos" occupying the rest of B2r-B4r. The copy in the Wellcome Library is identical to our example. In this slender work, Paracelsus demonstrates his skill in astrological forecasts. It was a very successful book with at least five printings in 1529 and 1530 (including Nuremberg, Augsburg, and Strasbourg). See Sudhoff for a lengthy description of the woodcut on the title-page. Very good copy. Final leaf with a repaired hole affecting about three words. Sudhoff 2!(variant not known to him). Zinner 1387!(issue not determined). This variant unknown to VD16.. First Edition. Hard cover.