Skip to product information
Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare illustrated detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
1/14
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare illustrated detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare selected detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare example image of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare selected detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare highlight from the volume of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare selected detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare fascinating view of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare illustrated detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare image of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare selected detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare representative view of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare example from the work of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare view of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare sample view of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare illustrated detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare selected detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare example image of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare selected detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare highlight from the volume of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare selected detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare fascinating view of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare illustrated detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare image of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare selected detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare representative view of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare example from the work of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare view of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
  • Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare sample view of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii

Unlock the secrets of palm-reading and physiognomy… maybe.

Praetorius, Johannes

Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii
Seu Thesaurus Chiromantiae Locupletissimus: multis Jocis & amoenitatibus, pluribus tamen seriis instructissimus: Ex omnibus, qui prostant, & de chiromantia seu pro, seu contra; vel multum, vel parum literarum monumentis consignarunt, Scriptoribus refertissimus: plurimis perspicuis Iconibus, evidentibus experimentis, & singulari Mnemonica Methodo elaboratissimus: in quo utilitas cum jucunditate pari passu ambulant; uti praefatum ulterius declarabit
Automated English translation:

The Chiromantic Entertainment Of Praetorius, Or The Treasury Of Palmistry, Most Complete: With Many Jokes And Amusements, Yet Filled With Many Serious Instructions: Drawn From All Those Who Have Written For Or Against Chiromancy, Whether Much Or Little, Or Have Recorded It In Literary Monuments; Most Richly Supplied With Numerous Clear Illustrations, Evident Experiments, And A Unique Mnemonic Method; In Which Usefulness And Pleasure Go Hand In Hand, As Will Be Further Explained In The Preface.

1661, Leipzig (Lipsiae), Johan Bartholom Oehleri

First edition

£1,235.00 GBP

Overview

A fascinating practical guide to chiromancy (palm reading) and other forms of divination, such as metoposcopy (reading of forehead lines) and physiognomy (analysis of facial features).
Praetorius lived during the Baroque period, when science, superstition, and philosophy frequently overlapped. He belonged to a class of learned men deeply interested in the mystical, magical, and folkloric, and he played a significant role in collecting and documenting popular beliefs and occult traditions in early modern Germany.
For this reason, he is considered a precursor to folklorists and ethnographers. His writings offer modern scholars valuable insight into the mentalities and imaginations of 17th-century Europeans.

Inside the book

The work Ludicrum Chiromanticum is divided into several parts and reflects the author’s scientific training, with repeated astrological references. As with Copernicus, Praetorius chooses to invoke the figure of the legendary Hermes Trismegistus. The first part of the work introduces the fundamental terms of “chirosophy.” The second, shorter part consists of a type of manual for recognizing destinies or events through the study of the hand (long life, short life, illnesses, violent death, etc.). The third part introduces “chirology,” asserting without hesitation that Chiromantia est scientia, and elaborates on everything only hinted at in the first part: the lines of the hand, mounts, fingers, nails, with a focus on the correct proportions of the hand. Subsequently, the author presents works by various philosophers and physicians, including Robert Fludd’s Chiromantia and the Chiromantia of Balthasar Summer and Samuel Kelner. Of particular interest is the section “Bibliotheca Chiromantica,” which lists the principal publications on the subject, such as the works of Achillini, Cardano, Cocles, Corvus, Gaurico, Göckel, Piccioli, and Tricasso. The Ludicrum concludes with a treatise on metoposcopy. Noteworthy is the richly illustrated frontispiece, showing in the lower left the figures of Hermes Trismegistus, Johannes Indagine, and Rudolph Göckel. Despite being presented as the most comprehensive treatise on chiromancy, the work was never reprinted. From: QUERINIANA CHIROMANTICA. Exhibition of ancient books from the catalogue of the Biblioteca Queriniana. Curated by Enrico Dilda, with the collaboration of Elena Avanzi, Giulia Brunelli, and Angela Valentino. Biblioteca Queriniana, Atrio Antico, 13 July – 28 August 2021. Praetorius, Johann. Ludicrum Chiromanticum, impensis Johannis Bartholom. Oehleri bibl. Lips., Leipzig, 1661. [10a.S.IV.47]

Why La Fenice chose it

The palm-reading amusement of Praetorius” - a pretty charming figure in the history of ideas - mixes popular science and (ehm) reliable sources with a touch of suspicion. It’s packed with curious illustrations that could turn you into a respectable psychic, if you believe it; if you don’t, it guides you instead through the Baroque love of all things curious and quirky. Honestly, this is exactly our vibe.
Condition Report

Pp. [1] f.e., [12] incl. illustrated frontispiece (wrong pagination); 36, 856 + [1] folded plate; [2], 14, 857-1026 (pp. 100-126 all wrongly numbered 1000-10026); 301-340, [60], [1] r.e.

Contemporary full stiff parchment binding withmanuscript title on spine (some minor staining); blue edges (faded). Small restored loss to the title page, not affecting the text. Leaves faintly yellowed, with some slightly browned. Some margins somewhat short, with a couple of illustrations showing folded edges. Richly decorated engraved frontispiece, followed by typographic title page with a small woodcut ornament. Woodcut ornaments, tailpieces throughout the volume. Numerous in-text woodcut illustrations and 1 folded plate between p. 8-9 (first numeration). The copy shows some age-related signs but overall charming.
Reference: Caillet 8950; Fitzherbert 487; Sabattini 443.

Dimensions (inches): 8 x 6.5 x 2.5
About the author

Born in Bohemia in 1537, Johann Richter (known as Praetorius) distinguished himself as a mathematician and astronomer at the University of Wittenberg and is especially remembered as the inventor of the “tavoletta pretoriana,” an instrument used for transcribing topographical surveys.
or ask us a question

Condition & Provenance Reports

Additional notes and photographs available by request.

Insured & Signature Shipping

Secure, fully insured delivery requiring signature. Gift wrapping available on request.

Collector & Wants-List Service

Submit wants lists for tailored notifications and acquisition support.

You may also like