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Ludicrum Chiromanticum Praetorii by Praetorius, Johannes, a rare illustrated detail of the 1661 - curiosa & occulta book.
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  • 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 [...]

1661, Leipzig (Lipsiae), Johan Bartholom Oehleri

First edition

$1,550 USD

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

This first Latin edition is contemporaneous with the German version; both were published in Leipzig in 1661, but likely targeted different readerships: the Latin edition (printed by Johann Wittigau, Typis Joh. Wittigavi) was aimed at scholars and collectors of curiosities, while the German edition (issued by Johann Friedrich Gleditsch) was intended for educated lay audiences and the popular market. The collation is complex, showing the rich history of this volume and many sources of information collected together. The first pagination (1-856) after the introduction (1-36) is dedicated to chiromancy, in several chapters; it includes also a treaty by Robert Fludd at pp. 157-190.The second consequent pagination (857-1026) continues after another intro (1-14) with metoposcopy. The third part, numbered 301-340 is also about metoposcopy, and it collects the work of Philippi Phinella, published in Anwerp in 1648. The complex symbolic illustrated frontispice (before the titlepage) visually encapsulates the core themes of Praetorius’s work. The Central figure (The Head and Hands) symbolize metoposcopy and chiromancy. The Latin phrase at the top “Docebo Vos per manum Dei” (“I will teach you by the hand of God”), suggests a divine or mystical endorsement of the art. At the bottom there are groups of people, possibly representing practitioners, students, or clients engaged in palmistry or fortune telling, showing the practice’s role in society, with a hint of criticism and suspicion: in fact, while some women are saying good fortune to a man, a child takes advantage of the situation to rob him.

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

Hans Schultze, better known by his Latinized name Johannes Praetorius (1630, 1680). A German historian, philosopher, and polymath, Praetorius is best known for his writings on folklore, the occult, astrology, and supernatural phenomena. His works often combine scholarly discourse with anecdotes and satire, making them both informative and entertaining.

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