Lot 267: PORTA, GIOVANNI BATTISTA DELLA.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Natural Magick... in Twenty Books... Wherein are set forth All the Riches and Delights Of the Natural Sciences. London: for Thomas Young and Samuel Speed, 1658

first english edition, 4to (269 x 171mm.), engraved title, title in red and black, woodcut initials and illustrations, index at end, modern calf with morocco lettering-piece, occasional spotting and browning, mispaginations at p.129 and pp.385-392, lacking two leaves

Wing P2982; Norman 1726

Porta's Magia naturalis was first published in a four book version in 1558. It is an uncritical compilation of the fantastical and the empirical, discussing subjects such as demonology, magnetism and the camera obscura. An expanded twenty book version was published in 1589, and it is from this expanded edition that the present English translation is derived. The engraved title is by Robert Gaywood.