[Astrology - Early Printing] John Partridge's 1697 Treatise on Astrology with Woodcut Diagrams Throughout

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An Eclectic Collection: the Library of the La...

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Jun 5, 2017 - Jun 26, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-06-05 12:00:00 2017-06-26 16:10:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : An Eclectic Collection: the Library of the Late Dr. Ivan Gilbert of Columbus https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/an-eclectic-collection-the-library-of-the-late-dr-ivan-gilbert-of-columbus-2429
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• Lot Description

  Partridge, John. DEFECTIO GENITURARUM: BEING AN ESSAY TOWARD THE REVIVING AND PROVING THE TRUE OLD PRINCIPLES OF ASTROLOGY, hitherto neglected, Or, at leastwise, not Observed or Understood. In four parts. The First shewing the Ground and Cause of Error. The Second contains an Examination of those Nativities Printed by Morinus. The Third considers those done by Argol. And, the Fourth those Printed by Mr. Gadbury, in his Collection. Wherein Many things relating to this Science are Handled and Discoursed: but the principal End and Design of the Book is to prove the Power and sole Use of the hileg, in Cases of Life and Death. London: Printed for Benj. Tooke at the Middle-Temple-gate in Fleetstreet, 1697. First Edition.  8 1/4 by 6 1/4 inches in a modern full leather rebinding with new endpages; with the remains of contemporary paneled calf covers laid-down. This work complete in 12 preliminary leaves, 360 pp. Partridge (1644-1714) began as a shoemaker but learned astrology and eventually earned a degree in medicine. (From Wikipedia): "Swift satirized Partridge in the form of a famous predictive hoax. Playing on Partridge's own (generally inaccurate) yearly predictions of deaths of notable individuals, Swift, writing under the pseudonym Isaac Bickerstaff, predicted in a letter published in January 1708 that Partridge himself would die an "infallible death" on 29 March that year. On that date, Swift published another letter (purportedly by a "man employed in the Revenue") confirming Partridge's death. The letter was reprinted by other writers and publishers along with its accompanying eulogy:

  Here five foot deep lyes on his back
  A cobbler, starmonger, and quack…
  Who to the stars in pure good-will,
  Does to his best look upward still.
  Weep all you customers that use
  His pills, his almanacks or shoes."

  Condition

  Lacks the frontis portrait and also lacks the separate 20 page title normally bound with this work, "Flagitiosus Mercurius Flagellatus: or The Whipper Whipp'd." Foxing to the preliminary blank and the title, but generally quite clean thereafter. The binding is solid and sound. The leather rebinding is now rubbed at the edges and the decision to retain the partial contemporary covers may have been ill-advised. Nonetheless an interesting original 17th C. Astrology book with most interesting woodcut charts in the text. 
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