FLUDD (Robert). Utriusque Cosmi Maioris scilicet... Lot 129

FLUDD (Robert). Utriusque Cosmi Maioris scilicet et minoris metaphysica, physica atque technica Historia... [Et] Tractatus secundus de naturae simia seu technica macrocosmi historia... [Et] Tomus secundus De Supernaturali, Naturali, Praeternaturali et Contranaturali Microcosmi historia, in Tractatus tres distribuuta. Oppenheim and Frankfurt, De Bry, 1617-1624-1619. 3 volumes collected 2 vol. in-4 thus constituted: First volume: I. Utriusque Cosmi Maioris scilicet et minoris metaphysica, physica atque technica Historia... Oppenheim, de Bry, 1617: [1] engraved frontispiece title, 206-[6] pp. ; II. Tractatus secundus de naturae simia seu technica macrocosmi historia... Frankfurt, de Bry, 1624 : [1] engraved frontispiece title, 788-[10] pp. Second volume: Tomus secundus De Supernaturali, Naturali, Praeternaturali et Contranaturali Microcosmi historia, in Tractatus tres distributa. Oppenheim, de Bry, 1619. [1] f. (faux-titre)-277-191-[1]-[10] pp. (followed by numerous modern blank ff. in fine). Brown calf, spine ribbed (contemporary bindings much restored, gilt faded). First volume: pp. 4-5 are missing. The following leaves are reproduced in facsimile: I. A2, B, B4, F, F2, F4, G, H and the folding plate; II. A1 (title), V4 and following plate, Y2, Y3, Rr3, the 4 plates corresponding to pp. 409-412, Lll4, Zzz2, Dddd2. Light spotting in places (more pronounced in a few places), pages browned in places, paper missing from folio FF2, worm gallery on last few pages. Second volume: folio Ee is reproduced in facsimile. Small wormholes in upper margin, a few browned pages. The encyclopedia constituted by Robert Fludd's Utriusque cosmi historia, which here harmoniously orchestrates the Rosicrucian themes of the 17th century, was published in several parts between 1617 and 1626. The seven treatises (of the 9 planned) are divided between studies devoted to the macrocosm (volume I: 1617 and 1618) and the microcosm (volume II: 1619 to 1626). The first volume deals with metaphysics, the theory of the universe, sciences and arts while the second volume deals with the human being, under different aspects (psychological sciences, anatomy, esotericism...). The first part of volume I presents an illustrated history of creation, from nothingness (represented by a curious engraving on a completely blackened plate) to the distillation process by which Fludd believes the world was created. The second treatise of the first volume takes up in turn occult mathematics, occult harmonics and the theory of music, occult theories of vision and optics, not forgetting the occult theory of fortification and military strategy with the help of numerous plates. Clock-making, cosmology and astrology, as well as other occult disciplines, are also presented. The second volume contains here the second part only of this second volume; itself divided into two sections, each with its own title page and pagination; in fine, the errata and index are common to both parts. Rare collection of these three parts of the History of the Macrocosm and Microcosm of the English physician, Rosicrucian, Paracelsian physicist, astrologer and mystic Robert Fludd (1574-1637) illustrated with numerous copper and wood engravings in the text and on full page (+ a few off-text ones here in later reproduction) engraved by Jean-Théodore and Jean-Israël de Bry and their brother-in-law Mathieu Mérian "A very rare and much sought-after treatise on the Macrocosm of Robert Fludd with many very beautiful and curious engravings by Jean Théodore de Bry" according to Caillet. "A most curious work of an encyclopedical character by the famous Rosicrucian, adorned by remarkable engravings" Duveen. (Caillet 4042; Duveen p. 222; Ferguson I, 283.)