Lavater, Ludwig Von Gespänsten, unghüren, fälen,... Lot n° 896

Occulta Lavater, Ludwig Of the spooks, the hurricanes, the falses, and other miraculous things that happen when people die, or when there are other great things and changes, a short and simple report. Zurich, Christoph Froschauer, 1569. 8 nn. Bll., 127 num. Bll. Kl.-8°. Pgt. d. (somewhat stained and dusty). First German edition of a great rarity. - In the Latin translation, this book became one of the most successful books on the subject for decades after 1570. Nevertheless, it is now a very rare and curious work on ghosts, demons and miraculous apparitions. - Ludwig Lavater (1527-1586) was considered one of the most interesting personalities in Zurich church history in his time. L. had a peculiar predilection for all sorts of out-of-the-way and bizarre things... his most famous work was his study of hauntings and ghostly apparitions, which was later translated into many languages, a work that continues to attract attention (Martin Schmid). Ludwig L. is a direct ancestor of Johann Caspar Lavater. - Bound in: as mentioned above. - Contemporary vellum (somewhat soiled and dusty). - Partly slightly browned, isolated pages brownstained. Title verso with stamp of a private previous owner. "First German edition of a great rarity. - VD 16 L 834. Vischer C 811. Hayn-Gotendorf III, 213. cf. ADB XVIII, 83 f. Rosenthal. Bibl. mag. et pneumatica (cat. 31-35), 1888: ""Probably first, rare, German edition"". Grässe Bibl. mag. et pneumat. 81. Not in Rudolphi, Verzeichnis der Druckwerke bei Froschauer in Zürich (mentions only the later edition of 1578). - In Latin translation, this book became one of the most successful books on the subject for decades after 1570. Nevertheless, it is now a very rare and curious work on ghosts, demons and miraculous apparitions. - Ludwig Lavater (1527-1586) was considered one of the most interesting figures in Zurich church history in his day. ""L. had a peculiar predilection for all sorts of out-of-the-way and bizarre things.... most famous became his investigation on hauntings and ghostly apparitions, which was translated into many languages afterwards, a work that is always worthy of attention."" (Martin Schmid). L. Lavater is a direct ancestor of Johann Caspar Lavater. - Pre-bound: Melanchthon, Philippus. - Kurzer Bericht, Wie der Ehrwirdig unser lieber Vater und Praeceptor Philippus Melanthon (sic!) sein Leben hie auff Erden geendet, und gantz Christlich beschlossen hat ... Written by the Professoribus of the Universitet Witteberg.... With woodcut title portrait of the reformer. Frankfurt/M., (David Zöpfel), 1560. 55 Bll. - VD 16 B 8246. Hartfelder 634, No. 234 e. - In the same year editions were published in Wittenberg and Nuremberg. - Partly slightly browned, isolated pages brownspotted. Title verso with stamp of a private previous owner." *