KIRCHER (Athanasius). Lot n° 43

Magnes sive de arte magnetica opus tripartitum. Rome, Lodovico Grignani for Hermann Scheus, 1641. 2 volumes in one in-4, stiff vellum (modern binding). First edition of this important treatise on magnetism and electricity, "a rare work in which Kircher is ahead of his time" (Dorbon). It is dedicated to the emperor Ferdinand III. The illustration consists of a title-frontispiece (of 2), 32 copper-engraved plates out of the text and numerous wood-engraved figures in the text, of which 3 are full-page. "In this first and rare edition of Kircher's celebrated work, the learned Jesuit deals with electrics as well as magnetics, showing great versatility and encyclopaedic knowledge. He controversies Gilbert's theories in magnetism and those of Kepler in astronomy. He was a decided anti-Copernican. The noun magnetism occurs frequently [...], while the compound electro-magnetismus is the astonishing title of a chapter beginning p. 640. The work contains many original experiments and demonstrations" (Wheeler Gift). The work consists of three parts: the first describes the magnet and its properties, the second deals with the applications of magnetism, and the third discusses various related subjects, such as physics, astronomy, natural magic, nautical art, the movement of planets, metals, tides, plants, animals, medicine, music and love. The chapter devoted to musical magnetism for the treatment of illnesses is particularly curious; it includes the tunes that must be played to cure the bite of the tarantula. Missing the general title-frontispiece. Some foxing and a few slightly browned leaves. Merrill, no. 4 - Sommervogel, IV, 1046 - Wheeler Gift, no. 116 - Norman, no. 1215 - Wellcome, III, 394 - Ferguson, I, 467 - Dorbon, no. 2386 (ed. 1654).