Chiromancy, Astrology and Mathematics of 16th century. TAISNIER, Jean. Opus mathematicum octo libris complectens, innumeris propemodum figuris idealibus manuum et physiognomiae, aliisque adornatum, quorum sex priores libri absolutissimae cheiromantiae theoricam. Coloniae Agrippinae, apud Theod. Baumium, 1583

In-folio, 300x198mm; Old parchment boards; pp. (12), 624, (6); Woodcut device depicting Adam and Eve on title, large woodcut portrait of the author on verso of title, repeated on verso of last, 1713 small woodcuts illustrating hands for palmistry, seven small cuts of allegories of the planets, repeated, 41 cuts of human physiognomies, 76 astrological tables, and one full page table, fine floriated initials, Italic letter. Small armorial label on pastedown “Comes de Solms”, old library stamp on the title, old annotation, some deleted, on the title and beneath the portrait. Some old marginalia and underlining to text. Marginal spotting and staining, some leaves browned towards the end, a few dark spots, unsophisticated good copy.

Very rare edition. One of the most complete and richly illustrated works on chiromancy, astrology, physiognomy and divination of the sixteenth century, by the teacher, astrologer, mathematician and musician Jean Taisnier who was conversant with both the sciences and the occult arts, subjects interconnected in the academic mind of the day. Thorndike: “Taisnier posed as a distinguished specialist in the art of chiromancy. He asserted, like Cocles, that his judgement had never gone astray in the examination of human hands, and he gives many instances of his successful past readings of palms. After consulting many painters, he found it advisable to draw his own figures of hands in order to have them exact.” This work is divided into eight chapters though is really three works; the first and largest deals with chiromancy, the second with physiognomy and the third with astrology. The first part dedicated to chiromancy was probably the most heavily illustrated and analytical work of its kind in its time, dealing with every aspect of the art Six of the sections of the book are devoted to the study of hands and there are literally thousands of diagrams of hands in the text illustrating various line formations and their meanings. He reproduces many of the traditional marks and signs in these diagrams, including those indicative of riches and inheritances as well as the many marks indicating the manner of death. He did however, approach the study of the hand from a very astrological perspective and was keen to perceive the two studies in relation to one another. He spends some time considering the significance and meaning of the planets and carefully allocates the planets to the various parts of the hand. Jupiter, Saturn, Apollo and Mercury have dominion of the digital mounts, as has been established for some time now, and Venus and the Moon rule the thenar and hypothenar areas of the palm respectively. Taisnier was also an accomplished scientist of his day, a doctor of law, a medical man, a mathematician and a philosopher. Taisnier is therefore a very good example of the ideal Renaissance Man, conversant with both the sciences and the occult arts, a chiromancer and yet also an astrologer. Adams T70; Caillet III, 10524; Graesse VI, 122; Houzeau & Lancaster 4885; Thorndike V, 580 et seq.