Zodiac Symbols

❧ Francofurti: Excudebat Nicolaus Hoffmannus,
sumptibus Ionæ Rosæ, mdcxv [1615]. In Latin. 171 × 110 mm (6.73 × 4.33 in.). 8vo. 378 [30] pp., 2 folded leaves of tables, 1 printed on both sides. Woodcut printer’s device on title page (Jonas emerging on shore from a whale’s mouth, surrounded by an ornate border and the motto: ​“Fataviam in venient”). Old ink inscription on title page, possibly from a Jesuit college: ​“Coll. Mut. Jue. Jesú”[?] Good to Very
Good. Bound in 18th century quarter leather over marbled boards. Gilt tooled spine; red leather title label. All edges stained red. Boards rubbed. Heavy but even toning. Rear board is partially punctured, but not affecting text. Top edge trimmed close, with some loss to a few running titles between pages 259 and 293.

An astronomical and astrological text by Henrik Rantzau, a friend of Tycho Brahe. Rantzau describes the movement of celestial bodies and the significance of their positions, including the Sun and Moon. Several astrological symbols and charts appear throughout. A poem dedicated to the Rantzau family, followed by several dedicated to the author, opens this book of astronomy and astrology. In five parts, Rantzau introduces celestial bodies and describes how to read their movements and their positions. There are references to Johannes Schöner and Abu Ali al-Khayyat (referred to here as Albohali) throughout. The third book contains several horoscopes whose counsel includes familial relations, friendships, enemies, and death. The fifth book prints Rantzau’s own astrological chart (page 350). The text is followed by a concluding note to the reader, several epigrams, an index, and a song praising Rantzau.

The first folded leaf (“Tabula ostendens in quibus Zodiaci signis Planetae essentiales suas cum dignitates, tum debilitates habent”) includes tables that serve as guides to the different Zodiac symbols, their positions, and their meanings. The second table is Rantzau’s birth chart.

Rantzau was not very successful as an astrologer or astronomer. He is mostly remembered as a successful businessman and patron of the arts, especially in Lübeck. This is the fourth edition of this work, the first having been published in 1593, also in Frankfurt, by Johann Wechel.

At the time of cataloguing, OCLC records four locations in the U.S.

VD17 39:115147U