Janus

Best.-Nr. 52867 — Nuremberg Gabriel Hayn 1554. FIRST EDITION 1554 small 4to approximately 170 x 135 mm 6¾ x 5¼ inches Latin text small woodcut printer's device on title page full page woodcut illustration on verso b4 a few woodcut historiated initials leaves: 8 1-124 numbered on rectos only making a total of 264 pages bound in 17th century sheep and rebacked in lighter calf gilt lettering and tiny blind stamped motifs to spine new cream endpapers followed by 1 original free endpaper. Upper cover slightly bowed and slightly rubbed at upper inner corner neat ink initials at foot of title page JS a small number to top outer corner faint orange and dusty stain to upper part of blank side of title page faint discoloration on woodcut illustration faint pink stain to 3 outer margins not affecting text old front endpaper stained at edges small old ink stain to margin of H2 pale damp stain to lower blank corners almost throughout leaving tidemarks from G-H4v a larger one on text from T-Hh4 all easily legible see attached images tiny chip to fore-edge margin of Cc2 1 small pointing hand occasional very light browning. A good first edition copy of this manual of alchemy. Janus Lacinius is thought to be a pseudonym for Giovanni da Crotone a Franciscan Friar from Calabria. Duveen Bibliotheca Alchemica et Chemica page 332; Wellcome Library Volume I No.3608. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING ALL ZOOMABLE FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST. Nuremberg, Gabriel Hayn, 1554.