181

Heinrich Rantzau (1526-1558)

Tractatus Astrologicus de Genethliacorum Thematum Judiciis.

Frankfurt: Joannem Wechelum, 1593.
First edition, octavo, illustrated with 3 folding tables; dense contemporary annotations and astrological squares and calculations, along with verse, short biographies and other musings on front and back pastedowns, fly leaves and endleaves; ownership note signed 1594 to title; with neat and attractive contemporary hand-coloring to woodcut device on title, Rantzau's coat of arms and woodcut vignettes and head- and tail-pieces throughout, bound in full contemporary parchment over boards; 7 1/4 x 4 1/2 in.

Inside the front board, the annotator has a brief biography of Stephen Bathory (1533-1586), the Hungarian Prince of Transylvania and later of King of Poland. A complicated astrological chart done in brown ink with highlights in red, green and yellow for 1565 is on the back fly leaf, along with notice of the life of Anna Maria Kornmann, who was born in Hungary in 1551 and died in 1625.

Rantzau was a correspondent of Tycho Brahe and worked to support scholars in the field of astronomy and astrology. His book collection was famous.

"Rantzau's Tractatus Astrologicus of 1593, deeply influenced by Girolamo Cardano, enjoyed great popularity, and was widely used as a textbook. A wealthy patron of the arts, he had amassed a notable library in his residence at Breitenburg consisting of more than 6,000 books and had also financed an intense publishing project, mostly in order to promote himself and his wide circle of clients." (Quoted from Margherita Palumbo's "Books on the Run, the Case of Francesco Patrizi" as published in Fruits of Migration, ed. Zwierlein & Lavenia, Brill, 2018.)

  • Notes: Ex libris Professor, Astronomer, Historian & Bibliophile Owen Gingerich.
  • Condition: †8, A-Z8, Aa8.

    Please contact us to request a condition report:
    Devon Eastland, Senior Specialist: [email protected]
    Grace Meschery-McCormack, Cataloguer: [email protected]


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