Skyscript Astrology Forum

... OR, a BRIEF GUIDE, newly ranked and filed, to the ANCIENT WORKS most COSTLY on the CELESTIAL SCIENCE of ASTROLOGY, to be had of booksellers in the CONTINENT of EUROPE.

1. Mazzotti 'De Triplici Philosophia Naturali, Astrologica, et Minerali' EUR 26,500:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 77&ref=zvb

2. Cardanus 'Opera Omnia' EUR 18,000:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 63&ref=zvb

3. Pontanus 'Opera' (1505): EUR 10,070.00
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 27&ref=zvb

4. Bonatti 'Decem continens tractatus astronomie' (1506): EUR 9,500
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 10&ref=zvb

5. Regiomontanus 'Des Weitberumten M. Johannen Kunigspersgers, Naturlicher Kunst et Astronomei kurtzer begriff, Von naturlichem influss der gestirrn, Planeten und Zeychen Von Complexionen new und volmon von vier Elementen' (1528) EUR 9,375:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 37&ref=zvb

6. Albohali 'Albohali arabis astrologi antiqvissimi, ac clarissimi De ivdiciis Natiuitatu[m], liber unus, antehac non editus. Epistola nuncupatoria Ioachimi Helleri Leucopetraei, ad clarissimum uirum D. Philippum Melanthonem' (1549) EUR 9,010:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 18&ref=zvb

7. Yves de Paris 'Astrologiae Nova Methodus' (1658) EUR 8,000:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 25&ref=zvb

8. Pico della Mirandola 'Opera Omnia' (1519) EUR 7,600:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 08&ref=zvb

9. Pierre Godard 'Manuel astronomic, ou introduction aux jugemens astrologiques' (1678) EUR 7,420:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 79&ref=zvb

10. Johannes ab Indagine 'Introductiones apotelesmaticae elegantes, in Chyromantiam, Physionomiam, Astrologiam naturalem, complexiones hominum, Naturas planetarum' (1556) EUR 7,050:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 92&ref=zvb

If I had 20,000 Euros lying about I'd be sorely tempted by No. 2! Alas, 'tis not to be. And it's free to view on the Internet in high resolution anyway

Philip Graves wrote:... OR, a BRIEF GUIDE, newly ranked and filed, to the ANCIENT WORKS most COSTLY on the CELESTIAL SCIENCE of ASTROLOGY, to be had of booksellers in the CONTINENT of EUROPE.

1. Mazzotti 'De Triplici Philosophia Naturali, Astrologica, et Minerali' EUR 26,500:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 77&ref=zvb

2. Cardanus 'Opera Omnia' EUR 18,000:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 63&ref=zvb

3. Pontanus 'Opera' (1505): EUR 10,070.00
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 27&ref=zvb

4. Bonatti 'Decem continens tractatus astronomie' (1506): EUR 9,500
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 10&ref=zvb

5. Regiomontanus 'Des Weitberumten M. Johannen Kunigspersgers, Naturlicher Kunst et Astronomei kurtzer begriff, Von naturlichem influss der gestirrn, Planeten und Zeychen Von Complexionen new und volmon von vier Elementen' (1528) EUR 9,375:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 37&ref=zvb

6. Albohali 'Albohali arabis astrologi antiqvissimi, ac clarissimi De ivdiciis Natiuitatu[m], liber unus, antehac non editus. Epistola nuncupatoria Ioachimi Helleri Leucopetraei, ad clarissimum uirum D. Philippum Melanthonem' (1549) EUR 9,010:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 18&ref=zvb

7. Yves de Paris 'Astrologiae Nova Methodus' (1658) EUR 8,000:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 25&ref=zvb

8. Pico della Mirandola 'Opera Omnia' (1519) EUR 7,600:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 08&ref=zvb

9. Pierre Godard 'Manuel astronomic, ou introduction aux jugemens astrologiques' (1678) EUR 7,420:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 79&ref=zvb

10. Johannes ab Indagine 'Introductiones apotelesmaticae elegantes, in Chyromantiam, Physionomiam, Astrologiam naturalem, complexiones hominum, Naturas planetarum' (1556) EUR 7,050:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 92&ref=zvb

If I had 20,000 Euros lying about I'd be sorely tempted by No. 2! Alas, 'tis not to be. ......

Even if they throw in free shipping

PD

Philip Graves wrote:... OR, a BRIEF GUIDE, newly ranked and filed, to the ANCIENT WORKS most COSTLY on the CELESTIAL SCIENCE of ASTROLOGY, to be had of booksellers in the CONTINENT of EUROPE.
2. Cardanus 'Opera Omnia' EUR 18,000:
http://www.choosebooks.com/displayBookD ... 63&ref=zvb

18,000 euro.....

I bought my copy of Cardano aphorisms for 3 euro and the comment to the second book of Tetrabiblos for 9,50 ..

but yes I would have this too
margherita

I bought my copy of Cardano aphorisms for 3 euro and the comment to the second book of Tetrabiblos for 9,50

With no disrespect to Philip I have never really understood the appeal of owning old or first editions of a book. As far as I am concerned its the astrological content that concerns me not the antiquity or rareity of a book. I only own a few rare books. For example a Regulus edition of Lilly's Christian Astrology in mint condition. However, I am so worried about damaging it I seldom consult it and use my cheaper paperback equivalents! Thats the problem with valuable old books in a nutshell for me. Still, I have a friend who loves collecting old books and rebinding them. For him the smell, feel of the paper and history of such a book makes it apppealing in its own right. He showed his original edition of Claude Dariot's Judgement of The Stars. It was enjoyable to look at but I would be terrified I would spill coffee on it if I used it for astrological study.

Still where possible I do prefer studying a printed book rather than an electronic online version of a work. Not least as I can read it on a train or bus. Although, some modern reprints are quite unpleasing to the eye. For example the canary yellow Kessinger reprints of rare out of print books. I generally, prefer an older edition to avoid buying these where possible. Plus, sometimes later editions of a book do alter important elements of the original version of the book.

With no disrespect to Philip I have never really understood the appeal of owning old or first editions of a book.

If you wish to try to understand, I'd suggest this book:

A Gentle Madness by Nicholas Brisbane

It's about book collectors and the title says it all. It is fun book to read.

Tom

Tom wrote:

With no disrespect to Philip I have never really understood the appeal of owning old or first editions of a book.

If you wish to try to understand, I'd suggest this book:

A Gentle Madness by Nicholas Brisbane

It's about book collectors and the title says it all. It is fun book to read.

Tom

The author is Basbanes.

MarkC wrote:With no disrespect to Philip I have never really understood the appeal of owning old or first editions of a book.

I have a first edition of an Arban myself, which is a trumpeter's Bible, from 1864. Any musician who has spent hours of hard labour every day in attempt to master his instrument and technique knows what this is about. I have no trouble in understanding the excitement of wandering back in time and feeling the energy of an object or piece of work from the time when was new to the world and made it's first impact on history.

Thank you to those people who do preserve tresures that elsewise would get lost in time. Price is the issue, but compare it to what people are prepared to pay for a bottle of wine. This would seem to offer nothing but a moment of consumption, but even here there is more to the story. It is a time-travel. I was at a party at a sportsclub last week and looked over all the seemingly pointless trophies parked in a cabinett on the upper shelf. I never quite saw the point of collecting all this 'junk' (in agreement with Mark), but it only takes an old-timer present to come up and recognize a silver cup (or maybe only tin) from the 50's and back come all the memories of the events of the day and how he and his team mates enjoyed commeradship through a whole season before the trophy was placed in cabinett. I think we can relate to this.

The old copies or first editions of astrological works are the mother of what has brought us together as a community and family. Fortunately they are looked after by someone who understands their content and cherishes their original state and value. Or else, I fear much would have been lost before it reached through to us.