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Libra Esoterica

Liber Piccatriciae

Author not recorded

  • First published:
  • 18th century
  • Languages: French, Latin
  • Content type: ManuscriptPrimary source
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Description

Description from Colenda Digital Repository — University of Pennsylvania Libraries (opens in a new tab)

Latin translation of an Arabic magical handbook copied from the Spanish-language version. The text is a conglomeration of older magical and astrological works and is not clearly organized, but deals primarily with subjects such as talismans, lunar phases, and zodiac signs. Sections also include practical applications for performing magic with the use of talismans and sigils. The text draws on numerous authors and traditions, with a section devoted to discussing Indian astrological and ascetic traditions (p. 168), but also references Egyptian history, Islam, and pseudo-Aristotelian works. Also includes a table of contents at the end (p. i-x).

Provenance

Why this book is in the catalog

Included because retained bibliographic metadata links this work to Astrology, Occultism and esotericism, and Ritual magic and grimoires.

  • Occultism and esotericism

    Controlled discovery queries from colenda matched “Occultism”. Retained metadata contains “Occultism” in the subject metadata and “occult” in the cataloging notes.

    • “Occultism”· via Colenda Digital Repository — University of Pennsylvania Libraries
    • “Occultism”· in subject
    • “occult”· in cataloging note
  • Ritual magic and grimoires

    Controlled discovery queries from colenda matched “Magic”. Retained metadata contains “Magic” in the description, “Talismans” in the description, and “Magic” in the subject metadata.

    • “Magic”· via Colenda Digital Repository — University of Pennsylvania Libraries
    • “Magic”· in description
    • “Talismans”· in description
    • “Magic”· in subject
  • Astrology

    Controlled discovery queries from colenda matched “Astrology”. Retained metadata contains “astrological” in the description, “zodiac” in the description, “Astrology” in the subject metadata, and 1 additional metadata match(es).

    • “Astrology”· via Colenda Digital Repository — University of Pennsylvania Libraries
    • “astrological”· in description
    • “zodiac”· in description
    • “Astrology”· in subject
    • “astrological”· in edition notes

Membership records how this book met the catalog’s discovery criteria — relevance to a tradition, not a judgment of the book’s claims.

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Editions

One edition cataloged here.

University of Pennsylvania digitized manuscript

227 leaves : paper ; 230 x 177 (185 x 100) mm bound to 236 x 182 mm; Binding: Contemporary gold-tooled leather. Upper hinge nearly detached; lower hinge cracking; spine leather deteriorating.; Decoration: Astrological symbols throughout (for example, p. 381).; Latin, with occasional notes in French.; Layout: Written in 25-29 long lines.; Ms. codex.; Origin: Written in France[?] in the second half of the 18th century.; Pagination: Paper, ii (contemporary paper) + 227 + ii (contemporary paper) leaves; [i], 1-89, [ii], 90-440, [x]; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners.; Purchased with support from the B. H. Breslauer Foundation.; Script: Written in a cursive script by a single hand.; Title from title page (p. i).

1750—French, Latin—Public download

Subjects

5 subject headings

Identifiers & provenance

How this record was assembled, and the authority identifiers it carries.

Identifiers

Colenda
  • ark:/81431/p3vx0654q

Cataloged from

Cataloging notes

  • Colenda collection: Charles Rainsford Collection of Alchemical and Occult Manuscripts (University of Pennsylvania)
  • Penn Libraries catalog identifier: 9962943693503681
  • Physical location: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Ms. Codex 1678
  • Provenance: Formerly owned by Charles Rainsford (British army officer, fellow of the Royal Society, and alchemist); bequeathed by Rainsford to Hugh Percy, Second Duke of Northumberland.; Northumberland, Hugh Percy, Duke of, 1742-1817, former owner.; Owned by the 2nd through 12th Dukes of Northumberland, ms. 589, Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, 1809-2014 (bookplate, inside upper cover; stamps throughout).; Rainsford, Charles, 1728-1809, former owner.; Sold at auction at Sotheby's (London), 15 July 2014, as part of Lot 411.
  • Rights: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0
Catalog id
colenda:81431-p3vx0654q
Edition coverage
Multi source partial
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