Porta (Giovanni Battista Della)

Magiae naturalis, sive de miraculis rerum naturalium libri IIII, light browning and occasional staining, ownership signature and annotations of Francesco Franconi on pastedowns, contemporary panelled calf, spine restored, yapped corners, one scuffed, 12mo, Christopher Plantin, Antwerp, 1567.

*** Plantin first printed this work (originally published in Naples in 1558) in 1560 (twice). It was a popular seller for several years, as is demonstrated by the number of reprints in different sizes. The work deals with popular science, cosmology, geology, optics, plant products, medicines, poisons, cooking, chemical changes of metals, distillation, glass coloring, glazes and ceramics, magnetic properties, cosmetics, gunpowder, cryptography.