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an old book sitting on top of a white table next to a white wallan old book with a picture of a lion on itan old book with a drawing of a woman ' s face and four different facial expressionsan old book with a drawing of a woman ' s face and words on itan old book with a drawing of a man ' s face and a woman ' s head
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55 - CARDANO (Girolamo): Metoposcopy.
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Estimate CHF 1,000 - CHF 1,500
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Description
CARDANO (Girolamo): Metoposcopy. Comprising thirteen books and eight hundred figures of the human face. To which has been appended the treatise on the natural marks of the body, by Melampus (…). The whole translated into French by Monsieur C.M. de Laurendière. Paris, Thomas Jolly, 1658; In folio, 4 unnumbered folios, 225 numbered pages, plus pages for the table of contents and the Royal Privilege, fawn calfskin, decorated ribbed spine, speckled red edges. Contemporary binding. First edition and the only French translation of this work, which is of great importance for the study of astrology. Girolamo Cardano (Pavia 1501 – Rome 1576) was a renowned mathematician and physician. His book deals with the art of discerning character through the examination of facial features, particularly the wrinkles on the forehead. This work is one of the precursors to Lavater’s major physiognomic theories. It is illustrated with 500 woodcut plates, some of which are full-page. (Binding is worn; the first blank folio is missing).
See original version (French)
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About the sale AUCTION: Slatkine Library
Auction location
Auction time 09/22/2026 at 6:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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