Praetorius, J. [H. Schultze]
Collegium curiosum privatissimum physiognom-chiromant-metoposcop-anthropologicum ... Oder ein sehr nützliches Werck, darinnen curieus und doch vollkömmlich abgehandelt wird, was zur Physiognomie, Chiromantie, Metoposcopie und Anthropologie gehöret. [BOUND WITH] Die von Aberglauben Vanitaeten und Zeuscherey gereinigte Chiromantia und Physiognomia.
Frankfurt und Leipzig, Philipp Wilhelm Stock, 1713. Small 8vo (16.4 x 9.6 cm). Title page in red and black; [xii], 128 pp.; nine (five copper-engraved, four woodcuts) multi-folded plates, three large text woodcuts. [AND] Title in red and black, 61 pp.; engraved frontispiece and 20 engraved plates; a few woodcut endpieces. Contemporary full vellum. Gilt title between gilt ornamental lines on the spine. Speckled edges.
An atractive combination of two near-contemporary work on chiromancy, or palmistry, which is "[t]he claim of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as chirology, or in popular culture as palm reading. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Those who practice chiromancy are generally called palmists, hand readers, hand analysts, or chirologists" (Wikipedia). The second work, published by the same publisher in 1703, was written by Christian Schalikens, or Schalitz, about whom little is known. Currently there is one other copy of these two works combined on the market, however, with the Schalikens work with only nine plates instead of the 20 included here. A very fine copy, without markings or other faults. Rare in this superior condition.