A New and Complete Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology: or, the Art of Foretelling Future Events...in Four Parts

London: Printed for the Proprietor, and Sold by W. Nicoll in St. Paul's Church-Yard, M. Sibly, in Goswell-Street, and E. Sibly, Portsmouth-Common, 1788. First complete edition. Four parts in one volume, folio, 26x21cm, 1126pp plus [4] index. Complete with 29 copper plates. Half black morocco, marbled paper boards, gilt lettered spine labels, smartly done with red head and tail bands, ribbon mark, and reinforced hinges. Text and plates are clean and complete with some scattered foxing and toning, a near fine copy. Near Fine.
Very early, complete set of Ebenezer Sibly's (1751-1799) masterwork on astrology and occult practices, being one of the most influential and comprehensive of such publications of the 18th century.  The title pages are dated 1785, 1784, 1787, and 1788 respectively.  

A New and Complete Illustration... covered aspects of the classical tradition of astrology, but also "its so called magical strain of divination (as exemplified in horary practice and elections and also worked with ingress charts and solar returns" (Bobrick, The Fated Sky, pg 246). Examples of Sibly's divination questions include: "An Engagement at Sea. Which shall have victory?" "Shall the Querent Marry the Gentleman she loves?" "Question on theft." "Shall the Querent attain the Promotion desierd?" 

It is generally thought the first volume appeared in 1784.  Subsequent volumes were printed in the years following, and then reprinted and sold as mixed sets, with revisions and under various titles, depending on availability. This immensely popular publication was something of a textbook of the time, containing much practical knowledge on astrology and magical procedure, and was quite comprehensive in nature. It also contained in the third part, which of particular interest today, an astrological study of the American Revolution, with accompanying illustration. A handsomely bound and early set of this important collection.


Gardner 1167 and 1169 (citing varying titles and editions). 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall.