Opus Geomantiae Completum in Libros Tres Divisum: Quorum I. Universam Geomanticam Theoriam, II. Praxim, III. Varias a diversis authorib, decerptas questions co[n]tinet.

Small 8vo. Bound in contemporary vellum. Printed by Jean Antoine Huguetan, Lyons 1638. (Colophon at end dated 1627; printing privilege dated 1626.) Second Edition of this comprehensive treatise on geomancy.

Illustrated with numerous diagrams, schematic woodcuts and tables in text, as well as 10 plates, 1 of which is an engraved single-page plate, while the other 9 are fold-out woodcut diagrams or letterpress tables, some bound to face each other; plus large engraved printer's device with an armillary sphere on title-page; a few decorative woodcut head-pieces and initials.

The Opus Geomantiae Completum "is divided into three parts devoted respectively to the theory, practice and questions taken from previous authors. The theory is largely astrological. Instead of jotting down four rows of dots at random, a wheel with sixteen projections is spun or whirled in order to obtain one of the sixteen geomantic figures. Fludd is cited more than once, also Arabic authors like Geber and Aomar, medieval Latins like Gerard of Cremona and Peter of Abano, and sixteenth-century geomancers like Cocles.


"That the decrees of the Church and freedom of will are observed by H. de Pisis none too wholeheartedly is seen from such predictions as: bitten on the leg by a dog, he will die in December; in peril of his life in waters, he will die in September; pleasure with women, loss of fortune and fame, lascivious adultery; success, wealth, access to the king with honor, advantageous breaking-off of partnership, (etc.) . . .." (Lynn Thorndike, The History of Magic and Experimental Science, VIII, p. 482)

Geomancy is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed by tossed handfuls of soil, rocks, or sand. The most prevalent form of divinatory geomancy involves interpreting a series of 16 figures formed by a randomized process that involves recursion followed by analyzing them, often augmented with astrological interpretations. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, geomancy was one of the most popular forms of divination throughout Africa and Europe. In Renaissance magic, geomancy was classified as one of the seven "forbidden arts," along with necromancy, hydromancy, aeromancy, pyromancy, chiromancy (palmistry), and spatulamancy.

Binding lightly soiled, with usual shrinkage of vellum; light wear to ends of spine with small hole to vellum at head of spine; 2 old paper stickers on spine. Early ownership inscription on front free endpaper, another on title-page, and another inked out, causing an ink-burn neatly repaired at an early date. Very light marginal water-stain to a few preliminary leaves. One plate with very minor worming to top margin, not affecting text; another folding plate with a closed tear, without loss. In all a clean, wide-margined example.