Lot n° 87
Estimation :
400 - 600
EUR
Result with fees
Result
: 1 125EUR
PETIT DOUXCIEL (Ancelme). - Lot 87
PETIT DOUXCIEL (Ancelme).
Speculum physionomicum.
Langres : at the author's expense ; Paris : at the author's, Gervais Clousier, 1648. - In-4, 192 x 150: (5 ff.), 116 pp. (1 blank f.), pp. 117-148, (1 blank f.), pp. 149-162, (1 blank f.), pp. 163-184, (1 f.), 1 portrait, 3 plates. Soft parchment, smooth spine, gilt edges (period binding).
Bulletin de la Société historique et archéologique de Langres, 1886, vol. 2, pp. 416-432.
First edition of this very rare work by the Langres writer Ancelme Petit Douxciel or Douxcier
.
The work is dedicated to Armand de Bourbon, prince of Conti (1629-1666) and begins with various pieces in verse addressed to the author by different poets among whom Denis Gautherot, Louis François Petit, son of the writer, Huguette Petit, his daughter, etc. The work of Ancelme Petit which succeeds these introductory pieces, is written in Latin and divided into four parts.
The first part deals with physiognomy or the art of knowing men, of guessing their inclinations, their instincts according to their temperament, their conformation, etc. This work precedes by more than a hundred years the famous publications on the same subject by the Swiss Lavater. The second part deals with palmistry, i.e. the so-called divination of inclinations, of the destiny of people by inspection of the lines of their hands. In the next part, "De Metoposcopia", the author focuses on facial features, each of which, by its shape, texture or direction, allows the author to infer good or bad things about the person examined. The last part deals with the study of dreams.
The illustration includes a large woodcut allegorical vignette on the title, an intaglio portrait of Armand de Bourbon, and three plates illustrating parts two to four, drawn and engraved by the painter Antoine Nicolas (1605-1659) from Langon, whose name appears on the last engraving.
A very fine copy in contemporary binding, very well preserved.
Burn with lack on the top of the title, without affecting the text. Light spotting.
Provenance: signature "Bernard" on the title and red wax stamp with the arms of an unidentified clergyman.
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