MICHAELIS (S.): Histoire admirable de la... - Lot 15 - Vermot et Associés

MICHAELIS (S.): Histoire admirable de la possession et conversion d'une pénitente séduit par un magicien, la faisant sorcière et princesse des sorciers au Pays de Provence...Paris, Chastellain, 1613. 3 parts in one small in-8 volume, full contemporary gilt vellum, smooth ornate spine, arms on covers with crowned numerals in corners, gilt edges (2 cuts to hinges, tears with missing paper and a few letters on title page, light foxing and slight dampening, small marginal worm work at upper hinge). 3 blank ff, 16 ff. 352 pp. 124 pp. 196 pp. 14 ff table, 3 blank ff. Extremely rare edition of this curious treatise on demonology. The work relates how, in the city of Marseille, Louys Gaufridy, a priest and magician for fourteen years, sold his body, soul and works to the Devil, in exchange for the gift of being followed by all the women he would love (cf. Caillet, t. III, n°7505). The second part, in separate pagination and with a separate title, is entitled Discours des esprits entant qu'il est de besoin, pour entendre resoudre la matiere difficile des Sorciers. There are two different editions of this work: ours, perfectly in keeping with the digitized copy in the Bibliothèque de Lyon, is probably a first edition; the Gallica digitization, probably a second edition, shows clear differences in layout and typography, and several introductory leaves have been added. Dorbon [3073: "Un des traités de démonologie les plus complets"], Dorbon [3074: "livre très rare et fort curieux"], Caillet [III, 7507], Guaita [717: "Ouvrage de démonologie des plus curieux et fort rare"]. A very rare and precious copy bearing the arms and figures of Marie de Médicis (1575-1642), a highly sought-after provenance (Olivier, plate 2504, irons 2 and 4).