[Astrology] RANTZAU Heinrich - Horoscopographia, continens fabricam cardinum cœlestium ad quoduis datum tempus (...) [Strasbourg 1585] / FINCKE Thomas - Horoscopographia siue de inveniendo stellarum astrologia [Schleswig 1591].

Strasbourg - Schleswig 1585, 1591. 15.5x20 cm, 3 fold-out black and white astrological tables at end of book, period parchment hardcover. Condition: soiling of the title page of Horoscopograhii, small paper loss in the title page of the second title, paper loss in the lining, an entry on the lining regarding the circumstances of the purchase of the book, a handwritten note on one of the pages (biography of the author of the second title), a faded trace of flooding on a few dozen pages, yellowing of the pages, restored paper loss in several places, new rear lining.

Co-opted two 16th century astrology titles:

1. RANTZAU Heinrich (RANZOUII Henrici) - Horoscopographia, continens fabricam cardinumcœlestiumad quoduis datum tempus: & viam deductionis Ptolemaicam. Argentorati [Strasbourg] 1585. excudebat Antonius Bertramus. Str. (52). 1st ed.

2. FINCKE Thomas (FINKCIIThomæ) - Horoscopographia siue de inueniendo stellarum situ astrologia: in qua tabulæ declinationum, ascensionum rectarum, differentiarumq[ue] ascensionalium generales: ascensionum pro sphæræ omni gradibus definitæ obliquitate: positionum & cœlestium domorum quidem pro Germaniæ magnaq[ue] orbis arctoi parte, Cardinum vero Ranzovianæ Holstatica, cum solis diario: revolutio: profectio: directio. Ad Henricum Ranzouium Vicarium Regium. Slesvici [Schleswig] 1591. sumptibus Ranzovianis: typis Nicolai Wegneri. Pg. c. 300, first edition.

Heinrich Rantzau (1526-1598), Danish governor of Schleswig-Holstein and influential politician, bibliophile, patron in various fields of science and art. In his main residence, Breitenburg Castle, he amassed a huge library that contained thousands of volumes, engravings, globes, maps, astronomical and mathematical instruments. Many scholars dedicated their works to him, including Thomas Fincke (1561-1656), a mathematician, astrologer and physician, one of Denmark's most prominent scholars ,whose Horoscopographia siuede inueniendo stellarum situ astrologia is found as the second title in the piece on display;the last page features a woodcut with Rantzau's likeness.

Contents in Latin.