Natural Magick

Natural Magick
by Giambattista della Porta
Adopted for Conservation by
Anne Heanue
on September 13, 2012
Natural magick by John Baptista Porta, a Neapolitane ; in twenty books .... Wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences

Natural magick / / by John Baptista Porta, a Neapolitane ; in twenty books .... Wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences

By Giambattista della Porta. London: Printed for Thomas Young, and Samuel Speed, and are to be sold at the three Pigeons, and at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1658.

Porta's Natural magick was originally published in four "books" (=chapters) and later expanded to 20 chapters. The text is devoted to various experiments, distillation, transmutation of metals, artificial gems, etc. The 17th chapter on optics is the most important⁠—it went through 18 editions in different languages prior 1600.

Condition and Treatment: 

This book has a full calf binding and has previously been rebacked. The front free endpaper and preliminaries are detached. This section must be reattached with Japanese paper and wheat starch paste; and its inner joints need to be reinforced.

Discover more about this book in our Catalog.

Adoption Type: Preserve for the Future

Location: 
Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology