⚠Page shows foxing and a significant diagonal crease in the lower right corner. Text from the verso is visible through the thin paper (ghosting), particularly a list of Roman numerals.

GIOVANNI BATTISTA

DELLA PORTA OF NAPLES,

TWENTY BOOKS OF NATURAL MAGIC,

original: "Io. Baptistæ Portæ Neapolitani, Magiæ Naturalis Libri Viginti." Giambattista della Porta (1535–1615) was a renowned Italian scholar and polymath. "Natural Magic" in this period refers to the study of the hidden powers of nature—essentially an early form of experimental science—rather than "black magic" or sorcery.

IN WHICH THE

riches and delights of the natural sciences

are demonstrated.

NOW NEWLY ISSUED,

cleansed of all errors.

A most extensive INDEX has been added,

representing the whole matter clearly.

The order of the books contained in this work

will be indicated on the reverse page.

original: "versa pagina." This refers to the back of this sheet (the verso), where the table of contents is typically located.

A woodcut printer's device. It depicts a Pegasus (winged horse) standing atop a decorative shield or cartouche. Inside the shield is a vertical staff or sword with two serpents entwined around it. The shield is flanked by palm branches. At the bottom, two hands emerge from clouds on either side to hold the base of the emblem.
The image combines symbols of poetic inspiration (Pegasus) with the caduceus (the staff of Hermes/Mercury), often representing commerce, medicine, or wisdom. The printer Samuel Hempelius and his partners used these classical motifs as a brand mark.

FRANKFURT

Printed by Samuel Hempelius,

at the expense of Claude de Marne and the heirs

of Jean Aubry.

❦ 1607 ❦

Frankfurt was the most important center for the European book trade in the early 17th century, famous for its international book fairs. This edition was produced by a collaborative firm of printers and publishers.