Corpus Hermeticum with Pneumatica and Ocellus Lucanus

The front cover of a 16th-century leather binding is decorated with intricate gold tooling. The border features a recurring motif of the crowned letter "F" and fleurs-de-lis, symbols of the French monarchy. In the center, a large oval cartouche contains several heraldic devices belonging to King Francis I: at the top is a salamander surrounded by flames, which was the King's personal emblem signifying his motto "I nourish and I extinguish"; below it is a crowned shield bearing three fleurs-de-lis, representing the French royal arms, encircled by the collar of the Order of Saint Michael. Two additional crowned "F" monograms flank the central shield. Above the central cartouche, a title is stamped in gold Greek capital letters.