Dialogue on Divine and Human Love (1552) - Page 2

A printed heraldic bookplate is pasted onto the upper half of the parchment page. It features a decorative coat of arms with two griffins acting as supporters. They hold a divided shield. The left half of the shield shows a lion standing on its hind legs. The right half shows a pattern of stars and bars. Two crowns sit above the shield. Below the heraldic display is a single word in a gothic style script.

Nordkirchen

This refers to the famous library at Nordkirchen Castle in Germany, once one of the most significant private collections in Europe.

A circular printed emblem or bookplate is pasted onto the lower half of the page. The center features a blue oval depicting a white pelican in her piety, a symbol where the mother bird pierces her own breast to feed her young with her blood. She is perched on a square pedestal decorated with red roses. A radiant sun appears at the top of the oval. This central image is surrounded by a white border containing golden text.

HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY original: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA"; this refers to a tradition of esoteric wisdom and alchemy attributed to Hermes Trismegistus.