Rare Antique Print-DEMONIC CREATURE-SUN ANOMALY-BIRTH-Lycosthenes-1557

‘P. 443/444.’

Woodcut and letterpress on hand laid (verge) paper.
Sheet size: 18,8 x 28,3 cm. (7,4 x 11,1 inch). Image size: x cm. (0 x 0 inch).

From: ‘Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon …’, a very rare and important work in Latin on the world anthology of omens, by Conradus Lycosthenes, published in Basel by Henricus Petri, 1557. This work is a chronicle of wonders of the world / omen spanning known world history, incorporating important collections by Julius Obsequens (4th. c. AD), Peucerus (1553), Frytschius (1555) and Fincelius (1556). Nostradamus is known to have borrowed freely from these sources as a basis for his predictions. The work was also published in German. Large parts of this work were translated into English by Dr. Stephen Batman in his ‘The doome, warning to all men’, published in 1581. The illustrations show monstrous births and human deformities, earthquakes, comets, and even a UFO over Arabia in the fifteenth century. Any input appreciated regarding the woodcut image depictions on this sheet.

Made by ‘Anonymous’ after ‘Lycosthenes’. Author: Conradus Lycosthenes = Conrad Wolffhart (1518-1561), an illustrious German / Alsatian humanist and encyclopedist. Deacon of Saint Leonard in Basel, professor of grammar and dialectics, Lycosthenes had a passion for the study of nature and geophysics. He acknowledged the influence of nature, but ultimately under god?s control.

Condition: Good, given age. Paper slightly browned with some spots. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: DEMONIC CREATURE-SUN ANOMALY-BIRTH

PCOM-A9-05