[Rarebooks] FS: Maritius' work on Tarot, Astrology and Sex. Florence: 1548

[Kenneth Karmiole]

Martius, Galeottus. DE DOCTRINA PROMISCUA, Varia Multipliciq. Eruditio ne Refertus, ac Nunc Primum in Lucem Editus. Florence: Laurentium Torrentinum. 1548. 8vo. (16),461,(3)pp. First edition. With the final blank. Orig. limp vellum, somewhat soiled, a portion of the lower spine with a crack. With the bookplate of the Princes of Liecht. Early ownership inscription on title page.    $2,500.00 (trade discount allowed)
A miscellany by Martius (1427-1497), philosopher, astrologer and medical doctor, with his scholarly articles on like subjects. See Thorndike, Volume IV, pp. 400-404 for a discussion. He devotes an entire chapter to coitus, where he argues its positive medical benefits. One article found on-line discusses his philosophical observation that a perfect marriage is between a blind woman and a deaf man!   In 2006 a copy of this book was sold in the Kaplan Collection of Historic Cards and Games at Christie's, largely a collection related to tarot cards (this copy of Martius sold for $4,200) with the annotation: "Martius observed that the inventor of the game of [tarot] cards must have been a man of shrewd wit when one considers the significance of swords, spears, cups and country loaves. When there is strength, as indicated by swords and spears, Martius suggests that many are better than just a few. In matters of meat and drink, however, as indicated by loaves and cups, a little is better than a great or excessive amount. Cups are goblets for wine and abstemious persons are more lively in wit and better in management of business than gluttons and drunkards. Country loaves, based upon their thin form  and yellow color, are intended to signify pieces of money." BL Italian STC p. 421.
Kenneth Karmiole, Bookseller, Inc.
1239A Third Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-451-4342
kkarmiole at yahoo.com