WIER (Jean). Histoires, disputes et discours, des illusions - Lot 167

WIER (Jean). Histoires, disputes et discours, des illusions et impostures des diables, des magiciens infames, sorcières & empoisonneurs : Des ensorcelez & démoniaques, & de la guérison d'iceux [...]. S.l. [Genève], Pour Jacques Chouet, 1579. 2 parts in one volume in-8, marbled calf, ornate spine, red title page, red edges (18th century binding). The most complete and very rare early edition: Thomas Erastus' Deux dialogues, touching the power of witches & the punishment they deserve, appear here for the first time in French. (GLN-2756; Caillet, n°11432; Guaïta, n°1087: "Ouvrage rarissime" ; Yve-Plessis, no. 833). Jean Wier (1515-1588), a famous Belgian physician and demonographer, was a pupil and disciple of Henri Corneille d'Agrippa. He traveled to Tunis and the Orient, and became personal physician to the Duke of Cleves. In his work, he adds only very relative faith to the evil spells of witchcraft, and considers the sorcerer more as a sick person who needs to be cured. Marginal tear repaired to a preliminary leaf, bottom of title leaf doubled, yellowed quires, angular wetness to table quires. Three jaws split, small loss at upper head.