COLLEGIUM CURIOSUM PRIVATISSIMUM PHYSIOGNOM- CHIROMANT- METOPSCOP- ANTHROPOLOGICUM, JOH. PRAETORII, P. L. CAES. ODER EIN SEHR NÜTZLICHES WERCK, DARINNEN CURIEUS UND DOCH VOLLKÖMMLICH ABGEHANDELT WIRD, WAS ZUR PHYSIOGNOMIE, CHIROMANTIE, METOPOSCOPIE UND ANTHROPOLOGIE GEHÖRET by Praetorius, Johannes - 1704

Frankfurt and Leipzig: Philipp Wilhelm Stock, 1704. [14],128 pp., including several in-text illustrations, plus ten plates (nine folding). In Latin. Modern marbled paper over boards. Moderate toning throughout, mild foxing in some plates, minor loss along upper fold of third plate with archival tape repair and residue of earlier tape repair, apparent loss of small outer panel of terminal plate. Very good.

First edition of the posthumous German treatment of the Latin works of Johannes Praetorius on palmistry, metoposcopy, and other forms of physiognomic divination. Johannes Praetorius (i.e., Hans Schultze, 1630-1680) was a German poet, historian, and prolific compiler of curious legends and folklore. Faber du Faur, for whom Praetorius held a particular collecting interest, lists him in the "Oddities" section of GERMAN BAROQUE LITERATURE and refers to his "open eye and a sharp ear for all wonder stories, witch tales, and accounts of ghosts and sorcery current among the people. He indefatigably collected all information on remarkable subjects and happenings, and was fond of popular gossip, even of the uncouth type" (pp. 199-200).

Faber du Faur 776 (1713 edition). OCLC lists seven copies, all in Europe.