CARDANO, Girolamo (1501–1576). In Cl. Ptolemaei Pelusiensis IIII de astrorum iudiciis, aut, ut vulgo vocant, Quadripartitae constructionis libros commentaria. 1554.

First edition of Cardano’s commentary on Ptolemy’s astrology textbook, with suppressed horoscope of Jesus Christ; bound by King Sigismund II August of Poland’s bookbinder and owned, and extensively annotated, by astronomy professors at the University of Kraków, including reference to Jan Brozek.

Though mostly recognized for his contributions to medicine and algebra, Cardano also wrote extensively on astrology, a field often seen in the Renaissance as directly connected to medicine, algebra and theology. “The greatest use of astrology was in medical practice, where it was used for both diagnosis and prognosis, and to choose suitable moments for treatment. […] The casting of horoscopes and the determination of auspicious or inauspicious hours (‘judicial astrology’) was generally considered the most doubtful or unreliable kind of astrology, but was frequently used with political intent. Martin Luther's horoscope convinced any number of Catholic astrologers that he was the Antichrist and Protestants sometimes found the same significance in horoscopes of popes.” Within the present commentary on Ptolemy great textbook on astrology, Cardano casts the horoscopes of several prominent figures, from Erasmus and Petrarch to the young King Edward VI of England. The most consequential was his horoscope for Christ, which lead to the book’s inclusion on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum of 1596 and Cardano’s imprisonment at the hands of the Inquisition. He later recanted and the horoscope was suppressed in later editions. Christ’s horoscope was at times suppressed in later editions, such as Conradus Dasypodius’ of 1557 which replaced it with a description of the astronomical clock he had contributed to for Strasbourg Cathedral.

This copy, containing Christ’s horoscope, is closely connected to the Kraków Academy and the Polish Golden Age. The binding tools, specifically the plate depicting David with the text of Psalm 118, identify the binder as King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland’s binder. Sigismund II August (r. 1529–1572) was patron of the Kraków Academy and the last of the Jagiellonian dynasty. Furthermore, this copy passed from the hands of several 17th-century Kraków professors who inscribed their names on the preliminary leaves and annotated the text thoroughly. The Kraków Academy was the first university in Europe to institute a chair of astronomy and where Nicolaus Copernicus first studied mathematical astronomy. One note on the recto of the final leaf records two Latin memento-mori aphorism with a note in Polish recalling: “Brosciusza w habitacy napisao na drzwiach takie memoriał” [Brozek had this memorial written on the door of his quarters]. Jan Brożek (1585–1652), celebrated Polish mathematician, served as rector of the Kraków Academy and was an early biographer of Copernicus.

Folio (301 × 200mm). Woodcut portrait of Cardano on title-page, woodcut astronomical tables and charts (light soiling, few stains, marginal tear in b4, marginal dampstains in final quires). Contemporary Polish calf by King August Sigismund’s binder [Haebler, Rollen- und Plattenstempel II, pp. 75–76], upper cover central panel tooled in Zwischgold with plate of St. David above text from psalm 118 (“ADIVVA.ME.ET.SA/LVVS. EGO.PS.118”) [Haebler, p. 76, pl. 1], titling tooled in Zwischgold on upper cover (“HIERONIMVS / CARDANVS. / 1554”), few floral stamps on upper cover tooled in Zwischgold, alternating rolls in blind on both covers depicting the scenes of the life of Christ and portraits of saints, board edges with bevelled central segments with crosshatched fillets in blind, two fore-edge catchplates and strap remnants, (rebacked to style, covers rubbed, several scratches, Zwischgold tarnished save for plate of David).

Extensive 16th- and 17th-century annotations
“Joannis Chrysostomi [Choroszowicz?]” (ex libris inscription on title-page and a2)
“Petri [???] Acad. Cracou[?] 1654” (inscription on title-page)
“M. Michaelis Rochanski Ph.D. M[?] Prof. [?] (ex libris inscription on title-page)
“M. Josephi Papiotek Phd. Dris. Astronomie Profess.” (ex libris inscription on title-page)
“M. Josphie [Zychliewicz?], Math. Proff.” (ex libris inscription on front flyleaf recto)
16th-century note referencing Giovanni Pontano and Julius Firmicus Maternus on upper pastedown
16th/17th-century Latin mnemonic verses on the four humors inscribed on flyleaf
17th-century manuscript memento-mori aphorisms in Latin with Polish note recording that these were written as a memorial on the door of Jan Brozek, famed astronomer and rector of the Kraków Academy
17th-century manuscript index on lower flyleaf.