Lilly, William.

Christian Astrology [Bound before:] An Easie and plain Method – Teaching How to judge upon Nativities. The Rectification of a Nativitie by Trutine of Hermes, Animodar or by Accidents. A Brief Way of Judgement, declaring those generall Accidents which in a natural course depend upon the signification of the 12 Houses of Heaven. The effects of Directions, Revolutions, Profections and Transits; the exact Measure of Time in Directions. By William Lilly, Student in Astrology” – “Ars Longa, Vita Brevis”. [Includes several sections on Women in relation to Astrology and Prophecies like for example: “″If ones Lover or wife hath a Sweet-Heart besides himself” (page 316) / “Hath she a Lover” (page 316) / “Of a Woman flying [fleeing] from her husband” (page 330) / “Of Death, Dowry, Substance of the Wife &c.” (page 404) / etc.].

Original Edition (NOT a Reprint). Two works in one Volume. London, [John Macock], 1658 / [1659]. Octavo (14,5 cm x 19 cm). Pagination: Portrait and Titlepage missing, 18 unnumbered pages “To The Reader” / “The Contents”, [1] page “To the Student in Astrology” by William Lilly / [16] unnumbered pages of “Lunar Aspects” and “Tables of Houses”, pages 25 – 832 pages plus a manuscript Index and some very few manuscript annotations in ink. [The publication on Nativities has its own titlepage on page 487 of the book]. Hardcover / Ugly, Private 20th-century binding. Poor condition, Portrait and titlepage and maybe some more pages of the Introduction missing, beginning and end of the book with frail, some detached pages with some strong fraying. Page 703 with tear. Still a very, very rare book with some amazing historical astrology and related history like “Table of Longitudes and Latitudes of certain Cities and great Towns in England” (mentioning also “Dublin in Ireland” and “Edinborough in Scotland”. The privately affixed Index condensed some secret knowledge important to the preowner of this book: “Colours of the Planets”, “Combustion”, “Face of a Planet”, “Names of Planets and Signs”, and it also mentions a case in which a “Thief to be judged of by the peregrine Planet” etc. From the 18th-century-library of one “Joseph Clark”, with his name in ink verso the titlepage of the “Nativities”: “Joseph Clark – his Book – 1765”.

[Nixon, Robert] / [Lilly, William] / Collier, John / Bobbin, Tom.

Collection of Four Local History Pamphlets on Manchester and its History, a Map of Manchester and Salford and a rare, early 18th century Prophecy-Pamphlet with William Lilly-Connection. The Collection includes as provisional Frontispiece a rare, folded, original “Map of Manchester and Salford” by J.Pigot, from the year 1811 – (36 cm x 32 cm) / The Map if followed by: Pamphlet I: Anonymous – Short Sketch of the History of Manchester (XII Pages – Manchester, Printed by Sowler and Russell, 1794 (and First published in the Encyclopaedia Britannica)/ Pamphlet II: [John Collier] – Curious Remarks on the History of Manchester. With a judicious Incredulity of Spirit, let us enquire and think for ourselves. By “Muscipula” [that is John Collier alias Tim Bobbin]. (IX, 65 pages – London, Printed for, and sold by the Booksellers in Town and Country, 1771 / Pamphlet III: [Anonymously but most likely also John Collier]″More Fruit from the same Pannier; Or, Additional Remarks on the History of Manchester. (IV, 73, VIII pages) / [Bound together with: NIXON’S Cheshire Prohecy At Large. Published from the Lady Cowper’s Correct Copy. With Historical and Political Remarks and several instances wherein it is Fulfilled. To which is added, THE LIFE OF [ROBERT] NIXON. With an advertising for a “William Lilly – Prophecy” on page 19 of the Nixon-Pamphlet: “Mr.Lilly’s remarkable Prophecy, transcrib’d Verbatim out of his Almanack for the Year 1655, printed under the following Title: “Merlini Anglici Ephemeris”: Astrological Predictions for the Year 1655 by William Lilly – Student in Astrology. [Followed by:] The Prophecy. “….Long’ere that Time poor Merlin sleeps In’s Grave secure; sad England weeps”. ([2], 32 pages – London, Printed for J.Roberts, 1719). //

Manchester / London, J.Roberts and others, 1719-1794. Octavo. Original Hardcover / 19th-century half-leather with gilt lettering to spine. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. Name of preowner on third pamphlet (″Michael North”) / With a manuscript entry by one ‘W.K.’, regarding the “garbled” appearance of the Nixon’s Prophecy in Fielding’s novel, Tom Jones: ‘This was probably the very book which Partridge read out of… This shows Fielding’s attention to minutiae I think – such a jumbled Head as [barber-surgeon] Partridge wd be likely to mix up those part of the Tale Together’. The Cheshire Prophecy in Chapbook-Style with an advertising bound before the titlepage and “Price Six-Pence” on cover.