Folio (277 x 174 mm). Engraved title-page; letterpress title printed in red and black; numerous woodcut illustrations. (A few short marginal tears or paper flaws, some minor browning, minor wrinkling to first and last few leaves). 20th-century sheep (some wear). Provenance: K.C. (blindstamps); a few 20th-century marginal notes in pencil and red underlinings.

FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH of Porta's Magiae naturalis libri viginti, first published in 1558.  This translation follows the expanded edition of 1589. Porta's compilation of science and pseudo-science includes sections on changing metals, counterfeiting precious stones, medical remedies, perfume, cookery, and "burning gasses," or optics. ESTC R33476; Norman 1726; Wing P-2982.