Beschreibung:

GUAZZO, Francesco Maria (fl. early 17th century). Compendium Maleficarum . Milan: Bernardino Lantoni for the heirs of Agosto Tradati, 1608. 8° (207 x 142mm). 42 woodcuts illustrating demonic influences (33) and the life of Christ (9), printer's device on title, armorial woodcut on title verso, ornamental head- and tailpieces and initials. (Short tear in one leaf without loss.) Vellum wrapper (rebacked, new endpapers). Provenance : Bibliotheca Cistelli (title inscription, a few ink notations in text). FIRST EDITION of one of the standard demonologies of the 17th century. Guazzo, one of the Brethren of St. Ambrose ad Nemus and St. Barnabas at Milan, was an assessor at numerous witch trials and wrote his "handbook of witchcraft" at the request of the Bishop of Milan to expose and illustrate the practices of witchcraft to the public at large. It was reprinted in 1626, and the second edition is much more common than the first; Caillet and Wellcome record the second edition only.