Trichassio Da Cerasari Mantouano [Mantovano] Epitoma chyromantico ...

Title: Trichassio Da Cerasari Mantouano [Mantovano] Epitoma chyromantico ... Nelquale [nelqvale] si contiene tutte le opere per esso Tricassio in questa scientia composte, con assai figure & declarationi adiunte

Author: Tricasso, Patricio [Tricasso, Patrizio; Trichassio, da Cerasari]

Publication: In Vinegia [Venice]: [Publisher not identified], [1535].

Description: Patricio Tricasso's "Epitoma chyromantico," a treatise on palmistry, complete with 78 woodcut illustrations of palms.

Though the book bears no publication date, the dedication date of 1535 points to this being a rare copy of the first edition. The more common second edition bears a 1538 imprint and is usually seen with a misprint of 1635 in the dedication. There is a variant edition, also with a 1535 dedication, that has "Vineggia" rather than "Vinegia" on the title page, different woodcut initials, and other differences in type; priority between the two variants cannot be established. 

In Italian, printed in italic type. Woodcut portrait, initials, and 78 three-quarter page palm illustrations. Bound in full parchment over boards with title and date in manuscript on the spine and text edges sprinkled red. Octavo; 128, [8] leaves; A-R^8; 6 x 4 inches. 

Signature of former owner Giovanne Georgio de Metzburg on the title page. Bookplate of former owner Harrison Gray Otis, 3rd (1822-1884), originally of Boston, Massachusetts, at Chateau de Spiez in Berne, Switzerland on September 20, 1875. Otis is known for being the grandson of Harrison Gray Otis, a prominent leader of the Federalist Party, and for fighting a duel in 1844 with James Schott, Jr.

The binding moderately soiled with chips and tears to the parchment on the spine, but structurally sound; dampstaining of the rear endpaper and repair to the title page, but the interior generally clean. Very Good. 

Patricio Tricasso (1491-circa 1550) was a Dominican astrologer and palmist, born in Cerasara, Mantua, Italy. He studied under the physiognomist and palmist Bartolommeo dell Rocca, also known as Cocles, with whom he later developed intense disagreements. 

"Epitoma chyomantico" is an important work on palmistry (also known as chiromancy or chirology), placed on the Catholic Church's Index of Prohibited Books (Index Librorum Prohibitorum), along with other works on divination. It discusses the principles of palmistry and how to identify letters and shapes in the lines of the palm. With 78 illustrations of palms, the "Epitoma chyromantico" is more extensive than Tricasso's earlier works on palmistry, including his 1522 "Chiromantia" with 48 illustrations and his 1525 "Super chyromantiam Coclytis" with four illustrations. 

Worldcat shows a total of seven institutional holdings with presumed publication date of 1535. Bibliographical reference sources refer only to the more common 1538 edition. Not in EDIT 16, USTC, Caillet, Sabbattini, or Sander.