The Zodiacus Vitae of Marcellus Palingenius Stellatus: An Old School-Book
London: Philip Wellby, 1908. First edition. 8vo, 92pp plus [4] publisher's ads at rear. Original brown cloth lettered in red. Some scuffing and soiling to boards, bookplate to front pastedown else clean internally and very good.
Scarce first edition of this text which prints and explores the importance of Neapolitan poet Marcello Stellato's (Ca. 1500-before 1551) widely read and studied astrological poem Zodiacus Vitae.
Originally published in 1536 in Venice, the poem was first translated into English by Barnaby Googe, six books published in 1561, and then the complete Zodiake of Life in 1565. It was widely read and distributed in London and also taught in early English grammar school. Shakespeare almost certainly studied the work and it is thought to be the inspiration for his "All the world's a stage," monologue from As you Like It.
This publication also contains an appendix by English astrologer, Walter Gorn Old or "Sepharial" as he was known, titled "The Astrological Aspect of the Zodiac of Life."
OCLC cites perhaps 7 physical holdings.
Price: $150.00