Astrology & Astronomy.- Astrologer to Catherine de' Medici.- Gauricus (Lucas) Ephemerides recognitae et ad ungem Castigatae ... Eiusdem schemata & praedictiones ad Annum usque virginei partus 1552. Eiusdem Isagogicus in totam ferme Astrologiam Libellus. Quo pacto aeris q[ua]litas diiudicet ex Theophilo. Ventorum nomina, ordo..., first edition, woodcut illustrations, colophon with woodcut Junta device, near-contemporary annotations to endpapers and text, occasional very light spotting or staining, letter in early hand loosely inserted, contemporary limp vellum, manuscript lettering to spine, bound with remains of a medieval manuscript, rubbed with some loss to spine and extremities, [Adams E202; Gardner 488; Houzeau & Lancaster 14657; Honeyman 1448; EDIT 16 CNCE 20516], 4to (218 x 160mm), Venice, for Lucantonio Giunta, 1533.

⁂ First edition of these very rare ephemerides by the astronomer, astrological data collector, and mathematician Luca Gaurico (1474-1558), containing tables and astrological prognostications for the years 1534 through 1551. Gaurico's contemporary reputation stemmed from his astrological prognostications, and was appointed 'astrological consultant' to Catherine de' Medici after correctly predicting at age fourteen the ascension to the papacy of Catherine's great-uncle Giovanni de Medici. He became famous throughout Europe after twice predicting in 1529 and 1532 the ascension of Alessandro Farnese who, as Paul III, rewarded him by making him bishop of Giffoni in 1539, transferring him in 1545 to the see of Civitate nella Capitanata. As a mathematician Gaurico is best known for the first published Latin translations of Archimedes' works De Mensura Circuli and De Quadratura Parabolae (1503). He went on to publish an edition of Pecham's Perspectiva Communis in 1504.