The Book of Fate,

£1,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

Very rare. OCLC records just one copy in institutional collections worldwide at the American Antiquarian Society Library. The chapters deal with 'oneirocritica', or 'the science of fortunetelling future events by dreams', 'naeviology', that is predicitng fortunes through marks on the skin, 'zodiaology', the signs of the Zodiac, physiognomy, 'chartology', i.e. card reading, and palmistry, with the final chapter on miscellaneous ways of telling fortune from coffee-grounds to lemon peels. 12mo (14 x 8 cm); in-text illustrations, toned with moderate spotting throughout with intermittent dampstaining, a little frayed with the occasional tear just into text at the fore-edge, lacking frontispiece and final f. of text? (pagination collates as recorded on OCLC), loss to foot of final 3ff, filled-in blank; contemporary sheepskin, rebacked, corners repaired, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece to spine, later free endpapers, slightly rubbed and abraded; [5], 8-210pp.

• Binding: Hardcover

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