(1550). GALATINI (Pierre). OPUS DE ARCANIS CATHOLICÆ VERITAT - Lot 244

(1550). GALATINI (Pierre). OPUS DE ARCANIS CATHOLICÆ VERITATIS... (REUCHLINI PHORCENSIS DOCTORIS DE ARTE CABALISTICA LIBRI TRES...) Basel, (J. Hervagius), 1550. In-folio of [24]-718 (out of 891-33) pages, red half-chagrin, ribbed spine decorated with gilt fillets, gilt edges (19th century binding). Rare second edition of the most popular work on the cabala in the 16th century, which was condemned by the church as favoring the rabbis. Galatinus, a famous Franciscan cabalist, wrote the De Arcanis in 12 books to support Reuchlin's thesis; his work is composed in the form of a dialogue between Reuchlin, referred to as Capnio, the Dominican inquisitor Hochstraat and Galatinus himself. The pages are filled with Greek quotations and Hebrew texts. The latter, numbering 30, had been bequeathed to the Vatican library during the author's lifetime, and anyone wishing to appropriate them was excommunicated by the Pope himself. Reuchlin's De Arte Cabalistica (pp. 719-891) is not bound in this copy. 2 stamps on title, small ring in margin of last 20 leaves (USTC, 683604).