First Edition of William Lilly's Christian Astrology

William Lilly. CHRISTIAN ASTROLOGY MODESTLY TREATED OF IN THREE BOOKS. London: Printed by Tho. Brudenell for John Partridge and Humph. Blunden, in Blackfriers at the Gate going into Carter-lane, and in Cornhil, 1647. First edition. Rebound in parchment-covered boards, with updated label on the spine and refreshed endpapers (Pro Patria watermark clearly visible at the front). 4to; [46], 25-832, [16]pp. With separate title page on 3P4r, with continuous pagination. With headpieces, decorated initials, tables, diagrams, and illustrations. Wing L2215.

7 1/4 x 5 1/2 in.

William Lilly (1602-1681) was an English astrologer known for publishing a popular annual almanac, and for Christian Astrology, his most important work. He is also known for his prediction of the Great Fire of London (1666), for which he was investigated for his involvement. Although a controversial figure, Lilly’s influence on astrology is significant and he was extremely prolific during his lifetime, publishing works consistently for nearly forty years.

Lacking portrait frontispiece (replaced with facsimile) and last (3) leaves of the final table; overall wear to boards such as edge wear, chipping, old writing, staining, and creasing to spine; front board present but detached along with endpapers and facsimile frontispiece; cracking at rear hinge and joint but still sturdy; old ownership signatures and John Fricker Library stamp on endpapers; toning, damp staining and soiling throughout; edge wear, including occasional small tears and losses, and some pages trimmed short impacting text; early handwriting common throughout, including various annotations, page numbers, and two entire leaves replaced with hand-written copy; several small taped repairs and occasional worm trails, heaviest in the last third of the text.