A New and Complete Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology; or, the Art of Foretelling Future Events and Contingencies, by the Aspects, Positions, and Influences of the Heavenly Bodies by Sibly, Ebenezer
Publication: London, various printers, 1813–1823.
An uncommon example of Sibly’s monumental astrological compendium, among the most ambitious and comprehensive astrological treatises of its era. This copy contains four parts bound together in one volume from various editions and years.
Sibly’s landmark work synthesizes traditional astrological doctrine with elements of Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, Swedenborgian mysticism, and contemporary occult speculation. Extensively illustrated with engraved plates, horoscopes, and emblematic figures, the text includes Sibly’s famous horoscope for the founding of the United States (cast for July 4, 1776), which remains a point of reference in modern mundane astrology.
The volume contains the following four works:
- A New and Complete Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology (general title), London, 1817.
- An Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology. Part the Second, Containing the Doctrine of Nativities and the Art of Resolving Horary Questions, London, 1815.
- An Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology; or, the Art of Foretelling Future Events and Contingencies by the Aspects, Positions, and Influences of the Heavenly Bodies, Founded on Natural Philosophy, Scripture, Reason and Mathematics. In Two Volumes. Volume the Second, London, 1813.
- An Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology. Part the Third, Containing the Meteorological Part of Uranology, with Certain Rules for Prejudging Revolutions in Every Part of the Habitable World, London, 1823.
Full Condition details :
Beautiful Oxford-style re-binding, five raised bands, morocco label with title to spine, early inscription to verso of frontispiece, complete with 30 copper plates, scattered foxing throughout mostly light to moderate though text block is very well preserved overall, portrait in the third part (pp. 609–610) with significant stain though image unaffected, as is common with these editions pagination not strictly continuous: Volume I ends at p. 608; after preliminaries (frontispiece, title, blanks, and a chart of George Mitchell), Volume II resumes at p. 620, as issued, moderate foxing to several illustrations, illustration of “A View of Man” No. 51 with small rectangular cutout to outer edge not affecting the engraving, stain to outer edge of pp. 950–951 and 964–969 not affecting text, engraving on p. 890 with a small dark stain at center of engraving of Edward Kelly with coin sized stain to upper edge, engraving No. 33 with stain to outer edge not affecting image, overall wonderfully preserved in very good condition.
Collated complete with 30 copperplates, though the engraved numbering extends to 59, as the publisher reused and renumbered plates across successive editions; importantly, the American Revolution material is present, including the horoscope for the United States (Nos. 53, 55)
Full List of Plates with accompanying condition notes:
1. Frontispiece (allegorical)
2. No. 15 Astrological Diagram with Genesis Chap. I, Verse 14 (cosmological chart, “lights in the firmament … for signs and seasons”)
3. No. 19 Planetary dignities table
4. p. 609 Sibly frontispiece (beginning of Part II) [heavy stain to outer edge portrait not affected]
5. p. 617 No. 27 Sphere diagram with constellations
6. p. 757 No. 33 Speculum Phenomenorum or Table of Aspects
7. p. 793 No. 29 Astrological diagram of Rev. George Whitefield
8. p. 799 No. 31 Astrological diagram of Rev. John H[—], Oxford
9. p. 829 [Unnumbered] four astrological tables
10. p. 845 No. 41 Marriage astrological diagram
11. p. 846 No. 13 Astrological charts of notable historical figures
12. p. 853 No. 3 Astrological charts of notable historical figures
13. p. 857 No. 11 Astrological charts of notable historical figures
14. p. 866 No. 23 Astrological charts of notable historical figures
15. p. 873 No. 9 Astrological charts of notable historical figures [stain to outer edge]
16. p. 882 No. 25 Astrological charts of notable historical figures [ moderate to heavy foxing]
17. p. 889 No. 7 Astrological charts of notable historical figures [stain to upper edge]
18. p. 890 No. 17 Nativity of George III, King of Great Britain [stain to upper edge and dark stain to center affecting engraving]
19. p. 892 No. 45 The Birth of Christ
20. p. 910 No. 47 Scheme of the Heavens
21. p. 951 No. 49 Eclipse diagrams
22. p. 965 No. 21 Armillary sphere
23. p. 969 No. 57 Diagram of the Tides
24. p. 1052 No. 55 Schemes of solar ingress governing the year 1776
25. p. 1054 No. 53 Revolution of America
26. p. 1061 No. 51 A View of Man in His Primeval State (small rectengular cutout- outer edge)
27. p. 1098 No. 35 The Order of the Inspirati (John Dee, Paracelsus, Edward Kelly, Muhammad, Apollonius of Tyana, Roger Bacon)
28. p. 1103 No. 59 Signs, Characters, and Mystical Knife [faint stain to outer edge]
29. p. 1106 No. 37 Edward Kelly, a Magician [stain to upper edge]
30. p. 1115 A Laboratory (alchemical scene) [stain to upper edge]