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Itinerarium exstaticum

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$ 2 772
Auction dateClassic
19.10.2023 10:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
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USA, New York
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ID 1032721
Lot 69 | Itinerarium exstaticum
KIRCHER, Athanasius (1602-1680). Itinerarium exstaticum. Rome: Vitalis Mascardi, 1656.

Fine and unpressed first edition presentation copy of Kircher's speculative voyage through the heavens. This work is dedicated to Queen Christina of Sweden, and is Kircher's only book dedicated to a woman. Christina had shown an interest in Galileo's Dialogo when she came to Rome in 1651, and this is Kircher's answer to that work, although supporting the Tychonic "compromise" system rather than fully embracing Copernicanism (as was standard among Jesuits at the time). It is one of Kircher's most curious and wonderful works, taking the form of a dream journey through the stars and planets guided by a spirit named Cosmiel. The narrator and Cosmiel visit the moon and the other planets, where they see and discuss new scientific discoveries such as sun-spots—literally witnessing the dismantling of the Aristotelian cosmos through imaginative autopsy.

When examined by Jesuit censors, 51 proscribed theses were identified, requiring a new revised edition in 1660 with a long defense of Kircher by his student Gaspar Schott. It is possible that the pseudo-fictional conceit of the "dream journey" was an attempt to avoid this. But censorship did not dim its influence or appeal, even among his detractors. "This controversial work was especially popular with Kircher's American readers and spawned several imitations in Brazil and New Spain" (Findlen). The Mexican poet and philosopher Juana Inés de la Cruz, who is depicted in a famous portrait in front of a shelf containing his writings and who invented the word "Kirkerizar" ("to Kircherize"), was inspired by this work to write her Primero sueño. In Europe Huygens, despite disagreeing with Kircher's ideas, was also spurred to write his own cosmic voyage, published only after his death in 1698. Sommervogel IV, 1056.7 14; Merrill 11; see Paula Findlen, Athanasius Kircher: The Last Man Who Knew Everything (2004).

Quarto (234 x 166mm). Woodcut head- and tail-pieces, initials (some dampstaining to outer edge of textblock, some leaves toned or lightly spotted). Contemporary Italian vellum wrapper. Provenance: contemporary presentation inscription, written over in an early hand, at foot of title, possibly reading "Excellentissimo Francesco Grimaldi dono auctoris [16]56," to Francesco Grimaldi, 1618-1683, a notable Jesuit priest physicist and mathematician in Bologna – "Excellentissimo Physica Sigismundo Carleo."
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