De humana physiognomonia libri IV [...]. Editio postrema priori correctior.

8vo: [12-4 bl.]-398 (of 402)-[42] pp. (heavy browning, f. Z3 & Z6 torn out).

Contemp. blind-ruled & -rolled calf, spine with raised bands, old paper label (front board loose, def. at head & tail).

Rare early German ed. (1st 1593; orig. 1586) of this major treatise by the influential Naples thinker, scholar, polymath and playwright Della Porta (1535-1615). Illustrated with ca. 100 expressive woodcuts in-text depicting human characters in comparison with animal traits. "Della Porta preceded Lavater in attempting to estimate human character by the features. He was the founder of physiognomy, and this is one of the earliest works on the subject" (Garrison). Woodcut printer's mark on title.
Ref. VD17 1:062631V. - Wellcome I:5199. - Krivatsy 9182. - Osler 3715. - Cp. Garrison & Morton 150.
Prov. Jesuit college Ghent, 1641 (ms. entry on title). - A few other ms. entries on flylvs.