Claudius Ptolemy

Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, or Quadripartite: Being Four Books of the Influence of the Stars. Translated by J. M. Ashmand. New Edition. Circa 1916.

Publisher: London: W. Foulsham & Co., Ltd., 10/11 Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.

[8.5 × 5.75 in.]. 164 pp., [1] plate, [2] pp. ads. [English]. Good.

An early 20th-century edition of Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, one of the foundational texts of Western astrology. Originally written in the second century, the work examines the influence of celestial bodies on human affairs and became a major authority on astrological practice for centuries. Translated by J. M. Ashmand from the Greek paraphrase of Proclus, this edition includes explanatory notes, extracts from Ptolemy's Almagest, his Centiloquy, and a notice of Mr. Ranger's Zodiacal Planisphere. Illustrated with an explanatory plate.

Bound in dark brownish green cloth with gilt spine titles and a faded green spine label. An old Foyles Books bookseller's sticker is present on the front pastedown, along with a former owner's stamp reading "N. Harris, 101 Vinson Close, Orpington, Kent." The final advertisement leaves contain several red grease-pencil check marks and X's beside advertised titles.

It is in good condition. The binding has a slight lean, moderate shelf wear, particularly at the upper spine cap, and bumped, rubbed corners. A split along the front joint is cosmetic and does not affect the soundness of the binding. Foxing throughout, particularly along the fore-edges. There is some red underlining on a couple of pages.Old tape residue remains inside the boards from a deteriorated Mylar sleeve that has since been removed.