Book Details + Condition: Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper (London). First Edition thus of this format, 1835. Hardcover. 342 pages, with printer's advertisements to end. Scarce in this edition. Illustrated with charts and tables. Includes Appendix of "Explantation of the Hieroglyphics", or astrological symbols. Firm binding; rubbed corners and edges; wear to boards; astrological notes and charts to front endpapers; interior pages are clean and free of markings. Full title: AN INTRODUCTION TO ASTROLOGY; BY WILLIAM LILLY: BEING THE WHOLE OFTHAT AUTHOR’S RULES FOR THE PRACTICE OF HORARY ASTROLOGY, DIVESTED OF THE SUPERSTITIONS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY: IN WHICH ARE ADDED, NUMEROUS EMENDATIONS, ADAPTED TO THE IMPROVED STATE OF THE SCIENCE IN THE PRESENT DAY. "Christian Astrology" is the most significant work of the foremost 17th-century English astrologer, William Lilly (1602 - 1681), who famously predicted the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is renowned as the most definitive work on horary astrology ever written in English. The "Christian" part of the title was most likely incorporated to protect the author from suggestions that he was a heretic dabbling in the diabolic arts. The book was first published in 1647, and there was a second edition in 1659. It was later published in this edition and format, in 1835. Original boards show wear, with heavy rubbing to extremities; rear board partially re-attached (and binding remains firm); extensive astrological notes to front endpapers and half-title page; interior is otherwise clean and free of markings.
By Zadkiel (Richard James Morrison), one of the fundamental astrologers responsible for the contemporary revival of astrology in the Western world. His core foundational books, including The Hand Book of Astrology, which is still used to this day, helped in the return of the science. He became interested in astrology through R.C. Smith, better known under his pen name, Raphael. Morrison adopted the pen name Zadkiel and began an astrological almanac, The Herald of Astrology.
