De Sortilegio et Magia, Liber Singularis, Venice, 1792.
Decriminalizing Witchcraft and Magic in Italy Renazzi, Filippo Maria [1745-1808]. De Sortilegio et Magia. Liber Singularis. Venice: Excudebant Fratres Coletii, 1792. [ii], 44 pp. Quarto (9" x 6-1/4"). Contemporary three-quarter calf over paper-covered boards, gilt ornaments and lettering piece to spine, speckled edges. Light rubbing to boards, some rubbing to spine ends and corners. Light toning to text, slightly heavier at rear of text, light foxing to a few leaves. A well-preserved copy of a scarce title. $2,500. * First edition as an independent work. Renazzi was a Roman Jurist who, like Beccaria, tried to apply the principles of Enlightenment thinking to criminal law. Drawn from Renazzi's four-volume Elementa Juris Criminalis (first edition 1773-1786), De Sortilegio et Magico calls for the decriminalization of witchcraft and magic. Later editions were published in 1793, 1803 and 1821. All are scarce. OCLC locates 8 copies of the 1792 edition in North America, none in law libraries. Not in the British Museum Catalogue.
Price: $2,500.00
Book number 71490