Treatise of Sphaera and Lapidario

Treatise of Sphaera and Lapidario – BiblioGemma – MS 1197 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)

Spain — 16th Century

Commissioned by King Alfonso the Wise of Castile: the fascinating world of stars and gemstones in a magnificently illuminated 16th century compendium

  1. King Alfonso X the Wise of Castile (1221–84) was a leading researcher in the field of astronomy and astrology

  2. Alfonso's treaty on the stars is accompanied by another examining 360 different types of stones

  3. This 16th century transmission of the 13th century original is adorned with 46 gorgeous zodiac symbols

Treatise of Sphaera and Lapidario

  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (2)
Description
Treatise of Sphaera and Lapidario

Observing the stars and the firmament has fascinated man from the beginning. As a celestial domain, the heavens seemed to hide secrets that were considered to be solvable. This task was prescribed to the science of astrology, which was in its heyday in the Middle Ages. The Castilian King Alfonso the Wise was one of the leading researchers on the subject and recorded his finding in an important 13th century treatise. This was reproduced over the following centuries, as was demonstrated in the gorgeous 16th century Treaty of Sphaera and Lapidario.

Treatise of Sphaera and Lapidario

This significant manuscript from the Spanish National Library in Madrid is a splendid testimonial from the epoch of scholarship in 13th century Spain under the rule of King Alfonso the Wise. The Castilian king himself is considered to be the author of both of the treatises collected, which weave together the themes of astrology and mythology: the Libro de la Sphaera and the Libro del Lapidario. Aside from the exciting content of the text, the high-quality illustrations are a striking component of this historical treasure!

The Learned Monarch

King Alfonso X of Castile (1221–1284) is famous to this day by his epithet The Wise. This glorious designation, by which his contemporaries already knew him, comes from his enthusiasm for scholarship and the arts. Alfonso the Wise was not only an exceptional patron of these disciplines, having founded a famous translation school in Toledo inter alia, but he was also personally active in the most varied scholarly and artistic subjects. As a poet and man of letters, he is equally celebrated as an author of scholarly works, the fields of astronomy and astrology among others.

Fixed Stars and Stones

The manuscript of this so-called Treaty of Sphaera and Lapidario deals with this exciting field of research. The text contained therein comes from the circle of the Castilian King Alfonso X the Wise and were even attributed to the King himself. It consists of two treatises on astrology and the properties of stones: of sphaera and lapidario. The Libro de las Figuras de las Estrellas Fijas del Octavo Cielo or Libro de la Sphaera studies the 48 constellations of the fixed stars from the eight Ptolemaic spheres. The lapidario book in turn is a mineralogical treatise with studies of 360 stones subdivided into twelve chapters, also according to the Ptolemaic system.

Applaudable Book Decoration

What’s more, these significant texts are gorgeously illustrated with 46 depictions of zodiac signs in the 16th century Castilian manuscript from the Spanish National Library in Madrid. Thus, the Treaty of Sphaera and Lapidario is not only historically significant and informative, but is also particularly attractive in its design. The illustrated depictions in both astrological texts are extremely ornamental and colorful. The interesting connection between mythology and astrology, as it was still quite common in the 13th century, is particularly well expressed here. The Treaty of Sphaera and Lapidario is considered to be one of the last manuscripts to present this connection before the theme was approached in an increasingly scientific way.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Tratado de Sphaera y Lapidario
Traktat über die Welt
La Octava Esfera. Primer Libro del Saber di Astronomía de Alfonso X el Sabio
Size / Format
98 pages / 42.0 × 28.0 cm
Origin
Spain
Date
16th Century
Language
Script
Humanistic Rotunda
Illustrations
48 astronomical diagrams and 334 illustrations of stones
Content
The 48 constellations of the Eighth Sphere (according to Ptolemy) and a mineralogical treatise on 360 stones
Patron
Alfonso X the Wise

Available facsimile editions:
Treatise of Sphaera and Lapidario – BiblioGemma – MS 1197 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)
BiblioGemma – Barcelona, 2015
Limited Edition: 995 copies

Treatise of Sphaera and Lapidario – Club Bibliófilo Versol – MS 1197 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)
Club Bibliófilo Versol – Madrid, 2015
Limited Edition: 350 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Tratado de Sphaera y Lapidario

BiblioGemma – Barcelona, 2015

Publisher: BiblioGemma – Barcelona, 2015
Limited Edition: 995 copies
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)

#2 La Octava Esfera. Primer Libro del Saber di Astronomía de Alfonso X el Sabio

Club Bibliófilo Versol – Madrid, 2015

Publisher: Club Bibliófilo Versol – Madrid, 2015
Limited Edition: 350 copies
Commentary: 1 volume by Laura Fernández Fernández
Language: Spanish
1 volume: This facsimile is not complete. Reproduction of the first part (fols. 1-49) of the original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
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