Wilson, James, Esq. Philomath ‘A Complete Dictionary of Astrology, in which Every Technical and Abstruse Term Belonging to the Science is Minutely and Correctly Explained, and the Various Systems and Opinions of the Most Approved Authors Carefully Collected and Accurately Defined. Comprising The only rational Method of calculating Nativities, according to the Placidian System; The whole Art of bringing up Directions, both Primary and Secondary. The Judgment of Revolutions, Progressions, Ingresses, Transits, and Lunations Embolismic or Quadrate. The Doctrine of Horary Questions complete. Divested of their Extravagance, Contradictions, and Absurdities. The whole Illustrated and Explained by Familiar Examples and Diagrams’ Printed for William Hughes, Islington Green, and sold by Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, Paternoster-Row, and by All Other Booksellers, London, 1819.

Old half-leather (wear to extremities of spine and outer corners of boards; moderate surface scuffing to spine hinges) with gilt title label to spine, with paper-covered boards (lightly edgeworn). [‘Plate 1’] + [2] + [pp. iii-xxii] + [‘Plate 2’] + [‘Plate III’] + 410

About this Book Scan

Carefully scanned in full colour from our original printing of the 1819 first edition.

James Wilson’s Complete Dictionary of Astrology was an attempt at a comprehensive digest of received astrological lore, and was published at an early stage in the 19th century astrological revival. It is notable for its criticism of some traditional astrological doctrine, as well as for its depth of scholarship. Wilson was not only a compiler but also a moderniser. His book was reprinted in the United States in 1885 and again several times in the 20th century, showing that it remained influential far beyond his time.