Sibly, Ebenezer, Astro. Philo. ‘A Complete Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology: Or, the Art of Foretelling Future Events and Contingencies, by the Aspects, Positions, and Influences of the heavenly Bodies; Founded on Natural Philosophy, Scripture, Reason, and the Mathematics. In Four Parts – Embellished with Curious Copper-Plates’ Printed for Green & Co., Mo. 176, Near Surry-Street, Strand, London, 1788 (overall title page)[1].
Cloth (library-rebound thus). (Lacks two of the called-for plates: ‘Four Twins’ which should be opposite p. 829, and ‘Head of Cicero’, which should be opposite p. 873.) [Frontis.] + [1] + viii + [pp. 13-28] + [pp. 39-70] + [Plate] + [pp. 71-106] + [plate] + [pp. 107-274] + [single-sided title leaf] + [pp. 277-390] + [plate] + [pp. 391-618] + [plate] + [pp. 619-756] + [folding table] + [pp. 757-792] + [plate] + [pp. 793-798] + [plate] + [pp. 799-844] + [plate] + [pp. 845-846] + [plate] + [pp. 847-852] + [plate] + [pp. 853-856] + [plate] + [857-866] + [plate] + [pp. 867-882] + [plate] + [pp. 883-888] + [plate] + [pp. 889 (1)-889 (2)] + [plate] + [pp. 891-892] + [plate] + [pp. 893-910] + [plate] + [pp. 911-914] + [single-sided title leaf] + [pp. 917-950] + [folding plate] + [pp. 951-964] + [plate] + [pp. 965-968] + [plate] + [pp. 969-987] + [pp. 989-991 (1)] + [pp. 991 (2) – 1038 (1)] + [pp. 1038 (2)-1041] + [pp. 1043-1052] + [plate] + [pp. 1053-1054] + [plate] + [pp. 1055-1056] + [single-sided title leaf] + [pp. 1059-1060] + [plate] + [pp. 1061-1098] + [plate] + [pp. 1099-1102] + [plate] + [pp. 1103-1106] + [plate] + [pp. 1107-1114] + [plate] + [pp. 1115-1126] + [p. 1125 (2)] + [3]
[1] It is conceivable that this early edition may originally have been issued in two volumes, in common with all the later editions of this work; but there is no direct evidence of this remaining if so, for it has been bound into a single library binding at some stage, with the loss of the original title page to Volume II if there was one. At p. 275, additional title page subtitled “Part the Second, Containing the Doctrine of Nativities, and the Art of Resolving Horary Questions; Together with a Collection of Nativities of the most eminent and remarkable Persons, Twins, Dwarfs, Giants, &c.”, dated 1784. At p. 915, additional title page subtitled “Part the Third, Containing the Meteorological Part of Uranology; with Certain Rules for prejudging the Revolutions of every Part of the habitable World. General Effects of Great Conjunctions, Eclipses, Comets, Blazing Stars, and other Extraordinary Phenomena: with the Art of Calculating Eclipses, Tides, and Weather, For any Number of Years to come. The Whole Illustrated by a Figure of the Sun’s Ingress into the Sign Aries; and by a Revolutional Figure of the Commencement of the American Empire”, dated 1790. At p. 1057, additional title page subtitled “Part the Fourth. Containing the Distinction between Astrology, and the Wicked Practice of Exorcism. With a General Display of Witchcraft, Magic, and Divination, Founded upon the Existence of Spirits Good and Bad, and their Affinity with the Affairs of this World”, dated 1788.
About this Book Scan
Carefully scanned in full colour from our original printing of the complete edition purchased at auction in the 2000s.
Ebenezer Sibly’s Complete Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology, originally published in four instalments starting in 1784, was a pivotal work ushering in the 19th century astrological revival in England, and also later became popular and influential in the United States. As the pagination indicates, it is a voluminous text, extending to over 1100 pages. Our scan covers the complete text and nearly all the original illustrations from the early editions.