Malleus Maleficorum , Ex Plurimis Av-Thoribus Coaceruatus,ac in duos tomos distinctus…

Lyon for Joannam Jocobi Juntae,1584. 8vo , [36] , [4 blank], (8), 540, old vellum, edges red, ms title to spine.

Rare 16th century Edition of this infamous work.

“Malleus Maleficarum”, the comprehensive disquisition called “Hammer of the witches” is regarded as one of the most salient and authoritative works on witchcraft “it crystallized into a fiercely stringent code previous folklore about black magic with church dogma on heresy, and if any work could have opened the floodgates of the inquisitorial hysteria” this is the most infamous.

The oldest edition is probably the one published in Lyon by Giunta in 1484 and no less than 14 editions were published between 1487 and 1520 and at least 16 editions between 1574 and 1669.

The influence of this work throughout time is indisputable and is corroborated by the countless quotes of its methods and examples in many other works. The problem of the authorship on the other hand remains an interesting issue as the current literature is not conclusive and most of the bibliographies refer to Jacob Sprenger

(1435-1495) as the main author (Adams, Caillet, Machiels, Wellcome).

Nevertheless, recent research indicates that Institoris or Heinrich Kramer (1430-1507) not only wrote this work alone but also used Sprenger’s name to promote it (although Sprenger certainly wrote the “Apologia auctoris”).

Both were important theologians who were appointed as general Inquistors in Northern Germany by the famous bull of Innocent VIII “Summis desiderantes affectibus” of 9 December 1484. Still their relationship was characterized by animosity and acrimony and the more powerful Sprenger used every opportunity to thwart Kramer. It is more than likely that beyond lending the work the prestige, Sprenger’s contribution was minimal (Broedel). Sprenger’s name appears for the first time in this edition on the reverse of the title-page.

Only one copy of this edition is recorded at auction in 1989 sold by Sotheby’s.

Soltész S-766 (pp. 1-632); Summers, Montague.- Introduction to the Malleus Maleficarum (http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/mm/mmintro.htm); Broedel.- The Malleus Maleficarum and the construction of witchcraft, pp. 18-19; Robbins.- The encyclopedia of witchcraft and demonology, pp. 337-340; Caillet Dorbon/Bibliotheca esoterica