Raphael ‘A Manual of Astrology, or the Book of the Stars, Being the Art of Foretelling Future Events, By the Influence of the Heavenly Bodies, In a manner unattempted by any former Author and divested of the Superstitions of the Dark Ages[1]’ C. S. Arnold, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, 1828.
Modern custom half-leather with gilt title to spine, with paper-covered boards. [Coloured frontis. ‘An Hieroglyphic of the Signs of Heaven’] + [1 leaf inc. coloured vignette] + [4] + [pp. v-x] + [1] + [pp. xii-xiv] + [2] + [pp. 17-108] + [1] + [pp. 110-117 of tables] + [pp. 118-123] + [pp. 124-5 of tables] + [pp. 126-140] + [plate ‘Nativity of the King of England’] + [pp. 141-256]
[1] The first title page with pictorial vignette is thus. It is followed by a second, more detailed title page reading: “A Manual of Astrology, or the Book of the Stars: Which Contains Every Requisite Illustration of the Celestial Science; or the Art of Foretelling Future Events, By the Influence of the Heavenly Bodies. Comprising: 1. An historical narration of the antiquity and verity of Astrology. 2. Elementary Principles of the Science; comprising a complete system of the Universe according to modern Astronomers. 3. The Natures of the Twelve Signs, the Houses of Heaven, the Planetary Orbs, the Fixed Stars, &c. &c. 4. The art of casting a Figure or Theme of Heaven, or Scheme of Nativity, for any time whatever, by Perpetual Tables. 5. Requisite descriptions of the Zodiacal and Mundane Asects. 6. The Doctrine of Nativities; with select experimental Rules, for foreseeing each particular event, from the cradle of infancy to the tomb of age. 7. The method of working Celestial Directions, both in the zodiac and in mundo. 8. The art of foreknowing the chief events of life by Celestial Periods; a new and important discovery. Also the theory of Progressive Directions. 9. A number of remarkable Horoscopes, evincing the power of the Stars in Life and Death. 10. The art of resolving every important question in the affairs of human life, by the science of Horary Astrology; with the Horoscope of London Bridge, &c. &c. 11. The theory of State Astrology; or the metod used by Astrologers in foretelling the fates of Kingdoms, Thrones, and Empires, exemplified by a prophetic glance at the late Lunar Eclipse. 12. An highly curious extract from an Original Manuscript; communicated by a valuable correspondent, relative to the mystic signatures of the Seven Planets. The whole illustrated and exemplified by various important and appropriate Diagrams, and Three Elegant Engravings”. This page bears the extended publication credit: “Published by C. S. Arnold, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden; Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh; and Westley and Tyrrell, Dublin, London, 1828”
About this Book Scan
Carefully scanned in full colour from our original printing of the 1828 first edition.
Robert Cross Smith, the first astrologer to have used the pen-name Raphael, was a key figure in the popularisation of astrology in England in the early 19th century. A Manual of Astrology (1828) was his main serious text-book on the topic and is also popular with collectors on account of its hand-coloured plates.