Very Early Manuscripts, Leaves and Books from Phillip J. Pirages

Item 383 is an illuminated vellum manuscript leaf circa 1530 with miniatures depicting two of Christendom's early female saints. One is St. Margaret, the other St. Catherine. St. Margaret is reputed to have survived being swallowed by a dragon when the cross she carried irritated the beast's innards and forced it to spew her out. St. Catherine escaped death on the wheel, often referred to as "Catherine's Wheel," a spoked wheel onto which the doomed were lashed and beaten. She broke the wheel. Both of these saints came to be seen as intercessors to God in times of trouble, and Joan of Arc was said to have spoken to them in visions. The extreme nature of their stories has left few literal believers today and it is unclear whether either of them really existed. Accounts of them came later on rather than contemporaneously. $6,000.

Item 178 is a compendium of practical "secrets" by Alessio Piemontese (Alexis of Piedmont, likely a pseudonym), Secreti del Reverndo donno Alessio Piemontese. This is a 1559 edition of an extremely popular book that would continue to be printed for another two centuries and more. It covered just about everything, from remedies for seasickness, toothaches, and bee stings, to making white hair black and other methods of turning back the clock on aging, to making varnish, keeping flies off of horses and killing lice. Some of its promises were dubious, such as a means to prevent dogs from barking, clearly impossible short of resorting to using one to create "oil of red dog." This oil performed miraculous cures, but the manufacturing formula makes you wonder if the cures were worth it. Pirages explains the formula "requires boiling an unfortunate canine in oil until it disintegrates and then adding scorpions, worms, and herbs." $1,900.

Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Manuscripts may be reached at 503-472-0476 or pirages@onlinemac.com. Their website is www.pirages.com.