REGULA EMBLEMATICA SANCTI BENEDICTI. Opus Posthumum Admodum Reverendi Patris BONIFACII GALLNER [Bonifaz Gallner], Monachi Benedictini in Coenobio Mellicensi - Nunc Primum Bibliotheca ejusdem coenobii luci publicae datum A.R.S. MDCCLXXXIII.

VINDOBONAE (Vienna): Carl Wilhelm Holle Bibliopola Universitatis, MDCCLXXXIII (1783). Latin text.

Large Format Hardcovers, cloth covered boards with leather covered spine and corners (front cover present but detached), 4to. 9.5x14 inches (23.5x35.5 cm). Pagination: [18] Introductory pages, A1-Aaa3 (187 pages) EMBLEMATICA PLATES, [2] Index.

ILLUSTRATED with 187 ENGRAVED PLATES of ESOTERIC CATHOLIC OCCULT EMBLEMATICA. Each engraved plate and its accompanying Latin text is printed on its own leaf (i.e. blank backsides).

Condition: The front cover is present but detached (i.e. laid on loosely), the rear cover is almost detached and just holding on with its two upper binding cords; the spine covering is worn, scraped, faded and chipped, the boards are worn and chipped primarily at the corner and spine margin leather. Internally complete, the front free endpaper is chipped along the edges and corners and separating from the spine at the top five inches, the blank prelim page is also chipped along the edges; the first three introductory pages and the rear two index pages seem to have been printed on lesser paper and have toned / browned, but are still solid and completely legible, the 187 EMBLEMATICA ENGRAVED PLATES are all lovely, some light yellowing at the margins, some waviness at the bottom (likely from the plate printing process), a few with some toning, and a spot or two here and there; overall the plates are striking and gorgeous, and each suitable for framing imho. A complete copy with wonderfully esoteric plates that is more than suitable for rebinding / rebacking.

This 1783 edition is very scarce.