Description:

The Picatrix or Ġāyat al-Ḥakīm [fī l-siḥr] 'The Goal of the Wise [in sorcery]' is a grimoire of uncertain origins, probably written circa 1200 AD. Offering talismanic and astrological guidance. Presented in the original Arabic, the talismanic property of this work will be of interest to specialist collectors of seminal grimoires. The book had a major influence on West European magical thinking from Marsilio Ficino in the 1400s, Cornelius Agrippa, Thomas Campanella, Dr John Dee and Paracelsus in addition to the anonymous authors of magical grammars such as the Key of Solomon. The edition in the British Library passed through several hands: Simon Forman, Richard Napier, Elias Ashmole and William Lilly.