Strassbourg, B. Jobin, 1586. Small 8vo (17.0 x 10.3 cm.). Title in red and black, [xiv], 767 pp. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum. Boards with rectangular borders, floral corner pieces and intricate central floral vignette. All edges red.

On the Demonomania of the Sorcerers (French: De la démonomanie des sorciers) is a treatise on witchcraft and demonology by French jurist and political philosopher Jean Bodin (ca. 1530-1596). First published in 1580, the book became an influential and authoritative source on witch-hunting and prosecution, and it probably had greater reach than any other work on witches in that era. The Demonomania of the Sorcerers was first published in French in 1580. By 1604, it had run to ten editions. By 1581 it had already been translated into Latin, by François Du Jon, as De Magorum Dæmonomania Libri IV, and in the same year into German by Johann Fischart (1581) under the Latin/German mixed title given above. This is a copy of the German edition, published five years after the first. In 1591, another edition was published, under the same, German, title. On the Demonomania of the Sorcerers is divided in four books. In the first, Bodin begins by defining 'witch' and 'witchcraft.' It constitutes one of the earliest legal definitions of a witch: 'one who, through diabolical means, knowingly seeks to achieve something'. Bodin also describes spirits, classifying them as either benevolent or malevolent. Additionally, he enumerates the various powers that can be obtained by appealing to demons, particularly divinatory and prophetic abilities. The second book is dedicated to magic. It defines magic and its various forms, such as white and black magic, and explores practices like demon invocation and making pacts with demons. It also addresses lycanthrophy, the supposed ability to transform into a werewolf. The third book focuses on the ways to prevent or remedy the malevolent actions of witches. It also addresses exorcisms, aimed at expelling spirits that have taken hold of a person. The fourth book focuses on the legal treatment of witches. Bodin takes a particularly harsh stance, advocating not only the use of torture but also painful forms of execution. (cf. Wikipedia). Comparatively very light wear to the boards; endpapers renewed; title page rather soiled; otherwise, except for a few spots or sudges, clean, unmarked. A very good copy.