Before 1400 it was rare for anyone to be persecuted for witchcraft, but the. This particular version of the malleus maleficarum is rather expensive compared to the others however this is by far the best and most accurate. The infamous malleus maleficarum the hammer of the witches ca. Jan 01, 2005 the malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches.
Here we have one of the most famous works ever created on the subject of witchcraft, in the malleus maleficarum. The malleus maleficarum search the malleus introduction to online edition. Rubricated, with lombardic initials in red and blue, occasional pen flourishes, paragraph marks at beginning of chapter headings, some capital strokes. Jacob sprenger is also often attributed as an author, but some scholars now believe that he became associated with the malleus maleficarum largely as a result of kramers wish to lend his book as much official authority as possible. Malleus maleficarum first edition bauman rare books. Sothebys to sell rare occult book collection uk news the guardian.
I have a copy of an 1496 edition of malleus maleficarum. A very rare 1582 edition of the malleus maleficarum is for sale on ebay. The malleus maleficarum, or witches hammer, has been described as the most sinister book ever written. Originally put out when the inquisition was in full force, this book and the text it contains condemned thousands of innocent people to needless deaths. The malleus maleficarum, usually translated as the hammer of witches, is the best known and the most thorough treatise on witchcraft. The truth is, although kramer and sprenger were catholic monks, their views were not the views of the church or the.
The malleus maleficarum is probably one of the most notorious books of catholic church history. The malleus maleficarum is a seminal treatise regarding witchcraft and demons, presented here complete with an authoritative translation to modern english by montague summers. Malleus maleficarum, hammer of witches, montague summers. Malleus maleficarum by henricus kramer latin paperback book free shipping. John rodker, 1928, first limited edition of this translation, 1079 of 1275 copies. In 1487 during the inquisition, two dominican friars, heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger published the witchhunters book, malleus maleficarum hammer of witches. The malleus maleficarum, usually translated as the hammer of witches, is the best known. Worried about encountering witches like macbeth this all hallows eve. Being an account available at 2014 april 2 rare books. These will typically sell higher in a rare book store or private sale compared to an auction. Charged by pope innocent viii to investigate witchcraft, dominican friars heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger traveled throughout germany gathering alpine lore and legend for malleus maleficarum the witches hammer. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Mostly a compilation of superstition and folklore, the book was taken very seriously at. Written in the 1400s by 2 german church officials, it is an extremely longwinded explanation of what witches are, what they do, how to identify them and how to handle their judgment and sentencing when they have been brought into secular and religious courts.
The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of witches is a famous treatise on witches, written in 1486 by heinrich kramer, an inquisitor of the catholic church, and was first published in germany in 1487. Turn to a witchhunting manual such as the malleus maleficarum this famous book, known as the hammer of witches in english, was written in the 15th century by a pair of inquisitors for the catholic church. Also known as the witch hammer, the malleus maleficarum was a handbook for hunting and punishing witcheswritten by inquisitors heinrich kramer c. The malleus maleficarum by heinrich kramer, james sprenger. The malleus maleficarum quotes showing 117 of 17 besides, since impotency in this act is sometimes due to coldness of nature, or some natural defect, it is asked how it is possible to distinguish whether it is due to witchcraft of not. Its been credited with causing an enormous increase in witch trials in the years after it was published, often quoted as being a howto manual for the inquisition or appearing on the bench of every witch hunter throughout europe.
The malleus maleficarum latin for the hammer of the witches was written by dominican friars henry kramer and jacob sprenger with papal endorsement. The misogynistic manual promoted the idea that women are inherently evil and form pacts with the devil. First published around 1486, the book with detailed instructions for identifying, trying, torturing and executing witches and. This 1673 volume covers much of the same ground as the malleus, with chapters such as the manner of the witches profession and persons bewitchedbut is only about a quarter of the length. Johann sprenger, dean of the university of cologne. The malleus maleficarum of heinrich kramer and james sprenger dover occult. In this rare edition the malleus maleficarum was bundled with other works on the subject of witchcraft. The malleus maleficarum and the construction of witchcraft. Mackay explains the terminology at length sorcerer is used to preserve the relationship of the latin terminology. According the da vinci code, the catholic inquisition published the malleus maleficarum instructing the clergy how to locate, torture, and destroy the freethinking women.
The main purpose of the malleus maleficarum, or the hammer against witches, was to refute all arguments that witchcraft did not exist, refute those who were skeptical about its reality, to prove that witches were. Malleus maleficarum of heinrich kramer and james sprenger unabridged online republication of the 1928 edition. Translation, notes, and two introductions by montague summers. Translator montague summers consistently uses the malleus maleficarum or simply the malleus in his 1928 and 1948 introductions. Authorship of the book is credited to two german dominican monks, heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger. Get the best deals on malleus maleficarum when you shop the largest online. The malleus maleficarum, first published in 14861487, is the standard medieval text on witchcraft. The folgers copy is a travelsized edition in a polished leather.
This volume offers a unique insight into the fifteenthcentury mind and its sense of. Cornell university library, kroch library, division of rare books and manuscripts, bf1569. Malleus maleficarum first edition montague summers bauman. A witchhunters guidebook, written in 1486 by german dominican monks jakob sprenger and heinrich kramer, and arguably one of the most bloodsoaked and hateful books in history.
If the malleus maleficarum seems too heavy for you, both in tone or size, why not try a pleasant treatise of witches instead. It is, in effect, a book of instructions for witch hunters and judges on how to recognize witchcraft, how to test a witch, what tortures may and should be applied, what questions to ask, and what answers should be obtained after the torture. The effects of the malleus maleficarum spread far beyond germany, greatly impacting france and italy and, to a lesser extent, england. Apr 07, 2020 in 1487 during the inquisition, two dominican friars, heinrich kramer and jacob sprenger published the witchhunters book, malleus maleficarum hammer of witches. At the time this book was published in 1487, the christian church had considered witchcraft a dangerous affront to the faith for many centuries. The malleus maleficarum, usually translated as the hammer of witches, is the best known treatise on witchcraft. If you have disposable income and would like to own a hardcopy version of the malleus, or you would just like to look at some cool pictures of a fairly rare book, i encourage you to swing by ebay and take a look at it. As a justification for kramers unfair trials and horrific acts of. Malleus maleficarum article about malleus maleficarum by.
First published around 1486, the bookwith detailed instructions for identifying, trying, torturing and executing witches and. Oct 24, 2016 this video looks at the influence of the malleus maleficarum on warhammer and the imperial inquisition. Malleus maleficarum first edition sellersupplied images. This notorious document was drawn up in 1484 by the church as a handbook for wouldbe inquisitors on how to identify, torture and erradicate paganism from society. The malleus maleficarum1 is considered by many to be the definitive medieval text on witchhunting and the trials of the roman catholic inquisition. Most of what todays society and culture thinks of the witches and the occult comes from these pages. The malleus maleficarum the witch hammer, first published in 1486, is arguably one of the most infamous books ever written, due primarily to its position and regard during the middle ages. Often known as the hammer of witches, the malleus consists of a demonstration of the existence of witchcraft and a discussion of both the practice of witchcraft and cures for the injuries caused by it, together with a. Malleus maleficarum project gutenberg selfpublishing. Abebooks, an amazon company, offers millions of new, used, and outofprint books. Even when armed with the papal bull, the german inquisitors found their preparation incomplete. This volume offers a unique insight into the fifteenthcentury mind and its sense of sin, punishment, and retribution.
Read download malleus maleficarum pdf pdf book library. The malleus maleficarum is the most famous early modern text on witches and witch hunting. Several other demonological texts were also analyzed and then compared to one another. It served as a guidebook for inquisitors during the inquisition, and was designed to aid them in the identification, prosecution, and dispatching of witches.
The book had a strong influence on culture for several centuries. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Malleus maleficarum, the medieval witch hunter book. Shipping may be from our sydney, nsw warehouse or from our uk or us warehouse, depending on stock availability. This video looks at the influence of the malleus maleficarum on warhammer and the imperial inquisition. The malleus is a historical document therefore reflects the views of some people at a specific time. This paperback makes the full translation accessible to the readers as a single volume. Often known as the hammer of witches, the malleus consists of a demonstration of t.
Malleus maleficarum translated with an introduction, bibliography and notes by the rev. A2 i59 1519 tiny german clergyman heinrich kramer really had it out for. Marked concavity to spine, with binding a bit splayed from reading. See more ideas about witchcraft, medieval and witch. The rarer of two issues of the 1588 edition the third frankfurt edition, in the original latin, of the most detailed and most notorious witchhunters manual, whose title translates as witch hammer. First published in 1486, it remained in use for three hundred years and had a tremendous influence in the witch trials in england and on the continent. Rare book selections 2,419 rare book and special collections division 24,159. Malleus maleficarum first edition montague summers. Malleus maleficarum, detailed legal and theological document c. A2 i59 1519 tiny german clergyman heinrich kramer really had. Malleus maleficarum is an instruction manual for inquisitors of the catholic faith written in 14frozetodeath, in germany. Malleus maleficarum, free pdf, ebook, epub global grey. Then we have a fantastic interview with rare books librarian.
It was written by the catholic clergyman heinrich kramer under his latinized name henricus institoris and first published in the german city of speyer in 1486. If youre interested, the book is complete with an index at. The witchcraft books include a first edition of one of the most famous, malleus maleficarum, the hammer of witches, published in 1487 and. Soon after their return from rome they set themselves at the compilation of a hand book which should leave no judge an excuse for laxityan exposition of witchcraft and a code of procedure for the detection and punishment of witches. Malleus maleficarum the hammer of witches is the most important witchhunters bible, used by both catholics and protestants. The demonology text, the malleus maleficarum was analyzed. Soon after their return from rome they set themselves at the compilation of a handbook which should leave no judge an excuse for laxityan exposition of witchcraft and a code of procedure for the detection and punishment of witches. Its appearance did much to spur on and sustain some two centuries of witchhunting hysteria in europe. Despite popular belief that the malleus maleficarum was the classic roman catholic text on witchcraft, it was never officially used by the catholic church and was, in fact, condemned by the inquisition in 1490. The malleus maleficarum heinrich kramer, james sprenger. I read it as background research into peoples viewpoints on heresy back then. This thesis explores the topic of gender and witchcraft, specifically why women were so heavily represented in witchcraft trials. The book is in three parts and wonderfully written.
The malleus maleficarum, a latin book written in 1486 and 1487, is also known as the hammer of witches. We delve into book history and talk about the author and inquisitor heinrich kramer. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A thesis submitted to the faculty of the university of mississippi in partial fulfillment of.
Malleus maleficarum work by kraemer and sprenger britannica. It endorses extermination of witches and for this purpose develops a detailed legal and theological theory. This volume was printed in frankfurt, germany and contains 704 pages plus an index. Malleus maleficarum tote bag witchy gothic home decor satanist satanic hammer of the witches historical dark ages goth art history purse wyrdwolfdesigns 4. The malleus maleficarum and the witchhunts in early modern europe. Binding of institoris, henricus and sprenger, jacobus. In this rare edition the malleus maleficarum was bundled with other works on the subject of witchcraft if youre interested, the book is complete with an index at the end, but some pages are loose and need to be rebound. It was written by the discredited catholic clergyman heinrich kramer under his latinized name henricus institoris and first published in the german city of speyer in 1487.
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