★ Worsdale, John [1766-1828 (?)]. Genethliacal Astrology. Comprehending an enquiry into, and defence of the Celestial Science: The Rectification of Nativities, by the Trutine of Hermes; with proofs of the verity of elementary influx and sydereal affection, exemplified in a variety of genitures, investigated agreeably to the System of Ptolemy. To which is added An Appendix, containing remarks on the nativity of a Gentleman Now Living, shewing the different influences of the planets between a natural and a Violent Death. A Judgment on the Figure of Heaven at the Sun’s ingress into Aries, 1798. With other curious, interesting, and important speculations. The Second Edition. By John Worsdale. Newark, printed and sold for the Author by Messrs. Ridge; Sold also by Messr. Robinson, Paternoster-Row, London; Drury, Lincoln; Hurst, Grantham; Thornill, Sleaford; and all other Booksellers, 1798.
In 4° (18.5 cm), [ ]1 A5 b4 b3 B-Z4 Aa3 a-c4 d2 e4 f3, antiporta, pp. xxiii [1 bianca] 227 [1 bianca]. All’ antiporta incisione di J. Pass, 3, Tipper Terrace. Islington (Engraved for Worsdales Astrology. Oct. 10th. 1796) che riproduce la nascita e l’oroscopo di Gesù Cristo. Nella parte superiore dell’antiporta si legge: The Nativity of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 7 tavole con oroscopi, ripiegate e fuori testo, in corrispondenza delle pp. 134, 138, 140, 144, 148, 192, 206. Dedica all’astronomo Henry Andrews, datata a p. v Spanby, near Falkingham, Lincolnshire. October 10th; ☾ Die, 1796.
Seconda edizione.
Prima edizione: 1796, Newark, S. and J. Ridge, pp. vii [viii] 181 [1], con il titolo Genethliacal astrology, comprehending an enquiry into, and defence of the celestial science; with the method of rectifying nativities, by the legal mode of the trutine of Hermes. Esemplari: Cleveland Public Library; Cornell University, New York; New York University; Rutgers University, New Jersey; University of Delaware; University of Arizona; Henry Huntington Art Collections and Botanical Arts, San Marino, California). Bibliografia relativa: Gardner 1320.
Scrive Gardner che Worsdale non ebbe il successo che avrebbe meritato come astrologo, e l’opinione è condivisibile: Worsdale scrisse infatti di astrologia in un tempo in cui questa disciplina era caduta in pressoché totale “disuso” in letteratura. L’Autore, preciso e metodico, si fece comunque un nome. Tolemaico convinto, stimava William Lilly e Jean Baptiste Morin, grandi astrologi del XVII Secolo. Tra i suoi più o meno contemporanei salvò soltanto John Partridge, altro tolemaico, e condannò Gadbury, Coley, Parker, Sibly, White e Wilson. Worsdale fu un tecnico dell’astrologia, lontanissimo da qualsiasi suggestione proveniente dalle altre scienze divinatorie. Qui affronta come sempre seriamente la materia e correda l’opera di vari esempi ben motivati e rispettosi delle regole della disciplina astrologica.
Esemplari: British Library; Manchester University; Wellcome Library; Harvard University, Houghton Library; UCLA Library, Los Angeles; Northwestern University, Illinois; New York Public Library Research; Rutgers University, Chicago.
Bibliografia: Gardner 1321.