Rare Book Salon 2024: Disquisitionum Magicarum

In March 2024, Salon participants, librarians and faculty from the department of Art and Art History examined and evaluated Jesuit priest Martin del Rio's Investigations into Magic, A Guide for Combatting Witchcraft. Archivist and Special Collections Librarian Liza Tietjen described the purpose of the Rare Book Salon and selection of Investigations into Magic ; Systems and Technology Librarian Edward Iglesias detailed the context, history, and significance of del Rio's work; Professor Ernie Jolicouer provided historical context and description of the engraving process used by the book's craftspeople; Professor Susannah Strong described the bookmaking process and how close examination uncovered several repairs made to the book through its lifetime; and Dr. Anthony Mangieri led salon participants through a close investigation of the cover page's illustrations and their meaning.