Schotti, Schola Steganographica (secret writing), 1680

P. Gasparis Schotti E Societate Jesu, Schola Steganographica, in Classes Octo Distributa, Quibus, praeter alia multa, ac jucundissima, explicantur Artificia Nova, …. Excudebat Jobus Hertz, Typographus Herbipol. Anno 1680.Small quarto volume bound in contemporary vellum over boards. Title plate on spine. Vellum torn along fore edge of rear board. Hinges strong. Full page engraved arms of Ferdinand Maximilian. Title page in red and black ink. 8 engraved plates and partly engraved folding tables, 3 printed folding tables, and 5 engravings in text. Occasional foxing, slight browning to some fold outs and several leaves near rear. Slight damps stain to last few pages. Includes text in Latin and German. 8 ½ x 6 7/8 x 1 ¼ inches. Second edition (first was 1665), this book deals secret alphabets, codes in musical notation, sign languages for communications with the deaf and mute, coding machines, and earlier forms of secret writing (referencing Kircher, Porta, Cardenas, Trithemius, etc).Interestingly, this book also contains a discussion, on pages 268 and 269, on rhinoplasty. Schott refers to the plastic surgeon as a Rhinurgus.