Hand covered in various symbols

Unknown artist

English manual of practical chiromancy or palmistry dated 1648, formerly the property of Lord Redesdale. Arranged into the following sections: Chyromancy or a short compend[ium] of Palmestry, that is to say many rare observations and select rules of the mysteries of nature touching the hand of man, pp.1-27 The last few pages (pp.42-43, 46-47) contain pen and ink drawings of the hands and face. The section on palmistry begins by providing information on the influence of the planets and astrological signs. This is followed by information on how to use palmistry to calculate when a baby will be born, reading a person's temperament, and the individual lines on the hand. The section ends by explaining how to read fingernails. The short section on physiognomy includes information on the relationship between areas of the face, the planets and astrological signs, as well as how to read a person's temperament by the shape of their head.