Rare edition of this immensely popular text on sexuality and reproduction, possibly composed by a follower of Albertus Magnus and drawing on a wide variety of sources, including Aristotle, Galen and Hippocrates.
 
The text, part natural philosophy, part medicine, and part astrology, was most likely composed in the late 13th or early 14th century and survives in over 80 manuscripts. It remained popular throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, as is evident from the huge number of printed editions.
 
In 13 chapters the books treats topics such as generation of the embryo, the influence of the planets, monsters in nature, signs of chastity, and the generation of sperm.
 
According to BP16 the present edition exists in two issues: one with the imprint of Bonnemère, as here, and the other with that of Pierre Sergent. It includes extensive, anonymous commentary, identified by Lemay as "Commentary A".