[[Musurgia Universalis/Kircher]. Athanasii Kircheri Fuldensis Soc. Jesu Presbyteri. MUSURGIA UNVERSALIS Sive Ars Magna Consoni et Dissoni. Vol II only (of 2). Rome: Grignani, 1650. 1st edition of Athanasius Kircher’s monumental work on Music. Wellcome III, p394. Graesse, Vol IV, p21. 4to. Contemp vellum, edges sprinkled red. Covers slightly bowed, very good. Lacking the ending gatherings that would follow the Index. Pagination: [title], [prtd verso], text I-462, Index [1]-[12] pp, lacking the ending gatherings that would follow the index. Collation: [title w/ type & woodcut on verso], A-3M4, 3N-3N5, in 4’s except for Nnn. Index begins on [3M4]. The title is printed (and therefore included in the pagination and collation above), but is on thick stock like the plates are. Because the title is printed (not engraved) it is not included in the plate count below. 11 plates: Frontis (numbered “XI et XII.”) and 10 other plates (XIV to XXIII) facing pp184-185, p264, 282, 303, 311, 336, 338-339, 343, 347, 366. Leaf O2 mis-signed “O3” but corrected in blue ink by previous owner. Minor dampstaining. Pages and plates very good. Tear to marginalia of p338. Plate XVII and the leaf preceding plate XVI have marginal tear. Old repair in margin of p309. Woodcut diagrams, illustrations, and tables throughout text (mostly partial-page, although there are full-page woodcut anatomical diagrams on pages 402 and 406, and a full-page woodcut on p450. 11 engraved plates (2 double-page). 1st edition of Athanasius Kircher’s monumental work on Music. Wellcome III, p394. Graesse, Vol IV, p21. This book is one of the seminal works of musicology and was hugely influential in the development of Western music - in particular on J.S.Bach (1685-1750) and Beethoven (1770-1827), its author lived and worked at the Collegio Romano in Rome for most of his life.