The question of what Nostradamus published and when he did so is not about to receive a complete answer. Thanks to three bibliographers of the end of the last century, it has received the best possible answer. Before listing Nostradamus' works, I wish to list their main bibliographical undertaking, as they are referred to throughout.
A very weird book, all in French. Only its last 34 pages are devoted to Ruzo's bibliographical list; but, what a list! Ruzo did personally own many of the original editions listed there, or had a photocopy of the originals. That list alone - also covering the first century after Nostradamus' death, is worth the price of the book.
Also totally in French, covering the period 1552 to about 1800, this other study of books by and about Nostradamus would be a 'must have' for anyone unable to get their hands on Benazra below.
This is by far the best book in the field. Also in French, it describes and comments most works published in French (and a few in other languages) about Nostradamus and the Prophecies, from 1545 to 1989. It incorporates most of the two other bibliographies mentioned above.
One last note before going to Nostradamus' list: I have not included in my list books rumoured to have existed (but found in one or more of the above works); books only listed in various catalogues (also mentioned by some of the three authors above); and allegedly 'lost' books not referred to in contemporary sources.
The following slightly revised article was first published in alt.prophecies.nostradamus as
Subject: Nostradamus' Prophetic Works
Date: 4 Dec 2003 18:38:50 GMT
Message-ID: [bqnuvq$lub$1@freenet9.carleton.ca]
Keywords: Nostradamus, Bibliography
Recently, I had expressed the opinion that all of Nostradamus' works were prophetic. As I had in mind absolutely all of them, they are worth listing, so as to show that many are generally thought not to be prophetic; they are nevertheless encyphered to the same degree as those which are deemed prophetic, as they all include Nostradamus' encyphered Prophecy about the unintended destruction of Paris on August 13, 2017, at 3:53 a.m.
This article seeks to list all known published works by Nostradamus. After each title, three references from the three best bibliographers, Ruzo, Chomarat and Benazra, help to identify each book. These are numbered only for reference purposes, as the order in which they are listed here is by no means a certain indication of the order in which they were published.
So, without further ado, here is what Nostradamus published:
1. A lost Prognostication for the year 1554 appears to be
the first book published by Nostradamus. It is referred to by
Laurens Videl, in his anti-Nostradamus pamphlet whose preface is
dated 20 November 1557. Videl's name does not even appear on the
frontpage of his own book titled « DECLARATION / DES ABVS
IGNORANCES ET / seditions de Michel Nostradamus, de / Salon de
Craux en Prouence / oeuvre tresutile & profita- / ble à vn
chacun. / Nouuellement traduit de Latin / en Francoys. /
[vignette] / Avec Priuilege. / Imprimé en Auignon par Pierre
Roux, / & Ian Tremblay./ 1558. ».
RUZO does not list it.
CHOMARAT #2 at p. 11.
BENAZRA p. 4 (Nostradamus) and p. 32 (Videl).
2. « PROGNOSTICATION / nouuelle, & prediction por- / tenteuse,
pour Lan / M. D. L. V. / Composee par maistre Michel Nostradamus,
/ docteur en medicine,de Salon de Craux en Pro- / uence,nommée
par Ammianus Marcelinus / SALVVIVM. / Dicata Heroico praesuli D.
I O S E P H O des Panisses, / Caualissensi praeposito. /
[vignette] / A Lyon, par Iean Brotot. »
RUZO #1 at p. 340.
CHOMARAT #3 at pp. 11-12.
BENAZRA pp. 5-6-7-8.
3. « LES / PROPHETIES / DE M. MICHEL / NOSTRADAMVS. / [vignette]
/ A LYON, / Chés Macé Bonhomme. / M. D. LV. / La permission est
insérée à la page suivante. / AVEC PRIVILEGE. ». This book
is known as the first original edition of the Prophecies.
RUZO #16 at p. 346.
CHOMARAT #8 at pp. 15-16.
BENAZRA pp. 9-10-11.
4. « Excellent & movlt / utile Opuscule à touts necessaire, / qui
désirent auoir cognois- / sance de plusieurs ex- / quises
Receptes, / diuisé en deux / parties. // La premiere traicte de
diverses façons / de Fardemens & Senteurs pour illustrer / &
embellir la face. // La seconde nous monstre la façon & /
maniere, de faire confitures de plusieurs / sortes,tant en
miel,que succre,& vin cuict./ le tout mis par chapitres,comme est
fait / ample mention en la Table. // Nouuellement composé par
maistre / Michel de Nostredame docteur en Me- / dicine de la
ville de Salon de Craux en / Prouence, & de nouueau mis en
lumiere. / A LYON / PAR ANTOINE VOLANT / M. D. LV. » This
book is generally known as Nostradamus' recipes for cosmetics and
marmalades.
RUZO does not list it.
CHOMARAT #5 at pp. 13 et 15.
BENAZRA pp. 12-13-14.
5. Another lost Prognostication (or an Almanach with its
usual 13 quatrains?), this one for 1556, was also referred to by
Laurens Videl (see 1. above). Bibliographers indicate that its 13
quatrains (if they were included in this book) are lost, but
Chavigny did publish 13 quatrains under his phoney Centuries XI
and XII, which might account for these 'missing' quatrains. The
loss of this book is one of the reasons why one cannot be sure
that Nostradamus did publish 13 Almanachs.
RUZO mentions it under 1.A) at p. 340.
CHOMARAT mentions it under #7 at p. 15.
BENAZRA mentions it at pp. 8-9.
6. A second edition of the « Excellent & movlt utile
Opuscule » dated « A Lyon par Antoine Volant.
1556. ». Bibliographers do not indicate if it is identical
to the 1555 publication (except for its date).
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #10 at p. 18.
BENAZRA p. 18.
7. A third edition of the « Excellent & movlt utile
Opuscule » is published under the following title: «
[flower] Excellent & / MOULT VTILE OPVSCU- / LE A TOUTS
NECESSAIRE, / qui desirent auoir cognoissance / de plusieurs
exquises Rece- / ptes, diuisé en deux / parties. // La premiere
traicte de diverses façons / de Fardemens & Senteurs pour
illustrer / & embellir la face. // La seconde nous monstre la
façon & / maniere, de faire confitures de plusieurs / sortes,tant
en miel,que succre,& vin cuict./ le tout mis par chapitres ,
comme est fait / ample mention en la Table. // Nouuellement
composé par Maistre / Michel de Nostredame docteur en Me- /
dicine de la ville de Salon de Craux en / Prouence,& de nouueau
mis en lumiere. / A PARIS / Chez Olivier de Harsy , demourant au
/ Cloz Bruneau à la Corne de Cerf. /
I 5 5 6. ». Bibliographers do not indicate
the differences between it and the two previous publications
under a similar title (except for its publisher's city and name
and its date).
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #11 at p. 18.
BENAZRA pp. 17-18.
8. « [little flower] ALMANACH / Pour l'An I 5 5 7 . / Composé par
Maistre Michel / NOSTRADAMVS, / Docteur en Medicine , de / Salon
de Craux en prouence // Item la declaration Lunaire de cha- / cun
moys,Presageant les choses / aduenir en ladite Année. // Contre
ceulx qui tant de foys / m'ont fait mort. / Immortalis ero viuus
, moriensque , magisque / Post mortem nomen viuet in orbe meum /
A PARIS / Par Iaques Keruer, Rue sainct Iacques / aux deux
Cochetz. / Auec Priuilege du Roy ».
RUZO #2 p. 341.
CHOMARAT #9 at p. 16.
BENAZRA pp. 14-15-16.
9. « LES PRESAGES / MERVEILLEVX / pour lan. I 5 5 7. Dediés / au
Roy treschrestien, / Henri deuxiesme / de ce nom, / Composez par
maistre Michel Nostra / damus, Docteur en Medecine de Salon / de
Craux en Prouence // Contre ceulx qui tant de foys / m'ont fait
mort. / Immortalis ero viuus,moriensque,magisque / Post mortem
nomen viuet in orbe meum. / A PARIS, / Par Iaques Keruer , rue S.
Iaques / aux deux Cochetz. / I 5 5 7. / Auec
priuilege du Roy. ».
RUZO mentions it at p. 269.
CHOMARAT #15 at p. 20-21.
BENAZRA p. 21.
10. « LA GRAND' / PRONOSTICATION / NOVVELLE AVEC PORTENTEV- / se
prediction,pour l'An M.D.LVII. // Composee par Maistre Michel de
nostre Dame, / Docteur en Medicine de Salon de Craux / en
Prouence. // Contre ceux qui tant de foys m'ont faict mort, /
Immortalis ero viuus , moriensque , magisque, / Post mortem nomen
viuet in orbe meum / [vignette] / AVEC PRIVILEGE DV ROY, / A
PARIS. / Par Iaques Keruer,Rue sainct Iaques à l'enseigne / des
deux cochetz. / I 5 5 7. ». This book is
reproduced in facsimile form in Bernard Chevignard's own book
titled « Présages de Nostradamus », Seuil, 1999, at pp.
394-417.
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #14 at p. 19-20.
BENAZRA pp. 21-22.
11. « LE VRAY ET / PARFAICT EMBEL / LISSEMENT DE LA FACE / &
conseruation du corps en son / entierc:ontenant plusieurs Re- /
ceptes secretes & desi- / rées non encores / veües. / & / LA
SECONDE / PARTIE, CONTENANT / LA FAC,ON ET MANIERE / de faire
toutes confitures liquides, / tant en succre,miel,qu'en / vin
cuit. / Ensemble deux façons pour faire le syrop rosat laxatif:&
pour / faire le succre candi,penites & tourrons d'Hespaigne. /
[vignette] / Par M. Michael Nostradamus. ». Although the
printer's name, place and date [estimated to be about 1557] are
not part of the title page, the mark of Christopher Plantin in
Anvers is found at the back of the last folio.
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #20 at pp. 23-24.
BENAZRA pp. 24-25.
12. « Paraphrase de C. / GALEN, SVS L'EXOR- / tation de Menodote,
aux estudes des / bonnes Artz,mesmement Medi- / cine: Traduict de
Latin en / Françoys , par Michel / Nostradamus. / [flower] /
[vignette ] / A LYON, / Chés Antoine du Rosne. /
I 5 5 7 ».
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #21 at pp. 24-25.
BENAZRA pp. 25-27.
13. « LES / PROPHETIES / DE M. MICHEL / NOSTRADAMVS. / [flower]
/ Dont il en y à trois cents qui n'ont / encores iamais esté /
imprimées. / ADIOUSTEES DE NOV / ueau par ledict Autheur. /
[vignette] / A L Y O N / Chés Antoine du Rosne / M. D.
LVII. ». This book is now known either as the second
original edition of the Prophecies; or as the September 1557
edition; or as the Utrecht edition. Its distinct character from
the already known November 1557 edition (see below) was first
reported in this NewsGroup in November 1998.
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT does not mention it.
BENAZRA does not mention it.
14. « LES / PROPHETIES / DE M. MICHEL / NOSTRADAMVS. / Dont il en
y à trois cents qui / n'ont encores iamais / esté imprimées. /
[vignette] / A LYON, / Chez Antoine du Rosne. /
I 5 5 7 ». This book now appears to be the
third original edition of the Prophecies; it is called the
November 1557 edition.
RUZO #18 at p. 347.
CHOMARAT #19 at p. 23.
BENAZRA pp. 22-24.
15. « PRONOSTICATION / NOVVELLE, POVR L'AN / Mil cinq cens
cinquante & huict. / Composée par maistre Michel Nostra- / damus,
de Salon de Craux en Pro- / uence,Docteur en medecine. /
[vignette] / A PARIS, / Par Guillaume le Noir,rue sainct Iaques,à
la / Rose blanche couronnée. / AVEC PRIVILEGE. ». This book
is reproduced in facsimile form in Bernard Chevignard's own book
titled « Présages de Nostradamus », Seuil, 1999, at pp.
419-442.
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT does not mention it.
BENAZRA does not mention it.
16. Another lost Almanach for 1558 with its usual 13 (?)
quatrains, is listed by bibliographers, as most of its quatrains
were transcribed by Chavigny, and two of them by l'abbé Hector
Rigaux.
RUZO mentions it under 1.B) at p. 340, but mistakes it for
the Prognostication for the same year.
CHOMARAT mentions it under #16 at p. 20, but repeats Ruzo's
mistake.
BENAZRA mentions it at pp. 19-20-21, repeats Ruzo's
mistake, adds his own mistake of misplacing his reference to a
Prognostication under his heading for the Almanach, and quotes
all transcribed quatrains from this lost Almanach.
17. « Paraphrase de C. / GALEN, SVS L'EXOR- / tation de Menodote,
aux estudes des / bonnes Artz,mesmement Medi- / cine: Traduict de
Latin en / Françoys , par Michel / Nostradamus. / [flower] /
[vignette ] / A LYON, / Chés Antoine du Rosne. /
I 5 5 8 ». Chomarat describes it as a reprint
of the 1557 edition. Benzara appears to be saying the same thing,
quoting Brunet.
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #28 at p. 27.
BENAZRA pp. 34-35.
18. Although dated 1568, the following book might very well have
been printed as early as June 1558: « LES / PROPHETIES / DE
M. MICHEL / NOSTRADAMVS / [flowers] / Dont il y en a trois cens
qui / n'ont encores iamais esté / imprimées. / Adioustées de
nouueau par / ledict Autheur. / [vignette] / A LYON, / PAR
BENOIST RIGAVD. / I 5 6 8. / Auec
permission. ». This book is now known as the fourth original
edition of the Prophecies. It contains 300 more quatrains than
did the last known original edition.
RUZO describes in detail all of its known printings under
#20 #21 #22 #23 #24 #25 at pp. 348-350.
CHOMARAT #93 #94 #95 #96 #97 #98 at pp. 56-59.
BENAZRA pp. 82-88.
19. Another lost Almanach for 1559 with its 13 (?)
quatrains, is listed by bibliographers, as its quatrains were
transcribed by Chavigny.
RUZO mentions it under 1.C) at p. 340, refers to its 12 (!)
quatrains, and calls it the Prognostication for the same
year.
CHOMARAT mentions it under #25 at p. 26, repeats Ruzo's
statement about its 12 quatrains and gives it a full title:
« La Grant pronostication nouvelle avecques la declaration
ample de MDLIX, composée par Michel Nostradamus, avecques les
figures de quatre temps sur les climats 47, 48, 49 et 50. A Lyon,
par Jean Brotot, 1558. ».
BENAZRA mentions it at pp. 27-28-29, repeats his mistake
about the previous Almanach, refers to its 13 (!) quatrains,
quotes them in full, and appears to be linking a privilege dated
October 7, 1558, with this book.
20. « LES / SIGNIFICATIONS / de l'Eclipse, qui sera le
i6.Septembre I559.laquel- / le fera sa maligne extension
inclusiuement , ius- / ques à l'an I560.diligemment obseruées par
mai- / stre Michel Nostradamus, docteur en medecine / de Salon de
Craux en Prouence. Auec vne som- / maire responce à ses
detracteurs. / [vignette] / A PARIS, / Par Guillaume le Noir,Rue
S.Iaques, à la / Rose Blanche Couronnée, / AVEC
PRIVILEGE. ». This book is reproduced in facsimile form in
Bernard Chevignard's own book titled « Présages de
Nostradamus », Seuil, 1999, at pp. 445-460.
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #37 at p. 32.
BENAZRA p. 30.
21. « La Grand' pronostication nouvell pour l'An Mil Cinq cens
soixante, avecques les figures celestes des quatre temps.
Calculee par maistre Michel Nostradamus, Docteur en medecine, de
Salon de Craux, en Provence. A Lyon, Par Jean Brotot & Antoine
Volant. Avec Privilege. »
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #36 at p. 30.
BENAZRA p. 41.
22. « ALMANACH / Pour l'an 1560. / Composé par Maistre Michel
Nostradamus, / Docteur en Medicine, de Salon de / Craux, en
Provence / Tu teipsum oblectes,& vulgi verba loquacis, / Sperne,
bene hic de te dicet,at ille male. / [vignette] / A PARIS. / Par
Guillaume le Noir, Rue S.Iaques. / à la Rose blanche Couronnée. /
Auec Priuilege. ».
RUZO #5 at p. 342.
CHOMARAT #33 at p. 29.
BENAZRA p. 38-41.
23. Another lost Almanach for 1561, with only half of its
front page (vertically!) having been seen on someone's website,
had eight of its quatrains transcribed by Chavigny, four inserted
by another publisher into the apparently defective Centurie VII,
leaving only one fragmented quatrain. (...) indicates missing
text: « (...)ANACH, / (...)L'an I 5 6 I. /
(...)ar Maistre Michel Nostradamus / (...)en Medicine, de Salon
de / (...)raux en Prouence. / / (...)n'aistre,du doulx la
pernicie, / (...)les esmeus nubileux, / (...)ndra,des grands non
leticie, / (...)me des cauilleux. / [vignette] / (...)PARIS, /
(...)me le Noir, Rue S.Iaques : / (...)e blanche Couronnee. / /
Auec Priuilege. »
RUZO #1.D) at p. 340-341.
CHOMARAT does not mention it.
BENAZRA p. 42-44.
24. « ALMANACH / NOVVEAU, / Pour l'An.I562. / Composé par Maistre
Michel Nostradamus, / Docteur en Medecine,de Salon de / Craux .
en Prouence. / Quatrain de l'An vniuersel. / Saison d'hyuer ver
bon sain mal esté / Pernicieux automn'sec froment rare. / Du vin
assez mal yeulx faitz moleste / Guerre mutins seditieuse tare. /
[vignette] / A PARIS, / Par Guillaume le Noir,& Iehan Bonfons. /
AVEC PRIVILEGE. ».
RUZO #6 at p. 342.
CHOMARAT #48 at pp. 35-36.
BENAZRA pp. 47-50.
25. « I563 / ALMANACH / POVR L'AN M. D. LXIII / Auec les
presages, calculé & expliqué par / M. Michel Nostradamus, Docteur
en / medicine, Astrophile de Salon / de Craux en Prouuence. /
[three asterisks] / Dédié au tres. ill. Seign. et tres excellent
ca / pitaine, le S. FRANCOYS FABRICE de / SERBELLON, General pour
N. S. Pere aux / choses de la guerrem en la Comté de Venaiscin. /
Quatrain de l'an vniuersel / Le ver sain, sang, mais esmeu, rien
d'accord, / Infinis meurdres, captifz, mortz, preuenus. / Tant
d'eau & peste, peu de tout sonnes cors, / Prins, mortz, fuys,
grand deuenir, uenus. / [flower] / Imprimé en Auignon / par
Pierre Roux. ».
RUZO #8 at p. 343.
CHOMARAT #53 at pp. 37-38.
BENAZRA pp. 55-58.
26. « ALMANACH / pour l'An I 5 6 3. / Composé par M.
Michel Nostradamus, / docteur en Medecine , de Salon / de Craux
en Prouence. / Quant le deffault du Soleil lors sera, / Sur le
plain iour le monstre sera veu, / Tout autrement on
l'interpretera, / Cherté n'a garde,nul n'y aura pourveu. /
[vignette] / [fleur] A PARIS / Pour Barbe Regnault,demourant en
la rue / S.Iacques, à l'enseigne de Lelephant. / Auec
Priuilege. ».
RUZO #9 at pp. 343-344.
CHOMARAT #54 at pp. 38-39.
BENAZRA pp. 58-59.
27. Another lost Almanach for 1564 has been mentioned by
bibliographers. Its 13 quatrains were transcribed by
Chavigny.
RUZO #1.E) at p. 341.
CHOMARAT #60 at pp. 41.
BENAZRA pp. 60-62.
28. « [sun] AETERNO AC [moon] P.D.O.V.V.S. / ALMANACH / POVR L'AN
M.D.LXV / AVECQVES SES TRESAMPLES / significations & presages
d'vn chacun / moys, / / Composé par M. Michel Nostradame ,
Docteur / en medecine Medecin du Roy.& A- / strophile à Salon de
Craux / en Prouence. / [star] / [vignette] / A LYON / PAR BENOIST
ODO, / M. D. LXV. / Auec priuilege. ».
RUZO #10 at p. 344.
CHOMARAT #64 at pp. 44.
BENAZRA pp. 65-67.
29. « ALMANACH / POVR L'AN M. D. LXVI / auec ses amples
significations & / explications , composé par / Maistre Michel de
No- / stradame Docteur / en medicine, / Conseiller / ET / Medecin
ordinaire du Roy,de Salon de / Craux en Prouence. / [vignette] /
A LYON. / Par Anthoine Volant, & / Pierre Brotot. ».
RUZO #11 at p. 344.
CHOMARAT #66 at p. 45-46.
BENAZRA pp. 69-71.
30. « ALMANACH / POVR L'AN M. D. LXVII. / Composé par feu Maistre
Michel / de Nostradame Docteur en medici- / ne, Conseillier &
medecin / ordinaire du / Roy. / Auec ses amples significations,
ensemble les explications / de l'Eclypse merveilleux & du tout
formidable, qui sera le / IX d'Auril proche de l'heure de Midy. /
[vignette] / A LYON Par Benoist Odo, / Auec priuilege. ».
RUZO #12 at pp. 344-345.
CHOMARAT #70 at p. 48.
BENAZRA pp. 74-77.
31. « LETRE DE / MAISTRE MICHEL / NOSTRADAMVS, / de Salon de
Craux / en Prouence, / A la Royne mere du Roy. / [vignette] / A
LYON, / Par Benoist Rigaud, / I 5 6 6. / Auec
permission. »
RUZO does not mention it.
CHOMARAT #72 at p. 48.
BENAZRA pp. 78-79.
As can be seen from the above list, I have excluded from it rumours of books published by Nostradamus (there are quite a lot of those!), forgeries of books allegedly by Nostradamus (there are a few), and titles of books which might have existed but whose existence has not been confirmed via other contemporary writings.
Readers are welcome to add to this list if they feel I have been unduly restrictive, correct errors in it, comment about it, etc.
Claude Latrémouille
Le 7 juillet 2009
APNCL#1399
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