Chiromantia (Chiromancy), Padua, Matheum Cerdonis, 1484, Rare Books collection

Chiromancy, or palmistry, is the art of reading the future through the palm of the hand. This instructional manual equates the lines and features of the hand with the sun, moon and planets, to determine the personal characteristics and likely future of an individual. Printed palmistry books were very popular; titles such as this one, which was first published in Venice in 1480, were reprinted many times.