Christians overrun the Pantheon: List of patron saints. No U.S. copies.

[Pantheon] / [Saints] / Theophilander (pseud.) / [Heinrich Wilhelm von Frankenstein]. Pantheon Romanum Das ist: Neu-eröffneter Tempel der Heiligen in der Römisch-Catholischen Kirche, Darinnen alle Stände, Künste, Professionen, Handwercker, ingleichen der vornehmsten Länder und Städte ihre heiligen Schtuz- und Hülff-Patrone, wie auch ihre heiligen Helffer in allen Nöthen, Anliegen und Kranckheiten zusehen, Mit sehr vielen raren Anmerckungen, und Curiositaeten illustriret, aus unverwerflichen Büchern der römischen Kirche und aus eigener Erfahrung ans Licht gestellet, von Theophilandern. S.l.: s.n., 1726. 4to [18.8 x 15.5 cm], 36 pp. In later marbled wrappers, red sprinkled edges. Minor edge wear and toning to wrappers. Narrow margins, trimmed at upper edge to just touch a few page numbers, a bit toned, the occasional minor stain, a few early annotations. 
 
 
Rare (no U.S. copies) first and only edition of this popular work on the Pantheon in Rome in its role as a Christian temple of All Saints. Pantheon Romanum, Das ist: Neu-eröffneter Tempel der Heiligen in der Römisch-Catholischen Kirche was written pseudonymously by ‘Theophilander’ (i.e., the Lutheran convert Heinrich Wilhelm von Frankenstein [1680-1741]), who notes that he was inspired by the 1725 Jubilee in Rome.
 
Theophilander begins by discussing the history and architecture of the Pantheon, but after a few pages he shifts to listing the pagan gods, and then he provides remarks on the nature of the Catholic saints. He outlines Christian image practice (icons) and mentions the use of relics and ex-votos to heal, avert disaster, etc.
 
The remainder of the work (pp. 8 ff.) is an extensive annotated list of saints—perhaps 250 entries in total—arranged by their function as patrons of the religious orders, professions & métiers, various social roles, countries & cities, their efficacy against various illnesses, injuries, natural disasters, infestations, devils, ghosts, debts & creditors, etc., and their protection of different livestock and crops. Theophilander freely lards these entries with relevant German and Latin poetry, prayers, and prose quotes taken from other authors. In one instance he even mentions a profession which goes unprotected: “The Book Printer in fact has no patron saint” (p. 15).
 
The date of publication is given at the foot of the title page by the chronogram “Anno In nostrI IesV ChrIstI gratIa atqVe MIserICorDIa sIta est VIa nostra” (=MDCCVVIIIIIIIIIII=1726).
 
In 1787 E. S. Ermel wrote a biographical sketch of Heinrich Wilhelm von Frankenstein, identifying him as ‘Theophilander’ and listing his several (often rather unhinged) published works. Note that, for some reason, the name of ‘Theophilander’ became widely erroneously associated in pseudonymous handbooks with a certain Christian Gottfried Franckenstein (1661-1717).
 
 
OCLC and KVK locate no U.S. examples of this title.
 
* VD18 10756396; G. S. Ermel, “Heinrich Wilhelm von Frankenstein. Ein biographisches Fragment,” Magazin der Sächßischen Geschichte, vol 4., nos. 63-84 (May 1787), pp. 265-272.