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Alchemy

220 items

This digital collection features selected manuscripts, rare books, paintings, and ephemera relating to alchemical topics and experimentation. Materials in this collection include depictions of alchemists’ workshops and pursuits on philosophy, magic, medicine, spiritual wisdom, and the transformation of matter.

323 items
Rare books, Illustrated works, Woodcuts

Pandora, das ist, Die edleste Gab Gottes
- Pandora, That Is, the Noblest Gift of God
- 1582
First edition. This copy lacks parts of pages 2 and 7 as well as pages 183-184 and 255-256. The missing text on pages 2 and 7 was replaced in handwritten pencil at an unknown date. The work was edited by the physician…
- Author Epimetheus, Franciscus
- Editor Reusner, Hieronymus, b. 1558
- Printer Apiarius, Samuel, -1590
- Subject Alchemy, Medicine, Reusner, Hieronymus, b. 1558, Mythology, Greek, Symbolism in art
118 items
Rare books, Woodcuts

Coelum Philosophorum, seu De Secretis Naturae
- Philosopher’s Heaven or the Secrets of Nature
- 1525
An early work on the preparation of aqua vitae or the “water of life” (alcohol), by the process of distillation. This treatise describes the distillation process and necessary instrumentation in detail. Aqua vitae was…
64 items
Rare books, Illustrated works, Engravings

Mundus subterraneus : in XII libros digestus
- quo divinum subterrestris mundi opificium, mira ergasteriorum naturae in eo distributio, verbo pantamorphon protei regnum, universae denique naturae majestas et divitiae summa rerum varietate exponuntur.
- 1665
A first edition work, with two volumes bound in one folio, by Athanasius Kircher (1602–1680), a German Jesuit scholar who published many extensive works on scientific, religious, and other subjects. Dubbed the “Master…
- Author Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680
- Publisher Janssonium, Joannem
- Contributor Elizeum, Weyerstraten
- Subject Alchemy, Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680, Natural history, Mines and mineral resources, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Hydrography, Earth sciences, Geochemistry, Volcanoes, Earth (Planet)
353 items
Rare books, Illustrated works

De la Pirotechnia
- 1540
A first edition, Italian work considered to be the earliest printed book on metallurgy published in Europe. The work was written in Venice by Vannoccio Biringuccio (c. 1480 – c. 1539), an Italian metallurgist of Siena,…
- Author Biringucci, Vannoccio, 1480-1539?
- Publisher Venturino Roffinello
- Subject Metallurgy, Mineral industries, Mines and mineral resources, Metal-work, Fireworks, Alchemy, Biringucci, Vannoccio, 1480-1539?
192 items
Manuscripts

Opera, including Lucidarium artis transmutationis metallorum; extracts from the Sommeta and Violetta; and Epistola
- 1557
A collection of alchemical texts by Christophorus (or sometimes in this manuscript “Christofalus”) Parisiensis. Despite his name, Christophorus Parisiensis (Christopher of Paris) was likely Italian, possibly from…
- Author Christopher, of Paris, active 15th century
- Subject Christopher, of Paris, active 15th century, Alchemy, Transmutation (Chemistry), Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316, Alchemists
86 items
Manuscripts

Ars brevis and Ars abbreviata praedicanda, versio latinus II
- Circa 1490 – 1550 ((Ars Brevis))
- Circa 1490 – 1520 (Ars abbreviata praedicanda)
This manuscript includes two texts by notable Catalan philosopher, theologian, and mystic of the High Middle Ages, Ramon Llull (Ramon Llull or Raimundus Lullus; 1232-1316), Ars brevis, and Ars abbreviata praedicandi.
…
- Author Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316
- Subject Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316, Alchemy, Alchemy--Religious aspects, Occultism, Preaching--Middle Ages, Preaching
248 items
Manuscripts, Rare books

Le Petit Rosaire
- Extract on Alchemy from the Roman de la Rose (la Table de maistre Jehan de Meun)
- Circa 1600 – 1640
This is a seventeenth-century copy of a fifteenth-century translation and re-working of the Rosarius Philosophorum, one of the most important texts in the corpus of alchemical works that circulated under the name of…
- Attributed To Arnaldus, de Villanova, -1311
- Contributor Jean, de Meun, approximately 1240-approximately 1305
- Subject Arnaldus, de Villanova, -1311, Alchemy, Alchemy--Manuscripts, Scientific apparatus and instruments, Scientific illustration
3 items
Paintings

An Alchemist in His Study
- 1600s
A gray-bearded scholar in a red cap writes at his desk with a quill. Scattered in front of him are fabric-covered ceramic jars, a celestial globe, glass jars stoppered with twists, and a pipe. Illumination floods the…
- Artist Heemskerck, Egbert van, 1634 or 1635-1704
- Subject Heemskerk, Egbert van, 1634 or 1635-1704, Alchemists, Alchemy in art, Alchemy
930 items
Rare books, Illustrated works

Magnes, sive de arte magnetica
- The Magnet, or about the magnetic art
- 1643
A second edition volume of Magnes (Cologne, 1643), by Athanasius Kircher (1602–1680), a German Jesuit scholar who published many extensive works on scientific, religious, and other subjects. Dubbed the “Master of a…
- Author Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680
- Contributor Martini, Martino, 1614-1661
- Editor Kalckhoven, Jost, -1669
- Publisher Kalcoven, Jodocum
- Subject Magnetism, Electricity, Physics, Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680, Electromagnetism, Phosphorescence, Religion and science, Transmutation (Chemistry), Alchemy, Luminescence
34 items
Rare books

Utriusque cosmi maioris scilicet et minoris metaphysica, physica atque technica historia in duo volumina secundum cosmi differentiam divisa
- 1617 – 1618
Two, first edition volumes bound together. Written by the English scientist, physician, alchemist, and Rosicrucian, Robert Fludd (1574–1637), this encyclopedic work is broadly themed upon the macrocosm and microcosm,…
- Author Fludd, Robert, 1574-1637
- Printer Galler, Hieronymus
- Engraver Bry, Johann Theodor de, 1561-1623, Merian, Matthaeus, 1593-1650
- Subject Alchemy, Fludd, Robert, 1574-1637, Astrology, Cosmology, Arithmetic, Music theory, Rosicrucians
110 items
Rare books, Woodcuts

Trois Traitez de la Philosophie Naturelle non Encore Imprimez
- Three Treaties of Natural Philosophy Not Yet in Print
- 1612
A collection of alchemical works containing the first appearance of the supposed biography of alchemist Nicholas Flamel (c. 1340-1418). Flamel was a French scribe and manuscript-seller. Flamel and his wife, Perrenelle…
- Contributor Arnauld, Pierre, sieur de la chevallerie, Flamel, Nicolas, -1418
- Publisher Marette, Guillaume
- Author Artephius, Synesius, of Cyrene, Bishop of Ptolemais
- Subject Flamel, Nicolas, -1418, Arnauld, Pierre, sieur de la chevallerie, Alchemy, Alchemists, Occultism, Occultists, Emblems, Symbolism
226 items
Manuscripts, Rare books

Codicillus
- Circa 1470 – 1500 (Part two)
- 1472 (Part one)
Copy of an early text from the Pseudo-Lullian alchemical corpus, assembled before the sixteenth century from two independent manuscripts. This manuscript is noteworthy for its illustrations, tables, figures, and…
- Author Pseudo-Llull
- Subject Alchemy, Alchemy--Manuscripts, Formulas, recipes, etc., Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316, Bonaparte, Carlo Maria, 1746-1785
228 items
Rare books

De Alchimia Opuscula Quae Sequuntur
- 1546
A collection of four alchemical works ascribed to Ramon Llull (c. 1232-1316), of which three are printed here for the first time: Apertorium, Magia Naturalis, and Tertia Distinctio. The fourth treatise, De secretis…
- Author Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316
- Printer Petrejus, Johannes, 1497-1550
- Subject Alchemy, Alchemists, Mineralogy, Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316
10 items
Illustrated works, Rare books

Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae Solius Verae
- Amphitheatre of the Only True Eternal Wisdom
- 1609
Khunrath Heinrich's (1560-1605) Amphitheatrum Sapientiae, purportedly one of the most significant books of theosophical alchemy and the occult sciences. Though the title page reads 1602, the book was not published until…
- Author Khunrath, Heinrich, 1560-1605
- Publisher Antonius, G.
- Subject Alchemy, Alchemy in art, Alchemy--Religious aspects, Christian art and symbolism, Occultism, Theosophy
2 items
Etchings, Prints

Execution of an Alchemist
- 1597
An etching depicting the execution of the alchemist, Georg Honauer (1572-1597) on the specially erected "Iron Gallows" in Stuttgart, April 2nd, 1597. The engraving shows a portrait of Honauer with inscription on the…
- After Hogenberg, J.
- Subject Alchemy, Executions and executioners, Transmutation (Chemistry), Fables, Gallows, Alchemists
2 items
Manuscripts, Rare books

Notes for making aqua fortis
- Undated
Handwritten manuscript containing notes for making aqua fortis, (or nitric acid), and refining silver. Includes a basic sketch of the apparatus used in the procedure. Written by John Conduitt (1688-1737), Sir Isaac…
- Creator Of Work Conduitt, John, 1688-1737
- Subject Newton, Isaac, 1642-1727, Alchemy, Alchemy--Manuscripts, Formulas, recipes, etc., Nitric acid, Silver--Refining, Conduitt, John, 1688-1737
2 items
Manuscripts

Roth Mallor's Work
- Alchemical Manuscript by Isaac Newton
- Circa 1692
Written in Isaac Newton's hand, Roth Mallor’s Work consists of extracts from the work of Erasmus Rothmaler, a German alchemist about whom essentially nothing is known. Text found on verso is two unrelated chemical…
- Creator Of Work Newton, Isaac, 1642-1727
- Subject Newton, Isaac, 1642-1727, Alchemy, Alchemy--Manuscripts, Formulas, recipes, etc., Rothmaler, Erasmus, Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691, Locke, John, 1632-1704, Transmutation (Chemistry)
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 83. The Illustration to the Alchemical Verses
- Part of The playbook of metals : including personal narratives of visits to coal, lead, copper, and tin mines; with a large number of interesting experiments relating to alchemy and the chemistry of fifty metallic elements
- 1862
- Author Pepper, John Henry, 1821-1900
- Subject Science--Study and teaching, Alchemy, Signs and symbols, Illustrated works
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 80. Alchemical Signs of the common Metals
- Part of The playbook of metals : including personal narratives of visits to coal, lead, copper, and tin mines; with a large number of interesting experiments relating to alchemy and the chemistry of fifty metallic elements
- 1862
- Author Pepper, John Henry, 1821-1900
- Subject Metals, Science--Study and teaching, Metallurgy, Alchemy, Signs and symbols, Scientific illustration
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 79. Alchemical Distillation
- Part of The playbook of metals : including personal narratives of visits to coal, lead, copper, and tin mines; with a large number of interesting experiments relating to alchemy and the chemistry of fifty metallic elements
- 1862
- Author Pepper, John Henry, 1821-1900
- Subject Science--Study and teaching, Alchemy, Distillation, Distillation apparatus, Scientific illustration
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 84. The Water-bath containing Alembics, which are connected with Receivers for the Distillation of Aqua Fortis
- Part of The playbook of metals : including personal narratives of visits to coal, lead, copper, and tin mines; with a large number of interesting experiments relating to alchemy and the chemistry of fifty metallic elements
- 1862
- Author Pepper, John Henry, 1821-1900
- Subject Science--Study and teaching, Alchemy, Alchemists, Distillation, Distillation apparatus, Nitric acid, Scientific illustration
Publications, Illustrations

Figure 72. Alchemist in his Laboratory
- Part of The playbook of metals : including personal narratives of visits to coal, lead, copper, and tin mines; with a large number of interesting experiments relating to alchemy and the chemistry of fifty metallic elements
- 1862
- Author Pepper, John Henry, 1821-1900
- Subject Science--Study and teaching, Alchemy, Alchemists, Laboratories, Scientific illustration
520 items
Publications, Illustrated works

The playbook of metals : including personal narratives of visits to coal, lead, copper, and tin mines; with a large number of interesting experiments relating to alchemy and the chemistry of fifty metallic elements
- 1862
Geared towards young readers, The playbook of metals is an informative and entertaining volume on all aspects of the history, mining, smelting, and metallurgy of the metals then known. The author, John Henry Pepper…
- Author Pepper, John Henry, 1821-1900
- Subject Mineral industries, Metals, Science--Study and teaching, Metallurgy, Smelting, Alchemy
232 items
Manuscripts

Testamentum Theorica
- 1446 – 1475
The Testamentum Theorica is the earliest work in the Pseudo-Lullian Alchemical corpus, a large collection of as many as 143 different texts that circulated as the work of Raymond Lull (Ramon Llull or Raimundus Lullus;…
- Creator Of Work Pseudo-Llull
- Subject Alchemy, Alchemy--Manuscripts, Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316, Formulas, recipes, etc.
188 items
Manuscripts

[Alchemical miscellany]
- 1450 – 1475
This manuscript is an important miscellany of practical and theoretical alchemical texts with a full-page drawing of alchemical instruments reflecting the activities of a fifteenth-century alchemist. The manuscript was…
- Subject Alchemy, Alchemy--Manuscripts, Johannes, de Rupescissa, approximately 1300-approximately 1365, Formulas, recipes, etc.

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