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.
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52 items
Chemical Heritage, Volume 30 Number 3
- 2012 (Fall)
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192 items
Various works including Lucidarium artis transmutationis metallorum, extracts from the Sommeta and Violetta, and Epistola
- Transmutation de' mettali
- 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…
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275 items
Geberis Philosophi Perspicacissimi Summa Perfectionis Magisterii in sua Natura ex Bibliothecae Vaticanae Exemplari Undecunque
- 1542
Work from the "pseudo-Geber" corpus, a group of writings falsely attributed to the Arabic alchemist, Abū Mūsā Jābir ibn Ḥayyān (died c. 806–816, Latinized as “Geber"). These writings are actually from 13th or…
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323 items
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
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118 items
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…
- Author Ulstadius, Philippus
- Contributor Albertus, Magnus, Saint, 1193?-1280, Arnaldus, de Villanova, -1311, Llull, Ramon, 1232?-1316, Johannes, de Rupescissa, approximately 1300-approximately 1365., Grüninger, Johann, -1532?
- Subject Alchemy, Distillation, Distillation apparatus, Gold--Therapeutic use, Medicine, Alcohol, Alcohol--Synthesis
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64 items
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)
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353 items
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,…
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86 items
Ars brevis and Ars abbreviata praedicandi, 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.
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248 items
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…
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3 items
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…
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930 items
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
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34 items
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
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110 items
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
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226 items
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…
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228 items
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
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10 items
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
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2 items
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
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2 items
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…
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2 items
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…
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520 items
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…
