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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Very Poor Material for the New Party
- 1882-Aug-09
This illustration appeared as the front page of the New York Daily Graphic on August 9th, 1882. This political alchemist is a slick newspaperman with mutton chops, toiling in his laboratory to create the spirit of a…
- Publisher New York Daily Graphic
- Subject Alchemists, Caricatures and cartoons, Editorial cartoons, Political cartoons
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2 items
The Unsuccessful Alchemists - Trying to Make Political Gold for Blaine out of Anti-Cleveland Dross
- 1887
This illustration by F.B. Opper appeared in the November 2, 1887 edition of Puck, an American literary humor magazine. The image shows three bearded alchemists in fantastic dress, working with crucibles, alembics, and…
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Stamp from Iran commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1950
Iranian stamp commemorating Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist.
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Soviet stamp commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1980
Soviet stamp commemorating Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist.
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2 items
Afghan stamp commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1951
Two stamps from Afghanistan commemorating Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist.
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Tunisian stamp commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1980
Tunisian stamp commemorating Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist.
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Stamp from Pakistan commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1966
Pakistani stamp commemorating "Health from herbs" and the contributions of Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist.
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Syrian stamp commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1981
Syrian stamp commemorating Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist.
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Stamp from Poland commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1952
Polish stamp commemorating Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist.
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German stamp commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1952
Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) stamp commemorating Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist.
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2 items
Stamp from Lebanon commemorating Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- 1948
Lebanese stamp commemorating Avicenna (980-1037), also known as Ibn Sina, a philosopher and alchemist. The stamp depicts Avicenna brewing herbs in an attempt to create the Elixir of Life.
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445 items
The Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library, Volume 2
- An Annotated Catalogue of Printed Books on Alchemy, Chemistry, Chemical Technology, and Related Subjects
- 2006
Volume 2 covers L-Z. Please note that the physical item includes two inserts with color images that are not reproduced here.
- Contributor Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library
- Publisher Chemical Heritage Foundation
- Subject Chemistry, Rare Books, Alchemy
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758 items
The Roy G. Neville Historical Chemical Library, Volume 1
- An Annotated Catalogue of Printed Books on Alchemy, Chemistry, Chemical Technology, and Related Subjects
- 2006
Volume 1 covers A-K. Please note that the physical item includes two inserts with color images that are not reproduced here.
- Contributor Neville, Roy G.
- Publisher Chemical Heritage Foundation
- Subject Chemistry, Rare books, Alchemy
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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
