Arcanum

Arcanum arcanorum philosophorum de lapis [sic] philosophorum Mittel unnd Endt, durch viellfaltigen Beweiss dir fur beschriben wirdt und anngezeugt, damit, der wahre getrowe durstige Liebhaber und nachfolger, der rechter unnd wahre Crone aller Weissheit nachzufolgen sich zu trencken zu haben.... Illustrated with pen-drawn symbolical figures on ff. 3, 4, 6v, 38v, 122, 156v, 180: on f. 116 and 124v drawings of an 'Athanor', and on 120 of sigils. This MS. is the work of an unnamed practising alchemist who was a fervent disciple of Paracelsus from whose alchemical and hermetic writings he has given many extracts. There are also many quotations from, and references to the works of Basilius Valentinus. On fol. 67 he gives details of a process for making a 'Tinctur' which, as he states, 'laboravi Anno 1584'. On the second preliminary leaf 'F.F. Weichenhaan Juris et Metallurgiae peritus philosophus Serenissimi Ducis Saxo-Hildburghusensis à Consiliis Aulicis nec non Advocatus Ordinarius et Notarius Caesaraeus publicus et juratus'.

Early 17th century

1 volume 2 ll. + 181 ff., 3 bl. ll. 4to. 191/2 x 151/2 cm. Original green vellum binding worn.

Purchased at Sotheby's 28/1/1935, Lot 23.

From the Julius Kohn Library.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).