Beschreibung des gantzens Wercks

By an anonymous German alchemist who claims to have discovered the Method and Praxis of the Philosopher's Stone after fifteen years of labour and research. On pp. 1, 2 pen-drawings of a 'Philosophical' oven: Pp. 6-8 'Characteres aliquot chymici': Pp. 9-10 'Characteres metallorum quomodo a diversis nationibus signentur'. P. 17 Descriptio Athanaris [sic] mei. 19, 20 Introduction, in which the Author tells of his 15 years labours and ultimate success, ending: 'Ich die klar Beschreibung des gantzens Wercks durch unterschiedene Modos ausero setze, und dir auss Vatterlicher Liebe loco legati hinterlassen wollen'. 21 Copy of a letter from Paracelsus. 22 Via sicca brevis: in Latin. 23 Via humida longa: in Latin. 29 Von der Beschaftigheit der Materi. 65 Die Klare Praxis. 92 Secretissima Instructio ad Lapidem pro via sicca et humida: in German. 130 Via universalis ad Lapidem: in German. 144 Wo und an welchen die Materi am bestem zufinden sey. An account of various minerals and substances, and of the mines and other places where they are found-mostly in Central Europe. This section is divided into 170 paragraphs, and some of the entries of the author's travels are dated between 1662 (p. 152) and 1676 (p. 202). 229 Folgen etliche nützliche Arbeiten auf vorgehende Subiecta, mit den vorgesetzten Handgrieffen übereinkommen. 279 Ein Bergliedt, vorinnen das Subiectum Catholicum Saturninum mit Nahmen genennet wirdt. 291 Der chymischen Autorn unterschiedene Arten zu Arbeithen, auch unterschiedene Subiecta so Sie gebrauchet haben.

c. 1680

1 volume 6 bl. ll. + 302 pp. + 7 bl. ll. 8vo. 16 x 70 cm. Original calf binding. The second page of the first list, and the whole of the second list, is on a double leaf which is paginated 7-10.

Purchased 1930.

The author was a follower of Paracelsus, and frequently quotes from his alchemical writings, especially in the first part of the MS.

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).

Armorial book-plate of Ignatius Dominicus, S.R.I. Comes de Chorinsky [1729-1792].