• Letztes Testament: darinnen die geheime Bücher vom grossen Stein der uralten Weisen und anderen verborgenen Geheimnüssen der Natur,... , 1667

Curatorial Notes:

• “Mercury” has many meanings in alchemy, describing not just metallic quicksilver, but a variety of alchemical products. Here, this diversity is illustrated in “Of the Great Stone of the Ancients,” a treatise attributed to a fictive adept, “Basil Valentine.” In Valentine’s alchemy, the serpent and eagle stand in for two salts: sal ammoniac and saltpeter. The raven, peacock, and swan allude to color changes in the work: black, multicolored, and white. Below, the selfless pelican nourishes its young.

Credit Line:

• Rare Books Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Format:

• Book

Creator:

• Basilius Valentinus

Author:

• Basilius Valentinus

Language:

• German

Publisher:

• Strasbourg : G.A. Dolhopff & J.E. Zetzner, 1667.

Date:

• 1667

Extent:

• 5 v. in 1. engr. illus. ; (8vo)

View in catalog:

• https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/9924798363506421

Description:

• "Offenbahrung der verborgenen Handgriffen Fr. Basilij Valentini ... auff das universal und hohe Geheimniss des philosophischen Steins der Gesundheit und dess Reichthumbs gerichtet": p.a-q at end of pt.4.
• "Conclusiones; oder, Schlusz-Reden Fr. Basilii Valentini, aller seiner Schrifften und Tractaten": p.aa-tt at end of pt.5.
• Bound with the author's Von dem grossen Stein der uhralten ... Strassburg, 1666.

Identifier:

• ark:/88435/44558m29k