• German alchemical manuscript, 17th century

Curatorial Notes:

• Alchemical books passed in and out of royal and aristocratic collections, such as this manuscript, once owned by Johann Adalbert, Prince of Buchau. The first part, including technical drawings of apparatus, was probably completed in early 17th-century Bohemia, written in German and Latin, with many references to “Theophrastus”, better known as Paracelsus. The manuscript was continued in the 18th century, entering Johann Adalbert’s collection by 1743. By 1751 it was in the hands of another collector, who added annotations.

Credit Line:

• Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Format:

• Manuscript

Type:

• Manuscripts, German
• Sources

Language:

• German
• Latin

Date:

• 17th century

Extent:

• 1 volume 20 x 17 cm (86 pages)

Abstract:

• Unpublished manuscript illustrating alchemical studies. The 86-page work was most likely completed c.1600 in Bohemia. Written in German and Latin, it has multiple references to “Theophrastus” - which show that the author was a devotee of the Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus (1493/4-1541), born Theophrastus von Hohenheim. The manuscript's first heading is “a genuine technique, six or seven lots of gold from a pound of lead in all procedures”. The author repeats his interest in making gold in a three-page section in Latin called 'Principium atque finis' ('the beginning and the end') (61-63) here setting out again a method for making this precious metal, and also silver. Other chemical interests include (60) how to prepare burnt copper for experimental purposes. There are sections, (30-32) on 'luna fixa' (a metal with gold's properties but not colour), and antimony (37). A distilling apparatus is drawn at p.57. In medicine, the author is interested in the concoction 'oil of the sun' (64-65), which can be sourced in Paracelsus. Tables near end (85-87) include one with planets and days of the week. A final receipt is for the making of ink. The manuscript was previously owned by Johann Adalbert, Prince of Buchau (see p. 1), who had acquired in 1735 a rosicrucian manuscript from the earlier eighteenth century that has since been studied, published and digitised, “Testamentum der fraternitet roseae et aureae crucis” (testament of the fraternity of the rosy and gold cross) (Austrian National Library, Cod. Ser. n. 2897) (see e.g. McIntosh). By or after 1751 the manuscript was in the hands of another person with alchemical interests, who annotated the original manuscript and filled the many blank sheets in the book. This second writer adds four illustrations (a pendant with esoteric design at p. 24, further chemical apparatus at p. 172, and two small drawings of apparatus to final pastedown). The writer collects reports of experiments, which date from the 1710s to 1751. With the reports that are copied in come names of experimenters and correspondents, such as Herr Reissman von Risenburg (90); Herr Johann Stuerzi and Johann Georg Printz (94); J.C.S. of Cologne, and Herr Doktor Balthasar Albino Beinhart, Councillor of the same city (140). Besides also adding notes to the original text, this second writer, who works mostly in German, with some Greek, (and less Latin), binds the different components together with an index (three pages and one page-extension) that covers both the old and new parts of the book.

View in catalog:

• https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/99111747353506421

Subject:

• Alchemy—Germany—History—17th century—Sources
• Transmutation of metals—17th century—Sources
• Mysticism—History—17th century—Sources
• Manuscripts, German—17th century

Binding note:

• Bound in 17th-cent. vellum boards, decorated in gilt, armorial of Holy Roman Emperor to front cover and of Kingdom of Bohemia to back.

Provenance:

• Ownership note of Johann Adalbert, Prince of Buchau, 1743.

Identifier:

• ark:/88435/bk128h889