• Secretioris naturae secretorum scrutinium chymicum per oculis et intelectui, 1687

Curatorial Notes:

• German alchemist Michael Maier published a series of fifty alchemical emblems in his Atalanta fugiens (1617), here in a later edition. Maier recycled designs from earlier sources, including his depiction of the Chemical Wedding, adapted from a famous 14th-century Bildegedicht (“picture-poem”). The Moon warns her husband in the accompanying motto that “The Sun needs the Moon, as the cock needs the hen.” Two parents — or chemical substances — are required to generate the philosophical child.

Credit Line:

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

Format:

• Book

Type:

• Early works to 1800

Creator:

• Maier, Michael, 1568?-1622

Author:

• Maier, Michael, 1568?-1622

Language:

• Latin

Publisher:

• Francofurti : Impensis Georgii Heinrici Oehrlingii, bibliopolae : Typo Johannis Philippi Andreae, 1687.

Date:

• 1687

Extent:

• [8], 150 p. : ill. ; 20 cm. (4to)

View in catalog:

• https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/9923581113506421

Subject:

• Alchemy—Early works to 1800
• Emblems—Early works to 1800

Description:

• First published in 1618 under title: Atalanta fugiens, with music. Cf. LC.
• Spine-title: Scrutinium chymicum, called title of later edition in LC.
• Half-title: Michaelis Majeri Secreta naturae chymica, nova plane subtilique methodo indagata.
• The fifty half-page copperplates are by Matthaeus Merian. Cf. Faber du Faur.
• Includes head- and tailpieces, initials.
• Page number 149 misprinted 150.

References:

• Faber du Faur, no. 676.

Identifier:

• ark:/88435/k3569b31f