The 18th century's principal text and instruction book on the Order of the Rosicrucians

S[allwigt], G[regorius] A[nglus] (i. e. Georg von Welling). [YHWE] Tractatus Mago-Cabbalistico-Chymicus et Theosophicus, von des Saltzes Uhrsprung und Erzeugung, Natur und Nutzen, wobey zugleich die Erzeugung derer Metallen, Mineralien und anderer Salien, aus dem Grunde der Natur bewiesen wird [...] Sammt vollständigen Register aufgesetzet von [...] G.A.S.

€ 3,000.00

Second edition of the work first published in Frankfurt in 1719 under a slightly different title and the pseudonym of "Gregorius Anglus Sallwigt". Important for the history of Rosicrucianism, "the mystical content of which is very much unclear" (Kopp). An enlarged version, entitled "Opus Mago-Cabbalisticum et Theosophicum [...]", was published in 1735 under the name of the author (who had died in 1727) and was reprinted in 1760 and 1784. Compared with later copies, the present one is not only more beautifully printed, but also has larger plates and is generally executed with greater accuracy. "The ten folding plates are of absorbing interest to the Rosecrucian turn of mind. Goethe studied this book intensively" (Hoover). Details about Welling (1652-1727), according to Hoover "a man of great learning but very superstitious", the various editions of his works and their content are provided by Frick, Die Erleuchteten, pp. 54, 491ff. and 426ff.: "At the beginning of the eighties of the 18th century, Welling's Opus Mago-Cabbalisticum became the most important text and instruction book of the Order of the Gold- and Rosicrucians [...] The fourth chapter of the first part, 'De mundo archetypo', was transferred almost verbatim into the instruction documents of the first Degree of the Order".

The fine engravings depict geometrical figures and cabbalistic symbols, among them the "Systema Magicum Universi". Slightly browned and insignificant spotting; occasional underlinings and pencil marginalia, otherwise a good copy.