First complete German edition

[Gessner, Conrad; Pseud.:] Euonymus Philiater. Der erste (-ander) Theil, deß köstlichen unnd theuren Schatzes Euonymi Philiatri, darinn behalten sind vil heimlicher guter stuck der artzney, fürnemmlich aber die art und eygenschafft der gebranntnen wasseren vnd ölen, wie man die selbigen bereiten sölle: deßgleichen jeder wasseren und ölen art und eygenschafft, nutz und brauch [...].

(Sankt Gallen, Leonhard Straub für Josias Geßner in Zürich), 1582(-1583).

4to. 2 pts. in 1 vol. (8), 368, (18) pp., final blank. (8), 305 (but: 307), (13) pp. Both title pages printed in red and black. With 2 different woodcut title vignettes and numerous text woodcuts. Contemp. blindstamped pigskin over wooden boards with bevelled edges. Remains of clasps. All edges red.

 5,800.00

Principal alchemical work of the Swiss physician, botanist and zoologist Gessner: the first complete German edition of the "Thesaurus de remediis secretis", translated by the Zürich theologian Johann Rudolf Landenberger and the physician Johann Jakob Nüscheler. The first part had appeared in German in 1555; only in 1569 did Caspar Wolf edit the posthumous Latin first edition of the second part, based on Gessner's notes. "This collection of recipes for medicines, the distillation of essential oils, and winemaking was first published under the pseudonym Euonymus Philiatrus because Gesner considered it not quite up to his own exact standards. It became his most popular book" (Wellisch). The woodcuts picture various destillation apparatus.

Binding rather rubbed; interior somewhat fingerstained; paper defects to the final three leaves of the index professionally restored (including portions of lost text). As always, the year of printing on the title page, stated as "1582" in Roman numerals, has been corrected to "1583" in slightly different ink. Contemp. ownership of the surgeon Christoff Zirckendorffer in red and brown ink ("A[nn]o 16[0]1 Jar") on the flyleaf.

References

VD 16, G 1809, ZV 25033. Graesse III, 69. Wellisch A 32.18 & B2.14. Wellcome I, 2789. Ferguson I, 315 (note). Vischer (Zürcher Druckschriften des 15. u. 16. Jhs.) K 96. Cf. Durling 2084. Schoene 13415ff.