Recipes for ointments, tinctures, and the transmutation of metals

[Alchemy]. Ein Tractat von dem Lapide Philosophorum, darinnen kürtzlich begriffen wirdt, was derselbe sey, undt seine prima materia? wie sie genennet, colligirt, eingesetzt, biß zur Vollkommenheit praeparirt, fermentirt u. augmentirt werden.

Probably Germany, ca. 1650.

12mo (87 x 115 mm). German manuscript by several hands on paper. Title-page and 82 written ff. (as well as 96 blanks). Contemporary vellum.

 6,500.00

Pretty pocket-sized alchemical manual by at least two different scribes, extensively discussing classic problems of alchemy: about the nature and composition of the Philosopher's Stone, on the transmutation of metals, the "vera et naturalis Via Tinctura universalis", etc., with repeated reference to Paracelsian writings. Also copious recipes for ointments, tinctures, etc., with chemical symbols interspersed throughout.

Light browning to paper; lower corner of title-page remargined, otherwise exceptionally well preserved. The front flyleaf shows a 19th century provenance note according to which the volume was a gift from the Baltic physician and professor of natural history, Johann Gottlieb von Groschke (1760-1828) ("geschenkt erhalten von Prof. Groschke 1819"), with later pencil notes about the donor.