IFLA23

1
Earliest printing of Arabic physicians in a modern vernacular
Ortolff von Baierland (Ortolf of Bavaria). Arzneibuch.Nuremberg, 17 Mar 1477.
€ 95,000.00
One of the earliest medical books in the vernacular and the first printed German pharmacopoeia. First dated edition: an undated edition was published at Augsburg in the same year, followed by four more printed editions before 1500. Of the utmost rarity, no copy of the present first edition traceable at auction or in the trade since 1950. Only Lathrop …
2
Unique, early Renaissance alchemical manual drawing on Rhazes & Arabic tradition, a source for western botany
[Alchemical manuscript]. An alchemist's handbook, in German. Illustrated manuscript on paper.Germany, ca. 1480/90.
€ 350,000.00
A Renaissance alchemist's handbook, quoting Al-Razi by name and deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition of alchemical art. An intriguing manuscript which bears witness to early practical chemistry in 15th century Germany and to the immense influence of Arabic alchemy, illustrated with talented watercolour diagrams of the associated apparatus.
Indeed, …
3
"One of the earliest Western documents showing a revival of interest in botany" (Hunt): A magnificent, heavily annotated copy, ex-libris Fairfax Murray
Macer Floridus [i.e. Odo de Meung]. De viribus herbarum.Geneva, ca. 1496.
€ 75,000.00
The Fairfax Murray copy of a landmark botanical incunable, being the first or second illustrated edition of "one of the earliest Western documents showing a revival of interest in botany" (Hunt I, p. 4). Following unillustrated Italian printings in 1477 and 1482, the Genevan Jean Belot (printer of the 1495 "Fasciculus temporum", the 'Fardelet du …
4
A 15th century medical manual, used by a 16th century surgeon
[Medical manuscript]. "Ein bewert artzini bochelein". Medical manual and recipe book.Germany, 15th and early 16th century.
€ 24,000.00
Unpublished German therapeutic manual containing a comprehensive body of recipes, owned by a 16th century German gallstone surgeon.
The main part of the manuscript, which paleographial evidence places as early as the 15th century, begins on folio 44r and comprises some 120 closely written leaves in a single hand, entitled: "her noch volget …
5
An early manuscript witness to the Rosarium philosophorum, compiled by the alchemist Michael Cochem
Arnaldus de Villanova (Pseudo-) et al. Compilation of alchemical texts, including the Rosarium philosophorum.Austria, possibly Schwaz, 1529 and 1646.
€ 48,000.00
This fascinating alchemical miscellany, compiled by the Tyrolean alchemist and humanist Michael Cochem in 1529, includes the earliest dated manuscript witness to the famous Rosarium philosophorum, an alchemical florilegium that was falsely attributed to the medieval physician Arnaldus de Villanova (ca. 1240-1311).
The compendium comprises: …
7
Surgical instruments illustrated
Razi, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al- (Rhazes) / Arcolano, Giovanni (ed.). Omnes, qui proximis seculis scripserunt, medicos longe excellentis opera …Basel, 1540.
€ 9,500.00
Rare edition of this commentary on the ninth book of the treatise dedicated by ar-Razi (also known as Rhazes; 850-923 or 932) to Almansor, the Prince of Chorosan (with the text). "The manual, known as 'Nonus Almansoris', was popular among medieval physicians" (cf. GAL S I, p. 419). The work discusses special pathology but excluding pyrology and was …
8
The first edition to call Geber an Arab: profusely annotated throughout
Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber). (De alchemia). In hoc volumine de alchemia continentur haec. Gebri Arabis, …Nuremberg, 1541.
€ 48,000.00
The rare first edition of this extremely important and early collection of alchemical writings, which unites several first printings of works previously circulated only as manuscripts. This is first edition to call Geber an "Arab", the first to use "Summa perfectionis magisterii" on the title-page, and also the first printing of the famous "Smaragdine …
9
Jabir's alchemy
[Bracesco, Giovanni]. Jabir ibn Hayyan / Lullus, Raimundus. De alchemia dialogi duo. Quorum prior, genuinam librorum Gebri sententiam, …Lyon, 1548.
€ 8,500.00
First Latin edition of this alchemical work, first published in Venice in 1544 as "La Espositione di Geber philosopho". Written in the form of a dialogue, the first part contains a conversation between a certain Demogorgon and Geber (whom Demogorgon addresses as "most learned nephew of Mahomet") about the latter's works. In the second part Demogorgon …
10
The first book on smallpox
Razi, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al- (Rhazes) / Alexander Trallianus. [Kitab al-Gadari wa 'l-Hasbah - latine.] Libri duodecim; Razae de pestilentia …Strasbourg, 1549.
€ 7,500.00
First Latin edition of this collection, published in Greek by Stephanus in Paris the previous year (itself a translation from Syriac): the twelve books on medicine by Alexander of Tralles, the first parasitologist in medical history (and the younger brother of Anthemius, architect of the Hagia Sophia), issued with al-Razi's classic treatise on smallpox …
11
16th century collection of nine alchemical tracts, including one by Ibn Sina
Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Raymond Llull (Lullius), etc. De alchimia opuscula complura veterum philosophorum, quorum catalogum sequens …Frankfurt, 24 March 1550 preface.
€ 25,000.00
Extremely rare edition of this collection of nine alchemical tracts, including "De tinctura metallorum" (On the Colorations of Metals), attributed to the great Arab scientist Ibn Sina, who is known in the Latin tradition as Avicenna. Ibn Sina was one of the most significant thinkers and writers of the Islamic golden age, and his bibliography comprises …
13
First Latin edition
Alessio Piemontese. De secretis libri sex mira quadam rerum varietate referti ex italico in …Basel, 1559.
€ 2,500.00
First Latin edition of Alessio's "De secretis", still in six books. The author is commonly identified with the alchemist Girolamo Ruscelli (1520-66). "Das Werk gehört nach Caillet zur 'haute philosophie hermetique'. Es enthält außer alchemistischen auch viele kosmetische Rezepte, ferner solche gegen Pest, Schlangengift, Ungeziefer, wie auch Konfekt, …
14
Renaissance alchemical manuscript showing a distillatory furnace, combining Paracelsian and Kabbalistic traditions
[Alchemical manuscript]. Alchemical manuscript on vellum containing a series of complex symbols, …Northern Italy, not before 1560s.
€ 45,000.00
An unusual and sophisticated alchemical manuscript showing a range of influences from Paracelsus to the Kabbalah.
Beginning in the middle of the single gathering, the manuscript contains a series of complex symbols and diagrams with cipher text, encoding alchemical processes. The illustrations start off with a symbol incorporating four watchtowers, …
15
The very rare first edition
(Grataroli, Guglielmo [ed.]). Verae alchemiae artisque metallicae, citra aenigmata, doctrina, certusque …Basel, 1561.
€ 45,000.00
Very rare first edition. "One of the earliest collections of alchemical writers, containing 53 texts [...] A very important item" (Duveen). Among the authors of these treatises highly sought after by 16th century disciples of the hermetic sciences are Geber (Jabir ibn Hayyan), Avicenna, Roger Bacon, Arnaldus de Villanova, Albertus Magnus, Ramon Llull, …
16
Medical recipes, arcane cures, Renaissance hippiatry, gold panning in Bohemia
Otto, Sigismund (ed.). [Medical manuscript]. Artznei Buch. 1590. Opusculum non magnarum, sed necessarium …Germany, 1590.
€ 12,500.00
A wide-ranging compilation of medicinal recipes and treatments for a great variety of ailments, certainly drawing on various medical and pharmacological texts, although only one specific reference is made, namely to Melchior Sebisch's 1580 translation of Charles Estienne's agricultural treatise "L'agriculture et maison rustique" (Paris 1564). A medicine …
17
An Arabic work on alchemy, quoted by Goethe
Morienus (Romanus). De transfiguratione metallorum, et occulta, summaque antiquorum philosophorum …Hanau, 1593.
€ 9,500.00
Final and best 16th century edition of this alchemical work originally written in Arabic, the first edition having appeared at Paris in 1559. The legendary Byzantine monk Morienus is said to have gone to Alexandria to study with the Arabian scholar Adfar, whose favourite student he became. Subsequently settling in Jerusalem as a hermit, he devoted …
18
First German printing of Roger Bacon's "Lapis philosophorum"
Bacon, Roger / Hildenbrandt von Hildenbrandseck, Paulus (ed.). Auriferae artis Das ist, Der Goldtkunst: Die man Chemiam nennt, Uhrälteste …Frankfurt a. M., 1597.
€ 7,500.00
Very rare first German edition of this collection of alchemical works. The preface ("Typographus lectori") by the Basel printer Peter Perna, who printed the first Latin edition of the "Auriferae artis" in 1572, mentions Geber (Jabir ibn Hayyan), Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Rhases (al-Razi), Arnaldus de Villanova, and Raymond Lull.
The present edition …
19
The recipe book of Magdalena of Hohenlohe, the daughter of Juliana of Stolberg
Nassau-Dillenburg, Magdalena von, countess of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim (1547-1633). Autograph collection of perfumery and cosmetics recipes.Probably Weikersheim Southern Germany, ca. 1604.
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Extensive recipe collection of the "book of secrets" or "Kunstbuch" genre, assembled by a southern German Renaissance noblewoman, containing a trove of instructions for the preparation of all kinds of fragrant powders and pills, lozenges, beard and hair oils, for aromatic smoke and hygienic glove treatments, various balms, soaps, varnishes, and candles, …
23
Recipes for ointments, tinctures, and the transmutation of metals
[Alchemy]. Ein Tractat von dem Lapide Philosophorum, darinnen kürtzlich begriffen …Probably Germany, ca. 1650.
€ 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 …
24
By and for the artisanal practitioner
[Alchemy and pigment recipes]. Praeparationes variae aluminii calcinatio. [A collection of recipes for …Probably Germany, ca. 1650.
€ 8,500.00
A pretty pocket-sized manual of early modern artisanal recipes, with much alchemical content but also strongly devoted to colours and gilding. Chapters include: "salis amoniaci", "aqua de albumine ovorum", "nota de calcinatione", "cinobrium fixum", "how to make borras", "aqua auripigmenti", "how to make arsenic metallic", "aqua ardens", "de antimonio …
28
Forerunner of Computer Science: author's presentation copy to the Superior General of the Jesuit Society
Kircher, Athanasius. Ars magna sciendi, in XII libros digesta, qua nova & universali methodo …Amsterdam, 1669.
€ 50,000.00
First and only edition of this work important for the theory of science. Its fundamental idea of connecting all branches of science in a common system is based upon the thoughts of Ramon Llull. "Represents the 17th century research for a universal language" (Merill) and is considered a "fascinating anticipation and precursor of computer science" …
32
Complete collective medical manuscript
Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Al-Urjuza fi l-tibb [Poem on Medicine] and other medical and alchemical …Probably Ottoman Empire, ca. 1690s / late 17th century CE.
€ 40,000.00
A fine, complete composite medical manuscript, including pharmacological and alchemical material. The principal section is formed by the "Urjuza fi l-tibb", or "Medical Poem" of Ibn Sina, which can be considered a poetic summary in 1326 verses of the author's great encyclopedic textbook, the Qanun. The verse form made it popular as a mnemonic in …
33
The alchemical manual of the chief physician to Emperor Leopold I
Hertodt von Todenfeld, Johann Ferdinand, German alchemist and physician royal (1645-1714). Autograph alchemical manuscript notebook.Probably Austria or Moravia, later 17th century.
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Hertodt's working alchemical notebook, written in a fluid mixture of German and Latin. The manuscript contains detailed instructions on alchemical processes, including the transmutation of lesser substances into gold (with first-person remarks on experiments), alongside a cryptographic alphabet and a list of inauspicious dates for the practice of …
35
Undocumented work on chemistry
Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber). Al-Durrah al-Yatimah [The Orphan Pearl on the Precious Art of Chemistry].No place Syria?, 20 Jan. 1756 CE = 17 Rabi II 1169 H.
€ 75,000.00
Undocumented work on chemistry and alchemy, highly important for being expressly attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan, the elusive father of Arabic chemistry.
The manuscript's title reads, in full, "The orphan pearl in knowing the craft of precious chemistry, composed by the virtuous sage and complete teacher, the master of the men of this craft, …
37
18th century Russian prognostication manual
[Astrology - Chiromancy]. Illustrated Russian manuscript.Probably Russian Empire, 18th century.
€ 28,500.00
A fully handwritten 18th century prognostication manual containing astrological tables and zodiacal charts, Sator squares and other magical tables, as well as ample matter on palmistry. Throughout the volume there are 14 working handcut volvelles with as many as four moveable discs, some with carefully cut windows. An appendix at the end contains …

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