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Alchemy Academy archive
April 2001

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Subject: ACADEMY : Basil Valentine
From: Penny Bayer
Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2001

Dear Michael Srigley

This may be a complete red herring, but I was struck by the word
"Haligraphia" in your message.

I have come across the word "Haligraphia" apparently used
as a pseudonym for someone in the circle of Joseph du Chesne
and a woman called Madame de la Martinville , whom I am
studying in my thesis on women alchemists. In British Library:
Sloane MS 693, which are part of the papers of Theodore de
Mayerne, what appears to be a circle of people interested in
alchemy are named. The pseudonymous names are:
Neptis (who I link to Madame de la Martinville), Bathodius,
Maurice, Beaurardeau, Philippon, Senex Genevens,
Druida, Haligraphia, Basilius. Later, someone called Trogny
is mentioned.

This manuscript also contains letters which elsewhere are
attributed to Madame de la Martinville writing to Joseph du
Chesne: here they are attributed to Neptis and the Druid.
This manuscript also contains recipes using vitriol.

I therefore just wondered if JOD might have a connection to
Joseph du Chesne, who was alive in 1607. Not conclusive
evidence, but I thought it worth passing on.

Best regards,
Penny Bayer

Subject: ACADEMY : Question about German manuscript
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 200
From: Matthias Miller

Hi and good morning,

I am a librarian from Germany, at this time cataloging manuscripts
from the library of the Palatine dukes of Heidelberg (Bibliotheca
Palatina, the best known item of this library is perhaps the
Manesse Codex). At the moment I am working with a small
manuscript, written about 1570 with alchemical recipes, one of
them in form of a poem. I would like to ask the E-mail group, if
anybody knows this poem and can tell me something about
the author.

The beginning of the poem is: Processus vom [alchemical symbols of
Mercury for Quicksilver, Saturne for Lead and a third one looking like
the symbol for Scorpio]. Saturnum disen Calcinir/ Mit Vsofur, den
distillir,/ Ein wasser, von der stuckhen drei/ Salpeter das dritt, Manu
das erst sei,/ Den Witriolum Inn der Mitt/ darnach soltu vergessen nit/
den alaun mitten brich entzwei/ Rot polum gleich dem Einerlei...

The end: ...Vnnd den macht bestenndig Comact vnnd fix/ Der bedarff
nach Gott khheins anndern glückhs.

It would be fine, if somebody could help me.

Matthias Miller M.A.
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg
- Handschriftenabteilung -
DFG-Projekt Codices Palatini germanici

Subject: ACADEMY : St. Germain - Triangular books
From: Victoria Gevoian
Date: 12 April 2001

There are two triangular shaped books written by the
Count St. Germain. These were originally owned by Manly
P. Hall, and are now in the Getty Centre in Los Angeles.

I would like to know if anyone here is familiar with
these manuscripts.

Manly Palmer Hall [P.R.S.] MS. 209.
31 folios. Parchment. Triangular. 210 x 244 x 244mm.
[Comte St. Germain] 'No. Soixante & Seize'. De la collection maconnique du F
: illustre F : Antoine Louis Moret fondateur, et Véné honoraire de la R :
... La Sincerite No. 122. Ex president du Souv : Chap : la Triple union Or :
maitre, Elu, chevalier commandeur, patriarch, Prince & Govr : Prince des
tous les ordres macon : et des tous les Rites : Francais, Ecossais, Anglais,
irelandais, Prussiens, &c. &c. &c. Govr : G : insp : Gene : du 33e degre S :
P : D : E : Or : de : New York Etats unis L'am : du Nord 5810.
Ex Dono Sapientissimi Comitis St. Germain Qui Orbem Terrarum Per Cucurrit.
[Blue and gold ink on various leaves of ruled parchment. Text in cypher with
three magical illustrations in gilt and several other colours of ink.]

Manly Palmer Hall [P.R.S.] MS. 210.
24 folios. Parchment. Triangular 237 x 237 x 235mm.
[Comte St. Germain.] Ex Dono Sapientissimi Comitis St. Germain Qui Orbem
Terrarum Per Cucurrit.

Subject: ACADEMY : The "mirror" in alchemical writings
From: Stefan Alexe
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001

Dear forum members,

Does anyone have some bibliographical information
about the use of a mirror / more mirrors in the alchemical
work (16th and 17th century)?

Thank you and best regards.

S. Alexe

Subject: ACADEMY : Alchemical manuscript by Philip duke of Burgundy
From: José Rodríguez
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001

Dear all:

I'm reading an alchemical manuscript in the National Library
of Madrid entitled "Toque de Alquimia" (in english:
"Touch-stone of alchemy"). It is a tract attributed to an Irish
writer called Richard Stanihurst (1547-1618). This work was
dedicated to Philip II, King of Spain.

Stanihurst says that rumors circulated in the towns of Flanders
about the alchemical influences in the foundation of the Order
of the Golden Fleece (1430) and, at the same time, he mentions
an alchemical manuscript signed by Philip the Good, duke
of Burgundy (1396-1467).

I have no references about alchemical works atributed to
Philip the Good and Stanihurst does not transcribe title, incipit,
sentences... He only says he found the manuscript in Paris, in
the "Royal Library".

What about Philip the Good and alchemy? Does anyone
have an information on Philip's alchemical tracts?

Any suggestions or references regarding these questions will
be very much welcomed.

José Rodríguez

Subject: ACADEMY : The "mirror" in alchemical writings
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001
From: John Friedman

There is a lot of material on the use of mirrors for purposes
of false magic in Nicole Oresme's work on divination and
also in William of Auvergne's or of Paris' De Universo of
which there is a Minerva facsimile available on Inter Library
Loan. I would think this would be applicable to alchemy too.

John Friedman

Subject: ACADEMY : The "mirror" in alchemical writings
From: Stefan Alexe
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001

Dear John Friedman ,

Thank you for your answer! Is it the Nicole Oresme with:

La theorie de la monnaie au 14e siecle. Nicole Oresme.
Etude d' histoire des doctrines et des faits economiques.
- Paris, V.Giard & E. Briere 1906.
Die mathematischen Schriften des Nicole Oresme.
(circa 1320-1382) Thorn 1870 ?

Unfortunately I cannot connect to kvk - karlsruhe to get a full
bibliography-list, so I found only these two entries.

But besides magic, what texts describe the use of mirrors
during the Process/ for preparing the Stone?

Thank you and Happy Easter to all forum members!

S. Alexe

Subject: ACADEMY : The "mirror" in alchemical writings
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001
From: John Friedman

See Thorndike, History of Magic and Experimental science, Vol. III p. 433
and index under mirrors, magic. I can't lay hands on my notes right now but
the original text is Oresme de configuratione qualitatum of which there is
an English tr. in the Marshall Claggett series of Wisconsin
translations.This is only about deception in magic with mirrors and does
not describe alchemical processes however, in the Middle Ages, see my
Medieval Iconography: A Research Guide, Garland, 1998

JF

Subject: ACADEMY : The "mirror" in alchemical writings
From: José Rodríguez
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001

Stefan,

There are some references in:
- URSZULA SZULAKOWSKA, (2000), "The Alchemy of Light.
Geometry and Optics in Late Renaissance Alchemical Illustration",
Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden.

You should read all the book, but specially the third chapter:
"The Influence of Medieval Optics on Renaissance Alchemy",
pp. 29-40.

José Rodríguez

Subject: ACADEMY : The "mirror" in alchemical writings
From: Mike Dickman
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001

Have a look at Libavius' 'Alchymia' (Frankfurt, 1606) where illustrations
include the use of both mirrors and magnifying lenses.

m

Subject: ACADEMY : Hermetische Gesellschaft
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001
From: C-M Edenborg

Has anyone on the list viewed the manuscripts from the so-called
"Hermetische Gesellschaft", active in Germany around 1800?
The letters and tracts are according to Antoine Faivre still in
Giessen, but I haven't got the exact location.

Carl-Michael Edenborg

Subject: ACADEMY : The "mirror" in alchemical writings
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001
From: Michael Srigley

Dear Stefan,

The subject of mirrors in alchemical work came up in the
Academy correspondence in 2000-11-08-15. Martha Baldwin
in 'Alchemy and the Society of Jesus in the Seventeenth:
Strange Bedfellows' in AMBIX, vol. 40, Part 2, July, 1993, 41-64,
discusses Athanasius Kircher's use of solar energy in
alchemy (51), and has two engravings of solar mirrors in action
(figs.1 and 4).

Best Wishes,

Michael

Subject: ACADEMY : Le Pilote de l'onde vive
From: Adam McLean
Date: 24 Apr 2001

Can anyone provide bibliographical information on the
book by Mathurin E. de Martineau 'Le Pilote de l'onde vive' ?

I assume this is 18th century. Unfortunately I do not seem
to have access to a copy here in Glasgow.

Best wishes,

Adam McLean

Subject: ACADEMY : Le Pilote de londe vive
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001
From: Pierre Stibia

Dear Adam,

You can now download this text from

http://www.multimania.com/hermetisme/pilote/lepilote.htm

This site is full of very interesting texts concerning Alchemy and other
topics.

I have very little infomation about this text. I think you'll find
detailed bibliographical information from Bernard Roger who
published this text during the 70's in the "Bibliotheca Hermetica"
by Retz-Denoël.

Best regards to all

Joel "Pierre Stibia"

Subject: ACADEMY : Le Pilote de l'onde vive
From: Sean Brooks
Date: 24 Apr 2001

Title: La pilote de l'onde vive ou le secret du flux et reflux de la mer.
Author: Eyquem, Mathurin.
Publication: Paris
Year: 1678

Title: Le pilote de l'onde vive, ou, Le secret du flux et reflux de la mer ...
Avec un voyage abrege des Indes, et une explication de la
quadrature de cercle.
Author: Eyquem de Martineau, M.
Publication: Paris, L. d'Houry, Edition: Seconde édition revenue
& augmentée de deux traitez ... sur la philosophie naturelle.
[By M. Eyquem de Maritneau.]
Year: 1689
Description: 221 p. p., 8vo.

Sean Brooks

Subject: ACADEMY : Le Pilote de londe vive
From: Stanislas Klossowski de Rola
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001

Dear Adam,

I happen to own a copy of the first edition of this interesting
work:

LE PILOTE DE L'ONDE VIVE OU LE SECRET DU FLUX
ET REFLUX DE LA MER; Contenat xxj. Mouvemens; ET DU
POINT FIXE. D'un Voyage abregé des Indes,& de la
Quadrature du Cercle, composez sur les Principes de la
Nature; nouvellement découverts, & mis en lumiere, Par
MATHURIN EYQUEM SR DU MARTINEAU, Bourdelois,
PHILOSOPHIE NATURELLE A PARIS Chez JEAN DH'OURY,
sur le Quay des Augustins, à l'image Saint Jean, Et chez
l'Auteur, rue neuve Saint Mederic, à l'Enseigne de la Ville
de Calais. M.DC. LXXVIII AVEC PRIVILEGE DU ROY,
Titlepage, blank verso AVERTISSEMENT DE L'AUTHEUR
AU LECTEUR 9 pages on verso of 9 NOM DES CARACTERES
contenus dans les FIGURES du Flux & du reflux de la Mer,
et de la Quadrature du Cercle, & des Vents.These two
figures are to be found the first on page 22, the second on
p.209). The Privilege was granted on January 6th 1678.
The book was registered sur le Livre de la Communauté
des Libraires & Imprimeurs de Paris on April 21 1678 and
the FIRST PRINTING took place June 3 1678. On p. 221
below the word FIN, one reads the following inscription :
"Les Exemplaires seront cottez & paraphez par l'Autheur,
pour éviter l'alteration & la fraude." i.e. The copies shall be
numbered and signed by the author to avoid alterations
and fraud. And indeed my own copy bears on the titlepage
the author's signature and the number 975.

Should you need more information I could try to find the time
to translate the A9 pages of the Avertissement au lecteur which
summarises the contents.

All the very best
Stanislas Klossowski de Rola

Subject: ACADEMY : Le Pilote de londe vive
From: José Rodríguez
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001

Dear Adam:
I have no information about scholary works concerning
"Le Pilote de l'onde vive ". I think there are no critical
editions and that is a problem. I send you some references
that I found the last year:

------ First edition (rare copy)------
Author: Mathurin Eyquem Du Martineau.
Title: Pilote de l'onde vive ou le secret du flux et reflux de la Mer
et du Point-fixe par Mathurin Eyquem, sr du Martineau.
Date: 1678.
Editor: none.
City: none.
Physical description: 221 pp. in-12°.
Holding Library: Grenoble, Bibliothèque Municipale (fonds CGA),
cote: E.21117

------ First edition (standard copy)------
Author: Mathurin Eyquem Du Martineau.
Title: Le Pilote de l'onde vive, ou le Secret du flux et reflux de
la mer, contenant XXI mouvements, et du point fixe, d'un voyage
abrégé des Indes et de la quadrature du cercle, composez
sur les principes de la nature, nouvellement découverts et
mis en lumière par Mathurin Eyquem, Sr Du Martineau,...
Philosophie naturelle.
Date: 1678 (3 June).
Editor: Chez Jean Dhoury et chez l'Autheur.
City: Paris.
Physical description: (1-1bl-14-)221(-3bl) p. -2 fig. gr. par Landry, in-12°, 149 mm.

------ Second edition ------
Author: Mathurin Eyquem du Martineau.
Title: Pilote de l'onde vive, ou le secret du flux et reflux de la mer,
contenant XXI mouvemens, et du point fixe, etc. par Mathurin
Eyquem, du Martineau Langue.
Subtitle: Seconde edition revue et augmentée de Deux traitez
nouveaux sur la philosophie naturelle, contenant le Tombeau
de Sémiramis, et la réfulation de l'anonyme Pantaléon, soy
disant disciple d'Hermès
Date: 1689
Editor: J. d'Houry
City: Paris.
Physical description: in 12°

Mathurin wrote another book on french coats of arms:

Author: Mathurin Eyquem du Martineau.
Title: Les Noms, Surnoms, qualites, armes et Blasons des
Cheualiers de lordre du Sainct esprit Crees par Louis
quatorzie. du nom Roy de France et de Nauarre. A Paris.
Dans L'eglise des augustins le Premier Jour de lan 1662.
Langue Français Publication (1662), S. l., s. n. Description
titre gr. et 78 f. anopisthographes n. ch. n. s. -2° , 334 mm.
Exemplaire 1 Cote et fonds Rés 108355, CGA
Date: 1662.
Editor: none.
City: none.
Physical description: title gr. and 78 folios. n. ch. n. s. -2° , 334 mm.
Holding Library: Lyon, Bibliothèque Municipale (fonds CGA),
cote: Rés 108355.

In that book he said: "Mathurin Eyquem, Seigneur du Martineau,
bourdelois [men of Bordeaux]".

José Rodríguez