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Alchemy Academy archive
February 2006
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Subject: ACADEMY: A third edition of the Mutus Liber
From: Adam McLean
Date: 1 Feb 2006

It is usually thought that there were two editions of the key alchemical
work the Mutus liber which has the famous series of fifteen emblematic
engravings.

The first edition (with engravings) was issued in 1677 at La Rochelle in France.

A second edition (with recut engravings) was included in Manget's Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa, Geneva, 1702.

These should be very familiar to most students of alchemical imagery.

It now appears that there was a third edition, issued later in the 18th
century, with recut engravings. I have been contacted by someone who
owns a copy of this third edition. I have not found it in any other library
or collection.

I show a small detail from plate 7 of each edition on this
web page :-

http://www.alchemywebsite.com/mutus_liber_editions.html

Does anyone have any further information on this later edition?

Subject: ACADEMY: A third edition of the Mutus Liber
From: Jean-Yves Artero
Date: 1 Feb 2006

Dear Adam,

This third edition is not totally unknown, although probably it
is exceedingly rare.

The plate 7 you partly reproduce in your site is identical to the one
which is to be seen in Eugene Canseliet's modern publication of
the Mutus Liber (Pauvert, Paris, 1967).

Canseliet reproduces the whole of this plate as well as plate 6.

He states that this edition probably appeared in Paris, around
1725. It was offered on sale in 1937 by a bookseller in Paris.

This edition could have had more than 15 plates (Canseliet
elaborates on plates 16 and 17, more if needed).

He also adds that three of the plates of this edition are to be
seen in John Read's Prelude to Chemistry (plates 5,6,7).

Finally he argues that according to J.R. these plates are to be
found in the St Andrews collection (library of the College of
Saint-Salvator & Saint-Leonard, depending of the University).

Jean

Subject: ACADEMY: A third edition of the Mutus Liber
From: Adam McLean
Date: 1 Feb 2006

Dear Jean,

>The plate 7 you partly reproduce in your site is identical to the one
which is to be seen in Eugene Canseliet's modern publication

Yes I took it from there.

>He states that this edition probably appeared in Paris, around
>1725.

Is is the 'probably' that I am trying to clear up !

>Finally he argues that according to J.R. these plates are to be
>found in the St Andrews collection

Yes I have been in touch with St. Andrews but they cannot locate the item.
It may be that Read never had a copy of the book but only some
photographs of the plates. He refers to these in his 'Prelude to Chemistry'
as 'drawings' rather than 'copperplate engravings' which they would
appear to be. Canseliet does not seem to have actually owned the
edition, which means that there is only one copy that I know of in
existence. Perhaps others will turn up.

I wonder if it is in Bruening's 'Bibliography' under Canseliet's
guess date of 1725. If it is not under that date there is little one
can do because Bruening's 'Bibliography' has no index at the
moment. It seems a rather absurd thing for a bibliography - not
being able to find anything.

Adam McLean

Subject: ACADEMY: Basil Valentine's Last will and Testament
From: Johann Plattner
Date: 2 Feb 2006

There is indeed an earlier edition of the "Last will and Testament" in German,
Jena 1626.

Fratris Basilij Valentini Benedictiner Ordens. Letztes Testament und
Offenbahrung der himlischen und irdischen Geheimnüß so in einem
Altar gefunden / in fünff Bücher abgetheilet / derer Innhalt auff
nachfolgendem Blat zu finden ist. Zuvor nie in Druck außgangen /
jetzt aber männiglichen zu nutz trewlich publiciret. Durch Georgium
Claromontanum Silesium Leznicensem. Gedruckt in Jena. 1626.
In Verlegung Hanß Eyrings und Johann Perferts See: Erben Buchh.

Johann Plattner

Subject: ACADEMY: Call for Papers
From: Adam McLean
Date: 9 Feb 2006

Call for Papers

The Western Esotericism Group at the AAR invites proposals for
papers dealing with European and American esoteric traditions
(e.g. alchemy, astrology, hermeticism, kabbalah, magic, mysticism,
rosicrucianism, secret societies, occultism) and their ramifications
in art history, history, literature, politics, and religion. We welcome
scholars from a wide range of perspectives, including critical theory,
anthropology, American studies, art history, history, history of
religions, literature, philosophy, religious studies, sociology, and
the full range of academic disciplines and fields that bear upon
this area of study.

For 2006, we especially welcome papers on the following topics as
related to Western esotericism:
(1) Method and theory,
(2) Altered States of Consciousness,
(3) Theurgy,
(4) Ritual and religious practice.
However, proposals on any other appropriate topic are welcome as well.

Please send proposals/abstracts by March 1 (deadline!) to both:

Prof. Allison P. Coudert, University of California, Davis.
apcoudert@ucdavis.edu

Prof. Wouter J. Hanegraaff, University of Amsterdam.
w.j.hanegraaff@uva.nl

Subject: ACADEMY: La Très Sainte Trinosophie
From: Adam McLean
Date: 20 Feb 2006

The Municipal Library at Troyes which holds the well known
late 18th century allegorical alchemical manuscript
La Très Sainte Trinosophie, sometimes attributed to the Comte
de Saint-Germain, has now provided an online facsimile
which seems to be in Macromedia shockwave format.

http://www.mediatheque-agglo-troyes.fr/bmtroyes/_/feuilletoir/trinosophie.html

Subject: ACADEMY: Anonymous alchemist
From: José Rodríguez Guerrero
Date: 22 Feb 2006

Dear all,

I have found short references about an anonymous alchemist and
I try to determinate his identity. I know he was from Germany or
Swiss, he was calvinist, he could be a philosopher, physician or
theologian, he visited Paris in 1562 and he died around 1562-1565.

Who could he be?

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Thanks in advance,

José Rodríguez Guerrero

Subject: ACADEMY: Manuscript of Lamspring
From: Andrew Kettle
Date: 24 Feb 2006

Here is a web site showing a coloured manuscript of Lamspring
in Salzburg, dated 1607.

http://www.ubs.sbg.ac.at/sosa/handschriften/mI92/mi92digi.htm