Alchemical transcriptions project

In April 1996 I put out an appeal for some funding in order to purchase some microfilms of manuscripts containing English translations of key alchemical works. I received a number of offers of assistance from individuals and a donation from a charitable foundation in the USA. Once these had been prepared I had them photocopied onto paper so that they could be easily read, and I put out a further appeal for help from individuals to transcribe this material. I coordinated an initial group of volunteers in this task. There were some problems with people being unable to read some of the handwriting, and others over-estimated the amount of time they could realistically devote to this task and had to abandon making a transcription.
I still have a number of important items that need transcription, but regrettably I now find, with my other commitments, that I am not able to find the time to complete these, so I would welcome some assistance again with transcribing some of these texts.


  • Marsilio Ficino on the alchemical art [transcribed by Justin von Bujdoss]
  • The Iconologia of Cesare Ripa [transcribed by Rawn Clark]
  • The War of the Knights [transcribed by Fred Hatt]
  • Samuel Norton - The Key of Alchemy
  • Jean Albert Belin - The Adventures of an Unknown Philosopher [transcribed by Sean Brooks]
  • The letter of a philosopher concerning the secret of the great work [transcribed by John O'Brien.]
  • The Natural round Physick or Philosophy of the Alchymical Cabalistical Vision [transcribed by Jon Evans.]
  • The Work of Dionisius Zacharias [transcribed by Dr. Muhammed Suleiman.]
  • An instruction and proof to prepare an Aurum potabile [transcribed by Dr. Muhammed Suleiman]
  • Alchemical texts


    16th Century
    Practical alchemy
    Philosophical alchemy

    17th Century
    Practical alchemy
    Philosophical alchemy

    18th Century
    Practical alchemy
    Philosophical alchemy

    Alchemical poetry

    Alchemical allegories

    Works of Nicolas Flamel
    Works of George Ripley
    Works of Sendivogius
    Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum
    Emerald tablet of Hermes
    Rosicrucian texts
    Literary works
    Texts from Musaeum Hermeticum

    Spanish alchemical texts
    German alchemical texts
    French alchemical texts
    Russian alchemical texts
    Italian alchemical texts

    Study Courses


    Alchemical, astrological and
    emblematic art prints


    Alchemy and art


    Art books Series


    Study course on Bosch's
    Garden of Earthly Delights

    New Hieronymus Bosch Website