[20], 373 [i.e. 371], [2] pp. + errata leaf [nos. 57-58 are omitted in paging]. aa-bb4, cc2, a-z4, A-Z4, &4. Illustrated with 16 wood engravings (a few are repeats); historiated initials. (4to) 7½x5¾, recased in old vellum, new endpapers, page edges stained yellow.
One of the first printed collections of alchemical works, and one of the earliest printings of any work of alchemy. The text is primarily comprised of the most important work attributed to the Arab alchemist Jabir Ibn Hayyan, who likely flourished in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. Jabir Ibn Hayyan has through history often been confused with Jabir Ibn Aflah, known to us by his Latinized name Geber, the 12th century Moorish astronomer and mathematician. Jabir Ibn Hayyan is credited with the composition of an extensive corpus of alchemical and other scientific works, though scholars today feel there may have been other contributors to the body of work. This volume marks a significant step in opening his ideas, discoveries, and propositions to the West. More importantly, however, it also contains the first printing of The Emerald Tablet of Hermes, the cornerstone text of alchemy, the origins of which remain shrouded in history, but may have come from Ancient Egypt, India or even China. It came to the West through inclusion in several Arabic works, one of which was Jabir's "Kitab Ustuqus al-Uss al-Thani" (Second Book of the Elements of Foundation). Among the most famous passages on the tablet is "That which is above is from that which is below, and that which is below is from that which is above, working the miracles of one." The Tablet is considered the earliest of all alchemical works to have survived. This volume also is of crucial significance for containing the first printing of of Roger Bacon's "Mirror of Alchemy," perhaps the most famous work of English alchemy. The present copy contains some interesting early ink marginalia, a few underlinings, and a few odd ink symbols or scribbles on the title-page. The book is of exceptional rarity - only one copy is listed in the RLG Union Catalog (that in the New York Public Library), and no copies have sold at auction over the last thirty years at least.
Condition:
The text has been professionally cleaned, with only occasional slight discoloration remaining; the marginalia has lessened from the cleaning, and parts of it was slightly trimmed during recasing; still a very nice copy, of exceptional interest.