48 Gerard Heym: AnI ntroduction to the

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF

ALCHEMY.-PART 1.

By GERARDHEYM.

THIS introduction is intended for the.' student who has only a superficial
knowledge of the literature of Alchemy.
The first part consists of bibliographical material that refers to the texts
themselves 1. The second part will be more extensive, and will include historical
works, special monographs, references in other works, sources, manuscripts
and references to texts in Oriental languages.

1. Bibliographies.
(1) PIERREBOREL. Bibliotheca Chimica.
Paris, 1654. Reprinted Heidelberg, 1656.
(Ferguson, i, p. 116.)
This is the first printed list of titles of Alchemical books and
manuscripts; it is of considerable use for the older literature. Many
copies are bound with interleaved pages, which usually contain additional
titles.
(2) NICOLASLENGLETDUFRESNOY. Histoire de la Philo sophie Hernletique.
Paris, 1742. 3 vols.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 25.)
The bibliography is contained in vol. iii. There are more titles
than in Borel. This bibliography is of use in that it shows the extent
of the literature at the tirne of its publication.
(3) JOHNFERGUSON. Bibliotheca Chemica.
Glasgow, 1906. 2 vols.
This work is indispensable for the student, being a masterpiece .of
bibliographical research. Besides full descriptions of Alchemical books
. it contains notices of books of the jatro-chemical school, early chemical
books, books on metallurgy, assaying, early technology, books of
secrets and early phannaceutical books. This bibliography does not
claim to be complete, but almost all the important Alchemical works
are listed. There are a few omissions, such as Fra Donato Devandro,
Dell' Elixir Vitt2, Naples, 1624, small folio, with 19 curious plates
at the end, and the ManuR-le Hermeticum sive Introitus. Quadriforis l

1 Referenc~ wU1be made to Ferguson, Bibliolheca Chemica, whenever possible,

 Bibliography of Alchemy 49

Wolferbytum, 1655, 8vo, containing an early version of the tract

attributed to St. Dunstan. Many of the German books and small
tracts on Alchemy published during the 18th century are not
included, but these are very often written by authors of a Theosophic
persuasion and important only for the student of metaphysics.
Many books not included in the list of titles are mentioned in the
bibliographical notes.
This collection of books described by Ferguson is at the disposal of
students in Glasgow, where there is also' another excellent collection
of similar books. This was formerly in the. possession of Ferguson,
the author of this bibliography.
(4) WILLIAMCOOPER. A Catalogue of Chymical Books.
London, 1675.
(Ferguson, i, p. 135.)
This list contains, according to Ferguson, some five or six hundred
entries of English books solely. Cooper was the English publisher
of books on Alchemy, and some of his books have lists at the end that
contain titles not mentioned in his catalogue.
(5) THE LIVESOF THE ADEPTSin Alchemystical Philosophy, with a Critical
Catalogue of the Books in this Science.
London, 1814.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 41.)
This book contains a list of 751 titles of Alchemical books on
pp.95-112.
A re-issue of this book by A. E. Waite appeared, London, 188~.
The list of titles on pp. 276-306 contains a few new items.
(6) JOHNFERGUSON. Sonle English Alchemical Books.
Reprint of a lecture. Journal Antiquarian Society, vol. ii, 6.
A very scholarly treatise on English Alchemical hooks, with th~ dates
of their appearance.
(7) FRIEDERICHROTH-SCHOLTZ.Bibliotheca Chemica.
Niirnherg und Altdorf, 1727.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 297.)
This work is issued in five parts. It only includes names as far as
those beginning with the letter H " and the first two parts were issued
t

in a second edition, I735.

Making all due allowance for the age during which this work was
. written, it is the only really scholarly Alchemical bibliography we have,
o~her than th~t of Ferguson,
50 Gerard Heym: An Inf1'oduction to the

1 a. Bibliographies that contain titles of Alchemical books.

(1) LADRAGUE.Bibliotheque Ouvaroff.
Moscow, 1870.
Only 75 copies printed. Contains 1883 items, some of which are
repeated. A careful and erudite bibliography, including many titles
of books about the pansophic societies of the 18th century. There
is a copy in the British Museum;

(2) Catalogue des livres rares et singuliers de la bibliotheque de l'abbe SEPHER.

Paris, 1786.
Sale catalogue of a famous library. Contains titles of some rare
Alchemical works not to be found elsewhere. Copy in the British
Museum.

(3) CAILLET. Manuel Bibliographique des Sciences PsYchiques.

Paris, 1913. 3 vols.
Contains many Alchemical titles, most of which, however, are taken
from the catalogues of Ladrague, Sepher and de Guaita.

(4) STANISLAS
DE-GUAITA. Catalogue de sa Bibliotheque.
Paris, 1899.
The catalogue of an eccentric collector who was a well-known figure
in Paris of the nineties. Many rare Alchemical works are mentioned,
among which there are some extremely rare manuscripts.

(5) F. LEIGH GARDNER. A Catalogue Raisonne of Works on. the Occult

Sciences.
Vol. i, Rosicrucian Books.
Second edition. Privately. printed. London, 1923.
This catalogue is unscholarly and often inaccurate~ It includes
many titles of rare Alchemical works, with especial reference to the
pansophic ·societies of the 17th and 18th centuries.

(6) BIBLIOTHECA CHEMICO-MATHEMATICA.

London, 1921. 2 vols. and supplements.

This catalogue, compiled by Mr. H. Zeitlinger of Messrs. Sotheran
& Co. London, contains many Alch~ical titles, with bibliographical
J

and scholarly notes~' '.

 Bibliography of Alchemy 51

(7) AUGUSTWOLFSTIEG. Bibliogr~phie der freimaurerischen Literatur.

Burg B.M. 1911 fi. 3 vols. and supplement.
Vol. ii pp. 919-965.
J

Vol. it, pp. 986-987.

The two sections of vol. ii contain Alchemical titles and names of
books that refer to the pansophic societies of Europe, ,vith especial
reference to Germany. See also Index vol. under Alchimie '.
I

1 b. Catalogues.
(1) Catalogue of the Newton Papers.
Auction sale catalogue issued by Messrs. Sotheby & Co., London.
July 13-14, 1936.
Newton's manuscript collection on Alchemy, almost all in his own
handwriting, is contained in section 1.

(2) Catalogue of the Hauser collection."

Auction sale catalogue issued by Messrs. Sotheby & Co., "London.
Apri116-18, 1934. "
Sale catalogue of one of the most complete collections of Alchemical
books. Also cont~s an interesting late Greek MS. on Alchemy, with
symbolic coloured drawings.

(3) Catalogue no. 439 issued by Messrs. Bernard Quaritch, Ltd., London.
London, 1930.
A very comprehensive collection of Alchemical books.

(4) Catalogue of the library of Mrs. Atwood.

Issued by Messrs. William Tait, Belfast.
Belfast, 1911.
(5) Catalogue issued by J. Denley, London.
London, 1826.
Contains a few titles of Alchemical books not found elsewhere.

(6) Bibliography of ~he Paracelsus library of Dr. Schubert.

Issued.by Messrs. W. Wesley & Son, London.
London, 1893.
(7) Catalogue no. 91 issued by Messrs. Ludwig Rosenthal, Munich.
, Alehimie und Rosenkreuzer '.
~unich, 1894.
E2
52 Gerard Heym = An j ntroduction to the

(8) Catalogue no. 231 issued by Messrs. J. Scheible, Stuttgart.·

Stuttgart, ca. 1897.

(9) Catalogue no. 31 issued by Messrs. Jacques Rosenthal, Munich.

Munich, 1903.

In addition to the above, the student is also advised to inspect the

catalogues of firms which deal :in Alchenlical books and which very
often contain works that have escape notice, a.nd are valuable for a
complete bibliography of Alchemy:-

2. Collections of Alchemical Texts.

(1) THEATRUMCHEMICUM.
Strassburg, 1659-61. 6 vols.
For contents see Ferguson, vol. ii, pp. 436 fi.
Also Lenglet Dufresnoy, vol. iii, pp. 48 fi.
This collection contains 209 Alchemical texts.
Earlier editions appeared in 1602, Ursel, in' 4 vols. (3 vols. according
to Lenglet Dufresnoy); Strassburg, 1613, 4 vols.; a fifth vol., 1622;
finally the present edition, 1659-61.
This and Manget's collection are our chief sources of texts, many of
which only exist in
these collections.

(2) JEAN JACQUE~MANGET. Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa.

Geneva, 1702. 2 vols., folio.
For contents see Ferguson, vol. ii, pp. 68 fi.
Also Lenglet Dufresnoy, vol. ·iii,pp. 60 fi.
For a comparison of the contents of Manget with the first four vols.
of the Theatrum Chemicum, see Fabricius, Bibliotheca Grr.eca, Hamburg,
1724, vol. xii,pp. 714 fi.
This collection contains 140 texts. It is more scholarly than the
Theatrum Chemicum, the material, being arranged in historical seql:lence.
It actually contains more authors than the Theatrum Chemicum and
also many texts that are not included in the latter collection, and
from that point of view it is of greater value for the purposes of research.

(3) CONRADHORLACHER. Bibliotheca Chemico-Curiosa.

Frankfurt, 1707.
(Ferguson, vol. i, p. 415.)
This is a 4 cond~n~ation ' of Manget's coUectioIl in Ge~~.
 . i3~bliography of Aichemy 53
(4) GIN.£CEUM CHIMICUM.
Lyon, 1679. One vol. only published .
.(Ferguson,. i, p. 318.)
About 20 texts. Was intended to be a continuation of the Theatrutn
Chemicum. A very rare work.
(5) MUSiEUM HERMJ;:TICUM REFORMATUM ET AMPLIFICATUM.

Frankfurt, 1677.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 119.)
An important collection of about 25 texts. 1'he first edition, only
containing 10 texts, was published at Frankfurt, 1625. The revised
and enlarged edition of 1677 was reissued 1749.
An English translation of the whole work by A. E. Waite appeared
in 2 vols., LondoD, 1893.
(6) GUGLIELMO GRATOROLO. Verre Alchemire-Artisque Metallicre.
Basel, 1561. IIi folio.
(Ferguson, i, p. 341.)
This collection contains 53 texts and is published in two parts complete
in one vol.
There is a reprint of the above collection in 8vo, Basel, 1572.
(7) JEAN MAUGIN DE RICHEBOURG. Bibliotheque des Philosophes Chimiques.
Paris, 1740-1754, 4 vols.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 272.)
This collection contains 34 texts. Vol. iv is composed of two parts.
Ferguson mentions an edition of 1672-8, possibly by Salmon, who may
be Dr. William Salmon, although Ferguson doubts this.
The Richebourg collection is very scarce in the complete state.
(8) WILLIAM SALMON. Medicina Practica.
London, 1692.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 318.)
The 2nd and 3rd books of this vol. contain English translations of
Alchemical texts. There was a reissue with a new title-page in 1707:
Salmon was a man of scholarly tastes and wide reading. The catalogue
of his library, published under the title Bibliotheca Salmoneana,
London, 1713, is of interest.
(9) COLLECTANEA CHYMICA.
London, 1684.
(Ferguson, i, p. 169.)
This collection contains ten texts in English. The first is in Latin
and English.
54 Gerard Heym: AnI ntroduction to the

(9 a) COLLECTANEA CHYMICA, being certain select Treatises on Alchemy and

Hermetic Medicine.
London, 1893.
(Ferguson, i, p. 169.)
These texts are reprinted from a MS. formerly in the Hockley collection.
It has two texts not in (9) but omits the last four in the older collection.
(10) HERMETISCHES, A, B, C.
Berlin, 1778-9. 4 vols.
(Ferguson, i, p. 397.)
This collection contains 73 extracts from well-known texts. There is
a reprint by Messrs. Barsdorf, Berlin.
(11) FRIEDERICHROTH-SCHOLTZ.Deutsches Theatrum Chemicum.
Niimberg, 1728··32. 3 vols.
(Ferguson, ii, pp. 298 fi.) ..
This collection of· rare texts contains much historical, biographical
and bibliographical information not found elsewhere. There are
52 texts.
It is highly praised by Ferguson.
(12) NEUESAMMLUNG von einigen alten und sehr rar gewordenen Philosophisch
und Alchymistischen SCHRIFTEN.
Frankfurt und Leipzig, 1767-70.
8vo (blank p.+viii-t:-462 pp.+2 blank pp.).
Contains 12 texts, each with a separate title-page. The ,vork is
divided into two parts, and in the index to part ii there are the titles
of three tracts not included in the copy before me.
This collection ·was intended as the continuation of (11).
The texts are all in German except the Latin poem by Figulus on p. 83,
part ti.
(13) ELIASASHMOLE.Theatrunl Chemicum Britannicum .
. London, 1652. 4°.
(Ferguson, i, p. 52, note.)
This work consists of a series of old English poems on Alchemy with
notes by Ashmole. It contains engravings, and it is rarely found com-
plete with the symbolical folding plate. The notes are very interesting,
and contain information of value to the bibliographer.
Ashmole also edited another collection under the anagram James
Hasolle: Fasciculus Chemicus; or ChymicaU Collections. London,
1650. This contains Arthur Dee's texts and a translation of Espagnet's
Arcanum.
 13ibiiography of Alchemy 55

(14) FRIEDRICH JOSEF WILHELM SCHRODER. Neue Alchymistische Bibliothek.

Frankfurt und Leipzig;.' 1772-4. 2 vols.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 342.)
This collection contains 15 texts. Each vol. is issued in two parts.

(15) FRIEDRICH JOSEF WILHELM SCHRODER. Neue Samrnlung der Bibliothek

fiir die hohere Naturwissentschaft und CheInie.
Marburg and Leipzig, 1775....6. 2 vols ..
(Ferguson, ii, p. 343, note.)
This work, which is mentioned by contemporary writers, I have not
been able to see. In a continental bookseller's catalogue the contents
were given as only partly Alchemical.

(16) AURIFONTINA CHYMICA.

London, 1680.
(Ferguson, i, p. 57.)
This book contains 14 texts in, English, compiled by William Cooper,
the vendor and publisher of Alchemical books. At the end of the vol.
there is a list of books for sale.

(17) ARTIS AURIFERlE.

Basel, 1610. 3 vols.
(Ferguson, i, p. 51.)
This is an important collection containing 46 texts.
Vol. i contains the two parts of the Turba Philosophorum, which
is also reprinted in later collections. There is an English tran~lation
byA. E. Waite, London, 1914, of the Turba.
The first two vols. of the Artis Auriferce were published at Basel,
1572, in a less complete form.

(18) PHILIPP MORGENSTERN. 'furba Philosophorunl.

Basel, 1613. Reissued Vienna, 1750.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 1.06.)
This is a German translation of the first two vols. of (17).
The two editions differ slightly.

(19) DE ALCHIMIA OPUSCULA.

Franckfurt,1550. 4°.
(Ferguson, i, p. 19.)
In two parts. This collection consists of 9 texts in .part i, and of the
Rosarium Philosophorum in part ii. (See Ferguson, i, p. 52, note.)
56 Gerard lteym: An Introduction to the

(20) PRETIOSA MARGARITA NOVELLA.

Venice, Aldus, 1546.
(Ferguson, i, p. 115; and ii, p. 2.)
There are several editions of this celebrated collection. The one
by Aldus mentioned above is the first. This was translated into English
by A. E. Waite, L9ndon, 1894, as The New Pearl of Great Price. A
German translation in 4° appeared in Leipzig, 1714. The edition of
Basel, 1574, contains a slightly different introduction.

(21) DOMENICOPrZIMENTI. Democrati Abderitre de Arte Sacrre.

Cologne, 1574.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 97, note.)
This collection is composed of the translations of the writings of
Democritus, Synesius and Pelagius on Alchemy. There are also editions
of 1572 and 1573, and reprints 0f later dates, as well as translations into
. French and German.' .
Ferguson has written an article on these translations for the Glasgow
Philosophical Society.

(22) NATHANALBINEUS: Bibliotheca Chemica Contracta ..

Geneva, 1653, and also Geneva, 1673.
(Ferguson, i, p. 17.)
This collection contains 7 texts, but the reprint has omitted nos. 2
and 3 and has slightly. altered no. 6.
(23) JOACHIMTANCKE. Promptuarium Alchemire.
Leipzig, 1610. A second vol. appeared, Leipzig, 1614.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 427.)
This important collection contains about 40 texts in German.
(24) SCHATZUND KUNSTKAMMER.
Leipzig (?). 2 vols.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 329; and ii, p. 428, note.)
This is a partial reprint of (23). I have only seen vol. ii, which had
no date of publication. .

(25) SALOMONTRISMOSIN. Aureum Vellus.

Rorschach, 1599.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 469.)
This is an early German collection of important Alchemical texts.
The edition before me differs from the one mentioned by Ferguson of
1598 in that it contains additional texts at the end.
 Bibliography of Alchemy 5·7

(26) EROFFNETEGEHEIMNISSEDES ~TEINS DER WEISEN.

Hamburg, 1708-18.
(Ferguson, i, p. 246.)
This collection contains 52 texts. The first 3 parts are a reprint of (25).

(27) FUNF CURIEUSECHYMISCHETRACTATLEIN.

Frankfurt und Leipzig, 1767.
(Ferguson, i, p. 296.)

(28) MICHAELMAIER. I'ripus Aureus.

Frankfurt, 1618. 4°.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 66.)
This collection contains 3 texts. It was reprinted in Museum
Hermeticum Reforn1,atum. For details see J. B. Craven, Count Michael
,Maier, Kirkwall, 1910, pp. 94-5.
(29) ARS CHEMICA.
Strassburg, 1566.
(Ferguson, i, p. 49.)
In the copy before me the Index gives the titles of 4 texts, but there
are actually only three in the volume.

(30) MANUALEHERMETICUM.
Wolferbytum, 1655.
The full title of this collection is Ma11,uale Hermeticum sive Introitus
Quadriforis. It contains 5 texts, among them one attributed to
St. Dunstan.
This is an extremely rare work which has escaped bibliographers,
although the texts exist in other collections.

. (31) OPUSCULAQUlEDAMCHEMICA.
Frankfurt, 1614.
This collection contains 7 texts.

(32) J. A. FABRIC,IUS. Bibliotheca Grreca.

Hamburg, 1790 fi.
Vol. viii, p. 119 fi., contains the Greek Alchemical poem of Heliodorus,
De Chrysopa;ia.
(33) GUNTHERGOLDSCHMIDT. Heliodori Carmina Quattuor.
Giessen, 1923.
This works consists of the text of the poems of Heliodoros and
a learned preface.
58 Gerard Heym: An I ntrod'Udion to the

(34) J. L. IDELER. Physici et Chemici grreci Minores.

Berlin, 1841.
Contains an Alchemical text attributed to Stephanos.

(35) CATALOGUEDES MANUSCRITSALCHIMIQUESGRECS.

Brussels, 1924 fi.
Vols. iii, v, vi, and vii contain important texts, excerpts and
translations, including a work by' Michel Psellus.

(36) MARCELLINBERTHELOT..
Collection des Anciens Alchimistes Grecques.
Paris, 1887-8.
Invaluable collection of the Greek Alchemists edited from the MSS.

(37) MARCELLINBERTHELOT.
La Chimie au Moyen .Age.
Paris, 1893. 3 vols.
Vols. ii and iii contain texts and translations of Syrian and Arabian
Alchemists. .

(38) COLLECTANEAHERMETICA.
London, 1893 fi.
A series of separate reprints of old English translations of Alchemical
texts under the editorship of Wynn Westcott. There are about'5 texts.

3. Alchemical Lexicons.
(1) LEONHART THURNEISSER. Onomasticum und Interpretatio... Das
Ander theil.
Berlin, 1583. Folio.
(Ferguson, ii,p. 454, note.)
The first part of this lexicon· is extremely rare. I have not been
able to see it, but it is described by Sudhoff in his BiblifJgraphia Para-
celsica, 1894.

(2) MARTIN RULAND. Lexicon Alchemire.

Frankfurt, 1612.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 302.)
This is the best AlchemicallexicoD. There is an English translation
issued in 25 copies only and extremely scarce. A copy is mentioned
in the catalogue of the Hauser sale.'
 Bibliography of Alchemy 59

(3) GERHARDDORN. Dictionarium Paracel!?i.

Frankfurt, 1583.
(Ferguson .•i.•
p. 222 ..note.)

(4) J. F.' A New Light of Alchymy . . .. Also a Chymical Dictionary.

London, 1674.
(Ferguson, i.•
p. 257.)
This lexicon is to some extent based up<?n (3).

(5) WILLIAM JOHNSON. Lexicon Chymicum.

London, 1652-3.
(Ferguson, i, p. 439.)
This lexicon is reprinted in Manget's collection. Besides the edition
of 1652-3 there are later reprints.
. The lexicon is composed of two parts. Sometimes only the first
part is met with.

(6) JEAN MAUGINDE RICHEBOURG. Bibliotheque des Philosophes Chimiques.

Paris .• 1740-54. 4 vols.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 272.) .
Vol. iv, p. 570, contains a short' dictionnaire '.

(7) DICTIONNAIREHERMETIQUE.
Paris, 1695.
(Ferguson, i, p. 210.)

(8) ANTOINE-JOSEPHPERNETY. Dictionnaire Mytho-Hermetique.

Paris, 1758.
(Ferguson, ii, p. 181.)
There is a reprint, Paris, 1787.

(9) OSWALDWIRTH. Le Grand Livre de la Nature.

Paris, 1910.
On pp. 75-88 there is a lexicon of Alchemical terms.

(10) JOHANN HELFRICH JUNGKEN. Lexicon Chymico-Pharmaceuticum ..

Nuremberg, ~729.
(Ferguson, i, p. 445.)

(11) ERNST DARMSTAEDTER. Die Alchimie des Geber.

Berlin, 1922.
On pp. 185-94 there is a short lexicon of Alchemical ' expressions',
with especial reference to the writings of Geber.
60 An Introduction to the Bibliography of Alchemy

(12) ERICH BISCHOFF. Der Sieg der Alchimie.

Berlin, 1925.
At the end of this book there is a section devoted to ' Alchymistische
Kunstausdriicke '.

4. Alchemical Symbols.
(1) Dr. LUDY. Alchemistische und C~emische Zeichen.
Stuttgart, 1928.
A very comprehensive and scholarly work.

(2) G. W. GESSMANN. Die Geheimsymbole der Chemie und Medicin.

Munich, 1900.
This work is on somewhat different lines than that of Liidy. It is
scholarly, and emphasises. the neo-platonic aspect of Alchemy. On
pp. 23 fi. it contains an Alchemical lexicon ..,

(3) Medicinisch-,' Chymisch- und Alchemistisches ORACULUM.

DIm, 1783.
(Ferguson, iii, p. 84.)
Interesting old work 011 synlbols. The author of (2) has used this
book as his source.

(4) JOHANN JACOB BECHER. Tripus HermeticusFatidicus.

Nuremberg and Altdorf, 1719.
(Ferguson, i, p. 88, note.)
On p. 28 there is a table of symbols with their meaning, and a folding
plate containing symbols on p. 41.

(5) CATALOGUEDES MANUSCRITSALCHIMIQUESGRECS. Vol. viii.

Brussels, 1932.
This vol. contains the excellent work on Greek Alchemical signs
with explanations by C. O. Zuretti. Photographic facsimiles of the
Greek MSS. are given.at the end. . '.

(6) ANNIBAL BARLET. Le vray et methodique Cours de la Physique

resolutive, vulgairement dite Chymie.
Paris, 1653.
(Ferguson, i, p. 72.)
On p. 180·a there is a table of symbols, with their meanings on the
opposite page.