Title: Megale chymia [graece]. - Vel magna alchymia. Das ist ein Lehr und unterweisung von den
offenbaren und verborgenlichen Naturen, Arten und Eigenschafften, allerhandt wunderlicher
Erdtgewechssen, als Ertzen, Metallen, Mineren, Erdsäfften, Schwefeln, Mercurien, Saltzen und
Gesteinen. Und was der dingen zum theil hoch in den Lüfften, zum theil in der Tieffe der Erden,
und zum theil in den Wassern ... empfangen und radicirt, ... an Tag geben. Titel innerhalb
breiter ornamentaler Bordüre in Rot und Schwarz. Mit grossem Medaillon-Portrait in Holzschnitt
auf Titel verso gest. von Daniel Seidel, 6 [von 8] doppelblattgr. Tafeln mit Schriftzeichen und
gegen 20 kleineren Holzschnittfiguren im Text. [6] Bl.,144 S., [6] Bl. Register. (Berlin, N.
Voltz, 1583). - [Angebunden sein:] Melisath [hebraice] - Kei hermeneia [graece]. Das ist ein
Onomasticum und interpretatio oder aussführliche Erklerung, ... Uber etliche frembde un[d] ...
unbekante Nomina, Verba etc. und sonst Reden ... Das Ander Theil.

Publication: See full description

Reference No:   MU-RBP00100

Book Description

2 Werke in 1 Bd. Folio. Titel innerhalb ornamentaler Brodüre in Rot und Schwarz. Mit Medaillon-
Portrait in Holzschnitt auf Titel verso. (6) Bl., 188 S. Pergamentband d. Z. (grösseres Loch im
Vorder- und Hinterdeckel [restauriert], ohne die Schliessbänder). Berlin, Nicolaus Voltz, 1583.
Erstausgaben der beiden wichtigsten alchemistischen Bücher, die letzten grossen Werke des Basler
Alchimisten, Astrologen, Arztes und Buchdruckers L. Thurneysser zum Thurn (1531-1596), "ein
wunderlicher Mann, ein Mann seiner Zeit und doch seiner Zeit weit voraus" (G. Spitzer). Unter
Einbeziehung einer grossen Zahl von historischen Begebenheiten und Personen berichtet der
Verfasser von den Techniken der Alchemie und ihren Substanzen. Seine grossen Kenntnisse auf dem
Gebiet der Mineralogie und Chemie verknüpfte Thurneysser mit astrologischem Beiwerk, was dann im
wahrsten Sinne eine Grosse Alchemie ergab. Die neun Kapitel handeln vom Schwefel, von den Salzen,
vom Salmiak, vom Aluminium, Salpeter, von dem Quecksilber sowie von der Sonne und den Planeten.
Das achte und neunte Kapitel behandeln den Ursprung der Mineralien und Erze. Als Erster schreibt
Thurneysser auch über die Abtrennung eines Kohlenhydrats, dem Milchzucker, aus Milch und ihren
Produkten. Das angebundeneOnomasticon ist ist ein bedeutendes etymologische Wörterbuch der
Alchemie, mit ausdrücklicher Referenz auf Paracelsus' Werke. Die orientalischen Schriften und
Typen sowie fachlichen Rat erhielt Thurneysser u. a. von dem Orientalisten Elias Hutter (1553-
1609?) und den beiden Hebraisten Valentin Schindler (?-1604) und Jakob Ebert (1549-1614). Sudhoff
verweist auf zahlreiche Zitate - des sich explizit als Paracelsus-Anhänger verstehenden
Thurneyssers - aus sonst nicht erhaltenen Werken des Paracelsus, bezweifelt allerdings auch deren
Authentizität.Die dazu gehörigen sechs Tafeln sind hier dem Werke vorgebunden. Die häufig ganz
fehlenden, doppelseitigen und mit dekorativen breiten Holzschnitt-Bordüren geschmückten Tafeln
enthalten die Angaben zu Vokalen in Deutsch und sechzehn ausländischen Sprachen - darunter auch
Persisch, Türkisch und Alt-Syrisch - und geben eine Aufzählung von magischen Geheimsprachen,
Gewichten und Einheiten. Diese Tafeln sollten dem Onomasticon "einen gewissen Respekt verschaffen
und trugen sozusagen Beweischarakter. Wenn er nun Vokale und Alphabete so übersichtlich geordnet
aufzeigte, so sollte dies beweisen, dass er tatsächlich alle diese Sprachen kannte, wenngleich er
sie nicht beherrschte" (G. Spitzer). - Die von Sudhoff beschriebenen beiden ersten Tafeln, die
aus Querfoliostreifen zusammengefügt sind und den Titel zu den folgenden sechs Schrifttafeln
bilden fehlen hier. Die beiden häufig wie hier zusammen gebundenen Bände stellen ausserdem "ein
beachtliches Anschauungsobjekt für die Leistung seiner ehemaligen Druckerei" dar. - Stellenweise
leicht stockfleckig, ein breitrandiges Exemplar. AD I) Vd 16, T 1178; Duveen 579 ("very rare");
Ferguson II, 453; STC, (German), 862; Wellcome I, 6302; Schmieder 286; Sudhoff 213; Moehsen,
Beiträge z. Gesch. d. Wissensch. in der Mark Brandenburg (1783), 187 und 196-197. - Ad II) Vd 16,
T 1170; Durling 4355; Wellcome I, 6301; Sudhoff 194 (detailliert); Kopp I, 107f. First editions
of the two chief works of Alchemy; the last great books by the Basel born alchemist, astrologer,
physician and printer L. Thurneysser zum Thurn (1531-1596). The Magna alchymia is in fact a
comprehensive history of alchemy. It is divided into 9 chapters which are dealing with its
substances: sulphur, salts, ammonium chloride, aluminium, salpetre, and mercury. The seventh book
refers to the planets and the sun, chapters eight and nine describe the origin of minerals and
metals. The Onomasticon is a ethymological dictionary of alchemy with many references to the
works of Paracelsus. The double-page plates give a synoptic table of alphabets, syllabs and
weights in German and sixteen oriental languages. For linguistic problems Thurneisser turned to
the orientalist Elias Hutter (1553-c.1609), and the two hebraists Valentin Schindler (d.1604) and
Jakob Ebert (1549-1614). - Lacking the two large plates serving as title for the synoptic tables.
- Some foxing, a wide-margined copy in contemporary limp vellum.

Title: Quinta Essentia, das ist, die höchste subtilitet, krafft und wirckung, beyder der
fürtrefflichsten, und menschlichem geschlecht am nützlichsten künsten, der Medicin und Alchemy,
auch wie nahe diese beyde mit sischafft gefreund und verwandt sind, und das eine ohn beystandt
der andern nicht nütz seu, oder in den menschlichen cörpern zu wircken kein krafft habe.
Vergleichung der alten und newen medicin, und wie alle subtiliteten ausgezogen, die Element
geschieden, alle Corpora gemutiert, und das die minerischen Corpora allen andern simplicibus, es
sein kreuter, wurtzeln, confect, steine, etc. nicht allein gleich, sondern an krefften, aus und
inneralf menschlichs cörpers, uberlegen seyen...

Publication: Leipzig, [Hans Steinman, 1574]

Reference No:  MU-RBL00099

Book Description

Folio (300 x 189 mm), pp [i-vi, of viii, lacking A4 with the portrait of Thurneisser] [ix-]ccxii
[1]; title printed in red and black and with Thurneisser's Pegasus device at foot, the dedication
to Johann Berswordt printed in red and black, 16 large woodcuts (including two repeats), and
several smaller woodcuts in the text; early ownership inscription on title, the first four leaves
dampstained at inner margins, lightly browned, a very good copy in modern vellum. £8500

First folio edition of Thurneisser's major alchemical work, illustrated with sixteen superb
woodcuts after drawings by Jost Amman, probably the largest alchemical images published up to the
time.
Thurneisser abandoned the printing of the first edition, Münster, 1569, due to dissatisfaction
with the printing. This edition was in a smaller format; only a very few copies survive.
Originally illustrated with copper engravings of inferior quality, these are substituted here by
bolder, sharper woodcuts. As in most of Thurneisser's other works, many of which were printed at
his own press, using, from 1576 onwards, his own types, and employing his own craftsmen, the
illustrations to the Quinta essentia reflect the author's grandiose and extravagant self. Half of
the woodcuts depict Thurneisser performing alchemical operations or scientific observations, and
often incorporating his own coat-of-arms.
Thurneisser was the son of a goldsmith at Basle, and he entered his father's trade. Along the way
he acquired knowledge in botany, medicine (largely from reading Paracelsus) and anatomy. He
wandered far and wide, both as a metallurgist and a soldier, sometimes fleeing from his
detractors. 'From 1570 to 1584 he was physician to John Georg, Churfürst of Brandenburg, and had
a laboratory and printing press in the so-called 'Grey monastery' at Berlin. By various means he
amassed a large fortune, and at one time employed between two and three hundred people. He
collected a large library, a museum, and a herbarium, kept a menagerie, and encouraged the fine
and practical arts, such as the manufacture of saltpetre, alum, glass, paper, and also coloured
glass' (Ferguson). Indeed, he laid the foundations of the chemical industry in Prussia.

Durling 4359; not in Duveen, Ferguson, MacPhail, or Wellcome; see G. Spitzer, ... und die Spree
führt Gold, Berlin, 1996 for a detailed biography; NUC: DNLM CtY-M MiU MoSW-M; OCLC adds
University of Delaware

Title: Melage chymia [: in Greek], vel Magna Alchymia. Das ist ein Lehr und unterweisung von den
offenbaren und verborgenlichen Naturen, Arten und Eigenschafften, allerhandt wunderlicher
Erdtgewechssen, als Ertzen, Metallen, Mineren, Erdsäfften, Schwefeln, Mercurien, Saltzen und
Gesteinen. Und was der dingen zum theil hoch in den Lüfften, zum theil in der Tieffe der Erden,
und zum theil in den Wassern, welche aus dem Chaos oder der Confusion und vermischung
Elementischer Substantzen, als Geistlicher, und doch subtiler, noch unbestendiger weis
verursacht, empfangen und radiciret...

Publication: Berlin, Nikolaus Voltz, 1583

Reference No:   MU-RBL00098

Book Description

Folio, pp [xii] 144, lacking the final six index leaves, title printed in red and black within
elaborate woodcut border, woodcut portrait on verso of title and several woodcut illustrations in
the text; lightly spotted and browned, marginal wormhole in the first half of the volume, a fine
copy in modern blindstamped pigskin with clasps, title with three early ownership inscriptions.
£5000

First edition. 'The Magna Alchymia is of a more practical character than [Thurneisser's] other
works and contains descriptions of preparations of sulphur, salts including sal urinae, mercury
and its compounds, and metals, [as well as] a long section on astrology and horoscopes'
(Partington II p. 155).
'The works that Thurneisser published at this time were impressive examples of the printer's art,
illustrated with woodcuts and etchings, and incorporating Greek, Arabic, Syrian, Hebrew and
Chaldean typefaces. Since his books often contain words in languages that he did not know, he was
publicly accused of harbouring in his inkpot a devil who dictated to him' (DSB).

Bolton p. 873; Duveen p. 579; Ferguson II p. 452; Wellcome 6302; not in Adams or Durling; see
Sudhoff, Paracelsische Schriften 213 for the 1587 edition; see Gabriele Spitzer, ...und die Spree
führt Gold, Leonhard Thurneiser zum Thurn p. 89-90; NUC: DLC CtY WU

Title: Historia sive descriptio plantarum omnium, tam domesticarum quam exoticarum: earundem cum
virtutes, influentiales, elementares, & naturales, tum subtilitates, necnon icones etiam verae,
ad vivum artificiose expressas proponens... [colophon:] Berlin, Michael Hentzske, 1578

Publication: See full description

Reference No: MU-RBL00097

Book Description

Folio (359 x 230 mm), pp [12] 156 [20], with a fine woodcut title border, portrait of the author
in elaborate strapwork border, a further woodcut portrait of God but with the features of
Thurneisser within same border, elaborate woodcut device with Thurneisser's arms on colophon
leaf, 36 woodcuts of plants set within elaborate borders, numerous smaller woodcuts of anatomical
figures, stills, furnaces, and other alchemical apparatus, and numerous woodcut horoscope
diagrams in text; outer margin of title just touched by binder's knife as is signature of Brosse
on lower margin, old repair to inner blank margin of colophon leaf.

[bound with:] JONCQUET, Dionys. Hortus Regius. pars prior. Paris, Dionys Langlois, 1665

Folio (359 x 231 mm), pp [xx including frontispiece] 188 [recte 190] [4], with fine engraved
frontispiece; the two volumes bound in seventeenth-century French calf, spine gilt. £12,000

First editions, splendid association copies, having belonged to three directors of the Jardin du
Roi (Jardin des Plantes): the first volume from the library of Guy de la Brosse (1586-1643),
founder of the Jardin du Roi under Louis XIII, and the two together from Antoine de Jussieu, and
finally Joseph Decaisne (see below).
The first work (a German edition appeared the same year) is a great eccentricity in botanical
literature. The woodcuts of plants are enclosed within borders which give the Hebrew
(occasionally Syriac) and Greek names of the plants. In the corners of the border are the
constellations governing the plant, its alchemical complexion, and its virtues. Smaller figures
of skeletons or internal organs indicate the parts of the body the plant affects. Other woodcuts
of distillation apparatus illustrate the preparation of medicinal extracts. The work combines
alchemy, astrology, the doctrine of signatures, and medical botany. 'The works that Thurneisser
published at this time were impressive examples of the printer's art, illustrated with woodcuts
and etchings, and incorporating Greek, Arabic, Syrian, Hebrew and Chaldean typefaces. Since his
books often contain words in languages that he did not know, he was publicly accused of
harbouring in his inkpot a devil who dictated to him' (DSB).
Thurneisser 'began life by learning the trade of his father, who was a goldsmith, but he also
picked up some knowledge of botany, medicine, and, possibly, anatomy under Vesalius. In 1548 he
left Basel, and went to England, France, and Germany, where he became a soldier. Afterwards he
worked as a metallurgist, and again as a goldsmith... From 1560 to 1570 he was in the service of
the Archduke Ferdinand, and travelled far and near, from the Orkney islands down to Africa, and
to the East, everywhere learning medicine and metallurgy... From 1570 to 1584 he was physician to
John Georg, Churfürst of Brandenburg, and had a laboratory and printing press in the so-called
"Grey monastery" at Berlin. By various means he amassed a large fortune, and at one time employed
between two and three hundred people. He collected a library, a museum, and a herbarium, kept a
menagerie, and encouraged the fine and practical arts, such as the manufacture of saltpetre,
alum, glass, paper, and also coloured glass...
'In 1584 he finally left Berlin, went to Italy, where he tried to practice medicine and alchemy;
he was at Rome in 1591, and died in a monastery at Cologne 9 July, 1596, and was buried beside
Albertus Magnus, according to his own request' (Ferguson).
The outstanding woodcut title design is signed, left-of-centre, 'P F H' and is by Peter Hille,
who also was responsible for the portraits and probably the coat-of-arms on the colophon leaf.
Hille died in 1574, so the work must have been sometime in preparation.

The second work is a catalogue of some 4,000 plants in the Jardin Royal des Simples (Jardin du
Roi), and has extensive annotations by Antoine de Jussieu (see below). The dedication to the King
is by the director of the gardens, Antoine Vallot. Joncquet was professor of botany at the Jardin
du Roi, and was assisted in preparing this catalogue by J. Gavois and G.C. Fagon, the latter
being the nephew of Guy de la Brosse. Fagon's contribution is acknowledged in one of de Jussieu's
extensive annotations, where he refers to Fagon's description of a plant.
The fine frontispiece by Charles Le Brun, engraved by G. Rousselet, depicts Louis XIV as Apollo
in his chariot above the gardens.
This work exists in two states: as above and as the Hunt copy, with the words 'pars prior' on the
title, and also without.

Provenance: Guy de la Brosse (1586-1643), with signature on title of the Thurneisser (n. 116 in
Howard, Catalogue de la Bibliotheque de Guy de la Brosse, Geneva 1983). Guy de la Brosse was the
founder in 1626 of the Jardin du Roi and its first director. He designed the layout of the garden
and wrote several catalogues of its plants; inscription 'p. Bonnet M. Reginae ord. 1682' on front
pastedown; Antoine de Jussieu (1686-1758), with several annotations to the Jonquet (n. 1145 in
Catalogue de la Bibliotheque scientifique de MM. de Jussieu, Paris 1857). Antoine was the first
of the 'botanical dynasty that included his younger brothers Bernard and Joseph and his nephew
Antoine-Laurent... His main activities were the development of the Jardin du Roi [of which he was
director] and the training of pupils' (DSB); Joseph Decaisne (1802-1882) with his signature on
pastedown and a note in his hand on the de Jussieu provenance (n 381 in the Catalogue de la
Bibliotheque de feu M. Decaisne, Paris 1883). Decaisne was a Belgian botanist attached to the
Muséum d'histoire naturelle, Paris; he began his career as a gardener in the Jardin des Plantes
(originally the Jardin du Roi) where his horticultural abilities attracted the attention of
Adrien de Jussieu. He was director of the Jardin du Roi from 1851 until his death in 1882. See
Stafleu and Cowan for a list of his publications

I. Durling 4353; Nissen BBI 1963; Wellcome 6298; NUC: II Hunt 298