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ALDE
147
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VIGENÈRE (Blaise de). *Treatise on Fire and Salt*.
See original version (French)
147
-
VIGENÈRE (Blaise de). *Treatise on Fire and Salt*.
See original version (French)
Estimate €4,000 - €5,000
Voluntary lot
Description
VIGENÈRE (Blaise de). *Treatise on Fire and Salt*. Paris, Veuve Abel L’Angelier, 1618. In-4, soft vellum (contemporary binding). An extremely rare and sought-after first edition of this treatise on alchemy by Blaise de Vigenère.
Known as a diplomat and cryptographer, Blaise de Vigenère (1523–1596), born in Saint-Pourçain, in the Bourbonnais region, was also an alchemist, Kabbalist and astrologer.
This ‘sought-after treatise, a curious blend of alchemy, Kabbalah and mysticism, in which one finds the method for making gold’, according to Stanislas de Guaita, was found amongst his papers after his death and published by Françoise de Louvain, the widow of Abel L’Angelier. ‘This treatise, which recounts a considerable number of experiments, is also a commentary on the texts of the ancient philosophers and, principally, on the Zohar,’ adds Dorbon.
It is also in this work that Vigenère reveals the secret of producing benzoic acid, which he calls benzoin oil.
A copy in its original condition.
From the Vauquelin library in Les Yveteaux, with his signature at the bottom of the title page.
Marginal worm damage, not affecting the text; faint water stains; a tear with no loss on p. 47.
Caillet, no. 11161 – Dorbon, no. 5131 – Guaita, no. 1059 – Balsamo & Simonin, no. 576 – Métral, xx – Ferguson, II, 511.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
Antique books – Alchemy & the occult sciences
Auction location
Auction time
11/04/2026 at 2:00 PM
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