ALDE
144
-
THREE TREATISES ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, not yet printed; name…
See original version (French)
144
-
THREE TREATISES ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, not yet printed; name…
See original version (French)
Estimate €800 - €1,000
Voluntary lot
Description
THREE TREATISES ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, not yet printed; namely, *La Turbe des philosophes*, which is known as *The Code of Truth in the Art*, as distinct from the Latin version. Furthermore, *La Parole délaissée* by Bernard Trevisan. And a small, very ancient treatise entitled *The Twelve Gates of Alchemy*, other than those of Ripla. Paris, Jean Sara, 1618. In-8, soft vellum (contemporary binding). A very rare collection of three alchemical treatises edited by Milliet de Bosnay, whose name appears in the Extract from the King’s Privilege.
The first treatise is the French edition – perhaps the first – of the *Turba philosophorum*, which is attributed, though not with certainty, to Arnaud de Villeneuve (1245–1313), one of the greatest alchemists of the Middle Ages. The second is the first edition of *La Parole délaissée*, a text attributed to Bernard le Trévisan, a mythical figure arising from a confusion with Bernard of Trier, a 14th-century German alchemist. The third, *Les Douzes portes d’alchymie*, is difficult to identify, according to Duveen. Schmieder attributes it to the English alchemist Ripley, although his work shows notable differences.
Ferguson regards this collection as an earlier edition of the *Divers traitez* of 1672, but the contents of the two works are not entirely the same.
From the library of Léon Duchesne of La Sicotière (1812–1895), with bookplate.
Some foxing, worn endpapers, one leaf almost detached and a small marginal loss on the following leaf (pp. 13–14 and 15–16 of *La Parole délaissée*), worn binding with a slight loss to one corner. Underlining and some old marginal notes in pen.
Dorbon, no. 4966 (‘Very rare’) – Duveen, 587 – Ferguson, I, 216 – Schmieder, p. 234.
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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