an old book that has a stamp on itan open book with a black and white image of a cross on itan old book with a black and white image of a man on a horsean open book with a picture of a man on it
Premium Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

Estimate €1,600 - €2,200
Description
Alchemy Geber, Th. Kessler and J. B. Grosschedel Anthology comprising 4 alchemical works. 1625–1629. Small 8vo. Contemporary paperback with handwritten title page (slightly stained). A rare anthology on alchemy. Contains 1. Geber (attributed), Gebri Summa Perfectio, that is, the … Arab Philosopher’s … General Medicine: to bring both metallic and human bodies to their highest essence and perfect state. Originally written in Arabic by Geber, subsequently translated into Greek and Latin by others: but now … also rendered into German. Strasbourg, Zetzners, 1625. 12 leaves, 288 pp., title page with woodcut vignette. – VD17 23:239411W – Brüning 1434: “The rare third German edition”. - The present work is the most important treatise by the Pseudo-Geber authors and was presumably written by an Italian Franciscan named Paulus de Tarento. It describes a ‘mercury-only’ doctrine, in which the metallic properties of substances are attributed to mercury. - 2. Thomas Kessler, Zweyhundert Außerlesene Chymische Prozez und stücklein theils zur innerlichen theils zur Wund vnd äusserlichen Artzney … Strasbourg, Reppen, 1629. 7 leaves, 1 blank leaf, 204 pages, 1 leaf – Ferguson I, 459 – Brüning 1505 – 3. Thomas Kessler, The Third Hundred of Selected, Beautiful and Useful Spagyric Processes, serving partly for microcosmic medicine and partly for the transmutation of base metals into nobler ones … With 1 woodcut in the text. Strasbourg, Sartori, 1629. 6 leaves, 160 pp., 2 leaves. – VD17 39:120636P – Brüning 1506. - 4. Johann Baptist Grosschedel, *Mercurialis geminus exhibens naturam metallorum*, that is to say, *the theory of the philosophical work and its practice, or the composition of the secret stone, elucidated through the opinions and authorities of the philosophers*. Frankfurt, Jennis, 1629. 195 pp. – VD17 23:240724F - Ferguson I,347f.- Ferchl 202. - Inner joint cracked; flyleaf altered with pencil notes; partly slightly browned and lightly stained; occasional underlining and notes. In volume 1, pages 219–28 are missing and 2 leaves are damaged with some loss of text. In volume 2, pages 185/86. First title page bears the name stamp ‘Robert Petroschka’, a lodge member at Tränker. Alchemy. – A rare anthology of alchemical works. Contains: 1. Geber (attributed), Gebri Summa Perfectio, That is, the … Arab Philosopher’s … Universal Medicine: to bring both metallic and human bodies to their highest state and most perfect degree. Geber’s *Summa Perfectio*, that is, the Universal Medicine of the … Arabian Philosopher … for bringing both metallic and human bodies to their highest state and most perfect degree. First written in Arabic by Geber, later translated by others into Greek and Latin, and now also rendered into German. Strasbourg, Zetzner, 1625. 12 leaves, 288 pp., title page with woodcut vignette. – VD17 23:239411W - Brüning 1434: “the rare third German edition.” The present work is the most important text by the Pseudo-Geber authors and was probably written by an Italian Franciscan named Paulus de Tarento. It sets out a purely mercurial doctrine, according to which the metallic property of substances is attributable to mercury. 2. Thomas Kessler, Zweyhundert Außerlesene Chymische Prozez und stücklein theils zur innerlichen theils zur Wund vnd äusserlichen Artzney Two Hundred Select Chemical Processes and Small Recipes, Partly for Internal and Partly for Wound and External Medicine. Strasbourg, Reppen, 1629. 7 leaves, 1 blank leaf, 204 pp., 1 leaf. – Ferguson I, 459 – Brüning 1505. 3. Thomas Kessler, The Third Hundred of Select, Beautiful and Useful Spagyric Processes, Partly Serving the Medicine of the Microcosm, Partly the Transmutation of Base Metals into Nobler Ones. Fine and Excellent Spagyric Processes, Partly Serving the Medicine of the Microcosm, Partly the Transmutation of Base Metals into Nobler Ones. With one woodcut illustration in the text. Strasbourg, Sartori, 1629. 6 leaves, 160 pp., 2 leaves. - VD17 39:120636P - Brüning 1506. 4. Johann Baptist Grosschedel, *Mercurialis geminus exhibens naturam metallorum, id est, Operis philosophici theoriam et eiusdem praxin, sive Compositionem lapidis secreti per philosophorum sententias et authoritates elucidatus* (*The Twin Mercurial*, Setting Forth the Nature of Metals, that is, the Theory of the Philosophical Work and Its Practice, or the Composition of the Secret Stone, Elucidated through the Statements and Authorities of the Philosophers. Frankfurt, Jennis, 1629. 195 pp. - VD17 23:240724F - Ferguson I, 347f. - Ferchl 202. - Inner hinge coming away, flyleaf with marginal repair and pencil notes, partly somewhat browned and lightly stained, with occasional underlining and notes. In copy no. 1, pages 219–28 are missing and 2 leaves are damaged with some loss of text. In copy no. 2, pp. 185/8
See original version (German)
About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like