ABRAHAM ELEAZAR, Rabbi, [Julius Gervasius von SCHWARZBURG (attributed)].
Uraltes Chymisches Werk.
Including: [IDEM]. Donum dei Samuelis Baruch, des Juden Rabbi.
Leipzig, Lankischens Buchhandlung, 1760. 2 parts in 1 volume. 8vo. With an engraved frontispiece, 15 numbered full-page engravings, numerous woodcut illustrations in the text, woodcut decorated initials, and woodcut head- and tailpieces at the beginning and end of each part. Modern silver- and blind-tooled greenish-brown leather with a red morocco title label lettered in silver on the spine, red edges. [1], [1 blank], [26], 122, [14], [1], [1 blank], [10]; [1], [1 blank], 104, [12] pp.
€ 3,750
Second, enlarged edition of a scarce alchemical work, supposedly copied from the manuscript from which Nicolas Flamel (1340-1418) gained his skill. The beautifully illustrated work discusses the basics of alchemy and the creation of the philosopher's stone. It also contains 156 rules and canons relating to the philosopher's stone, which are exclusive to the second edition. The work rarely appears on the market, as we have only been able to find four other copies in sales records of the past hundred years, the last complete copy being offered in 1998.
In the preface, editor Julius Gervasius von Schwarzburg (dates unknown) states that the present work was transcribed from a highly sought after manuscript, known as The Book of Abraham the Jew, which was allegedly owned by Flamel. This manuscript was a principal source on alchemy, as Abraham de Jew, or Abraham Eleazar, had copied the notions and illustrations in it directly from the copper tables of Tubal-Cain, the first blacksmith from the Bible. However, this manuscript has never been found, and the current consensus is that the present work was written by Gervasius himself. Both the first (1735) and second edition of his work are relatively scarce, especially complete. The beautiful alchemical plates capture the imagination and are therefore often removed and sold separately. The present copy, however, contains all illustrations.
The leather is scratched on the back, with a few green stains. The work is somewhat browned throughout, with annotations in the margins of some of the leaves, lacking the final blank leaf. Otherwise in very good condition. Brüning 4844; Caillet I, 31 (part 1) and 32 (part 2); Duveen, p. 1; Ferguson I, pp. 2-3; VD18 10213538 (part 1); VD18 1053881X (part 2); WorldCat 493643101, 5043078, 311551310, 1046410976.
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