204 - [Alchemy]. Artis Auriferae, quam chemiam vocant. Volume One: Containing the Society of Philosophers... Basel, Conrad Waldkirch, 1610. 1 volume (of 3), small 8vo, [8] leaves, 405 pp., [23] pp. Later 18th-century binding in shell-patterned calfskin, with a decorated ribbed spine.

[Alchemy]. Artis Auriferae, quam chemiam vocant. Volume One: Containing the Society of Philosophers... Basel, Conrad Waldkirch, 1610. 1 volume (of 3), small 8vo, [8] leaves, 405 pp., [23] pp. Later 18th-century binding in shell-patterned calfskin, with a decorated ribbed spine. Only the first volume is present, adorned with an engraved vignette. Volumes 2 and 3 are missing. Third edition of this uncommon but unfortunately incomplete collection. It is a compilation of the principal ancient texts relating to alchemy. A rare and important collection, according to Caillet. It contains the principal treatises by Turban, R. Lulle, Arnauld de Villeneuve, and Roger. (Caillet, 477). Duveen quotes Ferguson: “One of the chief collections of standard alchemical authors” and notes that this third edition is the first to include a third part. (Duveen, p. 30) The paper is uniformly browned and scorched. There are a few minor water stains at the beginning and end of the volume. A few passages are highlighted in red pencil in the margins. The binding is rubbed, the joints are cracked or split, the end caps are missing, and the title and volume number labels are missing. Experts: Loup Axmann and Jean-Luc Boisseau