161 - Pedemontanus, A. (i.e., G. Ruscelli).

Pedemontanus, A. (i.e., G. Ruscelli). A Book of Various Useful and Valuable Secrets or Arts, Recently Translated from Italian... 3 parts in 1 vol. Basel, L. König 1616. 343 pp., 9 leaves; 3 leaves, 199 pp., 6 leaves; 2 (st.3) leaves, 86 pp., 2 leaves. Red-stained Contemporary binding (clasps missing, worn and rubbed, spine with small missing sections, partly somewhat stained). Wellcome 1, 190. Ferchl 455. Cf. Thorndike VI, 216, Ferguson 1, 22. DSB XV, 491 ff. — Wecker’s German translation (first edition 1570–73) of Alexius’s *De secretis libri*, which first appeared in 1555. “It is one of the most famous of the recipe books, and its popularity is evidenced by the number of editions in various languages through which it has been published … The recipes are for the most part medical and pharmaceutical, and there is little that relates directly to alchemy or chemistry.” (Ferguson). "... containing medical prescriptions, the preparation of waters, soaps, oils, cosmetics, fruit preservation, technical notes, the preparation of ultramarine, the production of paints, inks, sublimate, borax, nitric acid, the casting and hardening of iron, gilding, and instructions for painless tooth extraction" (Ferchl). - The books by Alexius, about whom nothing else is known, are attributed to Girolarno Ruscelli, who died in Venice around 1565 (see DSB). - 7 leaves are missing at the beginning. Browned and stained, some with water stains along the edges; the beginning has repaired marginal damage (with some loss of text in places), and some marginal discoloration.