Handsch, Gregorius (& others)

Collection of iatro-chemical remedies and receipts in German and Latin, dated 1556. With additional chemical, medical and alchemical receipts, etc., dated 1621. Small pen-drawn figures of chemical apparatus, etc. on fol. 20v, ll. 61v, 62, 65. The earliest writer seems to be Handsch who has signed a receipt, 'Praeparatio antimonii' as 'Medicus Pragenisis A$. 1556' on fol. 19. The other chief scribe, whose receipts are mainly chemical and alchemical, perhaps gives his name on L.48 in the signature to an alchemical process 'Actum auff Simeonis und Jude. Anno [15]62. Hans Pffafschutz zu Drysa'. At the end of the entries by this hand on L. 68v 'Marpurgi. 2 Septembris Anno 1621. h[ora] 4 p.m.' The last two leaves of script, by a different hand, contain a 'Vera descriptio cum modo praeparandi methodusque utendi medicinae vitali' which a marginal note states to be 'Aqua Rod. Goclenii Junioris. M. Doct. Marp[urgensis]: per tot terras tantopere decantata'. (L. 69.) (i.e. Rudolf Goclenius [1572-1621].) At the foot of L. 70 the writer states that he has himself carried out in 1594 the process described above for the making of 'Sal lunae et plumbi ad medicinam'. Produced in Prague and Marburg.

1556, 1621

1 volume 11 [14] ll. (first & last 3 bl.). + 36 ff. + 76 ll. (last 6 bl.). 4to. 20 x 15 cm. Original vellum binding. Three leaves at the beginning and the last leaf have been cut away.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Purchased at Hodgson's 26/10/1934, Lot 194 (part).

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

From the Library of Julius Kohn.