Soraci, Placidus

Le très ancien duel des chevaliers, ou dialogue chymique de la Pierre Phisique avec l'Or et le Mercure, touchant la véritable Matière dont se doit préparer la Pierre des Philosophes avec l'aide du feu luminaire. Avec des Annotations ... pour l'éclaircissement de cette Matière. Faites par Sudicalp Icaros Philosophe. [i.e. Placidus Soraci]. With extracts and notes on alchemy, iatrochemical remedies, melancholia, etc.: also lists of the contents of printed alchemical collective works. There are some small pasted-in symbolic engravings and vignettes. Partly written in various coloured inks: possibly by the same hand throughout, using different styles of script. Written mainly in French and Latin, with a few sections in Italian. The entry on 'Melancholia' has a draft title-page beginning 'Placidi Soraci Messaniensis Doctoris Medici Monspeliensis Melancholicorum Solamen hoc est de affectus Hypochondriaci natura, causis, signis ...', with a French version written below. A late 19th cent. owner has added further lists of alchemical books in red ink on some of the blank leaves. On the verso of the penultimate leaf 'ieudi 26 avril à cinq heures du soir 1714'. A marginal note on the verso of the second leaf gives a date '18 mai 1715'.

1714-1715

1 volume 155 ll. 4to. 181/2 × 141/2 cm. Original calf binding, worn, back-strip wanting. With several ornamental title-pages, etc., calligraphic decorations and ornaments in water-colour. Numerous passages have been struck through in ink, and are entirely illegible. There are many blank leaves.

Purchased 1909.

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).

For a discussion of the 'Très-ancien duel des Chevaliers', its German original 'Uralter Ritter-Krieg', and its translations, cf. Ferguson, 'Bibliotheca Chemica', Vol. II, pp. 485-487.