Secretorum chymicorum libri XVII oder Chymischer Process unnd Khunst- stucklein

Illustrated with a few pen-drawings of chemical apparatus, etc. The first book is by far the longest and most complete, as shown by the table of contents below: Book 1. Chymischer Process und Kunst-stucklein (348 receipts); 2. Metallurgical processes (54); 3. Metallurgical processes. 3 pp. only (6); 4. Metallurgical processes (59); 5. Colours and dyes (73); 6. Artificial gems (28); 7. Staining of bone (13); 8. Colours and dyes (17); 9. Wine-making (52); 10. Natürliche Kunstbuchlein (38); 11. Natürliche Kunstbuchlein (39); 12. Waxes. 1 page (2); 13. Naturliche Kunstbuchlein (8); 14. Veterinary. 5 pp. (5); 15. Fishing. 2 pp. (2); 16. Garten Buchlein. 1 page (2); 17. Für die Hexen und Zauberey. 1 page (2). This MS. is not a transcript of Johann Jacob Wecker's 'De secretis', also in 17 books, and probably first published at Basle in 1582. There is an inscribed label on the spine, but the lettering is very faint. It appears to read 'Manusc[rit] utile secret No. [or "An."?] 70 [or 90]'.

Late 17th century

1 volume 350 ll. (first and last 9 bl.). 4to. 201/2 × 151/2 cm. Original vellum binding from a leaf of a German legal document dated 1498. Some leaves slightly wormed.

Purchased at Sotheby's 28/1/1935, Lot 27 (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 Julius Kohn Library.