Writings by Hollandus and others

Testament de Jean Isaac ou opération minérale: traduite du flammand en latin par Jaques de Zomere. With extracts from other writings of Hollandus, and from other alchemical authors. Illustrated with numerous small drawings in pen and ink and wash of alchemical apparatus, some in the margins and others interpolated in the text. Pp. 167-173 contain seven water-colour drawings of Furnaces, etc., of which some are unfinished or uncoloured. The tract entitled 'Donum Dei' (pp. 457-498) is illustrated with 12 symbolical alchemical vessels in water-colour. The last 9 pp. are by a different and later hand, and the last page is in cypher. Contents: (1) Testament: (pp. 1-306); (2) Miscellaneous alchemical receipts (pp. 307-314); (3) Uguictius[?]. Dialogue touchant la composition de la pierre des philosophes tiré d'un traité de Hugontion de Pise (pp. 314-322); (4) Almasatus. Le philosophe Almazat de la coagulation du mercure (pp. 322-324); (5) Grand ouvrage du Plomb par Jean Isaac (pp. 325-344); (6) Ouvrage manuel d'Isaac pour tirer la quinte essence de fuxxuge[?] (pp. 345-371); (7) [Anon.] Work beginning: 'Le corps humain est d'une nature plus tempérée que tous les autres corps', and ending: 'et travaillés avec bonne espérance' (pp. 371-386); (8) Almasatus. Abbrégé du livre que envoiat Almasatus Mahomette à l'Archevêcque de Saragouse (pp. 386-400); (9) Bernhardus Trevisanus. Practicque du Conte Trévisan (pp. 400-415); (10) Traité véridique de M. le philosophe authentique touchant la composition de la pierre bénite (pp. 415-431); (11) Jean de Tirlemont. De l'abrégé de Jean de Tirlemont, célèbre philosophe. Parabole (pp. 432-435); (12) Fabricius (J.)[?]. Fabrice, Pédagogue de S. A. le Prince de Liège (Joseph Clemens, Elector of Bavaria [1671-1723]) étant à Rome a appris de M. Orbion et l'Ange ce qui suit (pp. 435-450); (13) Oeuvre philosophique particulière par le dissolvant de $h (pp. 451-456); (14) [Dastin (J.)]. Donum Dei. Manuscrit de chimie (pp. 457-498); (15) Quintessence de $h dissolvant universel (pp. 499-513); (16) Descriptions évidentes et fidèles des plus excellens remèdes des minéraux dont les plus habiles physiciens ont coûtume de se servir (pp. 515-577); (17) Rares secrets touchant diverses préparations de minéraux et de métaux (pp. 577-699). See Notes for more information on individual texts.

c. 1725

1 volume

Purchased at Sotheby's 28/1/1935, Lot 15.

Jacques de Zomere is perhaps Jacques de Somere [ -1623] of Ghent who made a verse translation of 'The imitation of Christ', as recorded by Jöcher.

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).

Notes on the various texts: No. 3 This seems to be a translation of the tract 'Lilium intelligentiae' entered as No. 161 in D. W. Singer's 'Catalogue'. No. 4, 8 Almasatus or Almazat and the letter to the Archbishop of Saragossa are mentioned in 'De antiquitate et veritate artis chemicae' by Robertus Vallensis, published in 1561. No. 11 A Jean de Tirlemont, 'peintre sur verre à Léau 1481' is entered in Chevalier's 'Répertoire bio-bibliographique'. 12. 'Fabrice' is possibly Johann Fabricius [1644-1729], German philologist and bibliographer. The 'Prince de Liège' must be Joseph Clemens, Elector of Bavaria who became Archibishop of Liège in 1694. Corbion, wrongly written as 'Orbion' in the title has not been traced, nor has 'Ange': in the text he is called 'Ange de Naples'.

From the Julius Kohn Library.