Flöhl, Christoph Hercules

Manuscripta medico-hermetica. In German and Latin. Illustrated with a few rough pen-drawings of apparatus, etc. A collection of alchemical, chemical, and iatro-chemical papers, letters, scraps and oddments: written mainly in German, but some in Latin, by various hands. On the spine is a label inscribed as above. This is a companion volume to MS. No. 2385 and MS. 2386 which have been compiled by Christoph Hercules Flöhl, Pastor of Wurz in Saxony. Many of the items are incomplete, and some are very probably of the early 17th cent. The latest date, 1720, is found on fol. 9. Most of the contents is concerned with alchemy, and iatro-chemical remedies. Among the entries the following may be noted: Ff. 27-30 [Anon.] Ein Bericht über die Berg Instrumenta die man Schrinzeug nennet. Incomplete. Fol. 42 Hellwig (Christoph von), M.D. [1663-1721]. Holograph [?] letter dated Erfürt, 24/9/1716, containing a medical receipt and remarks on experiments: in German. Ff. 61-89 B. (H. A.). Positiones hermeticae. Incomplete. An alchemical tract in Latin. The beginnings of the preface is wanting, and it is signed H. A. B. Written probably c. 1715. The end is also wanting. 90-113 De ignis regimine: in German. Tractatus III of an unidentified alchemical work. 114-119 Twelve 'Figurae' of alchemical [?] apparatus, with text in German. 120-137 Unidentified work in German on Mining and Metallurgy. 140-172 Unidentified work in German on Alchemy. This contains many quotations in Latin from early alchemical writers, but includes some 16th cent. authors. 173-199 [Anon.] Doctrina Hermetico-Philosophica cujusdam Adepti. In Latin. Incomplete. 200-207 Unidentified and incomplete work on 'Magia naturalis' in German. 108-215 Alchemical receipts in German and Latin. 217-253 [Anon.] Hermetisch Tractätlein. Vom Stein der Weisen, und dessen wahren Praeparation, wie die rechte Universal Medicin zu wegen zubringen. ['Prima pars' interpolated]. Allen Liebhabern der Hermetischen Kunst aufsgezeichnet undt nach des Theophrasti Paracelsi Meinung gleichsam als an einer Schnür iedoch Parabolice an Tag gegeben. 1647. 228v-248 Die 12 Schlüssel [Basilius Valentinus ?]. 248-253 Alchemical notes, etc., some in verse. This work has not been traced in the bibliographies. There are two title-pages. The first with historiated pen-drawn panels, containing rough drawings of Hermes Trismegistus and Paracelsus, and a symbolic central diagram. On the verso of this are verses in Ff. 248-253 German above and below a pen-drawing of an alchemist [?], holding symbolic objects and dressed in 17th cent. costume. Above each of these titles is an inscription in badly written Greek capital letters running together in two lines, the meaning of which seems obscure. It reads: 'ANTHROPOKTHEIFPSE EKTHETOKEIKONO/POIIA'. 254-288 Rimpel. Vera praeparatio lapidis benedicti [etc.]. In German, and perhaps incomplete. It is possible that this MS. ends at fol. 262 as on that leaf there is an inscription: 'Vom original abcopirt Nicolas Baür gehabt'. This is perhaps attested by the 'Nathaniel Melsinius' whose name appears beside this statement. The remainder of the work contains various alchemical receipts by the same hand, and is dated 1696 (ff. 262, 263v). Fol. 290-6 Koehler. A.l.s. dated Erfürt, 1707-8, all on alchemical subjects.

c. 1650-c. 1720

1 volume 299 ll. 4to. 22 × 171/2 cm. Original boards, worn. Some leaves damaged, and some items incomplete. A foliation in pencil has been added.

Purchased at Sotheby's 28/1/1935, Lot 6.

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.