Golden Epistles of the Ancient Christians

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A circular emblem or bookplate is fixed to a white rectangular label. This label is pasted onto a background featuring decorative red, green, and cream floral and paisley patterns. The emblem has a central blue oval. It shows a pelican feeding its young with blood from its own breast. This image is known as the pelican in its piety, a symbol of self-sacrifice. The bird stands on a silver crescent moon. A golden sun with radiating beams sits above the pelican. Below the moon, a square white shield features four red roses. A green ring frames the central oval. An outer band contains the text: Hermetic Philosophy original: "PHILOSOPHIA · HERMETICA".

original: "PHILOSOPHIA · HERMETICA"

Hermetic Philosophy: A spiritual and philosophical system based on writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. It involves the study of alchemy, astrology, and divine magic. Pelican in its piety: A motif of a pelican wounding her breast to feed her young. In alchemy, it represents the stage of "rubedo" or the final perfection of the work through sacrifice. Alchemy: An ancient practice focused on the transmutation of matter and the purification of the spirit. Roses: Symbols often associated with the Rosicrucian movement or the unfolding of the soul.