Preface.

hardt, Imperial-Royal original: "k. k." (kaiserlich-königlich), a title used by the Austrian Empire. Lieutenant General and Commandant at Caschau Modern-day Košice, Slovakia., one of the most learned scholars of Hebrew and Cabalists: Practitioners of Kabbalah, an esoteric method of interpreting the Hebrew Bible., has immensely expanded it and enriched it with the rarest and most excellent Cabalistic works. Likewise, Mr. Poquier von Jolisief—who, against his will, was the author of the book Compass of the Wise and secretary to Emperor Franz I—has considerably increased the alchemical and magical portion; and through my own efforts for more than 30 years, there has been added to this collection whatever could be obtained through diligence, opportunity, and the expenditure of money.

One finds here Chyrographa: Original handwritten documents or manuscripts. by Raymond Lully, by Etschenreuter—who hid himself under the name Basilius Valentinus Basilius Valentinus was a legendary 15th-century alchemist; the text suggests he was actually a later writer named Etschenreuter.—Theophrastus Paracelsus, Trithemius, Schwärzer, King Matthias, Weigel, Grosschedel, Orthelius, Ruessenstein, Becher, Hertodt, Stahl, along with a multitude of other little-known or completely unknown writers who treat of Chemistry: In this context, chemistry refers primarily to alchemy and the transmutation of metals., Magic, Kabbalah, and matters of art.

To this are added the many copies of rare works which Hofmann, Dietmann, Engelhardt, Lindenberg, and Jolisief had prepared; correspondence with owners of art, and other curious—