High and Deep Grounds of the Threefold Life of Man

M

original: "PHILOSOPHIA HERMETICA". This refers to the tradition of esoteric wisdom attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, which combines alchemy, astrology, and theurgy.

A central oval emblem is printed on a white rectangular insert. Inside the oval, a white pelican is shown in her piety. This is a traditional symbol where the mother bird pecks her own breast to feed her three chicks with her blood. In this context, it represents self-sacrifice, the person of Christ, or the alchemical process of extraction and nourishment. The pelican rests on a square pedestal. The pedestal displays a shield with four red roses arranged in a diagonal cross. This likely alludes to Rosicrucian symbolism, where the rose and cross represent the union of the spirit and the material world. The background within the oval is a deep blue, illuminated by golden rays of light descending from the top. A green border frames the scene. The entire image is encircled by the gold inscription meaning Hermetic Philosophy.

60/3358
This is a library shelfmark or inventory number added by a later collector or institution.