Handbook, or Short Instruction

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A central alchemical emblem is mounted on the page. The emblem features an oval design set within a green wreath. Inside the oval, on a blue background, a golden sun radiates light onto a white pelican. This bird is shown in its piety, which is a traditional depiction of a pelican feeding its young with blood from its own breast. The pelican perches upon a white cube. The front face of this cube is decorated with four red roses. The Latin text "PHILOSOPHIA · HERMETICA," which translates to Hermetic Philosophy, is arranged in a circle surrounding the wreath. The pelican is a common alchemical symbol for the stage of the work where the substance is nourished, while the cube represents the stability of the philosopher's stone.