Touchstone/ Touchstone: Historically, a small tablet of dark stone used for assaying precious metals; here, it serves as a metaphorical standard for judging the authenticity of alchemical texts.

upon

which both the true

Hermetic

Refers to Hermeticism, the philosophical and alchemical tradition attributed to the legendary figure Hermes Trismegistus.

ADEPTS original Latin: "ADEPTORUM". An Adept is one who has mastered the "Great Work" of alchemy.

as well as

the seductive and deceptive

SOPHISTS In an alchemical context, "Sophists" or "puffers" were practitioners who sought only to make physical gold through false means, rather than pursuing the spiritual and physical purification of true alchemy.

Writings

have been tested and, according to their value,

presented; described in

Two Classes/

of which

the first has already been published,

but is now by the author

newly revised, corrected, and augmented

by authors brought to hand since that time.

The second class, however, has been

added.

Hermann Fictuld. Hermann Fictuld (likely a pseudonym for Johann Heinrich Schmidt) was a significant figure in 18th-century alchemy and a founder of the Order of the Golden and Rosy Cross.

Frankfurt and Leipzig,

At [the press of] True Oriental original: "Veraci Orientali" Truth and Earnestness

Enemy of Lies, 1753.

The publisher's name "Truth and Earnestness Enemy-of-Lies" is a fictitious imprint, common in the 18th century for works that were controversial or esoteric.