Literary Notices on the History of So-called Gold-making (1805) - Page 3

A rectangular bookplate sticker is centered on the page. It shows an oval emblem with a blue background. In the center, a white pelican wounds its own breast to feed its young in a nest. This motif is known as the pelican in its piety. The nest sits on a square white pedestal decorated with four red roses. A golden sun radiates light above the pelican. A green Ouroboros, which is a serpent eating its own tail, circles the oval. The words Hermetic Philosophy are written in golden capital letters around the emblem.

HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY

original Latin: "PHILOSOPHIA · HERMETICA"

Hermetic Philosophy: A tradition of knowledge based on writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. It involves alchemy, astrology, and spiritual transformation.
Pelican in her piety: A symbol of self-sacrifice. In alchemy, it represents the stage of "multiplication" or the liquid that nourishes the philosopher's stone.
Ouroboros: An ancient symbol of a snake or dragon eating its own tail. It signifies infinity, the cycle of life and death, and the unity of all things.
Bookplate: A decorative label pasted into a book to show ownership.
Shelf mark: A unique code used by libraries to organize and find books on shelves.