Curious Chemical Library

2. Alchemy 10 (1) original: "Alch"; this is a library shelf mark indicating the manuscript's classification in the 'Alchimia' (Alchemy) section, volume 10, part 1.

An engraved heraldic bookplate or library stamp belonging to the Palatine Library. At the top is a crown with a cross, flanked by the letters "C" on the left and "T" on the right. Below the crown is a quartered coat of arms surrounded by an ornate collar (likely the Order of the Golden Fleece or the Order of St. Hubert). At the very bottom of the engraved plate, the words "Palatine Library" are printed in a decorative cursive script.

These initials refer to Carl Theodor (1724–1799), the Prince-elector and Count Palatine, a famous patron of the sciences and arts whose collection formed a significant part of the library.

original: "Bibliotheca Palatina"; one of the most important libraries of the German Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Provenance: The chronological record of ownership for a historical object. This page confirms the book's history within the Elector's collection.
Shelf mark: A unique code (here "Alch 10") used by a library to indicate where a book is shelved.