Curious Chemical Library

SUBSECTION IV.

An Open Entrance to the Closed Palace of the King, by the anonymous author commonly called Philalethes. 661 original: "Introitus apertus ad occlusum Regis Palatium." Eirenaeus Philalethes was a pseudonym for a highly influential 17th-century alchemist, often identified as George Starkey.
Treatise on the Metamorphosis of Metals, by the anonymous author called Philalethes. 676
A Brief Guide to the Heavenly Ruby, by the anonymous author called Philalethes. 686 The "Heavenly Ruby" is a poetic name for the Philosopher's Stone in its red, perfected state.
The Fountain of Chemical Philosophy, by the anonymous author called Philalethes. 693
An Epistle to the Colleagues of the Collectors of the Journals, written by Johann Ferdinand Hertodt von Todtenfeldt, Doctor of Philosophy and Medicine, Renowned Provincial Physician of the Moravian Estates, and "Orpheus" of the Academy of the Curious in Nature; written against Philalethes. 697 Hertodt was a prominent physician who used the academic pseudonym "Orpheus." The "Academy of the Curious in Nature" refers to the Leopoldina, one of the oldest scientific societies.
An Anonymous Response to the preceding Epistle. 699

SUBSECTION V.

The Book of Alchemical Practice, by an anonymous author, with the Additions of Libavius. 700 Andreas Libavius (1555–1616) was a German doctor known for writing the first systematic chemistry textbook.

SUBSECTION VI.

A Brief Commentary on a Certain Enigmatic Epitaph Inscribed on a Marble Stone in Bologna many Centuries ago, by Nicolas Barnaud of Crest-Arnaud in the Dauphiné, Philosopher and Physician. 713 original: "Ænigmaticum quoddam Epitaphium Bononiæ." This refers to the famous and mysterious "Aelia Laelia Crispis" inscription, which many alchemists attempted to decode.
An Extract from the Treatise of Count Carlo Cesare Malvasia, written upon the same Epitaph. 717

SUBSECTION VII.

The Metallic Two-Leaf, or Double Medicine for Metals and Sick Men, by the anonymous author called Pantaleon; discovered, refined, and passed down to posterity by the Leaders of the Hermetic Art under the title of the Philosopher’s Stone; now newly revised with all required circumstances and manipulations, methodically delivered without deceit, and proposed to the lovers of this Divine Science. 718 "Pantaleon" was the pseudonym of Franz Gassmann, a 17th-century physician and alchemist.
Pantaleon’s The Tomb of Hermes Opened, in which the hidden physical truths of the most ancient Sages are to be seen by the midday sun, along with the erroneous opinions of certain moderns concerning that most praised liquor, the Mercury of the Philosophers; so that the Royal Road for investigating, finding, and preparing this mystery now lies open to anyone of even moderate intellect, illuminated for the sake of those wandering in error. 728 The "midday sun" is a metaphor for total clarity.
Pantaleon’s Alchemical Examination, by which, as if by a touchstone original: "Lydiô lapide," the Lydian stone used to test the purity of gold., the Adept is distinguished from the Sophist, and the true Philosopher from the Impostor; established for the sake of Great Men and those who, from a lack of much reading and experience with fire original: "Vulcanię experientiæ," referring to Vulcan, the god of the forge/fire., do not fully understand the chemical point;

lest they be so shamefully deceived by those most abandoned smoke-sellers and boastful impostors, to the disgrace of a truly Divine Art. A necessary and highly profitable little work, such as has not been printed since the founding of the world. 736 original: "fumivendulis," literally "sellers of smoke," a common term for alchemical frauds.
Again by Pantaleon, as appears from the style, A Disputation on the Physical Stone; in which the Tomb of Semiramis, sealed by an anonymous author in a fantastical rather than Hermetic manner, is now unsealed; if a Wise Man inspects it, he will find it empty of the promised treasures of Kings. 744 This refers to a legend about Queen Semiramis's tomb, often used as an alchemical allegory for the disappointment of false chemical processes.
The Tomb of Semiramis Hermetically Sealed, which if a Wise Man opens—rather than an ambitious and greedy Cyrus—he may find the inexhaustible treasures of the riches of Kings, as much as may suffice. 759

SUBSECTION VIII.

A treatise by Ludovico de Comitibus on the Liquor Alkahest and the Philosopher’s Stone, and their matter, method of operation, difficulty, powers, and their agreement with one another; likewise on the Volatile Salt of Tartar, etc. 764 The Alkahest was a hypothesized "universal solvent" capable of dissolving any substance into its primary matter.
A New Elucidation of the Nature of Metals and Metallic Works from the Foundations of True Physics, by Ludovico de Comitibus of Macerata, Doctor of Philosophy and Medicine. In which the principles, causes, properties, generations, and modes of generation of all these things are clearly and faithfully explained. From this, the truth and order of the Theory and Practice of the Chemical Art is revealed, by a method shorter, clearer, more diligent, and firmer than has been provided until now by any other writer, whether from the ancients or the moderns. 781

BOOK I. Chapter I. On the universal way in which metals and metallic things are generated by nature in their places. 784
Chapter II. On the efficient cause of metals. 786
Chapter III. On the matter of metals. 788
Chapter IV. On the secondary principles: Salt, Sulfur, and Mercury. 789 These "three primes" (Tria Prima) were considered the basic building blocks of all matter in Paracelsian alchemy.
Chapter V. On Sulfur. 789
Chapter VI. On Mercury. 791
Chapter VII. On Salt. 792
Chapter VIII. On the matter of metals according to the true opinion. 793
Chapter IX. On the end for which metals were created and generated. 794
Chapter X. On the place of generation of metals. 796
Chapter XI. On the Life of metals. 797
Chapter XII. On the possibility of the Transmutation of metals by Art. 799
Chapter XIII. That the light color and tincture from gold is separable by no artifice. 801