| Description |
[89] leaves ; parchment, ill. ; 145 x 81 mm. |
| Content |
text txt |
| Media |
unmediated n |
| Carrier |
sheet nb |
| Note |
Ms. document |
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Title from Les Enluminures, Primer [no.] 2, Alchemy p. 10. |
| Language |
Text in Latin and Italian |
| Note |
Script: Humanistic book hand with cursive features. Attributed to two scribes. |
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Pagination: 89 leaves. Some leaves palimpsest (fols. 49v-52v, 60r, 66r, 67r,73v-74r) with discernible traces of an earlier cursive Gothic script in Latin, probably from fourteenth-century Italy. |
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Decoration: Red rubrics and paragraph marks, three- to one-line red or blue initials. Full page drawing of two alchemical tools: 'Sublimatoria vasa' and 'furnus sublimatorum.' |
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Layout: 1 column of 20 lines. |
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Origin: Written in Italy, probably Northern Italy, most likely in the third quarter of the fifteenth century, c. 1450-1475, based on the evidence of the script. |
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This is a miscellany of practical and theoretical alchemical texts with a full-page drawing of alchemical instruments. The selection of texts and their organization reflect the activities of a fifteenth-century alchemist. The manuscript's format suggests it was designed for easy consultation: it is small and quite narrow, and it is well-protected by a stout binding of leather-covered wooden boards with metal fittings. It bears many signs of active use and is heavily soiled in the section containing practical recipes. |
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Former shelfmark: Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (Amsterdam, Netherlands), MS 14. |
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Shelfmark: Philadelphia, PA, Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History, MS 2. |
| Contents |
ff. 1-2v, Capitulum [added or rewritten: unum?]de recommendatione revelationis huius artis ex archani magisterii, incipit, "Credas mihi pauper vir evangelice quod ante me nullus hominum in aperto hanc veritatem scripsit. Scito et animadverte qui philosophi magni ... sicut nunc datum est agnosci pauperibus fidelibus facto sancte ecclesie deprimendis. A domino yhesu Christo cui est honor et gloria fortitudo et potestas per infinita secula seculorum. Amen." Explicit liber quinte essenti lapidis magistri Iohanis de Rupecissa viri magni et prophetici de ordine minorum" [Ends top f. 2v; remainder blank] |
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ff. 3-10v, incipit, "In Nomine domini Amen. Hic soluitur dictum Aristotilis Quarto methaeorum Vbi dicit sciant artifices alkimi quod species metallorum permutari non possunt. Quod quidem verum est vt subdit nisi prius reducantur in primam materiam id est in argentum vivum et vocatur aqua uite perfecta ..."; Videlicet Sublimatio Mercurii, incipit, "Recipe igitur vitrioli romani liber i ..."; f. 5, De prima aqua, incipit, "Qvantum ad secundam preparationem aquae vite ...."; f. 5v, Aqua secunda clarificata per * [=sal armoniacum] siue aquilam, ...; f. 6, Aqua tercia ...; f. 7, Aqua vite quarta ...; Et sic habes explanatam quod omnes philosophantes uoluerint occultari." Et sic explicit cum dei adiutorio |
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ff. 11-41v, Incipit Practica artis alkimie, incipit, "Nunc in dei benedictione practicam reserabo et modum agenda philosophicum quomodo perficiatur ipsum elixir siue tinctura alba et rubea ex solo mercurio philosophorum .... Ex mercurio igitur sapientum qui non est vulgi et qui apud philosophus prima materia nominatur ... Et cum rexurexero a mortuis mutabo omnia et mutabor"; f. 24v, De Rege rubeo, incipit, "Si igitur hunc lapidem gloriosum Regem album et verum lunificum conuertere uolueris in lapidem rubeum ..."; f. 26, Sequitur de gradibus, incipit, "Nvnc restat loqui ulterius quam procedatur ad gradus cum lapide philosophorum ..."; f. 33, incipit, "Nota si libenter uelles ulterius soluere non posses nisi per m[ercuriu]m crudum ..."; f. 34, Sequitur de regimine fimi in quo consistit ars philosophorum ut calore bene tepido et humido regatur, incipit, "Primus ergo gradus in calore ..."; f. 34, De regimine ignis ...; f. 34v, Sequitur de furnellis ...; f. 37, De furno athanare ...; f. 37v, De instrumentis et vasis ...; f. 38v, De xv signis que sunt in extractione lapidis ... f. 40v, De probatione medicine, incipit, "Nota probatio medicine ... tunc est signum perfectionis ipsius"; f. 41, full page illustration of Sublimatoria uasa, and furnus sublimatorum; f. 41v, [Recipe], incipit, "Recipe on. vnam Arsenici christalam ... sit lutatum cum sicut parvo foramine desuper". |
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ff. 42-46v, Elixir ad faciendum oleum de crudo ..., incipit, "Accipe in nomine domini libram i alcaldir (?) ..."; f. 45v, De Fermentatione, incipit, "Quando uolueris fermentare et fermentum facere ..."; f. 46, De multiplicatione lapidis, incipit, "Nota de multiplicatione et proiectione huius lapidis ... ad omne iudicium." Explicit cum dei adiutorio cui sit laus et gloria; f. 46v, Fixatio vera, incipit, "Recipe frustum et pone in ... ficum et magis rubicundum"; |
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ff. 47-66, Opus magistri hospitalini Ierosimilitani correctum per magistrum Rainaldum de villa nova ad >, incipit, "Accipe romanum sal petre sal armoniacum ..."; Preparatio pro isto, incipit, "Accipe in alcadatanai ..."; Sublimatio pro rubedine, incipit, "Accipe de ipso congellato ... clara et hec est signum." Finis; ff. 51-66, Vzifur episcopi cunamensis, incipit "Accipe foliate et amalgama cum..."; ... f. 65v, Nunc cum dei adiutorio ad practicam procedamus, incipit, "Recipe de croco ... verissimum transiens omnia iuditia." Et explicit Gratiadei Minor. f. 66, [possibly contemporary addition], Roxarius ferrens roxas amenas, incipit, "Desiderabile desiderium et pretium quod a cunctis philosophia nec male ponitur ... vocamus Roxarium eo quod ex libris philosophorum tamquam roxas ex spinis evulsimus tibi ipsas. Et quid nocet veritatis si quicquid." |
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ff. 66v-67v, Particulare pulcrum super purum, incipit, "Recipe on. Unam argenti ..."; "Recipe on. I lune fine ..."; "Recipe sulfur vivum citrinum ..."; "Postea recipe tartarum calcinatum ... et gaudebit cor tuum", Finis; |
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f. 68v-69v, Recepta tradita per angelicum virum dominum fratrem Robertum ordinis sancti francisci. Ad memoriam profundam et retentiuam perpetuam et velocissimam apprehensivam. Et est unguentum mirabile quo utebantur papa Urbanus V et papa Johannes primus, incipit, "Recipe radicis lingue bovis... quo vti debet corporis premissa parva vacatione uel euacuatione." Finis; |
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ff. 69v-78v, Prima comentia la preparatione del, incipit, "Recipe quella parte ..."; ... Preparation de *, incipit, "El sal armoniaco se prepara in questo modo. Toli de epso quanto voi ... Sera lo d<esiderato?> piu nobele", Finis; |
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f. 79rv, Two recipes in Latin, incipit, "Recipe calcinatum seu fixum ..."; Compositio animalis, incipit, "Recipe <calcina?>tum ... Et dissolva cito et sine salo", Finis; |
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f. 80rv, incipit, A. F. G. E. incipit, "Hec est antiphona Johannis tezensis. En pulcer lapis noster triplici fulcitas acie solertum... ut celi bruma possit introire". |
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ff. 80v-89, Dictum Aristotilis, incipit, "Aristotiles est quasi lac ..."; f. 81, Acetum <philosophicum?>, incipit, "Recipe aceti vini boni ..."; ... Ad album bovum, Recipe auripigmenti bene triti partem .... Si posueris partes tres exibit per sublimationem", Finis. |
| Indexed In |
Medieval Manuscripts in Dutch Collections (Online Resources ) Amersterdam, BPH, ms 14. |
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Wilson, W.J., Catalogue of Latin and Vernacular Alchemical Manuscripts in the United States and Canada, in Osiris, 6 (1939) : 30-39 (MS. 3) |
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De Ricci, Seymour, Census of medieval and renaissance manuscripts in the United States and Canada, p. 678 |
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Gumbert, J.P, ed. Illustrated inventory of medieval manuscripts in the Netherlands, v.3 ; no. 116 |
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Thorndike, L. & Kibre, P., A catalogue of incipits of mediaeval scientific writings in Latin, 1963, p. 965 |
| Provenance |
The manuscript includes no marginal additions or changes to the content of the recipes, but soiling and other signs of use throughout suggest it was put to practical use. |
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Belonged to Fr. Francesco Melvino of the Convent of San Primo in Pavia in 1519; inside front cover, "1519. Fratris Francisci Meluini Conuentus Sancti Primi", added: "Papiae"; there is evidence of a church of San Primo in Pavia since the eleventh century. In 1354 it became a house of Servite canons (ordine dei Servi de Maria); the parish was suppressed in 1810, and reestablished as part of the diocesan clergy in 1828. |
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Owned by Franciscus Pere[tt]oli (or Peressoli?), inscribed inside front cover; the manuscript certainly continued to be actively used; for example, note marginal annotations about subject (s. xvi-xvii?), ff. 22v and 23. |
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Belonged to Roger Watson Barrett of Kenilworth, Illinois, his manuscript no. 35 (described by Wilson, 1939, no. 3, pp. 30-39; and De Ricci, 1935-40, p. 678, no. 35); his sale, Park-Bernet, New York, 29 January 1952, lot 387. |
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Subsequent modern sales at Swann's, New York, 5 April 1979, lot 586; Laurence Witten, Cat. 12 (1980), no. 1; Interlib., 1984, plate 9. Dealers' and owners' notes, inside front cover, in ink, "12 ll"; in pencil, "LB 10.009", in pencil, "4258/ N. 158"; note in German in pencil dated 1951"; front flyleaf, recto, note in pencil, "Jacob de Rupezissa. Book on Alchemy" |
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Belonged to Joost R. Ritman (b. 1941), the Dutch businessman and distinguished collector of art and books; acquired from Interlib, 1984; Bibliotheca Philosophia Hermetica MS 14 (bookplate, inside front cover). |
| Local Note |
Purchased from Les Enluminures Ltd., 9 September 2013, Primer 2 Alchemy, [item] no. 2, (TM691) to Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History, CHF (now Science History Institute). |
| Gift |
Purchase; Les Enluminures Ltd.; 20130909. |
| Note |
Binding: Original fifteenth-century leather (now very dark, possibly originally red), over thick wooden boards, cut flush with the book block, three raised bands, five brass bosses front and back covers, corner-studs on fore-edge, four metal roundels stamped with a star, front cover, along the spine, one remains back cover, fastens front to back with a clasp and catch brass and leather fastener, rebacked early, backing now loose and split, back board mostly detached, some wear to covers (with repairs), housed in custom modern folder and slip case. |
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Item cataloged from existing description: Les Enluminures, Primer [no.] 2, Alchemy p. 10. |
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Part or all of this item has been digitized by Science History Institute. |
| Subject(s) |
Alchemy -- Early works to 1800.
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Alchemy -- Manuscripts.
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Manuscripts -- 14th century.
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Manuscripts, Latin -- 14th century.
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Manuscripts, Italian -- 14th century.
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Formulas, recipes, etc. -- Early works to 1800.
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| Genre |
Auction copies (Provenance) rbprov
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Bookplates (Provenance) rbprov
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Library copies (Provenance) rbprov
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Shelf marks (Provenance) rbprov
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| Alternate Author |
Melvino, Francesco former owner.
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Pere[tt]oli, Franciscus former owner.
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Barrett, Roger W., former owner.
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Ritman, Joost R., former owner.
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Johannes, de Rupescissa, approximately 1300-approximately 1365.
Liber lucis.
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Rudianus, Alchemist
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Arnaldus, de Villanova, -1311.
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Dastin, John approximately 1288-approximately 1334.
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Ticinensis, Johannes approximately 14th century
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Donald F. & Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History.
Manuscript.
MS 2.
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Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica.
Manuscript.
MS 14.
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