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Ferguson Manuscripts 1 - 50

This is a provisional catalogue of the Ferguson collection of manuscripts in Glasgow University Library. It is not an official catalogue, and will have some errors due to the difficulties I had in reading the handwriting of languages unfamiliar to me, and in identifying some of the more obscure items. With this proviso, it may be of help to people trying to locate items of interest to them, in the absence of an official catalogue. - Adam McLean.
Go to 51 - 100 / 101 - 150 / 151 - 200 / 201 - 250 / 251 - 300 / 301 - 338 -
MS. 1.
101 folios. 230x170mm. 17th Century. In French.
f5-16 [Christofle Gamon] de Le Tresor des tresors.
f17-19 [Jacques Nuysement] Poeme philosophic sur l'azoth des philosophes.
f20-39 Jean de la Fontaine de Valenciennes, La fontaine des amoureux de science.
f40 Balade du secret des philosophes.
f41-60 Jean de Meung Remonstrances de la nature a l'alchimiste errant.
f60-64 Balade du secret des philosophes.
f65-78 Jean de Meung La reponse de l'alchimiste a nature.
f79-90 [Nicholas Flamel] Traité d'alchimie
f91-101 Autres vers touchant le mesme art dont l'autheur n'est point nomme.
[Items 3-9 are copied from Jean de La Fontaine de Valenciennes, La metallique transformation. Lyon, 1618]

MS. 2.
63 pages. 237x180mm. Early 19th Century. In Latin.
Magnum Grimorium sive Calendarium Naturale Magicum perpetuum profundissimarum rerum secretissimarum contemplationem totiusque philosophiae cognitionem complectens.
[This is a copy of the Calendarium Naturale Magicum, compiled by Grossschedel von Aicha and published by de Bry in 1620. The emblematic figures from the original engraving have been cut up into individual sections and pasted into this manuscript, and the text from the original plate added in black and red lettering. Each page is set within a red border decorated at the top. The Calendarium Naturale Magicum is thus analysed in its various sections "Tabula Prima... Tabula Duodecima". Additional text material in way of explanation and examples has been added to the sections within the Tabula Septima dealing with the seven planetary onomantic tables of fortune.]
[Note inside back cover]: "This looks like one of Bacstrom's Ms".

MS. 3.
226 folios. 218x133mm. 16th Century. In Italian.
Liber secretorum.
[A series of chemical recipes for colouring glass, making pigments, etc Italian with section headings in Latin.]
f1 A fare el bianco perli vasi de Terre.
f1v Christalli vitri & lapidum solutio seu mollificatio, & coloratio.
f3 Ad tingendum christallum in colore Smeraldj.
f4v Borax.
f11 Cinabrium.
f14 Coralli ex cornibus manubria et similia.
f24 Sal Nitrum tam naturale quam Artificiale.
f24 Azurium.
f34 Argentum vivum de plumbo.
f36 Aloes epatica.
f37 Sal armoniacus.
f44 Ambre.
f46v Amollificare lambra.
f77-93 Tractatus de vitris Smaltis Musaicis Lapidibus Annulorum sofisticis, & de omnibus eorum coloribus universalibus conficiendis. [31 chapters.]
f93v-96v Lapidum preciosorum secatio quadratio politio et duplarum coloratio et conglutinatio. [27 chapters.]
f97-98 Incipit secundus de nominibus et coloribus lapidum et primo de albis numerorum. [9 chapters.]
f98v-99 Liber tertius. [4 chapters.]
f100 Perle
f111 Sanguinis draconis sofisticatio.
f113 Sofisticatio muscita fit.
f124 Sapo lollis ultramarinus sic fit.
f126v Crucibula.
f131 Minium.
f132 Cerusa.
f132v Tinctura sete panni repet similium.
f141 Tartaresca cio e colori da stampare in pani cum forme, et senza.
f169 Ad faciendum corium rubeum.
f165 Argento sublimatio.
f167v Ferri deauratio tam cum aquis quam cum auro.
f172v Ferri corrosio dissolutio ac irarum, et imaginum impressio.
f175 Vernix liquida.
f176v Vitrum non frangibile.
f179 Indicum.
f181 Inveteratio.
f192 Vinum.
f200 Finestre de tela.
f200v Acetum.
f211 Clore de copelle per Sazare.
f221 Minium et cerusa.
[A number of other subsections not here noted. A small number of rough drawings of apparatus flasks, crucibles, etc. are found throughout the text.]

MS. 4.
3+156 folios+5 blank folios. 204x168mm. 17th Century. In German, with some sections in Latin.
Buch Von Wunderverken. [Buch der Heiligen Dreifaltigkeit]
f1 [Coloured drawing of Hermes the philosopher with book bearing sun and moon signs.]
f3 [Coloured drawing of flasks in furnaces and distillation apparatus.]
f3v [Coloured drawing of Sun at centre of wheel of seven spokes associated with the planets.]
f4 [Title in verse]
Diss ist ein Buch von Wunderwercken
rechte Warheit mag man hie in mercken
wem diss Buch wirdet, der berg es nit,
dass were Jhm an Leib unde Seele verderblich.
Man soll diss Buch bringen Wann es von Gotte ist, für die Grosten Herren und Grösten Maister und Lehrer der Heiligen Schrifft in der Christenheit. Hierumb vernehmst es, diss Buch ein neüe Gabe Gottes von Himmelreich [...] Wer diss Buch Gottes wohl vernimmet, und der hie dann rechte nach wircket, dem giebet dieses Buchs Lehre reichen Sold, beide Silber und auch das edelste rothe Gold, das machet man hie aus...
f4v [Coloured drawing of hanged man upon crossbeam supported on two uprights.]
f5 [Coloured drawing of beheading and torturing of man upon wheel.]
f5v [Coloured drawing Adam and Eve with Lilith or snake-bodied woman figure piercing Adam's body with lance.]
f6 [Alchemical apparatus.]
f14 [Christ like figure gestures towards haloed bird standing upon a crown.]
f15 [Furnaces and distillation apparatus.]
f15v [Woman in blue robe sitting upon the moon in a vesica piscinis with small crucifix above.]
f17v [Seven coloured crowns.]
f21 [Triple furnace with distillation apparatus.]
f22 [Christ crucified in the form of a double eagle standing upon double human headed figure, with birds above bearing red and golden crowns.]
f22v [Conventional crucifixion, with letters 'K' and 'S', above.]
f25v [Double headed eagle on shield.]
f26 [Cloth wrapped around some object with two bowls below.]
f26v [Blue robed female figure at centre of drawing received a crown from two crowned kings sitting beside her. Around them at the corners of the drawing are the four symbols of the Evangelists, Lion, Bull, Angel and Eagle each with heraldic shield. The dove of the holy spirit descends on the central 'Mary' figure.]
f68 [Text.] Anno Domini Millesimo CCCCXXXIII°. In Kadelsburg [Kadolzburg] finitus ipsa hora nona in mediate. Explicit liber Sanctae Trinitate. Sequitur capitulum quod incipit in his verbis primo den weisen er ist etc. Et non habetur hic in loco proprio sui debito sed quere secundum signa.
f68v [It continues probably as in the Dresden manuscript: "Diss Buch ist viel Bücher und ist doch ein Buch das nicht geteilt werden mag [...] Finitus geschrieben... in Kadelspurg Anno ut supra XXXIII°etc."]
f85 [Distillation apparatus with two furnaces.]
f85v [Christ being crucified under a crossbeam supported by two uprights, a snake bodied woman spears him with a lance.]
f86 [Green lion stands upon four hillocks.]
f86v [Furnace in the form of a house.]
f90 ['Mary' figure in blue robe stands upon moon with sun behind her in the form of a vesica piscinis. Above is a small crucifix.]
f91 [Furnace in form of a castle with double pelican apparatus. Below stalks a wolf.]
f92v [Heraldic shield with Christ crucified in the form of a double headed eagle. A white robed female figure pours down the contents of two flasks.]
f96 [A woman with hairy body holding a shield stands before a heraldic stylised helmet, bearing stage antlers with seven points.]
f97 [Winged hermaphrodite holds coiled snake in the male right hand, and goblet containing three serpents on the hermaphrodite's left and female side. Solar and lunar trees with 12 leaves grow below. Each part of the drawing is lettered A-M and a key is given on f 97v.]
f101 [Small drawing of heraldic shield.]
f101v [Christ seated in glory in a rainbow coloured vesica piscinis.]
f113v Explicit liber Sanctae Trinitatis de lapide philosophico parabolice ex dictis sacrae theologiae nec non naturalis philosophiae et figurative verum operationis effectum comprehendens.
f114 [Furnace with two flasks one upright the other upside down and set into the neck of the lower vessel.]
f115v [Bat-winged Hermaphrodite with the male side wearing armour, while the female side has a long golden robe. The figure stands upon a many headed dragon, two of whose heads on long necks twine around the hermaphrodite's lower legs. Five coloured crowns, red, yellow, black white and blue appear at hands, feet and head of the figure, respectively.]
f117 [A double headed eagle standing upon an ouroborus dragon in his nest upon a tree the "Arbor Philosophorum" are set within the seven planets who shine down their separate influences upon the scene below.]
f122v [Various coloured raindrops descend from grey clouds.]
f136 [Diagram shows various lines linking the four elements, father, Son and Holy Spirit, and letters of alphabet.]
f145v [Small coloured drawing of house at bottom of folio.]
f146 [Heraldic shield or vessel (see Libavius Commentariorum Alchymiae 1606) with ouroborus dragon at bottom upon which a peacock stands, and a black crow above. Sun and moon with two candles are seen to left and right, and a number of blue and yellow stars, and white and red roses also adorn the interior space of the vessel.]
f153v Explicit liber Sanctae Trinitatis de lapide philosophico parabolice ex dictis sacrae theologiae nec non naturalis philosopiae et figurative verum operationis effectum comprehendens.
f153v-155v De aqua vitae [In Latin.]
f156 [A furnace is drawn alongside a vessel described a "Matrix vas congelacea", which is drawn as if a part of a flower calyx.]
[An exact copy even as to pagination, of MS. Dresden N 110. This text comes from the revision of the Buch der Heiligen Dreifaltigkeit made for Johannes von Bayreuth, the eldest son of Friedrichs von Brandenburg, which was finished in 1433. Copies of this version were made in 1492 - the MS. Dresden N 110, and in the 17th Century MS Gotha Landesbibliothek Ch. B. 254 . A different versions of this work are found in German National Museum Nuremberg MS 80061; Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz Berlin MS 78 A 11; Staatsbibliothek Munich, Codex Germanicus 598; John Rylands Library MS Germ 1; St. Gallen Kantonsbibliothek (Vadiana) MS 428; The Wellcome Institute, London, MS. 164, and other sources.
See Herwig Buntz, 'Das Buch der Heiligen Dreifaltigkeit - Sein Autor und seine Überleiferung', in Zeitschrift für Deutsches Alterum 1971, pp. 150-160; Marielene Putscher: 'Das Buch der Heiligen Dreifaltigkeit unde seine Bilder in Handscriften des 15. Jahrhunderts', in Dei Alchemie in der europäischen Kultur- und Wissenschaftgeschichte, edited Christoph Meinel (Wolfenbütteler Forschungen 32) Wiesbaden 11986, pp. 151-178 with figures).]

MS. 5.
293 pages. 245x189mm. 18th Century. In English, Latin, French and German.
p1-19 Lux Sine Nube or The Art of Philosophers unfolded being a True and most Faithful discovery of all the deepest and most hidden Enigmas of the Hermetic Science, where in is most clearly given a full and most inestimable Medicine, commonly known under the name of that great and Misterious Secrit The Phylosophers Stone to which is prefixt, as a most indispensably necessary Key to the whole a plaine discovery of the real Matter out of which this precious Treasure is to be extracted; so Familiarly delivred to the true Frends of suffring Sons of Eve as to be at the Reach of the meanest capacities.
p19 A Stanza on the Same.
p19-p93 Lux Sine Nube or Art of Philosophers unfolded.
p95-p100 Mr D'arner pro universal sont universal Comunique pour 250 Luis Faite trovi livre. [In French.]
p101 Manget's Bibliotheca Chemica Lib 1 Sect II Subject I [In Latin.]
p101-2 Darme [in French.]
p103-118 Grand Universal Elementum aquae Rathl: & Arne. [In English, in six numbered sections.]
p119-121 [Notes in French.]
p121-228 [Various notes in French from different books , including sections with the following titles.]
p123 Veritable Process du Prince de Lux. d. 1784: c.65.
p124 Preparation veritable d'antimoine de Mr Boelean
p129 La Phylosophie Secrett pour ma femme.
p162 La plus grande Remede pour guerrier Les Scrophule et toute malladie chronique.
p178 La maniere D'Arm pour préparer l'eau mere maire du son Recette d'une savant arabe.
p186 tresque universelle donner en ecrit comme il suit par Mr Darme.
p194 D'Orbelin.
p204 Le Proceder [...] que Mons. Le Comte a communique et donner.
p216 Operation Donner par Mr Da.... a monseigneur du manipulation de la matiere universelle.
p231 ...l'abbe Guraffon huile ou R. d'antimoine Manniere Secrett de la Tire.
p237-255 Processus Chemicus. [Text in German.]
p236 Huile de Rose. [French.]
p281 L. Guaraffe sur le remede universale.... [French.]
p288-292 Suite des experience utiles et curieux nouveau Traites des dissolut[ion] & coagulation naturelle...
p293 [Index of contents.]

MS. 6.
242 folios. 220x160mm. 16th Century, paper watermarked 1579. In German.
[In gold tooled original leather binding, stamped "M P Spruch der philosophen".]
f1 [At bottom] Petrus Wintzig.
f2r [Five line drawings in black ink and red chalk.]
f2v [Watercolour drawing of heraldic crest with sun above as in the first image from Splendor Solis. This is dated "Anno 1518".]
f3r [Pen drawing of furnace with water bath.]
f3v [Pen drawing of flask with four layers of the elements, fire at top, and triple flower growing out of the top. This is set within an oval space where the faces of two males at either side gaze across the flask at each other.]
f4r [Pen drawing of distilling apparatus in furnace.]
f4v [Finely executed watercolour drawing of naked female figure standing upon a rainbow over two vessels at the bottom of the image, and in front of a tree whose upper branches bear the image of the Sun on the left and the Moon on the right. She holds two cups in front of her breasts from which pour streams of red and white liquids which she collects in the cups.]
f5r [Text in German begins]
[At bottom] "i/i Mai 1733..."
[At top] Nota Hyeroglyphica Lapis [John Dee's 'hieroglyphic monad' symbol] philosop. [This seem to have been added later.]
[See MS. Dresden N 36: Figurae hieroglyphicae de lap. phil. von Edward Kelly]
f5 Euch Liebhabern dieser Edlen Kunst Allen sey zuer Warnung geschenckt unnd geschriben das Nach folgende warhaffte Wort, dem wolt Jr Nur sicher glauben, es wirdt euch reichlich lohnen etc.
Denen die da von den Betrügern Jn diser Loben Kunst mit Jrem grossen Nachteil und schaden nit wollen verffueret noch betrogen werden, Als dem Jtziger Zeit Menschen geschiehet, denen sag ich zuer Warnung, das sie folgenden fragen wol warnemen und derer stets in Iren Hertzen zudanck sein, das durch diese sie, Als durch ein gewiesses warhafftiges Zeichen und sigel Aller Möglichen Natürlichen warheit dieser Edlen Kunst...
f13-30 Der titel dieses Buechlins ist Lilium geheissen.
f31v [Coloured drawing of triple walled enclosure round a hill. At the bottom outside the outer wall is a sheep, and a man in red guards the entrance door at the top of some stairs. Within the first round wall is a grassy area with a lion and a dying man from whom rises a soul to be greeted by a winged angel from within the second level. A skeleton is firing an arrow at the corpse also from within this higher level of enclosure. Within this is set the innermost walled enclose which is filled with water with the sun and moon within it. at the centre of this lake a tree rises with fire at its root. Upon its uppermost branches a crowned Hermaphrodite male head red female white, bears a sceptre and orb.]
f32 [Finely executed coloured drawing shows sun and moon-headed human figure holding out to each other a set of two keys. Between them at the bottom of the image are two vases. The one on the left is coloured half red and half white and has a red and a white flower growing out of it. The vase on the right below the moon figure is divided horizontally into green and grey with a green and a grey flower growing out of it. The white flower and the green touch each other and seem to be enveloping one another.]
f33 [Text in German.]
f34v Hie heben sich an die spruch der philosophen.
f50v Was man thuen sol mit der quinta essentia.
f52 Item von der heimlicheit der philosophy.
f58-59 [12 pen drawings of furnaces and alchemical flasks.]
f60 Mun wer begert zuefinden den anfang der natur...
f69 Warhheit der Kunst. [In a different hand.]
f77v [Pen drawing of Queen with seven stars around her head, standing upon two cubic stones with sun and moon symbols. From these roots reach down into a square vessel of water at the bottom. the Queen holds a square mirror in each hand.]
f79-86 Das Buech der heimlicheit.
f87-105 Spiegell der Alchimey. [In seven chapters.]
f106-113 Magister Degenhardus.
f115 [Pen drawing of man holding square and triangle. On his head he balances a flask. Inside the flask is seen at the bottom a dragon ouroboros, a crow, above this a peacock, then a couple embracing being swallowed by the mouth of a lion at the very top of the flask. The flask is crowned and has a Sun and Moon on either side with candles.]
f116 [A corpse lies in an open square sided tomb. To the left is raised a crucifix. On the wall of the tomb a lion is devouring the sun.]
f117 [Pen drawing of Mercury standing upon a globe holding caduceus in his right and the moon in his left hand, and with sun head. Her has wings at this feet. His costume has peacock's feathers in a girdle around it. Based on the well known figure of Hermes with winged sandals.]
f118 [A Lion devours the sun within a landscape.]
f120-128 Weltlich beger in der philosophi Kunst der merern und...
f129-147 [12 finely executed watercoloured drawings set within the text. These are the 'Spiegel der Philosophie' illustrations, published in Salomon Trismosin Aureum Vellus, 1598-1604.]
f148 das Buech wirt genantt Gottes gaab...
[Pandora, des Franciscus Epimetheus, Basel 1582.]
f154-158 [18 watercoloured illustrations of the series of woodcuts found in Petrus Bonus, Pretiosa Margarita Novella, 1546, of the 6 planets before the king, the killing of the king, his death, burial and rebirth from the tomb.]
f158-169 [A series of twenty two fine watercoloured drawings which is a variation of the sequence of woodcuts in the Rosarium Philosophorum, 1550. See MSS. 29, 74, 96, 149, 210.]
f172-180 Wer ohren hat zuehern der hore und merck [...] den philosophum also sprechenn.
[This section has two watercoloured drawings. The first has a knight with sword having vanquished a foe on the left passing a soul form to another figure lying as if dead on a pillow. The second illustration has a knight having decapitated a figure in a red robe on the ground handing the severed head to another figure in a rich robe.]
f181-187 De Tinctura D: M. Joanni Hein.
f188 Oleum Solis Zumachen.
[At bottom] Franciscus Martinus 1580 die 2 Meric.
f192 Ein cehönner spruch auss der philosophen schrifften.
f196-209 Kurtzer Sumarischer ausszug und philosophen Rogerius Bacho ad lapidem philosophorum... 19 Martii 1580...
f212-237 [Series of 38 fine watercolour drawings from the Aurora Consurgens. Other versions of the Aurora Consurgens with coloured illustrarions are found in Zurich Zentralbibliothek, MS. Rhenoviensis 172; Leiden, MS. Vossiani Chemici F. 29; Paris, Bibliotheque Nationale, MS. Parisinus Latinus 14006; Prague, Universitni Knihovna, MS. VI. Fd. 26; Prague, Chapitre Métropolitain, MS. 1663. O. LXXIX; Berlin, Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz, MS. Germ. qu. 848.]
f238-242 [...] Arnoldi de Villa nova...
MS. 7.
64 folios. 222x152mm. 17th Century. In English.
f1-22 The Secretes of ye most reverend mr Alexis of piemont 1565. [See Alessio Piemontese (pseudonym for Girolamo Ruscelli) The Secretes, London, 1558, and 1559-63.]
f23-64 Dodoneus. Taken out of D. Kembert dodoens phisitian to ye Emp. his herball made anno domini 1578.

MS. 8.
67 folios. 220x185mm. 17th Century. In English.
Coronatio Naturae.
f1 Angelorum opus Auctore Hermete Ph[ilosoph]o perito.
[67 pen and watercolour drawings.]
[Illustrations only with no text. The drawings have prickholes along all lines in order to facilitate copying.. The titles to the illustrations are chiefly in English.]
[See MSS 110, 155, 208, 230, 237, 245, 253.]

MS. 9.
24 folios 178x131mm. 17th Century. In English.
f1-13 A treatise of the most great Lord and Philosoph: Dunston, Bishop of Canterbury: Concerning the Philosophers' Stone.
[Note at end]: "Dunstan of the Stone of Philosophers is to be found at the end of Philosophia Maturata, an exact piece of Philosophy, etc pubd. 1668, but the work so called is not this which is in MS. nor a copy of it."
f14r-24r Manna from Heaven.
[See MS. 199. Cf. British Library MSS Sloane 2194, 2222, 2585.]

MS. 10.
132 folios. 192x143mm. 17th Century. In French.
Copie du livre de Rases esperience sur l'esprit Mineral pour la preparation et transmutation des corps metalique...
f1-81 Traicté de la Nature en general, ou l'on decouvre les agens metaliques par Repour-Art Chimique, ou le Prototype et tres parfait exemplaire, de la Philosophie Hermetique. Par René de la Chastre, gentilhomme Berroyen 1620. [Corrected later in pencil to 1635.]
f84-132 Le Prototype outres parfaict. A Analoguique Exemplaire de l'art Chimique. A la Philosophie de la Sciance Naturelle.
Contenant les Causes principes a demonstrasions scientifiques de la sertitude [dedreant]. Par le Sr Rene de la Chastre Gentil homme Beroyen a pavor ches Melchoor Mondvere dans le cour du palais placede change aux de en l'anne 1635.
MS. 11.
154 folios. 230x172mm. 18th Century. In German.
f4r Des Neü Erleüchten Mosqueteurs Dreyfache Erlaütterung über die dreÿfache Beÿschrifft des Ersten Kupffer Bildes, die von dem Himmel Verliehene über Jrrdische Hocherleüchtete und Durchleüchtete Englische Weißheit Des Hochwürdigsten Hochgebohren, des Heyl. Römischen Reichs Fürsten und Herrn Johann Anthon Bischoffen zu Eichstätt betreffend, somit N° 1, 2, und 3 bezeichnen seÿn, die übrigen Nomina haben Ihre erklärung selbsten in sich.
f5r [Title] Des Neu erleuchteten Mosqueteurs Vierfache Stumme Rede-Kunst des Fermontischen Steines Nach der arth der Vier Elementen Vermittelst die Vier Vnheilbahren Krackheiten, nach der Vierfachen Jnfluenz des Himmels, als da ist Die Gravitetische Wasser-Sucht, Das Ehrbahre Podagra, die geschminckten Frantzosen, vnd gepuderte Pestilentz Mit verleihung der Gnaden Gottes, durch den Lapidem Fermonticum sambt denen Arcanibus Specificis vel Magneticis, auf vierfache Arth konnen geheÿlet, vnd gewendet werden.
[Two engravings pasted in f41r,109r. Five pen and grey wash drawings on f6v,18r,49r,55r,132r.]
f6v [Drawing 1. A man of science holding compass demonstrates before a richly dressed figure his 'geographia' measurements on a globe. Other aspects of science are represented around these two figures. Alchemical apparatus, Ornithologia, Uranologia, Uranometria, Magia, Cabala, Dendrologia, Astronomia, Astrologia, etc.]
f18 [Drawing 2. A gentleman bearing a gun and accompanied by an old man whose sword bears the name 'Azoth' on its pommel, most probably intended as a reference to Paracelsus, is accepting a cup from a crowned female figure, possibly representing nature. These three stand beside the 'fons Philosophorum' which has a fish sculpture on it top from which shower streams of liquid each labelled with one of the planetary symbols. The whole scene is watched over by the 7 planetary gods from heaven and Hermes gestures towards them with his caduceus. On the left are seated 12 old men and 3 women each labelled with a letter of the alphabet who look upon the scene and discuss it amongst themselves. in the lower part are depicted 12 figures with variuos items of dress, a woman in court costume, a roman with laurel wreath, a roman centurian, a crowned man, a crowned woman with feathers emanting from the crown, a jester in cap and bells, etc. They look upon a dragon at the bottom of the painting.]
f41 [Engraving possibly from an emblem book, shows on the bottom right a heart with two eyes, one which it holds closed with a finger of its hand, while the other gazes through a telescope at the name on God high above at the centre of a series of concentric circles of clouds. Banners proclaim extracts from Psalms 41, 32. At the bottom the plate is entitled "Die verborgene abgrundten Gottes".]
f49 [Drawing 3. A Chronos-Saturn figure rides upon a horse in the heavens, bearing scythe, sand-clock, and skull and crossed bones. Below a female gorgon figure wreathed in snakes and eating a heart, while she stabs herself with a dagger, rides upon a crocodile. Below this are two poor men on crutches, and the scene is observed by a number of well dressed men and women.]
f55 [Drawing 4. In a classical arch supported by ornate column and before a door, are seated a woman holding a torch and a man holding a sun disc. 16 figures stand or are seated in an arc around them gesturing towards the central couple or discussing among themselves. Some of these figures bear symbols of the planets other carry objects, a flask, tongs, a sun disc, an orb, a book, a flaming heart etc. Above in the centre of the arch a sun benevolently shines down upon the scene.]
f109 [Engraving 2. Two dark clouds dicharge lightning upon a church on the right whose steeple is seen falling down, and the tower of a church (which has an eastern style dome) on the left has disappeared into the cloud above. A third church in the centre seems unaffected and the sun shines down upon it. On the left a group of men examine the lightning strike with telescopes, while on the left on old man, probably a cleric or bishop, lies in bed with his rosary in his hand. An angel opens the curtain around his bed and gestures towards him with a branch.]
f132 [Drawing 5. A ship is tossed upon the waves of a great storm while out of the deep a vast sea dragon emerges to swallow a sailor. Below on dry land, a man with a musket is seen shooting another sea dragon which is in the act of trying to eat a white bird which manages to fly away.]

MS. 12.
114 pages. 243x186mm. 17th Century. In English.
The Book of universal wisedome of All Chymistry. Wherin the nature of man is demonstrated, his soule searched into, and of what kind it is, is shewed, his spirit manifested, and the elements of mans body are shewed, and all the diseases thereof to be cured and the life to be prolonged, are proposed, and the secrets of doing these are manifested. A work acceptable and very usefull to all, but especially to Physicians. By Peter John Faber of Castrinovidariu [Castelnaudary] Doctor of Physick in Monpiliers, and now a counselour and Physician to the King of France.
[Jean Pierre Fabre Operum voluminibus duobus..., Frankfurt 1656, includes in the second volume Sapientia universalis seu anatomia hominis et metallorum.]
[See Yale University, Ms. Mellon 76.]

MS. 13.
v+306 folios on vellum. 245x154 mm. 15th Century. In Latin.
[Works of Ramon Lull summarised by Ludovicus Rigius.]
f iv-v Ludovicus Rigius Bene esse Francisco Bollano patrie: Venetoque generi dicet. Atque bene valeant qui religionem colunt, qui fidem ruant. qui id, quod justum est tribuant. [S]i apud maiores nostros est conservatum ut preceptores pro patribus haberet; debeo quantum est situm in me Raymundo Lulio.... [S]i apud Argumentum primi universalis originis opere Ludovici Regii.
f1-62 Argumentum secundum commentorum que sunt fundamenta operorum nature & artis.
Commentarius Aphorismorum rote corruptionis.
Commentarius Aphorismorum rote generationis.
f63-99v [C]om[m]entum apertum lucidumque fecimus; in quo universalia particulariaque multa perstanximus: [18 Lullist diagrams, triangles, squares and circles of letters between f68 and 90 in various coloured inks.]
f100-157 Chaos universale principiorum voythie: & aliorum in theorica. [In four parts.]
f159-174r Trialogus: interlocutores Ludovicus: Franciscus & Mapheus.
f174v-249 Practica [in four parts.]
f250-268 Principium libri secretorum.
f269-272 Gubernaculus currus. Exordium. De significatis elementorum alphabeti.
f272-282 [Index and contents.]
f283-286 Interrogationes.
De magisterio terrarum nigrarum.
De magisterio auri potabilis.
Aperitio trianguli voythey.
f287-299r Proprietarium sulphureorum trianguli magni voythie: Lodovici.
f299v-305v Hermaphroditus collericorus & collericarum.
f305v-306v De optatis, optatesis, & sulphur igne Lapidorum.
[At end]: "die 6 Octobris 1492."
[For full description see N.R. Ker Medieval MSS in British Libraries, vol. 2 (1977) pp.880-2.]

MS. 14.
160 folios. 243x170 mm. 15th or early 16th Century. In Latin.
[Works of Pseudo-Ramon Lull.]
f2-18 Incipit epistola Accurtationis lapidis philosophorum Raimundi Lullij ad Regem Robertum Neapolitanum.
f19-24r Incipit liber lucis mercuriorum Raymundj Lullij De insula maioricarum.
[f19v-20r Two diagrams with letters of alphabet.]
f24v-31 Incipit elucidario totius testamenti Raymundi Lullij ad regem eduardum missa.
f32-46r Incipit compendium artis magice Raymundi Lullij.
f46v-104 Incipit liber de intentione Alchimistarum Raimundj Lullij.
f105-142r Incipit Anima artis transmuttationis Metallorum Raymundi Lullij.
f142v-159 Incipit lapidarium Raymundi Lullij in parte adbreviatum.
f160 [Some notes added by another hand.]
MS. 15.
70 folios (of which 9 are blank). 198x160mm. 18th Century. In English.
[Book of recipes, both culinary and medical, written in several different hands.]

MS. 16.
105 folios. 258x197mm. 17th or 18th Century. In Portugese, with short section in English.
Libro de Reçetas de Portugal, para haçer Peuetes, y Pastillas, y andreçar guantes perfumados.
[MS. of recipes for perfumes and balsams.]
[f1-84 in Portugese, f94v-98r in English, with 'Agnas' [index] in Portugese on f 99r-105v.]

MS. 17.
162 folios. 242x185mm. 18th Century. In French.
[Abraham Eleazar ] Abraham Juif Prince, pretre, leuite astrologue et Philosophe, a la nation des Juifs repandue dans toute la Gaule par la colere de Dieu. Salut en Notre seigneur Jesus Christ. Livre des figures hieroglyphiques avec l'explanation des fables des Poetes, des misteres du christianisme; de la chimie, et de la Pharmacie suiuant les nombres.
[13 extremely fine watercolour illustrations inserted upon vellum after folios 3, 8, 11, 16, 27, 33, 40, 45, 88, 98, 110, 114, 143.]
[See also MSS. 129 and 154.]

MS. 18.
507 pages + 28 folios (17 blank folios). 239x182mm. 18th Century. In Latin and German.
In tractatu altero authoris anonymi in Joannen Grasseum Chortolasseum agentis legitur Haec praefatio ad Hermeticae Ph[i]l[osoph]iae Studiosus.
p1-492 [Collection of 69 short tracts from Pontanus, Sendivogius, Arnald of Villa Nova, Philalethes, Flammel, Bernard of Treviso, Zacharius, Lully, Ficino, Paracelsus, Van Helmont, Basil Valentine, Roger Bacon, Ripley, etc.]
[Index on pages 5-8.]
p493-503 Probatum et verum repertum à Barone de Battenberg.
[Additional alchemical extracts in different hand. In Latin and German.]
f2-10, f27-28 [Additional alchemical extracts in different hand. In Latin and German.]
MS. 19.
52 folios. 215x142 mm. 17th Century. In Spanish, with section headings translated into Italian.
f2-3r Cedula ritrovata nelle scritture St Andrea Ognibene dopo la sua morte, de verbo ad verbum. Acqua secreta.
f5-6r Opera senza titulo. Qui comincia come si ha da curare il negro di Giove.
f7-52 Elucidarius Christophori Parisiensis.
[See Christophorus Parisiensis, Elucidarius Christophori Parisiensis. Das ist: Ein edles Büchlein, vom rechten Grund, Mittel und Ende der wahren Philosophiae..., Halle, 1608-10, and also Elucidarii, ander Theil, so unlangst von einem fürnemen Philosopho übersehen... Halle, 1610.]

MS. 20.
15 folios. 249x186mm. 18th Century. In French, with short section in Latin.
Le Clef de la Philosophie Spagyrique qui donnent la Connoissance des Principes et des Veritables Operations de Cert Art Dans les Mixtes de trois Genres.
Par feu Mr le Breton Medicin de la faculté de Paris.
a Paris Rue St Jacques chez Claude Joubert au Coin de la Rue des Mathurins a l'Image Notre Dame. 1722.
f1-14r in French.
14v Hermes in Allegoriis Dicit [in Latin.]
f15 Notes Extraite de la Science Universelle de l'Escriture Sainte. Par Moi Vital Chaupegros Astrologian.
MS. 21.
65 folios. 208x160mm. 17th Century, dated on spine '1691'. In English.
The Hieroglyphic Unit of John Dee of London.
For Maximillian by the Grace of God the most wise King of the Romans, Bohemia and Hungarie. Frankfurt at J. Wechelum, Peter Fisher MDXCI.
[This is an anonymous translation into English of John Dee Monas Hieroglyphica, Franckfurt, 1591.]

MS. 22.
40 folios. 250x152mm. Late 18th Century. In English.
[Sigismund Bacstrom]
f6r-12v Copy of the Original Admission of Count de Chazal.
f14r-19r In the Name of cyhla hvhy the true and only God, manifest in trinity.
[Testimony of initiation of Alexander Tilloch into Bacstrom's Rosicrucian Society, signed by Bacstrom and dated London April 5, 1797.]
22r-40v Aphorisms and Process. Aphorismi Operis Maximi Antiquorum Sapientium. [In English.]
[Signed and dated at end]: "Above I have faithfully communicated our Aphorisms - Sigismund Bacstrom M.D., F.R.C., London, 5 April 1797."
[The major collection of Bacstrom's manuscripts is in the Manly Palmer Hall collection in the Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles.]
[See MS. 320 Item 5, for a few folios which seem to relate to the 'Aphorisms and Process'.]

MS. 23.
240 folios. 221x170mm. 18th Century. In German, short section in Latin.
Collectanea Chÿmica
f1-2 [Table of Contents.]
f3 Particulare ex Arsenico, nitro & Tartarto, Aliud ex Mercurio, Sulphure et Marte; Aliud es sale Ungarico.
f5-27 Sydonii Alexandri, verae Phil. et Med. Doctoris, Concordantia Chemica, daß ist Vergleichung Etlicher Philosophischen Schriften von Bereitung des Philosophischen Steins etc. zur besserer Explication Manualis Tincturae Phÿsicorum Apocalipsis et Libri Vexationum Theophrasti Paracelsi.
[Not Alexander Seton, but Alexander von Suchten, first printed in Franz Kieser, Cabala Chymica. Concordantia Chymica. Azot Philosophorum Solificatum, Mühlhausen 1606.]
f28-112 Roderigo Francisci Bassa Albanese de la Rova, Compendium Practicum et Anatomia vera Alchÿmica et Chÿmica, vel Explicatio plurimorum bonorum Authorum, sive defensio Operum et Scripturarum, etc. um 1644 conscriptum.
f116-131 O[mnia] A[d] M[aiorem] D[ei] G[loriam] Praxis et Processus der Edlen Gold Blumen, Rubin, Rosen und Gold Tincktur.
f132-238 Processus verus Componirung des aller Stärkesten Azoth Georgii Riplaei und aller Philosophischen Autorum ex Regno Vegetabili und künstlicher wie auch aus andern Verschiedenen Subjectis.

MS. 24.
83 folios. 263x196mm. 18th Century. In French.
f1 Priere a Dieu. Le Lîon Verd ou la Grande et la tres excellente Oeuvre des Sages par Jaques le Tesson. Chaudet Decembre 1786.
f2 [Two talismans 'Téosophique', with commentary in French.]
f41v [Pen drawing entitled 'Anneau de Platon' of double ouroboros dragons around a central hexagram with planetary symbols, copied from the frontispiece to Anton Josef Kirchweger, Aurea Catena Homeri, Franckfurt, 1723.]
f42-43 La Fontaine D'Aréthuse.
[Engraving inserted after f43 shows classical scene with Asclepius (?) holding rod with serpent entwined, and female figure holding another serpent. Both figures lean on an cubic carved stone, upon which we see a cloaked hermas (?) figure.]
f44-50 La Lumiere du jour. trés parfait opuscule ou passage de la mer rouge. [See Philovite (pseud) La Lumiere du Jour.]
f44v [Pen drawing of a 'figura cabalae', which has a man standing with legs and arms outstretched to form a pentagram. The symbols of the seven planets are arrainged around him. There radiates from the name of God Jehovah, at the top of the figure, streams of light. At the centre of the figure is a flaming heart pierced by an arrow. Below is an note, "extrait cette figure d'un ouvrage du 3 ou 4 tome du theatrum chimique 1787."]
f51 Esculape Egyptien [drawing of Seraphis figure.]
f52 Ecussion Simbolique [fine water colour of heraldic shield with alchemical symbols] let écussion est copiée exactement d'aprés le vitrager qui at daus La Chopelle de St Thomas J'aquin, ancienne eglise de jacobins de la Rue St Jaques.
f53-71 Le Trés Preçieux Don De Dieu. Par Gregorius Aurach D'argentine en 1475. [with 12 watercolour figures of 'Donum Dei' process in flask].
f75-83 Etoile de sages. Ex tenebris lux ipsa emerget ipsa enim potuit latibulum suum quia apparuit in monte circumdato caligine et nebula.

MS. 25.
6 folios+255 pages (196-255 blank). 240x189mm. 18th Century. In English.
f2v [4 pen drawings of figures copied from Dionysius Freher.]
p1-140 Letters Of Michael Sendivogius to the Rosey Crucian Society found in an Old Manuscript by Ebenezar Sibly 1791.
[See also MSS. 92 and 276.]
[This work was published in French Traitez du Cosmopolite nouvellement decouverts ou apres avoir donne unde idee d'une Societe de Philosophes..., Paris, 1691.]
p143-195 The Mystery contained in Sandivogius on the generation of metals explained. Communicated in a letter to a friend by Theophrastus Paracelsus. Providentially obtained by Ebenezar Sibly MD 1789.

MS. 26.
108 folios (13 blank). 229x166mm. 17th Century. In French.
Traité de Operations Chimiques.

MS. 27.
2 + 527 folios. 204x152 mm. 17th Century. In German. In original (leather on wooden boards) binding tooled with date "1606".
f1 Alchimia: Das ist modus preperandi wie durch Alchimistische bereitung alle mettal: mineral: Saltz: gstain: Holtz: Kreiter: Hartz: vnd anders etc: soll berait werden: aus dem Büechern Teophrasti zusamen gezogen. Darneben auch die geburt in kürtz: von etlichen Speci[ebus], sambt den canonischen reglen: Zu besser erkantnus dazu gesetzt: Souiel ich in den obgemelten büchern Teophrasti hab mögen bekumen: aud das treulichest anzaigt. Anno 1572: Leonhart Gagasser.
Register über das Buech modis preparandi oder Alchimia.
[Index to volume.]
f2 Namen der fürnemesten Büecher Teophrasti: darvon disess büechels oder: Auszugs modis preperationis Beschriben Ist.
f151 Ein tractat von mineralibus: das ist von den früchten des wassers: des hochgelerten Philipi Theophrasti Bombast von Hohenhaim der philosophi baider artznei Doctoris etc.
f212 Von dem Saltz und was das saltz begreifft.
f330 Von der stainen geburt und herkomen.
f388 Von den hackischen Gluten Aquatilium.
f487 Von ausziehung der Quinta essentia aus den kreütern.

MS. 28.
98 folios (numbered as pages 1-145, 1-49). 268x205 mm. 18th Century. In English.
The Book of that most generous lord, Bernard Count March Trevisan.
p1 Of the most secret Chemical Work of Philosophers, by means of elaborating nature and art.
p8 Part first of the Chemistry of Lord Bernard Trevisan. On the first Inventions of this art.
p15 Part second, in which are described the huge labours of the author and the great experiences with the singular operations from the beginning to the end, and truly with the most incontravertable success.
p83 Part third of the Book of Lord Bernard Count Trevisan in which he treats of the radexes and principles of the Metals and that by most evident reasons and authorities and Philosophical arguments.
p123-145 Fourth Book of Count March Trevisan of the practice of the Philosophers stone. [The allegory.]
p1-49 [New numbering] The third and last Part. Wherein is declared what the Metals are in their beginning and Principles, and how they ought to be considered.
[At end p.49]: "Anno 1593".

MS. 29.
222 pages + 31 pages. 239x175 mm. 18th Century. In French.
Le Rosaire des Philosophes.
[Translation of Rosarium Philosophorum into French. Includes 20 line drawings of the woodcuts from the 1550 edition.]
Traite de la fontaine des philosophes.
[Dated at end]: "1519".
[See also MSS. 6, 74, 96, 149, 210.]

MS. 30.
109 folios (of which 11 are blank). 159x112mm. 17th Century. In French.
Le desuoilement Des Tableaux Mistiques de l'Antiquité, ou La Chrystologie Chimique Diuiseé en trois livres. Dans Lesquels est manifesté ce qui a esté caché, & uoilé par l'Antiquité ou toutes difficultés de l'art sont elucideés du Germe de l'or, de la Genealogie ou regeneration du fils du soleil, avec l'Anatomie de l'eau.
[For another work by Lobiere, see MS. 159.]
[Inscribed inside back cover]: "MSS XVIIe - Collationne, Complet, Mars 1896. Guaita".

MS. 31.
22 folios (folios 1-6 are numbered i-vi) 4 engraved folios plus 16 folios of manuscript. 18th Century. In Latin and German.
[Four folios bearing oval engravings of the four elements, two signed 'W. Hamilton det. C. White scut.', followed by sixteen folios bearing circular drawings of alchemical emblems in ink and watercolour. Some have titles and mottos, some titles only. The inscriptions are are in Latin, except one which is in German. The drawings are on paper which was made in Amsterdam after 1740.]
f1-2 [Blank]
f3r-6r4 [Pasted in engravings of the four elements on the recto folios]:
"C. White Scu: W. Hamilton det."
f7r-22r [16 finely detailed water coloured circular emblems with titles mostly in Latin but two in German.]
1. "Preparatio Lapidis" [Man sits at table reading from a book while he works a pestle shaped like a caduceus in a mortar.]
2. "Porta Sapientiae" [Chronos meets Mercury.]
3. "Preparatio" [Griffin and wolf with black crow below and white bird ascending.]
4. "Calcinatio prima, labor ipse, solutio prima, hic adumbratur" [Vessel, fountain on table with Ouroborus and Caduceus.]
5. "Maria Virgo Vel Merc: Duplicati" [Double headed eagle with sword and caduceus, woman with seven stars round head.]
6. "Separatio albi à lacte Virginis" [Tree growing out of vessel with white and red roses in foreground.]
7 "Chaos Pondus naturale" [Crown with planetary symbols.]
8. "Das Philosoph Ey" [Egg holder with division along centre.]
9. "Reductio corporum Argenti vivi Creatio Lapidis" [Winged Mercury with caduceus standing in beside dragon.]
10. "Hermes" [Sun in Zodiac circle with symbol like hieroglyphic monad.]
11. "Compositio Prima" [Two circles, lower with dragon, upper with tree, green lion, red eagle and crowned bird.]
12. "Creatio lapidis" [Skeleton holds crow andwhite flower in each hand.]
13. "Resurrectio"[Christ rising from tomb, as in Rosarium Philosophorum.]
14. "Rubificatio" [Crowned lion above circle with king in red cloak stands in flames, holding signs of Saturn and Mars.]
15. "Fermentatio" [Crown above circle with green lion devouring sun, as in Rosarium Philosophorum.]
16. "Multiplicatio" [Three roses above circle. Pelican feeding its three young on its own blood.]

MS. 32
179 folios on vellum. 103x61mm. 15th Century. In Latin.
f1-81 Sal commune est claviger huius artis et claudit et aperit omnia... quia talis fistula est incurabilis.
[Alchemical work, the first page of which agrees with Albertus Magnus, De alchemia, ed. Zetzner, 1669, ii. 433.]
f83-179 Herbarum quasdam dicturus carmine uires.
[List of plants with recipes. See Macer, Johann Gregorius De viribus herbarum, 1510, and many later editions.]
[For full description see N.R. Ker Medieval MSS in British Libraries, vol. 2 (1977) pp.882.]

MS. 33.
191x137mm. 2 vellum folios +113 folios + 1 vellum folio + 6 folios. 18th Century. In French.
[There are two large and two small miniatures painted on vellum.]
[Bookplate of Stanislas de Guaita.]
[There is a woodcut pasted on the reverse of the flyleaf showing two crowned coats of arms within the space of an arch supported by classical columns. Below in the centre is a three blossomed plant (possibly a lily) with a fire breathing dragon on the left and a wolf on the right.]
Vellum folio 1v [Painting of caduceus, blue snakes and brown toad.]
Vellum folio 1r [Painting of two blue snakes around spring or fountain.]
Vellum folio 2v [Full page painting entitled "L'Esprit cache , secret de l'or des philosophes". An Atlas figure holds the globe of the Earth with ecliptic and zodiac on his shoulders. He stands upon a sea shore, and a banner runs from one of his hands to the other with "Visita Interiora Terrae praeter eunda Invenies Occultum Lapidem". (This is a variation of the Vitriol acrostic found on illustrations in Azoth of Basil Valentine "Visita Interiora Terrae rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem"). In front of him are seven animals, and to his right "Prudentia" with a red book and triple-faced head. On his left "Simplicitas" and a naked infant.]
f1 La nature a decouuert.
f26 La vraye medecine vniuerselle.
f29v La pierre philosophalle
f39v Le Regles generalles touchant la matiere de la pierre.
f52 La science chimique.
f58vActions et misteres de lart.
f73 La chymie chrestienne.
f86v Chymie poetique.
Vellum folio 3r [Full page painting. Beneath seven stars labelled with the planetary symbols is a circular space within which a man lies at the bottom. Upon him as a black crow and two winged figures hover above him with lines linking them to his mouth. This illustration is found in Herbrandt Jamsthaler, Viatorium Spagyricum, Franckfurt, Lucas Jennis 1625.]

MS. 34.
125 folios. 144x80mm. 18th Century. In French.
f2 Gardés ce manuscrit gracieusment. Il est intelligible Le Ms de Beauharnais 1775. Livres avant de faire usage de la manuscrit la Chimie Experimentale de Baume en 4 Vol in 8° imprimé a Paris en 1774. Sevend chez didot le jeune quay des augustins. Livres de Texte de l'Alchimie du Sr. Angot Medicin a Paris en 1694. il est clair et intelligible particulierment sur la matiere dont est composé La mercure du philosophes.
[See Antoine Baumé, Chymie expérimentale et raisonée,Paris, 1773.]
f65-113 [Blank.]
f114-120 Manuscrit est intitulé L'Escalier du Sages.
f121-123 [Table of Contents.]
[In similar binding stamped with heraldic crest and in the same hand as MS. 35.]
MS. 35.
148 folios. 193x123mm. 18th Century. In French.
f1 [Note by Ferguson]: "Aux ames du marquis de La Terte-Beauharnais et de Marie-Anne Pyvart de Chastullé."
f2-8 Maximes Constantes
[Notes and explanations of alchemical terms.]
f10-12 Laboratoire.
[At end on f12]: "Cet article est du Philosophe Esphenor."
f13-140 [Numbered as pages 1-260] Ustencilles du Laboratoire Voyes la Chimie Experimentale et Raisonne De Mr Baumé. M[aitre] apoticaire de Paris. demonstrateur En Chimie a paris, chez S[ieur].F[irmin] Didot la Jeune Libraire de la faculté de Medicine quay de augustins 1774.
[Text in 53 'articles'.]
[See Ms. 34.]
f142-146 [Table of contents of the 'articles'.]

MS. 36.
188 folios (of which 21 are blank). 185x115mm. 18th Century. In English.
Lectures on Chemistry by Joseph Black.
[Notes on part of the lectures on the elements of chemistry delivered by Black at Edinburgh University, where he became Professor of Chemistry in 1766.]
[With bookplate of John Whitefoord Mackenzie.]
[See also MSS. 40 and 41.]

MS. 37.
44 folios. 217x157mm. 16th Century. In Latin.
f1 Testamentum Raimundi Lulli de Lapidibus.
[In different hand] "Michelangeli".
f2 Jesus Maria. Incipit Testamentum Angelorum, et Liber sapientiae, ac Tesaurus totius Mundi Lapidarius benedictus Liber secretissimus Angelorum revelatus ab Angelo Domini Dei divino sacroque Doctori celeberrimo Raymundo Lullo Maioricani...
[Some small marginal pen drawings on f17 and f18.]

MS. 38.
38 folios. 196x149mm. 17th Century. In English.
Albertus Magnus. Concerning ye secrettes of woomen.
[This is a translation of the text of Albertus Magnus De secretis mulierum, various editions 1478-1702, the commentary being omitted.]
[35 line drawings in ink on thin paper pasted down on folios 24-36. There is also a small woodcut illustration which has been cut out of a printed book, pasted down on leaf 28 recto.]
[With bookplate of Samuel Merriman.]

MS. 39.
58 folios on vellum, bound in wood boards. 200x152mm. 15th Century. In Latin.
f1-40 Liber primus de LXX de alchimia. Liber divinitatis.
[Text in two columns with red initial letters to paragraphs.]
[See Geber, Liber divinitatis, De Alchemia, various editions, Argentorati 1529, Norimbergae 1541.]
f30-39 [A number of extracts and recipes.]
f40r-41v [List of chemical substances. With some notes added later.]
f41r-58 [Another unidentifiable text in single column.]
[For full description see N.R. Ker Medieval MSS in British Libraries, vol. 2 (1977) pp.882-4.]

MS. 40, 41.
196 + 147 folios. 209x128mm. 18th Century. In English.
[Lectures on the elements of Chemistry by Joseph Black in two volumes.]
[1 folding illustration of Fahrenheit scale of temperatures, some ink drawings in second volume.
These volumes contain notes on part of the lectures delivered by Black at the University of Edinburgh, where he became Professor of Chemistry in 1766.]
[Inscribed]: "Phillips MSS 17837".
[See also MS. 173,174.]
[See Yale University Mss. Mellon 113 and 118.]

MS. 42.
166 folios. 198x153mm. 16th Century (circa 1577). In German.
f1-104 Librorum Theophrasti Paracelsi ex Hohenhaim Germani doctoris secretum secretorum in medicina.
f106-166 Secreta und arcana von H.G. die er selbst für sich sein ganz hauss und seine guete freund mehrerthail bissher selbst pro secret[o] gebraucht und khein anders dess bissher mitgethailt darumb wann ir diss weit werdt bringen. Werd ichs auch desto haimblicher halten.
[See MS. Leiden, Voss. Chim. 4° 72, ff.41-134; MS. Görlitz(Breslau) Mylich No. 54; MS. Kassel. See also Sudhoff, Karl Paracelsus MSS.]
MS. 43.
30 folios (of which 15 are blank). 195x150mm. Early 18th Century. In English.
A collection of sundrie approved receipts in phisike & chirurgerie. With others added of very necessarie use.
[Inscribed on the second leaf, in a different hand]: "The Honourable Laday Stanhopes Book."

MS. 44.
68 folios. 218x153mm. 16th Century. In Latin.
f1-7r Incipit liber de Doctrina magistri Arnaldi de Villa Nova.
f7v-17 Incipit Liber perfecti magisteri M. Arnaldi de Villa Nova... Flos Florum...
f18-26 Speculum Alchimie quidam dicunt Arnaldi de Villa Nova quidam Joannis Dastin, Roggierii Bachonis de Alchimia libellus.
f27-62 Rosarium magnum Joannis Dastin.
[See Arnald de Villanova, Chymische Schrifften, Vienna, 1748.]

MS. 45.
288 pages. 235x174mm. 17th Century. In French.
[Orthelius] Commentateur de la Nouvelle Lumiere Chimique de Michel Sendivogius polonais, augmentée et ornée de douze figures qui ont ete Trouvées en Allemagne et publies en faveur de Enfans eléves de la Philosophie hermetique traduit d'allemand en latin et de Latin en francois.
p24 [Figure 1. Hills with stream running down cliff into river.]
p38 [Figure 2. Round, brick built furnace with retort receiving apparatus.]
p40 [Figure 3. Two distilling furnaces with retort receiving apparatus set upon stools.]
p42 [Figure 4. Man working pestle in a large mortar. Liquid pours from flat vessel on table into round receiver.]
p47 [Figure 5. Flask is set on table in front of a window on the left, and exposed to light. On the right is a square furnace.]
p50 [Unnumbered illustration. Flask beside window is set on top of a pan of red hot coals. the long neck oif the retort is led out through a small hole in the window. Within the flask are two layers labelled "marmor" and "spongia". A pipe runs out of the lower part of this vessel into a round flask.]
p53 [Figure 6. Illustration is split into two parts. On the left a wooden bucket full of a brown earth stands on an open plain. On the right a bucket full of green vegetation stands under the Moon, Sun and Stars.]
p56 [Figure 7. A man stands and stirs the contents of a large wooded bucket. Beside him is a small bucket on a chair.]
p69 [Figure 8. A man seated at a table uses compasses, and holds a long roll of paper. Through the open door we look out on a miner with hammer and chisel working in a cave.]
p81 [Figure 9. A man seated at a table shapes the neck of a flask.]
p85 [Figure 10. Two Furnaces. That on the left is a tall cylindrical furnace of light brown bricks, while on the right is a square furnace of blue bricks.]
p89 [Figure 11. A scene of a man ploughing a field while behind him another casts the seed. On the left is a hut within which a man is seen.]
p92 [Figure 12. Shows a tower and a low round wall like that around a well. From this well a pillar of smoke arises. On the right is a strange egg shaped enclosure with the pans of a scales. This is set on a hemispherical shape with what could be a space below for heating up the egg shape above.]
p 288 [At end there is pasted in a printed section showing the armorial devices of Nicolas Lambert 1594, Thorin Richard 1595, Pierre Parfait, echevin en 1626, Charles le Comte 1613.]
[12 of these fine watercolour illustrations are found as engraved versions in Commentarius in 'Novum Lumen Chymicum Michaelis Sendivogii Poloni, XII. figuris in Germania repertis illustratum', included in Theatrum Chemicum, 1661, vi. p. 397, also Manget, J.J. Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa,1702, ii, p. 516.]

MS. 46.
32 pages. 221x168mm. Late 18th or early 19th Century (the paper is watermarked 1797). In English.
p1-29 Metallurgia of the generation of metals and that from metals and minerals alone the Stone of the Wise can be made, by anonymous an experienced hermetic philosopher. But by the language style and allegories surely written by Count Bernard de Treviso, moreover as he quotes his own writings where his name is annexed. Translated from the original German by S:B:
p30-31 Process of Leona Constantia, Lady Abbess of Clermont... p.113 i.e. Sunflower of the Wise.
[Short quotations with interpretative notes by Bacstrom. See MS. 202]
p32 [Short notes by Bacstrom critical of certain manuscripts he has copied].
[Bookplate of William Gordon of Fyvie.]

MS. 47.
98 pages with 4 folios removed between pp 20-21 and 3 folios removed after p.98. 193x132mm. 16th Century. In Italian and Latin.
[Book of recipes, numerical kabbalistic tables, and extracts from alchemical texts.]
p1-20 [Series of recipes, the first few of which are entitled as follows.]
Olio de Balsamino Composto magistrale. Balsamo Innocentio XI.
Balsamo Simpatico.
Per far se perle Orientali, che Habbino il vero sustro Orientale.
Acqua Balsamina.
Balsamo bianco per ferite.
[and 21 others.]
p21-32 Testamento di Bernardo Carletti da Capranica copiato dall'originale. [Various recipes.]
p33-42 Secreto Mirabilissimo.
p43 Nota carmina. [Verse in Latin.]
p44-45 Declaratio supradictorum Carminum.
p47-58 Cabala, seu Kabala.
[p48 has pyramidical table of numbers.]
p59-75 Lapidis philosophorum dilucidatio, sive lumen indeficiens, fugans mansionum teneas Universas ex Philosopho Santivogio, et quam Plurimis.
p76-80 Aurea Clavis Aristei philosophi ad filium. [Latin verse.]
[The Latin verse closely resembles that given in Alexandre Limojon Toussaint de, Lettre d'un philosophe ... ecrite au sujet des instructions qu'Aristee a laissees a son fils... Paris, 1668.]
p81-83 Liber tranmissus Alexandro Regi. Qui abstractus est de maiori Opere, quod peribuit Hermogenes, qui dixit. Deus sapientum. [In Latin.]
[At end]: "Libro mandato ad Rege Alessandro..."
p85-87 [Tables of numbers. The page is divided into six sections, each of which conain a table of numbers in 9 columns.]
p88-98 [Pages lined into 6 sections but no numerical tables have been inserted.]

MS. 48.
211 folios. 205x161mm. 17th Century. In French.
[Friedrich von Spee.] Advis aux criminalistes sur les proces des sorciers et sorcieres necessaires aux confesseurs pour se bien conduire en cette affaire au salut et consolation de ces pauvres ames.
[A French translation of Spee's Cautio criminalis. The first printed French translation was published at Lyons in 1660, with the title Advis aux criminalistes sur les abus qui se glissent dans les proces de sorcelerie... This printed version was the work of F.B. (Frederick Bouvot) de Velledor.]

MS. 49.
144 folios. 222x152mm. 16th Century, bound in oak boards and leather. In Latin.
[Title on f1]: "Summa perfecti magisterii Gebrii Regii super lapide phylosophorum editus anno domini 1350."
f3 Incipit Summa perfecti magisterii Gebrii.
[A number of pen drawings of furnaces and alchemical apparatus appear in the text.]
[See Jabir ibn Haiyan, Summa perfectionis magisterii, Venetiis, 1475.]
f97 Liber de investigatione perfectionis magisterii. Geber.
f108 Incipit prologus libri de septuaginta. Est secretorum liber septuaginta.
f134 Incipit Opus Magni magistri Johannis de Rupescissa.
Begins: "Consyderavi tribulationes electorum..."
[At end f143]: "Explicit libri huius magisterii magister Johanis de Rupescissa ... anno dom 1350 die 4 octobr."
[Johannes de Rupescissa, Liber Lucis. See Singer, No. 293. Printed in Theatrum Chemicum, III, p. 284-191.]

MS. 50.
147 pages. 211x129mm. 19th Century. In French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Text in black ink with headings, etc in red, placed within double ruled margin.
[Pseudo-Solomon] Ars Notoria
f1 "L'Art du temps le plus court, que le Créateur suprême a revelé à Salomon." [Added in later hand "Que le Grand Architecte de l'Univers a rendé à Salomon.] "Au nom de la Sainte et indivisible Trinite, commence l'Art des Arts, Tres Saint, que le Createur Supreme a communique a Salomon et fait remettre par un Ange sur l'Autel du Temple,..."
f3 Mercure Trismegiste et Apolonius nomment cet Art des Fleurs d'Or.
f5 Chant Secret
f9 Priere Hebraique, elle est composee de Grec, d'Hebreux et de Chaldeen.
Cette Priere Ordonnee par Salomon et qu'aucun langage humain ne peut rendre. Apollonius, ami et successeur de salomon, y voit des Mysteres divins, profonds et tres-Saints; toujours a prononcer avant aucune autre.
[On p. 138]: "le 26 avril 1826"