The Alchemical Transformations of the Mutus Liber (1677)

[Paul Ferguson]

"The Mutus Liber — “Mute Book” — is a work of few words. Most appear on its first plate, where we are told that the book’s author, “Altus”, has created “hieroglyphic figures” to illustrate the “hermetic philosophy”. They hover over a sleeping Jacob, dreaming of the angels on the ladder of heaven, one of whom is attempting to wake him with his trumpet. This is a biblical scene, but, for those in the know, it also provides keys to the secret of the Philosopher’s Stone, the mythical substance that could turn lead into gold."

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/mutus-liber/