01-31-2026, 10:34 AM
The Duke, the Soldier of Fortune, and a Rosicrucian Legacy: Exploring the Roles of Manuscripts in Early-Modern Alchemy
By Mike A Zuber
"By the time it was published in 1705, the "Speculum Sapientiae" claimed to have had a long history going back to 1672. However, the fact that exaggerated stories were commonplace in alchemical literature leads us to question its credibility. This paper explores the secret lives of this alchemical text prior to its print publication to clarify the roles of manuscripts in early-modern alchemy. Specifically, I argue that there were three aspects that could distinguish manuscript from print: provenance, materiality, and exclusivity."
https://www.academia.edu/36673720/The_Du...rn_Alchemy
By Mike A Zuber
"By the time it was published in 1705, the "Speculum Sapientiae" claimed to have had a long history going back to 1672. However, the fact that exaggerated stories were commonplace in alchemical literature leads us to question its credibility. This paper explores the secret lives of this alchemical text prior to its print publication to clarify the roles of manuscripts in early-modern alchemy. Specifically, I argue that there were three aspects that could distinguish manuscript from print: provenance, materiality, and exclusivity."
https://www.academia.edu/36673720/The_Du...rn_Alchemy