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The Alchemy web site on Levity.com Alchemy Academy archive June 2002 Back to alchemy academy archives. Thu, 06 Jun 2002 From: Jon Marshall On the web site, Adam mentions a number of late 16th century manuscripts of the Book of Lamspring MS 16752 National museum of Nurnberg MS P 2177 Zurich Zentral Bibliothek MS M I92 University of Salzberg ???? University of Leiden which, if i read correctly, have illustrations. Does anyone know how similar any of these illustrations are to the engravings we are all familiar with? I'm basically thinking of trying to investigate different illustrations of the same text, to find out how these illustrations were transformed by differnt people. This may be totally impossible from Australia! jon Subject: ACADEMY : Book of Lambspring Thu, 06 Jun 2002 From: M.E. Warlick Hi Jon, I happen to be in Leiden at the moment, and could look at their manuscript for you, if you know the number. Yesterday, I started looking at the wonderful Voss Chem. 29. Within that one is the rather unusual series of the woman who first launches a ship, and later she plays with a unicorn. I don't have the folio numbers with me at the moment, but these illstrations are reproduced in Van Lennep, I think. Anyway, there are animals also on these pages, and I think they might be related to the Lambspring series. Perhaps, this is what you had in mind? I've also seen the one in Nurnberg, and can transcribe my notes of that one to you when I return to Denver in late June. You can get in touch (mwarlick@du.edu) off line with me then. Thanks! M.E. Warlick Subject: ACADEMY : Book of Lambspring Fri, 07 Jun 2002 From: Jon Marshall M.E. Warlick wrote: > I happen to be in Leiden at the moment, and could look at their > manuscript for you, if you know the number. I only know of it at all because of it being mentioned by Adam in his essay on the book http://www.levity.com/alchemy/lambjrny.html and no number is given. Adam any recollection? The Voss Chem MS sounds interesting, and it would be nice to see the illustrations, but I'm not sure whether it would be useful to me or not, because there is always the problem of connection between 'similar' images when in different works unless some other connection can be established. Oh if only we could scan all the MS and have them online :) Thanks for the offer of your notes on the Nurnberg MS, and I'll get in touch with you offlist thanks... jon Subject: ACADEMY : Book of Lambspring Fri, 07 Jun 2002 From: Adam McLean Jon, > and no number is given. Adam any recollection? This article was written back in the 1980's, for the Hermetic Journal, and I cannot remember the source of this information. I took a look at the catalogue of the alchemical books in Leiden and there does not seem to be any Lambspring there. I think we should put this reference down to my error. Nine of the illustrations from the Salzburg manuscript are reproduced in Cardini, Franco and Gabriele, Mino Exaltatio Essentiae Essentia Exaltata. Pancini Editore, Pisa, 1992. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Eudoxus From: Brenton Fletcher Thu, 06 Jun 2002 Is the character Eudoxus in the Hermetic Triumph drawn from the mathematician of 4th century BC Asia Minor who developed a system of 27 spheres describing the geometry of Nature? Brenton Fletcher. Subject: ACADEMY: Lull reference in Yeats 'Rosa Alchemica' From: Adam McLean 11 June 2002 Can anyone help with this question ? W.B. Yeats wrote a story entitled 'Rosa Alchemica' in THE SECRET ROSE (1897). Much of his alchemical lore is pastiche, but his interests and some of his sources were surprisingly well-informed, in particular those that relate to his interest in and reading of Basilius Valentinus. However, elsewhere his sources and references can be more fugitive. In particular he alludes to Raymond Lully as having 'transformed himself into the likeness of a red cock'. Much of W.B. Yeats's superficial information comes from Waite via 'The Hermetic Museum' and 'Lives of Alchemystical Philosophers', but not, as far as I can see this detail. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY: Lull reference in Yeats 'Rosa Alchemica' From: N J Mann Tue, 11 Jun 2002 Dear Adam, You're right to draw attention to Yeat's relatively superficial knowledge of alchemy but, as my question concerning the green dragon a while ago indicated, he picked up a lot of material which was out of the way. By the way, do not rely on Gorski's book *Yeats and Alchemy* since it seriously underestimates Yeats's knowledge of alchemy at source, and for instance confuses Yeats's copy of Hartmann's Paracelsus with Hartmann's Boehme. Yeats's references to Avicenna show that he certainly did not rely upon "The Lives of the Alchemystical Philosophers" for his information and it is clear that he also knew the Harleian copy of "Splendor Solis" at first hand. A lot of his knowledge came through the Golden Dawn: MacGregor Mathers was seriously interested in alchemy and William Ayton was actively involvedbin it; Warwick Gould notes that much of Yeats's "alchemical learning . . . came from Ayton's stimulus and that of his friends" (in his review of Ellic Howe's edition of Ayton's letters, *The Alchemist of the Golden Dawn*, *Yeats Annual 5*, 279-80, [Wellingborough: Aquarian Press, 1985]). Mathers was also strongly influenced by Anna Kingsford, who in turn was a proponent of Mary Ann Atwood's spiritual alchemy. In "The Green Helmet and other Poems" Yeats confuses Ramon Lull and Nicholas Flamel (grouping a series of poems under the collective title "Raymond Lully and his wife Pernella"), indicating that he heard quite a lot that did not all sink in. Sadly word of mouth is the most fugitive of all sources for those of us who come after, but it is most likely that this is where Yeats came by his material in this case. Gould is producing a new edition of "Rosa Alchemica" in a volume for the Collected Works which may have traced a printed source. Yours ever, Neil Mann Subject: ACADEMY: Lecturer/Researcher post in Amsterdam From: Adam McLean 11 June 2002 The subdepartment "History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents" (GHF) located at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Humanities, is looking for A University Lecturer/Researcher (m/f) History of Esoteric Currents in Early Modernity In 1999 a new institution for teaching and research was created at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, devoted to the academic study of so-called "Western esoteric" currents in modern culture (detailed information: http://www.amsterdamhermetica.com). In this context, "Western esotericism" is understood in the technical academic sense of the word, as referring to a complex of interrelated currents that have existed in western society from the early modern period up to the present day. Accordingly, the field includes the revival of Hermetism and the so-called "Occult Philosophy" in the early modern period and its later developments; Alchemy, Paracelsianism and Rosicrucianism; Christian and post-Christian kabbalah; Theosophical and Illuminist currents; and various occultist and related developments during the 19th and 20th centuries, including the New Age movement. Western Esoteric currents have played - and continue to play - a significant role in the religious landscape of the modern West, but have tended to be neglected by academic research. The Amsterdam subdepartment for "History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents" (GHF) combines the world's second university chair in this field with the world's first complete research group combined with an academic teaching curriculum. In this context, the history of Western esotericism is studied and taught from an empirico-historical (religiously neutral) and interdisciplinary perspective, and with special attention to the complex nature of the relation between these currents and processes of modernization, rationalization and secularization. The general goal is to make a significant contribution to the academic professionalization of the study of Western esotericism as a domain of study in its own right; a more specific goal is to demonstrate the relevance of this domain of research to our understanding of the foundations of modern Western culture and society, and hence to stimulate cross-fertilization with other disciplines interested in the latter. From 2000-2002 the position of lecturer/researcher "History of Esoteric Currents in Early Modernity" has been held by Dr. J.-P. Brach. The vacancy results from the fact that Dr. Brach was recently appointed full professor at the chair "Histoire des Courants Mystiques dans l'Europe moderne et contemporaine" of the 5th section of the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Sorbonne), Paris, as successor of Antoine Faivre. The academic staff of the subdepartment GHF presently consists of Prof.dr. W.J. Hanegraaff (head of subdept.), Dr. O. Hammer (lecturer/researcher History of Esoteric Currents 19th-20th cent.), and Drs. M.J.E. van den Doel (Ph.D. research associate early modernity, in temporary appointment; the position for a second Ph.D. research associate, for 19th-20th cent., is presently vacant). The position involves the following tasks: - Research. The lecturer/researcher will be expected to initiate personal research projects in the field of esoteric currents in Western culture since the Renaissance, focusing on the earlier period (15th-18th cent.; obviously with due attention to historical roots in antiquity and the middle ages), and to publish actively in appropriate scholarly media. S/he will also be expected to collaborate in common research activities with the other staff members of the subdepartment, and with staff members of other (sub)departements of the Faculty or of other Faculties if the occasion calls for it. - Teaching. GHF offers a 3-course "minor" Western esotericism in the context of the Bachelor's program Religious Studies (in Dutch), and a full-time trajectory "Mysticism and Western Esotericism" in the context of the Master's program Religious Studies (in English). The lecturer/researcher will be expected to teach various courses in both programs, both in lecture and in seminar settings. Within reasonable limits s/he may also be asked to participate in general courses in the context of the department Religious Studies. S/he is expected to master the Dutch language during the first two years of the appointment. - Organization/Administration. Within reasonable limits the lecturer/researcher may be asked to be active in one or more special committees of the Faculty. Candidates should fit the following profile: Ph.D. (or equivalent) in a discipline of the humanities. Specialization in, or relevant to, one or more areas of historical research belonging to the domain of "Western esotericism" in the early modern period (15th-18th century), having resulted in academic publications of high quality. Active interest in interdisciplinary research and teamwork in the context of the humanities and the social sciences, within a research program focused on the interrelations between Western esotericism and processes of modernization. Good didactic qualities. Good command of Latin and English. Salary: according to the standard norms for University Lecturers in the Netherlands, with an eventual maximum of Euro 4325,-- bruto p./m. Letters of application, with C.V. and list of publications, should be sent Prof. Dr. W.J. Hanegraaff, Fac. of Humanities/Dept. Religious Studies, Oude Turfmarkt 147, NL-1012 GC Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e-mail: w.hanegraaff@hum.uva.nl General information: until 1 July 2002, and from 5 August to 1 September: Mrs. H. Nobach (secretary) at the same address. E-mail hermetica@hum.uva.nl from 1 July to 5 August: Prof.dr. W.J. Hanegraaff (at the above address/e-mail address). Deadline for letters of application: 1 September 2002. =============================================================== Hilda Nobach secretary Subdepartment History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents (University of Amsterdam) Oude Turfmarkt 143 (visiting address) Oude Turfmarkt 147 (postal address) 1012 GC Amsterdam tel: +31 (0)20 525 3571; fax: +31 (0)20 525 3572 e-mail: hermetica@hum.uva.nl http://www.amsterdamhermetica.nl http://www.amsterdamhermetica.com Subject: ACADEMY: Lull reference in Yeats 'Rosa Alchemica' Tue, 11 Jun 2002 From: Rafal T. Prinke > However, elsewhere his sources and references can be more fugitive. In > particular he alludes to Raymond Lully as having 'transformed himself into > the likeness of a red cock'. Much of W.B. Yeats's superficial information > comes from Waite via 'The Hermetic Museum' and 'Lives of > Alchemystical Philosophers', but not, as far as I can see this detail. I would think that it is Yeats's own symbol of the "awakening", and especially in this context it may allude to the English meaning of "lull". This symbol also appears in his "Dreaming of Bones": Red bird of March, begin to crow! Up with the neck and clap the wing, Red cock, and crow! Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher From: Adam McLean 12 June 2002 Has anyone solved the question posed on the title page of Michelspacher's 'Cabala Spiegel der Kunst und Natur; In Alchymia' ? On the title page it states "by an unknown yet known Author, as the engraved seal of the first figure does testify". This seems to relate to the seal composed of interwoven letters on the first emblem of the work This appears to be composed of the letters A G P L With three other possibles M E I The 'M' may in fact be merely the bar of the letter 'A'. The 'E' is suggested by the short middle bar on the right upright of the 'A', however, no upper bar appears to complete the 'E'. We should not entirely exclude the possibility of an 'I' suggested by the dot above the upright. One should be here expecting a German name, 'Pagel' , or 'Paleg' immediately come to mind. The British Library manuscript Sloane 3676 has a late 17th century English translation, indicates in brackets that this was Leonardus Thurneisser, however, I can find no corroboration of this, or see how this may relate to the seal. Have any German scholars solved this? Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher From: Mike Dickman Wed, 12 Jun 2002 If you take the P as a Greek R (ro) *as well as* a P and read the upright on the G as a C with the left upright of an H standing in it, the right one being the upright of the P/R/I to the right of it, if you will also accept a reversed S, it actually reads Michelspacher. Just a suggestion. m Subject: ACADEMY: Lull reference in Yeats 'Rosa Alchemica' From: N J Mann Wed, 12 Jun 2002 Dear Adam, There may actually be a source for this, though I haven't been able to check originals in the library yet. Peter Marshall in his book *The Philosopher's Stone* (Macmillan, 2001) refers to John Cremer's Testament, the source of several legends about Ramon Llull/Lull/Lully, and notes that: "He further claims that Lull was able to transform himself into a red cock at will" (297). Yeats would have been able to read the Cremer in A. E. Waite's The Hermetic Museum, restored and enlarged ... Now first done into English from the Latin original published at Frankfort in the year 1678, 2 vols. (London: Elliott & Co., 1893). There is a version available on the web (http://www.sacred-texts.com/alc/hermmuse/) but it doesn't contain this detail, so I can't be sure about it and I haven't been able to check. It may be that Waite edited the document but may have mentioned details to Yeats. From the books I have to hand, A. E. Waite is scathing about Cremer. Waite sees the alchemist Raymond Lully as the second of the name and writes in The Holy Kabbalah that his "legend, enshrined in the deceitful memorial of a so-called Abbot of Westminster, was unknown, so far as I can trace, till the beginning of the seventeenth century" (439) and gives the following details: Testamentum Cremeri, Abbatis Westmonasteriensis, Angli, Ordinis Benedictini first published in Frankfurt by Michael Maier in 1618, the third tract of Tripus Aureus, hoc est tres tractatus chymici selectissimi and reappearing in Museum Hermeticum Reformatum et Amplificatum (1678) which Waite translated in 1893. Waite also wrote Raymond Lully: Illuminated Doctor, Alchemist and Christian Mystic (1922). Yours ever, Neil Mann. Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher From: Stanislas Klossowski de Rola Wed, 12 Jun 2002 Mike is exactly right there is nothing mysterious in this sigil. It is Michelspacher's signature. Stanislas Klossowski de Rola Subject: ACADEMY : Which Book of Alanus? Thu, 13 Jun 2002 From: Rafal T. Prinke In the preface to his _Dialogue between Mercury, the Alchemists, and Nature_ Sendivogius mentions that the Alchemist read "the works of the philosophers, and among others that of Alanus on Mercury, whereby he became a philosopher indeed". In the original Latin text it says "Librum Alani, qui de Mercurio tractat". The only work by an Alanus I could trace is _Dicta Alani_, first published in 1582 together with Trevisanus's _Von der Hermetischenn Philosophia_. Is there any other possible identification? Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher From: Adam McLean 13 Jun 2002 I am still a bit puzzled by this seal, and whether it is merely Michelspacher's signature. One of the reasons for this is the fact that Michelspacher had in 1613 printed and published some engravings which were to astound the medical profession in 1619. These were the now well known anatomical engravings which had many opening out flaps so one could explore the inner structure of the human body. These were designed by Johann Remmelin and were published in his Catoptrum microcosmicum, suis ære incisis visionibus splendens, cum historia, & pinace, de novo prodit. Augustæ Vindelicorum [Augsburg]: Typis Dauidis Francki, 1619. MIchelspacher had already issued these engravings in 1613 without permission and without fully crediting Remmelin. Indeed the preface of the 'Cabala: Spiegel der Kunst und Natur' seems to be an attempt to explain this to Remmelin. Catoptron microcosmicum. Absolvtam admirandae partivm hominis .I:R: Inventor. Stephan Michelspacher. Execudit. [Ulm?], 1613. Michelspacher, Stephan: Elucidarius, tabulis synopticis, microcosmici laminis incisi aeneis, admirandem partium hominis creaturarum divinarum fabricam repraesentantis, catoptri, litterae et characteres explicans : ex pinace microcosmographico eidem catoptro excriptus, et nunc primum magno omnium mortalium fructu luci publicae datus / Stephan Michelspacher. 1614. It seems something similar may have been done with the 'Cabala: Spiegel der Kunst und Natur'. The title page has the phrase "by an unknown yet known Author, as the engraved seal of the first figure does testify". Michelspacher's name appears on the title page "in verlegung Steffan Michelspacher" that is, as the publisher, not the author. Had Michelspacher again found some engravings and gone ahead publishing these without permission ? Perhaps after the Remmelin incident his conscience was pricking him and he wanted to recognise the "unknown yet known author" of these remarkable images. The text of the 'Cabala: Spiegel der Kunst und Natur', presumably written by Michelspacher seems to me not entirely insightful into the content of these allegorical images. Was he the creator of these emblems? The engraver Raphael Custos is a jobbing engraver of the time, not distinguished by having any alchemical agenda, so we must suppose he worked from detailed drawings, rather than devising the images. Michelspacher's name appears on the engraving "Stephan Michelspacher ex[cudit or excudebat]" That is, as creator, inventor, or composer. I wonder if this is really true ? Why mention "the engraved seal of the first figure" testifying to the name of the author, when this was already engraved on the plate "Stephan Michelspacher ex" ? This still raises questions for me. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Which Book of Alanus? Thu, 13 Jun 2002 From: Marisa Addomine My suggestion is that we are probably speaking about Alanus de Insulis (Alain de l'Isle, or de Lille): Dicta Alani is a work of his, other texts survive. Are we speaking about the same author ? Marisa Subject: ACADEMY : Which Book of Alanus? Thu, 13 Jun 2002 From: Adam McLean Rafal, Could it be amongst these manuscripts ? MS. Sloane 1255. Dicta Alani Philosophi de lapide philosophico e Germanico idiomate latine reddita per Justum a balbian Alostanum. f234v-239. MS. Harley 4724. 3. The sayings of Alanus the Philosopher, of the Philosophers Stone. f.71. MS. Ferguson 118. 1. f1-31 Secret tres noble et veritable de venerable homme Jodocy Greuery. [French translation of Iodocus Grewer, 'Secretum; et Alani philosophi dicta de lapide philosophico', Lugduni Batavorum, 1599.] Mellon Collection, Yale University Library MS. 5. [c. 1400] 21. Alanus. Rotatio elementorum. 22. Alanus. Liber alchemisticus. Orléans MS. 1032. 4. p47 Dicta Alani, philosophi, de lapide philosophico. Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale MS. Palat. 867 [756 - 21,2.] 3. f129-136r M. Alano di Boemia. Pratica di Alchimia, a papa Bonifazio ottavo [in Italian.] Modena, Biblioteca Estense MS. Latin 362. 11. Incipit rotatio elementorum secundum Alanum [de Insulis]. Venice, Biblioteca Marciana MS. Lat. VI. 215. [3519.] 10. Alani. Rotatio Elementorum. Dresden MS. N. 174. 4. f2-7v Hie habt sich an die geticht und lere des Meisters Alani. Leiden MS. Vossianus Chym. F. 3. 24. f206v-209v Alanus, Tractatus eximius. Leiden MS. Vossianus Chym. O. 4. 8. f70-72v Libellus Alani. Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher Bcc: ACADEMY From: Michal Pober Thu, 13 Jun 2002 Dear Adam, >One of the reasons for this is the fact that Michelspacher had >in 1613 printed and published some engravings which were to >astound the medical profession in 1619. These were the now >well known anatomical engravings which had many opening >out flaps so one could explore the inner structure of the human >body. These were designed by Johann Remmelin and were >published in his In "The Golden Game" Stanislas has some small variations regarding this information. He says of Michelspacher: 'In 1615 collaborated on an anatomical work, "Pinax microcomographicus, with its main author, Johann Remmelin to whom the present work is dedicated." >"by an unknown yet known Author". and this he translates by one who is unknown but knowledgeable.' My German is non-existent but there is clearly a different emphasis in these two renderings. Stash also notes that the titles of the 3 Latin editions, the first published in Augsburg in 1704, contain a Rosicrucian reference: "Rosae Crucis fraterniti dicata edita, quo hoc in materia amplius nil desideretur": Published [and] dedicated to the Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross; than which in this matter let no fuller statement be desired." [S.K.'s translation] Co-incidentally I had a brief exchange recently with Dr Karpenko regarding one of these plates, and the way that we had used it. We had labelled each of a series of steps based on Plate No. 3 : Karpenko: Staircase in the cellar. There are words for different alchemical operations written on the steps. One word is not correct: Caltination, it should be Calcination. But what more, the spelling of all words is problematic, as the English version ends in -on, calcination, but the Latin spelling (and I think it should be used), ends in -o (calcinatio). As Mr. Zadrobilek later told me, he missed multiplicatio, the crucial step in the Great Work. Pober: The steps are correlated to a picture which is in the adjoining room and my fantasy is that at a later stage we may be able to re-create the picture on the steps also. I know that the stages are 'wrong'. BUT, they are exactly as in the picture, including all the spellings. The picture is in Michelspracher's 'Cabala' and de Rola notes about the steps: ' corresponding to a deliberately deceptive order of Operations' . [In fact the next in the sequence of plates is entitled Multiplicatio.] Probably we need to add a text which explains how and why Alchemists did falsify or confuse information. Or maybe, especially if it proves impossible to make the picture for [the steps are nominally a fire-exit] then we will change them to a different sequence - which again, as you know, could still be one of many. Best Regards, Michal Pober Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher From: Adam McLean Thu, 13 Jun 2002 Michal, >> "by an unknown yet known Author". >and this he translates by one who is unknown but knowledgeable. >My German is non-existent but there is clearly a different >emphasis in these two renderings. I don't have access to the German at the moment, but I have a photocopy of the 1654 Latin version. There it says. Ignotum, attamen notum - unknown but nevertheless known [familiar] Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY: Lull and the ars magna From: Roberto Thu, 13 Jun 2002 I'm studying the Llull's Ars Magna and concentrating my efforts to identify the origin of that system and the theoretical implications of its use in other fields (alchemy, for instance). I'd like to find what Llull saw or read to invent his wheels. Could anyone give me some hints? Thank you Roberto Subject: ACADEMY : Which Book of Alanus? Fri, 14 Jun 2002 From: Rafal T. Prinke Adam McLean wrote: > Could it be amongst these manuscripts ? I wonder, too. None of the titles mentions Mercury - and some are obviously copies of _Dicta Alani_. > Mellon Collection, Yale University Library MS. 5. [c. 1400] > 21. Alanus. Rotatio elementorum. > 22. Alanus. Liber alchemisticus. As Sendivogius says "Librum Alani", it may well be no. 22. > Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale MS. Palat. 867 [756 - 21,2.] > 3. f129-136r M. Alano di Boemia. Pratica di Alchimia, a papa > Bonifazio ottavo [in Italian.] This one looks most interesting - as the author is called "Alanus of Bohemia" so Sendivogius, being in Prague, may have known him or his unpublished texts. The reason it seems so interesting to me is that no other alchemical author is mentioned in the _Dialogue..._. Why would he mention an obscure text as being read by his Alchemist rather than one of the standard works (Paracelsus, Lull, etc.)? Could it be a criticism or (even more probably) making fun of a popular author who did not (according to Sendivogius) understand anything of alchemy? The modern equivalent might be something like "He started to read books on science, including _The Wonderful World of Nuclear Physics", whereby he became a physicist indeed". > Leiden MS. Vossianus Chym. F. 3. > 24. f206v-209v Alanus, Tractatus eximius. > > Leiden MS. Vossianus Chym. O. 4. > 8. f70-72v Libellus Alani. This last one is the closest hit, I think, as the title seems almost identical - and the Vossianus collection came from Prague, didn't it? The titles may obviously be misleading so I will have to find out if it is perhaps the same is the published _Dicta Alani_ and what it says about Mercury. Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher Thu, 13 Jun 2002 From: Rafal T. Prinke Adam McLean wrote: > I don't have access to the German at the moment, but I have a photocopy > of the 1654 Latin version. There it says. > > Ignotum, attamen notum - unknown but nevertheless known [familiar] The Augsburg first edition (1615) says: Durch einen unbekandten/ doch genandten/ wie ihm das Signet in diesen Figuren zeugknuß gibt That's on the title page reproduction on VD-17 ( http://www.vd17.de ). But the Augsburg edition of the same year and of 1616 has: Durch einen unbekandten/ doch genandten/ wie ihm das Signet in diser ersten Figur zeugknuß gibt This is only from the catalogue text on VD-17 (no reproductions). So it seems that originally the text said "signet in these figures" and was changed to "signet in this first figure". There is, however, nothing that might pass as a "signet" in the remaining figures, so I think it was an editorial correction rather than to confuse the reader/viewer/seeker. I would guess Mike is right and the signet is one of Michelspacher himself, while the phrase on the title page was just intended to sound mysterious (which it still does - because there is no logic in it if the first plate is actually signed by his name). Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Which Book of Alanus? Thu, 13 Jun 2002 From: Rafal T. Prinke Marisa Addomine wrote: > My suggestion is that we are probably speaking about > Alanus de Insulis (Alain de l'Isle, or de Lille): Dicta Alani is > a work of his, other texts survive. > Are we speaking about the same author ? In older literature the author of _Dicta Alani_ was in fact identified with Alanus de Insulis (d. 1202), the scholastic philosopher and theologian. But this attribution is most probably wrong (as noted by Ferguson). Adam's reply probably contains hints at the identity of the author of _Dicta Alani_ (see my reply to him). Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher From: Michal Pober Fri, 14 Jun 2002 Dear Adam, >I don't have access to the German at the moment, but I have a photocopy >of the 1654 Latin version. There it says. > >Ignotum, attamen notum - unknown but nevertheless known [familiar] The Augsburg edition of 1616 says: "...Durch einen unbekandten, doch gewandten, wie ihm das Signet in diser ersten Figur zeugknusss gibt..." [from The Golden Game] But what it means in English?? Best, Michal Subject: ACADEMY : Mysterious seal in Michelspacher From: Adam McLean 14th June 2002 Dear Michal, >The Augsburg edition of 1616 says: "...Durch einen unbekandten, doch >gewandten, wie ihm das Signet in diser ersten Figur zeugknusss gibt..." >[from The Golden Game] >But what it means in English?? I think you will find the German reads Durch einen unbekandten, doch gennandten double "nn" not a "w". This expresses the same sentiment as the Latin By an unknown but nameable [known or noteworthy] person I am not sure if nennen had other meanings during the 17th century, but I think it carries the sense of "name" in its different shades of meaning. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Which Book of Alanus? From: Adam McLean 14th June 2002 Rafal, > Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale MS. Palat. 867 [756 - 21,2.] > 3. f129-136r M. Alano di Boemia. Pratica di Alchimia, a papa > Bonifazio ottavo [in Italian.] >This one looks most interesting - as the author is called >"Alanus of Bohemia" so Sendivogius, being in Prague, may >have known him or his unpublished texts. I searched for "Bonifa" in my databse of manuscripts and found these London, Wellcome Institute MS. 33. 1. Alemanus de Bohemia. De lapide ad Bonifacium VIII pontificem [in Italian.] Cambridge, Trinity College MS. O.7.19. 3. f13v Bonifacio Octauo, Sacrosancte Romane Ecclesie summo pontifici Mr Alamanus Boemus ad pedes tue sanctitatis. Leiden MS. Vossianus Chym. F. 6. 15. f318v-325 Alamannus de Bononia, Au Pape Boniface VIII. This is probably Arnold of Villanova's Letter or Questions to Pope Boniface . This was included in the Theatrum Chemicum, vol. iv. p.616, So the 'Alanus' here is probably 'Alamanus' possibly just the 'German' from Bohemia. Its seems that this is actually a work ascribed to Arnold. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Which Book of Alanus? Fri, 14 Jun 2002 From: Rafal T. Prinke Adam McLean wrote: > So the 'Alanus' here is probably 'Alamanus' possibly just > the 'German' from Bohemia. Its seems that this is actually > a work ascribed to Arnold. Yes - thank you. So this item may be excluded, too. Thus it seems that the work in question may in fact be _Dicta Alani_, maybe identical with the MS _Libellus Alani_. Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum Volume 2 ? Mon, 17 Jun 2002 From : Lauren Kassell Adam, I believe that there is a reference some place in TCB to a further volume but I'm not aware of a MSS corresponding to the description. Do you have a volume number? Also, in case this is a case of confusion, it is possible that the source is Ashmole's own copy of TCB, with annotation, which if I'm not mistaken (which I might be) is broken into two volumes. Best wishes, Lauren Subject: ACADEMY : Catalogue of the Ferguson Collection From: Adam McLean 19 June 2002 Some people will have heard of the Ferguson Collection of alchemical books in Glasgow University library. Although collected at the end of the 19th century and the opening decade of the 20th, it remains the largest collection in the world of alchemical literature. Many people confuse this collection with the Young collection, also in Glasgow, which Ferguson catalogued in his monumental work 'Bibliotheca Chemica', the catlogue of which is quite widely available. The Ferguson collection was itself catalogued and a printed version was issued in 1943. Unfortunately due to the shortage of paper during the war years only 40 copies were printed, and none of these was for sale but they were distributed to large National, and University libraries. The lack of accessibility to the catalogue has meant that some scholars were not aware of this amazing alchemical resource here in Glasgow, however, this is now remedied by a reprint issued by Martino Publishing Martino Publishing Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America International League of Antiquarian Booksellers P.O. Box 373 Mansfield Centre, CT 06250 USA Tel 860-429-4569 Fax 860-429-4619 Email: martino@martinopublishing.com Anyone with a serious interest in the literature of alchemy should obtain a copy of this catalogue. The Ferguson collection contains copies of over 90% of all printed books on alchemy. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Hermetic Academy newsletter From: Adam McLean 21 Jun 2002 The current issue of the Hermetic Academy newsletter is now available online at http://www.istanbul-yes-istanbul.co.uk/hermetic/index.htm The Hermetic Academy is a Related Scholarly Organization of the American Academy of Religion Subject: ACADEMY : Bibliotheca Chemica Fri, 21 Jun 2002 From: Pierre Stibia Ferguson's Bibliotheca Chemica can be downloaded free from the Bibiliotheque de France. See : Auteur :Ferguson, John Titre : Bibliotheca chemica : a catalogue of the alchemical, chemical and pharmaceutical books in the collection of the late James Young of Kelly and Durris,... Volume I / by John Ferguson,... Titre d'ensemble : Bibliotheca chemica ; 1 Publication :Num. BNF de l'éd. de Glasgow : J. Maclehose and sons, 1906 Description : XXI-487 p. Sujet(s) :Chimie -- Bibliographie Domaine :Chimie Cote Identifiant N090433 Auteur : Ferguson, John Titre : Bibliotheca chemica : a catalogue of the alchemical, chemical and pharmaceutical books in the collection of the late James Young of Kelly and Durris,... Volume II / by John Ferguson,... Titre d'ensemble : Bibliotheca chemica ; 2 Publication: Num. BNF de l'éd. de Glasgow : J. Maclehose and sons, 1906 Description: 598 p. Sujet(s): Chimie -- Bibliographie Domaine: Chimie Cote Identifiant: N090434 This virtual library is full of very interesting documents. Do not hesitate to search on ! Sometimes, I am rather pleased to pay taxes to the French government ! Subject: ACADEMY: Lull and the ars magna From: Roberto Thu, 13 Jun 2002 I'm studying the Llull's Ars Magna and concentrating my efforts to identify the origin of that system and the theoretical implications of its use in other fields (alchemy, for instance). I'd like to find what Llull saw or read to invent his wheels. Could anyone give me some hints? Thank you Roberto Subject: ACADEMY: Lull and the ars magna From: José Rodríguez Guerrero Sat, 22 Jun 2002 Dear Roberto, >I'd like to find what Llull saw or read to invent his wheels. Concerning the origin of the "Lullian wheels" you should ask Esteve Jaulent, Anthony Bonner, Fernando Domínguez Reboiras or other Lullists. You can find their e-mail addresses in: http://www.geocities.com/llull_brazil/esteving.html >I'm studying the Llull's Ars Magna and concentrating my efforts to identify >the origin of that system and the theoretical implications of its use in >other fields (alchemy, for instance). Probably you know Ramon Llull was not an alchemist. But, it is true that you can find Lullian Wheels, Lullian terminology, Lullian alphabets and figures as mnemonic and heuristic devices in pseudoepigraphical works on alchemy (ex: "Testamentum", "Liber de secretis naturae seu de quinta essentia", "Codicillus", "Compendium animae transmutationis metallorum"). There are some articles by the Italian Michela Pereira that you should read. These are devoted to exploring the relationships between alchemy and Lullian Philosophy: - MICHELA PEREIRA, (1986), "Filosofia naturale lulliana e alchimia", in: "Rivista di storia della filosofia", nº 41. - MICHELA PEREIRA, (1990), "Opus alchemicum i Ars combinatoria : el Liber de secretis naturae seu de quinta essentia en la tradicio lul. Liana", in: "Randa", nº 27. José Rodríguez Guerrero Subject: ACADEMY: Lull and the ars magna From: Ross Sinclair Caldwell Sat, 22 Jun 2002 Dear Roberto, There is a paper in the _Cahiers de Fanjeaux_ 22 (1989?) on the very topic of the Arabic sources of Llull's circles. I cannot remember any other details but will be happy to give you a precise description on Tuesday when the library reopens. The whole volume is dedicated to essays on Llull, particularly his Provençal writings. Sincerely Ross Caldwell Béziers, France Subject: ACADEMY: Lull and the ars magna From: Roberto Sat, 22 Jun 2002 Thank you very much. I do know the work of Michela Pereira and should have an appointment with her in the next days to discuss the relation between Llull and the pseudo-Llull. But actually my main aim is to find some texts or indications about what Llull could have known in order to identify the background of the lullian wheels and the Ars magna system. I do know the work of Esteve Jaulent, Anthony Bonner, Fernando Domínguez Reboiras and also other resources available through www.ramonllull.net. Neverthless I still haven't found what I'm looking for (only some info about Boetius and the Roda da Fortuna, for instance). Thus I'm waiting for your inputs. About the querelle "Was Llull an alchemist or not", nowadays I'm not able to answer, although I'm reading a lot about it and siding silently with one of the two options. If someone would start a discussion to show the pro and contra arguments... Roberto P.S. I found on internet an ancient schema told to be previous from the Ars Magna. Could you tell me something about it? See the attached picture. Esquema procedente del Ars magna, de Ramón Lull. En él aparecen los cuatro elementos (agua, aire, tierra y fuego), que incluyen en un círculo interior la "quinta esencia" y están rodeados por el "fuego celeste" y el "éter". Subject: ACADEMY: Author of Novum Lumen Chymicum From: Joern Sesterhenn Sat, 22 Jun 2002 Who, in your opinion, is the author of the Novum lumen chymicum, Seton or Sendivogius? K.Ch. Schmieder (Geschichte der Alchemie, Cap.11) frankly says Setonius, Sendivogius being the editor posthumus. Regards, J.Sesterhenn Subject: ACADEMY: Author of Novum Lumen Chymicum From: Susanna Åkerman Sun, 23 Jun 2002 Dear Johern Sesterhenn, The story of Seton being the Cosmopolite was added late to the early biographies we know. Rafal Prinke can probably establish how these have arisen from legends. I have run up on the problem because of the following information: Jean Vauquelin D`Yvetaux (1651-1716) has written a memoir where he says that he in Paris 1681 met a certain Des Noyers who in his hands have some silvercoins with gold in the middle that has been given him by Queen Christina. Des Noyers adds that Christina has a dussin similar coins all transmuted and given her by Sendivogius himself. Des Noyers must be Pierre des Noyers (d. 1693), secretary to the Polish Queen Marie-Louise Gonzaga. He writes a biography in a letter from Warsaw in 1651, where he claims that Sendivogius got his projection powder from an "Englishman" called Cosmopolita, only later identified as Alexander Seton. (Or is it before?) Christina was only ten years old with the now fixed year of death of Sendivogius, 1636. Pierre des Noyers instead writes that Sendivogius died in 1646 and his tale was considered correct when for example the Danish chemist Olaus Borrichius heard about it in Paris, but it is today (e. g. by Rafal Prinke) considered to be false. Another unconfirmed story is that the Polish adept was sent to Gustavus II Adolphus on mission from Rudolph II of Prague (d. 1612) perhaps for his coronation in 1611. Christina may have met des Noyers in Paris 1656 or in connection with the Polish election for a new King 1667, in which she was a candidate. This was at the time of her yearlong residence in Hamburg at the time for her intensive alchemical experimenting with the Italian heretic alchemist Giuseppe Borri. So the stories sound halftrue. I also now wonder what the sources say on the Cosmopolite being Seton. For the text on Des Noyers and the transmuted coins see D'Yvteaux's text at: http://www.levity.com/alchemy/yvteaux.html. Novum lumen Chemicum is first published as De lapide philosophorum 1604. Susanna Akerman Subject: ACADEMY: Author of Novum Lumen Chymicum Sun, 23 Jun 2002 From: Rafal T. Prinke Dear Johern Sesterhenn, As Susanna said: > The story of Seton being the Cosmopolite was added late > to the early biographies we know. and then: > He [Des Noyers] writes a biography in a > letter from Warsaw in 1651, where he claims that Sendivogius got > his projection powder from an "Englishman" called Cosmopolita, > only later identified as Alexander Seton. (Or is it before?) Yes, indeed the identity of Cosmopolita the Englishman and Alexander Seton the Scotsman was assumed only in 1673 by Daniel Georg Morhof (in his _Epistola ad Langelottum_). Moreover, Des Noyers wrote (I quote from memory): "I will call him Cosmopolita as I had not been able to discover his name." This is not the same as "he was called Cosmopolita". Of course, the author of NLCh ask the reader to call _himself_ "Cosmopolita". So the whole thing is quite complicated - and actually I am trying to do more research on this very problem. > I also now wonder what the sources say on the Cosmopolite > being Seton. All earlier accounts (Hoghelande, Dienheim, Zwinger) never call Seton by the name of Cosmopolite. My own theory is that the Englishman of Des Noyers's and Pinocci's stories was Edward Kelley, with whom Sendivogius indeed had some dealings at the beginning of his career in Prague. But the authorship of _Novum Lumen Chemicum_ cannot be questioned, I believe. > Novum lumen Chemicum is first published as De lapide > philosophorum 1604. It was published in Prague but all extant copies of this first edition do not show the place of publication - but there may have been two variants as some early bibliographers quote it as published in Prague. The authorship of NLCh was ascribed to Seton by most early historians of alchemy, all following Des Noyers's account. Even now some researchers continue to question it - or suggest it was questioned by Sendivogius's contemporaries. For example William Newman in his excellent _Gehennical fire_ (p. 6) says: Although it is now accepted that Sendivogius was the real author of _Novum lumen chemicum_, this was not the case in the latter half of the seventeenth century. He based this opinion on Des Noyers's letter - published in a book by Borel which would hardy have been read by alchemists. But he did not consider the fact that of over 50 editions before the year 1800 - only one single edition (a German translation of mid-18th c. - Franckfurt und Leipzig, 1751) was ascribed to Alexander Seton. All the other editions were ascribed to Sendivogius or published anonymously during his lifetime. For a longer discussion see my article: "The twelfth adept. Michael Sendivogius in Rudolphine Prague" [in:] The Rosicrucian Enlightenment revisited, ed. by Ralph White. Hudson, NY [USA] 1999, p. 141-192 or my earlier article from _The Hermetic Journal_ on Adam's site: www.levity.com/alchemy/sendi.html Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY: Lull and the ars magna From: Ross Sinclair Caldwell Fri, 28 Jun 2002 Here is the information on the paper I mentioned last week. Urvoy, Dominique _Sur les origines des figures de l' "Art" lullien_ "Cahiers de Fanjeaux" 22 (1987), 249-259. The title of the volume is "Raymond Lulle et le Pays D'Oc". Urvoy presents an argument for some Arabic sources for Lull's figures. She writes "Un lecteur pressé y voit surtout des "figures" dont l'aspect énigmatique justifie, pour lui, la récupération ultérieure de l'oeuvre lullienne par l'ésotérisme et l'alchimie. Mais une étude plus attentive montre ce curieux paradoxe : l'aspect ésotérique, réel surtout dans la première formulation, est transfiguré en une méthode parfaitement rationnelle, sans que pour autant l'auteur renonce à sa présentation graphique. Une de ses toutes dernières oeuvres, l'Ars consilii, est même une ultime mouture de ces figures. Et il n'est pas inutile de rappeler que ce texte fut rédigé à Tunis, en milieu musulman." Urvoy notes that previous writers such as Asin Palacios and Probst have brought up the idea of arab influence. She goes on to say while recognizing that "l'attitude de Lulle vis-à-vis de ses sources musulmanes est ambiguë" and that "Lulle a toujours présenté son Art comme le produit d'une illumination," Lull's demonstrable familiarity with and immersion in arab culture is enough to suggest that some influence on his thought may be sought there. In particular, Urvoy finds a diagram and method described in al-Buni's _Shams al-ma'ârif al-kubrâ_ chapter XIX bk. II to be very suggestive, and gives the illustration with the explanation of its use in some detail. Briefly it consists of the 28 letters of the arabic alphabet, the mystical significance of which had been previously elaborated, arranged in 4 circles (ghayn alone in the centre, 9 letters in each of the other circles), manipulated in a way anticipating Lull's circles of Art. She goes on to describe other potential influences, such as that of al-Sabtî, but concludes her remarks on the extent of such influence : "Ainsi l'Art de Lulle n'est vraisemblablement pas la transposition de telle ou telle figure ésotérique arabe, mais le résultat de la réflexion de notre penseur sur *plusieurs niveaux d'élaboration* du schéma concentrique et de son prolongement, la répartition par "cases"". The rest of the paper discusses some of the ramifications of the foregoing for understanding how Lull's logic works. Of course Urvoy's paper is well annotated. I am not a Lullist by any stretch and I know nothing of the field, so I can't comment on the relevance of her argument or judge her grasp of the issues. If you would like it and the Cahiers de Fanjeaux is not easily available to you, I would be happy to send you a copy - I think we can arrange it somehow. Good luck in the search Sincerely Ross Caldwell