Beschreibung:

BROUCHUISIUS, Daniel, editor (fl. 1590s) Secreta Alchimiae Magnalia D. Thomae Aquinatisi De corporibus supercoelestibus. Cologne: Nicolaus Bohm-bargen, 1579. Extremely rare first edition of this clear, introductory exposition of alchemical practice and theory. The text contains the works of pseudo-Thomas Aquinas, John of Rupescina, and pseudo-Raymond Llull, edited by Daniel Brouchuisius (Brockhuizen), with a preface by Johannes Heurnius (1543-1601), the Dutch physician and natural philosopher. We have traced no copy of this first edition at auction was since Sotheby's, 24 November 1958, lot 440. Not in the Duveen or Young collections, but see Caillet 10655 and Duveen pp.102-103 – the former mentioning a 1592 edition, but the latter stating: 'All bibliographers agree that the first edition appeared at Cologne in 1579'; both bibliographies call for a plate, but this is not present here, and is not called for in any of the Worldcat records we have consulted. Small quarto (199 x 146mm). 60pp. 2 woodcuts of furnaces, small index tab on F4 (index tab on E2 missing with consequent marginal chip, occasional very light spotting). Modern leather panelled in blind, red leather gilt spine label.