Alchemy Books

AL7B. Lindsay, J, The Origins of Alchemy in Graeco-Roman Egypt, 1st edition, Frederick Muller 1970, 8vo, black cloth with silver titles to spine, 12 + 452pp including indices, with many illustrations in the text. An excellent study of the origins and early development of alchemy and metallurgy, it’s most important exponents, some of whom are comparatively little known, and showing its importance within the wider framework of spiritual thought, particularly that of Gnosticism and Hermeticism. A near fine copy of this increasingly scarce title in near very good (a few minor marks, spine panel slightly rubbed, light rubbing to edges, small tape mark and closed tear to top of front panel, price clipped) d/w £65

AL8. Mercer, J.E, Alchemy: Its Science and Romance, 1st edition, S.P.C.K 1921, Cr8vo, grey pictorial cloth with black titles to spine and front board, 10 + 245pp + 4 plates; a concise general history of alchemy in myth and practice with the text is divided into an introduction and four parts; General history, the idea of transmutation, the objects of the quest, and alchemy and science. Ex lib, faint trace of label removal to front paste-down, ink stamps to rear paste-down and one upper margin; corners rather rubbed, upper joint worn with closed split at foot; lacks front end paper but otherwise a good + textually clean and tight copy of the uncommon original issue £28

AL9AC. Raphael, A, Goethe & the Philosopher’s Stone, 1st edition, R.K.P. 1965, 8vo, blue cloth with gilt titles to spine, 14 + 275pp including index + 9 plates; an interpretation of hidden alchemical symbolism in Goethe’s life and work from a Jungian psychological perspective, with particular reference to Faust. Trivial soiling to top edge of text block, a couple of trivial marks to front board otherwise internally and externally clean and tight, very good + in very good ( a few minor marks, lightly soiled) d/w £15

AL13. AL16. Trimosin, S, Splendor Solis: Alchemical Treatises of Solomon Trimosin, Adept and Teacher of Paracelsus, 1st edition, Kegan Paul, Trench & Trubner, no date (1920), Post 4to, red cloth with gilt titles to spine, edges uncut, 104pp + 22 plates of illustrations taken from the 16th century manuscript, with an introduction, elucidation of the paintings aiding the interpretation of their occult meaning, Trimosin's autobiographical account of his travels in search of the philosopher's stone, a summary of his alchemical process called the Red Lion, and explanatory notes by J.S. (Julius Kohn).As a correspondent of Ayton, the alchemist of the Golden Dawn, Kohn was well placed to comment on this, perhaps the most famous of all alchemical texts. Spine ends slightly creased, light rubbing to corners, a few minor scratches to rear cover, ownership signature to front end paper, half title browned, some occasional light foxing to margins, text clean and tight, a near very good copy of the increasingly scarce first edition £90