Alchemy Books

AL5B. Fernando, D, The Dictionary of Alchemy, 1st edition, Vega 8vo pbk. 2002, 192pp, with illustrations in the text. A popular A-Z of alchemical terms and personalities. A couple of trivial marks to covers, tiny soil mark to fore-edge of text block, contents clean and tight. Near fine £3.50

AL6. Geber, J.I, The Works of Geber, 1678, new edition (1st thus), J.M Dent 1928, Cr8vo, dark blue cloth with gilt titles and symbol to spine, blind pentagram design to upper cover, 40 + 264pp, with a frontispiece and illustrations in text, translated by Richard Russell, and with a new introduction by E.J Holmyard.; the collected works of Jabir Ibn Hayyan, one of the most important of the medieval Arab alchemists. Spine slightly darkened, a little light spotting to edges of boards, particularly the rear cover, light foxing to end papers; with the small ownership label of Cambridge academic, theologian, author, and student of early chemistry (professor) N.E. Emerton to the front end paper, together with some occasional pencil underlining and marginal notes by her, minor spots to the odd margin otherwise text clean and tight, a good + or very slightly better overall copy of the increasingly uncommon original printing of this edition £40

AL7. Jung, C.G, Psychology and Alchemy, 1953, Routledge 8vo pbk. 1989, 36 + 571pp including index + list of collected works, with many plates and illustrations in text; a reprint of the 1968 second and revised edition of this study of the nature of alchemy and its relationship to the Collective Unconscious. A few minor marks to covers, slight fading to spine, text clean and tight, water stain to top margin of prelims otherwise a very good copy £10

AL09. Pearsall, R, The Alchemists, 1st edition, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, no date (1976), 8vo, black cloth with gilt titles to spine, 185pp including index + 15 plates; a popular study of the Medieval alchemists and their art. Faint soiling to edges of text block, publisher’s library stamp and file number to front end paper otherwise internally clean and tight, very good in near very good (a few minor marks, edges slightly rubbed in places, faint label removal mark to foot of spine and near edges) d/w £8

AL9C. Read, J, Humour and Humanism in Chemistry, 1st edition, Bell 1947, 8vo, blue cloth with gilt titles to spine, 24 + 388pp including index, with illustrations in the text + a coloured frontispiece and many b/w plates; a scholarly but entertaining study that focuses on the lighter side of alchemy and early chemistry. Trivial soiling to edges of text block, end papers tanned, minor spots to s couple of margins, text clean and tight, near very good in good + (slightly darkened, a little soiled in places, a couple of closed tears to edges, tape repair to verso of top edge) d/w £12

AL15. Valentius, B, The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony, 1893, 2nd edition thus, Vincent Stuart 1962, 8vo, black cloth with gilt titles to spine and small decoration to front board, 34 + 204pp including index, with 6 full page illustrations, this edition limited to 500 copies. Arguably the most accesible work of this 17th century alchemist, this translation is based on the Latin publication of 1685 with commentary by Theodore Kerckringius, edited, and with a biographical preface by A.E Waite. Spine very slightly darkened, a couple of trivial marks to cloth, trivial spots to a couple margins, text clean and tight, a very good copy of an uncommon book £35