The Alchemical Engravings of Mylius. With the texts of Part Four of the First Book of the 'Philosophia Reformata '; ( Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks series )
Edinburgh: Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks, 1984. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 130pp. Hand bound in brown faux leather over boards with gilt titling to spine, dark endpapers, b&w illustrations. Edition limited to 250 copies. Signed by Adam McLean. Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks series No. 19. Johann Daniel Mylius (c. 1583-1642) was a composer and exponent of the alchemical arts. He published two major works on the subject "Opus Medico-Chymicum" (1618) and "Philosophia Reformata" (1622). The "Philosophia Reformata" included a series of 28 symbolical engravings, which are reproduced in this book, along with a translation of the relevant portion of the text that discusses the emblems and their relationship to the alchemical process. McLean observes that "These emblems provide a sophisticated symbolic system that opens the soul to spiritual archetypes, and which can be explored on many different levels, being like the Tarot trumps system, archetypally pure and at the same time sufficiently rich symbolically, that its depths cannot be plumbed intellectually, nor its symbolic import easily exhausted." He explores this idea, and the symbolism involved, in the accompanying essay. First edition, later issue: the paper on which it is printed is a bright white, it has a relatively high number in the sequence of limitation, and the binding is red-brown with the title lettered down the spine reading "Alchemical Engravings - Mylius." This issue did not come with the loose alchemical engravings included with some of the very early issues of the volume: they are not present and nor is there a pocket built into the rear of the book house them. The faintest of shelf wear otherwise a bright near Fine copy. Item #55193
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