Lucerna Salis Philosophorum. Hoc est: Delineatio nuda desiderati illius principii tertii mineralium Sendivogiani, sive salis pontici, quod est subjectum omnis mirabilitatis & academia unica veterum sapientum, nec non clavis artis Gebricæ ... continens simul veram præparationem hujus mirabilis saponis & aquæ siccæ, quæ nihil madefacit, nec ulli alii rei in mundo commiscetur, quam metallis: secundum methodum quâ cuncti philosophi panacæam illam universalem confecerunt, in salutem afflicti hominis ... Communicata à filio Sendivogii, anagrammaticè vocato: Tuis Ophir dono fert theca Saturni, etc.
Amstelodami (Amsterdam): Henricum Betkium, 1658. First Latin Edition. Small octavo (5.75 x 3.5 inches). 167,(1)pp. Late eighteenth century limp marbled wrappers. Several decorated woodcut initials and a woodcut tailpiece. Housed in a custom-made clamshell box, black Italian Iris book cloth "spine" and lining, marbled paper boards. An interesting alchemical work first published in German in Amsterdam in 1657 as "Der Verlangte Dritte Anfang der Mineralischen Dingen." The work did not become well-known however, until this, the first Latin edition, was published the following year (1658). Mary Ann Atwood refers to the alchemical/spiritual nature of the "Lucerna" ("Suggestive Inquiry Into The Hermetic Mystery", 1918, pp. 384-5) writing "Thus the author of the "Lucerna Salis" describes the gold of the Wise to be by no means vulgar gold ; but it is a certain water clear and pure, on which is borne the lightning of the Lord; and it is from thence that all things receive their life. And this is the reason, continues he, why our gold is become spiritual; by means of the spirit it passeth through the Alembic, its earth remaining black, which however did not appear before, but now dissolves itself and becomes a thick water [etc.]." John Ferguson discusses the work at length in his "Bibliotheca Chemica" (pp. 368 - 370) where he attributes it to one Josaphat Friederich Hautnorton on the basis of an editor's note on p. 157 of the "Lucerna." This attribution has been confirmed by the recent decryption of the anagram at the end of the Praefatio ("Sit! Pischon horti Aeden tuto fruar") which gives "iosaphat fridericus heutnortton." Heutnortton is said to be a pseudonym of Johann Harprecht (1610-1660) an identification which Ferguson supports, although some disagree. According to Ferguson the "Lucerna" contains "the whole of the German edition of 1657 [which only ran to 40pp], but with Capp. ii & v expanded. At the end of Cap. viii. has been introduced a "Recapitulatio," and a catalogue of the best and most useful authors, and a warning against the writings of Glauber (p. 63) to whom the author was uncompromisingly opposed. Then follows (pp. 64-136) a harmony of authors on different parts of chemistry, in thirteen chapters, with an Epilogus. Next comes the "Dialogus Praeparationem Lapidis Philosophici Ampilius Dtergens" to which are added the Rhythmi... The appendix contains: Colloquim Spiritis Mercuri cum fratre Alberto Bayero..." which Ferguson notes was included in Roth-Scholtz's edition of Sendivogius' Works (1718). There follows a short postscript by the publisher in German. See also Caillet, II, 6831. Wrappers a little bowed. A closely cropped copy - part of the "A" of "LUCERNA" in the title page is missing, as is the last line of text on that same page which should have the publisher's imprint. Otherwise although the margins are closely shaved throughout, the only loss is a few of the signature letters (the letter or letters printed in the bottom margin of the first leaf of each gathering as a guide to the binder) and some shaving of the dropped final words that repeat those at the start of the next page. This occurs only in the first few leaves, after that only a few of these signatures/words are partially cropped. A few faded contemporary words on the title-page. Otherwise a clean, crisp copy in VG+ condition. Clamshell box in Fine condition. Item #62326
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