Lives of Alchemystical Philosophers. Based on Materials Collected in 1815 and Supplemented by Recent Researches with a Philosophical Demonstration of the True Principles of the Magnum Opus or Great Work of Alchemical Re-Construction and some Account of Spiritual Chemistry.
London: George Redway, 1888. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Large octavo. 316pp (+ 4pp catalogue of books published by Redway tipped in at rear) Original brown boards with bevelled edges, gilt title on spine. (Gilbert, binding variant a with "Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co." stamped at foot of spine). Originally published anonymously in 1815, the identity of the author of the work remains unknown, although it is sometimes ascribed - apparently wrongly - to Francis Barrett. Waite's contribution was largely editorial: he revised many of the biographies and added that of Cagliostro. The work also includes an interesting, but sometimes inaccurate, bibliography of alchemy and hermetic philosophers [Gilbert B3]. Cloth a bit rubbed and darkened - more so at outer margins and spine, light bump at mid-spine, corners lightly bumped & chafed, page edges browned, endpapers unevenly browned, pages toned with a few spots of browning. Overall a tight, clean VG+ copy (no dust jacket). Item #63494
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