Auriferae Artis, Quam Chemiam Vocant, Antiquissimi Authores, Sive Turba Philosophorum.
Basileæ: Apud Petrum Pernam, 1572. First Edition. Hardcover. Small, thick octavo. (6 3/8 x 4 inches). (xvi), 672, (iil)pp. Contemporary patterned brown calf boards. Old, neat reback with period-style raised bands and gilt stamped leather title label to spine. Printers devices and decorative initials. This is the first volume (of two), complete within itself, of the first edition of a work described by Ferguson as "one of the chief collections of standard alchemical authors" and by Thorndike as "comparable in variety and importance to 'Verae Achemiciae." It includes the first publication of the "Turba Philosophorum" (Assembly of the [Alchemical] Philosophers), a work which until then had existed only in manuscript form. The "Turba" is thought to date from the tenth century (C.E.), and is one of the oldest and best known works in the European alchemical canon, having, like the Picatrix, mostly likely been translated from an Arabic original. In addition to the "Turba", which takes up the first 200 pages of the work, this first volume of the "Auriferae Artis" contains a number of shorter alchemical works (full list below) attributed to a variety of authors such as Avicenna, Pseudo-Aristoteles, Rachaidibi, Veradianus, et al. Of particular interest are the "Merlini Allegoria" ("The Allegory of Merlin") on the philosopher's stone, a work described by Ferguson as having the appearance of "a fairly ancient document. It describes in a symbolical way certain operations with gold and mercury, and curiously enough it quotes no authority, but refers to Egyptian and Alexandrian physicians, and it might be emanated from that source. .. How it came to be attributed to Merlin is a question which, as far as I am aware, has received no answer, nor is at all certain whether it is to be ascribed to Ambrosius Merlin, or Merlin Caledonius, or to some one who has simply assumed the name." Also of considerable interest is "Aurora Consurgens" a 15th century alchemical treatise which is often attributed to Thomas Aquinas and which held a particular fascination for Carl Gustav Jung. Indeed the whole collection of "Auriferae Artis" was exercised a great influence on Jung, and a copy of it was said to be the first alchemical book that he purchased. Contents of this volume: Typoraphus. Lectoribus. Praefatio; 1. Propositiones, seu maxime artis chemicae; 2. Turba philosophorum in secunda philosophia longe` diuersa & copiosior quam reliquae, quae passim circumferuntur; 3. Allegoriae super librum Turbae; 4. Aenigma ex visione A Rislei [Arislei] et allegorijs sapientum; 5. In Turbam philosophorum exercitationes: in quibus occulta quaedam & ad artem facientia explicantur; 6. Aurora consurgens: quae dicitur aurea hora & in eius secundum tractatum; 7. Rosinus ad Euthiciam; 8. Rosinus ad Sarratantam episcopum; 9. Incipit Liber diuinarum interpretationum & definitionum; 10. Incipit Practica Mariae prophetissae in artem alchimicam 11. Liber secretorum alchemiae compositus per Calid filium Iazichi, translatus ex Hebraeo in Arabicum & ex Arabico in Latinum, incerto interprete; 12. Liber trium verborum Kallid acutissimi; 13. Tractatulus Aristotelis de practica lapidis philosophici incipit; 14. Avicenna De congelatione et conglutinatione lapidum; (14a) Cuiusdam epistolae, quae Alexandri Macedonum regis nomine circunfertur, interpretatio, abditam philosophici lapidis compositionem sapientibus acutissime` declarans; 15. Authoris ignoti Philosophici lapidis secreta metaphorice` describentis opusculum; 16. Merlini Allegoria profundissimum philosophici lapidis arcanum perfecte` continens; 17. Rachaidibi, Veradiani, Rhodiani et Kanidis ... De materia philosophici lapidis acutissime` colloquentium fragmentum; 18. Tractatulus Avicennae (Auicenna item de Alchimia) 19 Semita Semitae; 20 Clangor Buccinae: tractatus mirabilis simul & attentissimus, ex quadam vetustissima scriptura excerptus; 21 Correctio fatuorum: tractatulus satis perutilis & autenticus; 22 Liber de arte chimica incerti authoris. Duveen comments that it is "very difficult to find" the two volumes of "Auriferae Artis" together, observing that even those in his own magnificent collection were a mismatched set. References: Duveen, p. 29, Fergson: I, p. 52, Thorndike V, p. 625, Caillet 551: I, p. 79. Rebacked, as noted. The corners of the boards are rounded, and there is light chipping to the leather at the edges. , although the binding remains firm and the boards solidly attached. Title page a little rubbed with a small tear with slight paper loss to the outer margin of the title page (no loss of text). One inch tear and slight separation to inner margin of title page, occasional antique manuscript notes, underlining and marginalia. Still a solid, sturdily bound example of a rare and important volume, with pleasing antique look and feel. Item #63763
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