Splendor Solis.
Edinburgh Scotland: Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks, 1982. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 106pp. Hand-bound in series brown faux leather, gilt titling to spine, deep maroon endpapers. B&w frontispiece, and plates. Edition limited to 250 numbered copies signed by Adam McLean, this being copy number 182. Magnum Opus Hermetic Sourceworks series No. 8. An important modern translation of what is probably the best known and most beautiful of the sixteenth century alchemical manuscripts. At the time of publication of this edition the only other available translation was the "JK" version which dated from the 1920s, and which was generally acknowledged as somewhat inaccurate. The highly regarded scholar Joscelyn Godwin retranslated the text for this new edition, working from a number of original German versions. The translation is accompanied by reproductions of the 22 plates found in a late 16th century German version, and a Commentary on their symbolism by Adam McLean. Various states of this book exist, printed on different paper stocks, bound in different materials, and some with hand-coloured plates. This volume is typical of the later issues of the First Edition: the title "Splendor Solis" is lettered down the spine, the paper on which the book is printed is a relatively bright white, it has a relatively high number in the sequence of limitation (184), the plates are black and white (only), and it has plain deep maroon endpapers. Basically as new: a Fine copy. Item #74062
Price: $325.00