Transcripts, extracts, and notes on alchemy: volume II

Transcripts, extracts, and notes on alchemy [etc.]. Vol. II. Partly holograph MSS. At the end of the third section are pen-drawings of tubes and a crucible; also a coloured drawing of a distilling apparatus.

The first three items are holographs by Bacstrom.

On the spine is a label inscribed 'MSS. on alchemy received from H[enry] C[owell] Boyes 1894.' This is a printed title to the collection, and is found on the spine of both volumes.

2 ll. first bl. + 48 pp. + 2 ll. - Pars altera Aureliae occultae Philosophorum (attributed to Basilius Valentinus) translated from the Latin by S(igismund) B(acstrom) M.D. 1806, The translation is stated on p. 1 to be from the version in Latin of the 'Theatrum chymicum', Vol. IV, p. 495. At the end 'Finis. 1807, Easter. S.B.', 1806

36 ll. - "A paper ... on the decomposition of the earths by Sir H. Davy", "Conversation with Mr. Ford (on alchemy) on the 8 of Nov. 1808", "Useful extracts from Fasciculus Chemicus ...by James Hasolle [i.e. Elias Ashmole], and "On Sunday [sign] the 24 Jan. 1808, the following new discovery of Professor Davy [on alcali] was communicated to me by Mr. Wagstaffe", "A paper written by Miss Ford, which she copied from a newspaper, by the request of Mr. Ford (on the decomposition of the earths by Sir H. Davy) communicated to me on the 8 of November 1808" and "Conversation with Mr. Ford (on alchemy) on the 8 of Nov. 1808" (1 l.) ¶ "Useful extracts from Fasciculus Chemicus ...by James Hasolle [i.e. Elias Ashmole], London, 1650 (30 ll.). ¶ "On Sunday [sign] the 24 Jan. 1808, the following new discovery of Professor Davy [on alcali] was communicated to me by Mr. Wagstaffe" [etc.] (5 ll.).

52 ll. - "Remarks on Urbigerus his Aphorisms...", "Some good things copied from Baron de Ruesenstein his Universal and particular processes...", "Annotations and explications of a valuable treatise named the Hermetical triumph or the victorious philosophical Stone", and "A short way or Happy Thought ... to obtain a tinging power...", "Remarks on Urbigerus his Aphorisms, demonstrating the three infallible ways of preparing the Grand Elixir of the Philosophers. These notes are written by S. B. for his own improvement, and to oblige his friends." 1804 (24 ll.) ¶ "Some good things copied from Baron de Ruesenstein his Universal and particular processes . Franckfort and Leipzig. [1754]. " and "Annotations and explications of a valuable treatise named the Hermetical triumph or the victorious philosophical Stone... translated from the French and German, London, 1723 [etc.]" (22 ll.). ¶ A short way or Happy Thought: March 1805 to obtain a tinging power, by means of Vital [symbol depicting triangle with a horizontal line through it] or Oxygen from a calx of gold [sign]. (6 ll. (last bl.)).

108 ll. - Graham, George: Alchemy: a select collection of testimonies respecting the doctrines and practice of the Ancient Alchemists. Extracted from their writings.c. 1835

c.1835

1 volume 2ll. first bl.. + 48 pp. + 2 ll. + 36 ll. + 52 ll. last bl.. + 108 ll. last bl.. 4to. v.s. 1804-1808. 19th cent. half-calf binding. Outer lower corners of the second section stained by chemicals ?, and some defective.

Purchased 1928.

Armorial book-plate of Edward Matthey [1836-1918].

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

The versos of the first two leaves of this section bear the inscription 'Alchemy. George Graham. Student. Pantheon, Oxford Street. 1824. London'. The watermark of the paper however is dated partly 1827 and partly 1825, and the script seems to be somewhat later, and resembles some of the hands of the entries signed M. Graham, in the Graham volume of alchemical extracts [MS. 2550], which is bound uniformly with the two volumes of Bacstrom transcripts, and also lettered on the spine 'MSS. on Alchemy received from H[enry] C[owell] Boys 1894'.

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