Hardcover
1723 · Nordhausen
by ALCHEMY. CHEMISTRY. Kellner, David (fl. 1670-1723)
Nordhausen: Johann Heinrich Groß, 1723. SOLE EDITION. Hardcover. Fine. Bound in contemporary blind-ruled pigskin (early armorial stamp abraded) with brass closures. A very good copy with persistent light spotting and mild staining. All edges red. Rare. 4 copies in North America: Cornell, Yale, Penn, Bryn Athyn. Sole edition of this alchemical-chemical work on the transmutation of lead (“Saturn”) into silver and gold: “The Chemical-Metallic Workshop or the Curious Chemical Laboratory, in which how to produce gold and silver from common lead, by means of my experimental methods and skillful techniques, is clearly taught…. and a short description of how gold is fused or calcined without fire.”
The author, David Kellner, physician and alchemist in Nordhausen, describes 50 chemical processes as well as 15 experiments communicated to him by other alchemists, such as a Venetian who accomplished the transmutation of mercury into gold using lead salts (“by which the Venetians make their gold and thereby attain such a great empire”), and processes to make iron sulfate, sal ammoniac, mercury nitrate (“communicated by an adept to an impoverished nobleman of Thuringia, through which he is said to have recovered and become rich”), “mercurial oil”, “solar sulphur”, etc.
Kellner defends the truth of the transmutation of metals against the sceptics and general opinion: “Since time immemorial, as is well known, among most people, not only common but also distinguished learned people, there has been the delusion and opinion that the ‘Transmutatio Metallorum’, or transmutation of metals, is nonsense, that is, impossible, and a false claim of alchemists, although its certainty has been proven by various learned people, both in writing, and can still be proven every day.”
He then explains the natural principle that underlies the transmutation process: “If all metals originate and spring from one root, or ‘principio seminali’ (as has been sufficiently established by learned people elsewhere) and differ only according to the degree of maturity and fixity, they can consequently be made more ripe and durable by art that imitates nature, and even better developed.” Fruit warmed by the sun ripens and develops richer flavor and color; “The same applies to metals, for the more the ‘materia metallorum’ is purified/cooked and worked from the earth, the better the metal becomes. From this it appears clear that metals can indeed arise from one single root, even if they are not all of the same perfection, goodness, and virtue.” His next analogous examples are a bit more surprising. He asserts that some vegetables can transform into different ones “as wheat becomes oats, which become leeks”, that wood “in special waters” can turn to stone, and that he has observed a caterpillar -enclosed in a box and exposed to the sun- lay eggs that hatched into flies. “Now, if this can happen in such disparate, dissimilar things, why shouldn't it also be possible of metals?”. (Inventory #: 5264)
The author, David Kellner, physician and alchemist in Nordhausen, describes 50 chemical processes as well as 15 experiments communicated to him by other alchemists, such as a Venetian who accomplished the transmutation of mercury into gold using lead salts (“by which the Venetians make their gold and thereby attain such a great empire”), and processes to make iron sulfate, sal ammoniac, mercury nitrate (“communicated by an adept to an impoverished nobleman of Thuringia, through which he is said to have recovered and become rich”), “mercurial oil”, “solar sulphur”, etc.
Kellner defends the truth of the transmutation of metals against the sceptics and general opinion: “Since time immemorial, as is well known, among most people, not only common but also distinguished learned people, there has been the delusion and opinion that the ‘Transmutatio Metallorum’, or transmutation of metals, is nonsense, that is, impossible, and a false claim of alchemists, although its certainty has been proven by various learned people, both in writing, and can still be proven every day.”
He then explains the natural principle that underlies the transmutation process: “If all metals originate and spring from one root, or ‘principio seminali’ (as has been sufficiently established by learned people elsewhere) and differ only according to the degree of maturity and fixity, they can consequently be made more ripe and durable by art that imitates nature, and even better developed.” Fruit warmed by the sun ripens and develops richer flavor and color; “The same applies to metals, for the more the ‘materia metallorum’ is purified/cooked and worked from the earth, the better the metal becomes. From this it appears clear that metals can indeed arise from one single root, even if they are not all of the same perfection, goodness, and virtue.” His next analogous examples are a bit more surprising. He asserts that some vegetables can transform into different ones “as wheat becomes oats, which become leeks”, that wood “in special waters” can turn to stone, and that he has observed a caterpillar -enclosed in a box and exposed to the sun- lay eggs that hatched into flies. “Now, if this can happen in such disparate, dissimilar things, why shouldn't it also be possible of metals?”. (Inventory #: 5264)
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