First published in 1652, this compilation of English alchemical literature was collected and annotated by Elias Ashmole. The book made available many works that had previously existed only in privately held manuscripts, and features alchemical verse from Thomas Norton, George Ripley, Geoffrey Chaucer, John Dastin, Abraham Andrews, Thomas Charnock, William Bloomefield, Edward Kelley, John Dee, Thomas Robinson, William Backhouse, John Gower, John Lydgate, W. Redman, as well as several unknown authors. Individual plates from the volume are digitized here, with additional item-level description available for select plates.
Quote of the Day
“When this mass is thus blackened, it is said to be dead and deprived of its Form: The Body is also said to be dead and removed from its attraction, its Soul being separated from it. Then Humidity manifests itself in the color of Quicksilver, black and stinking, which before was dry, white, very fragrant, ardent, purified of Sulfur by the first Operation and it is necessary to start purifying it again by this second Operation. This Body finds itself deprived of its Soul which it has lost, of its splendor and of this marvelous lucidity which it first had and now it is black and ugly: which causes Gebert to name it for its property Stinking Spirit, Black White occultly and obviously red and still Water, living dry. This Mass thus black or blackened is the Key, the beginning, and the sign of a perfect way of operating in the second Regime of our precious Stone. So Hermes, he said, seeing this blackness: Believe that you have operated in the right way.”
Bernard Trevisan
Verbum Dismissum
Alchemical Books
Audio Books
Total visits