Theatrum Chemicum

Page One of Theatrum Chemicum Volume I. Published 1602, Oberursel by Lazarus Zetzner.

Theatrum Chemicum ("Chemical Theatre") is a compendium of early alchemical writings published in six volumes over the course of six decades. The first three volumes were published in 1602, while the final sixth volume was published in its entirety in 1661. Theatrum Chemicum remains the most comprehensive collective work on the subject of alchemy ever published in the Western world.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The full title of the work is Theatrum Chemicum, præcipuos selectorum auctorum tractatus de Chemiæ et Lapidis Philosophici Antiquitate, veritate, jure præstantia, et operationibus continens in gratiam veræ Chemiæ et Medicinæ Chemicæ Studiosorum (ut qui uberrimam unde optimorum remediorum messem facere poterunt) congestum et in quatuor partes seu volumina digestum,^{[* 1]} though later volumes express slightly modified titles. For the sake of brevity, the work is most often referred to simply as Theatrum Chemicum.

All volumes of the work, with exception of the last two volumes, were published by Lazarus Zetzner in Oberursel and Strasbourg, France. The final two volumes were published posthumously by Zetzner's heirs, who continued to use his name for publication purposes.^[4]

The volumes are in actuality a collection of previously published and unpublished alchemical treatises, essays, poems, notes, and writings from various sources, some of which are attributed to known writers and others remain anonymous. Despite Zetzner acting primarily as publisher and editor, many of the contents are not believed to have been written by him. However, because the Theatrum Chemicum was more widely disseminated in comparison to most alchemical texts of the era, and its text was in the universal Latin used by most scholars of the time, Zetzner is often cited as the author of many early alchemical texts which he in fact did not compose.

History

Theatrum Chemicum developed as an evolution of previous alchemical printing projects dating back as early as 1475, when a handful of writings believed to have been written by Geber (or pseudo-Geber) were printed with attached alchemical poems and circulated in the area of Venice, and then a decade later in Rome.^[1]

A more directly related ancestor of Theatrum Chemicum was a publication by Johannes Petreius entitled "De Alchemia", a work which contained ten alchemical tracts, which was published in Nuremberg in 1541. Petreius had been collecting alchemical documents with the intention of publishing a more complete compilation, though he never completed this task. Upon Petreius's death his collection came into the possession of his relative, Heinrich Petri of Basel who published it in cooperation with Pietro Perna and Guglielmo Gratarolo in 1561. By this time the collection had accrued a total of 53 texts and was published under the name, Verae alchemiae artisque metallicae, citra aenigmata, doctrina. Though Petri would continue to publish alchemical works, it was his partner Perna who in 1572 published an entire series of expanded publications totaling seven volumes with over 80 texts. Perna intended to include the collection of his son-in-law, Konrad Waldkirch, in an even larger multi-volume series, but instead sold the collection to Lazarus Zetzner. Zetzner would publish the newly acquired 80 texts and those of Waldkirch as the first volumes of Theatrum Chemicum. Over the course of the six volumes of Theatrum Chemicum, Zetzner expanded the collection to include over 200 alchemical tracts.^[1]

Publication

Lazurus Zetzner (L. Zetzneri) published the Theatrum Chemicum in unsystematic editions, instead he reprinted issues of previous volumes that had appeared up to the date of the particular volume of Theatrum Chemicum as it was published.^[4]

The material is diverse, being intended as a single body of work containing all significant alchemical texts of its time. Though the Theatrum Chemicum is a book about alchemy, by its contemporary standards it represented a body of work that, in a modern context, is similar to texts such as The Handbook of Chemistry & Physics, The Physicians' Desk Reference, or other specialized texts for the practice and study of the sciences and philosophy, including medicine. The physician and philosopher Sir Thomas Browne possessed a copy, while Isaac Newton filled the margins of his copy with annotations.

Within the various volumes are found some of the most studied works in the field of alchemy, such as Turba Philosophorum, Arcanum Philosophorum, Cabala Chemica, De Ovo Philosophorum, many tracts focused upon Secretum Secretorum, The Philosopher's Stone, the Elixir of Life, the Tabula Smaragdina, and several works attributed to Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas.^[5] The original publication dates of the specific writings found in the Theatrum Chemicum range from just a few years prior to each volume's publication, to as far back as several centuries in some cases.

Establishing a precise table of contents for the various volumes of Theatrum Chemicum is an issue of debate amongst scholars. Because of the unstandardized nature of early publication practices and the reprinting of tracts from earlier editions, sometimes under their modified full "elenchus" titles, those studying the contents of Theatrum Chemicum often encounter discrepancies in format, tract title, page number, and in some cases even authorship. For example, it is not clear whether some tracts that appear anonymous are in fact uniquely authored, or intended to be attributed to the author of the preceding text.^[1]

Some of the authorship proposed by Zetzner remains unverifiable due to the nature of publication, the various age of the works, and the practice of attributing authorship without modern methods of citation. Considering the esoteric nature of the subject matter, this was not uncommon at the time of Theatrum Chemicum's publication, but it does seem clear that Zetzner established the authorship of the various tracts according to his original source material.

Below is a list of the tracts found within Theatrum Chemicum, and their authors as established by Zetzner.^[1]

Volumes I-III

The first three volumes of Theatrum Chemicum were published in 1602. Volume I was published in Oberursel, while the subsequent volumes were published in Strasbourg. The first three volumes increased the number of tracts in each volume to the total of 88 in all.^[4]

Vol. I

Lazarus Zetznerus, (Epistola dedicatoria) (Introduction)
Elenchus auctorum et tractatuum primae partis (Table of Contents)
Robertus Vallensis,^{[* 2]} De veritate et antiquitate artis chemicae

Libellus qui Testamentum Arnaldi a Villa Nova inscribitur
Evidens et manifesta artis chemicae comprobatio. Ex Petri Apiani Antiquitatibus desumpta

Johannes Chrysippus Fanianus, De arte metallicae metamorphoseos ad Philoponum
Johannes Chrysippus Fanianus, De jure artis alchemiae, hoc est, variorum authorum, et praesertim iurisconsultorum, judicia et responsa ad quaestionem quotidianam: An alchimia sit ars legitima
Thomas Mufett, De jure et praestantia chemicorum medicamentorum. Dialogus apologeticus

Epistola dedicatoria
Epistola ad lectorem
De jure et praestantia chemicorum medicamentorum. Dialogus apologeticus

Thomas Mufett, Epistolae quinque medicinales
Theobaldus de Hoghelande Mittelburgensis,^{[* 3]} De alchemiae difficultatibus liber

Proemium
De alchemiae difficultatibus liber

Gerard Dorn, Clavis totius philosophiae chemisticae per quam potissima philosophorum dicta reserantur

Epistola exhortativa
Artis chemisticae

Gerardus Dorn, Speculativae philosophiae gradus septem vel decem continens, per quos ad sublimia patet aditus

Ad lectorem
De speculativa philosophia

Gerardus Dorn, De artificio supernaturali

Praefatio
Artificium supernaturale

Gerardus Dorn, De naturae luce physica ex Genesi desumpta, iuxta sententiam Theophrasti Paracelsi (in quo continetur), Physica Genesis; Physica Hermetis; Physica Hermetis Trismegisti, (Tabula Smaragdina); Physica Trithemii; Philosophia meditativa; Philosophia chemica

Argumentum totius opusculi
Exclamatio auctoris ad Deum
Creatio mundi ex narratione Moysis in Genesis Physica Genesis
De medio spagirico dispositionis, ad adeptae philosophiae veram cognitionem, et lucii naturae purum conspectum (Physica Trismegisti)
De spagirico artificio 10. Trithemii sententia (Physica Trithemii)
De philosophia meditativa
De philosophia chemica ad meditativam comparata

Gerardus Dorn, De tenebris contra naturam et vita brevis

De duello animi cum corpore
De lapidum preciosorum structura (Gemmarum structura)

Gerardus Dorn, Congeries Paracelsicae chemiae de transmutationibus metallorum

Praefatio ad lectorem
De transmutationibus metallorum

Gerardus Dorn, De genealogia mineralium atque metallorum omnium (ex Paracelso)
Bernardus G. Penotus, Tractatus varii, de vera praeparatione et usu medicamentorum chemicorum

Praefatio
De medicamentis chemicis

Bernardus Trevisanus,^{[* 4]} De alchemia liber (De chymico miraculo)
Dionysius Zacharias,^{[* 5]} Opusculum philosophiae naturalis metallorum

Ad lectorem
Opusculum

Annotationes Nicolai Flamelli ^{[* 4]}

Annotata quaedam ex Nicolao Flamello (Summarium philosophicum)
Aliae quaedam annotationes ex variis autoribus
Collectanea quaedam ex antiquis scriptoribus
Collectanea ex Democrito; ex multorum opinionibus autorum

Index rerum et verborum in primo tomo (Index)

Vol. II

Page One of Theatrum Chemicum Volume II. Originally published 1602, Strasbourg by Lazarus Zetzner.

Elenchus auctorum et tractatuum secundae partis (Table of Contents)
Bernard Gilles Penot, Praefatio
Gaston Claveus,^{[* 6]} Apologia argyropoeiae et chrysopoeiae adversus Thomam Erastum
Aegidius de Vadis,^{[* 7]} Dialogus inter naturam et filium philosophiae

Bernard Gilles Penot, Praefatio
Auctoris praefatio
Dialogus philosophiae
Tabula inserenda ante prologum lib. 12. portarum Georgii Ripley (Philosophi artem potius occultare conati sunt quam patefacere)

George Ripley,^{[* 8]} Duodecim portarum epitome, duobus modis concinnata

Prologus
Duodecim portarum axiomata philosophica
Compendium Alberti Magni,^{[* 9]} de ortu et metallorum materia, supra quam Spagyricus radicalia principia fundet

Johann Isaac Hollandus,^{[* 9]} Fragmentum de lapide philosophorum
Bernard Gilles Penot, Quaestiones et responsiones philosophicae
Bernard Gilles Penot, Regulae seu canones philosophici LVII ^{[* 10]}
Bernard Gilles Penot, Mercurii, sive argenti vivi ex auro vera extractio cum sua historia
Chrysorrhoas, sive de arte chemica dialogus
Josephus Quercetanus,^{[* 11]} Ad Jacobi Auberti Vendonis de ortu et causis metallorum contra chemicos explicationem brevis responsio

Ad Jacobi Auberti Vindonis de ortu et causis metallorum contra chemicos explicationem responsio

John Dee, Monas hieroglyphica mathematice, magice, cabalistice, anagogiceque explicata

Praefatio ad regem Maximilianum
Ad typographum
Monas hieroglyphica

Lorenzo Ventura, De ratione conficiendi lapidis philosophici liber
Giovanni Francesco Pico della Mirandola, Opus aureum De auro tum aestimando, tum conficiendo, tum utendo, ad conjugem
Roger Bacon, De alchemia libellus, cui titulum fecit, Speculum alchemiae
Richardus Anglicus, Libellus utilissimus (peri chemeias), cui titulum fecit Correctorium
Libellus alius (peri chemeias) utilissimus, et rerum metallicarum cognitione refertissimus, Rosarius minor inscriptus, incerti quidem, sed harum tamen rerum non imperiti auctoris
Albertus Magnus, De alchemia

Scriptum super arborem Aristotelis

Giovanni Agostino Panteo, Ars et theoria transmutationis metallicae, cum Voarchadumia, proportionibus, numeris et iconibus rei accommodis illustrata
Giovanni Agostino Panteo, Voarchadumia contra alchemiam ars distincta ab Archemia et Sophia

Dedicatio
Auctoris intentio
Portio prima
Portio secunda
Portio tertia

Index rerum et verborum secundi voluminis (Index)

Vol. III

Page One of Theatrum Chemicum Volume III. Originally published 1602, Strasbourg by Lazarus Zetzner.

Elenchus auctorum et tractatuum tertiae partis (Table of Contents)
Liber de magni lapidis compositione et operatione, auctore adhuc incerto sed tamen doctissimo (De alchemia incerti auctoris)
De magni lapidis sive benedicti compositione et operatione aliquot capita, ex manuscriptis ^{[* 12]}
Aristoteles, De perfecto magisterio
Arnaldus de Villanova, Liber perfecti magisterii, qui lumen luminum nuncupatur... vocatur etiam Flos florum

Arnaldus de Villanova, Practica ex libro dicto Breviarius librorum alchemiae
Arnaldus de Villanova, De decoctione lapidis philosophorum, et de regimine ignis

Efferarius Monachus, De lapide philosophorum secundum verum modum formando
Efferarius Monachus, Thesaurus philosophiae
Raymundus Lullus, Praxis universalis magni operis
Odomar, Practica magistri Odomari ad discipulum
Historia antiqua de argento in aurum verso ^{[* 13]}
Tractatus de marchasita, ex qua tandem cum aliis dicendis fit elixir ad album verissimum
De arsenico

Praeparatio salis armoniaci secundum Rasim
De sale alkali

Quaestio, an lapis philosophicus (valeat contra pestem)
Vetus epistola doctissimi de metallorum materia, et artis imitatione

Caravantes Hispanus, Practica Caravantis Hispani

Johannes de Rupescissa, Liber magisterii de confectione veri lapidis philosophorum
Giovanni Aurelio Augurello, Chrysopoeia ad Leonem decimum pntificem maximum (carmine conscripta)
Giovanni Aurelio Augurello, Geronticon
Thomas Aquinas, Secreta alchemiae magnalia

Tractatus de lapide philosophico, et primo de corporibus supercaelestibus
Thomas Aquinas, Tractatus datus fratri Reinaldo, in arte alchimiae ^{[* 14]}

Joannes de Rupescissa, Liber lucis
Raymundus Lullus, Clavicula, quae et apertorium dicitur
Joannes Isaac Hollandus, Operum mineralium, sive de lapide philosophico
Ewaldus Vogelius,^{[* 15]} Liber de lapidis physici conditionibus; quo abditissimorum auctorum Gebri et Raymundi Lullii methodica continetur explicatio

Praefatio
Libri de inventione veritatis seu perfectionis ^{[* 16]}
De materiae tenuitate et subtilitate spirituali
De affinitate medic. et metal
De radicali humiditate ignea
De puritatis claritate
De terra figente
De tinctura alba vel rubea

Tractatus septem de lapide philosophico ^{[* 17]}

Praefatio
Rosarius abbreviatus

Jodocus Greverus (Grewer), Secretum nobilissimum et verissimum ^{[* 17]}
Alanus, Dicta de lapide philosophico e Germanico Latinae redita ^{[* 17]}

Praefatio
Dicta Alani philosophi de lapide philosophico

Conclusio summaria ad intelligentiam Testamenti seu Codicilli Raymundi Lullii, et aliorum librorum ejus; nec non argenti vivi, in quo pendet intentio tota intentiva, qua aliter Repertorium Raymundi appellatur ^{[* 18]}

Joannes Pontanus, Epistola in qua de lapide, quem philosophorum vocant, agitur
Carmina alchemica

Nicolas Barnaud, Commentariolum in quoddam epitaphium Bononiae studiorum, ante multa secula maemoreo lapidi insculptum
Nicolas Barnaud, Processus chemici

Addam et processum sub forma missae, a Nicolao Melchiore Cibinensi Transilvano, ad Ladislaum Ungariae et Bohemiae regem olim missum
Carmen elegans

Triga chemica ^{[* 19]}

Lambspringk, De lapide philosophico libellus e Germanico versu Latine reditus ^{[* 19]}
Philosophus Gallus Delphinas Anonymus, Liber secreti maximi totius mundanae gloriae
Extractum ex Cimbalo aureo, antiquissimo libro manuscripto, ad rem nostram faciens
Arcanum philosophorum

Nicolas Barnaud, Brevis elucidatio illius arcani philosophorum

Quadriga aurifera ^{[* 19]}

Ad lectorem
Prima rota: Tractatus de philosophia metallorum
Secunda rota: George Ripley, Liber duodecim portarum

Epistola dedicatoria
Liber duodecim portarum

Tertia rota: George Ripley, Liber de mercurio et lapide philosophorum
Quarta et ultima rota: Scriptum probi, et non male docti viri, cujus nomen excidit, elixir solis Theophrasti Paracelsi tractans

Tabula Coelum philosophicum

Nicolas Barnaud, Processus

Auriga chemicus ^{[* 19]}

Praefatio
Auriga chemicus, sive Theosophiae palmarium

De occulta philosophia epistola ^{[* 19]}

Ad lectorem
De occulta philosophia epistola cuiusdam patris ad filium

Paucula dicta sapientum
Index rerum et verborum memorabilium, quae in hoc tertio volumine continentur (Index)

Volume IV

Page One of Theatrum Chemicum Volume IV. Published 1613, Strasbourg by Lazarus Zetzner.

The fourth volume of Theatrum Chemicum was published in 1613 in Strasbourg. At the time of publication a reprinting of Volumes I-III was also issued. The reprinted editions are almost identical, though there are differences in details, such as page number, formatting, and minor rewording not affecting content. This often leads to differences in citations that use Theatrum Chemicum as a reference source. The single significant difference in the new editions is the inclusion of a tract in Volume 3 entitled "De magni lapidis sive benedicti compositione et operatione (Liber magiae generalis)" which is missing from the earlier editions.^[1] With the additional tracts found in Volume IV, the total tracts grew to 143.

Lazarus Zetzner, Praefatio ad lectorem (1613) (Introduction)
Elenchus auctorum et tractatuum huius quarti voluminis (Table of Contents)
Raymundus Lullus, Testamentum. Theorica
Raymundus Lullus, Testamentum. Practica super lapide philosophico
Raymundus Lullus, Compendium animae transmutationis artis metallorum Ruperto Anglorum Regi transmissum

De significatione literarum
Typographus lectori

Artefius, Liber qui Clavis majoris sapientiae dicitur

Ad lectorem
De generatione animalis

Heliophilus a Percis Philochemicus,^{[* 20]} Nova disquisitio de Helia Artista

Philochemicus Heliophilus a Percis Philochemicus
Heliophilus a Percis Philochemicus, Nova disquisitio de Helia Artista theophrasteo, super metallorum transformatione, etc.

Hieronymus de Zanetinis, Conclusio (comparatio alchimiae), qua disputationi et argumentis Angeli respondetur
Thomas Arfoncinus, De jure alchymiae responsum
Anonymus,^{[* 20]} De materia et praxi lapidis philosophorum; Von der Materi und Prattick dess Steins der Weisen

Vorred an den Kunstliebenden Leser
Programma ad lectorem philochymicum
Gulden Gedicht
Carmen apollineum
Plutarchus, De capienda utilitate ex inimicis

Nicolaus Niger Happelius,^{[* 20]} Cheiragogia Heliana de auro philosophico, nec dum cognito

Programma authoris
Praefatio (dated 4 July 1612)
Protestatio
Carmen appolineum Helianum

Venceslaus Lavinus Moravus, Tractatus de coelo terrestri
Nicolaus Niger Hapelius,^{[* 20]} Disquisitio Heliana

Praefatio
Disquisitio Heliana de metallorum transformatione, etc.

Fabianus de Monte S. Severini, Ex tract. de empt. et vend.
Nicolaus Niger Happelius,^{[* 20]} Aphorismi Basiliani sive canones hermetici de spiritu, anima et corpore medio majoris et minoris mundi
Andreas Brentzius, Variae philosophorum sententiae perveniendi ad lapidem benedictum

Epistola dedicatoria (ad Wolfgango episcopo ratisbonensi), (Dated 20 January 1606)
Sententiae seu processus Alberti Magni philosophi
Processus Raimundi Lulli, quem in suis libris hinc inde descripsit: praesertim Testamento novissimo, et in luce Mercuriorum
Processus Lulli secundum mentem Jani Lacinii Calabri, quem tamen ego non probo
Processus Gebri Arabis, collectus ex variis locis summae perfectionis, in quibus sparsim Geber eum tradidit
Tinctura Gebri ad rubeum
Alius et quidam praestantissimus rubeae tincturae modus, Gebro sparsim parce et paucis verbis positus
Tinctura ad album ex arsenico a Gebro descripta
Processus B. Thomae de Aquino, quem admodum ejus facit mentionem Paracelsus
Paracelsi tinctura ex solo sulphure
Processus Paracelsi nobilissimus, quem paucissimus verbis in Tinctura physicorum exposuit
Modus perveniendi ad tincturas per Mercurios corporum perfectorum
Usus secundus (primus) Mercuriorum e corporibus extractorum
Usus secundus Mercuriorum e corporibus extractorum
Usus tertius Mercuriorum ex corporibus perfectis extractorum
Usus quartus Mercuriorum e metallicis perfectis corporibus confectorum
Processus quorundam ex antiquis. Ex Mercurio vulgari, et Sole vel Luna
Processus coagulandi amalgamata per spiritum sive animam Saturni

Series tractatuum huius philosophiae chymicae

Bernardus Gilles Penotus, Epistola (ad Mauritium Lantgravium Hassiae)

I. L., Ad authorem huius apologiae
I. B. A., Ad eundem
Guilielmus Dubroc, Ad eundem
Stephanus Gasconius, Ad eundem

Gaston Dulco,^{[* 21]} De triplici praeparatione auri et argenti

Bernardus Gilles Penotus, Praefatio (ad lectorem)
Gaston Dulco,^{[* 21]} Epistola dedicatoria (ad Jacobo Laffinio, 1594)
De triplici praeparatione auri et argenti

Gaston Dulco,^{[* 21]} De recta et vera ratione progignendi lapidis philosophici, seu salis argentifici et aurifici. Dilucida et compendiosa explicatio
Anonymus,^{[* 22]} Canones seu regulae decem, de lapide philosophico

Typographus lectori

Epilogus totius rei hic est

Divi Leschi Genus Amo, Duodecim tractatus de lapide philosophorum

Praefatio ad lectorem
Johan Henricus Alstedius, Epigramma
Tractatus I: De impossibilitate naturae
Tractatus II: De operatione naturae
Tractatus III: De prima metallorum materia
Tractatus IV: Quomodo metalla in terrae visceribus generantur?
Tractatus V: De generatione lapidum
Tractatus VI: De secunda materia
Tractatus VII: De virtute secundae materiae
Tractatus VIII: De arte
Tractatus IX: De commixtione metallorum
Tractatus X: De generatione supernaturali
Tractatus XI: De praxi et confectione lapidis
Tractatus XII: De lapide, et ejus virtute
Epilogus seu conclusio horum duodecim tractatuum

Divi Leschi Genus Amo, Aenigma philosophorum
Divi Leschi Genus Amo, Parabola seu aenigma philosophorum, coronidis et superadditamenti loco adjunctum
Divi Leschi Genus Amo, Dialogus Mercurii, alchymistae, et naturae (de lapide philosophorum)

(Ad lectorem)

M. Georgio Beato interprete, Aureliae occultae philosophorum partes duae

Aenigma philosophorum sive symbolum Saturni, per parabolas Azoth dilucide ostendens
Pars prima
Pars secunda

Arnoldus de Villanova, Speculum alchymiae

Hieronymus Megiserus, Admodum reverendo et obilissimo Dn. Wolfgango ad Heussenstam
Vita Arnaldi de Vila Nova
Arnoldus de Villanova, Speculum alchymiae

Arnoldus de Villanova, Nova carmen
Arnoldus de Villanova, Quaestiones tam essentiales quam accidentales ad Bonifacium octavum
Philosopho Anonymo, Tractatus de secretissimo antiquorum philosophorum arcano

Praefatio ad lectorem
Catalogus autorum qui in hoc opusculo continentur
XXII propositiones sive maximae in quibus veritas totius artis chemicae brevissime comprehenditur
Joannes de Lasnioro, Tractatus secundus aureus de lapide philosophorum
Joannes Trithemius, Tractatus III chemicus nobilis

Hermes Trismegistus, Tractatus aureus de lapidis physici secreto

Dominicus Gnosicus Belga, Epistola dedicatoria (ad Ladislao Welen, baroni a Zierotin)
Subiectissimus Anonymus, Praefatio (ad Jacobo Alsteinio, dated 23 October 1608)
Hermes Trismegistus, Tractatus aureus de lapidis physici secreto, in capitula septem divisus: nunc vero a quodam Anonymo ^{[* 23]} scholiis illustratus
Capitulum primum
Capitulum secundum
Capitulum tertium
Capitulum quartum
Capitulum quintum
Capitulum sextum
Capitulum septimum
Conclusio totius tractatus

David Lagneus,^{[* 24]} Harmonia seu consensus philosophorum chemicorum

Epistola dedicatoria (ad Heroaldo, Valgrinosae domino, 1611)
Praefatio (1611)
Urbanus, Johanni Herovardo
Buetus, Ad D. Lagneum
Catalogus auctorum in hac harmonia citatorum
Harmonia seu consensus philosophorum chemicorum, magno cum studio et labore in ordinem digestus, et a nemine alio hac methodo distributus
(Ad lectorem)
Aenigmaticum quoddam epitaphium ^{[* 25]} Bononiae studiorum, ante multa secula, marmoreo lapidi insculptum (vide III, 744)
Arcanum philosophorum, per virum doctissimum olim versu hexametro conscriptum
M. Quadratus, In harmoniam chemicam D. Lagnei, ex intimis intimi

Albertus Magnus, De concordantia philosophorum in lapide
Albertus Magnus, Compositum de compositis
Albertus Magnus,^{[* 26]} Liber octo capitulorum: De lapide philosophorum
Avicenna, Ad Hasen regem epistola de re recta
Avicenna, Declaratio lapidis physici filio suo Aboali
Avicenna, De congelatione et conglutinatione lapidum
Guilhelmus Tecenensis, Liber lilium tanquam de spinis evulsum
Joannes Dumbeler,^{[* 27]} Practica vera alkimica per magistrum Ortholanum Parisiis probata et experta sub anno domini 1358
Anonymus, Lumen juvenis experti novum ^{[* 28]}
Magister Valentinus, Opus praeclarum ad utrumque magistri Valentini expertissimi. Quod pro testamento dedit filio suo adoptivo, qui etiam istum tractatulum propria manu scripsit Joanni Apot (Apotecario)
Anonymus, Super (hoc ipsum) tractatulum: "Studio namque florenti"
Opus ad album
Thomas Aquinas, Liber lilii benedicti 26. Mer: fugi dum bibit Lunam sedecies duplum

Opus excellentissimum S. Thomae de Aquino
Super tractatulum "Mer fugi dum bibit"

Anonymus, Breve opus ad rubeum cum sole per aquas fortes
Petrus de Silento, Opus
De lapide philosophico

Joachimus Tanckius,^{[* 29]} Epistola dedicatoria (ad Bernhardo G. Penoto, Lipsiae) (Dated 1 April 1603)
Joachimus Tanckius,^{[* 29]} Ad lectorem

Anonymus, Tractatus philosophicus ad rubrum et album

Joachimus Tanckius,^{[* 29]} Epistola dedicatoria (ad Nicolao Bernaudo, Lipsiae 1603)

Paulus Eck de Sultzbach, Clavis philosophorum. Ludus puerorum et labor mulierum. Annno 1489

Index rerum memorabilium, quae in hoc quarto volumine continentur, copiosissimus (Index)

Volume V

Page One of Theatrum Chemicum Volume V. Published 1622, Strasbourg by Lazarus Zetzner.

The fifth volume of Theatrum Chemicum was publish in 1622 in Strasbourg. This is the first of the volumes to be published by Zetzner's heirs, most likely Eberhardi Zetzner, though the text still bears Lazarus Zetzner's name. This volume contains a substantial number of "older" tracts, including one of the oldest alchemical tracts in existence, Turba Philosophorum. These additions would increase the number of tracts to 163.

Heredes L. Zetzneri, Lectori candido (Introduction)
Elenchus auctorum et tractatuum quinti voluminis (Table of Contents)
Turba philosophorum, ex antiquo manuscripto codice excerpta, qualis nulla hactenus visa est editio
In turbam philosophorum sermo unus anonymi ^{[* 30]}
Allegoriae sapientum supra librum Turbae: XXIX distinctiones
Micreris, Tractatus Micreris suo discipulo Mirnefindo
Plato, Platonis quartorum, cum commento Hebuhabes Hamed, explicati ab Hestole
Calid filus Iarichi, Liber secretorum alchimiae, ex Hebraica lingua in Arabicam, et ex Arabica in Latinam translatus, interprete incerto

Praefatio
Liber secretorum regis Calid

Calid,^{[* 31]} Liber trium verborum
Philosophiae chimicae duo vetustissima scripta

Senior Zadith filius Hamuelis, Tabula chimica, marginalibus adaucta (Senior de chemia)

Willem Mennens, Aurei velleris sive sacrae philosophiae vatum selectae ac unicae mysteriorumque Dei, naturae, et artis admirabilium, libri tres

Epistola dedicatoria
Ad lectorem
Aurei velleris...
Argumenta capitum...
Consilium conjugii, seu De massa solis et lunae libri III (Anonymi libri III. de chemia)

Petrus Bonus, Margarita novella correctissima

Praefatio
Ad alchemiam introductio
Margarita preciosa

Michael Scotus, Quaestio curiosa de natura solis et lunae
Lucas Rodargirus, Pisces Zodiaci inferioris vel De solutione philosophica. Cum aenigmatica totius lapidis epitome

Epistola
Pisces Zodiaci inferioris vel De solutione philosophica
Lucaa Rodargirius, Chymia compendiaria ad Johannem Riturum

Alphonsus Rex Castellae, Liber philosophiae occultioris, (praecipue metallorum) profundissimus, cui titulum fecit: Clavis sapientiae

Proemiolum
Clavis sapientiae

Aristoteles Alchymista, Tractatus ad Alexandrum Magnum, De lapide philosophico, breviloquium
Monachus benedictinus anonymus, Epistola ad Hermannum Archiepiscopum Coloniensem, de lapide philosophico. Opuscula Platonis et Arnoldi Villanovani recensens
Thomas Aquinas, Tractatus sextus, de esse et essentia mineralium tractans
Cornelius Alvetanus Arnsrodius, De conficiendo divino elixire, sive lapide philosophico
Animadversiones chemicae quatuor quibus ars περι χημειασ universa, tam practice quam theorice enudatur
Roger Bacon, Epistolae (ad Gulielmum Parisiensem conscripta) de secretis operibus artis et naturae, et de nullitate magiae ^{[* 32]}

Dedicatio ad Roseae Crucis fratribus
Epistola ad lectorem
Epistolae Rogerii Baconis de secretis operibus artis et naturae
John Dee, Ad Baconis epistolam adnotata

Christophorus Horn, De auro medico philosophorum, id est de illo occulto, salutari, solari omnium mineralium, vegetalium, et animalium corporum, spiritu. Dialogus scholasticus
Index rerum memorabilium quae hoc in opere continentur (Index)

Volume VI

Page One of Theatrum Chemicum Volume VI. Published 1659-61, Strasbourg by Lazarus Zetzner.

The final volume of Theatrum Chemicum was published in 1659-1661 in Strasbourg. Volume VI was published by Eberhardi Zetzner, though compiled by Johannes Jacobus Heilman. This volume contains tracts originally issued in German or French, but were translated by Heilman into Latin. These additional tracts would increase the total tracts to over 200.

Johannes Jacobus Heilman, Dedicatio (ad Friderico, comiti palatino ad Rhenum) (Dedication)
Johannes Jacobus Heilman, Praefatio Dedicatio (secunda ad J.F.H.S. Sendivogii filio) ^{[* 33]}
Johannes Jacobus Heilman, Praefatio ad lectorem (Introduction)
Elenchus authorum et XII. tractatuum voluminis sexti (Table of Contents)
Blasius Vigenerius, Tractatus de igne et sale
Tractatus de sale et igne. Pars secunda
Johannes Collesson,^{[* 34]} Idea perfecta philosophiae hermeticae
Dedicatio (ad Gastoni Burbonio, Ludovici XIII regis fratri unico)
Constans et unanimis vere philosophantium de physici lapidis materia atque operationibus sententia
Idea perfecta philosophiae hermeticae, seu abbreviatio theoriae et praxeos lapidis philosophici observationibus, ad melius intelligendum principia et fundamenta naturae et philosophiae, aucta
Observationes necessariae ad bene intelligendum principia et fundamenta naturae et philosophiae hermeticae (De principiis philosophiae hermeticae)
Anonymus Philosophus, Fidelissima et jucunda instructio patris ad filium ex manuscripto Gallico desumpta
Praefatio
Hermes in superiori sphaera est in medio fontisvena, quae est philosophorum regula prima. Summa decem capitum sequentium
Instructio de arbore solari
Christophorus Parisiensis, Elucidarius artis transmutatoriae metallorum summa major

Praefatio authoris
Elenchus rerum quae in hoc opusculo continentur
Elucidarii liber primus (de arte transmutatoria) in VII. capita divisus
Appendix theorica pro meliore praecedentium declaratione
Elucidarii liber secundus seu practica scientiae arboris philosophalis
Elucidarii liber III. seu tertia pars elucidarii. De ordine medicinarum cum reprobatione sophisticationum Geberi
Recapitulatio exacta trium elucidarii partium seu librorum
Clavis (elucidarii) seu explicatio alphabeti, quo operationes artificis diversae abbreviationis causa denotantur
Appendix practica (ad elucidarium) ante hac nunquam visa
Tractatulus accuratissimus de compositione sulphuris et menstrui vegatibilis seu auro potabili secundum

Johannes Grasseus alias Chortalasseus, Arca arcani artificiosissimi de summis naturae mysteriis. Constructa ex rustico majore et minore, et physica naturalis rotunda visionem cabalisticum chemicam descripta, quibus accessit appendix anonymi cuiusdam philosophi de via ad aurum potabile perveniendi

De lapide philosophorum in genere
De consensu philosophorum
Pars secunda: Lilium inter spinas (1598)
De praxis authoris
Anonymus,^{[* 35]} Physica naturalis rotunda visionis chemicae cabalisticae (Cabala chemica)

Admonitio. Instructio et probatio contra omnes eos, qui aurum potabile extra processum et tincturam lapidis philosophici universalis brevi temporis spatio praeparare sibi et aliis falso persuadent et sibi proponunt

Praefatio ad lectorem
Appendix de via ad aurum potabile philosophico

Responsiones duae F. R. C. ad quosdam suos clientes

Prima responsio: Epistola F. R. C. de lapide philosophorum acquisitione
Altera responsio

Andreas Orthelius, Commentator in Novum lumen chymicum Michaelis Sendivogii Poloni, XII. figuris in Germania repertis illustratum (1624)

Praefatio Orthelii
Commentator in Novum lumen chymicum Sendivogii
Epilogus et recapitulatio in Novum lumen chymicum Sendivogii
Andreas de Blauwen,^{[* 36]} Epistola Andreae de Blavven scripta ad Petrum Andream Matthiolum in qua agitur de multiplici auri potabilis parandi ratione
Discursus Orthelii de praecedente Epistola Andreae de Blawen
Epistola anonymi de principiis artis Hermeticae
Expositio et practica lapidis adrop, collecta ex Plinii philosophi libro qui intitulatur: Aromaticum philosophorum thesaurus et secretum secretorum
Excerpta ex interlocutione Mariae Prophetissae sororis Moysis et Aaronis, habita cum aliquo philosopho dicto Aros de excellentissimo opere trium horarum
Orthelius, Explicatio verborum Mariae Prophetissae
Joannes Pontanus, Epistola in qua de lapide quem philosophorum vocant agitur
Orthelius, Commentatio in epistolam Joh. Pontani de lapide philosophorum
Haimon, Epistola Haimonis de quatuor lapidibus philosophicis materiam suam ex minori mundo desumentibus

Cornelius Alvetanus, Epistola de conficiendo divino elixire, sive lapide philosophico (14 July 1565)
Astronomia inferior seu planetarum terrestrium motus et variatio
Summa rhytmorum Germanicorum de opere universali ex coelo soloque prodeunte
Summa libri qui vocatur Gloria mundi, seu tabula Paradisi
Michael Pezelius, Opus singulare procedens ex sale quodam centrali aethereo, resoluto in igne minerali terreno, seu oleo vitrioli, quod cum tinctura solis extracta fermentatur, & externo igne Solympico aut igne radiorum solis invisibili coquitur & maturatur. Ex Theophrasto redivivo Michaelis Pezelii circa finem
Sententia aut compositio litis spiritus et judicis Mercurii. Ex vetusto scripto Bellum seu Duellum equestre vocato, ad accusationem et responsionem Solis et Martis, per picturas repraesenta ^{[* 37]}
Summa rhytmorum parvorum Germanicorum, qui sunt ejusdem tenoris et sensus cum praecedentibus picturis, ad verbum expressa
Annagramista "Harr gewiss Trost von Gott", Mysterium occultae naturae. Anonymi discipuli Johannis Grassei Chortalassei dicti nostro seculo insignis philosophi

Praefatio ad pium lectorem filii Sendivogii I.F.H.S. Lucernae salis et Sudi philosophici authoris, et mysterii hermetici possessoris
Invisibilia Dei a creatura mundi per ea quae facta sunt intellectu conspiciuntur

Anonymus Discipulus Guidonis Magni de Monte Philosophi Graeci, Tractatulus, seu descriptio philosophici Adrop. Quaenam sit ejus species, et quomodo debeat elaborari et praeparari

Praefatio et instructio ad lectorem
De philosophico adrop
Calcinatio metallorum
De ovo philosophorum

Page 675 of Theatrum Chemicum Volume VI, showing the first page of 'Discursus Solini Saltztal Regiomontani De potentissima philosophorum medicina universali, lapis philosophorum trismegistus dicta.'

Johannes Isaac Hollandus, Tractatus de urina quomodo per spiritum ejus omnes tinctura sint extrahenda

Johannes Chartier,^{[* 38]} Scientia plumbi sacri sapientum seu cognitio rararum potestatum et virtutum antimonii

Beys, Praefatio seu encomium in honorem authoris et plumbi sacri philosophorum
Consignatio articulorum seu argumentorum in hoc tractatu contentorum
Scientia plumbi sacri sapientum

Joachim Polemann, Novum lumen medicum. De mysterio sulphuris philosophorum
Solinus Saltzthal Regiomontanus,^[6] De potentissima philosophorum medicina universali, lapis philosophorum trismegistus dicta (1654)

Praefatio ad lectorem
Brevis descriptio admirandae virtutis et operationis summae medicinae lapis philosophorum dictae
Discursus de philosophico fonte salino
Praefatio ad lectorem

Hermes Trismegistos, Tabula smaragdina seu verba secretorum Hermetis
Henri de Rochas, Tractatus de observationibus novis et vera cognitione aquarum mineralium et de illarum qualitatibus et virtutibus antehac incognitis. Item de spiritu universali (1634)

Caput I. De aquis sulphureis
Caput II. De aquis vitriolatis
Caput III. De aquis aluminosis
Caput IV. De aquis nitrosis
Caput V. De aquis ferruginosis
Caput VI. De spiritu universali

Index locupletissimus in VI. volumen Theatri chymici (Index)

Related publications

Though Theatrum Chemicum remains the most comprehensive single body of work on alchemy, future publications would emulate Zetzner's attempt to gather alchemical works into a single reference source. In 1652, Elias Ashmole published a similarly entitled work by the name of, Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum in London. The two works are related by subject, but are different in content. However, because of the printing date of Ashmole's work and the similar titles, the two compendiums are often confused.

Then in 1702, Jean-Jacques Manget produced in Geneva the second most comprehensive collection of alchemical tracts in his Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa which represents a total of almost 140 tracts, of which 35 had already been included in Theatrum Chemicum.

Another work, prepared by Friederich Roth-Scholtz, was entitled Deutsches Theatrum Chemicum. It was published in Nuremberg 1728-1732, and like Ashmole's work, it is related to Theatrum Chemicum in subject, but of different content.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Prinke, Rafał T. (Dec 23, 2005). "Theatrum chemicum electronicum". Digital Library of Wielkopolska. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
↑ Simmons, Anna (26 September 2007). "Medieval and Early Modern Alchemy". Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry (SHAC). Retrieved 2010-05-15.
↑ Duveen, Denis I. (1949). Bibliotheca alchemica et chemica: an annotated catalogue of printed books on alchemy, chemistry and cognate subjects in the library of Denis I. Duveen. London: E. Weil.
1 2 3 Harman, Peter M.; Shapiro, Alan E. (2002-11-07). "The Investigation of Difficult Things: Essays on Newton and the History of the exact sciences". Cambridge University Press (published 2002): 157. ISBN 0-521-89266-X. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
↑ "The Alchemy web site on Levity.com". Levity.com. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
↑ Solinus Saltzthal was a pseudonym of Johann Joachim Becher, who published in 1654 his Discurs von der Großmächtigen Philosophischen Universal-Artzney / von den Philosophis genannt Lapis Philosophorum Trismegistus (discours about the allmighty philosophical and universal medicine by the philosopher called Lapis Philosophorum Trismegistus).(see: Smith, Pamela H. (2016). The Business of Alchemy: Science and Culture in the Holy Roman Empire. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691173238, p. 40/41; see also: 'The Emperor's Mercantile Alchemist' in: Greenberg, Arthur (2006) - From Alchemy to Chemistry in Picture and Story. Hoboken N.J. : John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978 0 470 08523 3.p. 231f.

Notes

↑ Roughly translated as "Chemical Theatre, for a particularly selected person responsible for handling about Chemicals and the Philosopher's Stone. Ancient, truthful, pure, excellent, and working, containing: An account of True Chemicals, and the study of Medical Chemicals (how to most fruitfully accomplish the best remedy) brought together as parts in arrangement.
↑ A.K.A. Robert Duval, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ A.K.A. Theobald van Hoghelande, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
1 2 ed. Gerard Dorn, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ possible A.K.A. Johannes Cerasius,(ed. Gerard Dorn), see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ A.K.A. Gaston LeDoux de Claves, edited by Bernard Gilles Penot, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ A.K.A. Gilles Dewes, edited by Bernard Gilles Penot, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ edited by Bernard Gilles Penot, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
1 2 edited by Bernard Gilles Penot, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum citation
↑ translated roughly as "Rules or Canonical Philosophy (in relation to The Philosopher's Stone, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum citation)
↑ A.K.A. Joseph Duchesne, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ possibly written by Jean de Meung or a retitling of "De lapide philosophico incerti auctoris", see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ possibly ascribed to Odomar, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ a retitling of Thesaurus alchemiae secretissimus ad fratrem Reinaldum", see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ A.K.A. Theobaldus van Hoghelande, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ retitling of "De oleaginitate minerali", see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
1 2 3 edited by Justus a Balbian (Justus Abalbian Flander, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ (Tractatus de lapide philosophorum), see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
1 2 3 4 5 edited by Nicolas Barnaud, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
1 2 3 4 5 possibly written by Raphael Eglin, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
1 2 3 A.K.A. Gaston LeDoux de Claves, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ amicus typographi (written by male friend typographer), see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ possibly written by Israel Harvet, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ A.K.A. L'Agneau, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ A.K.A. Aelia Laelia Crispis, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ also attributed to Avicenna, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ A.K.A. John Dombelay, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ attributed to A. de Villanova, Novum lumen, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
1 2 3 A.K.A. Joachim Tancke, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ possibly written by Alanus de Rupe, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ Believed to have been written by Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ Edited by John Dee, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ ed. J. Hartprecht (Zweibrücken 1661)
↑ A.K.A., Johannes (Jean) Collesson
↑ Believed to have been authored by Franz Krell, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum citation
↑ A.K.A. Andreas Orthelius, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ Translation of the 'Urtheil oder Vergleichung . . ." in Sendivogius, Lumen Chymicum Novum; Epilogus Orthelii, 1624, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum
↑ A.K.A. Jean Chartier, see Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum citation

Resources

H. C. Bolton, A select bibliography of chemistry, Washington 1893 (= Smithonian Miscellaneous Collections, vol. XXXVI), p. 1051–1058
J. Ferguson, Bibliotheca chemica, Glasgow 1906, vol. 2, p. 436-439
A. L. Caillet, Manuel bibliographique des sciences psychiques ou occultes, Paris 1912, vol. 3, p. 591-595 (after N. Lenglet Dufresnoy, Histoire de la philosophie hermétique, Paris 1742, vol. 3, p. 49)
T. Hofmeier, (collation of the three editions of Theatrum chemicum, the planned compilation by I. Habrecht and J. J. Manget's Bibliotheca chemica curiosa), appendix to: C. Gilly, "On the genesis of L. Zetzner's Theatrum Chemicum in Strasbourg" in: Magia, alchimia, scienza dal '400 al '700. L'influsso di Ermete Trismegisto, ed. C. Gilly, C. van Heertum, Firenze: Centro Di, 2003, p. 435-441, with a bibliography of original editions on p. 442-446

External links

Theatrum Chemicum Electronicum, all volumes scanned from originals at the Library of Wielkopolska.
Free downloadable volumes scanned from originals as Pdf-files at archive.org: Volume 1, 1659, Volume 5, 1622 (Latin)
Free downloadable volumes scanned from originals as Pdf-files at e-rara.ch: Volumes 1 to 3, 1602, Volumes 1 to 4 and 6, 1659-1661, Volume 5, 1622 (Latin)
Theatrum Chemicum, Vol VI at Google Books. (Latin)

Alchemy (outline)

Concepts	Alkahest Azoth Chrysopoeia Classical planets (Suns) Elements Elixir of life Homunculus In art and entertainment Philosopher's stone Substances Symbols

Branches	Daoist Hindu Islamic Spagyric Iatrochemistry Chemistry

Magnum opus	Nigredo Albedo Citrinitas Rubedo

Processes	Calcination Ceration Cohobation Congelation Digestion Distillation Fermentation Filtration Fixation Multiplication Projection Solution Sublimation

Alchemists	Agastya Arthur Dee Fulcanelli Ge Hong Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Isaac Newton Jābir ibn Hayyān John Dee Albertus Magnus Khālid ibn Yazīd Bernard of Treviso Mary the Jewess Michael Maier Nicolas Flamel Ostanes Paracelsus Rhazes Robert Boyle Roger Bacon Wei Boyang Zosimos of Panopolis

Works	Alchemical Studies Atalanta Fugiens Aurora consurgens Baopuzi Buch der heiligen Dreifaltigkeit Cantilenae Intelectuales de Phoenice Redivivo Cantong qi Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz Cyranides De Alchemia Deutsches Theatrum Chemicum Emerald Tablet Fasciculus Chemicus Hermetic Definitions Hermetic Journal Hermetica Kitab al-Kimya Liber Ignium Musaeum Hermeticum Mutus Liber Occult Chemistry Parabola Allegory Psychology and Alchemy Rosary of the Philosophers Septimana Philosophica Splendor Solis Suspicions about the Hidden Realities of the Air The Hermetical Triumph The Mirror of Alchimy The Twelve Keys of Basil Valentine Theatrum Chemicum Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum Tripus Aureus Turba Philosophorum

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