GLAUBER, Johann Rudolph.
Miraculum mundi, oder Außführliche Beschreibung der wunderbaren Natur, Art, und Eigenschafft des grosmächtigen Subjecti, von den alten menstruum universale oder Merrcurius philosophorum genandt, dardurch die Vegetabilien, Animalien, und Mineralien gar leichtlich in die allerheilsambste Medicamenten, und die unvolkommene Metallen realiter in beständige und perfecte Metallen können verwandelt werden. [Volume 2:] Miraculi mundi ander Theil. Oder Dessen Vorsängst ...
Amsterdam, [Johannes Janssonius] (vol. 1) & Johannes Janssonius (vol. 2), 1653-1660. 2 volumes bound as 1. 8vo. Later vellum, manuscript title on spine.
With: [IDEM]. Explicatio tractatuli, qui miraculum mundi inscribitur, nuper a Joh. Rud. Glaubero editi, tam plana quam solida, in rei veritatis testimonium, & artes amorre prodse quentium utilitatem.
Frankfurt am Main, for Thomas Matthias Götze, 1656. 8vo. Modern marbled paper over boards, orange morocco spine label with title in gold. [1], [1 blank], 105, [5 blank ]; [20], 113, [1]; 62 pp.
€ 2,250
Second (volume 1) and fourth (volume 2) edition of a classic alchemical work on a miraculous remedy: a panacea for all diseases, infirmities and other ailments that Glauber calls his "Alkahest". Some of Glaubers contemporaries such as Sir Robert Moray of the Royal Society, had a high regard for his "Alkahest". Gugel lists the first edition with the imprint: Frankfurt am Main, Thomas Mathias Götze, 1653, which is VD17 12:651082H (1 copy, with a link to a scan), 1:641060B (1 copy, perhaps the same edition) or 23:242176E (3 copies, perhaps the same edition), but doesnt mention the present edition, which is a wholly new setting. Janssonius published a Latin translation of volume 1 in the same year 1653 with imprint: "impressum" Amsterdam "apud" Johannes Janssonius, and with what appears to be the same arabesque tailpiece on the title-page, and volume 2 has the imprint Amsterdam, "bey" Johannes Janssonius. Janssonius appears to have published all four early editions of the second volume (1657-1660).
Ad 1 with some annotations, underlining and marks in the margins in pencil. Ad 1 somewhat soiled and ad 2 somewhat browned, both otherwise in good condition. Ad 1: STCN (6 & 4 copies); VD17 14:628726H (7 copies) & 23:644528B (4 copies); not in Gugel. Ad 2: Ferguson I, 325; VD17 23:269996Y (2 copies); not in Gugel.
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