Milestones of Science Books

MAIER, Michael / BORCH, Oluf [BORRICHIUS].

Lusus serius, quo Hermes sive Mercurius rex mundanorum omnium sub homine existentium post longam disceptationem in Concilio Octovirali habitam. . . judicatus et constitutus est. / De ortu, et progressu chemiae, dissertatio.

Oppenheim: Hieronymus Galler for Lucas Jennis, 1616.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002745

MAIER, Michael. Lusus serius, quo Hermes sive Mercurius rex mundanorum omnium sub homine existentium post longam disceptationem in Concilio Octovirali habitam. . . judicatus et constitutus est. Oppenheim: Hieronymus Galler for Lucas Jennis, 1616. 79 [1] pp., engraved vignette to title-page. [Bound with:] BORCH, Oluf [BORRICHIUS]. De ortu, et progressu chemiae, dissertatio. Copenhagen: Godicchenius for Haubold, 1668. [12], 150, [2] pp., woodcut printer's device on title-page, final leaf of errata. Two works in one volume. 4to (196 x 155 mm). Bound in early 19th century half calf over blue marbled boards, spine lettered in gilt and with some gilt decoration (little rubbing of extremities), marbled endpapers. First work only little evenly browned, very minor occasional spotting, otherwise quite clean and fresh. Second work lightly browned throughout with scattered brown spotting. A fine Sammelband. ----

I. Ferguson II, 63; Gardner 418; Kloss 2479; Caillet 6995; Wolfstieg 42294; Ackermann IV, 122; Rosenthal 570 ("tres rare"). - First edition, first issue (date not yet altered into 1619 by hand). Extremely scarce key-work of Rosicrucianism. Maier, physician of the Danish king, was one of the earliest glowing propagandists of Rosicrucianism.
Erste Ausgabe und grosse Seltenheit der alchemistisch-rosenkreuzerischen Literatur, zumal wie hier im ersten Druck. Viele andere Exemplare haben die Jahreszahl 1616 handschr. in "1619" verändert. Maier, Leibarzt des dänischen Königs, gehört zu den frühesten glühenden Propagandisten des Rosenkreuzertums. Ein fiktiver Dialog zwischen auf S. 6 genannten Vögeln unter Führung der weisen Eule über die Führung der geistigen Welt. Die Titelvignette, von Ackermann de Bry zugeschrieben, aber auch im Stil des jungen Merian, zeigt Hermes mit einem Kollegium von Tieren.
II. Ferguson I, 119; Duveen p.89; Waller 15422; NLM/Krivatsy 1548; Wellcome II, 206. - First edition. "This celebrated treatise, the most frequently quoted by early historians, was highly prized by the alchemists of his day" (Bolton I, 95, after Duveen). "His works on the history of chemistry are still of use." (Ferguson). - Visit our website for additional images and information.

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