Milestones of Science Books

RULAND, Martin.

Progymnasmata alchemiae, sive problemata chymica, nonaginta et una quaestionibus dilucidata: cum lapidis philosophici vera conficiendi ratione.

Frankfurt: E Collegio Musarum Paltheniano, 1607.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #002746

1606-1607. Three parts in one volume. 8vo (161 x 96 mm). [16], 254, [2], 136; 165 [1] pp., including separate title page to third part, dated 1606, printer's devices to each title-page and at end of second part. Contemporary full vellum, spine with gilt-lettered morocco label and manuscript shelf number (light wear to exremities, some spotting and soiling of covers, lacking first free endpaper). Text somewhat browned throughout, occasional brown spotting, first title with short tear at blank fore-margin and binders glue residues at blank gutter, occasional ink and pencil annotations and markings in contemporary hand. Provenance: illegible ink stamps on first title recto and verso. Good copy. ----

Ferguson II, 304; Duveen, p. 530; Ferchl 460; NLM/Krivatsy 10038; Thorndike VII, 159; Partington II, 161; STC R 1208; Verginelli 289. VERY RARE FIRST EDITION of an important work on alchemy, divided into three parts: the third, dated 1606, is titled Lapidis philosophici true conficiedi ratio (the real method to realize the philosopher's stone). "Of the three parts, the first contains 64 problems, followed by chemical remedies. Part two is an Appendix of Chemical Questions, containing the remainder of the problems, numbered from 65 to 91. The third part contains two treatises on the pilosophers' stone of 20 and 12 chapters respectively. The former was reprinted by Manget in 1720 as the work of Marsilio Ficino" (Thorndike). The latter, on which Thorndike is silent, bears the caption title "Tractatus alter de lapide philosophico anonymi cuiusdam". The pseudonym of this 'anonymus' can be disclosed thanks to a comment by a contemporary learned reader. He noted on p.86 that he had already found this treatise in a work of 1604, and that it was reprinted again in the volume of Theatrum chemicum. On the basis of these references, the author is easily discernible: it is Martin Sendivogius. His text was reprinted after the first edition of the "Novum Lumen Chymicum" in 1604 (Ferguson II, 367), omitting the preface. The learned men added this in a clean Latin handwriting on three leaves at the end of the work.
It is interesting to note that Ruland's work was also thoroughly studied and dictated by Isaac Newton. Martin Ruland, 1569-1611, also known as Martinus Rulandus or Martin Rulandt, a famous German alchemist, a disciple of Paracelsus, was Rudolf II's physician. The copy studied and annotated by Newton is part of The Frederick E. Brasch Collection of Newton and Newtonian now at Stanford University Library.
The book is very rare. We can trace only one copy (this copy) at auctions in the past 50 years (Zisska & Kistner, 2004, sale 43, lot 447, sold EUR 1725). - Visit our website for additional images and information.

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