IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0120 MSS.4750, 4751
Held at: Wellcome Library
Title: T., C.
Date(s): Late 17th century
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 2 volumes
Name of creator(s): T | C
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Unknown
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Collection of notes, extracts, translations, etc. from alchemical works: including also iatro-chemical receipts, alchemical, chemical, and technical processes, etc.: in French and Latin. Compiled by C. T., M.D. Illustrated with a few small and roughly executed pen-drawings of alchemical apparatus. There are also some grotesque heads and faces. Mainly written in a small and difficult current hand with many contractions. Pp. 260-343 in Vol. I are by another hand. Though mainly consisting of notes and anonymous extracts, processes, etc., the following may be separately mentioned: Vol. I. [Anon.] Traitté de la Grande Oeuvre (pp. 1-62). Basilius Valentinus. Enseignemans des Artifices concernant l'Ouvrage Universel ... et les Conclusions de tous ses escripts (86-113). Helmont (J. B. van). Imago firminti Liquor Alchaest (196-209). [Anon.] Stichiomantia. De li dadi: in Italian (210-213). Bernhardus Trevisanus. Responsio ad Thomam de Bononia: extract: in Latin (224-243) Glaser (C.). Annotations tirées de la Chimie de Glaser (306-322). Vol. II. Philaletha (E.). La confection du Grand Élixir métallique selon la pratique du Philalèthe conforme à celle du Cosmopolite et à la doctrine de Gebir (pp. 200-231). This seems to be a condensed version of the 'Enarratio methodica', 1678 by Eirenaeus Philaletha [cf. Ferguson: 'Bibliotheca Chemica', Vol. II, p. 191]. Copus (Martinus) [pseud. Cephalus (Arioponus)] Apotelesmata philosophica Mercurii triumphantis 1601: extract (358-371) [cf. Ferguson, op. cit., Vol. I, p. 150]. Albertus Magnus, St. Collectiones ex libro de animalibus, etc. (384-388). Densinger (A. B.). Geber ressuscité: an abbreviated version in French of the author's 'Geber redivivus' (394-406) [cf. Ferguson: op. cit., Vol. I, pp. 206, 207]. On p. 349 bis of Vol. II is a magical Hebrew 'Oratio angelica' written in Latin characters, there are other Latin charms, and one in French on p. 349. The compiler's initials are found on p. 178 of Vol. II in the form 'C.T.M.D.', and again on p. 279 of the same volume as 'C.T.d.m.'. There are several dates found in the second volume, the latest is 1683 on p. 26 and again on p. 27.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: French and Latin
System of arrangement:
Conditions governing access:
The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.
Physical characteristics:
2 vols. 1 l. + 384 pp., 406 pp. + 7 bl. ll. 8vo. 17 × 11 cm. 19th cent. half-calf binding. The first leaf of Vol. II is missing: some margins frayed, and corners defective. Pp. 180-199 are wanting from Vol. II. In both volumes sections have been bound in wrong order, or reversed.
Finding aids:
Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Purchased 1929.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.
Date(s) of descriptions: Jan 2009