The Art of Distillation: OR, A Treatise of The Choicest Spagyrical Preparations, Experiment, and Curiosities, performed by way of Distillation. Together with the Description of the choicest Furnaces and Vessels used by Ancient and Modern Chymists. And the Anotomy of Gold and Silver; with the chiefest Preparations and Curiosities thereof; together with their Virtues. In Six books. To which is added in this third impression Calcination and Sublimation In Two Books. As Also, The London-Distiller., Exactly and truly shewing the way… to draw all sorts of Spirits and Strong-Waters…

Book Description

London: : Printed by E. Cotes for T. Williams, , 1664.. Full Leather. Very Good. 3d Edition. 4to (17.9 x 13.1 cm). Contemporary sheep. Collation: [4] [16] , 250 [22]; [2] 46 [4] p. 38 pages with woodcut illustrations, some full page. Two (2) parts in one volume. Printed end papers (with headline 'Hony found in the lions carcase'). These two front free end papers are from another work and inserted with double column text on a side. Text block has been cut down generally not affecting any text or image (n.b. p. 49). The pages are lightly browned with some fore edge staining, strongest at front and rear of book. There is numerical pencil notation at bottom of title page, presumed reference for library placement. Provenance: Book plate of the Earls of Macclesfield and their embossed coat-of-arms on top of title page. Ink inscription of free end paper: "Ursula Castle her book giving [sic] me by Thomas Bagly bricklayer the Anno Dom. 1665" on rear free end paper; Calligraphic signature of Phneas Sanderson on p. 49 at the top of one of the woodcuts including the date of "January 12, 1713" written in ink in clear areas around the distillation flasks of this woodcut. French was a surgeon in the army. Some of the preparations in French’s Art of Distillation… are similar if not identically worded from those of Glaubers Furnaces, The woodcuts are also identical between the two works. This is the first appearance of the Calcination and Sublimation. (Duveen, p. 230-31; Ferguson, p292-93; Gabler p.100; Partington II, p. 559; Wing F2171; Wellcome III, p.67) 

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