Miracula & mysteria chymico-medica libris quinque (quorum summam pagina versa exhibet) enucleata ... Accesserunt his, 1. Tyrocinium chymicum. 2. Novum lumen chymicum ..

Wittebergae: Sumptibus Clement Bergeri, typis Johannis Haken, 1623. FOURTH EDITION. Title in red and black, woodcut illustrations, head- and tail-pieces. Complete with all blanks and index. Bound in a contemporary vellum manuscript, supralibros stamped onto the front cover, edges gauffered; a few leaves very browned (paper stock) but overall a fantastic copy with 2 contemporary ownership inscriptions, one dated 1674, and a small stamp on title. Fourth edition of Müller’s work, first printed in 1610, an illustrated Paracelsian manual of alchemy. Unlike other alchemical texts, this provides a list of the instruments and equipment needed for the experiments along with the methodology of performing them. Müller covers the philosopher’s stone, transmutation of metal, preparations involving various chemicals, and extraction of essences and salts from vegetables and stones. Müller (1585-1659) pursued an academic career, including teaching medicine, physics, and philosophy.

Beguin (1550-1620), an iatrochemist, also first published his Tyrocinium Chymicum in 1610. This valuable chemistry, printed for the use of his students, is considered by some to be the first chemistry textbook. According to Reed: “Viewed as a production of the early seventeenth century, Beguin’s book is remarkably clear and intelligible. In it he made a very definite step forward from the mysticism of alchemy towards the precision of chemistry, and for this reason the book is a landmark in the history of the development of chemistry.”

The second treatise, originally printed in 1604, is written as a dialogue between Mercury, an Alchemist, and Nature. The author gives an account of his alchemical experiments and transmutation of metals into gold. The infamous Polish nobleman and alchemist Sendivogius (1556-1636) was kidnapped several times by various German and Polish nobleman who attempted to force him to reveal his secrets, as well as steal some of his transmuting powder.

Duveen 416; Ferguson II pp. 115-116; Read, Humour and Humanism in Chemistry, pp. 81-88; Patterson, “Jean Beguin and his Tyrocinium chymicum” in Annals of Science, II (1937) pp. 243-98; Thorndike VII 163.