Libellus de Alchimia

Ascribed to Albertus Magnus

Sister Virginia Heines

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9780520373174
• eBook ISBN: 9780520346611
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World History
• Index: History

Libellus de Alchimia, attributed to Albertus Magnus, is a seminal exploration of medieval alchemical practices, reflecting a blend of observational precision and philosophical inquiry. Translated into English from the Borgnet Latin by Sister Virginia Heines, a chemist with a deep appreciation for historical science, this text offers readers a rare glimpse into the scientific landscape of the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries. Whether penned by Albert himself or an admirer of his methods, the treatise exemplifies the didactic style associated with his works. It aims to provide practical guidance to alchemists while embedding their pursuits within a framework of ecclesiastical wisdom, opening with the assertion that "All wisdom is from the Lord God."

This meticulously organized text unfolds across fifty-seven concise chapters, addressing both theoretical and practical aspects of alchemy. It introduces readers to the tools, techniques, and materials of the medieval alchemical laboratory, from sublimation and calcination processes to the elusive quest for the philosopher's stone. Remarkably devoid of magical incantations, the work emphasizes experimentation and empirical observation, reflecting Albertus Magnus' broader contributions to natural science. While the conclusions may not align with modern scientific understanding, Libellus de Alchimia foreshadows significant discoveries and embodies the earnest pursuit of knowledge that characterized its time. This translation not only preserves the historical charm of the original but also illuminates its relevance to the evolution of scientific thought.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1958.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• introduction
• PREFACE
• 1 ON VARIOUS ERRORS
• 2 HOW DO METALS ARISE?
• 3 THE PROOF THAT THE ALCHEMICAL ART IS TRUE
• 4 THE KIND AND NUMBER OF FURNACES THAT ARE NECESSARY
• 5 ON THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF FURNACES
• 6 HOW MANY, WHAT KIND, AND OF WHAT USE ARE THE SUBLIMATION OVENS?
• 7 HOW ARE DISTILLATION OVENS [TO BE MADE]?
• 8 ON GLAZING OVENS
• 9 HOW ARE CLAY VESSELS GLAZED?70
• 10 THE FOUR SPIRITS OF METALS WHICH COLOR
• 11 WHAT IS ELIXIR, AND HOW MANY OF THE METALS ARE TRANSMUTED THROUGH THESE FOUR SPIRITS?
• 12 ON THE GENERA OF MEDICINES AND THEIR NAMES
• 13 WHAT IS MERCURY AND WHAT IS ITS ORIGIN?
• 14 WHAT IS SULPHUR, ITS PROPERTIES, AND ITS OCCURRENCE?
• 15 WHAT IS AURIPIGMENTUM AND WHAT IS ITS ORIGIN?
• 16 WHAT IS ARSENICUM?
• 17 SAL AMMONIAC IS TWOFOLD
• 18 OF WHAT USE IS COMMON SALT AND HOW IS IT PREPARED?
• 19 THE WATER OF ANY SALT [YOU PLEASE]
• 20 WHAT IS THE USE OF SAL ALKALI, AND HOW IS IT PREPARED?
• 21 HOW IS ALUM WHITENED AND DISSOLVED IN WATER?
• 22 HOW CAN ATRAMENTOM BE REDDENED AND DISSOLVED IN WATER?
• 23 HOW TARTAR IS PREPARED SO THAT THE OIL FROM IT CAN DISSOLVE CALXES
• 24 HOW IS GREEN COPPER MADE AND REDDENED AND ABOVE ALL OF WHAT USE IS IT FOR THIS ART?
• 25 HOW AND FROM WHAT IS CINNABAR MADE?
• 26 HOW AND FROM WHAT IS AZURIUM MADE?
• 27 HOW AND FROM WHAT IS CERUSSA MADE?
• 28 HOW IS MINIUM MADE FROM CERUSSA?
• 29 HOW IS MINIUM MADE FROM LEAD ASHES?
• 30 WHAT IS SUBLIMATION AND IN HOW MANY WAYS CAN IT BE DONE?
• 31 WHAT IS CALCINATION AND IN HOW MANY WAYS CAN IT BE DONE?
• 32 WHAT IS COAGULATION AND WHY IS IT USED?
• 33 WHAT IS FIXATION AND IN HOW MANY WAYS ARE BODIES FIXED?
• 34 WHAT IS SOLUTION AND IN HQW MANY WAYS IS IT DONE?
• 35 WHAT IS DISTILLATION AND HOW IS IT DONE?
• 36 WHAT IS CERATION AND HOW IS IT DONE?
• 37 HOW IS MERCURY PREPARED AND WHITENED LIKE SNOW?
• 38 HOW IS SULPHUR DISSOLVED, WHITENED, AND FIXED?
• 39 HOW IS AURIPIGMENTUM WHITENED?
• 40 HOW IS ARSENICUM WHITENED?
• 41 HOW IS SAL AMMONIAC PREPARED?
• 42 FROM WHAT SUBSTANCES IS FIRE MADE?
• 43 ON THE FIXATION OF SPIRITS, AN ADDED CHAPTER209
• 44 THE REVELATION AND TEACHING OF THE SECRETS OF THIS ART BEGIN HERE
• 45 THE FIXATION OF POWDERS, SO THAT THEY CAN MIX WITH BODIES, IS TAUGHT HERE
• 46 HOW ARE SPIRITS DISSOLVED IN WATER BY ONE METHOD?
• 47 HOW ARE SPIRITS MADE INTO A RED LIQUID?
• 48 HOW CAN WATER BE DISTILLED IN A TWOFOLD MANNER?
• 49 ON THE DISTILLATION OF OIL
• 50 ON THE COAGULATION OF ALL SOLUTIONS
• 51 HOW CAN GOLD AND SILVER BE CALCINED?
• 52 ON THE CUCURBITE
• 53 HOW CAN OTHER METALS BE CALCINED?
• 54 HOW ARE COPPER PLATES CALCINED?
• 55 HOW IS THE CALX OF BODIES REDUCED TO A MASS? SEE ALSO IN GEBER’S LIBER FORNACUM
• 56 HERE BEGINS THE FIRST OF THE OPERATIONS
• 57 HOW CAN GOLD AND SILVER BE OBTAINED ACCORDING TO ALL THE ABOVE?
• Bliography