Author: CROLLIUS, OSWALD,
Title: Basilica chymica, continens philosophicam propria laborum in fine libri additus est eiusdem autoris tractatus novis de signaturis rerum internis.
Description: Geneva, Paulus Marcellus, 1610. 2 parts in 1 vol. Coloniae Allobrogum. W. woodc. device (Gryphius) on title, 2 woodc. ills. & some woodc. signs representing minerals and metals (2nd part pp 88/92). Old limp overlapping vellum (wrinkled, spotted, lower edge back cover dam., spine soiled w. title in ink, ties missing.). [collatie aanvullen...]. (XVI, 364, IV, LVI (LVI blank) (Index); XIV, 92, XXXVI (Index alter), II (blank) pp.). (Title sl. soiled & a few thin patches in paper (due to older removal of sign. in ink) resulting in 1 small hole, w. loss of a few letters; first 8 lvs. lower right hand corner and margin paper a bit tired). Rare second edition. DSB III, 471/2: 'Crollius recorded his knowledge, his experiments and his theoretical views in a book entitled 'Basilica Chymica' which was printed with 'Tractatus de signaturis'. Whether Crollius lived to see the first edition (1609) is uncertain ....became the standard scientific work of iatrochemistry ...In sharp contrast with Paracelsus' vagueness, Crollius describes in detail the individual preparations, their composition and their application. This explains why the book became such a great success... At Crollius death iatrochemistry lost one of its great exponents, for he is credited with gaining academic recognition of the medicinal value of many chemicals previously rejected as remedies.': Thorndike, vol. 5, pp. 649 - 651: Stillman, 354/5: Hirsch vol. II, p. 146: Ferchl, p. 109 - 110: 'Unter den Aerzten ist er der bedeutendste Chemiker des 16. Jahrh.': Schelenz p. 404/5: Partington vol. II, p. 174 - 177: '...probably was the main source from which a knowledge of Paracelsian medicines and teachings became known...': Kremers/Urdang, 126, 538: Schmieder, 350: Garrison, 209, 822: The 1610 ed. only in Parkinson/Lumb (612) and Neu (1050): Comp. for further eds. Duveen, 150/1: Bolton, 971: Ferguson, 185: Krivatsy, 2914/23: Waller II, 11107: Wellcome I, 1672: Rosenthal, 241/53: Bibl. Esoterica, 944/5: Caillet, I, 2702: Gilly, Cimelia Rhodostaurotica, 1995, p. 17, nr. 14: '... gehört ... zu den wertvollsten und einflussreichsten Dokumenten in der Geschichte des Paracelsismus... Denn hier wurde zum ersten Mal die ganze Naturphilosophie des Paracelsus und dessen Bedeutung für den Fortschritt der Wissenschaften in verständlicher und wirklich modern klingender Sprache zusammengetragen. Und hier wurde auch die paracelsische Lehre der beiden Lichter ganz präzise formuliert...'

Keywords: chemistry alchemy Brk NVVA2018 occult