CROLL, Oswald.
Basilica chymica oder alchymistisch königlich Kleynod: ein philosophisch durch sein selbst eigne Erfahrung confirmirte und bestättigte Beschreibung und Gebrauch der aller fürtrefflichsten chimischen Artzneyen so auss dem Liecht der Gnaden und Natur genommen in sich begreiffent. Beneben angehengtem seinem newen Tractat von den innerlichen Signaturn oder Zeichen der Dinge.
Frankfurt am Main, printed by Caspar Rötel for Gottfried Tampach, [1629]. 2 parts in 1 volume. 4to (ca. 21.5 x 16.5 cm). With a richly engraved title page designed by Aegidius Sadeler, with circular alchemical diagrams at the top and below (the one below surrounded by alchemical equipment) and portraits of 6 famous alchemists in oval scrollwork cartouches (3 on either side), further with 5 small woodcut illustrations in the text (depicting alchemical instruments). All text is set within a printed single or double fillet frame. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum. [8], 248, [15], [1 blank]; 72, [7], [1 blank] pp.
€ 3,500
Rare fourth edition of an anonymous German translation of the most important work by the German chemist, alchemist, and physician Oswald Croll (or Crollius, ca. 1563-1609). The Basilica chymica is considered the standard work on iatrochemistry, a branch of both chemistry and medicine, rooted in alchemy and seeking to provide chemical solutions to diseases and medical ailments.
According to Brüning the first Latin edition of the Basilica chymica was published in 1608 (Frankfurt am Main, G. Tampach) and re-issued many times between 1609 and 1624. The first French translation appeared in 1624, the first English translation in 1670. The richly decorated title page was engraved by the Flemish printmaker Aegidius Sadeler (1570-1629) and first published in the Latin edition of 1609, but apparently it has been reworked or newly engraved for our edition (with the name of Sadeler erased from the plate and with differences in the scrollwork cartouches and the lettering).
The first part contains the privilege (printed in Latin) granted by the Austrian Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II (1578-1637). The divisional title page of the second part is titled Tractat von den innerlichen Signaturn, oder Zeichen aller Dinge. Oder von der wahren und lebendigen Anatomia der grossen und kleinen Welt ... nunmehr aber auff das fleissigst und trewlichst verteutscht (Frankfurt am Main, printed by Caspar Rötel for Gottfried Tampach, 1629).
With an owner's inscription on the recto of the first free flyleaf in black ink and an owner's inscription on the engraved title page in brown ink. The binding is soiled, the boards are slightly warped and show some scratches, with a cut in the vellum along the fore edge of the back board, all without affecting the structural integrity of the binding. Minor wormholes in the first blank leaves and the engraved title page, slightly browned throughout, occasionally lightly foxed. Otherwise in good condition. Brüning 1495-1496; Duveen, p. 150; Partington II, pp. 174-177; Rosenthal 249; Thorndike V, pp. 649-651; USTC 2169435, 2524534 (5 copies); VD17 23:290265D (3 copies); WorldCat 26026464, 1426901737, 813721806, 633203525 (14 copies); cf. Caillet 2702 (1622 Latin ed.); for the title-page: Hollstein XXI, Aegidius Sadeler, no. 391.
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