Details

Other Title:

Nachdem der allmechtige Gott Himel and Erden geschaffen hat.
Viae universalis circum scriptae clara explanatio parabolice declarata.
Da ich einss mahls mit mir zu rath ging.
Via universalis, seu Lapis philosophorum.

Subjects:

Paracelsus, 1493-1541.
Alchemy -- Early works to 1800.
Alchemy.
Chemistry -- History.
Chemistry.
History.

Form/Genre:

Codices.
Diagrams.
Manuscripts, German.
Manuscripts, European.

Language:

German, with some Latin (including headings).

Summary:

Collection of short treatises, recipes, etc. on various alchemical topics, including sections on tinctures, the philosopher's stone, etc. Includes several references to Theophrastus Paracelsus.
First section after the proemium (f. 2r-3v) has the heading: Sequitur modo Viae Universalis Circum Scriptae Clara Explanatio Parabolice Declarata, atque in Sex Capita distributa (f. 3v). This section, in six chapters, covers f. 3r-11v. The next group of sections begins with the heading: Via Universalis seu Lapis Philosophorum (f. 12r); it is not clear whether this second heading applies to all of the text on f. 11r-24v.

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title and attribution from f. 2r. Zacour-Hirsch suggests that "Johannes de Sole" may be a pseudonym.
Incipit of proemium: (f. 2v) Nach dem der Allmechtige Gott Himel and [sic] Erden ge schaffen hat ...
First section, heading and incipit: (f. 3v) Caput primum / De Nostro Auro, Nostro Sulphure, et Nostro [Mercu]rio vulgi / Da ich einss mahles mit mir zu rath ging ... [In the heading for chapter 1 on f. 3r, "Mercurio" is written with the alchemical symbol for Mercury, plus the ending -rio.].
Collation: Paper, 24; 1-3⁸; [1-24]; modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto.
Script: Written in a cursive script, possibly in the hand Johannes de Sole (f. 2r).
Decoration: Diagrams (f. 16v, 24v).
Binding: Stab-sewn quires. Folios 1 and 24 are coming loose. Some leaves badly stained, especially from f. 16 to end.
Origin: Written in Germany; late 17th to early 18th century.

Penn Provenance:

Acquired, 1965.

Cited in:

Described in Zacour, Norman P. and Hirsch, Rudolf. Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Libraries of the University of Pennsylvania to 1800 : Supplement A (5). Library Chronicle 37 (1971), p. 102 (Ms. E.F. Smith 45).
Ferguson, John. Bibliotheca chemica (1906). This lists a number of similar titles; the text of this manuscript might be the same as, or be related to, one of these (e.g., the Arca arcanorum of Johann Grasshoff).

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 128

OCLC:

155962618