GB 0120 MSS.2454-2456 - G., G. (and others)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 MSS.2454-2456

Title

G., G. (and others)

Date(s)

  • c 1765 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

3 volumes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Archival history

GB 0120 MSS.2454-2456 c 1765 Collection (fonds) 3 volumes Unknown

Purchased 1935.

'Recueil de divers secrets rares et éprouvés concernant la Chymie, l'Alchymie, la Médecine, la Philosophie Hermétique, le tout tiré des plus célèbres Médecins et Artistes de l'Europe. Traduit du latin et de l'italien par G.G., Interprète juré des langues orientales', with other extracts and receipts from alchemical and medical authors. The third volume contains 37 full-page symbolic alchemical water-colour drawings with 68 figures (pp. 304-369): there are two symbolic diagrams in red and black on p. 190 and illustrations of alchemical apparatus on pp. 419, 430, 547. These three MSS. have been tentatively dated c 1765, as on the fly-leaf of Vol. II is an inscription: '1762. 16 aout. Tome 2ème'. Below this is the date 1785, but by the script, they seem to have been written consecutively within a few years.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

French

3 vols. folio. 301/2 × 191/2 cm. Original blind-stamped calf bindings with flaps, fitted with brass locks and clasps: that of Vol. II has been wrenched off, with damage to the binding. Some leaves have been torn out before the title-page of the first volume.

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

Note A In Ferguson's 'Bibliotheca Chemica', Vol. II, p. 41 there is an entry [Linthaut] which assigns this work to Christofle de Gamon. But the initials 'S.G.' are found in the description of another copy of this MS., now in Harvard University Library. This is No. 42 in W. J. Wilson's 'Catalogue of Latin and vernacular alchemical MSS. in the U.S.A. and Canada' ['Osiris', Vol. 6, pp. 358, 362, 363]. B Nos. 4, 5, 6, are found, though in a different sequence, in MS. 249 [Dorigny] in Part I of the present Catalogue. C The work by Marengus seems to be based on his 'Palladis chymicae arcana detecta', first published at Genoa in 1674 [Ferguson. op. cit, Vol. II, pp. 75, 76]. D This work does not seem to correspond with the tracts under this title ascribed to Baruch, R. Lullius, or J. Dastin. E A Latin and a German copy of this MS. are entered in this Catalogue under the heading 'SAPIENTIA Veterum'. A Latin copy is also described by W. J. Wilson, op. cit. No. 29. F This translation of a Latin or Italian 15th cent. MS.

Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Feb 2009 Medical records Literature Literary forms and genres Poetry Medical sciences Clinical medicine Documents Information sources Alchemy Chemistry Primary documents

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Purchased 1935.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

'Recueil de divers secrets rares et éprouvés concernant la Chymie, l'Alchymie, la Médecine, la Philosophie Hermétique, le tout tiré des plus célèbres Médecins et Artistes de l'Europe. Traduit du latin et de l'italien par G.G., Interprète juré des langues orientales', with other extracts and receipts from alchemical and medical authors. The third volume contains 37 full-page symbolic alchemical water-colour drawings with 68 figures (pp. 304-369): there are two symbolic diagrams in red and black on p. 190 and illustrations of alchemical apparatus on pp. 419, 430, 547. These three MSS. have been tentatively dated c 1765, as on the fly-leaf of Vol. II is an inscription: '1762. 16 aout. Tome 2ème'. Below this is the date 1785, but by the script, they seem to have been written consecutively within a few years.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Conditions governing reproduction

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

French

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Note A In Ferguson's 'Bibliotheca Chemica', Vol. II, p. 41 there is an entry [Linthaut] which assigns this work to Christofle de Gamon. But the initials 'S.G.' are found in the description of another copy of this MS., now in Harvard University Library. This is No. 42 in W. J. Wilson's 'Catalogue of Latin and vernacular alchemical MSS. in the U.S.A. and Canada' ['Osiris', Vol. 6, pp. 358, 362, 363]. B Nos. 4, 5, 6, are found, though in a different sequence, in MS. 249 [Dorigny] in Part I of the present Catalogue. C The work by Marengus seems to be based on his 'Palladis chymicae arcana detecta', first published at Genoa in 1674 [Ferguson. op. cit, Vol. II, pp. 75, 76]. D This work does not seem to correspond with the tracts under this title ascribed to Baruch, R. Lullius, or J. Dastin. E A Latin and a German copy of this MS. are entered in this Catalogue under the heading 'SAPIENTIA Veterum'. A Latin copy is also described by W. J. Wilson, op. cit. No. 29. F This translation of a Latin or Italian 15th cent. MS.

Notes area

Note

Note A In Ferguson's 'Bibliotheca Chemica', Vol. II, p. 41 there is an entry [Linthaut] which assigns this work to Christofle de Gamon. But the initials 'S.G.' are found in the description of another copy of this MS., now in Harvard University Library. This is No. 42 in W. J. Wilson's 'Catalogue of Latin and vernacular alchemical MSS. in the U.S.A. and Canada' ['Osiris', Vol. 6, pp. 358, 362, 363]. B Nos. 4, 5, 6, are found, though in a different sequence, in MS. 249 [Dorigny] in Part I of the present Catalogue. C The work by Marengus seems to be based on his 'Palladis chymicae arcana detecta', first published at Genoa in 1674 [Ferguson. op. cit, Vol. II, pp. 75, 76]. D This work does not seem to correspond with the tracts under this title ascribed to Baruch, R. Lullius, or J. Dastin. E A Latin and a German copy of this MS. are entered in this Catalogue under the heading 'SAPIENTIA Veterum'. A Latin copy is also described by W. J. Wilson, op. cit. No. 29. F This translation of a Latin or Italian 15th cent. MS.

Alternative identifier(s)

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Wellcome Library

Rules and/or conventions used

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area