PRAECIOSA AC NOBILISSIMA ARTIS CHYMIAE COLLECTANEA DE OCCULTISSIMO AC PRAECIOSISSIMO PHILOSOPHORUM LAPIDE. by LACINIUS, Janus.: - 1554

Nuremberg, Gabriel Hayn, 1554.. FIRST EDITION 1554, small 4to, approximately 170 x 135 mm, 6¾ x 5¼ inches, Latin text, small woodcut printer's device on title page, full page woodcut illustration on verso b4, a few woodcut historiated initials, leaves: [8], 1-124 (numbered on rectos), bound in 17th century calf, re backed in lighter calf with gilt lettering and tiny blind stamped motifs, edges speckled, endpapers replaced. Upper cover slightly bowed and slightly damaged at upper inner corner, neat ink initials at foot of title page (JS), a small number to upper outer corner, faint orange and dusty stain to blank side of title page, faint discoloration on woodcut illustration, 3 outer margins have faint pink stain, not affecting text, 1 old front endpaper stained at edges, small old ink stain to margin of H2, pale damp stain to lower blank corners from G-H4v, a larger one on text from T-Hh4, all easily legible, tiny chip to fore-edge margin of Cc2, 1 small pointing hand, occasional very light browning. A very good first edition copy of this manual of alchemy. Janus Lacinius is thought to be a pseudonym for Giovanni da Crotone, a Franciscan Friar from Calabria. Duveen, Bibliotheca Alchemica et Chemica, page 332; Wellcome Library Volume I No.3608. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.