Mellon MS 30

 ALCHEMICAL MISCELLANY, in German and Latin
 North Germany (?), possibly written by Niclaus of Sweden, 1528

 30.1 Anonymous. Fifteen alchemical procedures, in German.
 30.2 Pseudo-Peter Kertzenmacher. Alchimie und Bergwerck, in
 German.
 30.3 Anonymous. List of alchemical substances, in German and
 Latin.
 30.4 Anonymous. Alchemy, in German.
 30.5 John of Rupescissa. De consideratione quinte essentie, in
 German.
 30.6 Various. Alchemical and metallurgical procedures, in German
 and Latin.
 30.7 Ramon Lull. Extracts from Experimenta and Testamentum
 novissimum, in German. Possibly translated by Jobst Trutwyn.
 30.8 Various. Fifty-one alchemical and metallurgical recipes, in
 German.

Paper codex in German and Latin, 4to., 217 x 146, ff. 348, of which ff. 1-18
are unnumbered, ff. 19- 317 are correctly numbered i-cclxxxxviiij by the
scribe, the remaining ff. 318-348 originally blank and unnumbered now partly
with later additions, ff. 18 and 322-346 blank, the last leaf serving as the
end pastedown. In the following description the correct folio number is cited
first, while the scribal foliation follows it wherever applicable in
parentheses and is expressed in arabic numerals. No signatures; catchwords at
the last leaf of the fourth through tenth, twelfth through twenty- third,
twenty-fifth through twenty-seventh, twenty-ninth through thirty-second
quires, the rest trimmed away or cropped. Collation: (1)^^10, (2)^^6+2,
(3-23)^^8, (24)^^16-2, (25-40)^^8, (41)^^6, (42)^^4, (43)^^2, (44)^^6+2
Written in single columns, 165 x 135, averaging 21-25 lines without headline
or running title; very neat and clear brown gothic cursives, captions by the
same hand, written in two parts, the second beginning at f. 201r; some red
sentence-strokes and underlining; red captions and chapter headings with
minimal elaboration, carefully laid out on the page, also pen line-fillers at
end of each section, as needed for text spacing. Orthographic peculiarities
appear in a select change of individual vowels: "i" or "y" (tigel, kyss)
appearing for "ie"; "u" (funff) for "ue"; "a" (Alchamy) for "e"; and "y" or
"y" (nym, wyss) for "i" and "ei." Words are often spelled in three different
ways, later preferences being suggested marginally. A penned brown and red
crown as folk symbol at left margin of f. 135r. Infrequent sketches of
alchemical vessels in brown or red at side margins, some very slightly
trimmed. Three watermarks noted, the first a long-stemmed cross above a
bull's head, the second a six-lobed arc above and each lobe surmounted by a
three-lobed cross, and the third a crown, all with vertical chain marks,
trimmed, not identified.

BINDING: Original binding of blind-stamped brown calf over beveled wooden
boards, the sides paneled in vertical patterns of roll tools, two brass
catches on upper cover, remains of brass attachments for clasps on the lower;
the original backstrip with three raised bands laid down; plain edges;
restored by Carolyn Horton, New York, and with a leather title label on the
backstrip supplied by her.

PROVENANCE: Compiled in 1528, perhaps by Niclaus of Sweden, who appears to
have signed the last procedure in the volume on f. cclxxxxviiij verso;
purchased in 1737 according to a note on f. 1r, possibly by the same hand
which wrote "Schmid" and a shelf mark on the front pastedown; Emil
Offenbacher (bookseller), New York, who may have written the collation notes
in pencil on the front pastedown; Denis Duveen, acquired from Offenbacher,
1938, with his bookplate printed on red paper and inked number 50; Mellon MS
128, acquired with the Duveen collection. De Ricci-Bond 30 (128).

CONTENTS

Front pastedown: [Originally blank; now with Duveen's bookplate on red paper,
his characteristic number, pencil notes by a modern, Germanic hand, and
eighteenth-century inscription, "Schmid," with a shelf mark below possibly in
the same hand, "4to No. 319."]

f. 1r, 1: [Written as a title:] Register vber | das Buch. | 1.5.28 Jar |
[Below, in an eighteenth- century hand, very likely that of "Schmid" who
signed his name on the front pastedown, is this inscription:] dyes Buch und
edle Manuscript | hebe Jm Monath Jener anno 1737 | Preis i20: [two words not
read] mich gebracht | [remainder of f. 1 blank. On ff. 8-17 is a neatly
written "Register" of the contents ofthe leaves originally written and
numbered by the copyist i-cclxxxxviiij . F. 18 is blank.]

f. 19(1)r, heading: Von Zinober Zu machen- | [line 1:] Item wilt du Zinober
machen so nym | ain tail des schwebels ... [This passage opens a series of
alchemical procedures, ending f. 26(8)v:] ... So wirt es ganntz Weyss - |
[remainder of the page blank.]
 [30.1: Anonymous, Fifteen alchemical procedures, in German, for making
cinnabar (four), artificial malachite or "Spongrien" (five), white lead
(two), for whitening silver (two), and for whitening copper (two). All
unidentified.]

f. 27 (9)r, heading: Hie hept an das Buch | der Alchamey - | [line 1:] In dem
namen gottes - Amen Alle kunst kompt von gott vnd is by Im | an ennde. Es
tuet sie mittaylen allen den | diese begeren. Aristotiles spricht | Ain
yegtlich mensch Ist Von nature des | genaiget ... [Ends f. 87(69)v, 13:] . .
. vnd nit mer schommpt, so | fluesst er denn an rauch Als ain | wachsz.- |
 [30.2: Pseudo-Peter Kertzenmacher, Akhimie und Bergwerk, here titled Das
 Buch der Alchamey. The text was printed anonymously at Strasbourg by
Cammerlander in 1539; when reprinted in 1570 an added preface was signed by
Peter Kertzenmacher, as noted by Ferguson 1, 19. In this copy the text
proceeds through Capitel Cviij, whereas the printed versions end at Cj, and
other differences suggest that this copy is entirely independent of the
printed editions.]

f. 88(70)r: [This page opens a list of names for substances used in alchemy,
written in two columns; on the left a list of words is written, and these are
bracketed to a single German equivalent written in red in the right column.
Ends f. 93(75)v, not transcribed.]
 [30.3: Anonymous, List of alchemical substances, in German and Latin. The
left column supplies Latin, arabic-derived, what seem to be "secret," and
occasionally German expressions, which are explained by a single clear name
in German for the substance in the right column. Unidentified.]

f. 94(76)r, heading: Wie man den Kupfer King von | dem gold schaiden muss - |
[Lines 1-2 repeat the heading; the text begins, line 2:] ... Des ersten soltu
| wissen . wat der Kupfer King ist ... [Ends f. 127(109)v, 6:] ... vnd also
haustu [sic] mein maynung vnd | ist das der beschlus vnd ennd des buches |
damit sy lob vnd Eer got dem Allmechtugen [sic] - | Amen. [flourishes] |
[remainder of the page blank.]
 [30.4: Anonymous, Alchemy, in German, treating the separation of copper from
gold in metallurgy. Not identified in the literature consulted.]

f. 128(110)r, heading: Von betrachtung Vnnd | machung des funfften | Wesenns
| [line 1:] Dis Buch Sagt von der betrachtung | vnd machung des funfften
Wesenns | von allen wanndelberen dingen vnd In | dem namen gottes fahet
[=fanget] an dies buch | von der dienstberkait vnd waichait gottes | Salomon
spricht In dem buch der wysshait | Gott der hat mir dise kunst vnnd ware |
ding gegeben. Also das Ich erkenn vnnd | waiss. die schickung des krayss
[=kreis] der erden | [Ends f. 200(182)r, 3:] ... Zwischen gerecht vnd
vngerecht | wann die natur hellt es nicht zu dem | vngerechten aber mit der
kunst, muss | man es pringen zu der gerechtigkait. [remainder of f. 200(182)
blank.]
 [30.5: John of Rupescissa, Liber de consideratione quinte essentie, TK 407,
anonymously translated into German. The translation in this codex is not the
same as that in MS 16, q.v., in the description of which it has already been
remarked that no German translations of the famous text have been noted in
the literature.]

f. 201(183)r, heading: Aqua lune pars cum parte | [Gold] vnd [Silver] | [line
1:] Erstlich laminier die luna vffpfening | dick vnd mach s.s.s. [? not
understood] mit den plechlin | vnd prepariertem sallz ... [This opening marks
the beginning of a very long series of alchemical recipes and procedures,
none of which have been traced in the literature consulted, although a few
have been identified by the copyist: on f. 205(187) are two procedures
attributed to Conrad Oschwalt or Oschwald, a goldsmith of Schwaz; on ff.
218-219(200-201) is a lengthy procedure ascribed to Maister Lienhart,
goldsmith of Villach; on f. 262 (244)v is a procedure by Hainrich Nasperger.
In all, there are nearly two hundred procedures in this section, ending f.
269(251)r, 4:] ... auffain test, so habt In | einer silber berait et cetera -
. |
 [30.6: Various, Alchemical recipes andprocedures, mostly in German, but a
few in Latin, nearly all anonymous but a few ascribed to named practitioners,
as indicated above.]

f. 269(251)r, 6: Von Jobsten trutwyn | die recht ware kunst Raymundj |
vssezogen vffrot vnd wyss ain werck | auff vier Monat. - | Nym iiij lot fyn
silber calciniert wol | gewaschen ... [f. 270(252)v, 17:] Ain annder gantz
gerecht | werck Raymundj besser vnd | subtyler dann das vorig | gewesen Ist -
|   [f. 272(254)r, 3:] Hernach volgt ain Ware. ge- | rechte practica. lunam
In feyn | gold zu verwanndlen. da merck | eben auff- | ... [f. 274(256)v, 9:]
Elixir vnnd oleum solis | das congeliert vnd firiert | vnd tingiert Mercurium
vnd | alle Metall ... [Ends f. 276(258)v, 18:] In dem klainen stuck hapt Ir
die groesste | haimlichait der Wellt Raymundus | lobt is vff das hochst - |
[remainder blank.]
 [30.7: Ramon Lull, Extracts, seemingly from his Experimenta and Testamentum
novissimum, not identified with certainty, translated into German, the first
by or received from Jobst Trutwyn (or Trautwein).]

f. 277(259)r, heading: Ain luna fix vnnd ain | Augment das nymmer | mangelt
gerecht Vnnd | offt bewert | [line 1:] Nym lebendigen kalch ... [This passage
opens a series of fifty-one procedures, none of which have been traced in the
literature consulted, although a few have been identified by the copyist: on
f. 282(264), an "Augment" by Enndres (Andreas) Werner; on f. 287(269) a
procedure by Thomas von Wasserburg; on ff. 293-295 (275-277) two recipes and
one reduction ascribed to Gottfried Himelreich. The original portion of the
manuscript closes with a procedure by Niclaus of Sweden, beginning, f.
317(299)v, heading:] Ain kunst von gold | von Niclaus von Schwede - | [line
1:] Item Nyem [sic] koesselbrun oder den safran | ... [Ends line 14:] bring
die pulver In die luna so hast | du warlich gold darInn | Von mir Niclaus von
| Schwede | [There are many notes in a rough eighteenth-century hand in
German on the remainder of this page and on ff. 318-321. There are notes in
pencil in a German hand, possibly dated 1841, on the last leaf and the final
paste- down, which also has some writing of eighteenth-century date, not
transcribed; ff. 322-346 are blank.]
 [30.8: Various, Fifty-one alchemical procedures, in German, a few ascribed
to individuals named in the text as noted above, the remainder anonymous,
none otherwise identified. The way in which the final recipe is both headed
as being by Niclaus of Sweden, and at its conclusion seemingly subscribed by
him, suggests that he was the copyist of the original portions of the
manuscript. The later hand is unidentified.]

SUMMARY: This important manuscript combines an unrecorded German translation
of Rupescissa's popular work, an important Alchimie und Bergwerk incompletely
published in 1539 and later reprinted, a few extracts from Lullian sources,
and a very large quantity of alchemical recipes and procedures, relating
above all to metallurgy and transmutation. The few named sources for some of
the experiments or procedures are localized in widely separated regions of
Germany and Austria, suggesting that this compilation was drawn from a
variety of contemporary contacts. Its compiler wrote highly literate German
and had a good knowledge of Latin; the position and treatment of both the
heading of the final procedure written by the original hand, ascribing the
process to Niclaus of Sweden, and the statement at its end that it is "by me
Niclaus of Sweden" suggest very strongly that he was the compiler of the
whole. The translation of Rupescissa is to be compared with the differing
translation found in MS 16 ofthe collection, already discussed. This codex,
however, is primarily a collection of experimental, laboratory procedures,
and its strong emphasis on metallurgy and transmutation suggests comparison
with a large number of manuscripts in the Mellon collection, most notably MSS
3, 5, 6, 9, 20, 38, 40, and 44. R.P.