Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum by Elias Ashmole [Ouroboros Press]

Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum by Elias Ashmole 

Publication: 2011 Ouroboros Press ( Ouroboros Press / Ars Obscura Bookbinding Deluxe Edition Limited to 200 copies Full tanned goat with gilt-stamped spine bands and central ornament to boards.)

Considered by many to be the most important alchemical text ever produced, this edition by Ouroboros Press is widely regarded as the finest modern printings of the work.

The Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum is a major collection of English alchemical texts that encapsulate the arcana of the Magnum Opus in poetic form. Originally gathered by Elias Ashmole from several rare medieval manuscripts, the work represents the largest collection of verse concerning the production of the Philosopher’s Stone ever brought together in a single volume.

Here we find well-known names in the alchemical corpus, including Thomas Norton, George Ripley, Geoffrey Chaucer, John Dastin, Pearce the Black Monk, Richard Carpenter, Abraham Andrews, Thomas Charnock, William Bloomfield, Edward Kelley, John Dee, Thomas Robinson, William Backhouse, John Gower, John Lydgate, W. Redman, and several anonymous authors.

In Fine condition 

This “who’s who” of English alchemists is placed in historical context by a Prolegomena written by Ashmole, which advances his thesis that England may rightly be proud of its alchemical literary heritage. In addition, Ashmole provides extensive annotations and commentary on each of the texts as supplementary material in the concluding section of the book.

The volume also includes a new introduction by William Kiesel and a full bibliography of the alchemical and bibliographic materials used in researching the text.

Small closed tear to gutter on foldout plate (unfortunately common in these leather bound editions) nonetheless in Fine condition