Alchemy - ARNAULD (Pierre, sieur de La Chevallerie).... Lot 13

Alchemy - ARNAULD (Pierre, sieur de La Chevallerie). Natural philosophy of three ancient philosophers named Artephius, Flamel and Synesius, dealing with the occult art and metallic transmutation. Last edition. Augmented with a small treatise on mercury, & the stone of the philosophers by G. Ripleus, newly translated into French]. Paris], [Laurent d'Houry], [1682]. In-4 of 106 pp. Fawn morocco, smooth spine, gilt fillet and garland on covers, red morocco title label and gilt letters on cover ("Occult philosophy of Artephius, Flamel, Synesius and Pontanus, with figures of Flamel") (post 19th c. binding). Very rare and precious collection containing the following texts translated and printed for the first time by Pierre Arnauld in 1612: "Le livre secret du très ancien philosophe Artephius traitant de l'art occulte et de la pierre philosophale" (p. 6-43), in French and Latin on 2 facing pages; "Le livre des figures hieroglifiques de Nicolas Flamel... translated from Latin into French by P. Arnauld sieur de la Chevalerie gentil-homme poitevin" (pp. 45-88) with a folding plate out of text (showing the symbolic fresco of the cemetery of the Innocents in Paris) and 8 woodcut figures in-t.; "Le vray livre de la pierre philosophale du docte Synesius" (pp. 89-98) and "Traité du mercure et de la pierre des philosophes de G. Riplée" (pp. 99-106). This is the third enlarged edition of George Ripley's treatise and is merely a reissue of the 1612 edition with a new title page and colophon (both missing here). The missing title page has been replaced by a handwritten page giving details of the treatises contained (printed and manuscript) and stating "Very rare book [...] This book is almost impossible to find". The work is completed in fine with two handwritten parts of the time: - Espitre de Jean PONTANUS extracted from The-Chim [Chemical Theatre], 7-[1] pp. - Sur l'eucharistique de Monsieur DU VAL, Sonnet, 1 p. Freckles and marginal wormholes. (Caillet 425 "Very rare".)