Alchemy - ZACAIRE (Denis). Very excellent Opuscule... Lot 53

Alchemy - ZACAIRE (Denis). Very excellent Opuscule of the true natural Philosophy of the metaulx, dealing with the increase & perfection of these, With advertissement to avoid the foolish despences which are usually made for lack of true science .... With the tract of venerable German Doctor Messire Bernard Count of the Trevisan March on the same subject. Lyon, Rigaud, 1574. In-16, of 280 pp.-[2] ff. of table followed by 5 and ½ pp. of handwritten notes of the time, one leaf has been formerly pasted on the verso of the title. Very rare Lyon edition of this famous treatise by the alchemist Denis Zacaire. The first edition appeared in Antwerp in 1567. The second part, from p. 170, contains the treatise of Bernard le Trévisan. The young Zacaire first studied alchemy in Bordeaux and then in Toulouse. Called by King Henry II of Navarre, he did not achieve the success he had hoped for. It was in 1550 that he succeeded in transforming a large quantity of mercury into gold. Brunet V, 1516 cites the 1574 edition as the reference edition - Caillet n°11571 "This treatise gives in a symbolic form, the alchemical elaboration of the philosopher's stone..." - No ex. in the coll. Verginelli-Rota, nor Guaïta, nor Bechtel. Bound in the suite: LA FONTAINE (Jean de), MEUNG (Jean de) & FLAMEL (Nicolas), De la transformation metallique, trois anciens traictez en rithme françoise. Asçavoir. The fountain of the lovers of science: author J. de la Fontaine. Les remonstrances de Nature à l'alchymiste errant : avec la réponse dudict Alchy. par J. de Meung. Together a tract of his Romant de la Rose, concerning the said art. The philosophical summary of N. Flamel. With the defense of this art and of the honest people who are involved in it: Against the efforts that J. Girard makes to distract them. Lyon, Rigaud, 1590. 86 ff. in 16. Last ff. browned. ("Very rare book" according to Caillet 7478 about the first edition of 1561). Tan calf, spine ribbed and decorated (early 17th century binding). Spine rubbed, corners and edges worn. Handwritten bookplate (and remnant bookplate in stamp on last leaf) of Largé.