Twelve Keys of Basilius Valentinus

by Philip N Wheeler (Editor), Basilius Valentinus

Overview

Twelve Keys of Basil Valentine is one of the most important alchemical works available to modern students of Alchemy and early Chemistry. First published in Ein kurtz summarischer Tractat, von dem grossen Stein der Uralten... (Eisleben, 1599) without illustrations, it achieved wider distribution as part of the Tripus Aureus (Golden Tripod) compendium edited by Michael Maier and published at Frankfurt in 1618 by Lucas Jennis. Maier's illustrated edition of the work is by far the most influential. The emblematic engravings drew upon the allegorical descriptive imagery of the text and added coherence to the symbolism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781508590927
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	02/22/2015
Series:	The R.A.M.S. Library of Alchemy , #1
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

It is generally believed that Basilius Valentinus was born in 1394 and that he joined the Benedictine Brotherhood, eventually becoming Canon of the Priory of St. Peter at Erfurt, near Strasburg, although we have no proof. Basil Valentine was the originator of many chemical preparations of importance. Among these are the preparation of spirit of salt (hydrochloric acid), oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid), and the extraction of copper from its pyrites by transforming it first into copper sulfate then plunging a bar of iron into the solution. He is also said to have discovered antimony.

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