Alchemical Dragons

In addition to vessels and other chymical equipment found in early alchemical manuscripts, one may also find many animals depicted. Among the creatures we find in such alchemical bestiaries the Dragon is perhaps particularly intriguing due to its fantastical nature. This dragon takes many forms; that of a serpent without legs, sometimes winged, even biting its own tail as in the namesake of Ouroboros Press. [click on the images for a larger view].

Sloane 1171, 2nd half of the 16th century

Sloane 1171 in the British Library has very lively illustrations of dragons, one in particular takes on a  shape familiar to that which appears in the Ripley Scrolls. This twisted neck design perhaps influenced these other two-headed dragons to follow  in the images below.

While doing research related to my work on the Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, I noticed that dragons were a theme which arose several times in the engravings accompanying the text. Indeed  there are no less than 5 dragons in Elias Ashmole's important collection of English alchemical texts. 

Harley 2407 in the British Library shows some of these dragons in manuscript illustrations later copied by Robert Vaughan for use in Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum.

Harley 2407, second half of the 15th century

Vaughan. Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum 1652

 

Harley 2407, second half of the 15th century

Vaughan. Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum 1652

Originally these manuscripts were collected by Elias Ashmole who sought to preserve the alchemical lore therein by publishing the material in the Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum. In doing this he did a great service to posterity and as the engravings he commissioned by Robert Vaughan show, he did it elegantly. It is in this spirit that Ouroboros Press seeks to manifest its next publication which is a corrected edition of the Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum.  The new edition will feature two important improvements. The first of these improvements is that by utilizing the original errata information provided by Ashmole, we were able to correct the errors in the original edition according to his intentions. Second, and this is integral to effecting the first, the entire text will be typeset in a classic typeface which may easily be read by contemporary audiences.

The Serious Joke: Two Book Launches

Ouroboros Press is releasing the first English translation of Michael Maier's Jocus Severus. Rendered into English from the original Latin by Darius Klein, the work has also been illustrated and ornamented by Benjamin Vierling. Issued in three distinctive editions, the Jocus Severus features a folding plate titled Alchemical Aviary as a frontispiece. Along with the standard trade cloth edition, the book will also be available in finely bound leather and vellum editions, the latter being strictly limited in number.

Seriously? Two Book Launches? You Must be Joking?

Actually no, we're not joking this time! So before you give us up for the birds here are the details:

San Francisco Book Launch with 
Artist Benjamin Vierling

5 March 2011 8:00 pm

 Fields Bookstore

1419 Polk Street San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 673-2027

Seattle Book Launch with 
Translator Darius Klein & 
Bookbinder Joel Radcliffe
12 March 2011  8:00 pm

Rodriguez Guerra Art Studio

80 South Washington Street

[betweent First Ave South & Western]

Seattle, Washington 98104

For those of you unable to attend who would like the purchase a copy of the book, we are still offering free shipping on orders which come in by March 15th. This includes foreign countries as well. Paypal funds may be sent to this address: ouroboros@bookarts.org

Please include a note stating which edition[s] you would like and give your full shipping address.

Born in Germany, Count Michael Maier served as the personal physician to the Bohemian Emperor Rudolph II, as well as pursued a career as an alchemist. He is well known due to his masterful emblem book; Atalanta Fugiens, which was a blend of alchemical, mythological and musical elements. But Maier wrote other alchemical books and Ouroboros Press is very pleased to be offering the first English translation of his veritable conference of the birds;  Jocus Severus. 

This alchemical text employs allegory in an entertaining dialogue between several species of birds who are determined to defame the Owl with wordy complaints. The Hawk acts as the Owl's defense while  the Phoenix acts as final judge and arbiter over this 'conference of birds.'

Rendered from the original Latin of 1617 by Darius Klein this edition features original lllustrative material by Artist Benjamin Vierling, including a folding plate depicting all the species of birds involved in the alchemical dialogue.

As is our tradition at Ouroboros Press, the entire text has been reset with an eye to detail not common in contemporary publishing, where one often encounters poor facsimile reproductions. 

The book is issued in three formats:

Imperial Vellum Edition. Hand bound with raised spine bands in full vellum with leather spine label, gilt title and device. Vellum headbands, marbled endsheets and a silk book marker complete this fine binding. [135 pages] aviary folding plate and illustrated with ornamental head and tail pieces.

Athenian Wisdom Edition: Strictly limited to 25 copies  $225.00

Deluxe Leather Edition. Hand bound with raised spine bands in full black goat and red leather spine label, with gilt title and device. leather headbands, marbled endsheets and a silk book marker. [135 pages] aviary folding plate and illustrated with ornamental head and tail pieces.

Noctis Black Owl Edition: $150.00

Trade Cloth Edition. Sewn in full cloth with stamped title and device. Letterpress printed dust jacket, [135 pages] aviary folding plate and illustrated with ornamental head and tail pieces.

Fine Press Trade Edition: $45.00

Layout for the Letterpress printed dust jacket intended for the Fine Press Trade Editions

Arcana V: Musicians on Music, Magic & Mysticism

New Anthology on Music, Magic & Mysticism 

Edited by John Zorn.

For centuries musicians have tapped into mysticism, magic and alchemy, embracing ritual, spell, incantation and prayer, and experimenting with esoteric approaches to harmony, pitch and vibration. In recent decades, avant-garde musicians have rediscovered these overlaps, as occultism has reinvented itself--through Buddhist and other Asian influences, Thelema and Chaos Magic--to accommodate cultural strains from psychedelica through Punk and Industrial music. 

This special edition of John Zorn's much acclaimed Arcana series focuses on the magical aspects of the act of making music. Neither historical overview nor musicological study, it illuminates the sympathies between music and the esoteric tradition with the help of today's finest experimental musicians and occultists. Among these are William Breeze, Gavin Bryars, Steve Coleman, Alvin Curran, Frank Denyer, Jeremy Folgel, Fred Frith, Sharon Gannon, Peter Garland, Milford Graves, Larkin Grimm, Tim Hodgkinson, Jerry Hunt, Eyvind Kang, Jessika Kenney, William Kiesel, Yusef Lateef, Frank London, Dary John Mizelle, Meredith Monk, Tisziji Munoz, Mark Nauseef, Pauline Oliveros, Genesis P-Orridge, Terry Riley, Adam Rudolph, Trey Spruance, David Toop, Greg Wall, Peter Lamborn Wilson and Z'ev.

Ouroboros Press publisher William Kiesel has an article in this integral book entitled 'Musings on the Hermetic Lyre'. Kiesel gave a recent interview on the Thelema Now podcast where he talks about the book.

Large Octavo. Sewn softcover volume.

459 pages with illustrations, 

notes and biographical information.
$40.00 postpaid [worldwide].

Ordering Instructions

Emerald Tablet of Hermes

Tabula Smaragdina Hermetis, perhaps better known as the the Emerald Tablet of Hermes, is the shortest and yet most refered to text in the whole of the alchemical corpus. Supposed to have been found engraved upon an Emerald, this hermetic document has been beautifully typeset in Centaur [a font designed by Bruce Rogers] and printed letterpress on fine Arches paperstock in two colors.

An alchemical emblem crowns the top of the broadside and features the enigmatic acrostic V.I.T.R.I.O.L., which was a substance used to pull metals out of hard stone by early metallurgists. The Latin translates as Visit the interior of the earth and through rectification you will find the hidden stone meant to point the way to the Philosopher's Stone.

Limited to 250 copies only this broadside is 13 x 18 inches and is suitable for framing. Let the words of Hermes Trismegistus adorn your library or laboratory. $25.00 postpaid, Ordering Instructions.

Alchemical Presentation at the Stone

The Alchemical Bestiary
Alchemical Animal Symbolism in Renaissance Hermeticism.
Book Release: Turba Philosophorum
Ouroboros Press editor William J. Kiesel will give a talk on the enigmatic symbolism associated with the Animal Kingdom as employed in Alchemical texts during the Renaissance. Hermetic philosophers drew from mythological and biblical sources while depicting their alchemical emblems to explain the process of making the Philosopher’s Stone. Key symbols for interpretation will be discussed and accompanied by a slide show of alchemical imagery from rare books and manuscripts.
This presentation is given on the occasion of a new edition of the Turba Philosophorum, just released by Ouroboros Press. Copies of the book will be available for signing after the presentation.

8pm sharp Sunday 8 July 2007
The Stone [New York]
Located at the corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street.

[The Stone Website]
http://www.thestonenyc.com/index.html

Turba Philosophorum received from the printers

The image above shows the stacks of books ready to be handbound at the bindery of Ars Obscura in Seattle. Cloth copies showing the gilt device on the front cover can be seen below along with a copy wrapped in a dust jacket.



The Turba Philosophorum or Assembly of the Sages:
Called also the Book of Truth in the Art and the Third Pythagorical Synod
An Ancient Alchemical Treatise Translated from the Latin by Arthur Edward Waite.

Known unto the Wise as the Crowd of Philosophers, this twelfth century treatise records the meeting of the "Hermetic Association for the Advancement of Alchemy" and gives voice to the alchemical wisdom of several centuries. From Pythagoras to the Thrice-Greatest Hermes, the Adepts converse on the keys of the Royal Art and the nature of the Magnum Opus in their pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone.

Arthur Edward Waite's translation of The Turba Philosophorum remains the most complete to date due to the fact that he examined the many variant Latin manuscripts. There were two versions of the Turba; a short version and a long version, and in cases where textual differences occurred, Waite was sure to note them. This new edition has retained those important words of wisdom.

This Limited Edition produced by Ouroboros Press continues the tradition of fine bookmaking by resetting the type and offering three distinctive binding styles.



Royal Arte Vellum Turba
Handbound in full vellum with gilt titles and device, false-raised cords, marbled endsheets and silk ribbon bookmark. A crowning achievement from the studios of Ars Obscura Bookbinding. Octavo. 168 pages. Limited Edition. $225.00



Deluxe Leather Turba
Handbound in full burgundy leather with gilt titles and device, false-raised cords, marbled endsheets and a silk ribbon bookmark, also from the venerable studios of Ars Obscura Bookbinding. Octavo. 168 pages. Limited to 275 copies only. $150.00

Trade Edition Turba
Full burgundy cloth with gilt spine title and device on front board in a printed dust jacket. Octavo. 168 pages. Limited to 700 copies only. $45.00



Orders are now being accepted.

Shipping: Please add $6.00 for US orders or $12.00 for overseas orders.


When making payment via PayPal use [ouroboros@bookarts.org]

Please include full shipping details with your order. Thank you!

Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum

Corrected Edition: A Treasure House of English Alchemical Poetry

*UPDATE: More details about this project here!*

Does Elias Ashmole need an introduction? Being a Hermetic Philosopher and Antiquarian, Ashmole's literary eye recognized the richness of the royal art expressed in the poetry of English alchemists. His monumental Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum gathered together several of the finest examples of a flourishing alchemical tradition.

Ouroboros Press Corrected Edition

The original edition of Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum was produced in London 1652 by J. Grismond for Nathaniel Brooke. The task of printing such a large tome [nearly 500 pages] was tremendous and required many laboring hands to set the lead type, cut the engravings and print the pages. While printing houses often had numerous sets of typefaces, it was often necessary to redistribute the type in order to have enough of the face to print subsequent pages. Inevitably mistakes would be discovered before the rest of the book was actually printed. Thus it was common practice at the time for the foreman of the presses to keep a record of the errors so that these could be printed at the end of the book in an effort at correction. This 17th century example of the errata sheet survived and forms the basis of the present edition.

The Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum is an important collection of Alchemical material which encompasses many authors of the Hermetic Tradition and deserves to be in print to this day. A useful facsimile edition was to be had back in the 70s and it was better than the cheaply produced photocopies of the same available in recent times, yet both fail to make corrections to the original printer's typographical errors despite the errata clearly printed in the rear of the text. The Ouroboros Press edition of Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum is entirely reset in historical typefaces and features the Complete Corrected Text.

This is Fine Esoteric Bookarts at its best. An edition Elias Ashmole himself would be proud of; A Treasure House of English Alchemical Poetry!

Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum

Table of Contents

1. Prolegomena. Elias Ashmole.

2. Ordinal of Alchemie. Thomas Norton. [*6 illustrations].

3. Compound of Alchemie. George Ripley. [*folding plate: Ripley's Wheel].

4. Pater Sapientae. Anonymous.

5. In the Name of the Holy Triniti. [*2 illustrations].

6. Hermes's Bird. Anonymous. [*1 illustration].

7. Chanon's Yeoman's Tale. Geoffry Chaucer. [*illustration].

8. Dastin's Dreame. John Dastin.

9. Pearce the Black Monke upon the Elixir.

10. Richard Carpenter's Worke.

11. Hunting of the Greene Lyon. Abraham Andrews.

12. Breviary of Natrurall Philosophy. Thomas Charnock.

13. Aenigmaes. Thomas Charnock.

14. Bloomefields Blossoms. William Bloomefield.

15. Sir Edward Kelley's Worke.

16. Sir Edward Kelley to G. S. Gent.

17. Doctor John Dee's Testament.

18. Thomas Robinson of the Philosophers Stone.

19. Experience and Philosophy. Anonymous.

20. The Magistery. W. B.

21. Anonymi, or several Workes of unknowne Authors. [* 2 illustrations].

22. John Gower upon the Philosophers Stone.

23. George Ripley's Vision.

24. Verses belonging to Ripley's Scrowle. [*1 illustration].

25. Mystery of the Alchemists.

26. Preface to the Medulla. George Ripley.

27. A Short Worke. George Ripley.

28. Secreta Secretorum. John Lydgate.

29. Hermit's Tale. Anonymous.

30. Description of the Stone. Anonymous.

31. The Standing of the Glasse. &c. Anonymous.

32. Aenigma Philosophicum. W. Redman.

33. Fragments.

34. Annotations and Discourses. Elias Ashmole. [* astrological chart].

35. Table of Obscure & Obsolete Words.

 
Stout Octavo. Letterpress dust jacket. 500+ pages entirely reset in Williams Caslon Text. 
Engraved illustrations, woodcut ornaments, fleurons and folding plate. 


Festina Lente Alchemical Series
Release Date: 2011

Festina Lente Alchemical Series

PLEASE NOTE: This page is in the process of revision and will be updated with more details in the near term. Thank you for your interest.

The Ouroboros Press release of Turba Philosophorum marked the beginning of a series of alchemical texts, which will continue to flow from the scriptorium here in the Emerald City. The series editor William J. Kiesel has selected these texts from among the corpus of alchemical and hermetic books which were in need of translation or simply unavailable to the public in recent decades. Two of the texts are penned by Count Michael Maier, who is perhaps best known for his Emblematic book; Atalanta Fugiens, while two others are collections by various authors. We are especially pleased to be producing a new corrected edition of Elias Ashmole’s magnum opus; Theatrum Chemicum Brittanicum, the classic text on English Alchemical Poetry.


Festina Lente Alchemical Series

Altus
Mutus Liber - The Silent Book

Anonymous Texts
Turba Philosophorum
Aurifontina Chymica - Fourteen Treatises on the First Matter

Count Michael Maier
Jocus Severus - First English Translation by Darius Klein
Lusus Serius - With a critical introduction by Leigh Penman

Elias Ashmole
Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum
- Corrected & Rectified Edition: A Treasure House of English Alchemical Poetry