Alchemy References - The following are from my personal collection. I recognize that there are a great many other
texts available on this subject, but these are the references that I have used for my research. If you have a
suggestion or recommendation, please forward it to me.
Period Resources - Works which represent the Medieval period, generally published prior to 1650, recognizing that
most of the information is in common circulation prior to publication. The "fund of knowledge" makes the normal
progression/evolution during this time, which reflects growth in understanding of the concepts and general science
behind alchemical theories.
Academic Resources - Works representing academic research into the Medieval period, generally peer reviewed
or juried, published in academic journals or under the aegis of institutions. Studies which attempt to increase our
modern "fund of knowledge" regarding the Medieval period. These resources could be used to teach either at the
undergraduate or graduate level.
Secondary Resources - Works representing non-academic or re-enactor research into the Medieval period,
generally not peer reviewed or juried, published in journals or self-published. Studies which attempt to increase our
modern "fund of knowledge" regarding the Medieval period. These resources could be used to teach at the re-
enactor or enthusiast level.
Tertiary Resources - Works representing enthusiast generated information such as found on self published internet
site, without references and having minimal research weight/value. These resources should be viewed carefully and
should be used sparingly to teach at any level. Often I find this type information a lead for further study.
Period Resources
Berthelot, M., "Collection Des Anciens Alchimistes Crecs," a collection of Greek manuscripts translated into French
by Dr. M Berthelot, second edition published Paris, 1888, facsimile Biblio-Life, Charleston, SC.
Braunschweig, Hieronymus von, "A Most Excellent Homish Apothecary - 1561," The English Experience No 43,
facsimile of the 1561 A Most Excellent and perfect homish apothecarye or homely physick book for all the grefes and
diseases of the bodye; copy from the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Da Capo Press, 1968.
Braunschweig, Hieronymus von, "The Vertuose book of Distillation," The English Experience No , facsimile of
1527 The Vertuose boke of distyllation of the waters of all maner of herbes with the fygures of the styllatorys; copy
from the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Da Capo press, 1968.
Braunschweig, Hieronymus von, "Buch der Cirugia," facsimile of 1497 Strasbourg ed, Niedersachsisch Staats-und
Univeristatsbibliothek Gottingen, West Germany, Medicina Rara Ltd, 1971, copy number 345 of 2500.
French, John, Frater Albertus translator, "The Art of Distillation," redaction of the 1651 edition by Frater Albertus,
original copy not cited, Para Publishers, 1978
French, John, "The Art of Distillation or A Treatise of the Choicest Spagyrical Preparations Performed by way of
Distillation," facsimile of the 1651, Richard Cotes, London, 1651.
Gerber, Richard Russell translator, "The Alchemical Works of Gerber," 1678 translation of the 13th C Latin edition
published at Berne in 1545, Samuel Weiser, York Beach, Maine, 1994, copy number 315 of 999.
Markham, Gervase, Michael R. Best ed, "The English Housewife," redaction of the 1615 edition, Mc Gills - Queens
University Press, 1986, reprinted 1998.
Academic Resources
Hughes, Jonathan, “Arthurian Myths and Alchemy, The Kingship of Edward IV,” Sutton Publishing Ltd., Stroud,
Gloucestershire, England, 2002.
Junius, Manfred M, Leone Muller translator, "Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy," Inner Traditions International
Ltd, New York, 1985. (please note that this my copy is a first edition. This book has been republished under the title
"Spagyrics: The Alchemical Preparation of Medicinal Essences, Tinctures, and Elixirs " 2007)
Montford, Angela, "Health, Sickness, Medicine and the Friars in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries, " Ashgate
Publishing Ltd, Hants, England, 2004.
Wilson, C. Anne, "Water of Life, A History of Wine-Distilling and Spirits 500 BC - AD 2000," Prospect Books, Devon,
England, 2006.
Ziegler, Joseph, "Medicine and Religion C. 1300, The Case of Arnau de Vilanova," Oxford Historical Monographs,
Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998.
Secondary Resources
Thompson, C. J. S., "Alchemy and Alchemists," reproduction of the text The Lure and Romance of Alchemy, George
G Harrap & Co., London 1932, Dover Publications, 2002.
Thompson, C. J. S., “Mystery and Art of the Apothecary,” Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, 1929.
Tertiary Resources
Connell, Evan S, "The Alchymist's Journal," North Point Press, San Francisco, CA, 1991
Melville, Francis, "The Book of Alchemy," A Quarto Book, Barron's, Hauppauge, NY, 2002.
various, "Collectanea Chemica, being Certain Select Treatises on alchemy and Hermetic Medicine," by Eireneus
Philalethes, Dr. Francis Anthony, George Starkey, Sir George Ripley, and a Work by an Anonymous Unknown Which
is Attributed to Edward Kelly, Alchemical Press, Edmonds, WA, 1991.
Alchemy in Context - reference resources used to establish the context in which alchemy existed
Period Resources
Hildegard of Bingen, Joseph L Baird and Radd K Ehrman translators, "Letters, vol I," Oxford University Press, 1994.
Hildegard of Bingen, "Holistic Healing," English translation of Causae et Curae, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville ,
MN, 1994.
Hildegard of Bingen, Priscilla Throop translator, "Physica," Healing Arts Press, rochester, VT, 1998.
Galen, Owen Powell translator, "Galen: On the Properties of Foodstuffs," translation of De alimentrorum facultatibus,
University of Cambridge Press, 2003
Academic Resources
Arber, Anges, “Herbals, Their Origin and Evolution, A Chapter in the History of Botany: 1470-1670,” 3rd ed. (1938),
Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Dawson, Warren R., “A Leechbook or Collection of Medical Recipes of the Fifteenth Century,” MacMillan and Co
Ltd., London, 1934
Hatfield, Gabrielle, "Memory, Wisdom and Healing, The History of Domestic Plant Medicine," Sutton Publishing,
Stroud, Gloucestershire, 1999.
texts available on this subject, but these are the references that I have used for my research. If you have a
suggestion or recommendation, please forward it to me.
Period Resources - Works which represent the Medieval period, generally published prior to 1650, recognizing that
most of the information is in common circulation prior to publication. The "fund of knowledge" makes the normal
progression/evolution during this time, which reflects growth in understanding of the concepts and general science
behind alchemical theories.
Academic Resources - Works representing academic research into the Medieval period, generally peer reviewed
or juried, published in academic journals or under the aegis of institutions. Studies which attempt to increase our
modern "fund of knowledge" regarding the Medieval period. These resources could be used to teach either at the
undergraduate or graduate level.
Secondary Resources - Works representing non-academic or re-enactor research into the Medieval period,
generally not peer reviewed or juried, published in journals or self-published. Studies which attempt to increase our
modern "fund of knowledge" regarding the Medieval period. These resources could be used to teach at the re-
enactor or enthusiast level.
Tertiary Resources - Works representing enthusiast generated information such as found on self published internet
site, without references and having minimal research weight/value. These resources should be viewed carefully and
should be used sparingly to teach at any level. Often I find this type information a lead for further study.
Period Resources
Berthelot, M., "Collection Des Anciens Alchimistes Crecs," a collection of Greek manuscripts translated into French
by Dr. M Berthelot, second edition published Paris, 1888, facsimile Biblio-Life, Charleston, SC.
Braunschweig, Hieronymus von, "A Most Excellent Homish Apothecary - 1561," The English Experience No 43,
facsimile of the 1561 A Most Excellent and perfect homish apothecarye or homely physick book for all the grefes and
diseases of the bodye; copy from the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Da Capo Press, 1968.
Braunschweig, Hieronymus von, "The Vertuose book of Distillation," The English Experience No , facsimile of
1527 The Vertuose boke of distyllation of the waters of all maner of herbes with the fygures of the styllatorys; copy
from the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Da Capo press, 1968.
Braunschweig, Hieronymus von, "Buch der Cirugia," facsimile of 1497 Strasbourg ed, Niedersachsisch Staats-und
Univeristatsbibliothek Gottingen, West Germany, Medicina Rara Ltd, 1971, copy number 345 of 2500.
French, John, Frater Albertus translator, "The Art of Distillation," redaction of the 1651 edition by Frater Albertus,
original copy not cited, Para Publishers, 1978
French, John, "The Art of Distillation or A Treatise of the Choicest Spagyrical Preparations Performed by way of
Distillation," facsimile of the 1651, Richard Cotes, London, 1651.
Gerber, Richard Russell translator, "The Alchemical Works of Gerber," 1678 translation of the 13th C Latin edition
published at Berne in 1545, Samuel Weiser, York Beach, Maine, 1994, copy number 315 of 999.
Markham, Gervase, Michael R. Best ed, "The English Housewife," redaction of the 1615 edition, Mc Gills - Queens
University Press, 1986, reprinted 1998.
Academic Resources
Hughes, Jonathan, “Arthurian Myths and Alchemy, The Kingship of Edward IV,” Sutton Publishing Ltd., Stroud,
Gloucestershire, England, 2002.
Junius, Manfred M, Leone Muller translator, "Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy," Inner Traditions International
Ltd, New York, 1985. (please note that this my copy is a first edition. This book has been republished under the title
"Spagyrics: The Alchemical Preparation of Medicinal Essences, Tinctures, and Elixirs " 2007)
Montford, Angela, "Health, Sickness, Medicine and the Friars in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries, " Ashgate
Publishing Ltd, Hants, England, 2004.
Wilson, C. Anne, "Water of Life, A History of Wine-Distilling and Spirits 500 BC - AD 2000," Prospect Books, Devon,
England, 2006.
Ziegler, Joseph, "Medicine and Religion C. 1300, The Case of Arnau de Vilanova," Oxford Historical Monographs,
Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998.
Secondary Resources
Thompson, C. J. S., "Alchemy and Alchemists," reproduction of the text The Lure and Romance of Alchemy, George
G Harrap & Co., London 1932, Dover Publications, 2002.
Thompson, C. J. S., “Mystery and Art of the Apothecary,” Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, 1929.
Tertiary Resources
Connell, Evan S, "The Alchymist's Journal," North Point Press, San Francisco, CA, 1991
Melville, Francis, "The Book of Alchemy," A Quarto Book, Barron's, Hauppauge, NY, 2002.
various, "Collectanea Chemica, being Certain Select Treatises on alchemy and Hermetic Medicine," by Eireneus
Philalethes, Dr. Francis Anthony, George Starkey, Sir George Ripley, and a Work by an Anonymous Unknown Which
is Attributed to Edward Kelly, Alchemical Press, Edmonds, WA, 1991.
Alchemy in Context - reference resources used to establish the context in which alchemy existed
Period Resources
Hildegard of Bingen, Joseph L Baird and Radd K Ehrman translators, "Letters, vol I," Oxford University Press, 1994.
Hildegard of Bingen, "Holistic Healing," English translation of Causae et Curae, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville ,
MN, 1994.
Hildegard of Bingen, Priscilla Throop translator, "Physica," Healing Arts Press, rochester, VT, 1998.
Galen, Owen Powell translator, "Galen: On the Properties of Foodstuffs," translation of De alimentrorum facultatibus,
University of Cambridge Press, 2003
Academic Resources
Arber, Anges, “Herbals, Their Origin and Evolution, A Chapter in the History of Botany: 1470-1670,” 3rd ed. (1938),
Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Dawson, Warren R., “A Leechbook or Collection of Medical Recipes of the Fifteenth Century,” MacMillan and Co
Ltd., London, 1934
Hatfield, Gabrielle, "Memory, Wisdom and Healing, The History of Domestic Plant Medicine," Sutton Publishing,
Stroud, Gloucestershire, 1999.
| Little Maplestead Church built in the 13th C. Knights Hospitallers, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Diocese of Chelmsford, in North Essex, England |
| The Alchemic Library of Fiachra Bonesetter |